Albums Released This Week (July 24 – 30)

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):

July 24


● The Beach Boys —— The Best Of The Beach Boys, Vol. 2 ► Pop-Rock >> 1967
● Yes —— Time And A Word [UK] ► Prog Rock >> 1970
● Jon Anderson —— Olias Of Sunhillow ► Prog Rock >> 1976
● Timothy B. Schmit —— Tell Me The Truth ► Country-Rock >> 1990
● Dread Zeppelin —— Un-Led-Ed ► Hard Rock >> 1990
● Nils Lofgren —— Crooked Line ► Roots Rock >> 1992
● Ringo Starr —— The Anthology…So Far ► Pop-Rock >> 2001
● NSYNC —— Celebrity ► Dance-Pop >> 2001
● Cake —— Comfort Eagle ► Alt Rock/College Rock >> 2001
● Curtis Mayfield —— Soul Legacy ► Soul/Funk >> 2001
● Joni Mitchell —— The Beginning Of Survival ► Folk-Rock >> 2004
● The Antlers —— Undersea ► Dream Pop >> 2012

July 25


● The Troggs —— From Nowhere…The Troggs [UK] ► Garage Rock >> 1966
● The Troggs —— Wild Thing ► Garage Rock >> 1966
● Yes —— Yes [UK] ► Prog Rock >> 1969
● Creedence Clearwater Revival —— Cosmo’s Factory ► Folk-Rock >> 1970
● Donovan —— Open Road ► Folk-Rock >> 1970
● Cat Stevens —— Foreigner ► Folk-Pop >> 1973
● AC/DC —— Back In Black ► Hard Rock >> 1980
● Teddy Pendergrass —— TP ► Soul-Pop >> 1980
● Metallica —— Kill ‘Em All ► Heavy Metal >> 1983
● 2 Live Crew —— The 2 Live Crew Is What We Are ► East Coast Rap >> 1986
● Loudness —— Lightning Strikes ► Heavy Metal/Japanese Metal >> 1986
● Kool & The Gang —— Everything’s Kool & the Gang: Greatest Hits & More ► Funk-Soul >> 1988
● Kim Carnes —— View From The House ► Pop-Rock >> 1988
● The Bee Gees —— One ► Pop-Rock >> 1989
● The Beastie Boys —— Paul’s Boutique ► Rap >> 1989
● Alice Cooper —— Trash ► Hard Rock >> 1989
● Boredoms —— Chocolate Synthesizer ► Noise Rock >> 1994
● 311 —— 311 ► Alt. Pop-Rock >> 1995
● Bone Thugs-N-Harmony —— E. 1999 Eternal ► Gangsta Rap >> 1995
● Dion —— Deja Nu ► Pop-Rock >> 2000
● Dark Tranquility —— Haven ► Heavy Metal/Melodic Death Metal >> 2000
● Béla Fleck And The Flecktones —— Outbound ► Jazz Fusion >> 2000
● Loverboy —— Get Lucky ► Arena Rock >> 2006
● Tom Petty —— Highway Companion ► Album Rock >> 2006

July 26


● Buck Owens —— Before You Go ► Country-Rock/Bakersfield >> 1965
● The Moody Blues —— In Search Of The Lost Chord ► Psychedelic Rock >> 1968
● ZZ Top —— Tres Hombres ► Blues-Rock >> 1973
● Robert Wyatt —— Rock Bottom ► Art Rock >> 1974
● The Clash —— The Clash ► Punk >> 1979
● Bucks Fizz —— Bucks Fizz ► Europop-Dance >> 1981
● The League Unlimited Orchestra —— Love And Dancing ► Synth-Pop >> 1982
● The Human League —— Love And Dancing [EP] ► New Wave Synth-Pop >> 1982
● Asia —— Alpha ► Prog Rock >> 1983
● John Waite —— Mask Of Smiles ► Power Pop >> 1985
● Katrina & The Waves —— Break Of Hearts ► New Wave/Jangle Pop >> 1989
● Odeta Adams —— Evolution ► Jazz-Pop Fusion >> 1993
● Ani DiFranco —— Out Of Range ► Folk-Rock >> 1994
● The Aquabats —— The Return Of The Aquabats ► Ska-Punk Revival >> 1996

July 27


● Pink Floyd —— More [Sndtrk] ► Prog Rock >> 1969
● The Temptations —— All Directions ► Soul – Motown >> 1972
● Genesis —— Genesis Live ► Prog Rock >> 1973
● Sweet —— Sweet ► Pop-Rock >> 1973
● Grateful Dead —— Terrapin Station ► Album Rock >> 1977
● AC/DC —— Highway To Hell ► Hard Rock >> 1979
● Stevie Nicks —— Bella Donna ► Pop-Rock >> 1981
● Neil Young —— Everybody’s Rockin’ ► Rockabilly >> 1983
● Madonna —— Madonna ► Dance-Pop >> 1983
● Mark Knopfler —— Comfort And Joy [Sndtrk] ► Roots Rock >> 1984
● Metallica —— Ride The Lightning ► Heavy Metal >> 1994
● 10,000 Maniacs —— In My Tribe ► Folk-Rock >> 1987
● Triumph —— Surveillance ► Arena Rock >> 1987
● The Bodeans —— Home ► Roots Rock >> 1989
● Sloan —— Peppermint ► Alt Indie Rock >> 1992
● Bachman-Turner Overdrive —— All The Greatest Hits Live ► Album Rock >> 1993
● The Smashing Pumpkins —— Siamese Dream ► Hard Rock >> 1993
● Dying Fetus —— Killing On Adrenaline ► Heavy Metal/Death Metal >> 1998
● Eric Clapton —— Blues ► Blues-Rock >> 1999
● Nick Lowe —— The Doings ► Pub Rock >> 1999
● At The Drive-In —— Vaya ► Punk Rock >> 1999
● 38 Special —— Drivetrain ► Southern Rock >> 2004
● Pearl Jam —— Live At Benaroya Hall ► Hard Rock >> 2004
● Scissor Sisters —— Scissor Sisters ► Dance-Techno Pop >> 2004
● Bob Dylan —— The Collection ► Folk-Rock >> 2009
● Ringo Starr —— Live At The Greek Theater 2008 ► Pop-Rock >> 2010

July 28


● John Coltrane —— Live In Paris ► Contemporary Jazz >> 1965
● Harry Nilsson —— Son Of Schmilsson [UK] ► Folk-Rock >> 1972
● Black Sabbath —— Sabotage ► Hard Rock >> 1975
● Rainbow —— Down To Earth ► Arena Rock >> 1979
● Zapp —— Zapp ► P-Funk >> 1980
● Sade —— Diamond Life [UK] ► Quiet Storm >> 1984
● R.E.M. —— Lifes Rich Pageant ► Alt. Pop-Rock >> 1986
● Neil Young —— The Bridge: A Tribute To Neil Young ► Alt Rock >> 1989
● Barenaked Ladies —— Gordon ► AA Pop-Rock >> 1992
● Mary J. Blige —— What’s The 411? ► Hip Hop Soul >> 1992
● Morrissey —— Your Arsenal ► Alt. Pop-Rock >> 1992
● Company Flow —— Funcrusher Plus ► Experimental Rap >> 1997
● Mary J. Blige —— The Tour ► Hip Hop Soul >> 1998

July 29


● The Byrds —— Preflyte ► Country-Rock >> 1969
● Rose Royce —— Rose Royce II: In Full Bloom ► Disco/Funk >> 1977
● Hall & Oates —— Voices ► Pop-Rock >> 1980
● Hoover —— A New Stereophonic Sound Spectacular ► Dream Pop/Electronic Trip Hop >> 1996
● Bone Thugs-N-Harmony —— The Art Of War ► Gangsta Rap >> 1997
● Alice Cooper —— A Fistful Of Alice ► Hard Rock >> 1997
● GZA/Genius —— Beneath The Surface ► East Coast Rap >> 1999
● Carpenters —— Carpenters Perform Carpenters ► Easy Listening >> 2003
● Little Feat —— Down Upon The Suwannee River ► Southern Rock >> 2003
● Alice Cooper —— Along Came A Spider ► Hard Rock >> 2008
● The Kingston Trio —— Turning Like Forever: Rarities Vol. 2 ► Folk-Pop >> 2008
● Rick Springfield —— Venus In Overdrive ► Power Pop >> 2008
● Eric Clapton —— The Breeze: An Appreciation of J.J. Cale ► Blues-Rock >> 2014
● Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers —— Hypnotic Eye ► Album Rock >> 2014

July 30


● The Rolling Stones —— Out Of Our Heads ► Blues-Rock >> 1965
● Buffalo Springfield —— Last Time Around ► Folk-Rock >> 1968
● Miles Davis —— In A Silent Way ► Electric Jazz/Fusion >> 1969
● Moby Grape —— Truly Fine Citizen ► Psychedelic Rock (SFO) >> 1969
● Chic —— Risque ► Disco >> 1979
● Cutting Crew —— Broadcast ► Pop-Rock >> 1986
● Mary Chapin Carpenter —— Hometown Girl ► Country-Folk >> 1987
● The Cavedogs —— Joyrides For Shut-Ins ► Power Pop >> 1990
● Widespread Panic —— Widespread Panic ► Southern Rock >> 1991
● The Psychedelic Furs —— World Outside ► Post-Punk New Wave >> 1991
● Amorphous Androgynous —— Tales Of Ephidrina ► Ambient Techno >> 1993
● Republica —— Republica ► Punk Rock/Techno-Pop >> 1996
● The Human League —— Soundtrack To A Generation ► New Wave Synth-Pop >> 1996
● Sublime —— Sublime ► Alt. Rock >> 1996
● Alice In Chains —— Unplugged ► Acoustic Metal >> 1996
● Cast —— Beetroot ► Britpop >> 2001
● ZZ Top —— Ladytron ► Prog Rock >> 2002
● Bruce Springsteen —— The Rising ► Heartland Rock >> 2002

This Week’s Birthdays (July 23 – 29)

Happy Birthday this week to:

July 23

1929 ● Jack Richardson / → Canadian record producer and Juno Award winner, produced all of The Guess Who‘s big albums and hits, including “American Woman” (#9, 1970), plus Alice Cooper‘s album Muscle Of Love (#10, 1973), Bob Seger‘s Night Moves (#8, 1977) and albums by Badfinger, Poco, Rough Trade, Starz and others, later became a college professor in music industry arts, died on 5/13/2011, age 81
1933 ● Bert Convy / (Bernard Whalen Convy) → Vocals in early rock ‘n’ roll The Cheers, their hit “(Bazoom) I Need Your Lovin'” (#3, 1954) was the first chart hit for the songwriting team of Jerry Lieber and Mike Stoller and one of the first hits by a white rock ‘n’ roll group, later became a Broadway stage performer (Fiddler On The Roof, 1964), a 60s and 70s television game show panelist (To Tell The Truth, Match Game, Password and others) and TV series guest star (Bewitched, Hawaii Five-O and others), died from a heart attack on 7/15/1991, age 58
1935 ● Cleveland “Cleve” Duncan / (Cleve Duncan) → Founding member and lead vocals for one hit wonder R&B/doo wop quartet The Penguins, their enduring “Earth Angel” (#8, R&B #1, 1954) was one of the earliest R&B-to-pop crossover hits, died on 11/7/2012, age 77
1942 ● Madeline Bell / → R&B and pop-rock singer, “I’m Gonna Make You Love Me” (#26, 1968), joined Brit pop-rock Blue Mink, “Melting Pot” (UK #3, 1970), also session backing vocals for Dusty Springfield, Elton John, Kiki Dee and others
1943 ● Tony Joe White / → Country-pop singer and songwriter, “Pork Salad Annie” (#8, 1969), wrote “Rainy Night In Georgia”, covered by Brook Benton (#4, 1970), Ray Charles, Hank Williams, Jr. and others
1943 ● Joe Santollo / → Vocals for Italian-American doo wop The Duprees, “You Belong To Me” (#7, 1962), died from a heart attack as the band was preparing for a reunion tour on 6/3/1981, age 37
1944 ● Dino Danelli / → Drums and vocals for blue-eyed soul The Rascals, “Groovin”” (#1, 1967), then pop-rock Bulldog, power pop Fotomaker, “Miles Away” (#63, 1978), Little Steven & The Disciples Of Soul and The New Rascals
1946 ● Andy Mackay / → Saxophone and woodwinds for prog rock Roxy Music, “Love Is The Drug” (#30, 1976), sessions and teaching
1947 ● David Essex / (David Albert Cook) → Pop-rock singer and songwriter, one hit wonder in the U.S., “Rock On” (#5, 1973), but with 19 UK Top 40 singles (including two #1s)
1948 ● John Hall / → Guitarist, vocals and songwriter for pop-rock Orleans, “Still The One” (#5, 1976), sessions and touring, solo, “Power” (1979), now a member of the U.S. Congress (NY-D-19th)
1950 ● Blair Thornton / → Guitarist for Canadian hard pop-rockers Bachman-Turner Overdrive, “You Ain’t Seen Nothing Yet” (#1, 1974)
1952 ● Janis Siegel / → Vocals for Grammy-winning jazz-pop fusion vocal group Manhattan Transfer, “Boy From New York City” (#7, 1981)
1954 ● Marisa DeFranco / → Vocals for teen bubblegum-pop The DeFranco Family, “Heartbeat-It’s A Lovebeat” (#3, 1973)
1961 ● Martin Gore / → Keyboards for electro-dance/synth-pop Depeche Mode, “Enjoy The Silence” (#8, 1990)
1964 ● Tim Kellett / → Keyboards and trumpet for Brit soul-pop Simply Red, “Holding Back The Years” (#1, 1986), then trip-hop/electronica trio Olive, “You’re Not Alone” (Dance/Club #5, 1997)
1964 ● Nick Menza / → Drummer for thrash-metal Megadeth, “Symphony Of Destruction” (Mainstream #29, 1992)
1965 ● Rob Dickinson / → Vocals for Brit indie rock/shoegazing band Catherine Wheel, “Black Metallic” (Modern Rock #9, 1991)
1965 ● Slash / (Saul Hudson) → Lead guitar for hard rock Guns N’ Roses, “Sweet Child O’ Mine” (#1, 1988), side project Slash’s Snakepit caused him to leave the band for good in 1997, formed Velvet Revolver in 2002 with ex-GNR bandmates Duff McKagan and Matt Sorum, “Fall To Pieces” (Mainstream Rock #1, 2004)
1970 ● Sam Watters / → Vocals for a cappella hip hop harmony group Color Me Badd, “I Wanna Sex You Up” (#2, 1991)
1971 ● Alison Krauss / → Folk-bluegrass singer, songwriter and fiddler, “When You Say Nothing At All” (#53, Country #3, 1995), frontwoman for Union Station, winner of 1996 Rolling Stone‘s critic’s choice Best Country Artist, Grammy-winning collaboration album with Led Zeppelin‘s Robert Plant, Raising Sand (#2, 2007)
1971 ● Chad Gracey / → Drummer for alt rock Live, “Lightning Crashes” (Modern Rock #5, 1995), co-founded post-grunge The Gracious Few in 2009
1971 ● Dalvin DeGrate / → Vocals in R&B/electro-dance “bad boy” quartet Jodeci, “Lately” (#4, 1993)
1973 ● Fran Healy / → Guitar and vocals for Scottish trad rock Travis, “Why Does It Always Rain On Me” (#36, UK #10, 2000) plus 11 other UK Top 40 hits
1980 ● Steve Jocz / → Drummer for Canadian indie punk-pop Sum 41, “We’re All To Blame” (Mainstream Rock #36, 2004)
1980 ● Tenitra Michelle Williams / → Vocals for R&B/dance-pop Destiny’s Child, “Say My Name” (#1, 2000), solo , “The Greatest” (Dance/Club #1, 2008)

