Albums Released This Week (August 14 -20)

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):

August 14


● The Rolling Stones —— 5 X 5 ► British Invasion >> 1964
● Al Green —— Al Green Gets Next To You ► Soul >> 1971
● Buddy Guy & Junior Wells —— Buddy Guy & Junior Wells Play The Blues ► Electric Blues >> 1974
● Roberta Flack —— Killing Me Softly ► Pop-Soul >> 1973
● The Who —— Rarities Volume I & Volume II ► British Rock >> 1983
● Soul Asylum —— Say What You Will…Everything Can Happen ► Alt. Pop-Rock >> 1984
● Brenda Lee —— Feels So Right ► Country-Pop >> 1985
● The Heart Throbs —— Cleopatra Grip ► Indie Pop >> 1990
● Motörhead —— March Ör Die ► Heavy Metal >> 1992
● Spin Doctors —— Turn It Upside Down ► Alt Pop-Rock >> 1994
● Elvis Costello And The Attractions —— Dead Deep Blue ► Roots Rock >> 1995
● Elvis Costello —— Deep Dead Blue ► Alt. Pop-Rock >> 1995
● Godspeed You Black Emperor! —— F♯ A♯ ∞ ► Instrumental/Experimental >> 1997
● The XX —— XX ► Dream Pop >> 2009
● Loverboy —— Rock ‘N’ Roll Revival ► Arena Rock >> 2012

August 15


● Chad & Jeremy —— Distant Shores ► Folk-Pop >> 1966
● Fleetwood Mac —— Pious Bird Of Good Omen ► Blues-Rock >> 1969
● The Band —— Rock Of Ages ► Folk-Rock >> 1972
● Rod Stewart —— Atlantic Crossing ► Folk-Rock >> 1975
● Scorpions —— Tokyo Tapes ► Heavy Metal/Kraut Rock >> 1978
● Led Zeppelin —— In Through The Out Door ► Hard Rock >> 1979
● America —— Alibi ► Folk-Rock >> 1980
● The Kinks —— Give The People What They Want ► British Rock >> 1981
● The Pretenders —— Pretenders II ► Post-Punk >> 1981
● AC/DC —— Flick Of The Switch ► Hard Rock >> 1983
● Cheap Trick —— Next Position Please ► Hard Rock/Power Pop >> 1983
● Dio —— Sacred Heart ► Heavy Metal >> 1985
● Michelle Shocked —— Short, Sharp, Shocked ► Folk-Rock >> 1988
● Glenn Frey —— Soul Searchin’ ► Pop-Rock >> 1988
● The Rolling Stones —— Singles Collection: The London Years ► Blues-Rock >> 1989
● Southern Culture On The Skids —— Dirt Track Date ► Rockabilly >> 1995
● Garbage —— Garbage ► Art Rock >> 1995
● Blind Melon —— Soup ► Alt. Rock >> 1995
● Korn —— Follow The Leader ► Post-Grunge/Nu Metal >> 1998
● Blue October —— Consent To Treatment ► Indie Rock/Post-Grunge >> 2000
● Ringo Starr —— Ringo Starr And Friends ► Pop-Rock >> 2006
● Little Dragon —— Little Dragon ► Trip Hop/Downtempo >> 2007
● Sparks —— The Seduction Of Ingmar Bergman ► Glam Rock >> 2009

August 16


● The Rolling Stones —— Gimme Shelter ► Blues-Rock >> 1971
● The Temptations —— The Temptations Do The Temptations ► Soul – Motown >> 1976
● Red Hot Chili Peppers —— Freaky Styley ► Alt. Funk-Rock >> 1985
● Miami Sound Machine —— Primitive Love ► Pop-Dance >> 1985
● Mayhem —— Deathcrush ► Norwegian Black Metal >> 1987
● The Ethiopians —— Dread Prophecy ► Rocksteady >> 1989
● Red Hot Chili Peppers —— Mother’s Milk ► Alt. Funk-Rock >> 1989
● ALL —— Breaking Things ► Punk Rock/Pop-Punk >> 1993
● Crosby, Stills & Nash —— After The Storm ► Folk-Rock >> 1994
● Prince —— Come ► Funk-Pop >> 1994
● Barenaked Ladies —— Maybe You Should Drive ► AA Pop-Rock >> 1994
● Neil Young & Crazy Horse —— Sleeps With Angels ► Folk-Rock >> 1994
● Tricky —— Juxtapose ► Electronic Trip-Hop >> 1999
● Frank Zappa —— FZ:OZ ► Art Rock >> 2002

August 17


● Miles Davis —— Kind Of Blue ► Improv Jazz >> 1959
● The Band —— Stage Fright ► Folk-Rock >> 1970
● XTC —— Drums And Wires ► New Wave Pop-Rock >> 1979
● Rose Royce —— Rose Royce IV: Rainbow Connection ► Disco/Funk >> 1979
● W.A.S.P. —— W.A.S.P. ► Glam Metal >> 1984
● Tom Waits —— Franks Wild Years ► Blues-Rock >> 1987
● New Order —— Substance 1987 ► New Wave Synth-Pop >> 1987
● Cannibal Corpse —— Eaten Back To Life ► Heavy Metal/Death Metal >> 1990
● The Call —— Red Moon ► New Wave Alt. Pop >> 1990
● Manfred Mann’s Earth Band —— Plains Music ► British Rock >> 1991
● Take That —— Take That & Party ► Pop-Rock/Boyband >> 1992
● Mariah Carey —— Music Box ► Pop-Rock >> 1993
● Bad Brains —— Rise ► Post-Punk/Hardcore >> 1993
● Tina Arena —— In Deep ► Pop-Rock >> 1997
● Front Line Assembly —— Re-wind ► Industrial Rock >> 1998
● Blur —— The 10 Year Limited Edition Anniversary Box Set ► Alt Pop-Rock/Britpop >> 1999
● The Knack —— Best Of The Knack ► Power Pop >> 1999
● John Mellencamp —— Rough Harvest ► Folk-Rock >> 1999
● The Moody Blues —— Strange Times ► Prog Rock >> 1999
● Talking Heads —— The Best Of The Talking Heads ► New Wave Art-Rock >> 2004
● Boz Scaggs —— Greatest Hits Live ► Pop-Rock >> 2004
● Iron Maiden —— The Final Frontier ► Heavy Metal >> 2010
● David Gray —— Founding ► AA Pop-Rock >> 2010
● John Mellencamp —— No Better Than This ► Roots Rock >> 2010

August 18


● Burning Spear —— Man In The Hills ► Roots Reggae >> 1976
● The Who —— Who Are You ► British Rock >> 1978
● Yes —— Drama ► Prog Rock >> 1980
● Wall Of Voodoo —— Dark Continent ► Post-Punk >> 1981
● ABBA —— ABBA Live ► Euro-Pop >> 1986
● Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds —— Kicking Against The Pricks ► Post-punk Alt Rock >> 1986
● Debbie Gibson —— Out Of The Blue ► Pop-Rock/Dance-Pop >> 1987
● Aerosmith —— Permanent Vacation ► Hard Rock >> 1987
● Patty Smyth —— Patty Smyth ► Pop-Rock >> 1992
● Eric Clapton —— Unplugged ► Blues-Rock >> 1992
● Phranc —— Goofyfoot ► Folk-Rock/Surf Rock >> 1995
● At The Drive-In —— Acrobatic Tenement ► Post-Hardcore >> 1996
● Billy Joel —— Greatest Hits Volume III ► Pop-Rock >> 1997
● At The Drive-In —— In/Casino/Out ► Punk Rock >> 1998
● Graham Coxon —— The Sky Is Too High ► Indie Rock/Lo-Fi >> 1998
● Lynyrd Skynyrd —— Greatest Hits [2008] ► Southern Rock >> 2008

August 19


● The Beach Boys —— The Best Of The Beach Boys, Vol. 3 ► Pop-Rock >> 1968
● The Beach Boys —— Stacks O’ Tracks ► Instrumental Rock >> 1968
● Carpenters —— Close To You ► Soft Rock >> 1970
● Harry Nilsson —— Pussy Cats ► Folk-Rock >> 1974
● Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young —— So Far ► Folk-Rock >> 1974
● Emerson, Lake & Palmer —— Welcome Back My Friends To The Show That Never Ends ► Prog Rock >> 1974
● The Manhattan Transfer —— Coming Out ► Jazz-Pop >> 1976
● The Doobie Brothers —— Livin’ On The Fault Line ► Pop-Rock >> 1977
● John Cougar Mellencamp —— Scarecrow ► Roots Rock >> 1985
● Arthur Brown With Jimmy Carl Black —— Brown, Black & Blue ► Blues-Rock >> 1991
● Sneaker Pimps —— Becoming X ► Electronic-Dance/Trip Hop >> 1996
● The Beach Boys —— Stars And Stripes Vol. 1 ► Pop-Rock >> 1996
● Fleetwood Mac —— The Dance ► Pop-Rock >> 1997
● Alison Moyet —— Hometime [UK] ► AA Pop-Rock >> 2002
● Neil Young & Crazy Horse —— Greendale ► Rock >> 2003
● Goo Goo Dolls —— Greatest Hits Volume Two: ► Alt Pop-Rock/Post-Grunge >> 2008
● Pure Bathing Culture —— Moon Tides ► Dream Pop >> 2013
● Jerry Garcia Band —— Garcia Live Volume Seven ► Roots Rock >> 2016

August 20


● Harmonia —— Deluxe ► Krautrock/Kosmische Musik >> 1975
● Kiss —— Kiss Destroys Anaheim, Pt. 1 ► Hard Rock >> 1976
● Kiss —— Kiss Destroys Anaheim, Pt. 2 ► Hard Rock >> 1976
● Bob Dylan —— Slow Train Coming ► Folk-Rock >> 1979
● Heart —— Passionworks ► Album Rock >> 1983
● Asia —— Astra ► Prog Rock >> 1985
● Queensrÿche —— Empire ► Heavy Metal >> 1990
● Black Sabbath —— TYR ► Hard Rock >> 1990
● Joan Jett & The Blackhearts —— Notorious ► Hard Rock >> 1991
● Spin Doctors —— Pocket Full of Kryptonite ► Alt Pop-Rock >> 1991
● Luis Miguel —— Nada Es Igual ► Latin Pop >> 1996
● Boards Of Canada —— Music Has The Right To Children ► Techno-Ambient >> 1998
● Dark Tranquility —— Damage Done ► Heavy Metal/Melodic Death Metal >> 2002
● The Black Crowes —— Live ► Southern Rock >> 2002
● Black Sabbath —— Past Lives ► Hard Rock >> 2002
● Berlin —— Voyeur ► L. A. Synth-Pop >> 2002
● Tedeschi Trucks Band —— Made Up Mind ► Blues-Rock >> 2013

This Week’s Birthdays (August 13 – 19)

Happy Birthday this week to:

August 13

1921 ● Jimmy McCracklin / (James David Walker, Jr.) → West Coast blues pianist and songwriter with a seven decade recording and performing career and hundreds of songs and over 30 albums, best known for his blues/dance “The Walk” (#7, R&B #5, 1958), died from natural causes on 12/20/2012, age 91
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1930 ● Don Ho / (Donald Tai Loy Ho) → Air Force fighter pilot turned iconic Hawaiian pop/island music singer and entertainer with the signature song, “Tiny Bubbles” (#57, 1966), appeared in Honolulu and Vegas nightclubs over a 50-year career, guested on 70s TV sitcoms and briefly hosted his own program, suffered from coronary problems for many years but continued to perform until just before his death from heart failure on 4/14/2007, age 76
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1938 ● Baby Cortez / (David Cortez Clowney) → Pop and R&B organist with two Top 10 instrumentals, “The Happy Organ” (#1, 1959), the first instrumental #1 and the first major pop hit to feature an electric organ, and “Rinky Dink” (#10, 1962), faded from view by the late 60s
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1939 ● Howard Tate / → R&B/soul singer and songwriter with several minor chart hits, including “Ain’t Nobody Home” (#63, R&B #12, 1966) but best known for penning “Get It While You Can” by Janis Joplin (#78, 1971), died from leukemia on 12/2/2011, age 72
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1940 ● John Stokes / (Sean James Stokes) → With brothers Con and Dec Cluskey, founding member, vocals, bass guitar and harmonica in Irish beat pop-rock trio The Bachelors, “Diane” (#10, UK #1, 1964) and seven other UK Top 10 hits in 1964-66, following a split in 1984 formed pop-rock Stokes & Coe
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1947 ● David Ivor St. Hubbins / → Fictional character (lead singer and rhythm guitarist) played by Michael McKean in the “mock-rock” parody band Spinal Tap from the movie This Is Spinal Tap (1984)
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1948 ● Tony Santini / (Scott Powell) → Vocals with “greaser” revival parody rock-and-doo-wop Sha Na Na (“(Just Like) Romeo And Juliet,” #55, 1975), TV actor, physician
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1949 ● Cliff Fish / → Original bassist 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
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1949 ● Jonathan Arendt / → Bassist 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
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1951 ● Dan Fogelberg / → Quintessential 70s-80s country-pop-rock singer/songwriter, “Part Of The Plan” (#31, 1975) and “Leader Of The Band” (#9, Adult Contemporary #1, 1982), political and environmental activist, died from prostate cancer on 12/16/2007, age 56
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1952 ● Hughie Thomasson / → Founding member, lead singer and guitarist for Southern hard rock Outlaws (“Hurry Sundown,” #34, 1975), disbanded the group in 1996 and joined raunchy Southern rockers Lynyrd Skynyrd (“Sweet Home Alabama,” #8, 1974), reformed Outlaws in 2005 and toured until dying in his sleep from a heart attack on 9/9/2007, age 55
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1958 ● Feargal Sharkey / → Guitarist for Irish punk/New Wave pop-rock The Undertones, “My Perfect Cousin” (UK #9, 1980), solo, “A Good Heart” (#74, UK #1, 1985)
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1959 ● Danny Bonaduce / → Vocals and bass guitar in the pre-fab TV show sunshine pop group The Partridge Family, “I Think I Love You” (#1, 1970), producer, reality TV show host and panelist
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1959 ● Mark Nevin / → Vocals and songwriter for Brit neo-skiffle pop Fairground Attraction, “Perfect” (#80, UK #1, 1988)
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1959 ● Michael Bradley / → Bassist for Irish punk/New Wave pop-rock The Undertones, “My Perfect Cousin” (UK #9, 1980)
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1964 ● Ian Haugland / (Håkan Jan Haugland) → Drummer for Swedish hard rock/glam-metal Europe, “The Final Countdown” (#8, 1986)
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1984 ● “Baby Blue” Smith / (Diamond Blue Smith) → Vocals for Miami-based R&B/hip-hop quartet Pretty Ricky, “Grind With Me” (#7, 2005)
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1984 ● James Morrison / (James Morrison Catchpole) → Award-winning Brit soul-pop singer/songwriter and guitarist, “You Give Me Something” (UK #5, 2006) from his first album Undiscovered, which debuted at #1 on the UK albums chart
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August 14

1915 ● Alyce King / (Alice Golda Driggs Clarke) → Vocalist for complex and sophisticated four-part harmony 30s, 40s and 50s Big Band/pop sibling singing group The King Sisters, “The Hut-Sut Song” (Top 30, 1944), recorded with her sisters on hundreds of albums and numerous radio specials over three decades and in the musical-variety TV program The King Family Show (1966-1969) and holiday specials thereafter, died from respiratory problems on 8/23/1996, age 81
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1924 ● Lee Adams / → Musical theater lyricist best known for his collaborations with Charles Strouse, including Tony-winners Bye Bye Birdie (1960) and Applause (1970), and co-writing the opening theme to the 70s TV sitcom All In The Family (“Those Were The Days”)
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1926 ● Buddy Greco / (Armando Joseph Greco) → Jazz-pop pianist and Las Vegas lounge singer, member of Benny Goodman‘s band in the mid-40s and Frank Sinatra‘s “Rat Pack” in the 60s, enjoyed a long and prolific solo career, covered “Mr. Lonely” (#64, 1962) and issued over 60 albums and 100 singles, performed into the 00s and died on 1/10/2017, age 90
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1940 ● Dash Crofts / (Darrell Crofts) → Guitar, mandolin, vocals and songwriting for 70s light pop-rock duo Seals & Crofts, “Summer Breeze” (#6, 1972) and “Diamond Girl” (#6, 1973)
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1941 ● Connie Smith / (Constance June Meador) → Hugely popular 60s and 70s female country artist with 20 singles in the Country 10 and three #1 albums but extremely limited recognition on the mainstream pop side (“Once A Day” (#101, Country #1, 1964) was her first overall single and her highest charting song on the Billboard Hot 100), continues to persevere as a gospel singer in the 10s
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1941 ● David Crosby / → Guitarist, singer, songwriter and founding member of seminal folk-country-rock The Byrds, “Mr. Tambourine Man” (#1, 1965) and folk-pop Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, “Just A Song Before I Go” (#7, 1977), collaborated with Graham Nash, “Immigration Man” (#36, 1972), then solo career with albums including Wind On The Water (#6, 1975) and singles including “Drive My Car” (Mainstream Rock #3, 1989)
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1941 ● Lionel Morton / → Vocals and rhythm guitar 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
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1945 ● Steve Martin / → Emmy, Grammy and American Comedy award actor, comedian, producer and one hit wonder novelty song singer, “King Tut” (#17, 1975)
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1946 ● Larry Graham / → Bassist for R&B/soul-funk Sly & The Family Stone, “Family Affair” (#1, 1971), then founder/frontman funk band Graham Central Station
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1947 ● Maddy Prior / (Madelaine Edith Prior) → Lead vocals for Brit electric folk-rock revival band Steeleye Span, “All Around My Hat” (UK #5, 1975)
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1948 ● Bruce Thomas / → Bassist for Elvis Costello‘s backing band The Attractions, “Pump It Up” (UK #24, 1978), session work and author
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1951 ● Slim Dunlap / (Bob Dunlap) → Lead guitar for garage punk then alt rock pioneers The Replacements, “I’ll Be You” (Mainstream Rock #1, 1989), solo
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1956 ● Sharon Bryant / → Lead vocals for R&B/soul urban contemporary Atlantic Starr, “When Love Calls” (R&B #5, 1979), solo, sessions
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1960 ● Sarah Brightman / → Brit classical-pop-Broadway crossover singer and actress, dancer and vocals for disco Hot Gossip “I Lost My Heart To A Starship Trooper” (UK #6, 1978), played Jemima in Cats (1981) and Christine Daaé in Phantom Of The Opera (1986), solo, “Harem” (Dance/Club #1, 2003)
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1963 ● Jez Willis / → Partner/producer in Brit dance-pop duo Utah Saints, “Something Good” (UK #4, 1992)
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1965 ● Mark Collins / → Guitarist for “Madchester” alt rock The Charlatans UK, “The Only One I Know” (Mainstream Rock #37, 1991) and three UK #1 albums
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1970 ● Kevin Cadogan / → Lead guitar for post-grunge indie pop Third Eye Blind, “Semi-Charmed Life” (#4, 1997)
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1974 ● Ana Matronic / (Ana Lynch) → Vocals and frontwoman for dance-glam-rock Scissor Sisters, “Filthy Gorgeous” (Dance/Club #1, 2005)
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1977 ● Ed Harcourt / → Multi-instrumentalist Brit chamber pop singer/songwriter, “All Of Your Days Will Be Blessed” (UK #35, 2003)
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August 15

