Singles Released This Week (May 20 – 26)

Here’s a running list of charting singles (and B-Sides that charted) from rock and pop music from the 50s through the 80s – the BEST music ever made!

Entries are: Year • Artist • Track Title • Genre • Album • B-Side

(If a non-album single, then [Single]. If the charting track was the B-Side, then [B-Side]. Any “UK” entry designates a single different from its US counterpart).

May 20
1955 • Bill Haley & His Comets • “Rock Around The Clock” • Rock ‘n’ Roll • Shake, Rattle And Roll • “Thirteen Women (And Only One Man in Town)”
1960 • Buddy Holly • “True Love Ways” [UK] • Pop-Rock • [Single] • “Moondreams”
1977 • Queen • “Good Old Fashioned Lover Boy” [UK] • Glam Rock • Queen’s First E.P.[EP] • “Death on Two Legs (Dedicated To)” / “Tenement Funster” / “White Queen (As It Began)”
1979 • Kiss • “I Was Made For Lovin’ You” • Disco-Rock • Dynasty • “Hard Times”
1983 • Big Country • “In A Big Country” [UK] • Alt. Pop-Rock • The Crossing • “All Of Us”
1983 • The Police • “Every Breath You Take” • New Wave Pop-Rock • Synchronicity • “Murder By Numbers”
1991 • Bonnie Raitt • “Something To Talk About” • Blues-Rock • Luck Of The Draw • “One Part Be My Lover”

May 21
1963 • Stevie Wonder • “Fingertips, Pt. 1” • Soul-Pop • Recorded Live! The 12-Year Old Genius • “Fingertips, Pt. 2”
1963 • Stevie Wonder • “Fingertips, Pt. 2” • Soul-Pop • Recorded Live! The 12-Year Old Genius • [B-Side]
1964 • Marvin Gaye • “Try It Baby” • Soul • How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You) • “If My Heart Could Sing”
1964 • The Beatles (Die Beatles) • “Sie Liebt Dich” • Brit Beat • [Single] • “I’ll Get You”
1965 • The Who • “Anyway, Anyhow, Anywhere” [UK] • Power Pop • [Single] • “Daddy Rolling Stone”
1965 • The Hollies • “I’m Alive” [UK] • Pop-Rock • Hear! Here! • “You Know He Did”
1968 • Diana Ross & The Supremes • “Some Things You Never Get Used To” • Soul-Pop • [Single] • “You’ve Been So Wonderful To Me”
1968 • Elvis Presley • “Let Yourself Go” • Pop-Rock • [Single] • [B-Side]
1968 • Elvis Presley • “Your Time Hasn’t Come Yet Baby” • Pop-Rock • [Single] • “Let Yourself Go”
1969 • The Isley Brothers • “I Turned You On” • Soul-Funk • The Brothers: Isley • “I Know Who You Been Socking It To”
1976 • Carpenters • “I Need To Be In Love” • Easy Listening • A Kind Of Hush • “Sandy”
2001 • The Calling • “Wherever You Will Go” • Alt Rock/Post-Grunge • Camino Palmero • “Adrienne”
2004 • Rush • “Summertime Blues” • Prog/Art Rock • Feedback • [None]

May 22
1964 • Dave Clark Five • “Bits And Pieces” [UK] • Brit Pop • Glad All Over • “All Of The Time”
1967 • The Byrds • “Have You Seen Her Face” • Folk-Rock • Younger Than Yesterday • “Don’t Make Waves”
1967 • Aretha Franklin • “Lee Cross” • Soul • Take It Like You Give It • “Until You Were Gone”
1967 • The Byrds • “Don’t Make Waves” • Folk-Rock • [Single] • [B-Side]
1970 • Christie • “Yellow River” • Pop-Rock • Christie • “Down The Mississippi Line”
1979 • Diana Ross • “The Boss” • Disco • The Boss • “I’m In The World”
1994 • Stone Temple Pilots • “Big Empty” • Arena Rock • Purple • “Lounge Fly”

May 23
1975 • 10cc • “I’m Not In Love” [UK] • Art Pop-Rock • The Original Soundtrack • “Good News”
1978 • Bruce Springsteen • “Prove It All Night” • Heartland Rock • Darkness On The Edge Of Town • “Factory”
1980 • U2 • “11 O’Clock Tick Tock” [UK] • Alt. Pop-Rock • [Single] • “Touch”
1987 • Bob Seger • “Shakedown” • Album Rock • Beverly Hills Cop II [Sndtrk] • “The Aftermath”
1988 • The Moody Blues • “I Know You’re Out There Somewhere” • Prog Rock • Sur La Mer • “Miracle”
2011 • Blondie • “Mother” [UK] • Pop-Rock • Panic Of Girls • “Mother” [Instrumental]

May 24
1963 • Gerry & The Pacemakers • “I Like It” [UK] • Merseybeat • [Single] • “It Happened To Me”
1968 • The Rolling Stones • “Jumpin’ Jack Flash” [UK] • Rock n Roll • [Single] • “Child Of The Moon”
1973 • Led Zeppelin • “Over The Hills And Far Away” • Hard Rock • Houses Of The Holy • “Dancing Days”
1974 • Elton John • “Don’t Let The Sun Go Down On Me” [UK] • Pop-Rock • Caribou • “Sick City”
1974 • 10cc • “The Wall Street Shuffle” [UK] • Art Pop-Rock • Sheet Music • “Gismo My Way”
1976 • The Beach Boys • “Rock And Roll Music” • Rock ‘n’ Roll • 15 Big Ones • “T M Song”
1982 • Glenn Frey • “I Found Somebody” • Pop-Rock • No Fun Aloud • “She Can’t Let Go”
1986 • AC/DC • “Who Made Who” • Hard Rock • Who Made Who • “Guns For Hire” [Live]
1993 • AC/DC • “Big Gun” • Hard Rock • Last Action Hero[Sndtrk] • “Back In Black” [Live]
2012 • Aerosmith • “Legendary Child” • Hard Rock • Music From Another Dimension! • [None]

May 25
1957 • Buddy Holly • “That’ll Be The Day” • Rock n Roll • [Single] • “I’m Looking For Someone To Love”
1961 • Marvin Gaye • “Let Your Conscience Be Your Guide” • Soul • The Soulful Moods Of Marvin Gaye • “Never Let You Go (Sha-Lu Bop)”
1971 • Elvis Presley • “Life” • Gospel-Pop • [Single] • “Only Believe”
1973 • Mott The Hoople • “Honaloochie Boogie” [UK] • Glam Rock • Mott • “Rose”
1973 • George Harrison • “Give Me Love (Give Me Peace On Earth)” [UK] • Pop-Rock • Living In The Material World • “Miss O’Dell”
1997 • Sublime • “Wrong Way” • Ska Punk • Sublime • “Wrong Way” [Album Version]

May 26
1961 • Jerry Lee Lewis • “Cold Cold Heart” • Rock n Roll • [Single] • “It Won’t Happen With Me”
1965 • Elvis Presley • “(Such An) Easy Question” • Pop-Rock • [Single] • “It Feels So Right”
1967 • The Hollies • “Carrie Anne” • Pop-Rock • Evolution • “Signs That Will Never Change”
1967 • The Hollies • “Carrie Anne” [UK] • Pop-Rock • Evolution • “Signs That Will Never Change”
1971 • The Doobie Brothers • “Nobody” • Pop-Rock • The Doobie Brothers • “Slippery Paul”
1975 • Glen Campbell • “Rhinestone Cowboy” • Country-Pop • Rhinestone Cowboy • “Lovelight”
1978 • The Rolling Stones • “Miss You” [UK] • Disco-Pop • Some Girls • “Far Away Eyes”
1978 • Talking Heads • “Pulled Up” [UK] • New Wave Pop-Rock • Talking Heads: 77 • “Don’t Worry About The Government”
1978 • The Cars • “My Best Friend’s Girl” [UK] • New Wave Pop-Rock • The Cars • “Moving In Stereo”
1981 • J. Geils Band • “Angel In Blue” • Blues-Rock • Freeze-Frame • “River Blindness”
1987 • Richard Marx • “Don’t Mean Nothing” • AA Pop-Rock • Richard Marx • “The Flame Of Love ”

Albums Released This Week (May 20 – 26)

Here’s a sampling of the BEST music ever made! Great albums from the 60s, 70s and 80s rock and pop released this week (and some related albums of note):

May 20
1974 ● Climax Blues Band —— Sense Of Direction ► Blues-Rock
1976 ● David Bowie —— Changesonebowie ► Glam Rock
1977 ● The Jam —— In The City ► Punk-Rock
1977 ● Genesis —— Spot The Pigeon [EP] ► Prog Rock
1980 ● Kiss —— Unmasked ► Hard Rock
1981 ● Elton John —— The Fox ► Pop-Rock
1985 ● Savatage —— Power Of The Night ► Heavy Metal/Speed Metal
1987 ● Various Artists —— Beverly Hills Cop II [Sndtrk] ► Album Rock
1996 ● Manic Street Preachers —— Everything Must Go ► Hard Rock
1996 ● Soilwork —— Steelbath Suicide ► Heavy Metal/Death Metal
1997 ● Peter Cetera —— You’re The Inspiration: A Collection ► Pop-Rock
1997 ● Blues Brothers —— Blues Brothers & Friends: Live From The House Of Blues ► Blues-Rock
1997 ● Foo Fighters —— The Colour And The Shape ► Grunge Rock
1997 ● Millencolin —— For Monkeys ► Euro-punk
1997 ● The Tragically Hip —— Live Between Us ► Folk-Rock
1997 ● John Fogerty —— Blue Moon Swamp ► Roots Rock
1997 ● Michael Jackson —— Blood On The Dance Floor: HIStory In The Mix ► Dance-Pop
1997 ● James Taylor —— Hourglass ► Folk-Rock
2000 ● Bracket —— When All Else Fails ► Punk Rock
2003 ● Jack Bruce —— Live At Manchester Free Trade Hall ’75 ► Prog Rock/Fusion
2003 ● Phish —— Live Phish Volume 17 ► Prog Rock/Jam Band
2003 ● Phish —— Live Phish Volume 18 ► Prog Rock/Jam Band
2003 ● Phish —— Live Phish Volume 19 ► Prog Rock/Jam Band
2003 ● Phish —— Live Phish Volume 20 ► Prog Rock/Jam Band
2003 ● Whitesnake —— The Silver Anniversary Collection ► Arena Rock
2003 ● Jesse Colin Young —— Walk The Talk ► Folk-Rock
2003 ● Earth, Wind & Fire —— The Promise ► Soul-Funk
2003 ● Kansas —— Greatest Hits Live ► Prog/Arena Rock
2003 ● Lynyrd Skynyrd —— Vicious Cycle ► Southern Rock
2003 ● Boz Scaggs —— But Beautiful ► Pop-Rock
2011 ● Whitesnake —— Live At Donington 1990 ► Arena Rock
2016 ● The Blues Magoos —— Mercury Singles 1966-1968 ► Garage Rock
2016 ● Mudcrutch —— Mudcrutch 2 ► Southern Rock
2016 ● Various Artists —— Day Of The Dead ► Jam Band/Space Rock
2016 ● Eric Clapton —— I Still Do ► Blues-Rock
2016 ● Bob Dylan —— Fallen Angels ► Folk-Rock
2016 ● Tom Petty & Bob Dylan —— Live On Air 1986 ► Folk-Rock
2016 ● Tom Petty & Stevie Nicks —— Leather And Lace: Radio Broadcast, 1983 ► Album Rock
2016 ● The Zombies —— The BBC Radio Sessions ► Art Rock

May 21
1963 ● Stevie Wonder —— Recorded Live! The 12-Year Old Genius ► Soul – Pop
1971 ● Marvin Gaye —— What’s Going On ► Soul – Motown
1971 ● Paul & Linda McCartney —— Ram [UK] ► Pop-Rock
1973 ● Earth, Wind & Fire —— Head To The Sky ► Soul-Funk
1976 ● Blue Öyster Cult —— Agents Of Fortune ► Metal
1979 ● Saxon —— Saxon ► Heavy Metal
1980 ● Paul McCartney —— McCartney II ► Pop-Rock
1982 ● John Waite —— Ignition ► Power Pop
1983 ● Joe Walsh —— You Bought It – You Name It ► Blues-Rock
1988 ● Cinderella —— Long Cold Winter ► Heavy Metal
1988 ● Poison —— Open Up And Say…Ahh! ► Heavy Metal/Hair Metal
1990 ● Soul II Soul —— Vol. II: 1990 – A New Beginning ► Dance-Pop/Electronic
1991 ● Helloween —— Pink Bubbles Go Ape ► Heavy Metal/Power Metal
1991 ● The Doors —— In Concert ► Blues-Rock
1996 ● Everything But The Girl —— Walking Wounded ► Electro-Pop
1996 ● The Wallflowers —— Bringing Down The Horse ► AA Pop-Rock
1996 ● Jason Becker —— Perspective ► Hard Rock
1996 ● Bobby Patterson —— Second Coming ► Texas Soul
1996 ● Scorpions —— Pure Instinct ► Heavy Metal/Kraut Rock
1996 ● Soundgarden —— Down On The Upside ► Grunge Rock
1996 ● The Cure —— Wild Mood Swings ► Post-Punk
1999 ● Arch Enemy —— Burning Bridges ► Heavy Metal/Death Metal
2002 ● Kool & The Gang —— Too Hot Live ► Funk
2002 ● Phil Lesh & Friends —— There And Back Again ► Country-Rock
2002 ● Poison —— Hollyweird ► Heavy Metal/Hair Metal
2002 ● Bad Company —— In Concert: Merchants Of Cool ► Hard Rock
2002 ● Three Dog Night —— Three Dog Night With The London Symphony Orchestra ► Blue-Eyed Soul
2012 ● Soundgarden —— The Classic Album Selection ► Grunge Rock
2013 ● The Beach Boys —— Live – The 50th Anniversary Tour ► Pop-Rock

May 22
1967 ● The Monkees —— Headquarters ► Pop-Rock
1975 ● Minnie Riperton —— Adventures In Paradise ► Soul-Pop
1979 ● Smokey Robinson —— Where There’s Smoke… ► Soul – Motown
1980 ● Diana Ross —— Diana ► Soul – Motown
1981 ● Toyah —— Anthem ► Punk Rock
1989 ● David Bowie & Tin Machine —— Tin Machine ► Hard Rock
1990 ● Andrew Ridgeley —— Son Of Albert ► Dance-Pop
1990 ● Madonna —— I’m Breathless [Sndtrk] ► Dance-Pop
1990 ● The Pretenders —— Packed! ► Post-Punk
1992 ● Spiritualized —— Lazer Guided Melodies ► Space Rock/Shoegaze
1992 ● Ringo Starr —— Time Takes Time ► Pop-Rock
2001 ● Stabbing Westward —— Stabbing Westward ► Industrial Rock
2002 ● The Tubes —— Hoods From Outer Space ► Alt. Rock
2006 ● Natalie Cole —— Leavin’ ► Soul-Pop
2007 ● Ozzy Osbourne —— Black Rain ► Hard Rock
2012 ● The Knack —— Havin’ A Rave-Up! Live In Los Angeles, 1978 ► Power Pop
2012 ● Sade —— Bring Me Home: Live 2011 ► Quiet Storm