July 24

1941 ● Barbara Jean Love / → Vocals for pop-rock vocal group The Friends Of Distinction, “Grazing In The Grass” (#3, 1969)
1942 ● Heinz Burt / → Bassist for Brit instrumental rock ‘n’ roll The Tornados,”Telstar” (#1, 1962), the first major US hit by a British group, solo, died from complication of a neural disease on 4/7/2000, age 57
1944 ● Jim Armstrong / → Guitarist for Northern Irish R&B/garage rock Them, Here Comes The Night” (#24, UK #2, 1965), since then in multiple Irish rock bands, including Truth, Light, The Belfast Blues Band and Jim Armstrong Band
1947 ● Alan Whitehead / → Founding member and drummer for Scottish pop-rock The Marmalade, “Reflections Of My Life” (#10, 1970)
1947 ● Chris Townson / → Drummer and founding member of Brit pop art/mod rock John’s Children, “Desdemona” (1967), the band occasionally recognized as a punk and glam-rock precursor, died of cancer on 2/10/2008, age 60
1948 ● Kim Berly / (Kimball Meyer) → Founding member and drummer in Canadian pop-rock trio The Stampeders (“Sweet City Woman,” #8, CAN #1 , 1971), left in 1978 but reformed the band in the 90s and continues to tour and perform into the 10s
1951 ● Gypie Mayo / (John Philip Cawhra) → Guitarist and songwriter for the mid-70s lineup of Brit pub-rock Dr. Feelgood, co-wrote the hit single “Milk And Alcohol” (UK #9, 1979) with Nick Lowe, played in the reborn Yardbirds from 1996 to 2004, died from undisclosed causes on 10/23/2013, age 62
1951 ● Lynval Golding / → Rhythm guitar and vocals for ska revival/punk rock The Specials, “Ghost Town” (UK #1, 1981), left to co-found New Wave pop Fun Boy Three, “Really Saying Something” (Club #16, UK #5, 1982)
1953 ● Diaper Man / (Garry Shider) → Guitarist, backing vocals, co-songwriter and musical director for R&B/soul-funk (“P-Funk”) Parliament-Funkadelic, “One Nation Under A Groove” (#31, 1978) and the P-Funk All-Stars, solo and collaborations, died of cancer on 6/16/2010, age 56
1957 ● Larry Gott / → Guitarist for Brit alt pop-rock James, “Sit Down” (UK #2, 1991) and “Laid” (#61, Modern Rock #3, 1994)
1958 ● Mick Karn / (Anthony Michaelides) → Bassist and saxophone for Brit New Wave art-rock Japan, “Ghosts” (UK #5, 1982)
1961 ● Paul Geary / → Drummer for funk metal/hard rock Extreme, “More Than Words” (#1, 1991), manager for Smashing Pumpkins, Godsmack, Creed and others
1969 ● J.Lo / (Jennifer Lynn Lopez) → Dancer, TV and film actress (Selena, 1997), R&B/dance-pop singer, “If You Had My Love”( #1, 1999), record producer and fashion designer, #1 on People magazine’s 2007 list of 100 Most Influential Hispanics
1986 ● Pete Reilly / → Lead guitarist for Scottish retro-rock/ska punk The View, “Same Jeans” (UK #3, 2007)

July 25

1894 ● Walter Brennan / (Walter Andrew Brennan) → World War I veteran and country-pop singer with four charting singles in the early 60s, including “Old Rivers” (#5, AC #2, Country #3, 1962), but best known as three-time Grammy-winning actor on stage and film, and as Grampa Amos on TV’s The McCoys in the late 50s, died from emphysema on 9/21/1974, age 80
1925 ● Benny Benjamin / (William Benjamin) → Session drummer in Motown house band The Funk Brothers, which provided nearly all instrumentation behind every Motown hit, died from a stroke on 4/20/1969, age 43
1941 ● Manny Charlton / (Manuel Charlton) → Founding member and lead guitarist for Scottish hard rock Nazareth, “Love Hurts” (#8, 1976)
1942 ● Bruce Woodley / → Guitar, vocals and songwriting for Aussie folk-sunshine pop The Seekers, “Georgy Girl” (#2, 1967), penned the unofficial national anthem “I Am Australian” (1987)
1943 ● Jim McCarty / → Drummer and vocals for blues-rock The Yardbirds, “For Your Love” (#6, 1965), left and co-founded prog-folk-rock Renaissance in 1969, then played acoustic guitar for prog rock Illusion, solo albums and reformed Yardbirds
1943 ● Tom Dawes / → Bass guitar and vocals for upbeat folk-pop The Cyrkle, “Red Rubber Ball” (#2, 1966), headed his own advertising agency and wrote jingles for 7Up, Coca-Cola and Alka-Seltzer (“Plop, Plop, Fizz, Fizz”), died from complications of heart surgery on 10/13/2007, age 64
1946 ● José Chepitó Areas / → Nicaraguan original member and percussionist for Latin-rock Santana, “Black Magic Woman” (#4, 1970)
1948 ● Steve Goodman / → Grammy-winning folk and folk-pop singer, songwriter and guitarist, wrote “The City Of New Orleans” (covered by Arlo Guthrie, #18, 1972) and issued 12 solo albums, died of leukemia on 9/20/1984, age 36
1950 ● Mark Clarke / → Journeyman bassist, sessions and/or touring with prog rock Colosseum, hard rock Uriah Heep, “Easy Livin'” (#39, 1972), Natural Gas, Ritchie Blackmore’s Rainbow, Billy Squier, The (reformed) Monkees, Mountain, Ian Hunter and others
1951 ● Verdine White / → Bass and vocals for R&B/soul-dance-pop Earth, Wind & Fire, “Shining Star” (#1, 1975)
1953 ● Gary Shaugnessy / → Guitarist for Philly-style Brit R&B/soul Sweet Sensation (“Sad Sweet Dreamer,” #14, UK #1, 1975)
1955 ● Randy Bewley / → Co-founding member and guitarist for Athens, GA-based seminal post-punk college rock Pylon (“Gyrate, “Dance/Club #41, 1981), later in several other local bands and music teacher, died following a heart attack on 2/25/2009, age 53
1958 ● Thurston Moore / → Guitar and vocals for alt rock/avant-garde Sonic Youth, “100%” (Modern Rock #4, 1992)
1973 ● Ladybug Mecca / (Mary Ann Vieira) → Vocals and producer for hip hop rap-jazz fusion trio Digable Planets, “Reachin’ (A New Refutation Of Time And Space)” (#15, R&B #5, 1993), solo

July 26

1937 ● Al Banks / → Soaring falsetto lead vocals for Philly R&B/doo wop The Turbans, “When You Dance” (#33, R&B #3, 1955), joined the reconstituted Drifters in 1972, died 7/7/1977, age 39
1938 ● Bobby Hebb / → R&B/soul-pop singer and songwriter, “Sunny” (#2, 1966), died of lung cancer on 8/3/2010, age 72
1940 ● Dobie Gray (Lawrence Darrow Brown) / → Versatile singer with Top 40 hits in four genres, R&B “The ‘In’ Crowd” (#13, R&B #11, 1965), pop “Drift Away” (#5, 1973), disco “You Can Do It” (#37, 1979) and country “That’s One To Grow On” (Country #35, 1986), died from complications following cancer surgery on 12/6/2011, age 71
1941 ● Brenton Wood / (Alfred Jesse Smith) → Two hit wonder R&B/soul-pop vocalist, “Gimme Little Sign” (#9, 1967) and “The Oogum Boogum Song” (#19, 1967)
1941 ● Darlene Love / (Darlene Wright) → Lead vocals for Phil Spector girl group The Blossoms, backing for Sam Cooke, Dionne Warwick, The Beach Boys and many others, sang lead with The Blossoms on “He’s A Rebel” (#1, 1962), which was credited to The Crystals, another Spector group
1941 ● Neil Landon / (Patrick Cahill) → Vocals for pre-fab Brit psych-pop one hit wonder The Flower Pot Men, “Let’s Go To San Francisco” (UK #1, 1967), then moved over to pre-fab pop White Plains, “My Baby Loves Lovin'” (#13, 1970)
1943 ● Andrea True / (Andrea Truden) → Adult film star in 70s and 80s who moonlighted as a disco-era dance-pop singer with two Top 40 hits, “More, More, More” (#4, 1976) and “N.Y., You Got Me Dancing” (#27, Dance/Club #4, 1977), died from heart failure on 11/7/2011, age 68
1943 ● Mick Jagger / (Michael Philip Jagger) → Frontman, lead singer and songwriter for megastar hard rock The Rolling Stones, “Brown Sugar” (#1, 1971), duet with David Bowie, “Dancing In The Street” (#7, 1985) and solo, “Don’t Tear Me Up” (Mainstream Rock #1, 1993)
1949 ● Roger Meddows Taylor / → Founding member, drummer, songwriter and vocals for camp rock/mock-opera/hard pop Queen, “Bohemian Rhapsody” (#9, 1976) and “Crazy Little Thing Called Love” (#1, 1980), wrote and sang “Radio Ga Ga” (#16, 1984), solo
1961 ● Andy Connell / → Founder and keyboards for Brit sophisti-pop Swing Out Sister, “Breakout” (#6, 1987), previously played with post-punk The Immediates and New Wave funk A Certain Radio, producer
1961 ● Gary Cherone / → Co-founder and lead vocals for hard rock Extreme, “More Than Words” (#1, 1991), joined hard rock Van Halen in 1996 as lead vocalist, “Humans Being” (Mainstream Rock #1, 1996), solo
1962 ● Miranda Joyce / → Saxophone and vocals for Brit all female ska/pop-rock The Belle Stars, “Sign Of The Times” (UK #3, 1983) and “Iko Iko” (#14, 1989)
1963 ● Scott Francis Crago / → Session drummer, worked with Eagles since 1994, plus appearances for Bryan Adams, Jackson Browne, Sheryl Crow, Chris Isaak, Stevie Nicks, Bonnie Raitt, Bob Seger, Paul Simon, Stevie Wonder and others
1967 ● Headliner / (Timothy Barnwell) → DJ and rapper for progressive funk-soul-blues hip hop Arrested Development, “Mr. Wendal” (#6, 1992)
1980 ● Brown Sound / (Dave Baksh) → Guitarist for Canadian indie punk-pop Sum 41, “We’re All To Blame” (Mainstream Rock #36, 2004), quit in 2006 to form his own band Brown Brigade
1984 ● Alexandra Parks / → Winner of the BBC talent contest show Fame Academy in 2003, “Maybe That’s What It Takes” (UK #3, 2003) from the UK #5 album Introduction (2003)

July 27

1920 ● Homer / (Henry D. Haynes) → With musical partner Kenneth C. Burns, one half the satirical country-pop radio and TV comedy/music duo Homer & Jethro, parodied country and pop hits and won a Grammy Award for “The Battle Of Kookamonga” (#14, 1959) , their take on Johnny Horton‘s #1 hit “The Battle Of New Orleans,” continued to perform with Burns until just prior to his death from a heart attack on 8/7/1971, age 51
1922 ● Bob Thiele / → Jazz and jazz-pop record producer and record label executive, founded Signature and worked for Decca, Impulse, ABC/Bluesway, Flying Dutchman and others, co-wrote and produced “What A Wonderful World” for Louis Armstrong (#116, UK #1, 1967), worked with John Coltrane, Charles Mingus, Dizzy Gillespie and countless others, died from kidney failure on 1/30/1996, age 73
1927 ● Bob Morse / → Baritone vocals in 50s a cappella jazz-pop quartet The Hi-Lo‘s, the group had three Top 20 albums in 1957 – Suddenly It’s The Hi-Lo’s (#13), Ring Around Rosie (#14) and Now Hear This (#19), continued touring until his death on 4/27/2001, age 73
1927 ● Guy Carawan / → Folk musician and musicologist best known for introducing the black spiritual “We Shall Overcome” to the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee and the American civil rights movement in 1960, the song has since become the standard for protests around the world, died from complications of dementia on 5/2/2015, age 87
1928 ● Harvey Fuqua / → Founder and frontman for 50s R&B/doo wop The Moonglows, “Sincerely” (R&B #1, 1955), then Motown A&R director and producer, died of a heart attack on 7/6/2010, age 81
1930 ● Andy White / → Scot session drummer with a long resume of 60s performances, among others Tom Jones‘ “It’s Not Unusual” (#10, UK #1, 1965) and Herman’s Hermit‘s “I’m Henry VIII, I Am” (#1, 1965), became a “5th Beatle” when he subbed for Ringo Starr on The Beatles‘ “Love Me Do” (#1, 1964 / UK #17, 1962), retired in 1975 to move to the U.S. to teach Scottish pipe drumming, died from a stroke on 11/9/2015, age 85
1933 ● Nick Reynolds / → Founding member, vocals and guitar for definitive folk-pop The Kingston Trio, “Tom Dooley” (#1, 1958) and nine other Top 40 hits, died from respiratory complications on 10/1/2008, age 75
1943 ● Allan Ramsey / → Bassist for pop-rock Gary Lewis & The Playboys, “This Diamond Ring” (#1, 1965) plus 11 other US Top 40 hits between 1965 and 1968
1944 ● Bobby Gentry / (Roberta Lee Streeter) → Grammy-winning country-pop and adult contemporary singer, songwriter and guitarist, “Ode to Billy Joe” (#1, 1967)
1947 ● Andy McMaster / → Keyboards for early pub rock Ducks Deluxe, then power pop/rock The Motors, “Airport” (UK #4, 1978)
1949 ● H-Bomb / (Henry Weck) → Drummer for one hit wonder rock band Brownsville Station, “Smokin’ In The Boys Room” (#3, 1973)
1949 ● Maureen McGovern / → Adult contemporary pop singer, “The Morning After” (#1, 1973) from the movie The Poseidon Adventure and the Academy Award-winning “We May Never Love This Way Again” from The Towering Inferno (1974)
1949 ● Rory Macdonald / (Roderick Macdonald) → Bass and vocals for Scottish Celtic folk-rock Runrig, “An Ubhal As Airde (The Highest Apple)” (UK #18, 1995) and 13 albums
1950 ● Mick Vaughan / (Michael Vaughan) → Guitarist for pop/rock one hit wonder Paper Lace, “The Night Chicago Died” (#1, UK #3, 1974), a second single “Billy, Don’t Be A Hero” (#96, UK #1, 1974) qualifies them as a two hit wonder in the UK
1953 ● Suzi Carr / → Vocals for mellow adult pop-rock cover trio Will To Power, “Baby I Love Your Way/Freebird” (#1, 1988)
1960 ● Conway Savage / → Bassist for alt rock Nick Cave And The Bad Seeds, “Where The Wild Roses Grow” (Australia #2, UK #11, 1995)
1963 ● Karl Mueller / → Bassist for garage rock superstar group Soul Asylum, “Runaway Train” (#5, 1993), died from throat cancer on 6/17/2005, age 41
1964 ● Rex Brown / → Bassist in alt metal Pantera, “Planet Caravan” (Mainstream Rock #21, 1994)
1967 ● Juliana Hatfield / → Singer, songwriter, guitarist and frontwoman for indie rock/power pop Blake Babies, solo, “My Sister” (Modern Rock #1, 1993) and “Spin The Bottle (#39, 1994)
1973 ● Abe Cunningham / → Drummer for Grammy-winning alt heavy metal Deftones, “Change (In The House Of Flies)” (Mainstream Rock #9, 2000)
1974 ● Pete Yorn / (Peter Joseph Yorn) → Multi-instrumentalist singer and songwriter, “For Nancy (‘Cos It Already Is)” (Modern Rock #28, 2001) from the critically-acclaimed debut album Musicforthemorningafter (2001)

July 28

1901 ● Rudy Vallée / (Hubert Prior Vallée ) → Hugely popular 1930s crooner and vaudeville entertainer, often singing through a megaphone, “Stein Song” (The University Of Maine)” (#1, 1930), became a film, radio stage and TV performer in the 50s, 60s and 70s, died from cancer on 7/3/1986, age 84
1915 ● Frankie Yankovic / → The “King of Polka,” Grammy-winning and hugely popular Slovenian-American polka musician, composer, radio DJ, TV host and bandleader with over 200 albums in a five decade recording and performing career, died from heart failure on 10/14/1998, age 83
1935 ● Simon Dee / (Cyril Nicholas Henty-Dodd) → British TV personality and radio DJ, twice-weekly BBC TV chat show Dee Time during the 60s with musical guests including Jimi Hendrix and Lulu, died of bone cancer on 8/29/2009, age 74
1938 ● George Cummings / → Steel guitar for AM pop-rock Dr. Hook & The Medicine Show, “Sylvia’s Mother” (#5, 1972) plus nine other Top 40 hits
1940 ● Philip Proctor / → Comedian, small-role TV actor, voice actor and member of 60s/70s eclectic, satiric, surrealistic radio-friendly comic quartet The Firesign Theatre, the group’s nearly 40 albums were cult hits, particluarly for college audiences, lent his voice to roles in multiple cartoons, video games and movies, including Toy Story, Rugrats and PlayStation games
1943 ● Michael Bloomfield / → Celebrated blues-rock guitarist for urban electric blues The Butterfield Blues Band, formed blues/psych rock/jazz fusion Electric Flag in 1967, played with Al Kooper and Stephen Stills on the remarkable Super Session album, solo and multiple collaborations, #22 on Rolling Stone magazine’s 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time, died of a heroin overdose on 2/15/1981, age 37
1943 ● Richard Wright / → Founding member, keyboards, vocals and songwriter for of space rock Pink Floyd, “Another Brick In The Wall (Part 2)” (#1, 1979), dismissed from the band by frontman Roger Waters in 1980 but returned after Waters left in 1987, solo, died of cancer on 9/15/2008, age 65
1946 ● Jonathan Edwards / → Light folk-rock and country-pop one hit wonder singer/songwriter, “Sunshine” (#4, 1971)
1948 ● Jerry Casale / (Gerald Casale) → Founding member, bassist, synthesizer player, video director and “chief strategist” for quirky 80s pop-rock Devo, “Whip It” (#14, 1980), also produced videos for The Cars, Rush, Foo Fighters, Soundgarden and others, directed TV commercials for Diet Coke, Miller Lite, Honda and others
1949 ● Peter Doyle / → Guitar and vocals for folk-sunshine pop The New Seekers, “I’d Like To Teach The World To Sing” (#7, 1972), died 10/13/2001, age 52
1949 ● Simon Kirke / → Drummer for proto-metal/hard rock Free, “All Right Now” (#4, 1970) and hard rock Bad Company, “Can’t Get Enough” (#5, 1974), session work for Jim Capaldi, Ringo Starr, Ron Wood and many others
1949 ● Steve Peregrine Took / → Founding partner, bass and percussion for psych rock Tyrannosaurus Rex, was fired for drug abuse and bizarre behavior shortly before former partner Marc Bolan and the band hit it big as proto-glam rock T. Rex, “Bang A Gong (Get It On)” (#10, 1971), died after choking on a cocktail cherry on 10/27/1980, age 31
1954 ● Steven J. Morse / → Canadian rock and jazz-rock fusion guitarist, founder of acclaimed Southern instrumental rock fusion band Dixie Dregs, issued several solo albums, divided time between hard rock Kansas and hard rock Deep Purple from 1994-2009
1962 ● Rachel Sweet / → Teenage rock ‘n’ roll singer who signed to Stiff Records at age 18, “Everlasting Love” (#32, 1981), issued several other singles and became a TV host
1965 ● Nick Banks / → Drummer for alt rock/Britpop Pulp, “Common People” (UK #2, 1995)
1972 ● Dan Warton / → Drummer for indie punk-rock Ned’s Atomic Dustbin, “Not Sleeping Around” (Modern Rock #1, 1992)
1980 ● Noel Sullivan / → Singer for pre-fab mockstar dance-pop Hear’Say, “Pure And Simple” (UK #1, 2001), refocused on musical theater following the group’s disbandment in 2003
1986 ● Jaoby Dakota Shaddix / → Lead singer for hard rock/heavy metal Papa Roach, “Scars” (#15, Mainstream Rock #4, 2005)
1990 ● Soulja Boy / (DeAndre Cortez Way) → Rapper, “Crank That (Soulja Boy)” (#1, 2007), record producer

