Musicians born on April 7

Take a focused look at the musicians born on April 7. Dive into curated bios, achievements, and cultural milestones verified by our editors.

• 1915 Billie Holiday

  Billie Holiday was an influential American jazz and swing music singer, renowned for her deeply emotive vocal style and pioneering contributions to vocal jazz. Her unique phrasing and expressive delivery elevated songs like "Strange Fruit," "God Bless the Child," and "Lover Man (Oh, Where Can You Be?)" to classic status. She is widely regarded as one of the greatest jazz … [bio]

• 1920 Ravi Shankar

  Ravi Shankar was a legendary Indian classical musician who revolutionized global understanding of sitar music and significantly influenced...

• 1938 David Sanborn

  David Sanborn was an acclaimed American alto saxophonist, recognized for his influential role in contemporary jazz, smooth jazz, and pop music. He was celebrated for his expressive tone and his ability to bridge genres, working with a wide range of notable artists throughout his career. [bio]

• 1951 Janis Ian

  Janis Ian is an American singer-songwriter best known for her poignant lyrics and hits from the 1960s and 1970s, including "At Seventeen" and "Society's Child (Baby I've Been Thinking)." Her work garnered multiple Grammy awards and widespread recognition for addressing sensitive issues such as racism and bullying. [bio]