Born Today In Music, April 7th

1991 – Anne-Marie
British singer and songwriter Anne-Marie. She scored the 2016 UK No.1 single ‘Rockabye’, with Clean Bandit featuring Sean Paul.

1979 – Duncan James
Duncan James, singer with English boyband, Blue who had the 2002 UK No.1 single ‘If You Come Back’. The group also worked alongside artists such as Stevie Wonder, Elton John and Lil’ Kim.

1975 – John Cooper
John Cooper, frontman for the Christian rock band Skillet, is born in Memphis, Tennessee..

1960 – Simon Climie
English songwriter, producer Simon Climie, the former lead singer of the UK duo Climie Fisher who had the 1988 UK No.2 single, ‘Love Changes Everything’. Climie has since had his songs recorded by George Michael and Aretha Franklin, Pat Benatar, Smokey Robinson and Jeff Beck and has worked with Eric Clapton on many of his albums.

1951 – Bruce Gary
American musician Bruce Gary who was best known as the drummer for The Knack. Their first single, ‘My Sharona’ was an international No.1 hit in 1979. Their album Get the Knack became one of the most successful debuts in history, selling over one million copies in less than two months and spending five weeks at No.1 on the Billboard album chart.

1951 – Janis Ian
American singer-songwriter Janis Ian who had the 1975 US No.3 single ‘At Seventeen’ and the 1975 US No.1 album Between The Lines.

1950 – Steve Ellis
English rock and pop singer Steve Ellis from Love Affair who had the 1968 UK No.1 single ‘Everlasting Love’. He was later a member of the rock band Widowmaker.

1949 – Ron Kersey
Ron Kersey known as Ron “Have Mercy” Kersey, American keyboardist, songwriter, producer and arranger most known for writing the music to the 70’s hit ‘Disco Inferno’ by The Trammps. ‘Disco Inferno’ gained much greater recognition when the nearly 11 minute album version was included on the soundtrack to the 1977 film Saturday Night Fever. He died on 25 January 2005.

1948 – Carol Douglas
Carol Douglas from African-American girl group The Chantels, who had the 1958 top 20 hit ‘Maybe’ and the 1961 hit ‘Look In My Eyes’.

1948 – John Oates
American rock, R&B and soul guitarist, singer, songwriter John Oates who with Hall and Oates had the 1982 US No.1 & UK No.6 single ‘Maneater’, plus five other US No.1 hit singles. Hall and Oates have sold an estimated 40 million records, making them the third-bestselling music duo of all time. Hall and Oats have their first number one hit in 1977, with “Rich Girl”, from the album ‘Bigger Than Both Of Us’.

1948 – Dallas Taylor
American session drummer Dallas Taylor. He is best known as the drummer with Crosby, Stills & Nash as well as appearing on Stephen Stills’ eponymous first solo album in 1970.Taylor was the drummer for Stills’ group Manassas in 1972 and 1973. In 1970, Dallas sat in with The Doors accompanying John Densmore on drums. Jim Morrison acknowledges him on The Doors Live in New York album. He died of complications from viral pneumonia and kidney disease on 18 January 2015 aged 66.

1947 – Florian Schneider- Esleben
German musician Florian Schneider, best known as one of the founding members and leaders of the electronic band Kraftwerk that had successful albums such as Autobahn (1974), Trans-Europe Express (1977), The Man-Machine (1978), and Computer World (1981). David Bowie titled his ‘Heroes’ instrumental track ‘V-2 Schneider’ after Schneider and was heavily influenced by Kraftwerk’s sound during his ‘Berlin period’ in the late 70s. Schneider died on 6 May 2020 age 73.

1947 – Patricia Bennett
Patricia Bennett, from American all-girl group The Chiffons who had the 1963 US No.1 single ‘He’s So Fine’, and the 1972 UK No.4 single ‘Sweet Talking Guy’, (first released in 1966).

1943 – Alan Buck
Alan Buck, from English 1960s pop group The Four Pennies who had the 1964 UK No.1 single ‘Juliet’.

1943 – Mick Abrahams
English musician Mick Abrahams, guitarist with Blodwyn Pig and the original guitarist for Jethro Tull and the Mick Abrahams Band.

1942 – Joel Dorn
Joel Dorn, American music producer and record label entrepreneur. He worked at Atlantic Records and won two Grammy Awards for ‘The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face’, 1972 Record of the Year and ‘Killing Me Softly with His Song’ 1973 Record of the Year, both by Roberta Flack. He died on 17 December 2007.

1938 – Spencer Dryden
Spencer Dryden, American musician best known as drummer for Jefferson Airplane and New Riders of the Purple Sage. With Jefferson Airplane he had the 1967 US No.18 single ‘White Rabbit’. Dryden died of cancer on 10th January 2005.

1937 – Charlie Thomas
Charlie Thomas, from American doo-wop and R&B vocal group The Drifters who had the 1960 US No.1 & UK No.2 single ‘Save The Last Dance For Me’ and over 12 other chart hits.

1915 – Billie Holiday
American jazz musician and singer-songwriter Billie Holiday, (born Eleanora Fagan in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania), the greatest female jazz singer of all time. Holiday released over 100 records and worked with Count Basie and Duke Ellington. During her troubled life she was arrested numerous times for drug possession. Lady Sings the Blues, a film about her life, starring Diana Ross, was released in 1972. Holiday died on 17th July 1959 from liver failure, aged 44.

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