July 29

1916 ● Charlie Christian / → Swing and jazz guitarist, early and important electric guitar performer, played with Benny Goodman, Thelonius Monk, Dizzy Gillespie and others, died from tuberculosis on 3/2/1942, age 25
1918 ● Frank Miller / → Guitar and vocals in influential but unheralded 50s folk trio The Easy Riders, co-wrote their big hit, the oft-covered “Marianne” (#3, 1957) and continued to write and record as a solo artist and in groups with other folk luminaires until retirement in the late 60s
1923 ● Jim Marshall / (James Charles Marshall) → The “Father of Loud” and pioneer of guitar amplification with iconic products used by Eric Clapton, Pete Townshend, Jimmy Page and countless others from garage bands to superstars, often in a “Marshall stack” or wall of black, vinyl-clad cabinets mounted one atop the other, founded and led his company, Marshall Amplification well into his eighties, now considered one of the four major contributors to the development of rock music equipment along with Leo Fender, Les Paul and Seth Lover, died from cancer on 4/5/2012, age 88
1930 ● Jim Stewart / → Part-time country music fiddler who co-founded Stax Records in Memphis with his sister, Estelle Axton, and recorded and published some of the top Southern soul and Memphis soul acts of the 60s and 70s, including house band Booker T. & The MG’s, Otis Redding, Wilson Pickett, Sam & Dave, Staple Singers and many others
1933 ● Randy Sparks / → Folk and pop musician and founder of iconic folk revival band The New Christy Minstrels (“Green, Green,” #14, AC #3, 1963), the group had 12 charting albums in the 60s, including the Grammy-winning Introducing The New Christy Minstrels (#19, 1962), still leads and performs with the band into the 10s
1938 ● Marvin Ingram / (Marvin Inabnett) → Founding member and high tenor singer for clean-cut light pop vocal quartet The Four Preps, “26 Miles (Santa Catalina)” (#2, 1958) and 6 other Top 40 hits between 1958 and 1961, left the group in 1966 and died on 3/7/1999, age 60
1946 ● Neal Doughty / → Co-founder, songwriter, keyboards and only constant member of arena rock REO Speedwagon, “Keep On Lovin’ You” (#1, 1980)
1947 ● Carlo Santanna / → Guitar for pop/rock one hit wonder Paper Lace, “The Night Chicago Died” (#1, UK #3, 1974), a second single “Billy, Don’t Be A Hero” (#96, UK #1, 1974) qualifies them as a two hit wonder in the UK
1953 ● Geddy Leee / (Gary Lee Weinrib) → Bassist, lead vocals 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
1953 ● Patty Scialfa / (Vivienne Patricia Scialfa) → Backing vocals for Bruce Springsteen‘s E Street Band, solo, wife of The Boss since 6/8/1991
1959 ● John Sykes / → Guitarist for Irish hard rock Thin Lizzy (1982-83), then hard rock Whitesnake, “Here I Go Again” (#1, 1987), then formed hard rock Blue Murder, solo
1962 ● Martin McCarrick / → Guitar for Irish grunge rock/alt metal Therapy?, “Screamager” (, 1993)
1966 ● Martina McBride / (Martina Mariea Schiff) → The “Celine Dion of Country Music”, singer and songwriter, “A Broken Wing” (Country #1, 1997)
1966 ● Miles Hunt / → Frontman, guitar and vocals for alt rock The Wonder Stuff, “Welcome To The Cheap Seats” (Modern Rock #28, UK #8, 1992), TV host
1967 ● Chris Gorman / → Drummer for alt pop-rock Belly, “Feed The Tree” (#1, Modern Rock, 1993), now a commercial photographer
1972 ● Simon Jones / → Bassist for neo-psych-pop The Verve, “Bittersweet Symphony” (#12, 1998)
1973 ● Wanya Jermaine Morris / → Lead vocals for R&B/urban soul a cappella Boyz II Men, “End Of The Road” (#1, 1992)
1977 ● Danger Mouse / (Brian Joseph Burton) → Multi-instrumentalist musician, Grammy-winning producer and songwriter, released the mashup album The Grey Album in 2004 combining The Beatles‘ White Album (1968) with rapper Jay-Z‘s The Black Album (2003), co-founded alt. neo-soul Gnarls Barkley, “Crazy” (#2, 2006), produced albums for Gorillaz, Beck, The Black Keys and U2

Albums Released This Week (July 17 – 23)

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):

July 17


● The Temptations —— With A Lot O’ Soul ► Soul – Motown >> 1967
● Bonzo Dog Band —— The Beast Of The Bonzos ► Psychedelic Rock (Comedy) >> 1970
● Judas Priest —— Screaming For Vengeance ► Heavy Metal >> 1982
● A-Ha —— Minor Earth Major Sky ► Synth-Pop >> 2000
● The Who —— Wire And Glass [EP] ► British Rock >> 2006
● Colbie Callat —— Coco ► Alt Rock >> 2007
● Goo Goo Dolls —— Waiting For The Rest Of It [EP] ► Alt Pop-Rock/Post-Grunge >> 2010
● Soul Asylum —— Delayed Reaction ► Alt. Pop-Rock >> 2012
● Jack Bruce —— Jack Bruce & His Big Band: Live 2012 ► Prog Rock/Fusion >> 2012

July 18


● Miles Davis —— Sketches of Spain ► Improv Jazz >> 1960
● Judy Garland —— Judy At Carnegie Hall ► Jazz Vocal >> 1961
● The Ventures —— The Fabulous Ventures ► Rock n Roll Instrumental >> 1964
● The Byrds —— Fifth Dimension ► Country-Rock >> 1966
● Grateful Dead —— Anthem Of The Sun ► Psychedelic Rock >> 1968
● The Doors —— The Soft Parade ► Psych Rock >> 1969
● Al Green —— Call Me ► Soul (Southern) >> 1973
● Joy Division —— Closer ► Post-Punk >> 1980
● Echo & The Bunnymen —— Crocodiles ► Post-Punk >> 1980
● Willie Nelson —— Honeysuckle Rose ► Classic Country >> 1980
● Rick Springfield —— Living In Oz ► Power Pop >> 1983
● Paul Young —— No Parlez ► Pop-Rock >> 1983
● Run-D.M.C. —— Raising Hell ► Hip-Hop >> 1986
● Vinnie Moore —— Time Odyssey ► Instrumental Rock/Fusion >> 1988
● At The Gates —— Terminal Spirit Disease ► Heavy Metal/Death Metal >> 1994
● The Ramones —— ¡Adiós Amigos! ► Punk-Rock >> 1995
● Blondie —— Remixed Remade Remodeled: The Remix Project ► New Wave Pop-Rock >> 1995
● American Head Charge —— Trepanation ► Heavy Metal/Nu Metal >> 1999
● Soul-Junk —— 1956 ► Alt Rap/Indie Hip Hop >> 2000
● Big Moe —— City Of Syrup ► Southern Rap >> 2000
● The Casualities —— Stay Out Of Order ► Punk Rock/Street Punk >> 2000
● Oakenfold —— Bunkka ► Electronic/Club-Dance >> 2002
● The Human League —— Live At The Dome ► New Wave Synth-Pop >> 2005
● Los Lonely Boys —— Sacred ► Folk-Rock >> 2006

July 19


● Manfred Mann —— Pretty Flamingo ► Rock n Roll >> 1966
● John Cale —— The Academy In Peril ► Art Rock >> 1972
● Elvis Presley —— Moody Blue ► Adult Contemporary >> 1977
● Mike Oldfield —— Exposed ► Progressive Rock >> 1979
● Donna Summer —— Donna Summer ► Disco >> 1982
● Alex Taylor —— Voodoo In Me ► Pop-Rock >> 1989
● Mother Love Bone —— Apple ► Grunge Rock >> 1990
● Carla Olson & Mick Taylor —— Too Hot For Snakes ► Blues-Rock >> 1991
● Deborah Harry —— Debravation ► New Eave Dance-Pop >> 1993
● Dave Edmunds —— Plugged In ► Roots/Pub Rock >> 1994
● The Rolling Stones —— Voodoo Lounge ► Blues-Rock >> 1994
● Limp Bizkit —— Icon ► Rap-Metal >> 2011

July 20


● The Beatles —— Something New ► Pop-Rock >> 1964
● Jefferson Airplane —— Long John Silver ► Psychedelic Rock >> 1972
● Carlos Santana & Mahavishnu John McLaughlin —— Love Devotion Surrender ► Jazz Fusion >> 1973
● Mott The Hoople —— Mott ► Hard Rock >> 1973
● Parliament —— The Clones Of Dr. Funkenstein ► Funk >> 1976
● REO Speedwagon —— Nine Lives ► Arena Rock >> 1979
● ZZ Top —— El Loco ► Blues-Rock >> 1981
● The Ramones —— Pleasant Dreams ► Punk-Rock >> 1981
● Graham Parker —— Burning Questions ► Pub Rock >> 1992
● Bachman-Turner Overdrive —— The Anthology ► Album Rock >> 1993
● The Rascals —— The Very Best Oif The Rascals ► Blue-Eyed Soul >> 1993
● Sparklehorse —— Good Morning Spider ► Dream Pop >> 1998
● Robert Palmer —— Rhythm & Blues ► Blue-Eyed Soul >> 1999
● Various Artists —— Punk-O-Rama Vol. 5 ► Punk Rock >> 2000
● Van Halen —— The Best Of Both Worlds ► Hard Rock >> 2004
● Phish —— Live Phish Volume 04.02.98 ► Prog Rock/Jam Band >> 2005
● Phish —— Live Phish Volume 04.03.98 ► Prog Rock/Jam Band >> 2005
● Phish —— Live Phish Volume 04.04.98 ► Prog Rock/Jam Band >> 2005
● Phish —— Live Phish Volume 04.05.98 ► Prog Rock/Jam Band >> 2005
● Paul Simon —— Recorded As Jerry Landis ► Folk-Pop >> 2006
● Jack Bruce —— Live In America ► Prog Rock/Fusion >> 2007
● Big Head Todd & The Monsters —— Rocksteady ► AA Pop-Rock >> 2010

July 21


● Bobby Vee —— A Bobby Vee Recording Session ► Teen Idol >> 1962
● Black Sabbath —— Master Of Reality ► Hard Rock >> 1971
● Rod Stewart —— Never A Dull Moment ► Blues-Rock >> 1972
● T. Rex —— The Slider ► Glam Rock >> 1972
● Various Artists —— Live And Let Die [Sndtrk] ► Pop-Rock >> 1973
● Rory Gallagher —— Irish Tour ’74 ► Blues-Rock >> 1974
● Kiss —— The Originals ► Hard Rock >> 1976
● Talking Heads —— More Songs About Buildings And Food ► New Wave Art-Rock >> 1978
● Triumph —— Just A Game ► Arena Rock >> 1979
● Chicago —— Chicago XIV ► Jazz-Rock >> 1980
● Bryan Adams —— You Want It, You Got It ► Pop-Rock >> 1981
● Shonen Knife —— Burning Farm ► Punk Pop >> 1983
● Stryper —— The Yellow And Black Attack ► Heavy Metal/Christian >> 1984
● Neil Young —— Landing On Water ► Folk-Rock >> 1986
● Guns N’ Roses —— Appetite For Destruction ► Hard Rock >> 1987
● Dio —— Dream Evil ► Heavy Metal >> 1987
● Madonna —— Who’s That Girl [Sndtrk] ► Dance-Pop >> 1987
● Sonic Youth —— Dirty ► Indie Rock >> 1992
● House Of Pain —— House Of Pain ► West Coast/Hardcore Rap >> 1992
● Anal Cunt —— Picnic Of Love ► Folk-Rock/Parody >> 1998
● Nick Lowe —— Anthology ► Pub Rock >> 2003
● Sister Sledge —— Absolutely Live! ► Disco >> 2008
● Nick Lowe —— Brentford Trilogy Box Set ► Pub Rock >> 2009
● Matthew Sweet & Suzanna Hoffs —— Under The Covers, Vol. 2 ► Pop-Rock >> 2009

July 22


● The Moody Blues —— The Magnificent Moodies ► Blues-Rock >> 1965
● John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers —— Blues Breakers With Eric Clapton ► Blues-Rock >> 1966
● Stevie Wonder —— Fulfillingness’ First Finale ► Pop-R&B >> 1974
● Commodores —— Machine Gun ► Soul-Funk >> 1974
● Elvis Costello —— My Aim Is True ► New Wave Pop-Rock >> 1977
● Amy Grant —— The Collection ► Pop-Rock/Christian >> 1986
● LL Cool J —— Bigger And Deffer ► Hip-Hop >> 1987
● Disco Inferno —— Technicolour ► Post-Punk Alt/Experimental >> 1996
● Earth, Wind & Fire —— In The Name Of Love ► Soul-Funk >> 1997
● Kreator —— Outcast ► Heavy Metal/Thrash Metal >> 1997
● Gavin DeGraw —— Chariot ► Alt. Pop-Rock >> 2003
● Kiss —— Kiss Symphony: Alive IV ► Hard Rock >> 2003
● Cheap Trick —— Special Case ► Hard Rock/Power Pop >> 2003
● Jane’s Addiction —— Strays ► Alt. Rock >> 2003
● Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young —— Déjà Vu Live ► Folk-Rock >> 2008
● Chairlift —— Does You Inspire You ► Dream Pop >> 2008
● Counting Crows —— iTunes Live From Soho ► AA Pop-Rock >> 2008
● Black Sabbath —— The Rules Of Hell ► Hard Rock >> 2008
● The Rolling Stones —— Hyde Park Live (Live 2013) ► Blues-Rock >> 2013
● Bobby Patterson —— I Got More Soul! ► Texas Soul >> 2014

July 23


● The Supremes —— More Hits By The Supremes ► Soul – Motown >> 1965
● The Moody Blues —— Every Good Boy Deserves Favour ► Psychedelic Rock >> 1971
● Jethro Tull —— A Passion Play ► Prog Rock >> 1973
● Joan Baez —— Gracias A La Vida ► Folk-Pop/Latin >> 1974
● Various Artists —— The Best Little Whorehouse In Texas [Sndtrk] ► Country-Pop >> 1982
● Teddy Pendergrass —— This One’s For You ► Soul-Pop >> 1982
● Rick Springfield —— Hard To Hold ► Power Pop >> 1984
● Sammy Hagar —— VOA ► Arena Rock >> 1984
● Color Me Badd —— C.M.B. ► New Jack Swing >> 1991
● DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince —— Homebase ► Pop-Rap >> 1991
● The Innocence Mission —— Umbrella ► Alt Pop-Rock >> 1991
● The Black Crowes —— Three Snakes And One Charm ► Southern Rock >> 1996
● Fiona Apple —— Tidal ► Alt Pop-Rock >> 1996

This Week’s Birthdays (July 16 – 22)

Happy Birthday this week to:

July 16

1925 ● Cal Tjader / (Callen Radcliffe Tjader, Jr.) → Highly successful, Grammy-winning non-Latino Latin jazz drummer, vibraphonist and bandleader with eight charting albums in the 60s and 70s, including Soul Sauce (#52, R&B #8, 1965), credited with the early development of Latin rock and acid jazz, died of a heart attack while on tour in the Philippines on 5/5/1982, age 56
1927 ● Mindy Carson / → Pre-rock ‘n’ roll traditional pop vocalist, often in duets with Guy Mitchell but with several charting songs of her own, including “Wake The Town And Tell The People” (#13, 1955), stopped recording and moved to Broadway musicals in the 60s
1939 ● Denise LaSalle / (Ora Denise Allen) → Current reigning “Queen of the Blues,” urban contemporary blues singer and songwriter with several self-written hits, including “Trapped By A Thing Called Love” (#13, R&B #1, 1971) and “Now Run And Tell That” (#46, R&B #3, 1972), still performs on the blues festival circuit into the 10s
1940 ● Tony Jackson / → Bass and vocals for Merseybeat band The Searchers, “Needles And Pins” (#13, 1963), died from a variety of ailments related to long-term alcohol abuse on 8/18/2003, age 63
1942 ● Desmond Dekker / (Desmond Dacres) → Influential and first Jamaican ska/reggae star, singer and frontman for The Aces, “The Israelites” (#8, 1968), died of a heart attack on 5/25/2006, age 63
1944 ● Thomas Boggs / → Drummer for short-lived blue-eyed soul The Box Tops (“The Letter,” #1, 1967), left the industry in the early 70s for a long career as a restaurateur, died of cancer on 5/5/2008, age 63
1949 ● Ray Major / → Guitarist for early Brit glam-rockers Mott The Hoople, “All The Young Dudes” (#37, 1972), which became Mott in 1974 and British Lions in 1976
1952 ● Stewart Copeland / → Drummer for Brit prog/avant garde rock Curved Air, “Back Street Luv” (UK #4, 1974), then co-founded post-punk New Wave pop-rock The Police, “Every Breath You Take” (#1, 1983), solo under the pseudonym Klark Kent, collaborations and session work, classical music and film score composer
1961 ● Mark McEntee / → Founder, co-frontman and guitarist for Aussie power pop Divinyls, “I Touch Myself” (#4, 1991)
1964 ● Polly Hancock / → Guitar and vocals for Brit indie-folk-pop Popinjays, “Vote Elvis” (Modern Rock #17, 1988)
1971 ● Edward Joel Kowalczyk / → Lead vocals for alt rock Live, “Lightning Crashes” (Modern Rock #5, 1995), solo
1978 ● TJ / (Tito Joseph Jackson) → With brothers Tariano Adaryll “Taj” and Taryll Adren Jackson, vocals in R&B/urban soul trio 3T, “Anything” (#15, 1995), sons of Tito and nephews of Michael Jackson

July 17

1928 ● Vince Guaraldi / (Vincent Dellaglio) → Grammy-winning jazz pianist, bandleader and composer noted for penning the music and arrangements for the nearly all of the animated Peanuts television specials and films, including the signature “Linus & Lucy,” died from an aortic aneurysm on 2/6/1976, age 47
1938 ● Stanley Bronstein / → Founding member and saxophonist for jazz-psych-rock Elephant’s Memory, “Mongoose” (Top 100, 1969), which became the backing band for John Lennon and Yoko Ono in the early 70s, worked with John Lennon on his 1972 album ‘Some Time In New York City’
1942 ● Gale Garnett / (Gale Zoë Garnett) → New Zealand-born Canadian pre-The Beatles one hit wonder pop singer with the Grammy-winning “We’ll Sing In The Sunshine” (#4, , 1964), later fronted psych-pop The Gentle Reign and became a journalist and TV actress
1942 ● Spencer Davis / → Welsh guitarist and frontman for 60s British pop-rock The Spencer Davis Group, “Gimme Some Lovin'” (#7, 1966), producer
1945 ● Eric McCredie / → Bassist for Scot bubblegum pop-rock Middle Of The Road, “Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep” (UK #1, 1971), died on 10/6/2007, age 62
1947 ● Abraham Laboriel, Sr. / → Mexican-American session and tour bassist with over 4,000 recording s to his credit, including work with George Benson, Barbra Streisand, Chris Isaak, Elton John, Madonna and many others in nearly every genre, issued three solo albums
1947 ● Mick Tucker / → Drummer and backing vocals for glam pop-rock Sweet, “Ballroom Blitz” (#5, 1973), died of leukemia on 2/14/2002, age 54
1947 ● Wolfgang Flür / → Electronic percussion for German electro-rock pioneers Kraftwerk, “Autobahn” (#25, 1975)
1948 ● Ron Asheton / → Guitarist for influential proto-punk The Stooges, “I Wanna Be Your Dog” (1969), #29 on Rolling Stone magazine’s 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time, found dead in his home on 1/6/2009 having died of a heart attack a day or two earlier, age 60
1949 ● Mike Vale / → Bassist for bubblegum-pop Tommy James & The Shondells, “Hanky Panky” (#1, 1966), later psych-pop, “Crimson And Clover” (#1, 1968)
1949 ● Geezer Butler / (Terence Butler) → Longtime bassist and lyricist for hard rock/gloom metal Black Sabbath, “Paranoid” (#61, 1970) and “Psycho Man” (Mainstream Rock #3, 1998), founding member of heavy metal supergroup Heaven & Hell in 2006
1950 ● Phoebe Snow (Phoebe Ann Laub) / → Poet, songwriter and folk-pop-jazz singer, “Poetry Man” (#5, 1974), backing vocals and collaborations with multiple other artists, died from complications of a brain hemorrhage on 4/26/2011, age 60
1952 ● Chet McCracken / → Drummer for California soul-pop-rock The Doobie Brothers, “Listen To The Music” (#11, 1972)
1952 ● Nicolette Larson / → Country-rock backing vocalist and country-pop solo artist, “Lotta Love” (#8, 1979), died from cerebral edema and liver failure on 12/16/1997, age 45
1957 ● Bruce Crump / → Drummer for Southern rock power-guitar band Molly Hatchet, “Flirtin’ With Disaster” (#42, 1979), then Gator Country
1963 ● Regina Belle / → R&B-jazz-gospel singer/songwriter, Grammy-winning duet with Peabo Bryson, “A Whole New World” (#1, 1993)
1966 ● Lou Barlow / → Bassist for influential indie/cult rock Dinosaur Jr., “Start Choppin'” (Modern Rock #3, 1993)
1967 ● Stokely Williams / → Lead singer and drummer for new jack swing R&B/soul-pop sextet Mint Condition, “What Kind Of Man Would I Be?” (#17, 1996)
1970 ● Mandy Smith / → Dance-pop singer, model, ex-wife of Rolling Stones bassist Bill Wyman whom she started dating in 1983 at age 13 (he was then 47) and married in 1989, divorced 1992, Wyman‘s son dated Mandy‘s mother.
1971 ● DJ Minute Mix / (Jarrett Cordes) → Innovative brother hip hop, smooth soul, urban R&B and prog rap duo P.M. Dawn, “Set Adrift On Memory Bliss” (#3, Dance/Club #6, 1991), stepson of George Brown, founding member of soul/funk Kool & The Gang
1982 ● Natasha Hamilton / → Vocals for Brit dance-pop vocal trio Atomic Kitten, “Whole Again” (UK #1, 2000)
1985 ● Tom Fletcher / → Guitar and vocals for Brit pop-rock boy band McFly, “All About You” (UK #1, 2005)
1987 ● Jeremih / (Jeremy Felton) → Contemporary R&B/hip hop singer and songwriter with slow jam “Birthday Sex” (#4, R&B #1, 2009) and three other Top 20 hits

July 18

1909 ● Deek Watson / (Ivory Watson) → Founding member, tenor vocals, trumpet and guitar for pioneering black R&B/doo wop group The Ink Spots, “Don’t Get Around Much Anymore” (#2, R&B #1, 1943), continued with various incarnations of the group through the 50s, died on 11/4/1969, age 60
1924 ● Earl Beal / → Founding member and baritone vocals for one hit wonder R&B/doo wop vocal quartet The Silhouettes, “Get A Job” (#1, 1958), died on 3/22/2001, age 76
1929 ● Screamin’ Jay Hawkins / (Jelacy Hawkins) → Outrageously flamboyant early rock ‘n’ roll singer, pianist and stage performer, “I Put A Spell On You” (1956), died following surgery for an aneurysm on 2/12/2000, age 70
1931 ● Papa Dee Allen / (Thomas Sylvester Allen) → Percussion and vocals for laid-back R&B/soul-funk War, “Spill The Wine” (#3, 1970), died from a heart attack during a performance on 8/30/1988, age 57
1935 ● Johnny Funches / → First tenor and lead vocals for R&B/doo wop, soul-funk and disco The Dells, “Stay In My Corner” (#10, R&B #1, 1968), died 1/23/1998, age 62
1938 ● Ian Stewart / → Founding member and first keyboardist for The Rolling Stones, dismissed from the band in 1963 but continued as road manager and session pianist, died of a heart attack in his doctor’s waiting room on 12/12/1985
1939 ● Brian Auger / → Underappreciated jazz-rock keyboardist, composer and bandleader The Trinity, Oblivion Express, solo
1939 ● Dion / (Dion DiMucci) → Doo wop, pop and rock ‘n’ roll vocalist, songwriter and bandleader, Dion & The Belmonts, solo, “Runaround Sue” (#1, 1961) and 19 other Top 40 in the 60s
1941 ● Lonnie Mack / (Lonnie McIntosh) → Pioneering blues-rock guitarist, early user of the tremolo arm (“whammy bar”) on electric guitar and blue-eyed soul balladeer, his “Memphis” (#5, 1963) was only the fourth instrumental rock single to break the Billboard Top 5 and his album The Wham Of That Memphis Man! (1964) was Guitar World magazine’s #1 of 50 landmark albums of all time, died of natural causes on 4/21/2-016, age 74
1941 ● Martha Reeves / → Vocals and frontwoman for Motown R&B/pop girl group Martha & The Vandellas, “(Love Is Like A) Heat Wave” (#4, 1963), solo, Detroit city councilwoman
1943 ● Robin MacDonald / → Guitarist for British Invasion pop-rock Billy J. Kramer & The Dakotas, “Little Children” (#7, 1964)
1945 ● Danny McCulloch / (Daniel Joseph McCulloch) → Guitarist for British Invasion hard/blues-rock The Animals, “House Of The Rising Sun” (#1, 1964)
1946 ● Tim Lynch / → Guitar, harmonica and vocals for eclectic rock ‘n’ roll/proto-punk cult band The Flamin’ Groovies, album Shake Some Action reached #142 on the Billboard 200 chart
1948 ● Cesar Zuiderwijk / → Drummer for Dutch hard rock Golden Earring, “Radar Love” (#13, 1974), over 40 hits and 30 gold and platinum albums in the Netherlands
1948 ● Phil Harris / → Guitar and vocals for Brit pub rock/blue-eyed soul Ace, “How Long” (#3, 1975)
1949 ● Craig Fuller / → Singer/songwriter, guitarist and co-founding member of country-rock Pure Prairie League, “Amie” (#27, 1973), left to serve a six month jail sentence for draft evasion, formed California light country-rock American Flyer (Let Me Down Easy,” #80, 1976) in the late 70s with Eric Kaz from Blues Magoos and Steve Katz from Blood, Sweat & Tears, joined Little Feat (“Let It Roll,” Rock #3, 1988) in 1987 and reformed PPL in 1996, continues to perform with variations of both bands
1949 ● Wally Bryson / → Guitarist for Cleveland garage rock quartet The Choir“It’s Cold Outside” (#68, 1967), then co-founded power pop The Raspberries, “Go All The Way” (#5, 1972) and power pop Fotomaker, “Miles Away” (#63, 1978)
1950 ● Glenn Hughes / → Biker character in campy concept disco group The Village People, “Y.M.C.A.” (#2, 1979), died of lung cancer on 3/4/2001, age 50
1950 ● Sir Richard Branson / → Business magnate, founder and CEO of Virgin Group, which includes the Virgin Records label, Virgin Megastores and Virgin Atlantic Airways
1954 ● Ricky Scaggs / (Richard Lee Scaggs) → Country-bluegrass megastar singer, songwriter and guitarist, “Highway 40 Blues” (Country #1, 1983), eleven time Grammy winner and 1982 Country Music Association singer of the year
1955 ● Terry Chambers / → Co-founder and drummer for quirky New Wave synth-pop XTC, “Making Plans For Nigel” (UK #17, 1979) and side project for the band under the pseudonym The Dukes Of Stratosphear
1957 ● Julian Keith Levene / → Roadie for prog rock Yes, then guitarist for an early lineup of influential and acclaimed punk-ska-dance-rock The Clash, “Rock The Casbah” (#8, 1982) and later lead guitar and songwriter for post-punk Public Image Ltd., “This Is Not A Love Song” (UK #5, 1983)
1958 ● Nigel Twist / → Drummer for post-punk anthem rockers The Alarm, “Sold Me Down The River” (Mainstream #2, 1989)
1962 ● Jack Irons / → Journeyman drummer for funk-rock Red Hot Chili Peppers, “Californication” (Modern Rock #1, 2000), hard rock Eleven, “Reach Out” (Mainstream Rock #40, 1994) and post-grunge/alt rock kings Pearl Jam, “Last Kiss” (#2, 1999), sessions and tours for Neil Young, Joe Strummer and others
1975 ● Daron Malakian / → Guitarist for Grammy-winning, Armenian-American hard rock/alt metal System Of A Down, “Aerials” (Mainstream Rock #1, 2002)
1978 ● Tony Fagenson / → Drummer for teen punk-pop trio Eve 6, “Inside Out” (#28, Mainstream Rock #5, 1998)
1982 ● Ryan Cabrera / → Acoustic pop-rock guitarist and songwriter, “On The Way Down” (#15, 2004)

July 19

1925 ● Sue Thompson / (Eva Sue McKee) → Youthful-voiced, teen-audience novelty pop singer, “Sad Movies (Make Me Cry)” (#5, 1961), then mature country-pop duet and solo artist, “Big Mable Murphy” (Country #50, 1975)
1937 ● George Hamilton IV / → Late 50s teen idol pop singer with 10 chart hits in four years, including “A Rose And A Baby Ruth” (#6, 1956), switched to country-pop and rockabilly in the 60s and charted 40 country hits through the 70s, including “Abilene” (#15, Country #1, 1963), toured and performed into the 00s, died following a heart attack on 9/17/2014, age 77
1937 ● Karen J. Dalton / (Karen J. Cariker) → Relatively unknown but influential early 60s Greenwich Village singer/songwriter who interpreted country, pop, Motown, blues and traditional folk songs in a style that was often compared to jazz singer Billie Holiday, contemporary of and occasional collaborator with Fred Neil, Bob Dylan, Tim Hardin and the Holy Modal Rounders, died in obscurity from AIDS on 3/19/1993, age 55
1941 ● Vikki Carr / (Florencia Cardona) → Pop vocalist, “It Must Be Him” (#3, 1966), then successful Latin-pop singer, including Grammy-winning album Cosas Del Amor (1991)
1944 ● Commander Cody / (George Frayne IV) → Vocals, keyboards and frontman for country-rock/boogie/swing bar band Commander Cody And His Lost Planet Airmen, “Hot Rod Lincoln” (#9, 1972)
1946 ● Alan Gorrie / → Base and vocals for Scottish blue-eyed soul Average White Band, “Pick Up The Pieces” (#1, 1974)
1947 ● Bernie Leadon / → Guitar, banjo, mandolin and vocals for country rock Flying Burrito Brothers and Linda Ronstadt‘s backing band, which became country rock/L.A. rock Eagles, “One Of These Nights” (#1, 1975), quit in 1976 to pursue a solo career
1947 ● Brian May / → Founding member and guitarist for camp rock/mock-opera/hard pop Queen, “Bohemian Rhapsody” (#9, 1976) and “Crazy Little Thing Called Love” (#1, 1980), solo, “Driven By You” (Mainstream Rock #9, 1993), film score composer and astronomy author, #39 on Rolling Stone magazine’s 100 Greatest Guitarists Of All Time
1948 ● Keith Godchaux / → Keyboards and backing vocals for rock’s longest, strangest trip Grateful Dead, “Sugar Magnolia” (#91, 1973), duo with wife Donna, died following a car crash on 7/23/1980, age 32
1952 ● Allen Collins / → Guitarist and founding member of raunchy Southern rockers Lynyrd Skynyrd, “Sweet Home Alabama” (#8, 1974), survived the October 20, 1977 plane crash that killed several bandmembers and crew, then co-founded Rossington-Collins Band, “Welcome Me Home” (Mainstream Rock #9, 1988), paralyzed from the waist down after a car accident in 1986 that killed his girlfriend, died from pneumonia on 1/23/1990, age 37
1956 ● Nikki Sudden / (Adrian Godfrey) → Underrated post-punk songwriter and guitarist, journeyman lead singer for his own bands and side projects, including 80s post-punk Swell Maps and the Jacobites, died from a heart attack on 3/26/22006, age 49
1960 ● Kevin Haskins / (Kevin Michael Dompe) → Drummer for seminal goth-rock Bauhaus, “Bela Lugosi’s Dead” (1979) and goth-pop Love And Rockets, “So Alive” (#3, 1989)
1968 ● Ged Lynch / → Drummer for dance-pop Black Grape, “In The Name Of The Father” (UK #8, 1995)
1971 ● Urs Bühler / → Tenor for pre-fab Euro-pop vocal quartet Il Divo, “Unbreak My Heart” (Adult Contemporary #33, 2005)
1976 ● Eric Prydz / → Swedish DJ and dance-pop producer using a variety of project names, including Pryda, Sheridan, Dirty Funker and Moo, “Call on Me” (Dance/Club #29, 2004)
1979 ● Michelle Heaton / → Singer for teen dance-pop Liberty X, “Just A Little” (UK #1, 2002)