1896 ● Léon Theremin / (Lev Sergeyevich Termen) → Russian inventor of the theremin, one of the first electronic musical instruments and which he debuted with the New York Philharmonic in 1928, died of natural causes on 11/3/1993, age 97
0815
1909 ● Hugo Winterhalter / → Orchestral-pop and easy listening arranger with 40 years of credits on Broadway, in films, on TV, and on the Billboard Hot 100, including “Canadian Sunset” (#2, R&B #7, 1956), died from cancer on 9/17/1973, age 64
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1911 ● Buster Brown / → One hit wonder R&B/blues singer and harmonica player, “Fanny Mae” (#38, R&B #1, 1960), died 1/31/1976, age 64
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1925 ● Bill Pinkney / → Co-founder and first tenor for R&B/soul-doo wop The Drifters, “Up On The Roof” (#5, 1963), was the last surviving member of the group’s original lineup when he died after a heart attack on 7/4/2007, age 81
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1930 ● Jackie Brenston / → Tenor saxophonist and one hit wonder singer with a legitimate claim to the first rock ‘n’ roll record, “Rocket 88” (R&B #1, 1951), recorded at Sun Studios in Memphis with Ike Turner‘s Kings Of Rhythm as the backing band (credited as the Delta Cats), saw no further chart action and became a session musician and later a truck driver, died following an alcoholism-induced heart attack on 12/15/2007, age 49
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1932 ● Johnny Thunder / (Gil Hamilton) → Session backing singer and one hit wonder novelty R&B/soul and pop soloist, “Loop De Loop” (#4, R&B #6, 1963), continued to record through the 60s with no further success, still tours on the oldies circuit
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1933 ● Bobby Helms / → Country-pop crossover singer with seven Country Top 40 and Five Pop Top 40, but best known as the first to record “Jingle Bell Rock” (#6, Country #13, 1957), the holiday standard since recorded by thousands of artists and now heard millions of times each year, died from emphysema on 6/19/1997, age 63
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1933 ● Floyd Ashton / → Vocals for R&B/soul The Tams, “What Kind Of Fool (Do You Think I Am)” (#9, 1963)
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1933 ● Mike Seeger / → Half-brother of folk legend Pete Seeger, award-winning folk musician and important music historian, co-founding member of influential folk revival/string band the New Lost City Ramblers and later the Strange Creek Singers, issued two dozen solo albums and produced dozens of documentary recordings of traditional American music, died from cancer on 8/7/2009, age 75
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1934 ● Bobby Howard Byrd / → Singer, songwriter and frontman for The Flames, which became James Brown‘s backing band The Famous Flames, later scored a handful of minor R&B and crossover hits as a solo artist, including “I Need Help (I Can’t Do It Alone) Pt. 1” (#69, R&B #14, 1970), just a few months after performing at Brown‘s memorial service died of cancer on 9/12/2007, age 73
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1938 ● Stix Hooper / (Nesbert Hooper) → Jazz-fusion drummer with The Jazz Crusaders (The Crusaders after 1971), “Street Life” (#36, 1979), solo, sessions
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1938 ● Shan Palmer / (Sheila Palmer) → Vocals for English pop trio The Kaye Sisters, “Ivory Tower” (UK #20, 1956)
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1941 ● Don Rich / → Country guitarist and pioneer of the “Bakersfield sound” of electrified country and pop crafted during his years as right-hand man to superstar Buck Owens (“I’ve Got A Tiger By The Tail” (#25, Country #1, 1965 and 19 other Country #1 hits), played with Owens‘s backing band The Buckaroos and issued several solo albums, died in a motorcycle accident on 7/17/1974, age 32
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1942 ● Eddie Phillips / → Guitarist for underappreciated and little known (except in Germany) Britbeat/power pop The Creation, “Painter Man” (UK #36, GER #8, 1967)
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1942 ● Peter York / → Drummer for Brit pop-rock Spencer Davis Group, “Gimme Some Lovin”” (#7, 1967), then Eric Clapton‘s short lived Powerhouse, solo, organized the “Superdrumming” series of shows with different bandmembers
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1946 ● Jimmy Webb / → Grammy-winning professional rock composer and lyricist, wrote “Up Up and Away” for The 5th Dimension (#7, 1967), “MacArthur Park” for Richard Harris (#2, 1968), “Galveston” for Glen Campbell (#4, 1969), producer and film score arranger
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1948 ● Kate Taylor / → Folk-rockabilly singer/songwriter and guitarist, covered “It’s In His Kiss (The Shoop Shoop Song)” (#49, 1977), sister of folk-pop legend James Taylor
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1950 ● Joey Spampinato / → Founding member, bassist, vocals and songwriting for 40-year cult roots rock bar band NRBQ (New Rhythm And Blues Quintet)
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1950 ● Tom Aldrich / → Journeyman rock drummer for Southern raunch-rock Black Oak Arkansas, “Jim Dandy To The Rescue” (Top 30, 1973), then bluesy hard rock The Pat Travers Band, “New Age Music” (Mainstream Rock #33, 1981), later with Ozzy Osbourne, Gary Moore, Whitesnake and others
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1951 ● Bobby Caldwell / → Smooth, jazzy blue-eyed soul singer with multiple Top 100 hits, including “What You Won’t Do For Love” (#9, R&B #6, 1979), moved to a Big Band sound in the 90s and continues tour and record into the 10s
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1961 ● Matt Johnson / → Founder, frontman, vocals, songwriter and only constant member of eclectic alt pop-dance-rock The The, “Dogs Of Lust” (Modern Rock #2, 1993), solo
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1962 ● Marcia Schofield / → Keyboards from 1987-90 for 35+ year punk and post-punk The Fall, “There’s A Ghost In My House” (UK #30, 1987), left for a career as a palliative care doctor
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1972 ● Mikey Graham / (Michael Graham) → Vocals for Irish teen-pop boy band Boyzone, “No Matter What” (Adult Contemporary #12, 1999)
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1972 ● Tim Foreman / → Bassist for Grammy-winning alt rock/Christian rock Switchfoot, “Meant To Live” (#18, Modern Rock #5, 2004)
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1984 ● David Welsh / → Lead guitar for mainstream/piano rock The Fray, “How To Save A Life” (#3, 2006)
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1984 ● Ted Dwane / → Bassist for Grammy-winning Brit folk-rock Mumford & Sons, “I Will Wait” (#12, Alt Rock #1, 2012)
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1989 ● Joe Jonas / → Lead singer with brothers Nick and Kevin in pre-fab Disney Channel teen-pop ballad trio the Jonas Brothers, “Burnin’ Up” (#5, 2008)
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1900 ● 0-Jan / 0-Jan → 0-Jan

August 16

1915 ● Al Hibbler / → Baritone jazz-pop-R&B singer, first with Duke Ellington‘s orchestra in the 40s, “Do Nothin’ Til You Here From Me” (#6, 1944), then solo, “Unchained Melody” (#3, 1955), died 4/24/2001, age 85
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1922 ● Ernie Freeman / (Ernest Aaron Freeman) → Pop and early rock ‘n’ roll bandleader, pianist and session musician, worked on hits by The Platters (“The Great Pretender,” #1, 1956), Dean Martin (“Everybody Loves Somebody,” #1, 1964), Frank Sinatra (“That’s Life,” #4, 1966) and others, wrote film scores and served as musical director at Reprise Records, died at home from a heart attack on 5/16/1981, age 58
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1923 ● Eddie Kirkland / → Electric blues guitarist, singer and songwriter known as the “Gypsy of the Blues” for his rigorous touring schedule, released over 30 albums on various labels and toured with John Lee Hooker, Muddy Waters, English blues-rock band Foghat and others, continued to record, write and tour until his death in a car accident on 2/27/2011, age 87
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1923 ● Johnny Reed / → Founding member, bass vocals and double bass for doo wop and “bird group” trendsetting R&B vocal group The Orioles (“Crying In The Chapel,” #11, R&B #1, 1953) last surviving original member if the group when he died on 6/18/2005, age 81
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1931 ● Eydie Gormé / (Edith Gormezano) → Broadway and TV actress, nightclub and Vegas showroom entertainer, Grammy-winning traditional pop singer, “Blame It On The Bossa Nova” (#7, 1963), wife and singing partner of crooner Steve Lawrence, died from undisclosed causes on 8/10/2013, age 82
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1934 ● Ketty Lester / (Revoyda Frierson) → One hit wonder pop singer and actress with the crossover cover of “Love Letters” (#5, R&B #2, UK #5, 1962), shifted to a more-R&B style in the late 60s with little commercial success, turned to acting in the 70s and appeared in movies and on TV in various roles
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1942 ● Barbara George / → One hit wonder New Orleans R&B singer with her self-penned crossover hit, “I Know (You Don’t Love Me No More)” (#3, 1961), died from a lung infection on 8/10/2006, age 63
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1942 ● Squirrel Lester / (Robert Lester) → Tenor vocals for smooth R&B/Chicago soul The Chi-Lites, “Have You Seen Her?” (#3, 1971), died from liver cancer 1/21/2010, age 67
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1945 ● Gary Loizzo / → Guitar/vocals and founder, pop-rock one hit wonder American Breed, “Bend Me Shape Me” (Top 10, 1968)
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1945 ● Kevin Ayers / → Eccentric singer/songwriter and original bassist for Canterbury-scene psych-art-jazz-prog rock fusion Soft Machine, switched to guitar and solo in 1969, has issued more than a dozen albums over 40 years
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1946 ● Snowy Fleet / (Gordon Fleet) → Drummer for Aussie-based 60s pop-rock The Easybeats, “Friday On My Mind” (#16, 1967)
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1948 ● Barry Hay / → Lead vocals and frontman for Dutch hard rock Golden Earring, “Radar Love” (#13, 1974), over 40 hits and 30 gold and platinum albums in the Netherlands
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1949 ● Rock Action Asheton / (Scott Asheton) → Drummer for hard rock/proto-punk The Stooges, “I Wanna Be Your Dog” (1969), sessions, died from a heart attack on 3/15/2014, age 64
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1949 ● Sputnik Spooner / (William Spooner) → Guitarist and founder of camp-rock pop-rock satirists The Tubes, “She’s A Beauty” (#10, 1978), solo
0816
1953 ● J. T. Taylor / (James Taylor) → Lead singer for jazz-fusion then R&B/funk Kool & The Gang, “Celebration” (#1, 1981), left in 1988 for a largely unsuccessful solo career
0816
1957 ● Tim Farriss / → Guitarist for Aussie New Wave dance-groove-pop INXS, “Need You Tonight” (#1, 1987)
0816
1958 ● Madonna / (Madonna Louise Victoria Ciccone) → Film actress, record producer, entrepreneur and dance-pop megastar, “Like A Virgin” (#1, 1984), best selling female rock artist of the 20th century and second (behind Barbra Streisand) top selling US female artist of all time
0816
1960 ● Chris Pedersen / → Drummer for eclectic alt rock pop-ska-punk-folk fusion Camper Van Beethoven, “Take The Skinheads Bowling” (1985)
0816
1964 ● Matt Lukin / → Bassist for grunge rock Mudhoney, “Suck You Dry” (Modern Rock #23, 1992)
0816
1967 ● MC Remedee / (Debbie Pryce) → Vocals in female rap/house music duo Cookie Crew, “Rok Da House” (UK #5, 1988)
0816
1972 ● Emily Burns Strayer / (Emily Burns Erwin Robison Strayer) → Multi-instrumentalist singer, songwriter and founding member of country-rock girl group Dixie Chicks, “Not Ready To Make Nice” (#4, 2006), formed Court Yard Hounds in 2010 with sister and former Dixie Chicks bandmate Martie Erwin Maguire
0816
1980 ● Bob Hardy / → Bassist for Scottish art-pop-rock Franz Ferdinand, “Take Me Out” (Alt Rock #3, 2004)
0816
1980 ● Vanessa Lee Carlton / → One hit wonder “new era” female pop-rock singer/songwriter, “A Thousand Miles” (#5, 2002)
0816


August 17

1919 ● Georgia Gibbs / (Frieda Lipschitz) → Jazz-pop and R&B vocalist, first as a radio show singer and later as a widely popular 50s novelty pop artist, covered and bested LaVern Baker‘s “Tweedlee Dee” (#2, 1955), died of leukemia on 12/9/2006, age 87
0817
1933 ● Mark Dinning / (Max Dinning) → One hit wonder pop singer, “Teen Angel” (#1, 1959), died from an alcoholism-related heart attack on 3/22/1986, age 52
0817
1939 ● Ed Saunders / → Poet, social activist, environmentalist and bandleader for 60s underground rock The Fugs, author of numerous books including The Family (1971) about Charles Manson and the Tate-LaBianca murders and a nine-volume collection America: A History In Verse (started in 1998)
0817
1939 ● Luther Allison / → Distinctive Chicago electric blues guitarist and songwriter with a remarkable career upsurge after signing with Alligator Records in 1994 and returning to the U.S. from France after a 20-year trip abroad, issued two Top 20 Blues albums before being diagnosed with a malignant lung tumor and dying a month later on 8/12/1997, age 57
0817
1942 ● Tommy West / (Thomas Picardo) → Singer/songwriter, producer, and one half of the pop rock songwriting duo and folk-pop group Cashman & West, “American City Suite” (#27, 1972), produced albums for Jim Croce, Mary Travers, Henry Gross and others
0817
1944 ● Baby Huey / (James Ramey) → Corpulent rock and soul singer, songwriter and frontman for Baby Huey & The Babysitters whose lone album for Curtis Mayfield‘s Custom label, The Baby Huey Story: The Living Legend (1971) was released posthumously and is considered an early forerunner of hip hop music and a period classic, died from a weight and drug-induced heart attack on 10/28/1970, age 26
0817
1944 ● The Chief Seiter / (John Seiter) → Drums and vocals for folk-sunshine-pop Spanky & Our Gang, “Someday Will Never Be The Same” (#9, 1967)
0817
1946 ● Drake Levin / (Drake Levinshefski) → Lead guitar and backing vocals for hard-edged rock ‘n roll Paul Revere & The Raiders, “Just Like Me” (#11, 1965) and 14 other Top 30 hits, joined the band at age 16 for their prime hit-making years, left in 1967 in a dispute with bandleader Paul Revere (Dick) and formed power trio Brotherhood with two former Raiders, did session work and performed in Raiderss reunion tours until his death from cancer on 7/4/2009, age 62
0817
1947 ● Gary Talley / → Guitar for short-lived blue-eyed soul The Box Tops, “The Letter” (#1, 1967), then session work in Nashville, Memphis and Atlanta
0817
1949 ● Sib Hashian / (John Hashian) → Drummer for 70s-80s arena rock Boston, “More Than A Feeling” (#5, 1976), after leaving the band sued leader Tom Scholz for back royalties and settled out of court
0817
1950 ● Greg Arama / → Bassist for Chicago-area garage rock The Gang, which became one hit wonder for psych-rock Amboy Dukes, “Journey To The Centre Of The Mind” (#16, 1968), died in a motorcycle accident on 9/18/1979, age 29
0817
1953 ● Kevin Rowland / → Vocals for New Wave pop-rock Dexys Midnight Runners, “Come On Eileen” (#1, 1983), solo career after the band broke up in 1987, reformed in 2003
0817
1955 ● Colin Moulding / → Bassist 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
0817
1958 ● Belinda Carlisle / → Co-founder and lead vocals for New Wave pop-punk girl group The Go-Go’s, “We Got The Beat”, (#2, 1982), the most successful all-female pop and rock band of all time and the only one to play their own instruments and write their own songs, started a solo career following The Go-Go’s breakup, “Heaven Is A Place On Earth” (#1, 1987), wrote autobiography Lips Unsealed (2010) which reached #27 on the New York Times bestseller list
0817
1962 ● Gilby Clarke / (Gilbert Clarke) → Rhythm guitarist, replaced Izzy Stradlin in 1991 as lead guitar for hard rock Guns N’ Roses, “November Rain” (#3, 1992), left in 1994 for solo career and sessions with Slash’s Snakepit, Heart, MC5 and others
0817
1964 ● Maria McKee / → Co-founder and lead vocals for roots rock Lone Justice, “Shelter” (#47, Mainstream Rock #26, 1986), dissolved the band in favor of a solo career, “Show Me Heaven” (Adult Contemporary #28, UK #1, 1990) plus sessions
0817
1965 ● Deen Castronovo / → Journeyman rock drummer and session musician, worked with Bad English, Black Sabbath, Ozzy Osbourne, Social Distortion and many others before joining arena rock Journey as the band’s current drummer and backing vocalist (thru 2013)
0817
1965 ● Steve Gorman / → Drummer for roots/raunch rock The Black Crowes, “Hard To Handle” (Mainstream Rock #1, 1991)
0817
1966 ● Jill Cunniff / → Bassist and vocals for all-girl alt rock/hip hop Luscious Jackson, “Naked Eye” (#36, 1996)
0817
1969 ● Donnie Wahlberg / → Vocals for early 90s teen-pop boy band New Kids On The Block, “Step By Step” (#1, 1990), TV and film actor, brother of NKOTB bandmate and fellow actor Mark Wahlberg
0817
1969 ● Posdnuos / (Kelvin Mercer) → MC and vocals for jazz rap and alt hip hop trio De La Soul, “Me Myself And I” (R&B #1, 1989)
0817
1977 ● Claire Richards / → Vocals and dance routines for pre-fab Brit dance-pop group The Steps, “5, 6, 7, 8” (UK #14, 1997)
0817
1979 ● Mike Lewis / → Guitarist for Welsh alt hard rock Lostprophets, “Last Train Home” (Mainstream Rock #10, 2004)
0817


