BIRTHDAYS John "Dizzy" Gillespie (1917) jazz trumpeter/composer/singer (died 1993) age 75 – pancreatic cancer Norman Wright (1937) Del-Vikings tenor singer ["Come Go With Me"] (died 2010) age 72 – long illness Manfred Mann (1940) Manfred Mann and Manfred Mann's Earth Band keyboardist/guitarist/songwriter/singer/founder Jimmy Beaumont (1940) The Skyliners lead singer/songwriter/co-founder ["Since I Don’t Have You"/"Pennies From Heaven"] (died 2017) age 76 – unknown causes…

BIRTHDAYS Jelly Roll Morton (1890) ragtime and jazz pianist/bandleader/composer (died 1941) age 50 – asthma Grandpa Jones (1913) country singer/banjoist ["T for Texas"], also actor (died 1998) age 84 – strokes Eddie Harris (1934) jazz tenor saxophonist ["Compared to What"] (died 1996) age 62 – congestive heart failure Jay Siegel (1939) The Tokens lead singer/co-founder ["The Lion Sleeps Tonight"] John Carter (1934) The New Vaudeville Band lead singer/co-founder ["Winchester Cathedral"]

BIRTHDAYS Dave Guard (1934) The Kingston Trio singer/guitarist/banjoist/co-founder ["Tom Dooley"] (died 1991) age 56 – cancer George McCrae (1944) soul and disco singer ["Rock Your Baby"] Peter Tosh (1944) The Wailers singer/guitarist/keyboardist/co-founder and solo singer/guitarist/keyboardist (died 1987) age 42 – murdered (during home invasion) Jeannie C. Riley (1945) country and gospel singer ["Harper Valley PTA"] Keith Reid (1946) Procol Harum lyricist/songwriter/co-founder ["Whiter Shade of Pale"/"Conquistador"] (died 2023) age 76 – colon cancer…

BIRTHDAYS Charles "Chuck" Berry (1926) singer/guitarist/songwriter (died 2017) age 90 – cardiac arrest Ronnie Bright (1938) The Coasters bass singer (died 2015) age 77 – unknown causes Cynthia Weil (1940) songwriter ["You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'"/"Kicks"/"(You're My) Soul and Inspiration"/'"On Broadway"/"We Gotta Get Out of This Place"/"Here You Coma Again"] (died 2023) age 82 – unknown causes Russ Giguere (1943) The Association singer/percussionist/guitarist/co-founder…

BIRTHDAYS The Singing Nun (1933) folk singer/guitarist ["Dominique"] (died 1985) age 51 – suicide Jim Seals (1941) Seals and Croft singer/co-founder ["Summer Breeze"/"Diamond Girl'] (died 2022) age 80 – long illness Earl Thomas Conley (1941) country singer/guitarist/songwriter (died 2019) age 77 – cerebral atrophy Alan Howard (1941) Brian Poole and the Tremeloes bassist/co-founder ["Silence is Golden"] Gary Puckett (1942) Gary Puckett & The Union Gap lead singer/guitarist/founder and solo singer/guitarist/founder…

BIRTHDAYS Nico (1938) Velvet Underground singer and solo singer/songwriter/lyricist/composer, also actress (died 1988) age 49 – cerebral hemorrhage Charles "Fred" Turner (1943) Bachman-Turner Overdrive bassist/songwriter/singer/co-founder ["Roll on Down the Highway"/"Let It Ride"/"Take It Like a Man"] Roger Hawkins (1945) Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section drummer ["When a Man Loves a Woman"/"Mustang Sally"/"Respect"/"I'll Take You There"/"Old Time Rock & Roll"] (died 2021) age 75 – chronic obstructive pulmonary disease…

BIRTHDAYS MacHouston "Mickey" Baker (1925) Mickey & Sylvia guitarist/singer/songwriter/co-founder ["Love is Strange"] and session guitarist (died 2012) age 87 – heart and kidney failure Barry McGuire (1935) singer/songwriter/guitarist/harmonica player ["Eve of Destruction"] (died 1993) age 54 – stroke Fela Kuti (1938) Afrobeat multi-instrumentalist/singer/songwriter (died 1997) age 58 – AIDS-related complications Marv Johnson (1938) R&B and soul singer ["Come to Me"/"You've Got What It Takes"] (died 1993) age 54 – stroke…