July 20

1933 ● Buddy Wayne Knox / → Early rockabilly and “Tex-Mex” sound pioneer, wrote and performed “Party Doll” (#1, 1957), becoming the first artist to pen his own #1 hit in the rock ‘n’ roll era, died of lung cancer on 2/14/11999, age 65
1934 ● Bob Krasnow / (Robert Alan Krasnow) → Music industry executive with a long career at several key labels, started at King Records in the 50s, founded Blue Thumb in the 60s, expanded Warner Brothers into R&B in the 70s, revived Elektra Records in the 80s and 90s at one time or another worked with artists as varied as Captain Beefheart, Chaka Khan, George Benson, Björk and Metallica, died from organ failure on 12/11/2016, age 82
1944 ● T.G. Sheppard / (Billy Neal Browder) → Urban country crossover singer, “I’ve Loved ‘Em Every One” (#37, Country #1, 1981)
1945 ● John Lodge / → Bass and vocals for Brit prog rock then pop-rock The Moody Blues, “Nights In White Satin” (#2, 1967) and “Your Wildest Dreams” (#9, 1986)
1945 ● Kim Carnes / → Throaty-voiced singer, Grammy-winning “Bette Davis Eyes” (#1, 1981), later country music songwriter
1946 ● Wendy Richard / → One hit wonder pop singer, duet with Mike Sarne “Come Outside” (UK #1, 1962), longtime cast member of Brit TV soap opera Eastenders
1947 ● Carlos Santana / → Guitarist, vocals, songwriter and frontman for Latin-rock Santana, “Black Magic Woman” (#4, 1970), solo, “Smooth” (#1, 1999), awarded eight Grammys for his Supernatural album (2000)
1947 ● Tony Thorpe / → Lead guitar and vocals for glam rock/rock ‘n roll revival The Rubettes, “Sugar Baby Love” (UK #1, US #37, 1974)
1952 ● Jay Jay French / (John French Segall) → Guitarist for heavy metal Twisted Sister, “We’re Not Gonna Take It” (#21, 1983)
1955 ● Jem Finer / (Jemremy Max Finer) → Banjo for Irish folk-punk-rock The Pogues, “Tuesday Morning” (Rock #11, 1993)
1956 ● Paul Cook / → Drummer for premier punk rockers the Sex Pistols, “God Save The Queen” (UK #2, 1977) and punk rock supergroup Greedy Bastards
1957 ● Merlina DeFranco / → Vocals for teen bubblegum-pop The DeFranco Family, “Heartbeat-It’s A Lovebeat” (#3, 1973)
1958 ● Michael McNeil / → Keyboards for Scottish New Wave pop-rock Simple Minds, “(Don’t You) Forget About Me” ($1, 1985)
1959 ● James Irvin / → Vocals for Brit New Wave synth-pop Furniture, “Brilliant Mind” (UK #21, 1986)
1962 ● Dig Wayne / (Timothy Wayne Ball) → Lead vocals for Brit dance-pop-rock Jo Boxers, “Boxer Beat” (UK #3, 1983)
1964 ● Chris Cornell / (Christopher John Boyle) → Frontman, lead vocals and guitar for seminal grunge-rock group Soundgarden (“Black Hole Sun,” Mainstream Rock #1, 1994), Audioslave (“Be Yourself,” #32, Mainstream Rock #1, 2005) plus five solo albums and numerous soundtrack contributions, hanged himself in a Detroit hotel room following a performance by a reformed Soundgarden on 5/17/2017, age 52
1966 ● Andrew Levy / → Founding member, bassist, keyboards and songwriter for acid-jazz/funk The Brand New Heavies, “Sometimes” (UK #11, 1997)
1966 ● Stone Gossard / → Founding member and rhythm guitarist for post-grunge/alt rock kings Pearl Jam, “Last Kiss” (#2, 1999), previously with grunge rock Green River and Mother Love Bone, solo
1969 ● Vitamin C / (Colleen Ann Fitzpatrick) → Co-founder, frontwoman and vocalist for punk-pop Eve’s Plum, “I Want It All” (Modern Rock #30, 1993), solo, “Smile” (#7, 1999), actress
1971 ● DJ Screw / (Robert Earl Davis, Jr.) → Legendary Houston hip hop DJ who created the now-famous “chopped and screwed” mixing and DJ technique involving slowed down music, died of a prescription codeine overdose on 11/12/2000, age 29
1974 ● Andrew Tierney / → With his younger brother, Mike, and two schoolmates, co-founder, vocals and keyboards in Motown-inspired Aussie teen-pop boyband Human Nature (“Everytime You Cry,” AUS #3, 1997), currently in residence on the Las Vegas Strip performing in a Motown-themed show
1978 ● Elliott Yamin / → One hit wonder R&B/pop-neo-soul singer, “Wait For You” (#13, 2007), fifth season American Idol finalist
1980 ● Mike Kennerty / → Rhythm guitar and backing vocals for alt rock/power pop The All-American Rejects, “Swing, Swing” (Modern Rock #8, 2003)

July 21

1922 ● Kay Starr / (Katherine LaVerne Starks) → Successful 30s and 40s Big Band jazz-pop singer who migrated to country-pop and early rock ‘n’ roll during the 50s with even more success, including two #1 hits, “Wheel Of Fortune” (#1, 1952) and “The Rock And Roll Waltz” (#1, UK #1, 1956), continued to record and perform to a loyal following well after her style went out and well into her 80s, died from complications of Alzheimer’s disease on 11/3/2016, age 94
1942 ● Kim Vincent Fowley / → Singer-songwriter, producer, disc jockey and band manager, best known for putting together the all-girl punk/hard rock The Runaways (“Cherry Bomb,” 1976), died from bladder cancer on 1/15/2015, age 72
1943 ● Henry McCullough / → Irish guitarist in early folk-rock Sweeney’s Men and with Joe Cocker in the 60s, best known for his work with Paul McCartney‘s Wings in the 70s and his guitar solo on “My Love” (#1, 1973), continued to record and perform into the 10s, suffered a heart attack in 2012 and died four years later on 7/14/2016, age 72
1945 ● Mike Wilsh / (Michael Wilshaw) → Bass, keyboards and backing vocals for early 60s Brit pop The Four Pennies, “Juliet” (UK #1, 1964), the most important British Invasion era act with no chart presence in the US
1945 ● Rosie Hamlin / (Rosalie Hamlin) → 15-year old lead singer and principal songwriter in one hit wonder light pop/rock Rosie And The Originals, “Angel Baby” (#5, 1960), left the industry for motherhood in the early 60s but had her song covered by John Lennon and included on his posthumous 1986 album Menlove Avenue, died from “ill health” on 3/30/2017, age 71
1946 ● Bean Whitwam / (Barry “Bean” Whitwam) → Drummer for British Invasion pop-rock Herman’s Hermits, “Mrs. Brown You’ve Got A Lovely Daughter” (#1. 1965)
1948 ● Cat Stevens / (Stephen Demitri Georgiou, now Yusuf Islam) → Singer, songwriter and guitarist, “Peace Train” (#7, 1971) and 10 other US Top 40 hits, converted to Muslim in 1977
1953 ● Eric Bazilian / → Co-founder, guitarist and vocals for 80s MTV pop-rock The Hooters, “And We Danced” (#21, Mainstream Rock #3, 1985)
1955 ● Henry Priestman / → Founding member, keyboards and vocals for Brit New Wave power pop The Yachts, “Suffice To Say” (1977), then blue-eyed soul sibling trio The Christians, “When Fingers Point” (Dance/Club #29, 1988) and alt rock It’s Immaterial
1955 ● Howie Epstein / → Bassist for Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, “Free Fallin'” (#7, 1989), died of a drug overdose on 2/23/2003, age 47
1955 ● Taco / (Taco Ockerse) → Pop-rock one hit wonder singer, “Puttin’ On The Ritz” (#4, 1983)
1961 ● Jim Martin / (James Blanco Martin) → Guitarist for influential metal/funk/hip hop/punk fusion band Faith No More, “Epic” (#9, 1990)
1962 ● Lee Aaron / (Karen Lynn Greening) → Award-winning Canadian pop, rock, jazz and singer/songwriter and guitarist with Broken Social Scene, “1 2 3 4” (UK #4, 2007), solo
1969 ● Emerson Hart / → Founder, guitar and vocals for Grammy-nominated alt/roots rock Tonic, “If You Could Only See” (Mainstream Rock #1, 1997)
1974 ● Terry Caldwell / → Vocalist and rapper for Brit teen dance-pop/hip hop boy band East 17, “Stay Another Day” (UK #1, 1994), plus over 15 other UK Top 40 hits
1981 ● Blake Lewis / → Beatboxer and American Idol runner-up, “How Many Words” (Dance/Club #8, 2008)

July 22

1924 ● Margaret Whiting / → Adult Contemporary, traditional popular and country music singer (“Only Love Can Break A Heart,” #96, AC #4, 1967), TV actress on variety shows, sitcoms and music history documentaries, daughter of Richard Whiting, composer of pop music standards, including “Hooray For Hollywood” and “The Good Ship Lollipop,” died from natural causes on 1/10/2011, age 86
1937 ● Chuck Jackson / → R&B/pop-soul singer with doo wop The Del-Vikings, “Come Go With Me” (#4, 1957) and solo, “Any Day Now” (#23, R&B #2, 1962)
1940 ● Thomas Wayne / (Thomas Wayne Perkins) → One hit wonder R&B/doo wop balladeer, “Tragedy” (#5, 1959), brother of Elvis Presley‘s guitarist, Luther Perkins, died in a Memphis car accident on 8/15/1971, age 31
1941 ● Estelle Bennett / → With her sister, Ronnie Bennett Spector and cousin Nedra Talley, vocals for Phil Spector-produced pop girl group The Ronettes, “Be My Baby” (#2, 1963), suffered from mental and physical problems for many years until her death from colon cancer on 2/11/2009, age 67
1941 ● George Clinton / → Principal architect and frontman of “P-Funk”, the R&B/soul-funk sound of the interchangeable bands Parliament and Funkadelic, “One Nation Under A Groove” (#31, 1978)
1943 ● Bobby Sherman / → 60s and 70s pop-rock teen idol singer, “Little Woman” (#3, 1969), regular on TV music variety show Shindig!, TV actor on sit com Here Come The Brides
1944 ● Rick Davies / → Keyboards and vocals for Brit prog-art-pop-rock Supertramp, “The Logical Song” (#6, 1979), solo
1947 ● Don Henley / → Drummer, vocalist and songwriter, member of Linda Ronstadt‘s backing band, which became country rock/L.A. rock Eagles, “One Of These Nights” (#1, 1975), Grammy-winning solo career, “The Boys Of Summer” (#5, Mainstream Rock #1, 1984)
1949 ● Alan Menken / → With songwriting team partner/lyricist Howard Ashman, Academy Award-winning and 8-time Oscar composer 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)
1956 ● Mick Pointer / → Founding member and original drummer for Brit prog-rock revival group Marillion, “Kayleigh” (Mainstream Rock #14, 1985), left to form prog rock Arena
1957 ● Dennis Greaves / → Guitar and lead vocals for Brit blues-rock/”mod revival” quartet Nine Below Zero, Don’t Point Your Finger album reached #56 on the UK album chart
1961 ● Keith Sweat / → R&B/soul-New Jack swing singer, “Nobody” (#3, 1996), radio DJ, producer
1963 ● Emily Saliers / → Guitar and vocals in indie-folk-pop duo Indigo Girls, “Closer To Fine” (#52, Modern Rock #26, 1989)
1964 ● Will Calhoun / → Drummer for prog-funk-metal Living Colour, “Cult Of Personality” (#13, 1988), sessions
1967 ● Pat Badger / → Bassist for funk metal/hard rock Extreme, “More Than Words” (#1, 1991)
1971 ● Chris Helme / → Vocals for Britpop/indie rock The Seahorses, “Love Is The Law” (UK #3, 1997)
1973 ● Daniel Jones / → Vocals, keyboards and sequencer, one-half of Australian dance-pop duo Savage Garden, “Truly Madly Deeply” (#1, 1998), now producer for Aussie pop-rock acts
1973 ● Rufus Wainwright / → Canadian-American folk-pop singer, songwriter and guitarist, Rolling Stone magazine’s 1998 Best New Artist, son of folk musicians Loudon Wainwright III and Kate McGarrigle, brother of Martha Wainwright, album Release The Stars was US #23 in 2007

Albums Released This Week (July 10 – 16)

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):

July 10


● The Beatles —— A Hard Day’s Night [UK] ► Pop-Rock >> 1964
● The Shadows —— Jigsaw ► Instrumental Rock ‘N’ Roll >> 1967
● The Yardbirds —— Little Games ► Blues Rock >> 1967
● Otis Redding —— Live In Europe ► Memphis Soul >> 1967
● The Bar-Kays —— Soul Finger ► R&B Soul/Horn Rock >> 1967
● Tim Buckley —— Happy Sad ► Folk-Rock >> 1969
● Chicago —— Chicago V ► Jazz-Rock >> 1972
● Cher —— Foxy Lady ► Pop-Rock >> 1972
● Nilsson —— Son Of Schmilsson ► Folk-Rock >> 1972
● Parliament —— Up For The Down Stroke ► Funk >> 1974
● The Kinks —— Low Budget ► British Rock >> 1979
● The Korgis —— Sticky George ► Pop-Rock >> 1981
● Tina Turner —— Mad Max: Beyond Thunderdome [Sndtrk] ► Pop-Rock >> 1985
● N.R.B.Q. —— Honest Dollar ► Roots Rock >> 1992
● Zard —— Yureru Omoi ► Pop-Rock >> 1993
● The Calling —— Camino Palmero ► Post-Grunge Alt. Rock >> 2001
● Jack Bruce —— Shadows In The Air ► Prog Rock/Fusion >> 2001
● Melissa Etheridge —— Skin ► Roots Rock >> 2001
● Coldplay —— Parachutes ► Alt. Rock/Brit Pop >> 2000
● Queen —— The A-Z Of Queen, Volume 1 ► Glam Rock >> 2007
● Stephen Stills —— Just Roll Tape: April 26th, 1968 ► Folk-Rock >> 2007
● Kool & The Gang —— Still Kool ► Funk >> 2007
● Yes —— Like It Is: Yes At The Messa Arts Center ► Prog Rock >> 2015

July 11


● King Curtis —— Party Time ► Jazz-Soul >> 1961
● The Doors —— Waiting For The Sun ► Psych Rock >> 1968
● Fleetwood Mac —— Fleetwood Mac ► Pop-Rock >> 1975
● Village People —— Village People ► Disco >> 1977
● Ultravox —— Vienna ► New Wave Synth-Pop >> 1980
● Shalamar —— The Look ► Disco >> 1983
● Joy Division —— Substance ► Post-Punk >> 1988
● Gloria Estefan —— Cuts Both Ways ► Latin Pop >> 1989
● Eagles —— The Very Best Of The Eagles ► Country-Rock >> 1994
● Kyuss —— …And The Circus Leaves Town ► Heavy Metal/Stoner Rock >> 1995
● Shaggy —— Bombastic ► Dancehall Reggae >> 1995
● The Sneetches —— Obscureyears ► Alt. Power Pop >> 1999
● Atlanta Rhythm Section —— Live At The Savoy, New York October 27, 1981 ► Southern Rock >> 2000
● Mötley Crüe —— New Tattoo ► Heavy Metal >> 2000
● The Anti-Nowhere League —— Out Of Control ► Punk Rock >> 2000
● Kansas —— Somewhere To Elsewhere ► Prog/Arena Rock >> 2000
● Everclear —— Songs From An American Movie, Vol. 1: Learning How To Smile ► Grunge-Punk >> 2000
● Yes —— Greatest Hits Live ► Prog Rock >> 2006
● Phish —— Live In Brooklyn ► Prog Rock/Jam Band >> 2006
● Soul Asylum —— The Silver Lining ► Alt. Pop-Rock >> 2006
● The Rolling Stones —— Live At The Tokyo Dome (Live 1990) ► Blues-Rock >> 2012