May 23
1966 ● Brenda Lee —— Ten Golden Years ► Country-Pop
1966 ● Marvin Gaye —— Moods Of Marvin Gaye ► Soul – Motown
1969 ● The Who —— Tommy ► British Rock
1969 ● Cilla Black —— Surround Yourself With Cilla ► Pop/Merseybeat
1971 ● Rory Gallagher —— Rory Gallagher ► Blues-Rock
1972 ● The Jackson 5 —— Lookin’ Through The Windows ► Soul – Motown
1975 ● Elton John —— Captain Fantastic And The Brown Dirt Cowboy ► Pop-Rock
1979 ● Kiss —— Dynasty ► Hard Rock
1979 ● Diana Ross —— The Boss ► Disco
1980 ● Graham Parker —— The Up Escalator ► Pub Rock
1980 ● Roxy Music —— Flesh + Blood ► Prog Rock
1983 ● Bob Marley & The Wailers —— Confrontation ► Roots Reggae
1988 ● Joan Jett & The Blackhearts —— Up Your Alley ► Hard Rock
1988 ● The Kinks —— Live: The Road ► British Rock
1988 ● Rod Stewart —— Out Of Order ► Blues-Rock
1989 ● Wang Chung —— The Warmer Side Of Cool ► New Wave/Dance-Pop
1989 ● The Ramones —— Brain Drain ► Punk-Rock
1994 ● Stevie Nicks —— Street Angel ► Pop-Rock
1995 ● Bad Brains —— God Of Love ► Post-Punk/Hardcore
1995 ● Jerry Lee Lewis —— Young Blood ► Rock n Roll
1995 ● The Rembrandts —— LP ► Pop-Rock
1995 ● Squirrel Nut Zippers —— The Inevitable ► Swing Revival
1995 ● Chicago —— Night & Day ► Big Band
1995 ● Chris Isaak —— Forever Blue ► AA Pop-Rock
1995 ● Warren Zevon —— Mutineer ► Pop-Rock
1998 ● Aretha Franklin —— A Rose Is Still A Rose ► Soul
2000 ● Eminem —— The Marshall Mathers LP ► Hip-Hop
2000 ● The Go-Go’s —— VH1 Behind The Music: Go-Go’s Collection ► Alt. Pop-Rock
2000 ● Matchbox Twenty —— Mad Season ► Alt. Rock
2000 ● Rae & Christian —— Blazing The Crop ► Electronic Dance Mix
2000 ● Charlie Watts —— Charlie Watts/Jim Keltner Project ► Jazz-Rock Fusion
2000 ● Wilson Phillips —— Greatest Hits ► Pop-Rock
2000 ● XTC —— Wasp Star: Apple Venus, Vol. 2 ► New Wave Pop-Rock
2000 ● Don Henley —— Inside Job ► Pop-Rock
2006 ● Huey Lewis & The News —— Greatest Hits & Videos ► Pop-Rock
2007 ● Jeff Beck —— Official Bootleg USA ’06 ► Instrumental Rock
2011 ● Atlanta Rhythm Section —— With All Due Respect ► Southern Rock
2014 ● Kiss —— Kiss 40 ► Hard Rock

May 24
1968 ● The Small Faces —— Ogden’s Nut Gone Flake ► Psychedelic Rock
1974 ● Robert Hunter —— Tales Of The Great Rum Runners ► Country-Rock
1974 ● Harry Nilsson —— Son Of Dracula [Sndtrk] [UK] ► Folk-Rock
1974 ● David Bowie —— Diamond Dogs ► Glam Rock
1986 ● AC/DC —— Who Made Who ► Hard Rock
1986 ● Neil Diamond —— Headed For The Future ► Pop-Rock
1988 ● Camper Van Beethoven —— Our Beloved ► Punk-Folk-Ska Fusion
1988 ● Van Halen —— OU812 ► Hard Rock
1993 ● ABBA —— More ABBA Gold: More ABBA Hits ► Euro-Pop
1993 ● Natalie Cole —— Take A Look ► Soul-Pop
1993 ● Guns N’ Roses —— The “Civil War” [EP] ► Hard Rock
1993 ● Rod Stewart —— Unplugged…And Seated ► Blues-Rock
1993 ● The Doobie Brothers —— Listen to the Music: The Very Best of the Doobie Brothers ► Pop-Rock
1994 ● The Beastie Boys —— Ill Communication ► Rap
1994 ● Jeru The Damaja —— The Sun Rises In The East ► East Coast Rap
1994 ● Jimmy Buffett —— Fruitcakes ► Folk-Rock
2004 ● Dark Tranquility —— Exposures – In Retrospect And Denial ► Heavy Metal/Melodic Death Metal
2004 ● Avril Lavigne —— Under My Skin ► Alt. Pop/Pop-punk
2011 ● Journey —— Eclipse ► AOR Rock

May 25
1965 ● Chad & Jeremy —— Before And After ► Folk-Pop
1968 ● The Ventures —— Flights Of Fancy ► Rock n Roll Instrumental
1972 ● Young-Holt Unlimited —— Oh, Girl ► Pop-Soul
1973 ● Mike Oldfield —— Tubular Bells ► Instrumental
1978 ● David Gilmour —— David Gilmour [UK] ► Prog Rock
1978 ● AC/DC —— Powerage ► Hard Rock
1982 ● Spandau Ballet —— Diamond ► New Wave Synht-Pop
1982 ● Queen —— Hot Space ► Glam Rock
1983 ● Dio —— Holy Diver ► Heavy Metal
1984 ● Spandau Ballet —— Parade ► New Wave Synht-Pop
1987 ● Death —— Scream Bloody Gore ► Heavy Metal/Death Metal
1989 ● Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam —— Straight To The Sky ► Dance-Pop
1990 ● Jeff Healey Band —— Hell To Pay ► Blues-Rock
1992 ● Mellow Man Ace —— The Brother With Two Tongues ► Latin Rap/House
1993 ● Anthrax —— The Sound Of White Noise ► Heavy Metal/Thrash Metal
1993 ● Marc Cohn —— The Rainy Season ► Adult Contemporary
1993 ● Donald Fagen —— Kamakiriad ► Jazz-Rock
1994 ● Talisman —— Humanimal (Part 1) ► Hard Rock
1995 ● The Pietasters —— Ooloodoo ► Ska/Soul
1998 ● Tricky —— Angels With Dirty Faces ► Electronic Trip-Hop
1999 ● Anti-Flag —— A New Kind Of Army ► Punk Rock
2002 ● Kylie Minogue —— Confide In Me ► Dance-Pop
2004 ● Wilson Phillips —— California ► Pop-Rock
2004 ● Three Dog Night —— The Complete Hit Singles ► Blue-Eyed Soul
2009 ● Iron Maiden —— Flight 666 ► Heavy Metal
2009 ● Simple Minds —— Graffiti Soul ► New Wave Alt. Pop
2015 ● Yes —— Progeny: Seven Shows From Seventy-Two ► Prog Rock

May 26
1967 ● The Mothers Of Invention —— Absolutely Free ► Art Rock
1969 ● George Harrison —— Electronic Sound ► Art-Rock
1969 ● John Lennon & Yoko Ono —— Unfinished Music, No. 2: Life With The Lions ► Pop-Rock
1969 ● Diana Ross & The Supremes —— Let The Sunshine In ► Soul – Motown
1972 ● Weather Report —— I Sing The Body Electric ► Jazz-Rock Fusion
1987 ● The Cure —— Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me ► Post-Punk
1992 ● Los Lobos —— Kiko ► Roots Rock
1992 ● Queen —— Live At Wembley ’86 ► Glam Rock
1997 ● The Jam —— Direction Reaction Creation ► Punk-Rock
1998 ● Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds —— The Best Of Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds ► Alt Rock
1998 ● Wilson Phillips —— The Best Of Wilson Phillips ► Pop-Rock
1998 ● The B-52’s —— Time Capsule ► New Wave Pop-Rock
2009 ● Procol Harum —— Procol Harum Live: In Concert With The Danish National Concert Orchestra And Choir ► Prog Rock
2009 ● 10,000 Maniacs —— Extended Versions ► Folk-Rock

This Week’s Birthdays (May 19 – 25)

Happy Birthday this week to:

May 19
1894 ● Moms Mabley / (Loretta Mary Aitken) → Hugely successful stand-up comedienne from the vaudeville era with 17 charting albums in the 60s and one hit, a cover of “Abraham, Martin And John” (#35, R&B #18, 1969), for a time making her the oldest living person to have a Billboard Top 40 hit, died from heart failure on 5/23/1975, age 82
1932 ● Alma Cogan / (Alma Cohen) → 50s and early 60s rising star Brit traditional pop female vocalist, “Dreamboat” (UK #1, 1955) plus 20 other UK Top 40 hits, died of stomach cancer on 10/26/1966, age 34
1940 ● Mickey Newbury / (Milton Sims Newbury, Jr.) → Prolific country music songwriter with dozens of hit songs performed by others, including Top 20 songs on four charts simultaneously, “Here Comes the Rain, Baby” (Eddy Arnold, Country #4, 1968), “Sweet Memories” (Andy Williams, Easy Listening #4, 1968), “Time Is A Thief” (Solomon Burke, R&B #15, 1968) and “Just Dropped In (to See What Condition My Condition Was In)” (Kenny Rogers & The First Edition, Pop #5, 1968), plus a solo hit single “An American Trilogy” (#26, 1972), died 9/29/2002, age 62
1945 ● Pete Townshend / (Peter Dennis Blandford Townshend) → Guitarist, songwriter, rock opera composer and vocalist for Brit rock ‘n’ roll The Who, “I Can See For Miles” (#9, 1967) and 14 other US Top 40 singles, rock opera albums Tommy (1969) and Quadrophenia (1973), Grammy-winning solo career, “Face The Face” (#26, Mainstream Rock #3, 1985)
1947 ● Jerry Hyman → Trombonist for jazz-rock/pop-rock horn band Blood, Sweat & Tears, “Spinning Wheel” (#2, 1969)
1947 ● Paul Brady → Irish folk-pop singer/songwriter and guitarist with The Johnstons and Planxty, then long solo career, “Nobody Knows” (1990)
1947 ● Gregory Herbert → Alto saxophone for jazz-rock/pop-rock fusion band Blood, Sweat & Tears, “Spinning Wheel” (#2, 1969), died of a drug overdose on 1/31/1978, age 30
1947 ● Steve Currie → Bassist for proto-glam-rock T. Rex, “Bang A Gong (Get It On)” (#10, 1971), sessions, died in a car crash on 4/28/1981, age 33
1948 ● Tom Scott → Grammy-winning jazz-pop-rock multi-reedist, composer, session musician and bandleader, co-founder of the Blues Brothers Band and jazz-rock The L. A. Express, which backed Joni Mitchell, Carole King, George Harrison and others, solo “Tom Cat” (R&B #93, 1975), composer of film soundtracks and TV shows, including the theme song for Starsky And Hutch
1948 ● Paul Williams → Music journalist and writer, founder and editor of college-rag turned national publication Crawdaddy, the first journal to be entirely devoted to in-depth commentary about rock music and which started the careers of a generation of rock writers and critics, died from complications of a brain injury suffered in a 1995 bicycle accident on 3/27/2013 , age 64
1949 ● Dusty Hill / (Joe Michael Hill) → Bass, vocals and keyboards for venerable Texas blues/boogie rock trio ZZ Top, “Legs” (#8, 1984)
1950 ● Mike Wedgewood → Bassist for Brit prog/avant-garde rock Curved Air, “Back Street Luv” (UK #4, 1974)
1950 ● Romeo Challenger → Drummer for Brit rock ‘n’ roll revival Showaddywaddy, “Under The Moon Of Love” (UK #1, 1976) and over 20 other UK Top 40 singles
1951 ● Joey Ramone / (Jeffrey Hyman) → Cultural icon, lead vocals and songwriter for seminal punk rock band The Ramones, “Rockaway Beach” (#66, 1978), died from lymphatic cancer on 4/15/2001, age 49
1952 ● Barbara Joyce Lomas → Vocals for 70s R&B/soul-funk-disco B.T. Express, “Do It (‘Til Your Satisfied)” (#2, R&B #1, 1974)
1952 ● Grace Jones / (Grace Mendoza) → Severely androgynous “Queen of the Gay Discos” and R&B/dance-pop-disco diva, “Pull Up To The Bumper” (R&B #5, Dance/Club #2, 1981), actress
1954 ● Phil Rudd / (Phillip Rudd) → Drummer for Aussie power chord hard rockers AC/DC, “For Those About To Rock” (Mainstream Rock #4, 1982), left in 1983
1956 ● Teddy Bear Ware / (Martyn Ware) → Founding member of late-70s synth-pop pioneers The Human League, “Don’t You Want Me” (#1, 1981), left to form 80s synth-pop Heaven 17, “Temptation” (UK #2, 1983) and “Contenders” (Dance/Club #6, 1987)
1962 ● Iain Harvie → Founder, guitarist and songwriter for pop and country-rock Del Amitri, “Roll To Me” (#10, 1995)
1963 ● Yazz / (Yasmin Evans) → Brit dance-pop singer often credited as Yazz And The Plastic Population, “The Only Way Is Up” (#96, Dance/Club #2, 1988)
1965 ● Ben Volpeliere-Pierrot → Vocals for Brit teen-pop blue-eyed soul Curiosity Killed The Cat, “Down To Earth” (UK #3, 1986)
1968 ● Paul Hartnoll → With brother Phil, Brit electronic dance music duo Orbital, “The Box” (UK #11, 1996)
1970 ● Stuart Cable → Original drummer for Welsh alt rock/trad rock Stereophonics, “Have A Nice Day” (Modern Rock #26, UK #5, 2001), left in 2003 and hosted cable TV show in Wales and BBC Radio Wales, choked to death on 6/7/2010
1972 ● Jenny Berggren → Singer and songwriter for Swedish pop-rockers Ace Of Base, “All That She Wants” (#2, 1993)
1992 ● Sam Smith / (Samuel Frederick Smith) → Four-time Grammy-winning R&B/pop singer with the 2014 Song of the Year, “Stay With Me” (#2, UK #1, 2014)

May 20
1901 ● Jimmy Blythe / (James Louis Blythe) → Chicago R&B/blues and boogie woogie piano player credited with over 200 piano roll tunes and for recording one of the first full-length boogie-woogie songs (“Chicago Stomp,” 1924), died from meningitis on 6/14/1931, age 30
1925 ● Vic Ames / (Victor Urick) → Chicago R&B/blues and boogie woogie piano player credited with over 200 piano roll tunes and for recording one of the first full-length boogie-woogie songs (“Chicago Stomp,” 1924), died from meningitis on 6/14/1931, age 30
1940 ● Shorty Long / (Frederick Earl Long) → Overlooked Motown R&B/pop singer, “Here Comes The Judge” (#8, R&B #4, 1968), producer and song craftsman, drowned in a Detroit River boating accident on 6/29/1969
1942 ● Jill Jackson → Vocals in pop duo Paul & Paula, “Hey Paula” (#1, 1963)
1944 ● Joe Cocker / (John Robert Cocker) → Gravelly-voiced, blue-eyed soul pub-rock/blues-pop-rock vocalist and hard partying rock star, “A Little Help From My Friends” (#68, UK #1, 1968), “The Letter” (#7, 1970) and duet with Jennifer Warnes, “Up Where We Belong” (#1, 1982), died from lung cancer on 12/22/14, age 70
1946 ● Cher / (Cherilyn Sarkisian LaPierre) → Singer and TV and film actress, first with husband Sonny Bono in pop-rock duo Sonny & Cher, “I Got You Babe” (#1, 1965) and later as a five-decade solo act with 33 charting singles (22 in the Top 4), including “Believe” (#1, 1999)
1950 ● Stephen Alex Broughton → Drummer for Brit blues-rock then prog rock Edgar Broughton Band, “Apache Dropout” (UK #33, 1970)
1950 ● Andy Johns → Brit sound engineer and record producer, worked on albums by Free (Highway, 1970), The Rolling Stones (Exile On Main Street, 1972), Television (Marquee Moon, 1977) and many others, died from complications of a stomach ulcer on 4/7/2013, age 62
1952 ● Warren Cann → Drummer for New Wave electro-synth-pop pioneers Ultravox, “Vienna” (UK #2, 1980) and 15 other UK Top 40 singles
1954 ● Guy Hoffman / (Guy Edward Hoffman) → Drummer for roots rock The BoDeans, “Closer To Free” (#16, 1993)
1954 ● Jimmy Henderson → Guitarist for Southern raunch-rock Black Oak Arkansas, “Jim Dandy To The Rescue” (Top 30, 1973)
1955 ● Steve George → Keyboardist for 80s atmospheric pop-rock quartet Mr. Mister, “Kyrie” (#1, 1985)
1958 ● Jane Wiedlin → Guitar, songwriting and vocals for top New Wave pop-rock all-girl group The Go-Go’s, “We Got The Beat (#2, 1982) and solo, “Rush Hour” (#9, 1988)
1959 ● Susan Cowsill → Sub-teen vocalist for family pop band The Cowsills, “The Rain, The Park And Other Things” (#2, 1967) and theme song from Broadway musical Hair, (#2, 1969), inspiration for the TV show The Partridge Family, backing vocalist for various artists in the 80s, then formed alt country-rock supergroup Continental Drifters in 1991, solo
1961 ● Dan Wilson → Guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter for post-grunge alt rock Semisonic, wrote “Closing Time” (Modern Rock #4, 1998), producer
1961 ● Nick Heyward → Guitar and vocals for New Wave funk-pop Haircut 100, “Love Plus One” (#37, 1982)
1963 ● Nasher / (Brian Nash) → Backing vocals and guitarist for Brit New Wave pop/rock Frankie Goes To Hollywood, “Relax” (#10, 1984)
1964 ● Patti Russo / (Patricia Russo) → Singer/songwriter and actress best known as the female lead vocalist with Meat Loaf‘s touring band, Neverland Express from 1993 to 2013
1966 ● Tom Gorman → Guitarist for alt pop-rock Belly, “Feed The Tree” (#1, Modern Rock, 1993)
1967 ● Kit Clark → With brother Gary Clark, founding member and vocals for Scottish pop-rock Danny Wilson, “Mary’s Prayer” (#23, Adult Contemporary #6, 1987)
1972 ● Busta Rhymes / (Trevor Smith, Jr.) → Grammy-nominated, idiosyncratic speed rapper, first with Leaders Of The New School, “What’s Next” (Rap #1, 1993), then solo, “Woo-Hah!! Got You All In Check ” (#8, Rap #1, 1996)
1981 ● Sean Conlon → Vocals for Brit dance-pop boy band 5ive (aka Five), “When The Lights Go Out” (#10, 1998)
1984 ● Naturi Naughton → Vocals for R&B/dance-teen-pop 3LW (aka 3 Little Women), “No More (Baby I’ma Do Right)” (#23, 2001)

