1975 – Lou Bega
German mambo musician Lou Bega who is most famous for ‘Mambo No. 5‘, his 1999 UK No.1 hit which was a remake of the Pérez Prado instrumental from 1949.
1975 – Tully Kennedy
Bass player Tully Kennedy is born in Plattsburgh, New York. He plays for a time in Tim Rushlow’s post-Little Texas band Rushlow but becomes a more permanent fixture of Jason Aldean’s band, playing on “Hicktown,” “She’s Country” and “1994”.
1972 – Aaron Lewis
American musician and songwriter Aaron Lewis with American rock band Staind who had the 2001 US No.1 album, Break The Cycle.
1966 – Marc Ford
Marc Ford, American blues-rock guitarist with The Black Crowes who had the 1991 hit single ‘Hard To Handle’ and the 1992 US No.1 & UK No.2 album The Southern Harmony And Musical Companion. The band have sold more than 30 million albums.
1962 – Hillel Slovak
Hillel Slovak, guitar, Red Hot Chili Peppers. Slovak recorded two albums with the band, Freaky Styley (1985) and The Uplift Mofo Party Plan (1987). He died from a heroin overdose 27th June 1988.
1961 – Butch Taylor
Butch Taylor, keyboardist and long time guest musician with Dave Matthews Band. Dave Matthews Band are the first group to have six consecutive studio albums debut at the top of the US charts.
1961 – Hiro Yamamoto
Hiro Yamamoto, original bass player for Soundgarden, is born in Park Forest, Illinois.
1957 – Wayne Lewis
Wayne Lewis, from American band Atlantic Starr who had the 1987 US No.1 & UK No.3 single ‘Always’.
1955 – Mark Kamins
Mark Kamins the American record producer and disc jockey famous for his role on the New York club scene. He is best known for helping launch the career of one-time girlfriend Madonna by presenting a demo to Seymour Stein of Sire Records. He also produced her first single ‘Everybody’ in 1982. Kamins died on 14 February 2013.
1955 – Louis Johnson
Louis Johnson from Brothers Johnson who had the 1980 US No.4 & UK No.6 single ‘Stomp’. Johnson played on the Michael Jackson albums Off the Wall, Thriller and Dangerous, and hit songs ‘Billie Jean’ and ‘Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough’. Johnson died on May 21 2015.
1954 – Jimmy Destri
American musician Jimmy Destri, keyboardist with Blondie. They scored five UK No.1 singles including the 1979 UK & US No.1 single ‘Heart Of Glass‘ and the 1978 world-wide No.1 album Parallel Lines. He was one of the principal songwriters for the band along with Chris Stein and Deborah Harry.
1951 – Max Weinberg
American drummer and television personality Max Weinberg with Bruce Springsteen’s E Street Band. Weinberg won an audition to become the drummer for Springsteen in 1974. He played on the 1975 single Born To Run.) He is also the leader of the Max Weinberg Seven on US TV Late Night with Conan O’Brien. And also the author of 1991 The Big Beat: Conversations with Rock’s Greatest Drummers.
1951 – Peabo Bryson
American R&B and soul singer-songwriter Peabo Bryson who scored the 1983 UK No.2 single with Roberta Flack ‘Tonight I Celebrate My Love’ and the 1984 US No.10 single ‘If Ever You’re In My Arms Again’. Bryson is winner of two Grammy Awards.
1946 – Roy Loney
Roy Loney from American rock bandThe Flamin Groovies who had the 1976 album ‘Shake Some Action. In addition to the band’s role in the advancement of power pop, the Flamin’ Groovies have also been called one of the forerunners of punk rock. He died on 13 December 2019 age 73.
1946 – Al Green
American singer, songwriter Al Green (often known as The Reverend Al Green), who had the 1971 UK No.4 single ‘Tired Of Being Alone’ and the 1972 US No.1 single ‘Let’s Stay Together’ plus over 10 other Top 40 hits.
1945 – Lowell George
American songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and record producer, Lowell George from Little Feat who had two Top 40 albums during the 70s. Their best-known songs are ‘Dixie Chicken’ and ‘Sailin Shoes’. George was once a member of Frank Zappa’s Mothers Of Invention. Lowell died from a heart attack on 29th June 1979.
1944 – Brian Pendleton
Brian Pendleton, rhythm guitar, backing vocals, bass (1963–1966) with Pretty Things who had the 1964 UK No.10 single ‘Don’t Bring Me Down’. He died of cancer on 15th May 2001 aged 57.
1944 – Jack Casady
Jack Casady, American bass guitarist, best known as a member of Jefferson Airplane and Hot Tuna. Jefferson Airplane became the first successful exponent of the San Francisco Sound. Their singles, including ‘Somebody to Love’ and ‘White Rabbit’.
1942 – Bill Conti
American composer and conductor Bill Conti who had the 1977 US No.1 single ‘Gonna Fly Now’ (Theme from Rocky).
1936 – Tim Feild
Tim Feild from the British pop-folk vocal trio The Springfields who had the 1962 US No. 20 single ‘Silver Threads And Golden Needles’, and the 1963 UK No.5 single ‘Island Of Dreams’. The Springfields included singer Dusty Springfield and her brother, record producer Tom Springfield.
1934 – Horace Kay
Horace Kay, from the American vocal group The Tams who had the 1964 US hit ‘What Kind of Fool (Do You Think I Am)’ and the 1971 UK No.1 single ‘Hey Girl Don’t Bother Me’. The group took their name from the Tam o’shanter hats they wore on stage. He died in 1995.
