September 17

Born in Ferrara in 1605, Sacrati studied music under the patronage of the d’Este court. He moved to Venice and became a leading composer of opera, collaborating with librettists like Giulio Rospigliosi. His best-known opera, 'La finta pazza,' premiered in 1641 to great success. He composed sacred music and operas that blended dramatic storytelling with innovative orchestration. Sacrati’s works were performed across Italy and at the French court, spreading Italian musical styles. He died in 1650, remembered as a key figure in the early Baroque opera tradition.

Vincenzo Tommasini was born in Rome in 1878 and studied at the Naples Conservatory. He became a prominent figure in Italian music with works such as the Suite Scarlattiana, inspired by Domenico Scarlatti’s harpsichord sonatas. His compositions often fused lush orchestration with clear, neoclassical structures, reflecting the artistic currents of his time. Tommasini served as a conductor at La Scala and taught composition at the Milan Conservatory, influencing a generation of musicians. His output includes orchestral suites, chamber pieces, and ballet music, celebrated for their elegance and craftsmanship. He died in 1950, leaving a legacy as a bridge between Romanticism and modern Italian music.

Charles Tomlinson Griffes was born in Elmira, New York, in 1884 and studied piano in Berlin. Influenced by Debussy and Ravel, he composed tone poems like "The White Peacock" and "The Pleasure-Dome of Kubla Khan." His music featured lush harmonies, evocative atmospheres, and a unique American voice. Griffes also wrote art songs and chamber works that displayed his refined sense of color and texture. He taught piano and composition upon returning to the United States, nurturing young musicians. Griffes’s promising career was cut short by the 1918 influenza pandemic, and he died in 1920, leaving a concise but impactful body of work.

Rafael Israelyan (1908–1973) was a leading Armenian architect whose designs combined classical motifs with modern sensibilities. He won the competition to design the World War I memorial at Sardarapat, a symbol of Armenian resilience. His work on St. Vartan Cathedral in New York connected Armenian architectural tradition with the diaspora community. Israelyan served as a professor, training a generation of Soviet-era architects. He authored scholarly works on Armenian architectural heritage, influencing conservation efforts. His legacy endures in the lasting monuments that blend cultural pride with architectural innovation.

Born in Pandharpur, Maharashtra in 1915, Husain co-founded the Bombay Progressive Artists' Group in 1947. He produced a vast body of over 10,000 paintings that combined Indian folk traditions with cubist influences. He gained international recognition for his series based on the Indian epic Mahabharata and horses. Husain also directed experimental films and designed theatre sets. His bold and colorful style led to controversies over perceived disrespect toward Hindu deities, resulting in his self-imposed exile in later life. He spent his final years in London and Doha before his death in 2011. Today, Husain is celebrated as a pioneer of modern Indian art and a symbol of creative freedom.

Born in Sansei-dong, Korea in 1917, Yun studied traditional Korean music before moving to Germany to attend the Hochschule für Musik. He developed a unique compositional language that fused Korean folk melodies and instruments with Western avant-garde techniques like serialism. His notable works include the orchestral tone poem 'Exemplum in Memoriam Kwangju' and the opera 'Sim Tjong'. Yun taught composition at the Berlin University of the Arts, influencing a generation of musicians. His political activism for Korean reunification led to his kidnapping by South Korean agents and exile in the 1960s. International protests secured his return to Europe in the 1970s, where he continued to compose prolifically. Yun’s music is celebrated for its emotional depth, innovative textures, and cultural synthesis. He died in 1995, leaving an enduring legacy in contemporary classical music.

Born in Sajószentpéter, Hungary in 1918, Gottlieb trained as a seamstress before establishing a dressmaking business. After fleeing the Holocaust, she immigrated to Israel in 1949 and began creating raincoats and women's wear. In 1956 she founded Gottex, specializing in vibrant, hand-painted swimsuits that drew attention worldwide. Her designs appeared in Vogue and were sold in prestigious boutiques from New York to Paris. Gottlieb pioneered innovations such as matching resort wear accessories like umbrellas and caftans. She led Gottex for over four decades, turning it into one of Israel's leading export brands. Her blend of artistic vision and entrepreneurial skill made her a fashion industry icon. Gottlieb passed away in 2012, leaving a lasting influence on swimwear design.

Born in London in 1923, Sharon began his career as a pianist in British dance bands before emigrating to the United States in 1948. In New York, he worked as a studio musician, arranger and bandleader. He met singer Tony Bennett in 1957 and became Bennett’s pianist and music director, creating the iconic arrangement for 'I Left My Heart in San Francisco'. Sharon recorded numerous albums under his own name, showcasing an elegant jazz style and memorable compositions. He composed film and television scores in the 1960s, demonstrating versatility across musical genres. Throughout his six-decade career, he collaborated with jazz luminaries and conducted orchestras worldwide. Sharon continued performing into his later years in Florida, enthralling audiences until his death in 2015.

Born Hiram King Williams in 1923 in Mount Olive, Alabama, he began performing on local radio stations as a teenager. Williams signed with MGM Records in 1947 and quickly rose to fame with hits like 'Cold, Cold Heart' and 'Move It On Over'. His songwriting genius produced enduring classics such as 'Your Cheatin' Heart', 'I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry' and 'Hey, Good Lookin''. Williams performed regularly on the Grand Ole Opry with his band, the Drifting Cowboys, and helped shape the sound of honky-tonk country music. Struggling with health and alcohol issues, he died at age 29 in 1953 while traveling to a concert. His influence continued posthumously: he was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1961 and his songs remain standards. Williams's emotive lyrics and raw vocal style paved the way for countless artists across genres.

Bill Black was an American musician best known as the bassist for Elvis Presley in the early 1950s. Born in Memphis in 1926, he played slap bass rhythm that helped define rockabilly music. After leaving Presley's band in 1955, he formed the Bill Black Combo, whose instrumental hits like "Smokie, Part 2" topped the charts. His group's blend of rock and roll, jazz, and R&B influenced the development of popular music in the late 1950s and early 1960s. Black's innovative playing and bandleading skills made him a sought-after session musician and performer. He died of a heart attack in 1965, but the Combo's recordings remain classics of the era.

Hovie Lister was an influential American gospel pianist, vocalist, and church minister. Born in 1926 in Georgia, he began playing piano in church at a young age and developed a passion for gospel music. Lister co-founded the Statesmen Quartet in 1948, serving as its leader and innovator in quartet arrangements. Under his direction, the group achieved widespread popularity, blending traditional hymns with jazz and blues influences. He also served as a Baptist minister and music director, mentoring countless gospel artists and pioneering modern gospel concerts. Lister's dynamic performances and recordings left a lasting impact on Southern gospel before his death in 2001.

Eugene 'Jack' McDuff was an American jazz organist and bandleader celebrated for his soulful grooves on the Hammond B-3. Born in 1926 in Champaign, Illinois, he began his career playing bass before switching to organ in the late 1950s. McDuff formed his own ensembles, featuring rising stars like George Benson and Red Holloway, and recorded extensively for Prestige Records. His albums, including Brother Jack and Soul Jazz, helped define the soul-jazz movement of the 1960s. Known for his energetic stage presence and improvisational flair, he toured worldwide and influenced generations of organists. McDuff continued performing and recording until his death in 2001, leaving a legacy in modern jazz history.