May 21
1904 ● Fats Waller / (Thomas Wright Waller) → Jazz and ragtime pianist, co-wrote “Ain’t Misbehavin'” (1929), the oft-covered classic now included in the National Recording Registry by the Library of Congress, died 12/15/1943 from pneumonia, age 39
1926 ● Al Grossman / (Albert Bernard Grossman) → Chicago folk club owner and later promoter and manager for Bob Dylan (1962-70), Peter, Paul & Mary, The Band, Paul Butterfield, Janis Joplin and others, built Bearsville Studios near Woodstock, NY and founded Bearsville Records, died of a heart attack while flying to London on the Concorde to sign unknown British rock singer on 1/25/1986, age 59
1928 ● Tom Donahue → Rock Hall of Fame-inducted pioneering “free format” FM rock DJ on KSAN (San Francisco) and other stations, night club owner, concert producer/promoter, record label executive, died of a heart attack on 4/28/1975
1940 ● Tony Sheridan / (Anthony McGinnity) → Britbeat pop-rock bandleader, frontman for The Beat Brothers and collaborator with The Beatles in Hamburg in the early 60s, recorded several tracks with the Fab Four, including “My Bonnie” in June 1961, which reached #5 in West Germany, retired from the music business in the mid-70s, died following heart surgery on 2/16/2013, age 72
1941 ● Ronald Isley → Vocals for six-decade, multi-generation R&B/soul family group The Isley Brothers, “That Lady, Pts. 1-2” (#6, 1973)
1943 ● Hilton Valentine → Guitarist for British Invasion hard/blues-rock The Animals, “House Of The Rising Sun” (#1, 1964)
1943 ● John Dalton → Bass guitarist for British Invasion pop-rock The Kinks, “Lola” (#9, 1970), replaced Pete Quaiffe in 1969, left the band in 1976 and periodically appears with the Kast Off Kinks
1943 ● Vincent Crane / (Vincent Cheesman) → Keyboards and songwriter for Brit psych-rock The Crazy World of Arthur Brown, “Fire” (#12, 1987), left with bandmate Carl Palmer to form prog/art rock Atomic Rooster, “The Devil’s Answer” (UK #4, 1971), died from an overdose of painkillers on 2/14/1989, age 45
1944 ● Marcie Blaine / (Marcia Blank) → One hit wonder pop singer, “Bobby’s Girl” (#3, 1962)
1947 ● Bill Champlin → Singer, songwriter, guitarist, keyboardist and frontman for psych-rock Sons Of Champlin, joined pop-rock/horn band Chicago, “You’re The Inspiration” (#3, 1984) in 1981 and has played and toured with the band since, also solo and side projects
1948 ● Leo Sayer / (Gerard Hugh Sayer) → Grammy-winning blue-eyed R&B/pop-disco singer, “You Make Me Feel Like Dancing” (#1, 1977)
1954 ● Marc Ribot → Multi-genre guitarist and composer, session work for dozens of artists from Norah Jones to Elvis Costello to Tom Waits, member of New York City avant-garde The Lounge Lizards
1955 ● Stan Lynch → Drummer for Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, “Free Fallin'” (#7, 1989)
1963 ● Kevin Shields → Founding member and guitarist for art-prog-rock, “shoe-gazing” pioneers My Bloody Valentine, “Only Shallow” (Modern Rock #27, 1992)
1963 ● Tim Lever → Keyboards for New Wave dance-pop Hi-NRG group Dead Or Alive, “You Spin Me ‘Round (Like A Record)” (#11, 1985)
1964 ● Martin Blunt → Bass for “Madchester” alt rock The Charlatans UK, “The Only One I Know” (Mainstream Rock #37, 1991)
1972 ● The Notorious B.I.G. / (Christopher Wallace) → Street hustler turned East Coast hip hop star, “Mo Money Mo Problems” (#1, 1997), murdered in a drive-by shooting in L.A. on 3/9/1997, age 24
1975 ● Lee Gaze → Lead guitarist for Welsh alt hard rock Lostprophets, “Last Train Home” (Mainstream Rock #10, 2004)
1978 ● Adam Wade Gontier → Lead singer and guitarist in Canadian punk/metal Three Days Grace, “Just Like You” (Mainstream Rock #1, 2004)
1985 ● Mutya Buena → Singer in Brit multi-racial pop girl group Sugababes, “Hole In The Head” (Dance/Club #1, 2004), quit the group in 2005 for solo, “Real Girl” (UK #2, 2006)

May 22
1924 ● Charles Aznavour / (Shahnour Aznavourian) → The “French Frank Sinatra”, world-known French-Armenian music hall singer, songwriter, actor and diplomat, “She” (UK #1, 1974)
1930 ● Jimmy Keyes → Founding member and first tenor vocals for one hit wonder R&B/doo wop The Chords, one of the earliest black groups to cross over to the pop charts with “Sh-Boom” (#9, R&B #3, 1954), died on 7/22/1995, age 65
1937 ● Kenny Ball → Brit traditional jazz trumpeter and bandleader, Kenny Ball & His Jazzman, “Midnight In Moscow” (#2, 1962)
1941 ● Bruce Rowlands → Drummer in Joe Cocker‘s backing group The Grease Band, then joined renowned Brit folk-rock Fairport Convention, “Si Tu Dos Partir” (UK #21, 1969)
1941 ● Jackie Jackson / (Jackie Landry Jackson) → Vocals for early R&B/pop girl group trio The Chantels, “Maybe” (#15, R&B #2, 1958), one of the definitive songs of the genre, became a stenographer in the Bronx (NY) court system following her music career, died from breast cancer on 12/23/1997, age 56
1942 ● Calvin Simon → Vocals for R&B/doo wop The Parliaments, “(I Wanna) Testify” (#20, R&B #3, 1967), then R&B/soul-funk (“P-Funk”) giants Parliament-Funkadelic, “One Nation Under A Groove” (#31, 1978)
1949 ● Chris Butler → Lead guitarist and chief songwriter for New Wave pop-rock The Waitresses, “I Know What Boys Like” (Mainstream Rock #23, 1982), solo and record producer/executive
1950 ● Bernie Taupin → Lyricist and renowned songwriting partner of Elton John with dozens of collaborative hits, also co-wrote Jefferson Starship‘s “We Built This City” (#1, 1985), Heart‘s “These Dreams” ( #1, 1986), and songs for Rod Stewart, Cher, The Motels, John Waite, Alice Cooper and multiple others
1954 ● Jerry Dammers → Founding member and keyboard play for ska revival/punk rock The Specials, “Ghost Town” (UK #1, 1981), producer and co-founder of 2 Tone Records
1955 ● Iva Davies → Welsh singer/songwriter, guitarist, producer and film score composer, frontman for Aussie New Wave synth-pop/pub rock Icehouse, “Electric Blue” (#7, 1987)
1955 ● Mary Black → Irish folk and contemporary pop-rock-blues singer and songwriter, “Columbus” (1989)
1959 ● Morrissey / (Steven Patrick Morrissey) → Vocalist and lyricist, frontman for definitive Brit indie rock The Smiths, “Heaven Knows I’m Miserable Now” (UK #10, 1984), solo, “Suedehead” (UK #5, 1988) and over 15 other UK Top 40 singles
1962 ● Jesse Valenzuela → Vocals and guitar for power-pop Gin Blossoms, “Found Out About You” (Modern Rock #1, 1994), solo
1966 ● Johnny Gill → R&B/hip hop “new jack swing” singer, “Super Love” (#29, 1983), joined New Edition, “If It Isn’t Love” (#7, 1988), returned to solo recording, “Rub You The Right Way” (#3, 1990)
1967 ● Dan Roberts → Bassist for Canadian alt pop-rock Crash Test Dummies, “Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm” (#4, 1993)
1979 ● Russell Pritchard → Bass guitarist for Brit indie rock The Zutons, “Valerie” (UK #9, 2006)
1981 ● Su-Elise Nash → Vocals in “UK urban” R&B/dance-pop trio Mis-Teeq, “One Night Stand” (Dance/Club #4, 2004), now a performing arts school director

May 23
1910 ● Artie Shaw / (Arthur Jacob Arshawsky) → Big Band-era bandleader, composer and one of the most-renowned clarinetists of all time, his version of Cole Porter‘s “Begin The Beguine” (#3, 1938) is one of the most popular and enduring songs of the Swing Era, retired from touring in the early 50s, returned briefly in the mid-80s and died of natural causes on 12/30/2004, age 94
1918 ● Bumps Blackwell / (Robert Blackwell) → Early rock ‘n’ roll and soul music producer, Specialty Records executive, managed Little Richard and co-wrote several hits, including “Long Tall Sally” (#6, R&B #1, 1956), guided multiple other R&B/soul acts including Ray Charles, Sam Cooke and Sly & The Family Stone, died of pneumonia on 1/27/1985, age 66
1921 ● Humphrey Lyttleton → Jazz bandleader, trumpeter, composer and BBC Radio 4 host, I’m Sorry I Haven’t A Clue, died of an aortic aneurysm on 4/25/2008, age 86
1928 ● Rosemary Clooney → Immensely popular 40s-50s adult pop singer, “Mangos” (#10, 1957), stage and film actress, died of lung cancer on 7/29/2002, age 74
1933 ● Gary Burden → Grammy-winning designer of music album covers for many rock and pop luminaries, including The Doors, the Eagles, Joni Mitchell and Jackson Browne, as well as 40 covers for Neil Young beginning with After The Gold Rush (1970) and continuing for over 35 years, died from undisclosed causes on 3/7/2018, age 84
1934 ● Robert Moog → Keyboard musician and inventor of the synthesizer, built his first electronic instrument – the Theremin – at age 14 and in 1970 produced the MiniMoog “the first compact, easy-to-use synthesizer,” died on 8/21/2005 four months after being diagnosed with brain cancer, age 71
1941 ● General Norman Johnson → Frontman and lead singer for R&B/soul-pop Chairmen Of The Board, “Give Me Just A Little More Time” (#3, 1970), left for a successful songwriting career, including the Grammy-winning “Patches” for Clarence Carter (#4, R&B #2, 1971) and “Want Ads” for Honey Cone (#1, R&B #1, 1971), died from lung cancer on 10/13/2010, age 69
1944 ● Tiki Fulwood / (Raymond Fulwood) → Drummer for R&B/soul-funk (“P-Funk”) giants Parliament-Funkadelic, “One Nation Under A Groove” (#31, 1978), died from stomach cancer on 10/29/1979, age 35
1945 ● Misty Morgan → With husband Jack Blanchard, one-half of the country-pop vocal duo Jack & Misty, scored two crossover hits, including the Grammy-nominated “Tennessee Bird Walk” (#23, Country #1, 1970) among 15 country chart hits, continued to record and perform without chart success into the 00s
1946 ● Danny Klein → Bassist for boogie-blues-rock ‘n roll bar band J. Geils Band, wrote “Centerfold” (#1, 1982)
1946 ● Ruth Underwood / (Ruth Komanoff) → Marimba, vibraphone, xylophone and general percussionist for Frank Zappa and his backing band, The Mothers Of Invention (“Brown Shoes Don’t Make It,” 1967) in the 60s and 70s, also did session work for pop-rock Ambrosia, jazz-fusion George Duke and others, retired from music in the 80s
1947 ● Bill Hunt → Horns and keyboards for pop-rock Electric Light Orchestra, “Don’t Bring Me Down” (#4, 1979) and 26 other Top 40 hits
1953 ● Rick Fenn → Guitarist and vocals for soft pop-rock 10cc, “I’m Not In Love” (#2, 1975), session work with Mike Oldfield, Rick Wakeman and others
1955 ● Jim Mankey → Guitarist with post-punk alt rock Concrete Blonde, “Joey” (Modern Rock #1, 1990)
1955 ● Thereza Bazar → Singer for Brit cabaret-pop Guys N’ Dolls, “There’s A Whole Lot Of Loving” (UK #2, 1975), then formed pop duo Dollar with David Van Day, “Mirror, Mirror” (UK #4, 1981), solo
1957 ● Jimmy McShane → Irish-born frontman and lead singer for Italian New Wave synth-pop Baltimora, “Tarzan Boy” (#13, UK #6, 1985), died from AIDS-related causes on 3/29/1995, age 37
1965 ● Simon Gilbert → Drummer in Britpop indie rock Suede, “Trash” (UK #3, 1996)
1967 ● Junior Waite / (Frederick Waite, Jr.) → Vocals for ska/reggae band Musical Youth, “Pass The Dutchie” (#10, 1982)
1967 ● Phil Selway → Drummer for alt/indie rock Radiohead, “There There” (Modern Rock #14, 2003)
1970 ● Matt Flynn → Drummer for alt funk-rock Maroon 5, “She Will Be Loved” (#5, 2004) since 2006, previously played with The B-52’s, Chicago and others
1973 ● Maxwell / (Gerald Maxwell Rivera) → Leading R&B/neo-soul singer, “Fortunate” (#4, R&B #1, 1999)
1974 ● Jewel / (Jewel Kilcher) → Singer/songwriter and guitarist, “You Were Meant For Me” (#3, 1997)
1974 ● Richard Jones → Bassist for Welsh alt rock/trad rock Stereophonics, “Have A Nice Day” (Modern Rock #26, UK #5, 2001)
1978 ● Mad Dog / (Scott Raynor) → Drummer for pop-punk Blink-182, “All The Small Things” (#6, 2000)
1983 ● Heidi Range → Original member and vocalist for Brit dance-pop vocal trio Atomic Kitten, “Whole Again” (UK #1, 2000), then multi-racial pop girl group Sugababes, “Hole In The Head” (Dance/Club #1, 2004)