August 18

1918 ● Cisco Houston / (Gilbert Vandine Houston) → Traditional folk singer and guitarist, Woody Guthrie‘s traveling companion and harmony vocalist, died of cancer on 4/29/1961 shortly after career-boosting TV performances and appearance at the 1960 Newport Folk Festival, age 42
0818
1925 ● Sonny Til / (Earlington Carl Tilghman) → Lead singer and frontman for doo wop and “bird group” trendsetting R&B vocal group The Orioles (“Crying In The Chapel,” #11, R&B #1, 1953), died of heart failure complicated by diabetes on 12/9/1981, age 56
0818
1939 ● Johnny Preston / (John Preston Courville) → Two hit wonder pop-rock singer discovered by J. P. “The Big Bopper” Richardson, “Running Bear” (#1, 1960) and “Cradle Of Love” (#7, 1960), died of heart failure on 3/4/2011, age 71
0818
1939 ● Maxine Brown / → Underrated R&B/soul vocalist, “All In My Mind” (#19, 1960) and several other charting singles in the 60s
0818
1944 ● Carl Wayne / (Colin David Tooley) → Founding member and lead singer for Brit psych-rock The Move, “Blackberry Way” (UK #1, 1968), left for a pop music, cabaret and TV theme song career, joined The Hollies in 2003, died of cancer on 8/31/2004, age 60
0818
1945 ● Barbara Ann Harris / → Singer for pop girl trio The Toys, “A Lover’s Concerto” (#2, 1965)
0818
1945 ● Sara Dash / → Founding member of 60s doo wop girl group The Bluebelles, which morphed into disco-funk Labelle, “Lady Marmalade” (#1, 1975), released four solo albums and the disco hit, “Sinner Man” (#71, Dance/Club #9, 1978), session singer for Laura Nyro, The Marshall Tucker Band, The Rolling Stones and others, toured with Keith Richards
0818
1945 ● Vince Melouney / → Australian musician, original guitarist for pop-rock The Bee Gees (“I Started A Joke,” #6, 1968) and one of three official bandmembers who were not Gibb family members, left the band in 1968 to pursue other interests
0818
1949 ● Nigel Griggs / → Bassist for Aussie New Wave pop-rock Split Enz, “I Got You” (#53, UK #12, 1980)
0818
1950 ● Dennis Elliott / → Original drummer for Foreigner, “Double Vision” (#2, 1978), left in 1992 to pursue a career in wood sculpting
0818
1951 ● John Rees / → Bass and backing vocals for Scottish-Australian Men At Work, “Down Under” (#1, UK #1, 1983), their Grammy-winning debut album, Business As Usual, was simultaneously the #1 US and UK album in January 1983, gaining them the distinction of being the only Aussie band to hold all four top spots at once
0818
1952 ● Patrick Swayze / → TV and film actor, Dirty Dancing (1987) and Ghost (1990), one hit wonder pop singer, “She’s Like The Wind” (#3, 1987), died from pancreatic cancer on 9/14/2009, age 57
0818
1953 ● Marvin Isley / → Bass guitar for six-decade, multi-generation R&B/soul family group The Isley Brothers, “That Lady, Pts. 1-2” (#6, 1973), died from complications of diabetes on 6/6/2010, age 56
0818
1956 ● Tony Garnier / → Bass guitarist with Asleep At The Wheel and other bands, since 1989 toured and recorded in Bob Dylan‘s backing band as Dylan‘s longest-serving sideman, also recorded with Tom Waits, Paul Simon and Michelle Branch
0818
1957 ● Ron Strykert / → Co-founder, vocals and guitar for Scottish-Australian Men At Work, “Down Under” (#1, UK #1, 1983), their Grammy-winning debut album, Business As Usual, was simultaneously the #1 US and UK album in January 1983, gaining them the distinction of being the only Aussie band to hold all four top spots at once
0818
1967 ● Blas Elias / → Drummer in pop-glam metal Slaughter, “Fly To The Angels” (#19, 1990) and the Las Vegas production of Blue Man Group
0818
1967 ● Dan Peters / → Founding member and drummer for grunge rock Mudhoney, “Suck You Dry” (Modern Rock #23, 1992)
0818
1967 ● Tracy Tracy / (Tracy Catell) → Peroxide-blonde lead vocals for indie pop-rockers The Primitives, “Crash” (Modern Rock #3, 1988)
0818
1969 ● Everlast / (Erik Francis Schrody) → Irish-American rapper and singer-songwriter, founding member of one hit wonder hip hop trio House Of Pain, “Jump Around” (#3, Rap #5, 1992), left for blues-rock/hip hop solo career, “What It’s Like” (#13, Mainstream Rock #1, 1998), then hip hop supergroup La Coka Nostra
0818
1971 ● Richard D. James / → Influential acid/ambient electronic music composer and performer under the pseudonym Aphex Twin, “Windowlicker” (Dance #15, 1999)
0818
1976 ● Dirk Lance / (George Alex Katunich) → Original bassist for alt-metal Incubus, “Drive” (#9, 2001), left in 2003 to pursue video game development, joined jam/funk Willie’s Nerve Clinic in 2006
0818
1983 ● Mika / (Michael Penniman) → Lebanese-American pop singer and musician popular everywhere but North America, “Grace Kelly” (UK #1, 2007) and six other UK Top 20 singles
0818


August 19

1935 ● Earl Gaines / → Hard-luck soul-blues and electric blues singer, his top charting song, “It’s Love Baby (24 Hours A Day)” (R&B #2, 1955) was credited to the backing band Louis Brooks & The Hi-Toppers, two decades worth of follow-ups were less than successful, left the industry in the late 70s to work as a truck driver, returned in the 90s and recorded several further albums, died from cancer on 12/31/2009, age 74
0819
1939 ● Ginger Baker / (Peter Edward Baker) → Drummer for blues-rock super-trio Cream, “Sunshine Of Your Love” (#5, 1968), super-trio Blind Faith (US #1 album Blind Faith, 1969), founded jazz-blues-rock fusion Ginger Baker’s Air Force, producer and solo
0819
1940 ● Don Fardon / (Donald Arthur Maughn) → Lead singer for 60s Brit mod scene freakbeat The Sorrows (“Take A Heart,” UK #21, 1965), then one hit wonder pop singer with his cover of “(The Lament Of The Cherokee) Indian Reservation” (#20, 1968), continued to perform into the 00s
0819
1940 ● Johnny Nash / → Reggae-pop vocalist who was a major force in the mainstreaming of reggae music in the early 70s, “I Can See Clearly Now” (#1, 1972)
0819
1940 ● Roger Cook / → British pop music songwriter and performer, as Jonathan was one half the pop vocal duo David & Jonathan, “Michelle” (#18, Adult Contemporary #3, 1966), collaborated with Roger Greenaway (aka David) to pen dozens of pop-rock hit singles, including “Long Cool Woman In A Black Dress” (The Hollies, #2, 1972) and “I’d Like To Teach The World To Sing” (The New Seekers, #7, 1971)
0819
1942 ● Bob Kuban / → Drummer and frontman for St. Louis-based one hit wonder horn-rock Bob Kuban & The In-Men (“The Cheater,” #12, 1966), continues to perform with various incarnations the band into the 10s
0819
1943 ● Billy J. Kramer / (William Howard Ashton) → Frontman for British Invasion pop-rock The Dakotas, “Little Children” (#7, 1964) and four other Top 40 singles in 1964
0819
1945 ● Ian Gillan / → Heavy metal vocalist, joined hard rock/prog rock Deep Purple, “Smoke On The Water” (#4, 1973) in 1969 but left in 1973, sang lead on the Jesus Christ Superstar (1971) concept album and Broadway show soundtrack, solo and frontman for the Ian Gillan Band and Gillan, joined Black Sabbath in 1984, reunited with Deep Purple in late-1984
0819
1947 ● George Newsome / → Drums and vocals for Brit blues-rock Climax Blues Band, “Couldn’t Get It Right” (#3, 1977)
0819
1948 ● Elliott Lurie / → Co-founder, guitarist and singer/songwriter for one hit wonder pop-rock Looking Glass, “Brandy (You’re A Fine Girl)” (#1, 1972), now a movie music composer and arranger
0819
1948 ● Susan Jacks / (Susan Pesklevits) → Canadian pop singer/songwriter with former husband Terry Jacks in pop-rock duo The Poppy Family, “Which Way You Goin’, Billy? (#2, 1969), then solo and songwriting
0819
1951 ● John Deacon / → Bassist and songwriter for camp rock/mock-opera/hard pop Queen, “Bohemian Rhapsody” (#9, 1976), wrote or co-wrote “Stone Cold Crazy,” “You’re My Best Fiend,” “Another One Bites The Dust” (#1, 1980) and others, retired from the music business in the 90s
0819
1963 ● Joey Tempest / (Joakim Larsson) → Vocals for Swedish hard rock/glam-metal Europe, “The Final Countdown” (#8, 1986)
0819
1966 ● Lee Ann Womack / → Grammy-winning traditional country and pop crossover singer/songwriter, “I Hope You Dance” (#14, Country #1, 2000), actress
0819
1970 ● Fat Joe / (Joseph Cartagena) → Hip hop entertainer and entrepreneur, East Coast/gangsta/Latino rapper, “What’s Luv” (#2, 2002), founder and CEO of hip hop record label Terror Squad Entertainment
0819
1970 ● MC Eric / (Eric Martin) → Vocals for Belgian studio-based electro-dance-pop “house” music Technotronic, “Pump Up The Jam” (#2, 1989), solo, producer, teacher
0819
1976 ● Régine Chassagne / → Singer, multi-instrumentalist musician and co-founding member, with her husband Win Butler, of Grammy-winning Canadian alt/indie rock Arcade Fire, “Keep The Car Running” (Alt #32, 2007)
0819
1980 ● Darius Campbell-Danesh / → Scottish stage actor, UK TV Popstars contestant in 2001 and folk-pop singer, “Colourblind” (UK #1, 2002)
0819
1983 ● Missy Higgins / (Melissa Higgins) → Australian pop singer/songwriter and guitarist, “Where I Stood” (Adult Top 40 #6, Aussie #10, 2006)
0819
1989 ● Lil’ Romeo / (Percy Miller, Jr.) → Pre-teen rapper, “My Baby” (#3, Rap #1, 2001), actor and host of his own Nickelodeon TV show Romeo, son of hardcore rapper Master P (Percy Miller)
0819

Albums Released Thsi Week (August 7 – 13)

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):

August 07


● Brenda Lee —— All The Way ► Country-Pop >> 1961
● The Byrds —— The Byrd’s Greatest Hits ► Country-Rock >> 1967
● The Moody Blues —— A Question Of Balance ► Psychedelic Rock >> 1970
● Stevie Wonder —— Signed, Sealed And Delivered ► Pop-R&B >> 1970
● King Curtis —— Live At The Fillmore West ► Soul >> 1971
● Sister Sledge —— Together ► Disco >> 1977
● Roberta Flack —— Roberta Flack ► Pop-Soul >> 1978
● Black Sabbath —— Born Again ► Hard Rock >> 1983
● Loudness —— Hurricane Eyes ► Heavy Metal/Japanese Metal >> 1987
● Jellyfish —— Bellybutton ► Alt. Power Pop >> 1990
● Jon Bon Jovi —— Blaze Of Glory ► Arena Rock >> 1990
● Extreme —— Extreme II: Pornograffitti ► Pop-Metal >> 1990
● The Fall —— Extricate ► Post-Punk Pop-Rock >> 1995
● Rory Gallagher —— BBC Sessions ► Blues-Rock >> 1999
● Gregg Allman —— Back To Macon, GA ► Southern Rock >> 2015

August 08


● Bob Dylan —— Another Side Of Bob Dylan ► Folk-Rock >> 1964
● The Yardbirds —— Over, Under, Sideways, Down ► Blues Rock >> 1966
● The Beatles —— Revolver ► Pop-Rock >> 1966
● Electric Light Orchestra —— Xanadu [Sndtrk] ► Prog. Rock >> 1980
● Debbie Harry —— Koo Koo ► New Eave Dance-Pop >> 1981
● Billy Joel —— An Innocent Man ► Pop-Rock >> 1983
● Robert Cray —— Don’t Be Afraid Of The Dark ► Blues-Rock >> 1988
● N.W.A. —— Straight Outta Compton ► Hip-Hop >> 1988
● Tina Turner —— What’s Love Got To Do With It [Sndtrk] ► Pop-Rock >> 1993
● April Wine —— Frigate ► Arena Rock >> 1994
● Citizen King —— Brown Bag ► Alt Rock/Punk Hop >> 1995
● Moonspell —— Wolfheart ► Heavy Metal/Black Metal >> 1995
● Ben Folds Five —— Ben Folds Five ► Indie Rock/Piano Rock >> 1995
● De La Soul —— Art Official Intelligence: Mosaic Thump ► Alt Rap >> 2000
● The Moody Blues —— Hall Of Fame ► Prog Rock >> 2000
● Shaggy —— Hot Shot ► Dancehall Reggae >> 2000
● Bad Company —— Live In Albuquerque 1976 ► Hard Rock >> 2006
● Gin Blossoms —— Major Lodge Victory ► Power Pop >> 2006

August 09


● John Sebastian —— The Four Of Us ► Folk-Rock >> 1971
● Minnie Riperton —— Perfect Angel ► Soul-Pop >> 1974
● Grand Funk Railroad —— Good Singin’, Good Playin’ ► Hard Rock >> 1976
● Motörhead —— Orgasmatron ► Heavy Metal >> 1986
● Danzig —— Danzig ► Heavy Metal/Blues Metal >> 1988
● The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band —— Workin’ Band ► Country-Rock >> 1988
● Julian Cope —— Autogeddon ► Alt Pop-Rock >> 1994
● Machine Head —— Burn My Eyes ► Heavy Metal/Groove Metal >> 1994
● Lynyrd Skynyrd —— Endangered Species ► Southern Rock >> 1994
● Therion —— Theli ► Heavy Metal/Symphonic Metal >> 1996
● Stephen Stills —— Man Alive! ► Folk-Rock >> 2005
● Jerry Garcia Band —— Pure Jerry: Warner Theatre, March 18, 1978 – 2005 ► Roots Rock >> 2005
● Yes —— Songs From Tsongas ► Prog Rock >> 2005

August 10


● Elvis Presley —— Elvis For Everyone ► Rock ‘N’ Roll >> 1965
● Ten Years After —— Undead ► Blues-Rock >> 1968
● Frank Zappa —— Weasels Ripped My Flesh ► Art Rock >> 1970
● Rod Stewart —— Sing It Again Rod ► Blues-Rock >> 1973
● Michael Jackson —— Off The Wall ► Dance-Pop >> 1979
● Al Di Meola, John McLaughlin & Paco De Lucia —— Friday Night In San Francisco ► Flamenco-Jazz >> 1981
● Rufus —— Stompin’ At The Savoy ► Funk >> 1983
● Red Hot Chili Peppers —— The Red Hot Chili Peppers ► Alt. Funk-Rock >> 1984
● Five Star —— Between The Lines ► Pop-Rock >> 1987
● Winger —— Winger ► Heavy Metal >> 1988
● White Lion —— Big Game ► Hard Rock >> 1989
● Jamiroquai —— Emergency On Planet Earth ► Acid Jazz/Funk >> 1993
● James Taylor —— Live ► Folk-Rock >> 1993
● Billy Joel —— River Of Dreams ► Pop-Rock >> 1993
● Richard Marx —— Ballads ► AA Pop-Rock >> 1994
● Robert Earl Keen, Jr. —— Gringo Honeymoon ► Folk-Rock >> 1994
● Brenda Lee —— 20th Century Masters – The Millennium Collection ► Country-Pop >> 1999
● The Innocence Mission —— Birds Of My Neighborhood ► Alt Pop-Rock >> 1999
● Machine Head —— The Burning Red ► Heavy Metal/Groove Metal >> 1999
● Lynyrd Skynyrd —— Edge Of Forever ► Southern Rock >> 1999
● Dark Tranquility —— Projector ► Heavy Metal/Melodic Death Metal >> 1999
● Ace Troubleshooter —— Ace Troubleshooter ► Pop Punk >> 2000
● David Crosby & Graham Nash —— Crosby & Nash ► Folk-Rock >> 2004
● REO Speedwagon —— The Essential REO Speedwagon ► Arena Rock >> 2004
● Richard Marx —— My Own Best Enemy ► AA Pop-Rock >> 2004
● Soul Asylum —— Welcome To The Minority – The A&M Years 1988-1991 ► Alt. Pop-Rock >> 2007