July 12


● The Shadows —— The Sound Of The Shadows ► Instrumental Rock ‘N’ Roll >> 1965
● Kenny Loggins —— Nightwatch ► Pop-Rock >> 1978
● Eurythmics —— Revenge ► New Wave Synth-Pop >> 1986
● Bananarama —— True Confessions ► New Wave Dance-Pop >> 1986
● Alice Cooper —— The Last Temptation ► Hard Rock >> 1994
● Marilyn Manson —— Portrait Of An American Family ► Heavy Metal/Alt Metal >> 1994
● Amorphis —— Tales From The Thousand Lakes ► Heavy Metal/Death Metal >> 1994
● Witness —— Before The Calm ► Electronic/Lo-Fi >> 1999
● The Rolling Stones —— Singles 1965-1967 ► Blues-Rock >> 2004
● Rick Springfield —— The Day After Yesterday ► Power Pop >> 2005
● Incubus —— If Not, When? ► Funk Metal >> 2011

July 13


● The Beach Boys —— All Summer Long ► Sunshine Pop >> 1964
● Grateful Dead —— History Of The Grateful Dead, Vol. 1 (Bear’s Choice) ► Country-Rock >> 1973
● Bob Dylan —— Pat Garrett & Billy The Kid ► Folk-Rock >> 1973
● Queen —— Queen [UK] ► Prog Rock >> 1973
● Killing Joke —— Fire Dances ► Heavy Metal/Post-Punk >> 1983
● Dio —— The Last In Line ► Heavy Metal >> 1984
● Ian Gillan —— Naked Thunder ► Hard Rock >> 1990
● George Harrison —— Live In Japan ► Pop-Rock >> 1992
● Matthew Sweet —— Altered Beast ► Power Pop >> 1993
● Toni Braxton —— Toni Braxton ► Soul-Pop >> 1993
● The Zombies —— Absoluetly The Best ► Art Rock >> 1999
● Gang Starr —— Full Clip: A Decade Of Gang Starr ► East Coast Rap >> 1999
● Jimmy Buffett —— License To Chill ► Country-Rock >> 2004
● Korn —— Korn III: Remember Who You Are ► Post-Grunge/Nu Metal >> 2010
● The Innocence Mission —— My Room In The Trees ► Alt Pop-Rock >> 2010
● Sting —— Symphonicities ► Pop-Rock >> 2010

July 14


● The Bee Gees —— Bee Gees’ 1st [UK] ► Pop-Rock >> 1967
● Supertramp —— Supertramp ► Prog/Art Rock >> 1970
● Billy Preston —— A Whole New Thing ► Soul-Funk >> 1977
● Elton John —— Your Songs ► Pop-Rock >> 1985
● Bob Dylan —— Knocked Out Loaded ► Folk-Rock >> 1986
● Megadeth —— Countdown To Extinction ► Heavy Metal >> 1992
● David Bowie —— Songs From The Cool World [Sndtrk] ► Glam Rock >> 1992
● Elliott Smith —— Roman Candle ► Indie Rock/Lo-Fi >> 1994
● Sister Sledge —— Live In Concert ► Disco >> 1995
● Counting Crows —— Across A Wire: Live In New York City ► AA Pop-Rock >> 1998
● Ace Of Base —— Flowers ► Euro-Dance Pop >> 1998
● The Beastie Boys —— Hello Nasty ► Rap >> 1998
● The Tragically Hip —— Phantom Power ► Folk-Rock >> 1998
● The Knack —— Zoom ► Power Pop >> 1998
● The Church —— Deep In The Shallows: The Classic Singles Collection ► Alt. Power Pop >> 2007
● David Bowie —— VH1 Storytellers ► Glam Rock >> 2009
● John Hiatt —— Terms Of My Surrender ► Roots Rock >> 2014

July 15


● The Yardbirds —— Roger The Engineer ► Blues Rock >> 1966
● Neil Diamond —— Moods ► Pop-Rock >> 1972
● Rick Springfield —— Mission Magic! ► Power Pop >> 1974
● Donnie Iris —— Back On The Streets ► Pop-Rock >> 1980
● America —— A View From The Ground ► Folk-Rock >> 1982
● Big Country —— The Crossing ► New Wave/Alt. Pop-Rock >> 1983
● The Damned —— Phantasmagoria ► Goth Rock >> 1985
● Lionel Richie —— Dancing On The Ceiling ► Soul-Dance >> 1986
● Spandau Ballet —— Through The Barricades ► New Wave Synth-Pop >> 1986
● Tonic —— Lemon Parade ► Alt/Roots Rock >> 1996
● The Samples —— Outpost ► Alt. Pop-Rock >> 1996
● The Dandy Warhols —— …The Dandy Warhols Come Down ► Psych Rock >> 1997
● Sarah McLachlan —— Surfacing ► Folk-Rock >> 1997
● Dwight Yoakam —— Under The Covers ► Alt Country-Rock >> 1997
● Eric Clapton —— 20th Century Masters – The Millennium Collection: The Best Of Eric Clapton ► Blues-Rock >> 2004
● The Jellybricks —— Goodnight To Everyone ► Alt. Pop-Rock >> 2008
● John Mellencamp —— Life, Death, Love And Freedom ► Roots Rock >> 2008
● Goo Goo Dolls —— iTunes Live From SoHo [EP] ► Alt Pop-Rock/Post-Grunge >> 2011
● Loverboy —— Unfinished Business ► Arena Rock >> 2014

July 16


● Gentle Giant —— Acquiring The Taste [UK] ► Prog Rock >> 1971
● Neil Young —— On The Beach ► Folk-Rock >> 1974
● The Band —— The Best Of The Band ► Folk-Rock >> 1976
● Earth, Wind & Fire —— I Am ► Soul-Funk >> 1979
● Rick James —— Garden Of Love ► Soul-Funk >> 1980
● The Beach Boys —— Rare Early Recordings ► Pop-Rock >> 1981
● Warren Zevon —— The Envoy ► Pop-Rock >> 1982
● Curtis Mayfield —— Take It To The Streets ► Soul/Funk >> 1990
● The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band —— Live Two Five ► Country-Rock >> 1991
● Persuader —— The Hunter ► Heavy Metal/Power Metal >> 2000
● New Order —— Before & After – The BBC Sessions ► Alt Pop-Rock >> 2002
● Dave Matthews Band —— Busted Stuff ► AA Pop-Rock >> 2002
● Simon & Garfunkel —— Live From New York City, 1967 ► Folk-Pop >> 2002
● Elton John —— Good Morning To The Night ► Pop-Rock >> 2012
● Yes —— Heaven & Earth ► Prog Rock >> 2014

This Week’s Birthdays (July 9 – 15)

Happy Birthday this week to:

July 09

1916 ● Norman Pickering / (Norman Charles Pickering) → Engineer, musician and inventor credited with improving the “pickup” that translates the information in a record groove into an analog signal for sound reproduction via the Pickering cartridge, died from cancer on 11/18/2015, age 99
1925 ● Alan Dale / (Aldo Sigismondi) → Immensely popular traditional pop and light rock ‘n’ roll singer in the 50s, “Cherry Pink and Apple Blossom White” (#14, 1955), hosted his own TV and radio shows, died on 4/20/2002, age 76
1927 ● Ed Ames (Urick) / (Ed Urick) → Vocals for sibling quartet Ames Brothers, “Rag Mop” (#1, 1950), starred in The Ames Brothers Show on TV, then as “Mingo” in the Daniel Boone TV series, then solo singer career, “My Cup Runneth Over” (#8, 1967)
1929 ● Lee Hazelwood / → Country-pop singer, songwriter and producer, collaborated with rockabilly guitarist Duane Eddy on a number of hits, including “Rebel Rouser” (#6, 1958), wrote and produced the Nancy Sinatra hit, “These Boots Are Made for Walkin'” (#1, 1966), died of renal cancer on 8/4/2007, age 78
1940 ● John Salvato / → Vocals for Italian-American doo wop The Duprees, “You Belong To Me” (#7, 1962)
1941 ● Donald McPherson / → Founding member and lead singer for R&B/soul The Main Ingredient, “I’m So Proud” (#49, R&B #13, 1971), died of leukemia on 7/4/1971 before the band’s breakout hit, “Everybody Plays The Fool” (#3, 1972), age 30
1946 ● Joe Micelli / → Drums and percussion for blue-eyed soul one hit wonder John Fred & His Playboy Band, “Judy In Disguise (With Glasses)” (#1, 1968)
1946 ● Bon Scott / (Ronald Belford Scott) → Scotland-born original frontman and lead vocals for Aussie power chord hard rock AC/DC, “Highway To Hell” (#47, 1979), drank himself to death on 2/19/1980, age 33
1950 ● Gwen Guthrie / → R&B/soul singer and songwriter, solo artist, “Ain’t Nothin’ Goin’ On But The Rent” (#42, Dance/Club #1, 1986), backing vocals for Aretha Franklin, Billy Joel, Madonna, Stevie Wonder and others, died of uterine cancer on 2/3/1999, age 48
1952 ● Carlos Peron / → Founding member and multi-instrumentalist for Swiss electronic dance-pop Yello, “Oh Yeah” (#51, 1987), then solo
1953 ● Kate Garner / → Vocals for quirky Brit New Wave synth-pop Haysi Fantayzee, “John Wayne Is Big Leggy” (UK #11, 1982)
1954 ● Debbie Sledge / → Lead vocals for family R&B/disco girl-group Sister Sledge and the disco anthem “We Are Family” (#2, 1979) plus ten other R&B Top 10 hits
1959 ● Jim Kerr / → Vocals for Scottish New Wave pop-rock Simple Minds, “(Don’t You) Forget About Me” ($1, 1985)
1959 ● Marc Almond / → Vocals for New Wave synth-pop duo Soft Cell, “Tainted Love” (#8, 1982), formed euro-disco Marc & The Mambas in 1983 and solo since 1984
1964 ● Courtney Love / (Courtney Michelle Harrison) → Guitar and vocals for post-punk Babes In Toyland, formed and fronted grunge rock Hole in 1989, “Celebrity Skin” (Mainstream Rock #4, 1998), solo, married Kurt Cobain from Nirvana on 2/24/1992, film actress in Sid And Nancy (1986) and The People Vs. Larry Flynt (1999)
1965 ● Frankie Bello / (Frank Joseph Bello) → Bassist for speed/thrash metal Anthrax, “Only” (Mainstream #26, 1993)
1965 ● Tom Hingley / → Vocals for Brit psych-alt rock Inspiral Carpets, “Two Worlds Collide” (Modern Rock #8, 1992)
1967 ● Dickon Hinchcliffe / → Guitar and violin for Brit folk-pop-soul Tindersticks, “Bathtime” (UK #38, 1997)
1967 ● Owen Paul / → Guitar for Welsh indie-alt-rock Catatonia, “Mulder And Scully” (, 1998)
1971 ● Kelvin Grant / → Vocals for ska/reggae band Musical Youth, “Pass The Dutchie” (#10, 1982)
1975 ● Isaac Brock / (Isaac Christopher Brock) → Founding member, singer, guitarist and lyricist for indie rock Modest Mouse, “Float On” (Top 40 #32, 2004) and the album We Were Dead Before The Ship Even Sank (#1, 2007), also fronts a side project, indie rock Ugly Casanova
1975 ● Jack White / (John Anthony Gillis) → With wife Meg White, guitar and vocals in garage rock revival duo The White Stripes, 2007 Grammy-winning song “Icky Thump” (#26, 2007), side projects with power pop The Raconteurs and indie rock Dead Weather, produced country legend Loretta Lynn‘s comeback album Van Lear Rose (2004)
1976 ● Dan Estrin / → Guitarist for post-grunge indie pop-rock Hoobastank, “The Reason” (#2, 2004)
1986 ● Kiely Alexis Williams / → Vocals in R&B/dance-teen-pop 3LW (aka 3 Little Women), “No More (Baby I’ma Do Right)” (#23, 2001)

July 10

1936 ● Mitchell Parish / → Pop music lyricist and collaborator with Duke Ellington and numerous other top composers for multiple hits from the 20s to 50s, known best for penning the lyrics to Hoagy Carmichael‘s music for the American pop classic “Stardust,” one of the most recorded songs in history (originally “Star Dust,” 1927), died from natural causes on 3/31/1993, age 92
1939 ● Jumpin’ Gene Simmons / (Morris Eugene Simmons) → One hit wonder rockabilly singer and songwriter with the novelty song “Haunted House” (#11, 1964), Kiss frontman Gene Simmons (born Chiam Witz) took the name as a tribute to the singer, died after a long illness on 8/29/2006, age 73
1941 ● Johnny Griffith / → Piano and keyboard session musician, member of The Funk Brothers, Motown Record‘s house band which provided nearly all instrumentation behind every Motown hit, died from a heart attack on 11/10/2002, age 66
1942 ● Mavis Staples / → Lead vocalist for four-sister R&B/soul-gospel act The Staple Singers, “I’ll Take You There” (#1, 1972)
1943 ● Ian Whitcomb / → One hit wonder Brit singer/songwriter, “You Turn Me On” (#8, 1965), author of pre-rock history book After The Ball
1944 ● Ronnie James Dio / (Ronald James Padavona)) → Heavy metal vocalist and songwriter, frontman for Rainbow, “Since You’ve Been Gone” (#57, 1979) and “Stone Cold” (Mainstream Rock #1, 1982), Black Sabbath (1979-82), “Turn Up The Night” (Mainstream Rock #24, 1982), founded heavy metal quintet Dio, “Rainbow In The Dark” (Mainstream Rock #14, 1983), died from stomach cancer on 5/16/2010, age 67
1947 ● Jerry Miller / → Guitarist for 60s San Francisco folk-roots-psych rock Moby Grape, “Omaha” (#88, 1967)
1948 ● Beaky Dymond / (John Dymond) → Rhythm guitar for Brit 60s pop-rock two hit wonder quintet Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Tich, “The Legend Of Xanadu” (UK #1, 1968), left in 1989 but rejoined the band on the oldies circuit in 2013
1949 ● Arlo Guthrie / → Folk/rock singer/songwriter with three notable songs, the comic-monologue-song “Alice’s Restaurant Massacree” (1967), “Coming Into Los Angeles” from the Woodstock festival and movie, and “The City Of New Orleans” (#18, 1972), son of folk legend Woody Guthrie
1950 ● John Whitehead / → With Gene McFadden, one-half the soul music songwriting duo for Philadelphia International Records, co-wrote “Back Stabbers” for The O’Jays (#3, R&B #1, 1972) and other hits, including the disco smash “Ain’t’ No Stopping Us Now” (#13, R&B #1, 1979) for their own album McFadden & Whitehead (1979), died from in an unsolved but apparently mistaken-identity murder outside his home on 5/11/2004, age 55
1953 ● Dave Smalley / → Founding member and lead vocals for Cleveland garage rock quartet The Choir, “It’s Cold Outside” (#68, 1967), then co-founded power pop The Raspberries, “Go All The Way” (#5, 1972)
1954 ● Greg Kihn / → Pop/rock singer, songwriter and bandleader, Greg Kihn Band, “Jeopardy” (#2, 1983)
1958 ● Rik Emmett / (Richard Gordon Emmett) → Lead guitar and vocals for Canadian power rock trio Triumph (“All The Way,” Mainstream Rock #2, 1983), left the band in 1988 to pursue a moderately successful solo career, rejoined in 2008, contributes to Guitar Player magazine and teaches music business at Humber College in Toronto
1959 ● Neil Tennant / → Vocals for synth-pop dance Pet Shop Boys, “West End Girls” (#1, 1986)
1960 ● Béla Anton Leoš Fleck / → Innovative jazz-bluegrass (“blu-bop”) banjo player, first with New Grass Revival, “Callin’ Baton Rouge” (Country #37, 1989) then as bandleader for Grammy-winning progressive folk-bluegrass Béla Fleck And The Flecktones, “The Sinister Minister” (Best Pop Instrumental, 1997), session work and tours with Asleep At The Wheel, Dave Matthews Band, Phish and others
1962 ● Sandy West / (Sandra Sue Pesavento) → Drummer, singer, songwriter and founding member of teenage all-girl hard rock group The Runaways, “Cherry Bomb” (1976), died from cancer on 10/21/2006, age 47
1964 ● Martyn P. Casey / → Keyboards for alt rock Nick Cave And The Bad Seeds, “Where The Wild Roses Grow” (Australia #2, UK #11, 1995)
1965 ● Play Martin / (Christopher Martin) → With Christopher “Kid” Reid, one half of the positive-attitude hip hop musical duo Kid ‘N Play, “Ain’t Gonna Hurt Nobody” (#51, Rap #1, 1991), the duo branched into acting with film appearances and their own short-lived TV program
1970 ● Graham Lambert / → Guitarist for Brit psych-alt rock Inspiral Carpets, “Two Worlds Collide” (Modern Rock #8, 1992)
1970 ● Peter DiStefano / → Guitarist for alt rock/post-punk Jane’s Addiction, “Been Caught Stealing” (Mainstream Rock #29, 1990), then co-founded hard art-rock Porno For Pyros, “Pets” (Mainstream Rock #25, 1993), solo
1974 ● Gary LeVox / → Vocals for country-pop Rascal Flatts, “Here Come Goodbye” (#11, Country #1, 2009)
1976 ● Jason Orange / → Vocals for teen pop quintet Take That, “Back For Good” (#7, UK #1, 1995) and seven other UK #1 hits including “Patience” (UK #1, 2006)
1980 ● Imelda May / (Imelda Clabby Higham) → Irish-born jazz-pop and neo-burlesque singer and guitarist, “Mayhem” (Ireland #24, 2010), plus sessions and backing vocals for Jeff Beck, Elvis Costello, Elton John and others
1929 ● Elijah Blue Allman / → Guitarist, vocalist and songwriting for industrial/nu metal Deadsy, “The Elements” (1997), also worked with Orgy, Sugar Ray, Korn and others, son of Cher and Gregg Allman, currently a contemporary artist in L.A.
1931 ● Jessica Simpson / → Tabloid-fodder film and reality TV actress, 90s dance-pop and 00s contemporary country-pop singer, “Irresistible” (#15, 2001), featured on MTV’s Newlyweds show with her husband and 98 Degrees member Nick Lachey