May 24
1928 ● Max Bennett → Jazz and rock bass guitarist, session musician and bandleader, member of the acclaimed Wrecking Crew group of L.A. studio musicians, played on numerous albums by The Monkees, The Partridge Family, Frank Zappa and many others, co-founded the jazz-rock L.A. Express in the 70s and currently fronts Private Label
1938 ● Tommy Chong → Canadian-American comedian, TV and film actor, voice artist, director and one-half the groundbreaking stoner duo Cheech & Chong, “Santa Claus And His Old Lady” (#3, 1972), performed in various venues with and without his comedic partner through to their reunion in the 00s, became the oldest contestant to make the semi-finals on Dancing With The Stars in September 2014
1938 ● Prince Buster / (Cecil Bustamonte Campbell) → One of the most important figures in the development of ska and rocksteady music in Jamaica and beyond, hugely influential reggae/ska perfumer, producer and solo artist over a nearly 40 year career, scored UK (“Al Capone,” UK #18, 1967) and US hits (“Ten Commandments Of Man,” #81, R&B #17, 1967), dropped out of the industry in the late 70s and recorded and performed only sporadically up to his death following a stroke on 9/8/2016, age 78
1941 ● Bob Dylan / (Robert Allen Zimmerman) → Vastly influential and popular folk-rock singer/songwriter and guitarist with 29 Top 20 albums and five Top 20 singles, including “Like A Rolling Stone” (#2, 1965)
1941 ● Tony Valentino / (Emilio Bellissimo) → Co-founding member, vocals and guitar for garage/proto-punk The Standells, “Dirty Water” (#11, 1966), toured and performed with the band into the 80s, now an L.A.-area restaurateur
1942 ● Derek Quinn → Guitar and harmonica for British Invasion novelty/comedy pop-rock ‘n’ roll Freddie & The Dreamers, “I’m Telling You Now” (#1, 1965)
1944 ● Patti LaBelle (Patricia Holt) / (Patricia Holt) → Soul diva and the “Queen of Rock and Soul”, first with R&B/gospel-doo wop The Blue Belles, “Down The Aisle (The Wedding Song)” (#37, R&B #14, 1963), then as frontwoman for LaBelle, “Lady Marmalade” (#1, 1975), then a long solo career, including a duet with Michael McDonald, “On My Own” (#1, 1986) and a comeback single “New Day” (Dance/Club #11, 2004)
1945 ● Dave Peacock → Bass and vocals for Brit pop-“rockney” duo Chas & Dave, “Gertcha” (UK #20, 1979)
1946 ● Steve Upton → Drummer (1970-1989) for Brit prog-rock Wishbone Ash, “Time Was” (1972)
1947 ● Albert Bouchard → Drummer, guitarist and songwriter for hard rock/pop metal Blue Öyster Cult, “(Don’t Fear) The Reaper” (#12, 1976)
1947 ● Plaster Caster / (Cynthia Caster) → Rock groupie known for making plaster casts of rock star’s penises and breasts, including Jimi Hendrix and members of MC5, Television, The Kinks, various road managers and other rock stars
1947 ● Waddy Wachtel / (Robert Wachtel) → High-profile L.A. session musician, composer and record producer, worked in the studio and on tour with Linda Ronstadt, Stevie Nicks, Keith Richards, James Taylor, Iggy Pop, Jackson Browne and many others, composed scores for multiple films, wrote or co-wrote dozens of songs and produced dozens of records by artists from Bryan Ferry to Warren Zevon
1955 ● Rosanne Cash → Country-pop singer/songwriter, “Seven Year Ache” (#22, Country #1, 1981), daughter of country music legend Johnny Cash
1956 ● Larry Blackmon → Leader, drummer, producer and principal songwriter for R&B/funk Cameo, “Word Up” (#6, 1986)
1960 ● Guy Fletcher → Multi-instrumentalist with prog rock Roxy Music, “Love Is The Drug” (#30, 1976), session work for Bryan Ferry, Dire Straits, Mark Knopfler and others
1962 ● Gene Anthony Ray → Actor, dancer and choreographer, played “Leroy’ in the movie and TV series Fame, danced on The Weather Girls‘ video of “It’s Raining Men,” died from a stroke related to HIV on 11/14/2003, age 41
1967 ● Heavy D / (Dwight Myers) → Rapper, singer and MC for R&B/hip hop The Boyz, “Now That We Found Love” (#11, 1991), moved to reggae-rap fusion, died after collapsing outside his L.A. condo on 11/8/2011, age 44
1969 ● Rich Robinson → Guitarist for roots/raunch rock The Black Crowes, “Hard To Handle” (Mainstream Rock #1, 1991)
1969 ● Tommy Page → Twelve-album, one hit wonder dance-teen-pop singer, “I’ll Be Your Everything” (#1, 1990), producer
1976 ● Alessandro Cortini → Keyboards for industrial rock Nine Inch Nails, “The Day The World Went Away” (#17, 1999)
1988 ● Billy Gilman → Country-pop singer and youngest Country Top 20 artist in history, “One Voice” (#38, Country #20, 2000)

May 25
1921 ● Hal David → Pop/MOR lyricist, co-wrote dozens of hits, often in collaboration with composer Burt Bacharach, including “(They Long To Be) Close To You” for the Carpenters (#1, 1970), “Walk On By” for Dionne Warwick (#6, 1964), won two Oscars for film score to Butch Cassidy And The Sundance Kid (1969) and for “Raindrops Keep Fallin’ On My Head” from the soundtrack (B. J. Thomas, #1, 1969), died from a stroke on 9/1/2012, age 91
1922 ● Kitty Kallen / (Katherine Kalinsky) → Pop vocalist with 21 Top 40 hits in the 40s and 50s, including “Little Things Mean A Lot” (#1, 1954), retired from singing in 1955 to nurse paralyzed vocal cords but returned in 1959 to score two additional hits before Beatlemania sank her career
1927 ● Norman Petty → Musician and record producer best known for his work in the 50s with Buddy Holly and his backing band, The Crickets, as coach, recording engineer, producer, band manager and occasional co-writer of numerous hit songs, including “Peggy Sue” (#3, 1957), also fronted his own band and produced albums for Roy Orbison, Waylon Jennings, Jimmy Gilmer & The Fireballs and others, died from leukemia on 8/15/1984, age 57
1927 ● Paul Oliver / (Paul Hereford Oliver) → Brit architectural historian whose sideline interest in blues music led him to author several early and authoirtative books on the subject, including “The Story Of The Blues” (1969), wrote multiple biographies and narratives about indigenous American music over 40 years, left an unfinished 1,400 page manuscript on Texas blues when he died from natural causes on 8/15/2017, age 90
1936 ● Tom T. Hall → Grammy-winning country storytelling songwriter and singer, wrote “Harper Valley P.T.A.” for Jeannie C. Riley (#1, 1968) and as a solo artist recorded 21 Country Top 10 hits, including “I Love” (#12, Country #1, 1973)
1936 ● Donnie Elbert → R&B/Northern soul singer with a lone 50s minor hit, “What Can I Do?” (#61, R&B #12, 1957), left for the UK and recorded there with some success in the 60s, returned to the US in 1970 and had eight charting singles in eight years, including “Where Did Our Love Go” (#15, R&B #6, 1971), died of a stroke on 1/26/1989, age 52
1942 ● Blinky Davison / (Brian Davison) → Drummer for 60s Brit prog rock The Nice, “America” (1968), prog rock Refugee and space-rock Gong, died 4/15/2008, age 65
1943 ● Jessi Colter / (Miriam Johnson) → Singer/songwriter and lone female star from the “outlaw country” genre, “I’m Not Lisa” (#4, Country #1, 1975), wife of Waylon Jennings, teamed with Waylon, Willie Nelson and Tompall Glaser on the 1976 album Wanted! The Outlaws, the first country music album to sell over a million copies
1943 ● Poli Palmer / (John Michael Palmer) → Piano and vibraphone for blues/art rock Family, “In My Own Time” (UK #4, 1971)
1945 ● Dave Lee Travis / (David Patrick Griffin) → BBC Radio 1 and TV host, with fellow DJ Paul Burnette released “Convoy GB” (UK #4, 1976) as Laurie Lingo & The Dipsticks, a parody of . McCall‘s “Convoy” (#1, Country #1, 1975)
1947 ● Mitch Margo / (Mitchell Stuart Margo) → Tenor vocals and piano for blue-eyed R&B/doo-wop group The Tokens, was just 14 years old when the band released it’s biggest hit, “The Lion Sleeps Tonight” (#1, 1961), later helped produce albums for the Chiffons and Tony Orlando & Dawn, wrote songs for others, including “Laugh ” (1967) for The Monkees and “Slow Dance” (1989) for The Carpenters, performed with various Tokens lineups, composed TV scores and painted for album covers and children’s books until his death from natural causes on 11/24/2017, age 70
1948 ● Klaus Meine → Lead vocals and frontman for German hard rock/metal Scorpions, “Rock You Like A Hurricane” (#25, 1984)
1949 ● Clarence Burke Jr. → With his four siblings, lead singer in the “First Family of Soul,” Chicago R&B/soul The Five Stairsteps “O-o-h Child” (#7, R&B #14, 1970), worked with Billy Preston and George Harrison‘s Dark Horse label, reformed the Stairsteps with two brothers as R&B/disco The Invisible Man’s Band (“All Night Thing,” Dance/Club #10, 1980), continued to perform until just before his death from undisclosed causes on 5/26/2013, age 64
1950 ● Jean Millington → Vocals and guitar with sister June in pioneering all-girl rock quartet Fanny (“Butter Boy,” #29, 1975), one of the earliest women-only rock bands and the first to release an album on a major record label (Fanny, Reprise, 1970), broke up in 1975 but continued to record and perform with her sister as a duet and in various Fanny reunions, including as Fanny Walks The Earth with an eponymous album in 2018.
1950 ● Robby Steinhardt / (Robert Eugene Steinhardt) → Co-lead singer and violinist for prog/heartland rock Kansas, “Carry On Wayward Son” (#11, 1977), solo
1951 ● Chuck Ruff / (Charles Frederick Carson Ruff) → Rock drummer best known as a founding member of hard rock Edgar Winter Group (“Frankenstein,” #1, 1973 and “Free Ride,” #14, 1973), later played on albums by Sammy Hagar (“Your Love Is Driving Me Crazy” (#13, 1983) and worked in various solo and collaboration bands, died after a long illness on 10/14/2011, age 60
1955 ● John Grimaldi → Guitarist for hard/art rock Argent, “Hold Your Head Up” (#5, 1972)
1958 ● Paul Weller / (John William Weller) → Co-founder, lead singer, guitarist and songwriter for punk rock/modcon trio The Jam, “Going Underground” (UK #1, 1980), then co-founded sophisti-pop-soul The Style Council, “My Ever Changing Moods” (#29, UK #5, 1984), then solo “Peacock Suit” (UK #5, 1996) and 28 other UK Top 40 singles
1959 ● Rick Smith / (Richard Smith) → Keyboards for electro/trance/dance-pop Underworld, “Two Months Off” (Dance/Club #2, 2002)
1975 ● Lauryn Hill → Grammy-winning singer, guitarist and songwriter with R&B/jazz-rap The Fugees, “Killing Me Softly” (#1, 1996), solo, “Doo Wop (That Thing” (#1, 1998)
1980 ● Joe King → Co-founder, guitar, backing vocals and songwriter of mainstream/piano rock The Fray, “How To Save A Life” (#3, 2006)

Singles Released This Week (May 13 – 19)

Here’s a running list of charting singles (and B-Sides that charted) from rock and pop music from the 50s through the 80s – the BEST music ever made!

Entries are: Year • Artist • Track Title • Genre • Album • B-Side

(If a non-album single, then [Single]. If the charting track was the B-Side, then [B-Side]. Any “UK” entry designates a single different from its US counterpart).

May 13
1966 • The Supremes • “Love Is Like An Itching In My Heart” [UK] • Soul-Pop • The Supremes A Go-Go • “He’s All I Got”
1966 • The Rolling Stones • “Paint It, Black” [UK] • Raga Rock • Aftermath • “Long Long While”
1967 • Scott McKenzie • “San Francisco (Be Sure To Wear Flowers In Your Hair)” • Folk-Pop • Voice Of Scott McKenzie • “What’s The Difference”
1967 • The Grass Roots • “Let’s Live For Today” • Pop-Rock • Let’s Live For Today • “Depressed Feeling”
1968 • Smokey Robinson & The Miracles • “Yester Love” • Soul – Pop • Special Occasion • “Much Better Off”
1972 • Tanya Tucker • “Delta Dawn” • Country-Pop • Delta Dawn • “I Love the Way He Loves Me”
1977 • The Clash • “Remote Control” [UK] • Punk-Rock • The Clash • “London’s Burning”
1991 • Jane’s Addiction • “Classic Girl” [UK] • Neo-Psychedelia • Ritual De Lo Habitual • “No One’s Leaving” / “Ain’t No Right”
1993 • Stone Temple Pilots • “Plush” • Grunge Rock • Core • “Sin”

May 14
1963 • Aretha Franklin • “Here’s Where I Came In (Here’s Where I Walk Out)” • Soul • [Single] • “Say It Ain’t So”
1969 • Neil Young With Crazy Horse • “Down By The River” • Folk-Rock • Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere • “The Losing End (When You’re On)”
1971 • The Hollies • “Hey Willie” [UK] • Brit Beat • [Single] • “Row The Boat Together”
1978 • Blondie • “One Way or Another” • New Wave Pop-Rock • Parallel Lines • “Just Go Away”
1982 • Men At Work • “Who Can It Be Now?” [UK] • New Wave Synth-Pop • Business As Usual • “Anyone For Tennis” [Instrumental]
1984 • Wham! • “Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go” [UK] • Dance-Pop • Make It Big • “Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go” [Instrumental]

May 15
1970 • Carpenters • “(They Long To Be) Close To You” • Easy Listening • Close To You • “I Kept On Lovin’ You”
1982 • Rush • “Subdivisions” [UK] • Prog/Art Rock • Signals • “Red Barchetta”
1982 • Genesis • “Paperlate” • Prog Rock • 3 X 3 • “You Might Recall”
1984 • R.E.M. • “So. Central Rain (I’m Sorry)” • Alt. Pop-Rock • Reckoning • “Walters Theme”
1984 • Michael Jackson • “Farewell My Summer Love” • Pop-Soul • Farewell My Summer Love • “Call On Me”
1985 • Prince & The Revolution • “Raspberry Beret” • Pop-Rock • Around The World In A Day • “She’s Always in My Hair”
1989 • Paula Abdul • “Forever Your Girl” [UK] • Dance-Pop • Forever Your Girl • “Next To You”
1990 • Mariah Carey • “Vision Of Love” • R&B-Dance • Mariah Carey • “Prisoner”

May 16
1960 • Brenda Lee • “I’m Sorry” • Country-Pop • Brenda Lee • “That’s All You Got To Do”
1961 • Sam Cooke • “Cupid” • Soul • [Single] • “Farewell My Darling”
1969 • Elton John • “It’s Me That You Need” [UK] • Light Pop • [Single] • “Just Like Strange Rain”
1973 • Carpenters • “Yesterday Once More” • Easy Listening • Now & Then • “Road Ode”
1975 • Paul McCartney & Wings • “Listen To What The Man Said” • Pop-Rock • Venus And Mars • “Love In Song”
1975 • The Bee Gees • “Jive Talkin'” [UK] • Disco • Main Course • “Wind Of Change”
1980 • The Ramones • “Do You Remember Rock ‘N’ Roll Radio?” • Punk-Rock • End Of The Century • “Let’s Go”
1980 • Hall & Oates • “Running From Paradise” [UK] • Blue-Eyed Soul • X-Static • “Bebop” / “Drop”
1980 • Sheena Easton • “9 To 5 (Morning Train)” [UK] • Pop-Rock • Sheena Easton • “Moody (My Love)”
1984 • Prince & The Revolution • “When Doves Cry” • Dance-Pop • Purple Rain • “17 Days”
1994 • Pearl Jam • “Dissident” [UK] • Grunge Rock • Vs. • “Rearview Mirror” [Live]
1994 • Pearl Jam • “Dissident” • Grunge Rock • Vs. • “Rearview Mirror” [Live]
1994 • Pink Floyd • “Take It Back” [UK] • Prog Rock • The Division Bell • “Astronomy Domine” [Live]

May 17
1963 • Jan & Dean • “Surf City” • Surfer • Surf City • “She’s My Summer Girl”
1963 • The Hollies • “(Ain’t That) Just Like Me” [UK] • Brit Beat • [Single] • “Hey What’s Wrong With Me”
1972 • The Hollies • “Long Cool Woman (In A Black Dress)” • Pop-Rock • Distant Light • “Look What We’ve Got”
1993 • Tears For Fears • “Break It Down Again” • Synth-Pop • Elemental • “Bloodletting Go”
2004 • Jimmy Buffett • “Hey Good Lookin'” • Neo-Trad Country • License To Chill • [None]