August 11


● Bill Haley And His Comets —— Rockin’ The Joint ► Rock ‘n’ Roll >> 1958
● The Ventures —— Mashed Potatoes And Gravy ► Rock n Roll Instrumental >> 1962
● Elvis Presley —— Elvis’ Golden Records, Vol. 3 ► Rock n Roll >> 1963
● The Kinks —— Kinda Kinks ► British Invasion >> 1965
● Donovan —— Barabajagal ► Folk-Rock >> 1969
● Klaatu —— Klaatu ► Prog Rock >> 1976
● The Go-Go’s —— Vacation ► New Wave Pop-Rock >> 1982
● Vanity 6 —— Vanity 6 ► Dance-Pop >> 1982
● Pat Travers —— Blues Tracks ► Blues-Rock >> 1992
● The Flaming Lips —— Hit To Death In The Future Head ► Neo-Psychedlia >> 1992
● Dr. John —— Anutha Zone ► New Orleans R&B >> 1998
● The Beach Boys —— Endless Harmony Soundtrack ► Pop-Rock >> 1998
● The Anti-Nowhere League —— Scum ► Punk Rock >> 1998

August 12


● Bill Haley And His Comets —— Rockin’ The Oldies ► Rock ‘n’ Roll >> 1957
● Aretha Franklin —— Laughing On The Outside ► Soul >> 1963
● The Kinks —— The Kinks Greatest Hits! ► British Rock >> 1966
● Big Brother & The Holding Company —— Big Brother & The Holding Company ► Blues-Rock >> 1967
● Big Brother & The Holding Company —— Cheap Thrills ► Blues-Rock >> 1968
● Roberta Flack —— Chapter Two ► Pop-Soul >> 1970
● Luther Vandross —— Never Too Much ► Smooth Soul >> 1981
● Bob Dylan —— Shot Of Love ► Folk-Rock >> 1981
● Queensrÿche —— Queensrÿche ► Heavy Metal >> 1983
● Neil Young —— Old Ways ► Folk-Rock >> 1985
● Paul Simon —— Graceland ► Folk-Pop >> 1986
● Metallica —— Metallica ► Heavy Metal >> 1991
● Ringo Starr —— Ringo Starr And His Third All-Starr Band – Volume 1 ► Pop-Rock >> 1997
● Luis Miguel —— Romances ► Latin Pop >> 1997
● Pat Benatar —— Good King Bad ► Hard Rock >> 2003
● Extreme —— Saudades De Rock ► Pop-Metal >> 2008

August 13


● Gene Vincent —— Bluejean Bop! ► Rock n Roll >> 1956
● Bill Haley And His Comets —— Rock ‘N Roll Stage Show ► Rock ‘n’ Roll >> 1956
● Aretha Franklin —— The Tender, The Moving, The Swinging Aretha Franklin ► Soul >> 1962
● The Beatles —— Help! ► Pop-Rock >> 1965
● King Curtis —— Everybody’s Talkin’ ► Southern Soul >> 1970
● Lynyrd Skynyrd —— Pronounced, Leh-nerd Skin-nerd ► Southern Rock >> 1973
● Chicago —— Chicago 13 ► Jazz-Rock >> 1979
● Don Henley —— I Can’t Stand Still ► Pop-Rock >> 1982
● Twisted Sister —— Love Is For Suckers ► Hair Metal >> 1987
● Pixies —— Bossanova ► Garage Rock >> 1990
● Duran Duran —— Liberty ► Synth-Pop >> 1990
● Curtis Mayfield —— The Return Of Superfly [Sndtrk] ► Soul/Hip Hop >> 1990
● Brooks & Dunn —— Brand New Man ► Country-Rock >> 1991
● Aldo Nova —— A Portrait Of Aldo Nova ► Glam Rock >> 1991
● Kid Creole & The Coconuts —— You Shoulda Told Me You Were…. ► Dance-Rock >> 1991
● Sheena Easton —— No Strings ► Standards >> 1993
● Akinyele —— Put It In Your Mouth ► Dirty Rap >> 1996
● James Taylor —— October Road ► Folk-Rock >> 2002
● David Gray —— A Thousand Miles Behind ► AA Pop-Rock >> 2007
● Bruce Springsteen —— The ‘Collection: 1973-1984 ► Heartland Rock >> 2010

This Week’s Birthdays (August 6 – 12)

Happy Birthday this week to:

August 06

1928 ● Andy Warhol / (Andy Warhol (Warhola)) → The Velvet Underground manager, pop art painter and founder of the Pop Art movement, album cover designer (The Rolling Stones‘ Sticky Fingers album cover and others), avant-garde filmmaker, died following gall bladder surgery on 2/22/1987, age 58
1929 ● Mike Elliott / → Jamaican born jazz-pop saxophonist in several ska bands and Brit R&B/soul-pop The Foundations, “Baby Now That I’ve Found You” (#11, 1967)
1940 ● Mike Sarne / (Michael Scheuer) → Multilingual small-part movie actor, pop singer, “Come Outside” (UK #1, 1962), translated several 60s Brit singles for the German market, film director, including Joanna (1968) and Myra Breckinridge (1970
1946 ● Allan Holdsworth / → Highly-regarded journeyman jazz-rock fusion guitarist, during the 70s played with prog rock Tempest, Canterbury-scene fusion band Soft Machine, The New Tony Williams Lifetime, Gong, Jean-Luc Ponty, Bill Bruford and U.K., founded and fronted jazz-rock I.O.U. in the 80s, then solo with over a dozen acclaimed jazz fusion albums in the 90s and 00s, died from a heart attack on 4/15/2017, age 70
1946 ● Judy Craig / → Vocals for top-tier 60s New York girl group The Chiffons, “He’s So Fine” (#1, 1963)
1952 ● Pat MacDonald / → With wife Barbara K. MacDonald, one half of one hit wonder alt country-folk-pop duo Timbuk 3, “The Future’s So Bright, I Gotta Wear Shades” (#19, 1986), solo
1958 ● Randy DeBarge / → With his sister and three brothers, vocals in R&B/urban contemporary dance-pop sibling quintet Debarge, “All This Love” (#17, 1983)
1963 ● Jamie Kensit / → Founder, songwriter and guitarist for Brit pop-rock Eighth Wonder, “Cross My Heart” (Dance/Club #10, 1988)
1969 ● Elliott Smith / (Steven Paul Smith) → Folk-punk singer and songwriter with the Academy Award-nominated “Miss Misery” from the film Good Will Hunting (1997), died from self-inflicted stab wound to the chest on 10/21/2003, age 34
1972 ● Geri Halliwell / (Geraldine Estelle Halliwell) → Vocals and “Ginger Spice” in pop-rock girl-group Spice Girls, “Wannabe” (#1, 1997), left for solo career in 1998, “Look At Me” (Dance/Club #12, UK #2, 1999) and seven other UK Top 10 hits
1981 ● Schleprok McCoy / (Travis McCoy) → Co-founder, MC and vocals for alt hip hop/rap rock Gym Class Heroes, “Intramurals: Cupid’s Chokehold” (#4, 2007), solo
1984 ● Eric Roberts / → Bass guitar and vocals for alt hip hop/rap rock Gym Class Heroes, “Intramurals: Cupid’s Chokehold” (#4, 2007), solo

August 07

1925 ● Felice Bryant / (Felice Scaduto Bryant) → Prolific country and pop songwriter, with her husband Boudleaux Bryant wrote “Rocky Top,” “Love Hurts,” “Bye Bye Love” (#2, 1957) and “All I Have To Do Is Dream” (#1, 1958) for The Everly Brothers, as well as “Raining In My Heart” for Buddy Holly, died on 4/22/2003, age 77
1926 ● Stan Freberg / → Irreverent, visionary radio comic/satirist, combined music with spoken word to create novelty songs, including “The Banana Boat Song (Day-O)” (#25, 1957), animation voice actor, advertising creative director, author
1928 ● Herbert Reed / → Founding member (1953) and bass vocals for hugely successful R&B/doo wop The Platters, “The Great Pretender” (#1, 1956) and 13 other Top 20 hits between 1955 and 1967, sang on every one of the group’s over 400 recorded songs, waged a successful court battle for rights to The Platters‘ name, died from heart disease on 6/4/2012, age 83
1936 ● Charles Pope / → With brother Joseph and others, vocals for R&B/soul The Tams, “What Kind Of Fool (Do You Think I Am)” (#9, 1963) and “There Ain’t Nothing Like Shaggin'” (UK #21, 1987), continued to perform until a few years before his death from Alzheimer’s disease on 7/11/2013, age 76
1939 ● Ron Holden / → One hit wonder R&B/pop singer (“Love You So,” #7, R&B #11, 1960), died of a heart attack on 1/22/1997, age 57
1942 ● B.J. Thomas / (Billy Joe Thomas) → Light pop-rock singer, “Raindrops Keep Fallin’ On My Head” (#1, 1970) and “(Hey Won’t You Play) Another Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song” (#1, 1975), turned to gospel and country music later in his career, “New Looks From An Old Lover” (Country #1, 1983)
1943 ● Lana Cantrell / → Aussie-American pop and traditional standards singer turned entertainment lawyer, recorded seven albums along with a lone charting single (“Like A Sunday Morning,” #63, 1975) and appeared in Vegas and on TV musical variety shows before ditching her singing career for a law degree and practice in New York City in the 90s
1945 ● Kerry Chater / → Bassist for 60s pop-rock Gary Puckett & The Union Gap, “Young Girl” (#2, 1968)
1949 ● Carlo Novi / → Saxophones for New Jersey rock ‘n roll bar band Southside Johnny & The Asbury Jukes, “Talk To Me” (1978)
1950 ● Rodney Crowell / → Neo-traditionalist country singer/songwriter and guitarist, “I Couldn’t Leave You If I Tried” (Country #1, 1988) and ten other Country Top 25 hits, worked in Emmylou Harris‘ backing band, artists who covered his songs include Bob Seger, “Shame On The Moon” (#2, 1982), Johnny Cash and Crystal Gayle
1952 ● Alexei David Sayle / → Stand-up comedian and satire/novelty pop song artist, “Ullo John! Gotta New Motor” (UK #15, 1984), film actor (Gorky Park, 1983 and Indiana Jones And The Last Crusade, 1989), radio and TV personality, author
1958 ● Bruce Dickinson / → Vocalist for Brit heavy metal Iron Maiden, “Flight Of Icarus” (Mainstream Rock #8, 1983), then solo, “Tears Of A Dragon” (Mainstream Rock #36, 1994), now flies as a B757 captain for UK charter airline Astraeus, BBC Radio host, author
1960 ● Jacqui O’Sullivan / → Brit singer and songwriter, backing vocals for Status Quo, Visage and the Eurythmics, joined pop trio Bananarama in 1988, “I Want You Back” (UK #5, 1988), solo
1964 ● Ian Dench / → Chief songwriter and guitarist for Brit dance-rock quintet EMF (“Epsom Mad Funkers”), “Unbelievable” (#1, 1990)
1965 ● Johnny Solinger / (John Preston “Johnny” Solinger) → Lead vocalist hired in 1999 to replace founding member Sebastian Bach in New Jersey-based hair metal/pop-metal Skid Row (“I Remember You,” #6, 1989), issued a solo country-metal album in 2008
1965 ● Raul Malo / → Singer, songwriter, guitarist and frontman for Grammy-winning country-rock The Mavericks, “All You Ever Do Is Bring Me Down” (Country #13, 1996), solo
1966 ● Kristin Hersh / → Singer/songwriter, lead vocals and guitar for alt rock Throwing Muses, “Dizzy” (Modern Rock #8, 1989) and alt punk rock power trio 50 Foot Wave, acoustic solo performances, author and co-founder of non-profit CASH Music recording software
1968 ● Lynn Strait / (James Lynn Strait) → Lead singer and songwriter for up-and-coming punk/nu-metal Snot, the band broke up shortly after his death in a California highway accident on 12/11/1998, age 30

August 08

1907 ● King Carter / (Bennett Lester Carter) → Lifetime Grammy Award and National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Master alto saxophonist with a long and prolific career from the late 20s to the early-00s, his best known composition was the Grammy-winning “Prelude To A Kiss” (Best Jazz Instrumental, 1994), died from natural causes on 7/12/2003, age 95
1920 ● Jimmy Witherspoon / → Late 40s jump blues “shouter” and rock ‘n’ roll roots singer, “Ain’t Nobody’s Business (Parts 1 & 2)” (R&B #1, 1949), his style went out in the late 50s and he switched to blues-rock, recorded occasionally through he 70s, toured and performed until just before he died of throat cancer on 9/18/1997, age 77
1921 ● Webb Pierce / → One of the most popular 50s/60s honky tonk and rockabilly singer/songwriters with dozens of Country Top 20 hits and a handful of crossover hits, including “More And More” (#22, Country #1, 1954) and “I Ain’t’ Never” (#24, Country #2, 1959), lived a large and flamboyant lifestyle from the end of his recording days in the early 80s to his death from pancreatic cancer on 2/24/1991, age 69
1932 ● Mel Tillis / (Lonnie Melvin Tillis) → Prolific country music singer and songwriter with 34 songs in the Country Top 10 and the crossover hit “Ruby Don’t Take Your Love To Town” (#6, Country #39, 1970) for Kenny Rogers & The New Edition, others of his songs have been covered by Linda Ronstadt, Ricky Van Shelton, Waylon Jennings and others, later invested in radio stations, music publishing and a theater in Bronson, Missouri
1933 ● Joe Tex / (Joseph Arlington) → R&B/Southern soul singer, “Hold On To What You’ve Got” (#5, 1965) and eight other Top 40 hits, died of a heart attack on 8/13/1982, age 49
1938 ● Connie Stevens / (Concetta Rosalie Ann Ingoglia) → Pop music singer with six charting singles in 1959-65, including “Sixteen Reasons” (#3, 1960), then starred in the TV series Hawaiian Eye and in numerous films in the 60s, turned to various business and humanitarian projects in the 80s and 90s, and added film direction and screenwriting to her resume in the 90s and 00s
1938 ● Don Jacobucci / → Baritone vocals for two hit wonder doo wop quartet The Regents, original “Barbara Ann” (#13, 1961) and “Run Around” (#28, 1961)
1939 ● Phil Balsley / → Baritone vocals in country-gospel-pop crossover harmonic quartet The Statler Brothers (“Flowers On The Wall,” #4, Country #2, 1965), known as the “Quiet One” for his on stage presence and humble appearance
1942 ● Jay David / (John David) → Drummer for AM pop-rock Dr. Hook & The Medicine Show, “Sylvia’s Mother” (#5, 1972) plus nine other Top 40 hits
1944 ● John Renbourn / → English singer, songwriter and guitarist with a nearly 5 decade solo career and over 30 albums, but best known for his collaboration with guitarist Bert Jansch and co-founding folk-rock group Pentangle (“Light Flight,” UK #43, 1970), continued to record tour until his death from a heart attack on 3/26/2015, age 70
1944 ● Michael Johnson / → Adult contemporary pop and country singer, songwriter and guitarist, “Bluer Than Blue” (#12, 1978) and two other Top 40 hits plus seven Country Top 40 singles
1949 ● Airrion Love / → Vocals for R&B/Philly soul The Stylistics, “You Make Me Feel Brand New” (#2, 1974) plus 15 R&B Top 40 singles
1949 ● Keith Carradine / → Four-decade Broadway stage and Hollywood film actor with a short pop music career based on the Oscar-winning, self-penned “I’m Easy” (#17, AC #1, 1976) from the movie Nashville (1975)
1956 ● Ali Score / (Alister Score) → Drummer for bizarrely-teased hair New Wave pop-rock A Flock of Seagulls, “I Ran (So Far Away)” (#9, 1982)
1956 ● Chris Foreman / → Guitar for punk/ska revival Madness, “Our House” (#7, 1982) and over 20 other UK Top 40 singles
1956 ● David Grant / → Pop singer and member of Brit soul/funk Linx, “You’re Lying” (R&B #27, 1981) and “Intuition” (UK #7, 1981), then solo, “Watching You Watching Me” (UK #10, 1983), celebrity vocal coach and husband of Carrie Grant
1957 ● Dennis Drew / → Keyboardist, co-founder and one of two constant members of folk-pop 10,000 Maniacs, “These Are Days” (Alt-Rock #1, 1992)
1961 ● Paul Jackson / → Bassist for New Wave pop-rock T’Pau, “Heart And Soul” (#4, 1987)
1961 ● Rikki Rockett / (Richard Allen Ream) → Drummer for hair metal/power ballad Poison, “Every Rose Has It’s Thorn” (#1, 1988), solo and owner of a custom drum kit manufacturing company
1961 ● The Edge / (David Howell Evans) → Guitarist, occasional vocalist and sometime songwriter for Irish mega-star rockers U2, “With Or Without You” (#1, 1987)
1962 ● Kool Moe Dee / (Mohandas Dewese) → Member of early hip hop/old-school rap Treacherous Three, left for Grammy-winning solo career in 1986, “Rise ‘N’ Shine” (Rap #1, 1991)
1973 ● Scott Stapp / (Anthony Scott Flippen) → Founding member, lead vocalist and lyricist for Grammy-winning post-grunge Creed, “With Arms Wide Open” (#1, 2000), solo
1973 ● Toby Allen / → With brothers Andrew and Mike Tierney and another schoolmate, co-founder and vocals 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
1974 ● Brian Harvey / → 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
1976 ● Drew Lachey / → With brother Nick and two others, vocalist in adult contemporary pop-rock boy band 98 Degrees, “Give Me Just One Night (Una Noche)” (#2, 2000), TV and Broadway actor, celebrity dancer on Dancing With The Stars in 2006
1976 ● JC Chasez / (Joshua Scott Chasez) → Lead vocals for teen dance-pop harmony boy band ‘N Sync, “It’s Gonna Be Me” (#1, 2000), solo
1981 ● Bradley McIntosh / → Vocals for pre-fab teen pop S Club 7, “Never Had A Dream Come True” (#10, 2001)
1983 ● Vanessa Joy Amorosi / → Australian pop singer/songwriter and guitarist, “Absolutely Everybody” (UK #7, Australia #6, 1999) and “This Is Who I Am” (Australia #1, 2009)