BIRTHDAYS Robert Parker (1930) R&B singer/saxophonist ["Barefootin'"] (died 2020) age 89 – natural causes Melba Montgomery (1938) country singer/songwriter ["No Charge" (with George Jones)] (died 2024) age 86 – dementia Cliff Richard (1940) Cliff Richard and the Shadows lead singer/guitarist/songwriter/cofounder and solo singer/guitarist/songwriter ["Devil Woman"/"We Don’t Talk Anymore"] Billy Harrison (1942) Them guitarist/co-lead singer/co-founder Colin Hodgkinson (1945) Whitesnake bassist Dan McCafferty (1946) Nazareth lead singer/songwriter/co-founder (died 2022) age 76 – chronic obstructive pulmonary disease complications…

BIRTHDAYS Etterlene "Mama" DeBarge-Rodriguez (1935) DeBarge singer/co-founder (died 2024) age 88 – unknown causes Shirley Caesar-Williams (1938) gospel singer Paul Simon (1941) Simon & Garfunkel singer/guitarist/songwriter/co-founder and solo singer/guitarist/songwriter Robert Lamm (1944) Chicago keyboardist/singer/songwriter/co-founder Sammy Hagar (1947) Montrose and Chickenfoot lead singer/guitarist/songwriter/co-founder, Van Halen lead singer/guitarist/songwriter, and solo singer/guitarist/songwriter Lacy J. Dalton (1946) country singer/songwriter/guitarist John Ford Coley (1948) England Dan & John Ford Coley singer/guitarist/songwriter/pianist/keyboardist/co-founder ["I'd Really Love to See You Tonight"/"Love is the Answer"]

BIRTHDAYS Joe Olivier (1927) Bill Haley and His Comets guitarist (died 2001) age 74 – diabetes surgery complications Sam Moore (1935) Sam & Dave singer/songwriter/co-founder and solo singer/songwriter (died 2025) age 89 – surgery complications Luciano Pavarotti (1935) operatic tenor (died 2007) age 71 – pancreatic cancer Melvin "Blue" Franklin (1942) The Temptations bass singer/pianist/guitarist/co-founder (died 1995) age 52 - heart failure…

BIRTHDAYS Dottie West (1932) country singer ["Here Comes My Baby Back Again"] (died 1991) age 58 – car accident Gene Watson (1943) country singer ["Love in the Hot Afternoon"] Daryl Hall (1946) Hall & Oates lead singer/guitarist/keyboardist/songwriter/co-founder and solo singer/guitarist/keyboardist/songwriter Gary Mallaber (1946) The Steve Miller Band drummer/percussionist/composer George McCorkle (1947) Marshall Tucker Band guitarist/songwriter/co-founder ["Fire on the Mountain"] (died 2007) age 59 – cancer…

BIRTHDAYS Thelonious Monk (1917) jazz pianist/composer ["'Round Midnight"/"Straight, No Chaser"] (died 1982) age 64 – stroke Alan Cartwright (1945) Procol Harum bassist (died 2021) age 75 – stomach cancer Jerry Lacroix (1945) Blood Sweat & Tears and Rare Earth bassist/saxophonist/flutist (died 2014) age 68 – congestive heart failure John Prine (1946) country and folk singer/songwriter/guitarist/composer (died 2020) age 73 – COVID-19 complications…

BIRTHDAYS Giuseppe Verdi  (1813) opera composer ["La traviata"/"Aida"] (died 1901) age 87 – stroke Pat Burke (1937) The Foundations tenor saxophonist/flutist/co-founder ["Baby Now That I've Found You"/"Build Me Up Buttercup"] John Lennon (1940) The Quarrymen, The Beatles and Plastic Ono Band singer/guitarist/keyboardist/harmonica player/co-founder and solo singer/guitarist/keyboardist/harmonica player (died 1980) age 40 – murdered Nona Hendryx (1944) Labelle singer/songwriter/co-founder ["Lady Marmalade"] and solo singer/songwriter/guitarist/pianist…