May 18
1972 • Looking Glass • “Brandy (You’re A Fine Girl)” • Pop-Rock • Looking Glass • “One By One”
1979 • Joe Jackson • “One More Time” [UK] • Post-Punk Hard Rock • Look Sharp! • “Don’t Ask Me”
1987 • Thompson Twins • “Long Goodbye” [UK] • New Wave Synth-Pop • Close To The Bone • “Dancing In Your Shoes”
2014 • The Flaming Lips feat. Miley Cyrus • “Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds” • Pop-Rock • With A Little Help From My Friends • “” [None]

May 19
1958 • Bobby Darin • “Splish Splash” • Novelty Pop • [Single] • “Judy Don’t Be Moody”
1958 • Jerry Lee Lewis • “Fools Like Me” • Rockabilly • Jerry Lee Lewis • [B-Side]
1958 • Jerry Lee Lewis • “High School Confidential” • Rockabilly • Jerry Lee Lewis • “Fools Like Me”
1972 • Sweet • “Little Willy” [UK] • Pop-Rock • Sweet • “Man from Mecca”
1973 • Paul Simon • “Kodachrome” • Folk-Pop • There Goes Rhymin’ Simon • “Tenderness”
1975 • Eagles • “One Of These Nights” • Country-Rock • One Of These Nights • “Visions”
1975 • Lynyrd Skynyrd • “Saturday Night Special” • Southern Rock • Nuthin’ Fancy • “Made In The Shade”
1975 • Aerosmith • “Sweet Emotion” • Hard Rock • Toys In The Attic • “Uncle Salty”
1978 • Dire Straits • “Sultans Of Swing” [UK] • New Wave/Post-Punk • Dire Straits • “Eastbound Train” [Live Version]
1981 • The Moody Blues • “Gemini Dream” • Prog Rock • Long Distance Voyager • “Painted Smile”
1986 • Bananarama • “Venus” • New Wave Dance-Pop • True Confessions • “White Train”
1986 • Genesis • “Invisible Touch” • Prog Rock • Invisible Touch • “The Last Domino”

Albums Released This Week (May 13 -19)

Here’s a sampling of the BEST music ever made! Great albums from the 60s, 70s and 80s rock and pop released this week (and some related albums of note):

May 13
1968 ● Frank Zappa —— Lumpy Gravy ► Art Rock
1977 ● Roger Daltrey —— One Of The Boys ► Hard Rock
1977 ● Donna Summer —— I Remember Yesterday ► Disco
1980 ● Rough Trade —— Avoid Freud ► New Wave Synth-Pop
1980 ● Elton John —— 21 At 33 ► Pop-Rock
1985 ● Dire Straits —— Brothers In Arms ► Post-Punk Pop-Rock
1985 ● New Order —— Low-Life ► New Wave Synth-Pop
1986 ● Various Artists —— Top Gun [Sndtrk] ► Pop-Rock
2008 ● Limp Bizkit —— Rock Im Park 2001 ► Rap-Metal

May 14
1965 ● Donovan —— What’s Bin Did And What’s Been Hid [UK] ► Folk-Rock
1967 ● Dionne Warwick —— On Stage And In The Movies ► Pop-Soul
1968 ● The Mamas & The Papas —— The Papas & The Mamas ► Pop-Folk
1969 ● Neil Young With Crazy Horse —— Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere ► Folk-Rock
1971 ● Carpenters —— Carpenters ► Soft Rock
1971 ● Pink Floyd —— Relics ► Prog Rock
1972 ● Rory Gallagher —— Live In Europe ► Blues-Rock
1976 ● AC/DC —— High Voltage ► Hard Rock
1977 ● Heart —— Little Queen ► Album Rock
1981 ● Peter Frampton —— Breaking All The Rules ► Arena Rock
1982 ● Eric Clapton —— Time Pieces: The Best Of Eric Clapton ► Blues-Rock
1982 ● The Clash —— Combat Rock ► Punk
1984 ● Chicago —— Chicago 17 ► Jazz-Rock
1985 ● Supertramp —— Brother Where You Bound ► Prog/Art Rock
1990 ● Oleta Adams —— Circle Of One ► Jazz-Pop Fusion
1991 ● Paula Abdul —— Spellbound ► Dance-Pop
1991 ● EMF —— Schubert Dip ► Synth-Pop
1991 ● The Bee Gees —— High Civilization ► Pop-Rock
1996 ● Amorphis —— Elegy ► Heavy Metal/Death Metal
1996 ● Def Leppard —— Slang ► Hard Rock
1996 ● The Specials —— Today’s Specials ► Ska Revival
1996 ● The Specials —— Too Much Too Young: The Gold Collection ► Ska Revival
1996 ● Spin Doctors —— You’ve Got To Believe In Something ► Alt Pop-Rock
1996 ● Peter Wolf —— Long Line ► Blues-Rock/Blue-Eyed Soul
1996 ● Elvis Costello And The Attractions —— All This Useless Beauty ► Alt. Pop-Rock
1999 ● Miss Kitten & The Hacker —— Intimités ► Electro Pop
2001 ● Scorpions —— Acoustica ► Heavy Metal/Kraut Rock
2002 ● Weezer —— Maladroit ► Alt. Rock/Power Pop
2002 ● Deadsy —— Commencement ► Synth Rock/Nu Metal
2002 ● Bryan Adams —— Spirit – Stallion Of The Cimarron [Sndtrk] ► Pop-Rock
2002 ● Van Morrison —— Down The Road ► Folk-Rock
2002 ● Rush —— Vapor Trails ► Prog/Art Rock

May 15
1970 ● King Crimson —— In The Wake Of Poseidon ► Prog Rock
1972 ● The Beach Boys —— Carl & The Passions – “So Tough” ► Surfer
1974 ● Bill Wyman —— Monkey Grip ► Hard Rock
1975 ● The Jackson 5 —— Moving Violation ► Soul – Motown
1980 ● Natalie Cole —— Don’t Look Back ► Soul-Pop
1981 ● The Moody Blues —— Long Distance Voyager ► Prog Rock
1981 ● Squeeze —— East Side Story ► New Wave Synth-Pop
1983 ● The Creatures —— Feast ► Alt Post-Punk/goth rock
1984 ● Michael Jackson —— Farewell My Summer Love ► Pop-Soul
1985 ● Night Ranger —— Seven Wishes ► Hard Rock
1987 ● Richard Marx —— Richard Marx ► AA Pop-Rock
1987 ● Mötley Crüe —— Girls, Girls, Girls ► Heavy Metal
1990 ● Concrete Blonde —— Bloodletting ► Alt. Pop-Rock
1990 ● Dio —— Lock Up The Wolves ► Heavy Metal
1990 ● Squeeze —— A Round And A Bout ► New Wave Synth-Pop
1995 ● Opeth —— Orchid ► Heavy Metal/Doom Metal
1995 ● The Stranglers —— About Time ► Punk Rock
1998 ● Bad Religion —— No Substance ► Punk Rock
2001 ● The Go-Go’s —— God Bless The Go-Go’s ► Alt. Pop-Rock
2001 ● Weezer —— Weezer ► Alt. Rock/Power Pop
2001 ● Depeche Mode —— Exciter ► Alt. Pop-Rock
2001 ● R.E.M. —— Reveal ► Alt. Pop-Rock
2006 ● The Beach Boys —— Songs From Here & Back ► Pop-Rock
2007 ● Atlanta Rhythm Section —— Anthology: Greatest & Latest ► Southern Rock
2007 ● Wilco —— Sky Blue Sky ► Alt. Country-Rock
2009 ● Coldplay —— LeftRightLeftRightLeft ► Alt. Rock/Brit Pop
2009 ● Green Day —— 21st Century Breakdown ► Alt. Rock

May 16
1966 ● The Beach Boys —— Pet Sounds ► Pop-Rock
1966 ● Bob Dylan —— Blonde On Blonde ► Folk-Rock
1966 ● The Shadows —— Shadow Music ► Instrumental Rock ‘N’ Roll
1969 ● Phil Ochs —— Rehearsals For Retirement ► Folk-Rock
1969 ● Tyrannosaurus Rex —— Unicorn ► Psychedelic Folk
1970 ● The Who —— Live At Leeds ► British Rock
1973 ● Carpenters —— Now & Then ► Soft Rock
1974 ● Neil Young —— First Plane Outta Here! ► Country-Rock
1975 ● The Kinks —— The Kinks Present A Soap Opera ► British Rock
1978 ● Joe Walsh —— But Seriously Folks… ► Blues-Rock
1978 ● Hall & Oates —— Livetime ► Pop-Rock
1980 ● Devo —— Freedom Of Choice ► Pop-Rock/Post-Punk New Wave
1980 ● Sister Sledge —— Love Somebody Today ► Disco
1983 ● Iron Maiden —— Piece Of Mind ► Heavy Metal
1988 ● Frank Zappa —— You Can’t Do That On Stage Anymore, Vol. 1 ► Art Rock
1989 ● 10,000 Maniacs —— Blind Man’s Zoo ► Folk-Rock
2000 ● The A-Teens —— The ABBA Generation ► Europop/Dance-Pop
2000 ● Pearl Jam —— Binaural ► Hard Rock
2000 ● Phish —— Farmhouse ► Prog Rock/Jam Band
2000 ● Carly Simon —— The Bedroom Tapes ► Pop-Rock
2000 ● Peter Frampton —— Live In Detroit ► Arena Rock
2002 ● Motörhead —— We Are Motörhead ► Heavy Metal
2005 ● Gov’t Mule —— Mo’ Voodoo [EP] ► Southern Rock/Jam Rock
2006 ● The Raconteurs —— Broken Boy Soldiers ► Alt. Rock
2006 ● Poco —— Keep On Tryin’ ► Country-Rock

May 17
1965 ● Herbie Hancock —— Maiden Voyage ► Fusion/Hard Be Bop
1965 ● The Kingston Trio —— Stay Awhile ► Folk-Pop
1965 ● Brenda Lee —— The Versatile Brenda Lee ► Country-Pop
1965 ● Aretha Franklin —— Yeah! ► Soul
1969 ● Neil Diamond —— Brother Love’s Traveling Salvation Show ► Pop-Rock
1971 ● Paul & Linda McCartney —— Ram ► Pop-Rock
1973 ● Bachman-Turner Overdrive —— Bachman-Turner Overdrive ► Album Rock
1976 ● Rainbow —— Rainbow Rising ► Arena Rock
1976 ● Jethro Tull —— Too Old To Rock ‘N’ Roll, Too Young To Die ► Prog Rock
1977 ● Paul McCartney —— Thrillington ► Pop-Rock
1979 ● Patti Smith —— Wave ► New Wave Punk-Rock
1980 ● Joan Jett —— Joan Jett ► Hard Rock
1981 ● Frank Zappa —— Tinseltown Rebellion ► Art Rock
1982 ● The Gap Band —— The Gap Band IV ► Pop-Rock
1983 ● The Fixx —— Reach The Beach ► Techno-Pop
1985 ● Megadeth —— Killing Is My Business…And Business Is Good! ► Heavy Metal
1986 ● Judas Priest —— Turbo ► Heavy Metal
1988 ● Herbie Hancock —— Perfect Machine ► Electro-Funk
1988 ● Judas Priest —— Ram It Down ► Heavy Metal
1989 ● The Doobie Brothers —— Cycles ► Pop-Rock
1991 ● Thomas Anders —— Whispers ► Pop-Rock
1993 ● Jamiroquai —— Emergency On Planet Earth [UK] ► Acid Jazz/Funk
1994 ● Erasure —— I Say I Say I Say ► Synth-Pop/Dance
1994 ● Dave Matthews Band —— Recently [EP] ► AA Pop-Rock
1994 ● Oingo Boingo —— Boingo ► New Wave Ska-Pop
1994 ● America —— Hourglass ► Folk-Rock
1994 ● Van Morrison —— A Night In San Francisco ► Folk-Rock
1995 ● Hanson —— Boomerang ► Pop-Rock/Teen Pop
1999 ● Cast —— Magic Hour ► Britpop
1999 ● Cast —— Magic Hour ► Britpop
1999 ● The Melvins —— The Maggot ► Heavy Metal/Sludge Metal
2001 ● Iggy Pop —— Live At The Old Waldorf: San Francisco – November 27, 1979 ► Alt. Rock / Punk
2001 ● Iggy Pop —— Roadkill Rising: The Bootleg Collection 1977-2009 ► Alt. Rock / Punk
2005 ● Huey Lewis & The News —— Live At 25 ► Pop-Rock
2005 ● Van Morrison —— Magic Time ► Folk-Rock
2010 ● The Rolling Stones —— The Rolling Stones Box Set ► Blues-Rock

May 18
1964 ● Brenda Lee —— By Request ► Country-Pop
1973 ● The Byrds —— History Of The Byrds ► Country-Rock
1976 ● Angel —— Helluva Band ► Prog Rock
1976 ● Warren Zevon —— Warren Zevon ► Pop-Rock
1979 ● Ian Dury & The Blockheads —— Do It Yourself ► Punk-Rock
1979 ● David Bowie —— Lodger ► Glam Rock
1986 ● Concrete Blonde —— Concrete Blonde ► Alt. Pop-Rock
1987 ● Steve Earle —— Exit 0 ► Alt. Country
1988 ● Various Artists —— Golden Throats: The Great Celebrity Sing-Off! ► Pop-Rock
1990 ● Luis Miguel —— 20 Años ► Latin Pop
1993 ● Jerry Lee Lewis —— The Jerry Lee Lewis Anthology: All Killer, No Filler ► Rock n Roll
1993 ● Janet Jackson —— janet. ► Pop-Soul
1993 ● Judas Priest —— Metal Works ’73-’93 ► Heavy Metal
1993 ● Kiss —— Alive III ► Hard Rock
1997 ● Feeder —— Polythene ► Grunge-Rock
1998 ● Grave Digger —— Knights Of The Cross ► Heavy Metal/Kraut Metal
1999 ● AFI —— Black Sails In The Sunset ► Hardcore Punk
1999 ● Eddie Money —— Ready Eddie ► Album Rock
1999 ● Jimmy Buffett —— Beach House On The Moon ► Folk-Rock
2010 ● Triumph —— Greatest Hits Remixed ► Arena Rock

May 19
1962 ● The Ventures —— Twist Party, Vol. 2 ► Rock n Roll Instrumental
1969 ● Alexander “Skip” Spence —— Oar ► Pop-Psychedelic
1969 ● Brenda Lee —— Johnny One Time ► Country-Pop
1969 ● Spiral Starecase —— More Today Than Yesterday ► Psychedelic Pop
1969 ● Poco —— Pickin’ Up The Pieces ► Country-Rock
1971 ● Aretha Franklin —— Aretha Live At The Fillmore West ► Soul
1972 ● Elton John —— Honky Chateau ► Pop-Rock
1972 ● Uriah Heep —— Demons & Wizards ► Prog. Rock
1975 ● Willie Nelson —— Red Headed Stranger ► Classic Country
1976 ● Billy Joel —— Turnstiles ► Pop-Rock
1977 ● Aretha Franklin —— Sweet Passion ► Soul
1978 ● Kraftwerk —— The Man-Machine ► Techno-Rock
1978 ● The Kinks —— Misfits ► British Rock
1986 ● Peter Gabriel —— So ► Prog Rock
1986 ● The Cure —— Staring At The Sea: The Singles ► Post-Punk
1986 ● Prince —— Parade ► R&B-Pop
1986 ● The Ramones —— Animal Boy ► Punk-Rock
1987 ● Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam —— Spanish Fly ► Dance-Pop
1992 ● Billy Ray Cyrus —— Some Gave All ► Country-Pop
1992 ● Kiss —— Revenge ► Hard Rock
1998 ● Calexico —— The Black Light ► Alt Rock/Americana
1998 ● The Knack —— Very Best Of The Knack ► Power Pop
1998 ● Kool & The Gang —— Greatest Hits Live ► Funk
1998 ● Kansas —— Always Never The Same ► Prog/Arena Rock
2004 ● Journey —— Open Arms: Greatest Hits ► AOR Rock
2005 ● Spandau Ballet —— Live At N.E.C. ► New Wave Synht-Pop
2008 ● Sparks —— Exotic Creatuess Of The Deep ► Glam Rock
2009 ● Gin Blossoms —— Live In Concert ► Power Pop
2009 ● Eric Clapton And Steve Winwood —— Live From Madison Square Garden ► Blues-Rock
2014 ● R.E.M. —— Complete Rarities: I.R.S. 1982-1987 ► Rock
2014 ● R.E.M. —— Complete Warner Bros. Rarities 1988–2011 ► Rock
2015 ● Whitesnake —— The Purple Album ► Arena Rock