August 09

1913 ● Harry Mills / (Harry Flood Mills) → Baritone vocals in six-decade jazz and pop quartet The Mills Brothers (“Cab Driver,” #23, Adult #3, 1968), best known for approximating instrument sounds with vocals, first as a novelty act in the vaudeville era of the 20s and later as the music behind their singing, continued to perform with his brothers until his death on 6/28/1982, age 68
1934 ● Merle Kilgore / → Country-pop singer, songwriter and business manager best known for co-writing “Ring Of Fire” (Johnny Cash #17, Country #1, 1963) with June Carter Cash and “Wolverton Mountain (“#6, Country #1, 1962) for Claude King, for being Johnny Cash‘s best man at his wedding in 1968, for managing Hank Williams Jr., and for his involvement with the Country Music Association, died from heart failure on 2/6/2005, age 70
1939 ● Billy Henderson / → Founding member and vocals for Grammy-winning Motown and later Atlantic R&B/soul quintet The Spinners, “Then Came You” (#1, 1974) plus eleven other Top 20 hits in the 70s, died from diabetes on 2/7/2007, age 67
1944 ● John Parry / → Session musician and early member of Brit comedy-rock Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band, “I’m The Urban Spaceman” (UK #5, 1968)
1944 ● Viv Prince / (Vivian St. John Prince) → Drummer for raunchy R&B/blues-rock British Invasion band The Pretty Things, “Don’t Bring Me Down” (UK #10, 1964)
1946 ● Marinus Gerritsen / → Bassist for Dutch hard rock Golden Earring, “Radar Love” (#13, 1974), over 40 hits and 30 gold and platinum albums in the Netherlands
1947 ● Amanda McBroom / → Singer, songwriter, cabaret performer and TV and voice actress best known for writing “The Rose” (Bette Midler, #3, AC #1, 1979) from the soundtrack to the 1979 film of the same name, and for roles on Broadway shows and TV series including Hawaii Five-O and Charlie’s Angels
1947 ● Barbara Mason / → R&B/soul-pop one hit wonder singer, “Yes, I’m Ready” (#5, 1965)
1948 ● Bill Collings / (William Ralph Collings) → Pre-med college drop out whose curiousity for guitars led him to become a luthier and founder of Collings Guitars, a leading mass-producer of stringed instruments, his guitars were used by Lyle Lovett, Pete Townshend, Emmylou Harris, Joni Mitchell, Paul Simon and many others, died from bile duct cancer on 7/14/2017, age 68
1955 ● Charlie Morgan / → Session drummer and percussionist, played with Kate Bush, Elton John, Paul McCartney, Orleans, Tom Robinson Band, Tina Turner and others
1959 ● Kurtis Blow / (Kurtis Walker Combs) → First commercially-successful rapper, first hip hop artist to sign with a major record label and first to have a gold rap song, “The Breaks” (R&B #4, Dance/Club #9, 1980), producer and songwriter
1963 ● Whitney Houston / → Immensely popular, Grammy and Emmy award winning R&B/pop singer with the biggest hit single in rock/pop history, “I Will Always Love You” (#1, 1993) plus nine other US #1s, cousin of soul-pop songstress Dionne Warwick and goddaughter of R&B/soul diva Aretha Franklin, drowned in a hotel bathtub on 2/12/2012, age 48
1970 ● Arion Salazar / → Original bassist for post-grunge indie pop Third Eye Blind, “Semi-Charmed Life” (#4, 1997)
1978 ● Luke Concannon / → Guitar and vocals for Brit folk-rock-hip hop one hit wonder duo Nizlopi, “JCB Song” (UK #1, 2005)

August 10

1909 ● Leo Fender / (Clarence Leonidas Fender) → Inventor of the Fender Broadcaster, Telecaster and Stratocaster guitars used by countless rock musicians, died of Parkinson’s disease on 3/21/1991, age 81
1922 ● Al Alberts / (Al Albertini) → Co-founding member and vocals in traditional pop quartet The Four Aces, “Love Is A Many-splendored Thing” (#1, 1955) and 30 other Top 40 hits between 1950 and 1969, became a musical variety TV program host in Philadelphia, retired in 1994 and died from renal failure on 11/27/2009, age 87
1928 ● Eddie Fisher / (Edwin Jack Fisher) → Pop/adult contemporary crooner, “I Need You Now” (#1, 1954), TV actor, ex-husband of Debbie Reynolds, Elizabeth Taylor, Connie Stevens and 2 others, father of actresses Carrie Fisher (Star Wars, 1977) and Joely Fisher (TVs Ellen, 1994-98), died following hip surgery on 9/22/2010, age 82
1928 ● Jimmy Dean / (Jimmy Ray Dean) → Country music singer and Grammy-winning crossover country-pop star, “Big Bad John” (#1, 1961), prime time TV variety show personality, breakfast sausage businessman and film actor, died of natural causes on 6/13/2010, age 81
1939 ● Sal Cuomo / → First tenor vocals for two hit wonder doo wop quartet The Regents, original “Barbara Ann” (#13, 1961) and “Run Around” (#28, 1961)
1940 ● Bobby Hatfield / → Blue-eyed soul singer and, with Bill Medley, one half of hugely successful pop-rock duo The Righteous Brothers, “Unchained Melody” (#4, 1965), died from a cocaine overdose while on tour on 11/5/2003, age 63
1940 ● Tunes Antunes / (Michael Antunes) → Saxophone player for New England one hit wonder rock ‘n’ roll bar band John Cafferty & The Beaver Brown Band, “On The Dark Side” (#7, 1983), acted with bandmates in the rock band-based movie Eddie & The Cruisers (1983)
1943 ● James Griffin / → Songwriter, guitar and vocals for soft MOR pop-rock Bread, “Make It With You” (#1, 1970), co-wrote “For All We Know,” the 1971 Academy Award Best Song of the Year by the Carpenters from the movie Lovers And Other Strangers, issued several solo albums and performed in various country-rock combos through the early 00s, died from complications of cancer on 1/11/2005, age 61
1943 ● Ronnie Spector / (Veronica Bennett Spector) → Lead singer and frontgal (in front of sister Estelle) in quintessential 60s pop “Wall of Sound” girl group The Ronettes, “Be My Baby” (#2, 1963), married the band’s producer Phil Spector in 1968
1945 ● Brian Carman / → Founding member, guitarist and songwriter for garage/surf rock The Chantays, co-wrote their instrumental hit “Pipeline” (#4, 1963), continued to perform with the band until his death from Crohn’s disease on 3/1/2015, age 69
1945 ● Larry Larden / → With brother Dennis, guitar and vocals for one hit wonder pop-folk Every Mother’s Son, “Come On Down To My Boat” (#6, 1967)
1946 ● Mick Clarke / → Bass and vocals for glam rock/rock ‘n roll revival The Rubettes, “Sugar Baby Love” (, US #37, 1974)
1947 ● Ian Anderson / → Frontman, flautist and vocals for long-lived Brit folk-rock http://bit.ly/JET371, “Living In The Past” (#11, 1973), solo
1949 ● Andy Cresswell-Davis / → Co-founder, drummer and vocalist for New Wave pop-rock The Korgis, “Everybody’s Got To Learn Sometime” (#18, 1980), previously played on John Lennon‘s Imagine album, solo and sessions since The Korgis broke up for good in the early 90s
1950 ● Patti Austin / → R&B/jazz-pop singer, “Baby Come to Me” (#1, 1983), duets with Michael Jackson, James Ingram and George Benson, backing vocals for Roberta Flack, Quincy Jones and others
1959 ● Mark Price / → Drummer for goth-rock All About Eve, “Martha’s Harbour” (UK #10, 1988)
1961 ● Jon Farriss / → Drummer for Aussie New Wave dance-groove-pop INXS, “Need You Tonight” (#1, 1987)
1962 ● Julia Fordham / → Sultry-voiced jazz-pop singer and songwriter, backing singer for Mari Wilson and Kim Wilde, solo, “Happy Ever After” (Adult Contemporary #24, 1989) and “Wake Up With You (The I Wanna Song)” (Dance/Club #10, 2002)
1967 ● Lorraine Pearson / → Vocals for Brit family R&B/dance-pop quintet 5 Star, “Can’t Wait Another Minute” (#41, Dance/Club #7, 1986) and fifteen Top 40 singles in native England
1967 ● Todd Nichols / → Guitarist for alt pop-rock Toad The Wet Sprocket, “All I Want” (#15, 1992)
1968 ● Leigh Marklew / → Bassist for hard rock/heavy metal Terrorvision, “Tequila” (UK #2, 1999)
1968 ● Biv Bivins / (Michael Bivins) → Vocals for R&B/teen pop then hip hop/new jack swing vocal quartet New Edition, “If It Isn’t Love” (#7, 1988), then Bell Biv Devoe, “Poison” (#3, 1990)
1972 ● Devon Allman / → Guitarist, songwriter, vocalist, founder and bandleader for blues-rock Honeytribe, LP Space Age Blues debuted at #7 on Billboard‘s Blues Albums chart (2010), occasionally appears as a guest musician for his father, Gregg Allman and The Allman Brothers Band, currently in blues-rock supergroup Royal Southern Brotherhood with Cyril Neville and others
1977 ● Aaron Kamin / → Co-founder and guitarist for post-grunge alt rock The Calling, “Wherever You Will Go” (#5, 2001)

August 11

1922 ● Ronald Erle Grainer / → Australian-born, UK-based film and TV soundtrack composer, wrote score for To Sir, With Love (1967) and theme to BBC sci-fi TV show Doctor Who (1963-1986, 2005 to present) plus dozens of other films and programs, died from spinal cancer on 2/21/1981, age 58
1925 ● Mike Douglas / (Michael Delaney Dowd, Jr.) → Successful “Big Band” and pop singer, first with the Kay Kyser Band in the 40s and later in Los Angeles nightclubs, in the 60s became a widely popular talk show host of Emmy-winning, nationally-syndicated The Mike Douglas Show and a staunch supporter of all things Philadelphia, reprised his singing career with “The Men In My Little Girl’s Life” (#6, 1966), died from dehydration on 8/11/2006, his 81st birthday
1937 ● Shel Talmy / → Record producer and music arranger with a deep resume in a short period in the mid-60s, including British Invasion guitar rock bands The Kinks (“You Really Got Me,” #7, UK #1, 1964) and The Who (“I Can’t Explain,” #93, UK #8, 1965 and their debut album My Generation, UK #5, 1965), plus cult group The Creation, Aussie rock ‘n’ roller The Easybeats (“Friday On My Mind,” #16, UK #6, 1967), unsuccessful early songs for future star Boston, folk-rock The Pentangle, folk-pop Chad & Jeremy and others, “retired” from producing in the 70s
1939 ● Ronnie Dawson / (Ronald Monroe Dawson) → The “Blond Bomber,” rockabilly and rock ‘n’ roll guitarist and bandleader with several unremarkable 50s singles and extensive session work in the 60s, found relative success in the U.K. n the 80s and 90s and toured extensively, died from throat cancer on 9/30/2003, age 64
1942 ● Guy Villari / → Lead vocals for two hit wonder doo wop quartet The Regents, original “Barbara Ann” (#13, 1961) and “Run Around” (#28, 1961)
1942 ● Mike Hugg / → Drums, percussion and second longest surviving member of British Invasion pop-rock Manfred Mann, “Do Wah Diddy Diddy” (#1, 1964), film and TV theme composer, advertising jingle writer, solo artist
1943 ● Denis Payton / (Denis Archibald West Payton) → Horns and backing vocals for British Invasion pop-rock The Dave Clark Five, “Catch Us If You Can” (#4, 1965) and 11 other Top 25 hits in the US, died from cancer 12/17/2006, age 63
1943 ● Kenny Gamble / (Kenneth Gamble) → With partner Leon Huff in the famed Philadelphia songwriting and production team of Gamble & Huff, crafted the “Philly soul” sound as the founders and chief creative team for Motown-rival Philadelphia International Records, wrote and produced dozens of hits from “Expressway To Your Heart” (The Soul Survivors, #4, R&B #3, 1967) to “Love Train” (The O’Jays, #1, R&B #1, 1872) and “Close the Door” (Teddy Pendergrass, #25, R&B #1, 1978), after the disco era the shine on the label faded but the two continued to write into the 10s
1943 ● Jim Kale / (Michael James Kale) → Bassist for Canadian rockers The Guess Who, “American Woman” (#1, 1970), has managed and toured with various reincarnations of the band through the 00s
1948 ● Bill Hurd / → Keyboards for glam rock/rock ‘n roll revival The Rubettes, “Sugar Baby Love” (, US #37, 1974)
1949 ● Eric Carmen / → Founding member, keyboards and 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), started soft rock solo career in 1975, “All By Myself” (#2, 1976) and six other Top 40 hits
1950 ● Erik Keith Braunn / → Guitarist for psych-rock Iron Butterfly, “In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida” (#30, 1970), died from a birth defect-related heart attack on 7/25/2003, age 53
1952 ● Bob Mothersbaugh / → Founding member, lead guitarist and vocalist for quirky 80s pop-rock Devo, “Whip It” (#14, 1980), also produced soundtracks for film and television, including the Rugrats series during the 90s, rejoined Devo bandmates in music production company Mutato Muzika
1954 ● Bryan Bassett / → Guitar and vocals for one hit wonder funk-pop Wild Cherry, “Play That Funky Music” (#1, 1976), started music producer career in the 80s, toured with hard rock Foghat and Southern hard rock Molly Hatchet in the 90s and 00s
1954 ● Joe Jackson / (David Ian Jackson) → Punk-challenging British New Wave pop-rock singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, “Steppin’ Out” (#6, 1982), moved into eclectic pop-jazz-classical fusion in the 90s, won Grammy Award – Best Pop Instrumental Album in 2000 for Jackson: Symphony 1
1956 ● Alan Frew / → Vocals for Canadian pop-rock Glass Tiger, “Don’t Forget Me (When I’m Gone)” (#2, 1986), solo
1957 ● Richie Ramone / (Richard Reinhardt) → Drummer and songwriter, joined punk rock The Ramones in 1983, wrote hit song “Somebody Put Something In My Drink” (1986)
1958 ● Jah Wobble / (John Joseph Wardle) → Bassist, vocalist, songwriter and co-founder of punk rock Public Image Ltd., “This Is Not A Love Song” (UK #5, 1983), solo
1960 ● Paul Gendler / → Guitarist for Brit dance-pop band Modern Romance, “Can You Move” (Dance/Club #2, 1981) and “Best Years Of Our Lives” (UK #4, 1982)
1962 ● Bragi Ólafsson / → Bassist for Icelandic alt pop-rock The Sugarcubes, “Hit” (Modern Rock #1, 1991)
1964 ● Hamish Seelochan / → Vocals in Brit R&B/neo-soul-funk The Pasadenas, “Tribute (Right On)” (Dance/Club #27, UK #5, 1988)
1968 ● Charlie Sexton / → Blues-rock guitarist, singer, songwriter, bandleader and solo artist, “Beat’s So Lonely” (#17, 1985) from his debut album at age 16, sessions for Bob Dylan, Keith Richards, Ron Wood and others
1970 ● Ali Shaheed Muhammad / → DJ/producer for artistic hip hop jazz-rap fusion trio A Tribe Called Quest, “Check The Rhime” (Rap #1, 1991), solo, producer
1970 ● Andy Bell / → Guitar and vocals for Brit neo-psych “shoegazing” band Ride, “Twisterella” (Modern Rock #12, 1992), later Hurricane , joined Oasis in 1999
1976 ● Ben Gibbard / → Vocals for indie pop/rock Death Cab For Cutie, “Soul Meets Body” (Modern Rock #5, 2005)
1976 ● Brendan Bayliss / → Founding member, lead guitarist and vocalist for neo-prog rock jam band Umphrey’s McGee, album Mantis (#62, Indie #6, 2009)
1978 ● Mack Daddy / (Chris Kelly) → Vocals for teen sensation pop-rap duo Kriss Kross, “Jump” (#1, 1992), died from an apparent drug overdose on 5/1/2013, age 34
1981 ● Sandi Thom / → Scottish neo-folk-rock singer/songwriter, “I Wish I Was a Punk Rocker (With Flowers In My Hair)”, the first song to reach UK #1 based solely on the strength of downloads
1985 ● Asher Roth / → White suburban rapper, “I Love College” (#12, 2009), built an early following through web sites Facebook and MySpace
1985 ● J-Boog / (Jarell Houston) → Vocals for R&B/hip hop urban boy band B2K, “Bump, Bump, Bump” (#1, 2002)