July 11

1938 ● Danny Flores / → Rock ‘n’ roll saxophonist and songwriter, wrote the Latin-flavored instrumental classic “Tequila” (#1, R&B #1, 1958) for one hit wonder The Champs, left the band in the early 60s and recorded sporadically until his death from pneumonia on 9/19/2006, age 77
1946 ● Tab Hunter / (Arthur Kelm Gelien) → Actor in more than 40 movies and one hit wonder teen idol singer, “Young Love” (#1, 1957)
1947 ● Thurston Harris / → One hit wonder rock ‘n’ roll singer “Little Bitty Pretty One” (#6, R&B #2, 1957), the song also charted with versions by Frankie Lymon and The Jackson 5, died from a heart attack on 4/14/1990, age 58
1947 ● Billy Davis / (Roquel Billy Davis) → Detroit R&B singer in an early version of The Four Tops and songwriter with several hits recorded by others, including “Lonely Teardrops” by Jackie Wilson (#7, R&B #1, 1959), produced “Rescue Me” for Fontella Bass (#4, R&B #1, 1965) among other hits, turned to advertising and produced the jingles “I’d Like To Teach The World To Sing (In Perfect Harmony),” “”Things Go Better With Coke” and other jingles for Coca-Cola, died of natural causes on 9/2/2004, age 72
1950 ● Terry Garthwaite / → With collaborator Toni Brown, co-frontwoman, guitar and vocals in folk-rock Joy Of Cooking, “Brownsville” (#66, 1971), solo
1953 ● John Lawton / → Vocals for German prog rock and early heavy metal cult band Lucifer’s Friend, joined Brit prog rock Uriah Heep in 1976 as lead singer but returned to Lucifer’s Friend and other bands starting in 1980
1953 ● Jeff Hanna / → Guitar and vocals for country-folk-bluegrass-rock The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, “Mr. Bojangles” (#9, 1971)
1957 ● John Holt / (Winston Holt) → Jamaican singer and prolific songwriter with ska and rocksteady vocal quartet The Paragons, wrote “The Tide Is High” (1969), which became a US and UK #1 for Blondie in 1980, died from colon cancer on 10/19/2014, age 67
1959 ● Bonnie Pointer / (Patricia Eva Pointer) → Vocals for R&B/soul-pop-disco-dance sister act The Pointer Sisters, “Slow Hand” (#2, 1981)
1959 ● Benjamin DeFranco / → Vocals for teen bubblegum-pop sibling act The DeFranco Family, “Heartbeat-It’s A Lovebeat” (#3, 1973)
1961 ● Peter Brown / → Electronic, disco, funk and dance-pop singer, songwriter and producer with seven charting hits between 1977 and 1982, including disco-funk “Dance With Me” (#88, R&B #5, 1977), co-wrote “Material Girl” for Madonna (#2, 1985), left the industry in the late 80s due to hearing loss
1965 ● Peter Murphy / → Vocals for seminal goth-rock Bauhaus, “Bela Lugosi’s Dead” (1979), co-founded alt goth Dali’s Car, then solo, “Cuts You Up” (Mainstream Rock #10, 1990)
1966 ● Richie Sambora / (Richard Stephen Sambora) → Guitarist for pop-metal superstars Bon Jovi, “Living On A Prayer” (#1, 1987)
1969 ● Suzanne Vega / → Folk-pop singer/songwriter and guitarist, “Luka” (#3, 1987)
1975 ● Adrian York / → Piano for New Wave swing/pop Roman Holliday, “Don’t Try To Stop It” (#68, UK #14, 1983)
1975 ● Scott Shriner / → Bass and vocals for post-grunge alt pop-rock Weezer, “Beverly Hills” (#10, 2005)
1975 ● Melanie Susan Appleby / → Singer and actress, with older sister Kim in R&B/dance-pop duo Mel & Kim, “Respectable” (Dance/Club #1, 1986), died from pneumonia during cancer treatments on 6/18/1990, age 23
1978 ● Al Sobrante / (John Kiffmeyer) → Drummer for California punk rock Sweet Children, left the band in 1990 during its transition to post-grunge alt rock/punk revival Green Day, “Boulevard Of Broken Dreams” (#2, 2004)
1895 ● Lil’ Kim / (Kimberly Denise Jones) → Hip hop actress, model and rapper, member of rap group Junior M.A.F.I.A., “Player’s Anthem” (#13, Rap #2, 1995), solo, “Not Tonight” (#6, Rap #2, 1997)
1928 ● Rick McMurray / → Founding member, drummer and backing vocals for Irish neo-punk/pop-rock Ash, “Goldfinger” (UK #5, 1996)
1939 ● Samer El Nahhal / → Bassist for Finnish heavy metal monster-masked Lordi, winners of 2006 Eurovision Song Contest with “Hard Rock Hallelujah”
1942 ● Kathleen Edwards / → Critically-acclaimed Canadian-born light country and roots rock singer and songwriter, “The Cheapest Key” (2008), toured with Bob Dylan and The Rolling Stones

July 12

1946 ● Oscar Hammerstein II / → Stage, film and TV music lyricist/librettist with over 800 titles, many of which are included in the Great American Songbook, collaborator with Richard Rogers on some of the best-known songs in popular music, died from stomach cancer on 8/23/1960, age 65
1947 ● Barbara Russell Cowsill / → Matriarch and vocals 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, died from emphysema on 1/31/1985, age 56
1948 ● Kenny Dino / (Kenneth J. Diono) → One hit wonder pop singer, “Your Ma Said You Cried In Your Sleep Last Night” (#24, 1961), died from a heart attack while driving on Interstate 95 in Florida on 12/10/2009, age 70
1949 ● Swamp Dogg / (Jerry Williams, Jr.) → Self-proclaimed “musical genius” rock & soul songwriter, producer, soul artist, “Mama’s Baby, Daddy’s Maybe” (R&B #33, 1970)
1950 ● Christine McVie / → Vocals and songwriter for Chicken Shack, then huge pop-rock Fleetwood Mac, “Go Your Own Way” (#10, 1977), solo
1952 ● Jeff Christie / → Frontman, lead vocals, bassist and chief songwriter for one hit wonder Brit light pop-rock Christie, “Yellow River” (#23, UK #1, 1970), continued to tour on the oldies circuit with various lineups through the 10s
1952 ● Peter Pye / → Rhythm guitarist for one hit wonder English beat/pop-rock The Honeycombs, “Have I The Right?” (#5, 1964)
1953 ● Wilko Johnson / (John Wilkinson) → Founding member and first lead guitar for Brit pub-rock Dr. Feelgood, “Milk And Alcohol” (UK #9, 1979), then founding member of blues-rock Solid Senders
1953 ● Walter Egan / → One hit wonder singer, songwriter and guitarist, “Magnet And Steel” (#8, 1978), now a high school teacher
1956 ● Malcolm Jones / → Bassist for one hit wonder pop-rock Blues Image, “Ride Captain Ride” (#4, 1970), then Scottish Celtic folk-rock Runrig, “An Ubhal As Airde (The Highest Apple)” (UK #18, 1995)
1959 ● Eric “The Fox” Carr / (Paul Caravello) → Drummer for campy hard/glam-rock Kiss, “Detroit Rock City” (#7, 1976), died from cancer on 11/24/1991, age 41
1962 ● Liz Mitchell / → West Indian vocalist for R&B/disco Euro-dance Boney M, “Rivers Of Babylon” (#30, UK #1, 1978)
1964 ● Philip Taylor Kramer / → Bass guitar for Iron Butterfly, “In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida” (#30, 1970), presumed a suicide when his body and wrecked car were discovered in a Malibu canyon four years after he disappeared on 2/12/1995, age 42
1967 ● Billy Alessi / (William Alessi) → With identical twin brother Bobby, vocals in one hit wonder pop-rock duo Alessi Brothers, “Oh, Lori” (UK #8, 1977)
1972 ● Bobby Alessi / (Robert Alessi) → With identical twin brother Billy, vocals in one hit wonder pop-rock duo Alessi Brothers, “Oh, Lori” (UK #8, 1977)
1976 ● Sandi Patty / (Sandra Faye Patty) → Often referred to as “The Voice”, Grammy-winning contemporary Christian music (CCM) and new age singer and pianist
1984 ● Ray Gillen / → Journeyman rock vocalist for hard rock Black Sabbath, all-star project Phenomena II, blues-rock Badlands, “Dreams In The Dark” (Mainstream Rock #39, 1989), Tariff, and Sun Red Sun, died from AIDS on 12/1/1993, age 34
1915 ● Dan Murphy / → Guitarist for garage rock superstar group Soul Asylum, “Runaway Train” (#5, 1993)
1923 ● Tim Gane / → Guitar and keyboards for experimental/electronic pop-rock Stereolab, “Ping Pong” (UK #45, 1994)
1935 ● John Petrucci / → Virtuoso metal/”shredder” guitarist, songwriter and occasional singer, founding member and producer for progressive metal Dream Theater, “Pull Me Under” (Mainstream Rock #10, 1992), included in GuitarOne magazine’s Top 10 greatest guitar shredders of all time
1942 ● Brett A. Reed / → Original drummer in punk rock revival Rancid, “Time Bomb” (Modern Rock #8, 1995), left in 2010 to concentrate on side project psychobilly Devils Brigade
1942 ● Tracie Spencer / → Teen pop singer, “In This House” (#3, 1990) and “It’s All About You (Not About Me)” (#18, 1999)

July 13

1954 ● Hucklebuck Williams / (Paul Williams) → Saxophonist, composer and 40s bandleader with the first big R&B hit, “The Hucklebuck” (R&B #1, 1949) among eight other R&B Top 20 singles, became a member of the Atlantic Records house band and music director of James Brown‘s backing band in the 60s, opened a music booking business in the late 60s, died of natural causes on 9/14/2002, age 87
1955 ● Norma Zimmer / → The last and best-known “Champagne Lady” from the Lawrence Welk Show and a Christian music singer on radio and TV and in various groups from the 50s through the 70s, including with Billy Graham, died on 5/10/2011, age 87
1958 ● Pete Escovedo / → Mexican-American jazz and fusion percussionist with Latin-rock Santana, “Black Magic Woman” (#4, 1970), solo and leader of Latin big band Azteca
1961 ● Roger McGuinn / (James Joseph McGuinn III) → Twelve-string Rickenbacker jingle-jangle guitarist, songwriter, singer and founding member of seminal folk-country-rock The Byrds, “Mr. Tambourine Man” (#1, 1965), McGuinn-Clark & Hillman, “Don’t You Write Her Off” (#33, 1979), solo
1966 ● Jay Uzzell / → With brothers James and Moses and cousin George Wooten, vocals for R&B/doo wop The Corsairs, “Smoky Places” (#12, 1962)
1969 ● Stephen Bladd / → Drummer for boogie-blues-rock ‘n roll bar band J. Geils Band, “Centerfold” (#1, 1982)
1974 ● Tom King / (Thomas R. King) → Founder, frontman, songwriter and lead guitarist for garage/horn rock The Outsiders, “Time Won’t Let Me” (#5, 1966), producer and manager, died from heart failure on 4/23/2011, age 68
1912 ● Cheech Marin / (Richard Anthony Marin) → Mexican-American comedian, TV actor (Nash Bridges, 1996-2001), Disney voice artist and one half the stoner comedy team Cheech & Chong (album Big Bambu, #2, 1972), released two albums of bilingual children’s music, My Name Is Cheech, The School Bus Driver (1992) and Coast To Coast (1997)
1926 ● Thelma Louise Mandrell / → Country-pop bassist and singer, played in sister Barbara Mandrell‘s band, The D-Rights, then solo, “Save Me” (Country #5, 1985)
1932 ● Mark “The Animal” Mendoza / (Mark Glickman) → Bassist for proto-punk The Dictators, joined heavy metal Twisted Sister in 1978, “We’re Not Gonna Take It” (#21, 1983)
1938 ● Danny Gayol / (Rafael Bernardo Gayol) → Drummer for roots rock and adult pop BoDeans, “Closer To Free” (#16, 1993)
1939 ● Lawrence Donegan / → Bassist for Scottish jangle-pop-rock The Bluebells, “Young At Heart” (UK #1, 1983), then Brit pop-rock Lloyd Cole & The Commotions, “Lost Weekend” (UK #17, 1985), author and golf journalist
1945 ● Gerald Levert / → Vocals and frontman for R&B/smooth soul trio LeVert, “Casanova” (#5, R&B #1, 1987), son of O’Jays vocalist Eddie Levert, died of a heart attack on 11/10/2006, age 40
1948 ● Barney Greenway / (Mark Greenway) → Extreme metal singer for punk/grindcore Napalm Death, Extreme Noise Terror and Benediction
1952 ● Deborah Cox / → Canadian R&B singer/songwriter, “Nobody’s Supposed to Be Here” (#2, 1998)

July 14

1966 ● Woody Guthrie / (Woodrow Wilson Guthrie) → Legendary and highly influential American music giant, folk singer and songwriter, “This Land Is Your Land” (1940) and hundreds of others, died from complications of Huntington’s disease on 10/3/1967, age 55
1966 ● Lowman Pauling / → Guitarist, singer and songwriter for gospel, jump blues and doo wop fusion quintet The “5” Royales, “Tears Of Joy” (R&B #9, 1957), co-wrote “Dedicated To The One I Love” (#81, 1961) which was covered by The Shirelles (#3, 1961) and The Mamas & The Papas (#2, 1967), also wrote or co-wrote hits for James Brown, Ray Charles and others, died while at work as a janitor in a Brooklyn, NY synagogue on 12/26/1973, age 47
1971 ● Del Reeves / (Franklin Delano Reeves) → Country music singer and songwriter with 25 Country Top 40 hits in the 60s and 80s, including “Girl On The Billboard” (Country #1, 1965), moved into music and artist management and discovered Billy Ray Cyrus in the 90s, continued to perform until just prior to his death from emphysema on New Year’s Day 2007, age 74
1975 ● Bob Scholl / → Lead vocals for R&B/doo wop one hit wonder quintet The Mello-Kings, “Tonite, Tonite” (#77, 1957), died in a boating accident on 8/27/1975, age 37
1975 ● Vince Taylor / (Brian Maurice Holden) → Early and flamboyant Brit rock ‘n’ roll singer with The Playboys and solo, career cut short by drug and alcohol abuse and erratic behavior, served as the inspiration for David Bowie‘s Ziggy Stardust character and the Golden Earring song “Just Like Vince Taylor,” died from cancer on 8/28/1991, age 52
1987 ● Jim Gordon / → Top session drummer in the 60s and 70s, co-wrote “Layla” (#10, 1972) with Eric Clapton, worked with The Byrds, The Everly Brothers, The Monkees, Steely Dan, Frank Zappa and others, diagnosed paranoid schizophrenic serving a prison sentence since 1984 for murdering his mother
1905 ● Tommy Mottola / → CEO of Sony Music Entertainment and Columbia Records, mentored Hall & Oates, John (Cougar) Mellencamp, Diana Ross, Jessica Simpson and Jennifer Lopez, among others, ex-husband of dance-pop diva Mariah Carey
1913 ● Bob Casale, Jr. / → Guitarist and keyboardist for quirky 80s pop-rock Devo, “Whip It” (#14, 1980), left in the mid-80s for a career in music and TV sound engineering and production, worked with Police guitarist ‘Andy Summers and others, rejoined Devo bandmates in Mutato Muzika, died of heart failure on 2/17/2014, age 61
1936 ● Chris Cross / (Christopher St. John) → Bass and synthesizer for New Wave electro-synth-pop pioneers Ultravox, “Vienna” (UK #2, 1980) and 15 other UK Top 40 singles
1939 ● Igor Khoroshev / → Keyboardist replacing Rick Wakeman in archetypal, pioneer progressive rock band Yes, “Roundabout” (#13, 1971), solo
1944 ● Ellen Reid / → Keyboards and backing vocals for Canadian alt pop-rock Crash Test Dummies, “Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm” (#4, 1993)
1945 ● Tanya Donelly / → Grammy-nominated singer, songwriter and guitarist, co-founder of alt rock Throwing Muses, “Dizzy” (Modern Rock #8, 1989), guitar and vocals for alt rock The Breeders, “Cannonball” (#44, 1993) and alt pop-rock Belly, “Feed The Tree” (#1, Modern Rock, 1993), solo
1946 ● Nick McCabe / → Lead guitar for neo-psych-pop The Verve, “Bittersweet Symphony” (#12, 1998), session work, now founder of The Black Ships
1947 ● Taboo / (Jaime Luis Gómez) → Rapper and singer with Black Eyed Peas, “Don’t Phunk With My Heart” (#3, 2005)
1947 ● Tiny Cottle-Harris / (Tameka Cottle-Harris) → Vocals for female R&B/dance-pop quartet Xscape, “Understanding” (#8, 1993)
1947 ● Dan Reynolds / → Frontman for Las Vegas-based indie pop-rock Imagine Dragons (“Radioactive,” #3, Rock #1, 2012)