This Week’s Birthdays (May 12 – 18)

Happy Birthday this week to:

May 12
1928 ● Burt Bacharach → Pianist, arranger, producer and songwriter, wrote 70 Top 40 hits, often in collaboration with lyricist Hal David, including “(They Long To Be) Close To You” for the Carpenters (#1, 1970), “Walk On By” for Dionne Warwick (#6, 1964), won two Oscars for film score to Butch Cassidy And The Sundance Kid (1969) and for “Raindrops Keep Fallin’ On My Head” from the soundtrack (B. J. Thomas, #1, 1969)
1935 ● Steve Knight → Keyboards in pioneering hard rock/heavy metal band Mountain (“Mississippi Queen,” #21, 1970), after the band broke up in 1972 he returned to traditional jazz, songwriting and miscellaneous projects until his death from complications of Parkinson’s disease on 1/19/2013, age 77
1936 ● Klaus Doldinger → German jazz-rock fusion saxophonist, composer and bandleader (Passport)
1937 ● George Carlin → Five-time Grammy-winning counterculture stand-up comedian, film and TV actor, sociopolitical commentator and author, his landmark “Seven Words You Can Never Say On Television” routine was central to the 1978 Supreme Court case upholding the FCC’s right to regulate indecent material on public airwaves, appeared in films and on TV, and issued albums of new material until his death from heart failure on 6/22/2008, age 71
1940 ● Norman Whitfield → Songwriter and producer, best known for his work with Motown Records, collaborated with Barrett Strong on “I Heard It Through The Grapevine”, “Ain’t Too Proud To Beg”, “(I Know) I’m Losing You”, “Cloud Nine”, “War”, “Papa Was A Rolling Stone” and “Car Wash,” died from complications of diabetes on 9/16/2008, age 68
1942 ● Billy Swan / (William Lance Swan) → Country-pop singer/songwriter, touring band member for Kris Kristofferson, producer, solo artist, “I Can Help” (#1, 1974), joined ex-Eagles Randy Meisner in country-rock Black Tie
1942 ● Ian Dury → Cult-favorite singer, songwriter, poet, actor, bandleader (The Blockheads), solo, “Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll” (1977) and “Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick” (UK #1, 1978), died of colorectal cancer on 3/27/2000, age 57
1943 ● David Walker → Guitarist with pop-rock Gary Lewis & The Playboys “This Diamond Ring” (#1, 1965) plus 11 other US Top 40 hits between 1965 and 1968
1944 ● James Purify → With cousin Robert Lee Dickey, R&B/Southern soul duo James & Bobby Purify, “I’m Your Puppet” (#6, 1966)
1945 ● Jayotis Washington → Vocalist with a cappella The Persuasions, “Chain Gang” (1971), session work for Don McLean, Joni Mitchell, Stevie Wonder and others
1945 ● Ian McLagan → Keyboardist for Brit raunch/psych-pop-rock The Small Faces, “Itchycoo Park” (#16, 1968), after Steve Marriott departed and Rod Stewart and Rod Wood joined, renamed The Faces, “Stay With Me” (#17, 1971), session work for Joe Cocker, Bob Dylan, Bonnie Raitt, The Rolling Stones, Bruce Springsteen, Lucinda Williams and others, died after a stroke on 12/3/2014, age 69
1946 ● Bob MacVittie → Rhythm guitar for one hit wonder pop-rock Sugarloaf, “Green-Eyed Lady” (#3, 1970)
1948 ● Steve Winwood → Keyboards, vocals and songwriter, teenaged lead singer for Brit pop-rock Spencer Davis Group, “Gimme Some Lovin”” (#7, 1967), then folk-psych-rock Traffic, “Paper Sun” (#94, UK #5, 1967), then super-trio Blind Faith (US #1 album Blind Faith, 1969), solo, “Higher Love” (#1, 1986)
1950 ● Billy Squier → 80s hard pop-rock anthem and balladeer guitarist and singer, “The Stroke” (Mainstream Rock #3, 1981)
1950 ● Jocko Marcellino / (John Marcellino) → Vocals for “greaser” revival parody rock-and-doo-wop Sha Na Na (“(Just Like) Romeo And Juliet,” #55, 1975)
1954 ● Barry Borden → Brief stint in the 80s as drummer for Southern rock power-guitar band Molly Hatchet, “Flirtin’ With Disaster” (#42, 1979)
1955 ● Kix Brooks / (Leon Eric Brooks) → Singer and songwriter, one-half of astronomically successful country-pop vocal duo Brooks & Dunn, “Ain’t Nothing ‘Bout You” (#25, Country #1, 2001), solo
1958 ● Eric Singer / (Eric Mesinger) → Hard rock journeyman drummer for Lita Ford, Black Sabbath, Badlands, Paul Stanley‘s touring band, Kiss and Alice Cooper
1961 ● Billy Duffy → Vocalist, guitarist and songwriter for punk-rock Theater Of Hate, then co-founded hard rock/metal revival The Cult, “Fire Woman” (Mainstream Rock #4, 1989)
1962 ● Brett W. Gurewitz → Co-founder, guitarist and songwriter for hardcore punk Bad Religion, “Infected” (Mainstream Rock #33, 1995), owner of Epitaph Records
1972 ● Mark Morrison → German-born electro-dance-pop singer, “Moan And Groan” (#2, 1997)

May 13
1912 ● Gil Evans → Grammy-winning Canadian jazz pianist, innovator, arranger and bandleader best known for his extensive work with Miles Davis and the development of free jazz and jazz-rock fusion, died while recovering from peritonitis surgery on 3/20/1988, age 75
1926 ● Daddy-O Phillips / (Dewey Phillips) → The “King of Memphis Radio” and one of the earliest rock ‘n’ roll DJ’s on par with Cleveland’s Alan Freed, played black and white music, R&B, pop and jazz punctuated with frenetic, demented-hillbilly delivery that kept him on top for a decade, could not make the transition to Top 40 in the 60s, died from years of drug and alcohol abuse on 9/28/1968, age 42
1927 ● Fred Hellerman → Folk singer, guitarist, songwriter and producer, suspected McCarthy-era Communist sympathizer, founding member of left-leaning, influential, successful folk-pop The Weavers (“Goodnight Irene,” #1, 1950) and key figure in the folk revival movement of the 50s, produced several albums for others, including Arlo Guthrie‘s Alice’s Restaurant (1967), issued his only solo album, Caught In The Act in 2005, died from natural causes on 9/1/2016, age 89
1935 ● Teddy Randazzo / (Theodore Alexander Randazzo) → Singer, songwriter and pop music arranger best known for co-writing “Going Out Of My Head” for Little Anthony & The Imperials (#6, 1964) and “Hurts So Bad” (#8 , 1980) for Linda Ronstadt, died of natural causes on 11/21/2003, age 68
1938 ● John Smith → Bass vocals for one hit wonder R&B/doo wop sextet The Monotones, “(Who Wrote) The Book Of Love” (#5, 1958)
1941 ● Joe Brown → Stage and TV actor, BBC radio host, early Brit rock ‘n’ roll singer and guitarist, “A Picture Of You” (UK #2, 1962), still performs after nearly 60 years of rocking
1941 ● Ritchie Valens / (Ricardo Valenzuela Reyes) → Singer, songwriter, guitarist, promising early rock ‘n’ roller and the first Latino pop star, released the Top 5 hit “Donna” (#2, 1958) and the enduring “La Bamba” (#22, 1959) just months before he died along with Buddy Holly and J. R. “The Big Bopper” Richardson in an Iowa plane crash on the night of 2/3/1959, age 17
1943 ● Mary Wells → Motown R&B/soul-pop singer, “My Guy” (#1, 1964) and 17 other R&B Top 20 singles (five of which made the Pop Top 20), died of cancer on 7/26/1992, age 49
1945 ● Blue Lou Mairini / (Louis Marini, Jr. ) → Jazz, blues and rock saxophonist with Blood, Sweat & Tears, the Saturday Night Live house band, The Blues Brothers, “Soul Man” (#14, 1979), solo
1945 ● Magic Dick / (Richard Salwitz) → Harmonica and organ for boogie-blues-rock ‘n roll bar band J. Geils Band, “Centerfold” (#1, 1982)
1947 ● Peter Watts / (Peter Overend Watts) → Bassist for early Brit glam-rockers Mott The Hoople, “All The Young Dudes” (#37, 1972), producer
1950 ● Danny Kirwan / (Daniel David Kirwan) → Guitarist and songwriter with early lineups of Fleetwood Mac (1968-72) and during the band’s transition from blues-rock stalwarts to pop-rock megastars, left before the band achieved superstardom and enjoyed a moderately successful solo career before fading into obscurity outside the music industry, died from undisclosed causes on 06/10/2018, age 68
1950 ● Johnny Logan / (Seán Patrick Michael Sherrard) → Aussie-born Irish singer, songwriter, three-time Eurovision winner and guitarist, “What’s Another Year” (UK #1, 1980)
1950 ● Stevie Wonder / (Stevland Hardaway Judkins) → Teenaged Motown R&B/soul singer (“Fingertips,” #1, 1963) turned Grammy-winning soul-pop singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist with 15 #1 albums and over 30 Top 40 singles (nine #1 hits) including “Superstition” (#1, 1973)
1951 ● Paul Thompson → Drummer for prog rock Roxy Music, “Love Is The Drug” (#30, 1976) and post-punk alt rock Concrete Blonde, “Joey” (Modern Rock #1, 1990)
1959 ● Kim McAuliffe → Founding member, vocals and rhythm guitar for early all-girl heavy metal group Painted Lady, which became Girlschool, “Hit And Run” (UK #32, 1981)
1963 ● Julian Brookhouse → Guitarist for Brit teen-pop blue-eyed soul Curiosity Killed The Cat, “Down To Earth” (UK #3, 1986)
1964 ● Lorraine McIntosh → Vocalist for Scottish indie pop-rock Deacon Blue, “Real Gone Kid” (UK #8, 1988), married to lead singer Ricky Ross
1966 ● Alison Goldfrapp → Vocals and synthesizer with Will Gregory in Brit electro-dance-pop due Goldfrapp, “Number 1” (Dance/Club #1, 2005)
1966 ● Darius Rucker → Vocals, rhythm guitar and harmonica for 90s pop-rock quartet Hootie & The Blowfish, “Only Wanna Be With You” (#6, 1995), solo
1967 ● Melanie Thornton → African American R&B/gospel and dance-pop singer with very little attention in the U.S. but with a moderately successful and growing career in Europe, particularly in Germany, died in a commercial plane crash in Switzerland on 11/24/2001, age 34
1979 ● Michael Madden → Bassist for alt funk-rock Maroon 5, “She Will Be Loved” (#5, 2004)

May 14
1916 ● Skip Martin / (Lloyd Martin) → Jazz and Big Band saxophonist, music arranger and orchestrator, played in the Glenn Miller Orchestra and other big band’s and became a studio musician and arranger for Hollywood films in the 50s, including Judy Garland‘s comeback movie A Star Is Born (1954), died on 2/12/1976, age 59
1932 ● Bob Johnston → Rockabilly and pop-rock songwriter, co-wrote numerous songs for Elvis Presley in the mid-60s, then produced a string of classic albums in the late 60s and 70s, including Bob Dylan‘s Blonde On Blonde and Johnny Cash‘s At Folsom Prison, fell into relative obscurity in the 80s and 90s but continued to produce independent albums, died from heart failure on 8/14/2015 , age 83
1936 ● Charlie Gracie / (Charles Graci) → Rockabilly and pop-rock guitarist and songwriter, Philadelphia’s first rock ‘n roll star and an American Bandstand regular, “Butterfly” (#1, 1957)
1936 ● Bobby Darin / (Walden Robert Cassotto) → Film actor (Come September, 1961), musician, adult pop vocalist, “Mack The Knife” (#1, 1959) and 20 other Top 40 singles, husband of actress/singer Sandra Dee,, died after open heat surgery to repair damaged valves on 12/20/1973, age 37
1938 ● Mike Preston / (Jack Davies) → Boxer turned pop singer, “Mr. Blue” (UK #12, 1959) turned Aussie and US TV/film actor, The A-Team and The Ghost And Mrs. Muir
1940 ● Troy Shondell / (Gary Shelton) → Transatlantic one hit wonder rock ‘n’ roll/pop singer, “This Time” (#6, 1961), his stage name was the inspiration for Tommy James & The Shondells, later with Acuff-Rose Music in Nashville and ASCAP as a regional music publishing executive
1943 ● Jack Bruce / (John Symon Asher Bruce) → Renowned Scottish bass guitarist, songwriter and vocalist for John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers, Manfred Mann, “Pretty Flamingo” (#29, UK #1, 1966) and Cream, co-wrote “Sunshine Of Your Love” (#5, 1968), “White Room” (#6, 1968) and “I Feel Free”, later with supertrio West Bruce & Laing and 14 solo albums through 2014, died from liver failure on 10/25/2014, age 71
1943 ● Clive Palmer / (Clive Harold Palmer) → Founding member and principal in Scottish psych-folk and early world music duo The Incredible String Band, 1968 album The Hangman’s Beautiful Daughter reached #161 in the US, died after a long illness on 11/23/2014, age 71
1945 ● Gene Cornish → Guitar and vocals for blue-eyed soul-pop The Rascals, “Groovin'”, (#1, 1967), then power pop Fotomaker, “Miles Away” (#63, 1978), solo
1945 ● Lek Leckenby / (Derek Leckenby) → Guitar, banjo and songwriting for British Invasion pop-rock British Invasion pop-rock Herman’s Hermits (“Mrs. Brown You’ve Got A Lovely Daughter,” #1, 1965), continued with various incarnation sof the band until his death lymphoma on 6/4/1994, age 49
1947 ● Al Ciner → Guitarist for pop-rock one hit wonder American Breed, “Bend Me Shape Me” (Top 10, 1968), Three Dog Night, “Joy To The World” (#1, 1971) and R&B/funk-dance Rufus, “Tell Me Something Good” (#3, 1974)
1950 ● Arthur James Grant → Drummer for Brit blues then prog-rock Edgar Broughton Band, “Apache Dropout” (UK #33, 1970)
1952 ● David Byrne → Guitar, vocals, songwriting and de facto frontman for art-pop-rock Talking Heads, “Take Me To The River” (#26, 1978), Grammy-winning solo artist and composer
1953 ● John Rutsey → Drummer and founding member of Canadian arena rock/power trio Rush, “New World Man” (Mainstream Rock #1, 1982) and 24 other Mainstream Rock Top 20 singles, died from complications of diabetes on 5/11/2008, age 54
1956 ● H / (Steve Hogarth) → Lead vocals for Brit prog-rock revival group Marillion, “Kayleigh” (Mainstream Rock #14, 1985)
1962 ● C.C. DeVille / (Bruce Johannesson)) → Guitarist for hair metal/power ballad Poison, “Every Rose Has It’s Thorn” (#1, 1988)
1962 ● Ian Astbury → Singer and guitarist for punk-rock Southern Death Cult, which evolved into hard rock/metal revival The Cult, “Fire Woman” (Mainstream Rock #4, 1989)
1964 ● Shelley Preston → Joined Brit mixed-gender euro-pop/disco Bucks Fizz as lead vocalist in 1985, “New Beginning (Mamba Seyra)” (UK #8, 1986), left in 1990 for a modeling and backing vocals career
1966 ● Fabrice Morvan → Singer and one half of the scandalous, lip-synching dance-pop vocal duo Milli Vanilli, the pair were stripped of their 1989 Grammy award when in 1990 it was revealed that they never actually sang on their albums or in concert, resurrected a solo career in the early 00s
1966 ● Mike Inez → Bassist for alterna-metal/hard rock Alice In Chains, “No Excuses” (Mainstream Rock #1, 1994)
1966 ● Raphael Saddiq / (Charles Ray Wiggins) → Old school R&B/soul singer, songwriter and bass guitarist, with brother Dwayne and cousin Timothy Christian in R&B/dance Tony! Toni! Toné! (“Feels Good,” #9, R&B #1, 1990), then solo (“Ask Of You,” #19, R&B #2) and the critically-acclaimed album Stone Rollin (#14, 2011)
1969 ● Danny Wood → Singer, songwriter and choreographer for early 90s teen-pop boy band New Kids On The Block, “Step By Step” (#1, 1990), solo
1969 ● Steve Hellier → Keyboards and vocals for electro-dance-dream pop Dubstar, “Stars” (UK #15, 1996)
1971 ● Freaky Tah / (Raymond Rogers) → MC, hype man and vocals for 90s rap quartet The Lost Boyz, “Music Makes Me High” (#51, Rap #5, 1996) plus three R&B Top 10 albums, murdered by gun fire in a hotel lobby on 3/28/1999, age 27
1973 ● Natalie Appleton → Canadian singer in Brit dance-pop-rock all-girl quartet All Saints, “Never Ever” (#4, 1998), then dance-pop sister duo Appleton, “Never Ever” (UK #2, 2003)
1973 ● Shanice / (Shanice Wilson) → Motown R&B/dance-pop singer/songwriter, “I Love Your Smile” (#2, 1991)
1976 ● Hunter Burgan → Multi-instrumentalist and current bass guitarist for alt-punk-rock AFI (A Fire Inside), “Miss Murder” (#24, Modern Rock #1, 2006)
1976 ● Martine McCutcheon / (Martine Kimberley Sherrie Ponting) → Brit actress who gained stardom after playing Tiffany Mitchell on BBC TV’s EastEnders (1995-1998), then pop singer, “Perfect Moment” (UK #1, 1999)
1979 ● Dan Auerbach / (Daniel Quine Auerbach) → Grammy-winning blues-rock songwriter, producer and songwriter, frontman for 00s neo-blues-rock The Black Keys (“Lonely Boy,” #64, Alt Rock #1, 2010) along with other side projects and collaborations
1984 ● Olly Murs / (Oliver Stanley Murs) → Brit singer, songwriter, TV actor and program host with multiple UK hits, including “Troublemaker” (#25, UK #1, 2016)

