August 2, 1978 - Composer Carlos Chavez died in Mexico City. Aside from being one of the most prominent composers in Mexico, Chavez also toured Europe and the U.S.A. to promote his works.
August 3, 1999 - Country singer Patsy Cline was awarded a posthumous star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Patsy died in a plane crash at the height of her career. She, along with Cowboy Copas, Hawkshaw Hawkins and Randy Hughes, were headed to a performance when their plane crashed due to bad weather. Everyone on board died.
August 4, 1901 - Jazz musician Louis Armstrong was born in New Orleans, Louisiana. He did, on average, 300 concerts per year. He was also a published writer and an actor.
August 5, 1957 - Patsy Cline's self-titled debut album was released. Her other albums include; Patsy Cline Showcase (1961), Sentimentally Yours (1962), The Patsy Cline Story (1963), A Portrait of Patsy Cline, That's How A Heartache Begins and Patsy Cline's Greatest Hits (1967).
August 6, 1619 - Barbara Strozzi was baptized on this day. She was an Italian singer and composer of the Baroque period. She composed mainly secular cantatas and was one of the few female composers who published her works during that period.
August 7, 1957 - Paul Anka made his television debut, performing the hit song "Diana" on ABC's American Bandstand.
August 8, 1857 - Composer and pianist Cécile Chaminade was born in Paris, France. She went on extensive tours where she performed her pieces and gained popularity especially in France.
August 9 - On this day in 1919, opera composer Ruggero Leoncavallo died in Montecatini Terme, near Florence. Also on this day in 1975, composer Dmitry Shostakovich died in Moscow, Russia, U.S.S.R. due to heart failure. And on this day in 1963, singer Whitney Houston was born in Newark, New Jersey.
August 10, 1987 - The long-running Broadway musical A Chorus Line celebrated its 5,000th performance.
August 11, 1962 - The song "Breaking Up Is Hard To Do" by singer-songwriter Neil Sedaka was #1. The said song was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Rock & Roll Recording.
August 12 - On this day in 1928, composer Leoš Janácek died in Ostrava, Czech Republic due to pneumonia. He is primarily known for his operas. Also on this day in 1992, composer John Cage died in New York. He was the pioneer of "indeterminancy," where the composer gives the performer the right to interpret his music.
August 13, 1951 - Singer-songwriter Dan Fogelberg was born in Peoria, Illinois. He began writing his own songs when he was 12 and later formed his first band called the Clan. The song "Leader of the Band" was a song he wrote in honor of his father.
August 14, 1837 - Against her father's wishes, pianist Clara Wieck became secretly engaged to composer Robert Schumann. They eventually got married on September 12, 1840.
August 15, 1907 - Composer Joseph Joachim died in Berlin, Germany. He wrote pieces for the violin and piano, violin and orchestra as well as songs. However, much of his works didn't survive.
Special Celebrations in August
Rock For Life Week - August 4 to 7
National Duran Duran Appreciation Day - August 10
Vinyl Record Day - August 12