BIRTHDAYS Dock Green (1934) The Drifters baritone singer (1989) age 54 – cancer Fred Cash (1940) The Impressions singer ["Gypsy Woman"/"Amen"] Ray Royer (1946) Procol Harum guitarist/co-founder ["Whiter Shade of Pale"] Tony Wilson (1947) Hot Chocolate bassist/co-lead singer/songwriter/co-founder ["You Sexy Thing"/"Everyone's a Winner"] Hamish Stuart (1949) Average White Band guitarist/bassist/co-founder ["Pick Up the Pieces"] Harry Bowens (1949) Was (Not Was) co-lead singer/co-founder ["Walk the Dinosaur"]

BIRTHDAYS Vaughn Monroe (1911) singer/trumpeter/big band leader, also actor (died 1973) age 61 – stomach surgery complications Al Martino (1927) singer ["I Love You Because"], also actor (died 2009) age 82 – natural causes Dino Valenti (1937) Quicksilver Messenger Service lead singer/guitarist/co-founder (died 1994) age 57 – brain surgery complications Colin Cooper (1939) Climax Blues Band lead singer/saxophonist/harmonica player/co-founder ["Couldn’t Get It Right"] (died 2008) age 69 – cancer…

BIRTHDAYS Millie Small (1946) singer/songwriter ["My Boy Lollipop"] (died 2020) age 73 – stroke Thomas McClary (1949) The Commodores lead guitarist/songwriter/co-founder Kevin Cronin (1951) REO Speedwagon lead singer/guitarist/pianist/songwriter David Hidalgo (1954) Los Lobos lead singer/guitarist/songwriter/multi-instrumentalist/co-founder ["La Bamba"] Tim Burgess (1961) T'Pau drummer/co-founder ["Heart and Soul"] Matthew Sweet (1964) singer/guitarist/songwriter ["Girlfriend"] Tim Rushlow (1966) Little Texas co-lead singer/guitarist/songwriter ["God Blessed Texas"]

BIRTHDAYS Carlo Mastrangelo (1937) The Belmonts and Dion and The Belmonts singer/co-founder (died 2016) age 78 – cancer Arlene Smith (1941) The Chantels lead singer/co-founder ["Maybe"/"He's Gone"] Wally Lester (1941) The Skyliners tenor singer/co-founder ["Since I Don’t Have You"/"Pennies From Heaven"] (died 2015) age 73 – pancreatic cancer Richard Street (1942) The Temptations singer/songwriter (died 2013) age 70 – pulmonary embolism…

BIRTHDAYS Leroy Van Dyke (1929) country singer/guitarist ["Walk on By"] Marlena Davis (1944) The Orlons singer/co-founder ["The Wah-Watusi"] (died 1993) age 48 – lung cancer Jim Fielder (1947) Blood, Sweat & Tears bassist/guitarist/co-founder Michael "Duke" Robillard (1948) Fabulous Thunderbirds guitarist/songwriter Barbara Kooyman (born Barbara MacDonald) Timbuk3 guitarist/multi-instrumentalist/songwriter/co-founder ["The Future's So Bright, I Gotta Wear Shades"] Chris Lowe (1959) Pet Shop Boys keyboardist/multi-instrumentalist/songwriter/co-founder ["West End Girls"/"It's a Sin"/"What Have I Done to Deserve This" (with Dusty Springfield)]

BIRTHDAYS Eddie Cochran (1938) singer/guitarist/songwriter ["Summertime Blues"/"C'mon Everybody"] (died 1960) age 21 – auto accident Alan O'Day (1940) singer ["Undercover Angel"]/songwriter ["Rock and Roll Heaven"/"Angie Baby"] (died 2013) age 72 – brain cancer Chubby Checker (1941) singer ["The Twist"/"Pony Time"/"Limbo Rock"] Antonio Martinez (1945) Los Bravos guitarist/co-founder ["Black is Black"] (died 1990) age 44 – motorcycle accident Ben Cauley Jr. (1947) The Bar-Kays trumpeter/songwriter/co-founder ["Soulfinger"] (died 2015) age 67 – stroke complications…