August 12

1918 ● Roy C. Bennett / (Israel Brodsky) → Songwriter and collaborator with Sid Tepper, with whom he wrote over 300 songs, including “Red Roses For A Blue Lady” for Vaughn Monroe (#4, 1948), “The Young Ones” for Cliff Richard (UK #1, 1962) and over 40 for Elvis Presley, died of natural causes on 7/2/2015, age 96
1918 ● Sid Bernstein / → Music producer, promoter and concert impresario best known for bringing The Beatles to New York’s Carnegie Hall in 1964 and Shea Stadium in 1965, also booked shows in New York for The Rolling Stones, Herman’s Hermits, The Moody Blues, The Kinks and other British Invasion bands, managed The Rascals and Laura Nyro in the 60s and early 70s, later arranged tours for Jimi Hendrix, Fleetwood Mac and others, died at age 95 on 8/21/2013, age 95
1920 ● Percy Mayfield / → R&B balladeer and songwriter, solo artist, “Please Send Me Someone To Love” (R&B #1, 1950), wrote “Hit The Road Jack” for Ray Charles (#1, 1961), died following a heart attack on 8/11/1984, age 63
1926 ● Joe Jones / → New Orleans R&B singer, songwriter and arranger, pianist for B. B. King, solo artist, “You Talk To Much” (#3, 1960), record producer and manager for various R&B acts, including girl group The Dixie Cups, died following heart bypass surgery on 11/27/2005, age 79
1927 ● Porter Wagoner / → Country-pop megastar known for his rhinestone-encrusted suits, pompadour hairdo, 16 Country Top 10 hits, including “The Carroll County Accident” (#92, Country #2, 1968) and multiple duet albums and hits with protégée Dolly Parton (“Please Don’t Stop Loving Me,” Country #1, 1974), toured and performed at the Grand Ole Opry until just before his death from lung caner on 10/28/2007, age 80
1929 ● Buck Owens / (Alvis Edgar Owens, Jr.) → Country music megastar singer, songwriter and guitarist, pioneer of the “Bakersfield sound” blending country and pop, “I’ve Got A Tiger By The Tail” (#25, Country #1, 1965) and 19 other Country #1 hits, The Beatles covered his “Act Naturally” (#47, 1965), bandleader for The Buckaroos, TV host (Hee Haw), died after lengthy illnesses on 3/24/2006 , age 76
1944 ● Larry Troutman / → With three of his brothers and two non-family members, co-founder, percussion and backing vocals in underrated but influential funk sextet Zapp, “More Bounce To The Ounce” (R&B #2, 1980), shot and killed his brother and bandmate Roger Troutman in an apparent murder/suicide on 4/25/1999, age 54
1945 ● Joe Rascoff / (Joseph Fishel Rascoff) → New York City accounting firm partner who left in the early 70s to manage road financial affairs for The Rolling Stones, his company later expanded to business management and tour production for The Allman Brothers Band, David Bowie, U2, Paul Simon, Sting and others and advised artists on royalty negotiations and accounting, briefly led electronic dance music producer SFX Entertainment in the 10s before retiring, died firm prostate cancer on 4/6/2017, age 71
1948 ● Ron Mael / → With brother Russell Mael, keyboardist for quirky pop-rock Sparks, “This Town Ain’t Big Enough For The Both Of Us” (UK #2, 1974) and “Just Got Back From Heaven” (Dance/Club #7, 1989)
1949 ● Mark Knopfler / → Frontman, lead guitar, songwriter and vocals for post-punk New Wave rock Dire Straits, “Sultans Of Swing” (#4, 1979), solo, Notting Hillbillies
1950 ● Craig Douglas / (Terence Perkins) → Early Brit pop-rock singer, “Only Sixteen” (UK #1, 1959) plus nine other UK Top 40 singles
1950 ● Kid Creole / (Thomas August Darnell Browder) → Guitarist, songwriter and frontman for multi-genre, big band-style Latin-tinged pop-rock Kid Creole & The Coconuts, “It’s A Wonderful Thing, Baby” (Dance Club #18, UK #4, 1982)
1953 ● Jerry Speiser / → Drummer for Scottish-Australian Men At Work, “Down Under” (#1, UK #1, 1983), their Grammy-winning debut album, Business As Usual, was simultaneously the #1 US and UK album in January 1983, gaining them the distinction of being the only Aussie band to hold all four top spots at once
1954 ● Pat Metheny / → Seventeen-time Grammy-winning jazz-rock fusion guitarist, composer and bandleader, sessions and side projects with David Bowie, Gary Burton, Chick Corea and many others
1958 ● Jürgen Dehmel / → Bassist for German pop-rock band Nena, “99 Luftballons” (#2, 1984)
1961 ● Roy Hay / → Guitar and vocals for New Wave synth-pop Culture Club, “Karma Chameleon” (#1, 1984) plus seven other UK top 10 singles
1963 ● Sir Mix-A-Lot / (Anthony Ray) → Hip hop MC, producer and rapper, “Baby Got Back” (#1, 1992) which one a Grammy for Best Rap Performance
1968 ● Paul Tucker / → Keyboards for Brit R&B/Northern soul duo Lighthouse Family,”Lifted” (UK #4, 1996) and 9 other UK Top 40 hits
1969 ● Tanita Tikaram / → Brit folk-pop singer and songwriter, “Twist In My Sobriety” (Modern Rock #25, UK #22, 1988)

Albums Released This Week (July 31 – August 6)

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 31


● The Rascals —— Goovin’ ► Blue-Eyed Soul >> 1967
● Journey —— Escape ► Prog/Art Rock >> 1981
● Eddie Rabbitt —— Step By Step ► Country -Pop >> 1981
● Fugazi —— Steady Diet Of Nothing ► Post Hardcore Rock ‘N’ Roll >> 1991
● Ronan Keating —— Ronan ► Euro Dance-Pop >> 2000
● Little River Band —— Where We Started From ► Soft Rock >> 2001
● Rory Gallagher —— Live At Montreux ► Blues-Rock >> 2006
● Little River Band —— Forever Gold ► Soft Rock >> 2007
● Dave Matthews Band —— Live Trax ► AA Pop-Rock >> 2007
● Korn —— Untitled Album ► Post-Grunge/Nu Metal >> 2007
● Phish —— Chicago ’94 ► Prog Rock/Jam Band >> 2012
● Tony Banks —— A Chord Too Far ► Prog Rock >> 2015

August 01


● Brenda Lee —— Brenda Lee ► Country-Pop >> 1960
● Jethro Tull —— Stand Up ► Folk-Rock >> 1969
● Bonzo Dog Band —— Tadpoles ► Psychedelic Rock (Comedy) >> 1969
● Scorpions —— Lonesome Crow ► Heavy Metal/Kraut Rock >> 1972
● Bette Midler —— No Frills ► Pop-Rock Vocals >> 1983
● Aerosmith —— Rock And A Hard Place ► Hard Rock >> 1982
● Bruce Hornsby & The Range —— The Way It Is ► Pop-Rock >> 1986
● Little Feat —— Let It Roll ► Southern Rock >> 1988
● Bryan Adams —— So Far So Live ► Pop-Rock >> 1994
● AFI —— Answer That And Stay Fashionable ► Hardcore Punk >> 1995
● Jimmy Buffett —— Barometer Soup ► Folk-Rock >> 1995
● Pinetop Perkins —— Got My Mojo Workin’ ► Paino Blues >> 1995
● Deadsy —— Deadsy ► Synth Rock/Nu Metal >> 1996
● Big L —— The Big Picture ► Hardcore Rap >> 2000
● Carpenters —— As Time Goes By ► Easy Listening >> 2001
● Goo Goo Dolls —— iTunes Originals ► Alt Pop-Rock/Post-Grunge >> 2006
● Jimmy Buffett —— Live At Wrigley Field ► Folk-Rock >> 2006
● Jerry Garcia Band —— Pure Jerry: Coliseum, Hampton, VA, November 9, 1991 ► Roots Rock >> 2006
● Steely Dan —— Steely Dan: The Definitive Collection ► Jazz-Rock >> 2006

August 02


● Frank Zappa —— Fillmore East: June 1971 ► Art Rock >> 1971
● Elvis Presley —— Elvis ► Contemporary Adult Pop-Rock >> 1973
● Boston —— Don’t Look Back ► Arena Rock >> 1978
● Jackson Browne —— Lawyers In Love ► Folk-Rock >> 1983
● Poison —— Look What The Cat Dragged In ► Heavy Metal/Hair Metal >> 1986
● Vinnie Vincent Invasion —— Vinnie Vincent Invasion ► Hard Rock/Glam Metal >> 1986
● Midnight Oil —— Diesel And Dust ► Alt. Pop-Rock >> 1987
● Dwight Yoakam —— Buenas Noches From A Lonely Room ► Alt Country-Rock >> 1988
● Neil Young —— Borrowed Tunes: A Tribute To Neil Young ► Acoustic Rock >> 1994
● Immature —— Playtyme Is Over ► Pop-Rap >> 1994
● Jimi Hendrix —— Jimi Hendrix: Woodstock ► Blues-Rock >> 2004
● Talking Heads —— 12 X 12 Original Remixes ► New Wave Art-Rock >> 1999
● Michael Penn —— Mr. Hollywood, Jr., 1947 ► Alt. Pop-Rock >> 2005
● The Tubes —— Wild In London ► Alt. Rock >> 2005
● John Hiatt —— Dirty Jeans And Mudslide Hymns ► Roots Rock >> 2011
● Screaming Trees —— Last Words: The Final Recordings ► Neo-Psychedelia >> 2011

August 03


● Brenda Lee —— Grandma, What Great Songs You Sang! ► Country-Pop >> 1959
● Creedence Clearwater Revival —— Green River ► Folk-Rock >> 1969
● Canned Heat —— Future Blues ► Folk-Rock >> 1970
● Stevie Wonder —— Innervisions ► Pop-R&B >> 1973
● Talking Heads —— Fear Of Music ► New Wave Art-Rock >> 1979
● Cilla Black —— Especially For You ► Pop-Rock >> 1980
● Peter Frampton —— The Art Of Control ► Arena Rock >> 1982
● Def Leppard —— Hysteria ► Hard Rock >> 1987
● Babes In Toyland —— To Mother ► Hard Rock/Riot Grrl >> 1991
● The Hollywood Flames —— The Hollywood Flames ► Doo-Wop >> 1992
● Uncle Tupelo —— March 16-20, 1992 ► Alt. Country-Rock >> 1992
● The Beach Boys —— Summer In Paradise ► Pop-Rock >> 1992
● INXS —— Welcome To Wherever You Are ► New Wave Synth-Pop >> 1992
● Sheryl Crow —— Tuesday Night Music Club ► Blues-Rock >> 1993
● Buju Banton —— Voice Of Jamaica ► Dancehall Reggae >> 1993
● Kylie Minogue —— Mixes ► Dance-Pop >> 1998
● The Pietasters —— Awesome Mix Tape Vol. 6 ► Ska/Soul >> 1999
● REO Speedwagon —— The Ballads ► Arena Rock >> 1999
● Alison Krauss —— Forget About It ► Bluegrass >> 1999
● Basement Jaxx —— Remedy ► Progressive House >> 1999
● Cilla Black —— The Definitive Collection (A Life in Music) ► Pop-Rock >> 2009
● The Black Crowes —— Croweology ► Southern Rock >> 2010
● Gov’t Mule —— Mulennium ► Southern Rock/Jam Rock >> 2010

August 04


● Aretha Franklin —— Aretha Arrives ► Soul >> 1967
● Michael Jackson —— Ben ► Soul Ballad >> 1972
● Rainbow —— Ritchie Blackmore’s Rainbow ► Hard Rock >> 1975
● Slayer —— Haunting The Chapel ► Heavy Metal >> 1984
● Gin Blossoms —— New Misrable Experience ► Power Pop >> 1992
● Donovan —— Troubadour: The Definitive Collection 1964-1976 ► Folk-Rock >> 1992
● Pink Floyd —— 1967: The First Three Singles ► Prog Rock >> 1997
● Dimmu Borgir —— Godless Savage Garden ► Heavy Metal/Black Metal >> 1998
● Kraftwerk —— Tour De France Soundtracks ► Techno-Rock >> 2003

August 05


● The Beatles —— Revolver [UK] ► Pop-Rock >> 1966
● Pink Floyd —— The Piper At The Gates Of Dawn ► Prog Rock >> 1967
● The Stooges —— The Stooges ► Proto-Punk >> 1969
● Pat Benatar —— Crimes Of Passion ► Hard Rock >> 1980
● Elvis Costello And The Attractions —— Punch The Clock ► Alt. Pop-Rock >> 1983
● Young MC —— Brainstorm ► Rap >> 1991
● HiM —— Interpretive Belief System ► Heavy Metal/Goth Metal >> 1997
● 311 —— Transistor ► Alt. Pop-Rock >> 1997
● Jeff Beck —— Jeff ► Instrumental Rock >> 2003
● Jack Bruce —— More Jack Than God ► Prog Rock/Fusion >> 2003
● Bob Dylan —— Constructing The Legend ► Folk-Rock >> 2013

August 06


● Johnny Cash —— Ring Of Fire: The Best Of Johnny Cash ► Outlaw Country >> 1963
● The Beatles —— Help! [UK] ► Pop-Rock >> 1965
● Peter, Paul & Mary —— LifeLinesLive ► Folk-Pop >> 1996
● Barry White —— Can’t Get Enough ► Soul >> 1974
● Romeo Void —— Benefactor ► Post-Punk >> 1982
● Prince —— Purple Rain ► Album Rock >> 1984
● Midnight Oil —— Species Deceases ► Alt. Pop-Rock >> 1985
● Dramarama —— Live At The China Club ► Alt Hard Rock >> 1990
● Harem Scarem —— Harem Scarem ► Hard Rock/Glam Metal >> 1991
● Yes —— Yesyears ► Prog Rock >> 1991
● 2 Live Crew —— Shake A Lil’ Somethin’ ► East Coast Rap >> 1966
● Modest Mouse —— Interstate 8 ► Alt. Rock >> 1996
● The Human League —— Secrets ► New Wave Synth-Pop >> 2001
● Ringo Starr —— King Biscuit Flower Hour Presents Ringo & His All-Starr Band ► Pop-Rock >> 2002

This Week’s Birthdays (July 30 – August 5)

Happy Birthday this week to:

July 30

1926 ● Christine McGuire / → Vocals for immensely popular sibling singing trio the McGuire Sisters, “Sugartime” (#1, 1958)
1936 ● Buddy Guy / (George Guy) → Pioneering and highly influential Chicago blues guitarist and singer, “Stone Crazy” (R&B #12, 1962), #30 on Rolling Stone magazine’s 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time
1938 ● Kookie Byrnes / (Edward Byrne Breitenberger) → TV actor (played the character Gerald Lloyd Kookson III on 77 Sunset Strip) and one hit wonder novelty-pop singer, “Kookie, Kookie, Lend Me Your Comb” (#4, 1959), a take-off from his character’s constant combing of his pompadour
1940 ● Big Jack Johnson / (Jack Johnson) → Contemporary Delta blues guitarist, songwriter and bandleader with a dozen critically acclaimed electric blues albums, many with social activism themes, died from an undisclosed illness on 3/14/2001, age 60
1941 ● Paul Anka / → Canadian-born teen idol/contemporary pop/easy listening crooner and songwriter, “Lonely Boy” (#1, 1959), wrote the theme for The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson and Tom Jones‘ “She’s A Lady” (#2, 1971) and the lyrics to Frank Sinatra‘s “My Way” (#11, 1969)
1944 ● Chris Darrow / → Highly-skilled and sought-after multi-instrumentalist L.A. session musician, co-founded 60s eclectic folk-rock cult band Kaleidoscope, replaced Jackson Browne in country-rock the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band (“Mr. Bojangles,” #9, 1971), worked in Linda Ronstadt‘s backing band, recorded several solo albums and did studio work for James Taylor, Helen Reddy and many others, continues to record and produce folk- and country-rock music into the 10s
1945 ● David Sanborn / → Influential jazz-pop saxophonist with the blues-rock The Butterfield Blues Band, jazz-rock fusion The Brecker Brothers, “Sneakin’ Up Behind You” (#58, Disco #3, 1975), Grammy-winning solo career, “Bang Bang” (#53, Adult Contemporary #23, 1992), session work for David Bowie, James Taylor, Stevie Wonder and others
1946 ● Jeffrey Hammond-Hammond / → Bassist for long-lived Brit folk-rock Jethro Tull, “Living In The Past” (#11, 1973)
1949 ● Hugh Nicholson / → Guitarist and songwriter for Scottish freakbeat/psych-pop The Poets, “She Blew A Good Thing” (#45, R&B #2, 1966), then Scottish pop-rock Marmalade, “Reflections Of My Life” (#10, 1970) and pop-rock Blue, “Gonna Capture Your Heart” (#88, UK #18, 1977)
1949 ● Joyce Jones / → Singer for Philly R&B/disco female vocal group First Choice, “The Player, Part 1” (R&B #7, 1974)
1956 ● Phil Fearon / → Jamaican-born guitarist and singer for R&B/funk-pop Galaxy, “Dancing Tight” (1983), independent label record company executive
1957 ● David Joseph / → Keyboards and lead vocals for North London-based R&B/disco-funk boy band Hi-Tension, “British Hustle” (UK #8, 1978)
1957 ● Rat Scabies / (Chris Millar) → Founding member and drummer for first-wave punk rockers The Damned, “Eloise” (UK #3, 1986), solo and collaborations
1958 ● Kate Bush / → Hugely successful Brit alt pop-rock singer and songwriter, “Wuthering Heights” (UK #1, 1978) and “Love And Anger” (Modern Rock #1, UK #38, 1990)
1959 ● Vaughn Toulouse / (Vaughn Cotillard) → Lead vocals for New Wave ska-pop Department S, “Is Vic There?” (#67, UK #22, 1981), died from AIDS related illness on 8/22/1991, age 32
1963 ● Tex Axile / (Anthony Doughty) → Keyboards for punk-pop-dance Transvision Vamp, “Baby I Don’t Care” (, 1983)
1966 ● Craig Gannon / → Rhythm guitarist for 80s Scottish New Wave pop-rock Aztec Camera, jangle-pop-rock The Bluebells, “Young At Heart” (UK #1, 1983) and indie rock The Smiths, “Heaven Knows I’m Miserable Now” (UK #10, 1984), now a television and film composer/producer and session guitarist for multiple artists
1966 ● Jyoti Mishra / → India-born frontman, composer and multi-instrumentalist for one man band, one hit wonder alt dance-pop White Town, “Your Woman” (#23, UK #1, 1997)
1968 ● Louise Wener / → Vocals for Britpop Sleeper, “Sale Of The Century” (UK #10, 1996)
1968 ● Sean Moore / → Drummer for Brit alt rock/neo-punk Manic Street Preachers, “The Masses Against The Classes” (UK #1, 2000)
1970 ● MC Trouble / (LaTasha Sheron Rogers) → First female rapper signed to Motown Records, issued one album and a minor hit (“(I Wanna) Make You Mine,” Rap #15, 1990), while recording her second album died in her sleep from heart failure during an epileptic seizure on 6/4/1991, age 20
1971 ● Brad Hargreaves / → Drummer for post-grunge indie pop Third Eye Blind, “Semi-Charmed Life” (#4, 1997)
1977 ● Ian Watkins / → Singer for Welsh alt hard rock Lostprophets, “Last Train Home” (Mainstream Rock #10, 2004)
1980 ● Seth Avett / → With brother Scott, frontman and guitarist in progressive folk-rock quartet The Avett Brothers (Ain’t No Man,” AAA #1, Alt Rock #28, 2016)