July 15

1951 ● Dorothy Fields / → Prolific, Oscar-winning stage and screen librettist/lyricist, wrote over 400 Broadway, age 68 tunes, first woman elected to Songwriters Hall of Fame, long-time collaborator with Jimmy McHugh, died of a stroke on 3/28/1974, age 68
1952 ● Cowboy Copas / (Lloyd Estel Copas) → Country music singer in the 40s and 50s with nine Country Top 10 songs and a lone crossover hit, “Alabam” (#63, Country #1, 1960), otherwise known for being killed in the same plane crash that took country star Patsy Cline‘s life on 3/5/1963, age 49
1952 ● H.B. Barnum / (Hidle Brown Barnum) → Child actor turned novelty song singer (as “Pee Wee” Barnum or just “Dudley”), pianist and songwriter for doo wop The Robins (“Quarter To Twelve”, 19578) and instrumental pop solo artist (“Lost Love,” #35, 1961), later produced records for Aretha Franklin, Frank Sinatra, The Supremes and others, and scored TV specials and advertising jingles
1952 ● Tommy Dee / → With collaborator Carol Kay, wrote and performed the pop-rock tribute to Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and J. P. “The Big Bopper” Richardson, “Three Stars” (#11, 1959)
1953 ● Millie Jackson / (Mildred Jackson) → R&B/soul singer “If Loving You Is Wrong I Don’t Want To Be Right” (1975)
1956 ● Peter Lewis / → Lead guitar for 60s San Francisco folk-roots-psych rock Moby Grape, “Omaha” (#88, 1967)
1956 ● Linda Ronstadt / → Lead vocals for folk-pop Stone Poneys, “Different Drum” (#13, 1967), then prolific and multi-genre, Grammy-winning country-pop-rock solo career, “You’re No Good” (#1, 1975), duet with Aaron Neville, “Don’t Know Much” (#2, 1989) and 17 other Top 40 hits
1956 ● Ian McCredie / → Guitarist for Scot bubblegum pop-rock Middle Of The Road, “Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep” (UK #1, 1971)
1966 ● Peter Banks / (Peter William Brockbanks) → Original lead guitarist for prog rock pioneers Yes (1968-70), pushed out and co-founded prog-rock Flash, “Small Beginnings” (#29, 1972), went solo and performed with various bands and Yes offshoots and tribute bands until his death from heart failure on 3/7/2013, age 65
1970 ● Roky Erickson / (Roger Kynard Erickson) → Singer, songwriter, guitarist, founding member of pioneering psych-rock 13th Floor Elevators (“You’re Gonna Miss Me,” #55, 1966) and early casualty of LSD and other hallucinogens, committed to a mental institution after the band broke up in 1969, returned to recording as a solo artist in the 90s
1973 ● Artimus Pyle / (Thomas Delmar Pyle) → Drummer for raunchy Southern rockers Lynyrd Skynyrd, “Sweet Home Alabama” (#8, 1974), solo and sessions
1977 ● Trevor Horn / → Bassist, songwriter and co-founder of New Wave synth-pop The Buggles, “Video Killed The Radio Star” (#40, 1979), producer, lead vocals and bassist for Yes, then full producer for such diverse acts as Frankie Goes To Hollywood, Paul McCartney, Tom Jones, Rod Stewart, Tina Turner and others
1983 ● Cool Ruler Isaacs / (Gregory Anthony Isaacs) → Jamaican superstar reggae singer with a languid, suave and sexy delivery that became known as “lovers rock,” recorded over 70 studio albums of material in his 30-year career, including Night Nurse (Reggae Albums #16, 2002) and many self-penned hit songs, died from lung cancer after years of drug abuse on 10/25/2010, age 59
1925 ● David Pack / → Co-founder, guitarist principal songwriter and lead singer for pop-rock Ambrosia (“Biggest Part Of Me,” #3, 1980), also produced albums for multiple rock and pop artists (Phil Collins, Linda Ronstadt, Steve Vai and others) plus various concerts and events, including Bill Clinton‘s presidential inaugurations in 1993 and 1997, continues to tour and perform with Ambrosia and others into the 10s
1927 ● Jeff Carlisli / → Founding member and guitarist for Southern arena rockers .38 Special, “Hold On Loosely” (Mainstream Rock #3, 1981)
1939 ● Johnny Thunders / (John Genzale, Jr.) → Hard-living guitarist and vocalist for influential glam-rock/proto-punk New York Dolls (“Personality Crisis,” 1973), also fronted Brit punk The Heartbreakers and released several solo albums, died under suspicious circumstances but of a suspected methadone overdose on 4/23/1991, age 38
1940 ● Alicia Bridges / → One hit wonder disco diva, “I Love The Night Life (Disco ‘Round)” (#5, 1978)
1942 ● Ian Curtis / → Singer, lyricist, guitarist and often frontman for post-punk/synth-pop Joy Division, “Love Will Tear Us Apart” (Dance/Club #42, 1980), hung himself at home after succumbing to depression and epilepsy on 5/18/1980, age 23
1944 ● Satch Satriani / (Joe Satriani) → Guitar virtuoso, instructor and mentor, solo artist, brief bandmember of Mick Jagger‘s band (1988) and Deep Purple (1984), sessions, currently lead guitarist with blues-funk-rock supergroup Chickenfoot
1949 ● Marky Ramone / (Marc Bell) → Drummer for seminal punk-rockers The Ramones, “Sheena Is A Punk Rocker” (#81, 1977)
1952 ● Jason John Bonham / → Rock drummer and son of Led Zeppelin drummer John Bonham, performed with Zeppelin members individually and as a band on numerous occasions following his father death in 1980, toured and recorded with Paul Rodgers, UFO, Joe Bonamassa, Foreigner and others
1961 ● Chi Ling Dai Cheng / → Bassist for Grammy-winning alt heavy metal Deftones, “Change (In The House Of Flies)” (Mainstream Rock #9, 2000)
1964 ● John Dolmayan / → Drummer for Grammy-winning, Armenian-American hard rock/alt metal System Of A Down, “Aerials” (Mainstream Rock #1, 2002)
1971 ● Ray Toro / → Lead guitar for 00s alt rock/emo band My Chemical Romance, “Welcome To The Black Parade” (#9, 2006)
1978 ● Mark Anthony Myrie / (Buju Banton (Mark Anthony Myrie)) → Jamaican dancehall reggae singer and Rastafarian, “Champion” (Dance #15, 1995)

Albums Released This Week (July 3 – 9)

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):

July 03


● Cilla Black —— Sweet Inspiration ► Pop-Rock >> 1970
● Ronnie Wood —— Now Look ► Hard Rock >> 1975
● The Jacksons —— Triumph ► Soul/pop >> 1980
● Lindsey Buckingham —— Go Insane ► Pop-Rock >> 1984
● The Allman Brothers Band —— Seven Turns ► Southern Rock >> 1990
● Various Artists —— Am I Cool Or What? ► Soul-Jazz >> 1991
● Cryptopsy —— None So Vile ► Heavy Metal/Death Metal >> 1996
● Kool & The Gang —— State Of Affairs ► Funk >> 1996
● Blackmail —— Do Robots Dream Of Electric Sheep? ► Post-Grunge/Kraut Rock >> 2000
● Various Artists —— G-A-Y ► Dance-Pop >> 2000
● Tha Alkaholics —— X.O. Experience ► West Coast Rap >> 2001
● Richard Marx —— Beautiful Goodbye ► AA Pop-Rock >> 2014

July 04


● David Ackles —— American Gothic ► Folk-Rock >> 1972
● Neil Diamond —— Beautiful Noise ► Pop-Rock >> 1976
● Mission Of Burma —— Signals, Calls, And Marches ► Post-Punk >> 1981
● Yazoo —— You And Me Both ► Synth-Pop >> 1983
● Kylie Minogue —— Kylie ► Dance-Pop >> 1988
● The Prodigy —— Music For The Jilted Generation ► Electro-Industrial >> 1994
● Funkdoobiest —— Brothas Doobie ► Latino Rap >> 1995
● Foo Fighters —— Foo Fighters ► Grunge Rock >> 1995
● Brother Cane —— Seeds ► Hard Rock >> 1995
● Mogwai —— Ten Rapid (Collected Recordings 1996-1997) ► Cosmic Post-Rock >> 1997
● Underoath —— Act Of Depression ► Heavy Metal/Christian Metal >> 1999
● Jimmy Page And The Black Crowes —— Live At The Greek: Excess All Areas ► Blues-Rock >> 2000
● Alice Cooper —— Dirty Diamonds ► Hard Rock >> 2005
● Johnny Cash —— American V: A Hundred Highways ► Trad Country/Americana >> 2006
● Various Artists —— The Best Of Miami Vice [Sndtrk] ► Pop-Rock >> 2006
● Blondie —— Panic Of Girls ► New Wave Pop-Rock >> 2011

July 05


● Ray Charles —— Ray Charles At Newport ► Soul >> 1958
● The Beach Boys —— Summer Days (And Summer Nights!) ► Pop-Rock >> 1965
● The Beach Boys —— Best Of The Beach Boys ► Pop-Rock >> 1966
● Creedence Clearwater Revival —— Creedence Clearwater Revival ► Folk-Rock >> 1968
● Cass Elliott —— Bubblegum, Lemonade, And… Something For Mama ► Bubblegum Pop >> 1969
● Frank Zappa —— Waka/Jawaka ► Art Rock >> 1972
● Bryan Ferry —— Another Time, Another Place ► Prog. Rock >> 1974
● The Beach Boys —— 15 Big Ones ► Pop-Rock >> 1976
● Suicidal Tendencies —— Suicidal Tendencies ► Punk Metal >> 1983
● Billy Squier —— Signs Of Life ► Hard Rock >> 1984
● Björk —— Debut ► Alt Pop-Rock >> 1993
● Smog —— Julius Caesar ► Alt Rock/Lo-Fi >> 1993
● U2 —— Zooropa ► Alt. Pop-Rock >> 1993
● Hootie & The Blowfish —— Cracked Rear View ► Pop-Rock >> 1994
● The Who —— Thirty Years Of Maximum R&B ► British Rock >> 1994
● The Auteurs —— How I Learned To Love The Bootboys ► Glam Rock >> 1999
● Iron Maiden —— The Essential Iron Maiden ► Heavy Metal >> 2005
● Various Artists —— Music For Lonely Housewives ► Multiple Genres >> 2005

July 06


● MC5 —— High Time ► Garage Rock/Proto-Punk >> 1971
● Diana Ross —— Surrender ► Soul – Motown >> 1971
● Emerson, Lake & Palmer —— Trilogy ► Prog Rock >> 1972
● Steely Dan —— Countdown To Ecstasy ► Jazz-Rock >> 1973
● Jethro Tull —— A Passion Play [UK] ► Prog Rock >> 1973
● The B-52’s —— The B-52’s ► New Wave Pop-Rock >> 1979
● Pat Benatar —— Precious Time ► Hard Rock >> 1981
● Public Image Ltd. —— This Is What You Want…This Is What You Get ► Post-Punk >> 1984
● The Jacksons —— Victory ► Soul/pop >> 1984
● Heart —— Heart ► Album Rock >> 1985
● Supertramp —— The Autobiography Of Supertramp ► Prog/Art Rock >> 1986
● Quiet Riot —— QR III ► Heavy Metal >> 1986
● Echo & The Bunnymen —— Echo & The Bunnymen ► Post-Punk >> 1987
● Grateful Dead —— In The Dark ► Pop-Rock >> 1987
● Todd Rundgren —— No World Order ► Art Rock >> 1993
● Akinyele —— Vagina Diner ► Dirty Rap >> 1993
● Miss Kitten & The Hacker —— Champagne ► Electro Pop >> 1998
● Dokken —— The Very Best Of Dokken ► Heavy Metal >> 1999
● New Order —— Live At Bestival 2012 ► Alt Pop-Rock >> 2013

July 07


● Cream —— Best Of Cream ► Blues-Rock >> 1969
● Ben E. King —— Rough Edges ► Soul >> 1970
● Jimmy Cliff —— The Harder They Come [Sndtrk] ► Pop-Reggae >> 1972
● Barry Manilow —— Barry Manilow I ► AM Pop >> 1973
● Elvis Presley —— Elvis: As Recorded Live On Stage In Memphis ► Adult Contemporary >> 1974
● Yes —— Going For The One ► Prog Rock >> 1977
● Styx —— The Grand Illusion ► Prog/Art Rock >> 1977
● David Sylvian —— Brilliant Trees ► Ambient >> 1984
● Steve Winwood —— Back In The High Life ► Album Rock >> 1986
● David Lee Roth —— Eat ‘Em And Smile ► Hard Rock >> 1986
● k. d. lang —— Angel With A Lariat ► Alt Country Rock >> 1987
● Los Lobos —— By The Light Of The Moon ► Roots Rock >> 1987
● Dwight Yoakam —— Hillbilly Deluxe ► Alt Country-Rock >> 1987
● Hoodoo Gurus —— Mars Needs Guitars ► Alt. Power Pop >> 1987
● Eric B. and Rakim —— Paid in Full ► Hardcore Rap >> 1987
● Laura Branigan —— Touch ► Dance-Pop >> 1987
● Frank Zappa —— Beat The Boots ► Art Rock >> 1991
● Robert Fripp —— Show Of Hands ► Art Rock >> 1991
● Kansas —— Carry On ► Prog/Arena Rock >> 1992
● Dream Theater —— Images And Words ► Heavy Metal/Progressive >> 1992
● Against All Authority —— Against All Authority ► Ska-Punk >> 1997
● Dropkick Murphys —— Boys On The Docks ► Punk Rock >> 1997
● Barenaked Ladies —— Stunt ► AA Pop-Rock >> 1998
● Ringo Starr —— Choose Love ► Pop-Rock >> 2005
● Jeff Beck —— Live At B.B. King’s Blues Club & Grill ► Instrumental Rock >> 2006
● Ringo Starr —— Ringo Starr & His All-Starr Band Live 2006 ► Pop-Rock >> 2008
● Berlin —— All The Way In ► L. A. Synth-Pop >> 2009

July 08


● Duster Bennett —— Smiling Like I’m Happy ► Blues-Rock >> 1968
● Canned Heat —— Halleujah ► Folk-Rock >> 1969
● The Go-Go’s —— Beauty And The Beat ► New Wave Pop-Rock >> 1981
● Ministry —— Twitch ► Industrial Metal >> 1986
● Pete Townshend —— Another Scoop ► Prog Rock >> 1987
● Zard —— Today Is Another Day ► Pop-Rock >> 1996
● Emperor —— Anthems To The Welkin At Dusk ► Heavy Metal/Black Metal >> 1997
● The Call —— The Best Of The Call ► New Wave Alt. Pop >> 1997
● Midnight Oil —— The Real Thing ► Alt. Pop-Rock >> 2000
● David Lee Roth —— Diamond Dave ► Hard Rock >> 2003
● Heart —— Playlist: The Very Best Of Heart ► Album Rock >> 2008
● Warren Zevon —— Headless In Boston ► Pop-Rock >> 2013
● Jane’s Addiction —— Live In NYC ► Alt. Rock >> 2013
● Jerry Garcia Band —— Garcia Live Volume Four ► Roots Rock >> 2014
● John Mellencamp —— Trouble No More Live At Town Hall ► Roots Rock >> 2014

July 09


● Wham! —— Fantastic ► Pop-Rock >> 1983
● Elton John —— Breaking Hearts ► Pop-Rock >> 1984
● Public Image Ltd. —— This Is What You Want…This Is What You Get [UK] ► Post-Punk >> 1984
● Billy Joel —— The Bridge ► Pop-Rock >> 1986
● Meat Puppets —— Forbidden Places ► Alt. Rock >> 1991
● The Samples —— Underwater People ► Alt. Pop-Rock >> 1992
● REO Speedwagon —— Building The Bridge ► Arena Rock >> 1996
● I Mother Earth —— Scenery And Fish ► Alt. Rock >> 1996
● Styx —— At The River’s Edge: Live In St. Louis ► Prog/Art Rock >> 2002
● Counting Crows —— Hard Candy ► AA Pop-Rock >> 2002