BIRTHDAYS Leon Rausch (1927) Bob Wills and his Texas Playboys lead singer (died 2019) age 91 – natural causes Dave Somerville (1933) The Diamonds lead singer/co-founder ["Little Darlin'"/"The Stroll"] (died 2015) age 81 – pancreatic cancer Lolly Vegas (1939) Redbone guitarist/co-founder ["Come and Get Your Love"] (died 2010) age 70 – cancer Ron Meagher (1941) The Beau Brummels bassist/guitarist/co-founder ["Laugh, Laugh"/"Just a Little"]

BIRTHDAYS Vladimir Horowitz (1903) pianist/composer (died 1989) age 86 – heart attack Roger Williams (1924) pianist ["Autumn Leaves"/"Born Free"] (died 2011) age 87 – pancreatic cancer Richard Harris (1930) singer ["MacArthur Park"], also actor (died 2002) age 72 – Hodgkin's lymphoma Albert Collins (1932) blues guitarist/singer/songwriter/harmonica player ["The Master of the Telecaster"] (died 1993) age 61 – cancer Julie Andrews (1935) singer ["My Favorite Things"/"Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious"/"Do-Re-Mi"], also actress…

BIRTHDAYS Bernard "Buddy" Rich  (1917) jazz drummer/bandleader (died 1987) age 69 – heart failure Johnny Mathis (1935) singer/songwriter ["Chances Are"/"It's Not for Me to Say"/"The Twelfth of Never"/Too Much, Too Little, Too Late"] Dewey Martin (1940) Buffalo Springfield drummer/co-founder (died 2009) age 68 – natural causes Frankie Lymon (1942) Frankie Lymon & the Teenagers lead singer/songwriter/co-founder ["Why Do Fools Fall in Love"] (died 1968) age 25 – heroin overdose…

BIRTHDAYS Orvon "Gene" Autry (1907) singer/songwriter/guitarist ["Back in the Saddle Again"/"Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer"], also actor (died 1998) age 91 – lymphoma Franny Beecher (1921) Bill Haley & His Comets lead guitarist/co-founder (died 2014) age 92 – natural causes Jerry Lee Lewis ["The Killer"] (1935) singer/pianist/songwriter (died 2022) age 87 – natural causes Tommy Boyce (1939) Boyce and Hart singer ["I Wonder What She's Doing Tonight"] and songwriter ["Come a Little Bit Closer"/"I'm Not Your Steppin' Stone"/"Last Train to Clarksville"/"Hurt So Bad"/"Scooby-Doo, Where are You"] (died 1994) age 55 – suicide…

BIRTHDAYS Ed Sullivan (1901) television host ["The Ed Sullivan Show"] (died 1974) age 73 – esophageal cancer Koko Taylor (1928) blues singer ["Wang Dang Doodle"] (died 2009) age 80 – intestinal surgery complications Ben E. King (1938) Drifters lead singer/songwriter ["Save the Last Dance for Me"/"There Goes My Baby"] and solo singer/songwriter ["Spanish Harlem"/"Stand By Me"] (died 2015) age 76 – coronary problems…

BIRTHDAYS Don Cornelius (1936) "Soul Train" host and producer (died 2012) age 75 – suicide by gunshot Don Nix (1941) solo/session guitarist/saxophonist/composer/arranger (died 2024) age 83 – unknown causes Randy Bachman (1943) The Guess Who and Bachman-Turner Overdrive lead guitarist/songwriter/co-founder and solo singer/guitarist/songwriter Meat Loaf (1947) singer/songwriter, also actor (died 2022) age 74 – possible COVID-19 related complications Greg Ham (1953) Men at Work keyboardist/multi-instrumentalist/songwriter/co-founder (died 2012) age 58 – heart attack…