July 31

1923 ● Ahmet Ertegun / → Turkish immigrant who co-founded and became chief executive of Atlantic Records, a dominant force in jazz, R&B and pop/rock and a prime force in moving Black American music into the mainstream, fell and struck his head on a concrete floor backstage at a Rolling Stones benefit concert for the Clinton Foundation and died seven weeks later on 12/14/2006, age 83
1931 ● Kenny Burrell / (Kenneth Earl Burrell) → Bebop, cool jazz and electric blues guitarist with dozens of solo albums and multiple collaborations with Lena Horne, B. B. King, Maria Muldaur, Jimmy Smith and many others, currently professor and Director of Jazz Studies at UCLA‘s Herb Alpert School of Music
1932 ● Morey Carr / → Vocals for novelty pop/rock ‘n’ roll The Playmates, “Beep Beep” (#4, 1958) plus 4 other Top 40 hits
1938 ● Bonnie Brown / (Bonnie Jean Brown) → Vocals for 50s-60s country-folk smooth harmony sibling trio The Browns (“The Three Bells,” #1, Country #1, 1959), retired from the music business in 1967 and died from lung cancer on 7/16/2016, age 77
1939 ● John West / → Electric organ (“Cordovox”) for pop-rock Gary Lewis & The Playboys, “This Diamond Ring” (#1, 1965) plus 11 other US Top 40 hits between 1965 and 1968
1942 ● Daniel Boone / (Peter Charles Green) → Britbeat pop singer with a number of minor hits in the 60s as lead vocals for The Beachcombers and The Bruisers, or as a solo artist with the pseudonyms Peter Stirling and Lee Stirling, then became one hit wonder pop-rock singer with “Beautiful Sunday” (#15, UK #21, 1972)
1943 ● Lobo / (Roland Kent Lavoie) → Country-folk-pop singer/songwriter and guitarist, “Me And You And A Dog Named Boo” (#5, 1971)
1946 ● Gary Lewis / (Gary Harold Lee Levitch) → Frontman, drums and vocals for pop-rock Gary Lewis & The Playboys, “This Diamond Ring” (#1, 1965) plus 11 other US Top 40 hits between 1965 and 1968, son of comedian/actor Jerry Lewis
1947 ● Karl Green / → Guitarist for British Invasion pop-rock Herman’s Hermits, “Mrs. Brown You’ve Got A Lovely Daughter” (#1. 1965)
1951 ● Carlo Karges / → Guitarist for German pop-rock band Nena, “99 Luftballons” (#2, 1984)
1953 ● Hugh McDowell / → Cello for pop-rock Electric Light Orchestra, “Don’t Bring Me Down” (#4, 1979) and 26 other Top 40 hits
1957 ● Daniel Ash / → Guitarist for seminal goth-rock Bauhaus, “Bela Lugosi’s Dead” (1979) and goth-pop Love And Rockets, “So Alive” (#3, 1989) , solo
1958 ● Bill Berry / → Drummer for influential post-punk R.E.M., “The One I Love” (#9, 1987), left the band in 1997 to work his hay farm in Georgia
1960 ● Malcolm Ross / → Guitarist for Scot New Wave pop-rock Aztec Camera, “The Crying Scene” (Modern Rock #3, 1990)
1963 ● Fatboy Slim / (Norman Quentin Leo Cook) → Bassist for Brit jangle-guitar pop-rock The Housemartins, “Caravan Of Love” (UK #1, 1986), DJ and remixer for electronic dance-pop Beats International, “Dub Be Good To Me” (Dance/Pop #1, 1990), founder of acid jazz Freak Power, “Turn On, Tune In, Cop Out” (UK #29, 1993), dance-pop Pizzaman and Brit-hop producer and solo artist, “The Rockafeller Skank” (#72, UK #6, 1998)
1964 ● Jim Corr / → With three sisters, guitars and keyboards in Irish folk-pop-rock sibling act The Corrs, “Breathless” (Adult Top 40 #7, 2000)
1964 ● Fuzz Townsend / (Robert Townsend) → Drummer for dance-rock Pop Will Eat Itself, “X, Y & Zee” (Modern Rock #11, 1991)
1971 ● John 5 / (John Lowery) → Guitarist for industrial-pop-metal/shock rock Marilyn Manson, “The Dope Show” (Mainstream Rock #12, 1998), five solo instrumental guitar albums, sessions for Garbage, Meat Loaf, Ozzy Osbourne and Lynyrd Skynyrd
1978 ● Will Champion / → Drummer for Brit-pop/anthem rock Coldplay, “Speed Of Sound” (#8, 2005)
1981 ● M. Shadows / (Matthew Sanders) → Lead vocalist and songwriter for pop/metal Avenged Sevenfold, “Bat Country” (#60, Mainstream Rock #2, 2005)

August 01

1898 ● Morris Stoloff / → Violinist, composer and arranger, wrote and performed “Moonglow” (#1, 1956), the love theme from the film Picnic (1956), arranged film scores for several other movies, including Lawrence Of Arabia (1962), died 4/16/1980, age 81
1929 ● Samuel Charters / → Grammy-winning music historian, record producer, musician, poet and widely published author of books on blues and jazz music, his first book, The Country Blues (1959) and accompanying album of the same name are credited with inspiring the folk music revival of the early 60s and injecting forgotten blues artists into the consciousness of dozens of blues-rock artists like The Allman Brothers Band, Cream and The Rolling Stones, died from bone marrow cancer on 3/18/2015, age 85
1930 ● Lionel Bart / (Lionel Begleiter) → Brit pop music songwriter and musical composer, best known for writing the theme song to the James Bond film From Russia With Love (1966) and the hit musical Oliver!, wrote commercial jingles and staged other musicals until his death from cancer on 4/3/1999, age 68
1931 ● Ramblin’ Jack Elliott / (Elliot Charles Adnopoz) → Influential country-folk guitarist, one time protégé of folk legend Woody Guthrie, played in Bob Dylan‘s Rolling Thunder Revue and with Pete Seeger, Jerry Garcia, Grateful Dead and others, Grammy-winning blues album A Stranger Here in 2009
1941 ● Rock Scully / (Rock Robert Scully) → San Francisco rock promoter and manager for psych/folk rock/jam band Grateful Dead (“Truckin’,” #64, 1970) from 1965 to 1985, during which he negotiated the band’s first contract with Warner Brothers and helped orchestrate the transformation from a loose folk and bluegrass outfit to one of rock music’s most memorable and enduring acts, died from lung cancer on 12/16/2014, age 73
1942 ● Jerry Garcia / (Jerome John Garcia) → Founding member, lead guitarist, vocals, songwriter and de facto frontman for rock’s longest, strangest trip Grateful Dead, “Sugar Magnolia” (#91, 1973) and “Touch Of Grey” (#9, 1987), solo and various collaborations, died from a drug-related heart attack on 8/9/1995, age 53
1946 ● Boz Burrell / (Raymond Burrell) → Bassist for prog/space-rock King Crimson, “The Court Of The Crimson King” (#80, 1970), founding member of hard rock supergroup Bad Company, “Can’t Get Enough” (#5, 1974), died following a heart attack on 9/21/2006, age 60
1947 ● Rick Anderson / → Bassist for camp-rock pop-rock satirists The Tubes, “She’s A Beauty” (#10, 1978)
1947 ● Rick Coonce / → Drummer for AM Top 40 pop-rockers The Grass Roots, “Midnight Confessions” (#5, 1968), left the band in 1971 and moved to Canada to become a farmer and social worker, died from heart failure on 2/25/2011, age 63
1949 ● Jim Carroll / → Author, poet, punk rock bandleader, “People Who Died” (#51, 1980), wrote the autobiography The Basketball Diaries, which became a film starring Leonardo DiCaprio (1995), died from a heart attack on 9/11/2009, ager 60
1951 ● Tim Bachman / → With his brothers Randy and Robbie, guitarist for Canadian hard rockers Bachman-Turner Overdrive, “You Ain’t Seen Nothing Yet” (#1, 1974), left in 1974 to pursue a music production career
1951 ● Tommy Bolin / → Underrated and short-lived blues-rock guitarist, first with hard rock Zephyr, then with jazz-rock fusion drummer Billy Cobham on the classic Spectrum album, replaced Joe Walsh in the James Gang, joined Deep Purple in 1972 to replace Ritchie Blackmore, left for solo career, died of a heroin overdose on 12/4/1976, age 25
1953 ● Robert Cray / → Grammy-winning contemporary blues guitarist and vocalist , “Smoking Gun” (#22, Mainstream Rock #2, 1986)
1958 ● Michael Penn / → Late-80s pop/rock singer, songwriter and guitarist, “No Myth” (#13, 1989), brother of actor Sean Penn
1958 ● Robert Buck / → Guitarist and songwriter with folk-pop 10,000 Maniacs, “These Are Days” (Alt-Rock #1, 1992), also played in folk-pop John & Mary with other bandmates, died from liver disease on 12/19/2000, age 42
1959 ● Joe Elliott / → Vocals for hard rock/Brit New Wave of Heavy Metal band Def Leppard, “Love Bites” (#1, 1988), formed hard rock Down ‘N’ Outz in 2009
1960 ● Chuck D. / (Carlton Douglas Ridenhour) → Rapper and vocals for influential early hip hop group Public Enemy, “Fight The Power” (Rap #1, 1989), author, producer
1960 ● Suzi Gardner / → Guitar and vocals for all-girl post-punk/grunge band L7, “Pretend We’re Dead” (Alt Rock #8, 1992)
1963 ● Coolio / (Artis Leon Ivey, Jr.) → Musician, reality TV show actor, producer and rapper, “Gangsta’s Paradise” (#1, 1995)
1964 ● Adam Duritz / → Piano, guitar, vocals, songwriting and frontman for alt-rock Counting Crows, “Mr. Jones” (Modern Rock #2, 1994), solo, producer and record company executive
1964 ● Nick Christian Sayer / → Guitarist for punk-pop-dance Transvision Vamp, “Baby I Don’t Care” (, 1983)
1968 ● Dan Donegan / → Guitarist for Chicago-based heavy metal Disturbed, “Another Way To Die” (Mainstream Rock #1, 2010)
1970 ● Kenwyn House / → Guitar for hard-edged Brit pop Reef, “Place Your Hands” (Mainstream Rock #29, 1997) from the UK #1 album Glow
1978 ● Dhani Harrison / → Guitarist and son of George Harrison, completed his father’s final album, Brainwashed, after his death in 2001, now founder, lead guitar and vocals for alt rock Thenewno2
1981 ● Ashley Angel / (Ashley Ward Parker) → Vocals for pre-fab teen idol boy-band O-Town, “All Or Nothing” (#3, 2001)

August 02

1935 ● Hank Cochran / (Garland Perry “Hank” Cochran) → Country-pop music songwriter with seven charting hits of his own in the 60s-80s but better known for penning hits for Patsy Cline (“I Fall To Pieces,” #12, AC #6, Country #1, 1961) and Eddy Arnold (“Make The World Go Away,” #6, AC #1, Country #1, 1965), and songs covered by dozens of artists, including Elvis Costello, Linda Ronstadt and Norah Jones, died from pancreatic cancer on 7/15/2010, age 75
1937 ● Garth Hudson / (Eric Garth Hudson) → Canadian organist, keyboardist and saxophonist for seminal roots rockers The Band, “Chest Fever” (1968), sessions and solo
1939 ● Edward Patten / → Vocals in R&B/soul-pop family quartet Gladys Knight & The Pips, “Midnight Train To Georgia” (#1, 1973)
1941 ● Andrew Steele / → Drummer for Brit psych-rock band The Herd, “I Don’t Want Our Loving To Die” (UK #5, 1968), then Scottish folk-pop-rock Stealers Wheel, “Stuck In The Middle With You” (#6, 1973), died 4/18/2005, age 63
1941 ● Doris Coley / (Doris Coley Kenner-Jackson) → Vocals for first 60s girl-group to achieve national prominence, The Shirelles, “Will You Love Me Tomorrow” (#1, 1961), died of breast cancer 2/4/2000, age 58
1943 ● Kathy Lennon / → With her sisters, vocals in semi-religious pop vocal quartet The Lennon Sisters (“Tonight You Belong To Me,” #15, 1956), performed regularly on TV variety shows, including The Lawrence Welk Show from 1955 to 1968, continues to record and perform as a trio in the 10s
1944 ● Jim Capaldi / (Nicola James Capaldi) → Drummer, songwriter and founding member of folk-psych-rock Traffic, “Paper Sun” (#94, UK #5, 1967), began solo career in 1972 and released “Love Hurts” (UK #4, 1975) and “That’s Love” (#28, 1982), session work and songwriting collaborations, died from stomach cancer on 1/28/2005, age 60
1946 ● John Fleck / (John Fleckenstein) → Bass guitarist (1965-1966) for influential garage/psych rock Love, “7 And 7 Is” (#33, 1966), then briefly with garage/proto-punk The Standells, “Dirty Water” (#11, 1966)
1948 ● Andrew Fairweather Low / → Welsh roots rock guitarist, songwriter and singer, founding member of early prog rock septet Amen Corner, “(If Paradise Is) Half As Nice” (UK #1, 1969), then frontman for hard rock Fair Weather, “Natural Sinner” (UK #6, 1970), solo and sessions plus backing bands for The Who, Roger Waters, Eric Clapton, George Harrison, Bill Wyman and others
1949 ● “Fat Larry” James / (Larry E. James) → Drummer, singer and frontman for R&B/soul-funk Fat Larry’s Band, “Act Like You Know” (Dance/Club #24, 1982), died on 12/5/1987 of a heart attack
1950 ● Ted Turner / (David Alan Turner) → Dual lead guitar and vocals for Brit prog-rock Wishbone Ash, “Time Was” (1972), session work for George Harrison, Billy Preston, Al Stewart and others
1951 ● Andrew Gold / → Pop and light rock (L. A. sound) singer/songwriter, “Lonely Boy” (#7, 1977), session musician for James Taylor, Carly Simon, Nicolette Larson and others, died in his sleep on 6/3/2011, age 59
1951 ● Joe Lynn Turner / (Joseph Linquito) → Guitar, vocals for hard rock Fandango, joined Ritchie Blackmore’s Rainbow in 1981 as lead vocalist, “Stone Cold” (Mainstream Rock #1, 1982), left in 1985 for solo career, “Endlessly” (Mainstream Rock #19, 1985), joined Deep Purple briefly, “King Of Dreams” (Mainstream Rock #6, 1990), solo
1953 ● Donnie Munro / (Donaidh Rothach) → Lead guitar and vocals for Scottish Celtic folk-rock Runrig, “An Ubhal As Airde (The Highest Apple)” (UK #18, 1995), solo
1957 ● Butch Vig / (Bryan Vigorson) → Founding member and drummer for Scottish-American alt rock Garbage, “Stupid Girl” (Dance/Club #5, 1996), recording engineer and producer for Nirvana‘s Nevermind album (1991), Sonic Youth, The Smashing Pumpkins‘ Gish (1991), L7, Soul Asylum and others
1957 ● Mojo Nixon / (Neill Kirby McMillan, Jr.) → Satirical comedy/novelty singer, songwriter and guitarist, “Debbie Gibson Is Pregnant With My Two-Headed Love Child” (Modern Rock #16, 1989)
1959 ● Johnny Kemp / → Bahamian R&B/dance-pop singer, songwriter and session vocalist whose biggest hit, “Just Got Paid” (#10, R&B #1, 1988) was nominated for a Grammy Award, found floating off a beach and presumed drowned in an accident on 4/16/2015, age 55
1961 ● Apollonia / (Patricia Kotero) → One of several female singers and musicians associated with Prince, lead actress in the film Purple Rain (1984), replaced singer Vanity in dance-pop trio Vanity 6 which was rechristened Apollonia 6 (“Sex Shooter” Dance/Club #32, 1984) plus solo a mildly successful solo career (“Since I Fell For You,” Dance/Club #6, 1988)
1961 ● Pete De Freitas / → Drummer for gloomy post-punk psych-rock Echo & The Bunnymen, “Enlighten Me” (Modern Rock #8, 1990), died in a motorcycle accident on 6/14/1989, age 27
1962 ● Lee Mavers / → Guitar and vocals for Brit jangle pop The La’s, “There She Goes” (#49, UK #13, 1991)
1965 ● Al Macaulay / → Drummer for Brit folk-pop-soul Tindersticks, “Bathtime” (UK #38, 1997)
1970 ● Zelma Davis / → Vocals for dance-pop C+C Music Factory, “Gonna Make You Sweat” (#1, 1991)