May 15
1918 ● Eddy Arnold / (Richard Edward Arnold) → Most popular country music entertainer of the 20th century with 14 Country Top 10 albums, 147 charting singles and 28 Country #1 hits, including “Make The World Go Away” (#6, Country #1, 1965), died of natural causes on 5/8/2008, age 89
1931 ● James Mitchell → Saxophone for Stax Records’ house band The Memphis Horns, played sessions for The Doobie Brothers, Aretha Franklin, Al Green, Elvis Presley, Otis Redding, Sam And Dave and many other notables, died from heart failure on 12/18/2000, age 69
1932 ● Baba Oje → Spiritual leader for progressive rap, funk-soul-blues-hip-hop Arrested Development, “Mr. Wendal” (#6, 1992)
1937 ● Trini Lopez / (Trinidad Lopez) → Chicano folk-pop singer and guitarist, “If I Had A Hammer” (#3, 1963)
1938 ● Lenny Welch / (Leon Welch) → MOR/pop balladeer, “Since I Fell For You” (#4, 1963)
1942 ● K.T. Oslin / (Kay Toinette Oslin) → Grammy-winning country singer and songwriter with anthemic “80s Ladies” (#7, 1987) plus 6 other Country Top 10 hits
1944 ● Tich Amey / (Iam Frederick Amey) → Lead guitar for Brit 60s pop-rock two hit wonder quintet Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Tich, “The Legend Of Xanadu” (UK #1, 1968)
1946 ● Bob Garner → Bass guitar for underappreciated and little known (except in Germany) Britbeat/power pop The Creation, “Painter Man” (GER #8, UK #36, 1967), left the band in 1968 but participated in various reunion performances through the early 00s, died on 6/16/2016, age 70
1947 ● Graham Goble → Guitar and vocals for Aussie pop/rockers Little River Band, “Lonesome Loser” (#6, 1979) and 12 other Top 40 singles
1947 ● Jimy Rogers / (James Rogers) → Vocals for Chicago blue-eyed soul/garage rockers Mauds, “Hold On” (1967), sessions, most recently fronted Blue Road, died 12/4/2010, age 63
1948 ● Brian Eno → Synthesizers and keyboards with glam/prog rock Roxy Music, “Love Is The Drug” (#30, 1976), then pub-rock The Winkies and solo, producer for David Bowie, U2, Talking Heads, John Cale and others, ambient and world music pioneer, multimedia artist
1948 ● Gary Thain → Bassist for Brit jazz-pop-rock Keef Hartley Band, then hard rock Uriah Heep, “Easy Livin'” (1972) , died of a drug overdose 12/8/1975, age 27
1951 ● Fergie / (Dennis Fredericksen) → Lead vocals for pomp-rock MSFunk and Trillion, hard pop-rock Survivor, “American Heartbeat” (#17, 1982), AOR pop-rock Le Roux, “Carrie’s Gone” (#79, 1982), then replaced Bobby Kimball in arena rock Toto, “Stranger In Town” (#30, Mainstream Rock #7, 1984), solo, sessions
1952 ● Phil Seymour → Power pop drummer, singer, guitarist, songwriter and partner in pop/rock Dwight Twilley Band, “I’m On Fire” (#16, 1975), session work including backing vocals for Tom Petty, released three solo albums and several singles, including “Precious To Me” (#22, 1981), died from lymphoma on 8/17/1993, age 41
1953 ● Mike Oldfield → Multi-instrumentalist, new age electronic prog rock composer and bandleader, “Tubular Bells” (#7, 1974), the title track from the first album issued by Virgin Records
1955 ● Kevin John Morris → Drummer since 1983 for Brit pub-rock Dr. Feelgood, “Milk And Alcohol” (UK #9, 1979)
1959 ● Andrew Eldritch → Vocals for goth-metal The Sisters of Mercy, “Temple Of Love” (UK #3, 1992)
1965 ● Jon Sevink → Violin for alt folk-Celtic rock The Levellers, “Just The One” (UK #12, 1995)
1965 ● Mark Colwill → Bass guitar for Brit folk-pop-soul Tindersticks, “Bathtime” (UK #38, 1997)
1966 ● Peter Wiggs → Keyboardist and songwriter for indie dance-pop Saint Etienne, “Nothing Can Stop Us” (Dance/Club #1, 1992)
1970 ● Prince Be / (Attrell Cordes) → Vocals in innovative brother hip hop duo P.M. Dawn melding smooth soul, urban R&B and prog rap, “Set Adrift On Memory Bliss” (#3, Dance/Club #6, 1991), stepson of George Brown, founding member of soul/funk Kool & The Gang, died from renal failure on 6/17/2016, age 46
1982 ● Jessica Sutta → Dancer, singer, model, actress and vocalist for burlesque dance-pop girl troupe The Pussycat Dolls, “Don’t Cha” (#2, 2005), then solo, “Show Me” (Dance #1, 2011)
1983 ● Devin Bronson → Lead guitarist with Avril Lavigne band, Kelly Osbourne band, Black List Club and Canadian rock band Treble Charger

May 16
1919 ● Liberace / (Wladziu Valentino Liberace) → Campy, sequin-suited easy listening/pop pianist, Vegas showman and TV host (with a candelabra on his piano), died from complications of AIDS and emphysema on 2/4/1987, age 67
1932 ● Red Holt / (Isaac Holt) → Drummer in 50s and 60s jazz ensemble Ramsey Lewis Trio, then formed one hit wonder jazz-pop Young-Holt Unlimited, “Soulful Strut” (#3, 1969)
1936 ● Kripp Johnson / (Corinthian Johnson) → Vocals in R&B/doo wop The Del-Vikings, “Come Go With Me” (#4, 1957), died on 6/22/1990
1944 ● Billy Cobham → Jazz-rock fusion drummer for Miles Davis, founded Mahavishnu Orchestra, backed James Brown and Santana, played with Grateful Dead and offshoot Bobby & The Midnights, solo and bandleader as Spectrum
1945 ● Nicky Chinn / (Nicholas Barry Chinn) → Novello Award-winning songwriter and producer, co-wrote with Michael Chapman as the “Chinnichap” songwriting and production team over fifty Top 40 hits, worked with Sweet (“The Ballroom Blitz,” #5, UK #2, 1973), Suzi Quatro (“Devil Gate Drive,” UK #1, 1974) and Smokie (“Living Next Door Too Alice,” #25, UK #5, 1976), produced albums for Blondie and The Knack
1946 ● Robert Fripp → Avant-garde and experimental pop-rock composer, guitarist and bandleader, only constant member of prog/space-rock King Crimson, “The Court Of The Crimson King” (#80, 1970), solo albums and multiple side and collaboration projects
1946 ● Roger Earl → Drummer for blues-rock Savoy Brown, then co-founded blues-rock Foghat, “Slow Ride” (#20, 1975) and constant bandmember in the 40-plus year history of the band
1947 ● Barbara Lee Jones → Vocals for top-tier 60s New York girl group The Chiffons, “He’s So Fine” (#1, 1963), died from a heart attack on 5/15/1992, age 44
1947 ● Darrell Sweet → Co-founder and drummer for Scottish hard rock Nazareth, “Love Hurts” (#8, 1976), died from a fatal heart attack before a show in Indiana on 4/30/1999, age 52
1951 ● Jonathan Richman → Guitarist, singer and songwriter, founded and fronted proto-punk The Modern Lovers, “Roadrunner” (, 1977), solo and collaborations, appeared in the film There’s Something About Mary (1998)
1953 ● Richard Page → Bass guitarist and vocals for 80s atmospheric pop-rock quartet Mr. Mister, “Kyrie” (#1, 1985)
1955 ● Hazel O’Connor → Brit singer/songwriter and actress, starred in the film Breaking Glass (1980) which launched her pop singing career, “Will You” (UK #8, 1981),
1958 ● Glenn Gregory → Vocals for 80s synth-pop Heaven 17, “Temptation” (UK #2, 1983) and “Contenders” (Dance/Club #6, 1987)
1960 ● Lovebug Starski / (Kevin Smith) → Teenage gang member turned rapper, MC, record producer and self-styled creator of the term “hip-hop” for which he was widely-recognized as a key player in the development of hip-hop music in the South Bronx in the mid-70s, issued a single album and a dozen singles in the 80s, was attempting a career reboot in Las Vegas but died following a heart attack on 2/8/2018, age 57
1964 ● Boyd Tinsley → Violinist for pop-funk-rock jam band Dave Matthews Band, “Don’t Drink The Water” (Modern Rock #4, 1998)
1965 ● Chris Novoselic / (Krist Anthony Novoselic) → Croatian-American bass guitarist and co-founder of premier grunge rock Nirvana, “Smells Like Teen Spirit” (#6, 1992), played in variety of bands since Nirvana broke up in 1994, music columnist and founder of JAMPAC
1966 ● Janet Jackson → Youngest of the ten Jackson children, R&B/soul-pop superstar, “Miss You Much” (#1, 1989), TV and film actress
1968 ● Ralph Tresvant → Vocals for R&B/teen pop then hip hop/new jack swing vocal quartet New Edition, “If It Isn’t Love” (#7, 1988)
1971 ● Simon Katz → Percussion in Grammy-winning Brit acid jazz-funk-pop Jamiroquai, “Canned Heat” (Dance #1, 1999)
1973 ● Will White → DJ, vocals and mixmaster for techno-dance Propellerheads, “History Repeating” (Dance/Club #10, 1998), remixed 808 State, Luscious Jackson

May 17
1921 ● Bob Merrill / (Henry Merrill Levan) → Pop and Broadway songwriter, wrote multiple hits, including “(How Much Is) That Doggie In The Window” for Patti Page (#1, 1953) and “People” for Barbra Streisand (Adult Contemporary #1, 1964), died after a long illness on 2/17/1998, age 76
1934 ● Sonny Knight / (Joseph Coleman Smith) → R&B singer (“Confidential,” #17, R&B #8, 1956) and author of the novel The Day The Music Died (1981) about racism in the music industry, suffered a massive stroke in 1996 and died two years later on 9/5/1998, age 64
1938 ● Pervis Jackson → Original member and bass vocals for Grammy-winning Motown and later Atlantic R&B/soul The Spinners, “Then Came You” (#1, 1974) plus eleven other Top 20 hits in the 70s, continued touring with the group until his death from cancer on 8/18/2008, age 70
1941 ● Malcolm Hale → Guitar, horns and vocals for sunny folk-pop Spanky & Our Gang, “Sunday Will Never Be The Same” (#9, 1967), died from carbon monoxide poisoning due to a faulty home furnace on 10/30/1968, age 27
1942 ● Taj Mahal / (Henry St. Clair Fredericks) → Prominent multi-instrumentalist acoustic and electric folk-blues-country-reggae guitarist and songwriter, founded roots folk-rock Rising Sons with Ry Cooder, prolific solo career with over 30 studio and live albums, composer of film soundtracks, Grammy-winning best contemporary blues album Señor Blues (1997)
1944 ● Richard Schwartz → Vocals for white R&B/doo wop quartet The Quotations, “Imagination” (Top 40, 1961)
1944 ● Jesse Winchester / (James Ridout Winchester) → Draft-dodging American folk-pop singer/songwriter, “Say What” (#2, 1981), moved to Canada in 1967 and received citizenship in 1973, continued to record and perform until his death from bladder cancer on 4/11/2014, age 69
1949 ● Bill Bruford → Inimitable rock drummer, composer, bandleader, producer and record company executive, founding member of prog/art rock Yes, briefly with prog rock Genesis in early 70s, then prog/space-rock King Crimson, “Heartbeat” (Mainstream Rock #57, 1982) for 25 years, solo albums and side projects including UK, ABWH and Earthworks
1950 ● Howard Ashman → With songwriting team partner/composer Alan Menken, Academy Award-winning lyricist and producer for stage and screen, co-wrote “Under The Sea” from Disney‘s The Little Mermaid (1989), the title song to Beauty And The Beast (1991) and “Friend Like Me” from Aladdin (1992), died of AIDS on 3/14/1991, age 40
1952 ● Roy Adams → Drummer for Brit blues-rock Climax Blues Band, “Couldn’t Get It Right” (#3, 1977)
1953 ● Lightnin’ Licks Johnson / (George Johnson) → Vocals and guitar for R&B/soul-disco-funk sibling group The Brothers Johnson, “Stomp!” (#7, R&B #1, 1980), solo
1955 ● David Townsend → EMI staff songwriter turned smooth soul singer and guitarist in the “quiet storm” trio Surface, “The First Time” (#1, R&B #1, 1990), found dead in his home on 10/26/2005, age 50
1958 ● Alan Rankine → Guitarist for post-punk New Romantic art-glam-dance-pop The Associates, “Party Fears Two” (UK #9, 1982), now college music lecturer
1959 ● Paul Di’Anno / (Paul Andrews) → Vocalist for Brit heavy metal Iron Maiden, “Flight Of Icarus” (Mainstream Rock #8, 1983), was fired in 1981 and pursued a moderately successful solo career and as a member of several hard rock project groups, including Gogmagog, Battlezone, Praying Mantis and Killers
1960 ● Simon Fuller → Record and TV producer, manager for the Spice Girls, Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood, Chris Daughtry, Fantasia, Will Young, Emma Bunton and others, creator of the Idol TV variety/contest series, first in the U.K. as Pop Idol and now with over 50 other versions including American Idol, Canadian Idol, and World Idol
1961 ● Enya / (Eithne Ni Bhraonain) → Vocals for Celtic folk-pop sibling group Clannad, then solo new age dreamy synth-pop, “Orinoco Flow” (#24, 1989) and “Only Time” (#10, 2001)
1962 ● Tracey Bryn → With sister Melissa Belland, frontgal and vocals in college rock/indie pop-rock Voice Of The Beehive, “Scary Kisses” (Mainstream Top 40 #32, 1996), daughter of Bruce Belland of 50s pop vocal quartet The Four Preps
1963 ● Page McConnell → Keyboards, vocals and songwriting for improv-rock jam band Phish, “Free” (Mainstream Rock #11, 1996) plus solo and side projects
1965 ● Homer O’Dell → Guitarist for new jack swing R&B/soul-pop sextet Mint Condition, “What Kind Of Man Would I Be?” (#17, 1996)
1965 ● Trent Reznor → Founder, leader and songwriter for industrial rock Nine Inch Nails, “The Day The World Went Away” (#17, 1999)
1966 ● Jan Kincaid → Founding member, drums and keyboards for acid-jazz/funk The Brand New Heavies, “Sometimes” (UK #11, 1997)
1967 ● Simon Friend → Guitarist for alt folk-Celtic rock The Levellers, “Just The One” (UK #12, 1995)
1968 ● Dave Abbruzzese → Drummer (1991-94) for post-grunge/alt rock kings Pearl Jam, “Even Flow” (Mainstream Rock #3, 1992), solo
1970 ● Darnell Van Rensalier → Vocals for R&B/urban contemporary soul quartet Shai, “If I Ever Fall In Love” (#2, 1992)
1970 ● Jordan Knight → Singer in early 90s teen-pop boy band New Kids On The Block, “Step By Step” (#1, 1990)
1971 ● Vernie Bennett / (Vernette Bennett) → Vocals for Brit R&B/dance-pop singer for girl-group Eternal, “Stay” (#19, UK #3, 1993)
1973 ● Joshua Homme → Founding member, vocalist, guitarist and primary songwriter for stoner metal Queens Of The Stone Age, “No One Knows” (#51, Mainstream Rock #5, 2002), later with supergroup Them Crooked Vultures, “New Fang” (Alt Rock #10, 2009)
1974 ● Andrea Corr → With two sisters and brother, lead vocals in Irish folk-pop-rock sibling act The Corrs, “Breathless” (Adult Top 40 #7, 2000), solo and actress
1976 ● Kandi Burruss → Vocals for female R&B/dance-pop quartet Xscape, “Understanding” (#8, 1993)