August 03

1917 ● Les Elgart / → Swing, dance and jazz-pop bandleader, with his brother, Larry, recorded the original version of “Bandstand Boogie,” the theme song long-running teen dance show American Bandstand, withdrew from performing in the late 60s, died from heart failure on 7/29/1995, age 78
1921 ● Richard Adler / → Lyricist, composer and producer of acclaimed 50s Broadway shows, with songwriting partner Jerry Ross created several hit songs, among them “Rags To Riches” (Tony Bennett, #1, 1953) and “Whatever Lola Wants” (Sarah Vaughan, #6, 1955), following Ross‘s death in 1955 continued to write and co-write but had little commercial success, died from natural causes on 6/21/2012, age 90
1924 ● Gordon Stoker / → Vocals and piano for premier Southern gospel backing group The Jordanaires, worked behind Elvis Presley for 25 years, backed Patsy Cline and other Nashville country stars, died after a long illness on 3/27/2013, age 88
1926 ● Tony Bennett / (Anthony Dominic Benedetto) → Fourteen-time Grammy-winning pop and easy listening singer, “I Left My Heart In San Francisco” (#19, 1962) and eight other Top 40 singles and four other Adult Contemporary Top 10 hits
1929 ● Arthur Wood / → Original keyboardist with Brit blues-rock Climax Blues Band, “Couldn’t Get It Right” (#3, 1977)
1936 ● Kenny Hodges / → Bass and backing vocals for folk-sunshine-pop Spanky & Our Gang, “Someday Will Never Be The Same” (#9, 1967), died from viral pneumonia on 1/29/2013, age 76
1938 ● Terry Wogan / (Sir Michael Terrence Wogan) → Irish-born BBC radio and TV personality, Radio 2 host of various programs over nearly 40 years, including Wake Up To Wogan and Eurovision Song Contest
1939 ● Jimmy Nicol / → Drummer and temporary member of The Beatles for nine Australian gigs in June 1964 at the height of Beatlemania, sitting in after Ringo Starr collapsed and was hospitalized on 6/3/964 with tonsillitis, returned to obscurity when Ringo rejoined the band on 6/14/1964
1941 ● Beverly Lee / → Vocals for first 60s girl-group to achieve national prominence, The Shirelles, “Will You Love Me Tomorrow” (#1, 1961)
1946 ● John Foley York / → Bassist for The Byrds replacing departed Chris Hillman in 1968, “Lay Lady Lay” (#132, 1969), solo and various collaborations and Byrds spin-offs
1949 ● B .B. Dickerson / (Morris Dickerson) → Bassist for laid-back R&B/soul-funk War, “Spill The Wine” (#3, 1970), continued with spin-off Lowrider Band
1951 ● John Graham / → Guitarist for R&B/soul-dance-pop Earth, Wind & Fire, “Shining Star” (#1, 1975)
1953 ● Ian Bairnson / → Guitarist for soft pop-rock Pilot, “Magic” (#1, 1974)
1953 ● Randy Scruggs / → Grammy-winning country singer/songwriter, producer and session player, solo artist, “It’s Only Love” (Country #67, 1998), son of legendary country/bluegrass great Earl Scruggs
1956 ● Kirk Brandon / → Co-founder, guitar and vocals for Brit post-punk/goth/indie rock Spear Of Destiny, “Strangers In Our Town” (Dance/Club #40, 1987)
1959 ● Martin Atkins / → Session drummer and member of post-punk Public Image Ltd., “This Is Not A Love Song” (UK #5, 1983), fronted industrial music collective Pigface, worked in industrial metal band Ministry, “I Wanted To Tell Her” (Dance/Club #13, 1983), Nine Inch Nails, “The Day The World Went Away” (#17, 1999) and post-punk/gloom-industrial metal Killing Joke, “Follow The Leaders” (#25, 1981), Invisible Records founder and chief executive
1963 ● Ed Roland / → Founder, primary songwriter, guitarist and engineer/producer for post-grunge alt rock Collective Soul, “Shine” (#11, Mainstream Rock #1, 1994)
1963 ● James Hetfield / → Co-founder, rhythm guitar, chief songwriter and lead vocals for Grammy-winning heavy metal Metallica, “Enter Sandman” (#16, 1991), ranked #24 in Hit Parader magazine’s 100 Greatest Metal Vocalists of All Time
1966 ● Dean Sams / → Keyboards and backing vocals for cross-over country-rockers Lonestar, “Amazed” (#1, 1999)
1967 ● Skin / (Deborah Anne Dyer) → Vocals for Brit alt rock/metal Skunk Anansie, “All I Want” (UK #14, 1996)
1971 ● DJ Spinderella / (Deidra Muriel Roper) → Vocals for female hip hop trio Salt-N-Pepa, “Let’s Talk About Sex” (#13, 1991)
1973 ● Stephen Carpenter / → Guitar for Grammy-winning alt heavy metal Deftones, “Change (In The House Of Flies)” (Mainstream Rock #9, 2000)
1985 ● Brent Kutzle / → Bass guitar and cello for self-proclaimed “genreless” pop-rock OneRepublic, “Apologize” (#1, 2006), most popular digital download/highest airplay song ever to-date
1985 ● Holly Blake-Arnstein / → Lead vocals for R&B/dance-pop all-girl quartet Dream, “He Loves U Not” (#2, 2000)

August 04

1901 ● Louis “Satchmo” Armstrong / → Immensely influential jazz trumpeter and early soloist, enduring and Grammy-winning pop/easy listening singer and bandleader, “Hello, Dolly!” (#1, 1964) and “What a Wonderful World” (#116, UK #1, 1968) plus “When The Saints Go Marching In” and “Ain’t Misbehavin’”, died in his sleep from a heart attack on 7/6/1971, age 69
1936 ● Elsbeary Hobbs / → Bass vocals for Harlem-based R&B/doo wop The Five Crowns, the core of which became post-1958 R&B The Drifters, “Up On The Roof” (1963), died 5/31/1996, age 59
1939 ● Frankie Ford / (Francis Guzzo) → One hit wonder blue-eyed New Orleans soul singer, “Sea Cruise” (#14, 1959), continued to record and perform on the oldies circuit into the 00s, died from natural causes on 9/28/2015, age 76
1940 ● Larry Knechtel / → Keyboard player and bass guitarist, performed and recorded with numerous bands, including early rocker Duane Eddy‘s Rebels and soft MOR pop-rock Bread, “Make It With You” (#1, 1970), stood in as bass player for several Doors albums, as a session musician was a member of the L.A.-based session group The Wrecking Crew, worked with Phil Spector as a pianist in the “Wall of Sound,” won a Grammy Award for his piano on Simon & Garfunkel‘s “Bridge Over Troubled Water” and played harmonica and electric guitar on The Byrds‘ “Mr. Tambourine Man,” toured with Neil Diamond, Dixie Chicks and other artists and contributed to many albums through the 00s, died from a heart attack on 8/20/2009, age 69
1941 ● Timi Yuro / (Rosemary Timotea Aurro) → Blue-eyed R&B/pop-soul one hit wonder singer, “Hurt” (#2, 1961), toured with Frank Sinatra and appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show, American Bandstand and other music variety programs in the 60s, died of cancer on 5/30/2004, age 62
1943 ● David Carr / → Keyboards and vocals for Brit pop/rock harmony vocals The Fortunes, “You’ve Got Your Troubles” (#7, 1965)
1947 ● Dave Manders / → Guitar and lead vocals 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
1947 ● Klaus Schulze / → Pioneering German electronic music composer and multi-instrumentalist, in late-60s member of atmospheric space/new age electro-synth proto-Kraut rock Tangerine Dream, left to co-found “kosmiche rock” Ash Ra Tempel in 1971, subsequent solo career includes over 60 albums released over five decades
1947 ● Paul Layton / → Guitar and vocals for folk-sunshine pop The New Seekers, “I’d Like To Teach The World To Sing” (#7, 1972)
1951 ● Roy Flowers / → Vocalist and drummer for Philly-style Brit R&B/soul Sweet Sensation, “Sad Sweet Dreamer” (, , 1975)
1952 ● Moya Brennan / (Maire Ni Bhraonian) → The “First Lady Of Celtic Music,” Emmy-winning singer, songwriter, harpist and frontwoman in Celtic folk-pop sibling group Clannad, “Harry’s Game” (UK #5, 1982), the only British hit single ever to be sung in Irish
1953 ● Vini Reilly / (Vincent Gerard Reilly) → Frontman for Manchester post-punk The Dunutti Column, the first act signed to Factory Records in the late 70s, also collaborated or did session work with Morrissey, Happy Mondays and other local bands, charted several solo albums in the U.K. Top 10 in the 80s, continues to record and perform in the 10s
1958 ● Ian Broudie / → Vocals, guitar and frontman for alt rock/Britpop studio project The Lightning Seeds, “Pure” (#31, UK #16, 1989) and later as a full alt rock band, “Three Lions” (UK #1, 1996)
1959 ● Robbin Crosby / → Guitarist for hard rock/glam and hair metal Ratt, “Round And Round” (#12, 1984), died from AIDS on 6/6/2002, age 42
1960 ● Graham Massey / → Keyboards for electronic/acid-house band 808 State, “Pacific State” (, 1989)
1962 ● Joey Huffman / → Keyboard and organ player, member of southern rock the Georgia Satellites (“Keep Your Hands To Yourself,” #2, 1986), did session work and toured with numerous bands, including Matchbox Twenty, Soul Asylum andLynyrd Skynyrd, currently in Hank Williams, Jr.‘s touring band
1962 ● Paul Reynolds / → Guitarist for bizarrely-teased hair New Wave pop-rock A Flock of Seagulls, “I Ran (So Far Away)” (#9, 1982)
1963 ● Sam Yaffa / (Sami Takamäki) → Bassist for Finnish glam-punk-metal Hanoi Rocks, covered Creedence Clearwater Revival‘s “Up Around The Bend” (UK #61, 1984)
1966 ● Andy Henderson / → Drummer for Britpop Echobelly, “Great Things” (UK #13, 1995)
1968 ● Rob Cieka / → Drummer for 90s Brit guitar-pop The Boo Radleys, “Barney (…And Me)” (Alt Rock #30, 1994)
1969 ● Max Cavalera / → Guitar and vocals for Brazilian heavy metal/thrash metal Sepultura, “Roots Bloody Roots” (UK #19, 1996)
1971 ● Yo-Yo / (Yolanda Whitaker) → Grammy-nominated rapper, “You Can’t Play With My Yo Yo” (#36, Rap #1, 1991), protégé of gangsta rapper Ice Cube, actress in several films, including Sister Act 2: Back In The Habit (1993)
1981 ● Batman Houston / (Marques Houston) → Vocals for L.A. pre-teen R&B/pop-rap Immature, “Never Lie” (#5, 1994), then name change to Imx, “Stay The Night” (#23, 1999), TV actor, producer for B2K and Destiny’s Child, among others

August 05

1930 ● Damita Jo Deblanc / → Comedian, actress and R&B/lounge singer with two “answer songs,” “I’ll Save The Last Dance For You” (#22, 1960) and “I’ll Be There” (#12, 1961), toured with Redd Foxx, died from respiratory failure on 12/25/1998, age 68
1933 ● Billy Lee Riley / → Early Sun Records studio musician, rockabilly singer and songwriter, with his band The Little Green Men recorded several songs at Sun, among them “Flyin’ Saucers Rock & Roll” and “Red Hot,” but largely played behind other stars like Jerry Lee Lewis, Elvis Presley and Carl Perkins, continued to tour and perform until his death from colon cancer on 8/2/2009, age 76
1941 ● Airto Moreira / → Brazilian drummer for jazz-rock fusion group Weather Report, “Birdland” (1976), bandleader and solo
1942 ● Rick Huxley / → Bassist and vocals for Brit Invasion pop-rock Dave Clark Five, “Catch Us If You Can” (#4, 1965) and 11 other Top 25 hits in the US, died after a long bout with emphysema on 2/11/2013, age 70
1943 ● Sammi Smith / (Jewel Raye Smith) → Country-pop crossover singer with one big hit, her cover of Kris Kristofferson‘s “Help Me Make It Though The Night” (#8, Country #1, 1971) among seven total Country Top 20 singles, one of the rare females in the “outlaw country” movement of the 70s, largely disappeared from the music business in the 80s, died from emphysema on 2/15/2005, age 61
1943 ● Sandy Pearlman / (Samuel Clarke Pearlman) → Music critic for rock-culture Crawdaddy magazine, record producer, band manager, executive and college professor best known for managing, producing and writing for hard rock/pop-metal Blue Öyster Cult (“(Don’t Fear) The Reaper,” #12, 1976) and producing albums by The Dictators (The Dictators Go Girl Crazy, 1975) and The Clash (Give ‘Em Enough Rope, 1978), suffered a cerebral hemorrhage and died from pneumonia seven months later on 7/26/2016, age 72
1947 ● Greg Leskiw / → Guitarist for Canadian rockers The Guess Who, “American Woman” (#1, 1970)
1947 ● Rick Derringer / (Richard Zehringer) → Rock guitarist, vocalist and founder of pop-rock The McCoys, “Hang On Sloopy” (#1, 1965), then joined hard rock Edgar Winter Group, “Frankenstein” (#1, 1973), then solo, “Rock And Roll, Hoochie Koo” (#23, 1974) and session work with Steely Dan, Alice Cooper, Todd Rundgren, Led Zeppelin, Kiss and others, producer
1952 ● Louis Walsh / → Irish manager for pre-fab teen-pop boy bands Boyzone and Westlife, all-girl Euro-pop vocal group Girls Aloud, Samantha Mumba, G4 and others, judge on reality TV Popstars : The Rivals and with Simon Cowell and Sharon Osbourne on talent show The X Factor
1953 ● Samantha Sang / (Cheryl Lau Sang) → One hit wonder Aussie pop vocalist, “Emotion” (#3, 1978), backing vocals for Eric Carmen and The Bee Gees
1955 ● Eddie “Fingers” Ojeda / → Guitarist for heavy metal Twisted Sister, “We’re Not Gonna Take It” (#21, 1983)
1959 ● Pat Smear / (Georg Albert Ruthenburg) → Guitarist and founding member of L.A. punk rock The Germs, “Lexicon Devil” (1979), bit-part TV actor and solo artist during the 80s, in 90s toured with grunge rock Nirvana, briefly with post-grunge Foo Fighters
1959 ● Pete Burns / (Peter Jozzeppi Burns) → Lead vocals, chief songwriter and androgynous frontman for Brit dance-pop Hi-NRG group Dead Or Alive, “You Spin Me ‘Round (Like A Record)” (#11, UK #1, 1985), later became a flamboyant reality TV personality and occasional host, died from a heart attack on 10/30/206, age 57
1960 ● Stuart Croxford Neale / → Synthesizer and vocals for one hit wonder New Wave light synth-bubblegum-pop Kajagoogoo, “Too Shy” (#5, 1983)
1963 ● Mike Nocito / → Bass guitar for underappreciated, one hit wonder New Wave sophisti-pop Johnny Hates Jazz, “Shattered Dreams” (#2, 1988)
1964 ● MCA / (Adam Nathaniel Yauch) → Founding member and bassist for hardcore punk then hip hop masters Beastie Boys, “Fight For Your Right” (#7, 1987), videographer and film producer, died from cancer on 5/4/2012, age 47
1965 ● Jeff Coffin / → Saxophonist for Grammy-winning progressive folk-bluegrass Béla Fleck And The Flecktones, “The Sinister Minister” (Best Pop Instrumental, 1997) and pop-funk-rock jam band Dave Matthews Band, “Don’t Drink The Water” (#4, 1998)
1966 ● Jennifer Finch / → Bassist for all-girl post-punk/grunge band L7, “Pretend We’re Dead” (Alt Rock #8, 1992)
1974 ● Simon Dawbarn / → Vocals and co-founding member of Brit teen-dance-pop boy band 911, covered The Bee Gee’s‘s “More Than A Woman” (UK #2, 1998) and Bobby Gosh‘s “A Little Bit More” (UK #1, 1999), a US #11 hit for Dr. Hook & The Medicine Show in 1976
1975 ● Dan Hipgrave / → Guitarist and vocals for alt pub rock/white soul Toploader, covered “Dancing In The Moonlight” (UK Top 10, 2000)
1983 ● Dawn Angelique Richard / → Singer for MTV Making the Band program winner and pre-fab, all-girl dance-pop quintet Danity Kane, “Show Stopper” (#8, 2006)

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