May 18
1911 ● Big Joe Turner / (Joseph Vernon Turner) → Premier blues “shouter” and boogie-woogie, jump blues and early rock ‘n’ roll vocalist, “Shake, Rattle And Roll” (#22, R&B #1, 1954), died from a kidney failure on 11/24/1985, age 74
1912 ● Perry Como / (Pierino Ronald Como) → Small town barber turned pre-rock ‘n’ roll crooner, then Grammy-winning smooth easy listening/pop singer, “Catch A Falling Star” (#1, 1958) and 19 other Pop Top 25 singles plus nine Adult Contemporary Top 10 hits, died in his sleep on 5/12/2001, age 88
1922 ● Kai Winding / (Kai Chresten Winding) → Danish-American jazz trombonist who played with every major jazz and be bop artist in small and large groups over a 40-year career, from Benny Goodman and Stan Kenton in the 40s to Quincy Jones and Chuck Mangione in the 70s, founded several of his own groups and collaborated with J. J. Johnson in the 50s, was the first to record “Time Is On My Side,” which later became the first US Top 10 hit for The Rolling Stones (#6, 1964), died following a heart attack during surgery for a brain tumor on 5/6/1983, age 60.
1933 ● Fred Smith / (Fred Sledge Smith) → R&B songwriter and record producer, co-wrote several 50-60s hits for doo wop The Olympics, including novelty song “Western Movies” (#8, R&B #7, 1958) and dance-craze “(Baby) Hully Bully” (#72, 1960), produced hits for Bob & Earl (“Harlem Shuffle,” #44, 1964) and Jackie Lee (“The Duck,” #14, 1965), formed his own label, MoSoul, in 1967 and produced two albums for Bill Cosby, worked briefly for Stax Records until it closed in 1975, left the music industry thereafter and died from undisclosed causes on 7/29/2005, age 72
1939 ● Gary Paxton / (Larry Wayne Stevens) → Grammy-winning, eccentric gospel musician whose career opened as a teenage pop singer with Clyde “Skip” Battin (later in The Byrds) in the duo Skip & Flip (“It Was I,” #11, 1959), later recorded with the Hollywood Argyles (“Alley-Oop,” #1, 1960) and produced “Monster Mash” (#1, 1962) for Bobby “Boris” Pickett, converted to Christianity in the 70s, won Best Inspirational Album award in 1975, survived an assassination attempt by hitmen in 1980, retired in 1999 and died at home on 7/16/2016, age 77
1942 ● Rodney Dillard → Progressive and influential bluegrass guitar and dobro player with brother Doug in duo country-rock The Dillards
1944 ● Albert Hammond → Brit-Gibraltarian pop singer/songwriter and guitarist, “It Never Rains In Southern California” (#5, 1973)
1945 ● Scar Lopez / (Richard Lopez) → Founding member and vocals for pioneering “East Side Sound” of L.A., Mexican-American one hit wonder, brown-eyed-soul/garage rock quartet Cannibal And The Headhunters (“Land Of A Thousand Dances,” #30, 1965), died from lung cancer on 7/30/2010, age 65
1946 ● Bruce Gilbert → Guitarist for long-lived post-punk Wire, “Eardrum Buzz” (Modern Rock #2, 1989)
1946 ● George Alexander → Bassist for eclectic rock ‘n’ roll/proto-punk cult band The Flamin’ Groovies, album Shake Some Action reached #142 on the Billboard 200 chart
1949 ● Bill Wallace → Bassist for Canadian rockers The Guess Who, “American Woman” (#1, 1970), now college music instructor
1949 ● Rick Wakeman → Renowned keyboardist and composer, started as sessionman for Black Sabbath, David Bowie and others in the 60s, joined folk-prog-rock The Strawbs in 1970, moved to archetypal prog rock Yes, “Roundabout” (#13, 1971), successful solo career and film score composing
1950 ● Mark Mothersbaugh → Multi-instrumental musician, composer, singer and founding member of quirky 80s pop-rock Devo, “Whip It” (#14, 1980), also wrote musical scores for dozens of films and television shows in the 90s and 00s in music production company Mutato Muzika with his former Devo bandmates
1952 ● George Strait → The “King of Country,” traditionalist country, honky tonk and Western swing singer, songwriter and guitarist with more (57) Country #1 hits than any other artist, including “All My Ex’s Live In Texas” (Country #1, 1987)
1953 ● Butch Tavares / (Feliciano Tavares) → Vocals for five brother R&B/funk-disco Tavares, “Heaven Must Be Missing An Angel” (#15, 1976)
1954 ● Wreckless Eric / (Eric Goulden) → Singer, songwriter and Stiff Records artist, had the punk classic UK airplay hit “I’d Go The Whole Wide World” (1978)
1956 ● Jim Moginie / (James Moginie) → Australian singer and musician best known for founding politically-outspoken Aussie rock Midnight Oil (“Beds Are Burning,” #17, Mainstream Rock #6, 1988), the band’s album Diesel And Dust (1987) ranked #13 on Rolling Stone magazine’s 100 Best Albums of the 80s
1957 ● Michael Cretu → Romanian-born founder, frontman, composer and creative genius behind new age electronic/world music Enigma, “Return To Innocence” (#4, 1994)
1958 ● Toyah Ann Wilcox → Brit actress and singer, appeared in the punk film Jubilee (1977) and in The Who‘s mod film Quadrophenia (1979), fronted punk-rock Toyah, “It’s A Mystery” (1981)
1961 ● Hugh Whittaker → Drummer for Brit jangle-guitar pop-rock The Housemartins, “Caravan Of Love” (UK #1, 1986)
1961 ● Russell Senior → Guitar and violin for alt rock/Britpop Pulp, “Common People” (UK #2, 1995), left in 1997 to pursue other projects and sell antique glassware
1969 ● Martika / (Martika Marta Marrero) → Cuban-American teen-pop/bubblegum singer, “Toy Soldiers” (#1, 1989)
1970 ● Billy Howerdel → Guitar technician for alt rock Tool, “Schism” (Mainstream Rock #2, 2001), then founded alt-metal-fused-with-art rock A Perfect Circle, “Weak And Powerless” (Mainstream Rock #1, 2004)
1975 ● Jack Johnson → Hawaii born professional surfer turned acoustic soft beach rock singer, songwriter and guitarist, “Upside Down” (#38, Adult Top 40 #11, 2006)
1982 ● Eric West → 90s hip hop singer turned model and actor, returned to music with a 2010 solo album and the single “Gone” featuring Kanye West

Singles Released This Week (May 6 – 12)

Here’s a running list of charting singles (and B-Sides that charted) from rock and pop music from the 50s through the 80s – the BEST music ever made!

Entries are: Year • Artist • Track Title • Genre • Album • B-Side

(If a non-album single, then [Single]. If the charting track was the B-Side, then [B-Side]. Any “UK” entry designates a single different from its US counterpart).

May 06
1963 • The Beatles • “From Me To You” • Merseybeat • Jolly What! England’s Greatest Recording Stars: The Beatles and Frank Ifield on Stage • “Thank You Girl”
1966 • The Rolling Stones • “Paint It, Black” • Raga Rock • Aftermath • “Stupid Girl”
1966 • The Small Faces • “Hey Girl” [UK] • Britbeat • [Single] • “Almost Grown”
1978 • Van Halen • “Runnin’ With The Devil” • Arena Rock • Van Halen • “Eruption”
1982 • Cher • “Rudy” • Pop-Rock • I Paralyze • “Do I Ever Cross Your Mind”
1991 • R.E.M. • “Shiny Happy People” [UK] • Alt. Pop-Rock • Out Of Time • “Forty Second Song”
1998 • Madonna • “Ray Of Light” • Dance-Pop/EDM • Ray Of Light • “Has To Be”

May 07
1970 • The Temptations • “Ball Of Confusion (That’s What The World Is Today)” • Psychedelic Soul • [Single] • “It’s Summer”
1973 • George Harrison • “Give Me Love (Give Me Peace On Earth)” • Pop-Rock • Living In The Material World • “Miss O’Dell”
1973 • Pink Floyd • “Money” • Prog Rock • The Dark Side Of The Moon • “Any Colour You Like”
1982 • ABC • “The Look Of Love (Part One)” [UK] • New Wave Dance-Pop • The Lexicon Of Love • “The Look Of Love (Part Two)”
1984 • The Cars • “Magic” • New Wave Pop-Rock • Heartbreak City • “I Refuse”
1985 • Duran Duran • “A View To A Kill” [UK] • New Wave Synth-Pop • A View To A Kill (Sndtrk) • “A View To A Kill (That Fatal Kiss)”
1986 • Prince • “Mountains” • R&B-Pop • Parade • “Alexa De Paris”
1996 • Bryan Adams • “The Only Thing That Looks Good On Me Is You” • Pop-Rock • 18 Til I Die • “Hey Elvis”

May 08
1962 • Marvin Gaye • “Soldier’s Plea” • Doo Wop • That Stubborn Kinda Fella • “Taking My Time”
1962 • Sam Cooke • “Having A Party” • Soul • [Single] • “Bring It On Home To Me”
1962 • The Supremes • “Your Heart Belongs To Me” • Soul/Doo Wop • Meet The Supremes • “(He’s) Seventeen”
1964 • The Hollies • “Here I Go Again” [UK] • Brit Beat • [Single] • “Baby That’s All”
1983 • Michael Jackson • “Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin'” • Dance-Pop • Thriller • “Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin'” {Instrumental]
1985 • The Beach Boys • “Getcha Back” • Pop-Rock • The Beach Boys • “Male Ego”
1992 • Michael Jackson • “In The Closet” • New Jack Swing • Dangerous • “In The Closet” [Radio Edit]
1995 • Elton John • “Made In England” • Pop-Rock • Made In England • “Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds” [Live With John Lennon]
2001 • R.E.M. • “Imitation Of Life” • Alt. Pop-Rock • Reveal • “The Lifting” / “Beat A Drum” / “2JN”

May 09
1969 • Diana Ross & The Supremes • “No Matter What Sign You Are” • Soul-Pop • Let The Sunshine In • “The Young Folks”
1980 • Genesis • “Duchess” [UK] • Prog Rock • Duke • “Open Door”
1986 • The Rolling Stones • “One Hit (To The Body)” • Blues-Rock • Dirty Work • “Fight”
1988 • Bonnie Tyler • “Hide Your Heart” • Pop-Rock • Hide Your Heart • “The Fire Below”
1989 • Madonna • “Express Yourself” • Dance-Pop • Like A Prayer • “The Look Of Love”
1994 • Tori Amos • “Cornflake Girl” • AA Pop-Rock • Under The Pink • “Sister Janet”

May 10
1974 • Elvis Presley • “If You Talk In Your Sleep” • Blues-Rock • [Single] • “Help Me”
1974 • Ken Boothe • “Everything I Own” [UK] • Reggae-Pop • Everything I Own • “Drum Song”
1974 • Bad Company • “Can’t Get Enough” [UK] • Hard Rock • Bad Company • “Little Miss Fortune”
1974 • Elvis Presley • “Help Me” • Country-Gospel • [Single] • [B-Side]
1974 • Eagles • “James Dean” [UK] • Country-Rock • On The Border • “Is It True?”
1978 • The Rolling Stones • “Miss You” • Disco-Pop • Some Girls • “Far Away Eyes”
1980 • Genesis • “Misunderstanding” • Prog Rock • Duke • “Behind The Lines”
1983 • Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band • “Roll Me Away” • Heartland Rock • The Distance • “Boomtown Blues”
1993 • UB40 • “(I Can’t Help) Falling In Love With You” [UK] • Reggae-Pop • Promises And Lies • “Jungle Love”
2004 • Joss Stone • “Super Duper Love” [UK] • Blue-Eyed Soul • [Single] • “It’s A Man’s Man’s Man’s World”

May 11
1964 • The Beatles • “Roll Over Beethoven” • Brit Beat • Four By The Beatles[EP] • “All My Loving” / “This Boy” / “Please, Mr. Postman”
1964 • The Beach Boys • “I Get Around” • Hot Rod Pop • All Summer Long • “Don’t Worry Baby”
1964 • The Beach Boys • “Don’t Worry Baby” • Pop Ballad • Shut Down, Vol. 2 • [B-Side]
1964 • The Beatles • “Please Mr. Postman” • Brit Beat • [Single] • [B-Side]
1965 • The Marvelettes • “I’ll Keep Holding On” • Soul • [Single] • “No Time For Tears”
1967 • The Supremes • “The Happening” [UK] • Soul-Pop • [Single] • “All I Know About You”
1968 • Richard Harris • “MacArthur Park” • Baroque Pop • A Tramp Shining • “Didn’t We?”
1970 • The Beatles • “The Long And Winding Road” • Pop-Rock • Let It Be • “For You Blue”
1971 • The Supremes And Four Tops • “You Gotta Have Love In Your Heart” • Soul-Pop • The Return of the Magnificent 7 • “I’m Glad About It”
1973 • Bruce Springsteen • “Spirit In The Night” • Heartland Rock • Greetings From Asbury Park, New Jersey • “For You”
1974 • Three Dog Night • “Shambala” • Blue-Eyed Soul • Cyan • “Our ‘B’ Side”
1979 • George Harrison • “Love Comes To Everyone” • Pop-Rock • George Harrison • “Soft Touch”
1981 • George Harrison • “All Those Years Ago” • Pop-Rock • Somewhere In England • “Writing’s On The Wall”
1982 • Men At Work • “Who Can It Be Now?” • New Wave Synth-Pop • Business As Usual • “Anyone For Tennis” [Instrumental]
1984 • John Lennon • “Borrowed Time” • Calypso-Pop • Milk & Honey • “Your Hands”
1992 • The Cure • “Friday I’m In Love” • Pop-Rock • Wish • “Halo”

May 12
1965 • Cher • “All I Really Want To Do” • Pop-Rock • All I Really Want To Do • “I’m Gonna Love You”
1967 • Procol Harum • “Whiter Shade Of Pale” [UK] • Prog Rock • Procol Harum • “Lime Street Blues”
1972 • Paul McCartney & Wings • “Mary Had A Little Lamb” [UK] • Pop/Children’s • [Single] • “Little Woman In Love”
1980 • Billy Joel • “It’s Still Rock And Roll To Me” • Pop-Rock • Glass Houses • “Through The Long Night”
1987 • Janet Jackson • “The Pleasure Principle” • Dance-Pop • Control • “Fast Girls”
1988 • George Harrison • “This Is Love” • Pop-Rock • Cloud Nine • “Breath Away From Heaven”
1994 • Elton John • “Can You Feel The Love Tonight” • Pop-Rock • Can You Feel The Love Tonight • “Can You Feel The Love Tonight?” [Instrumental]
2003 • George Harrison • “Any Road” [UK] • Country-Rock • Brainwashed • “Marwa Blues”