Born On This Day In Music, April 26th

1982 – Jonathan Lee
Jonathan Lee, from English pop group S Club 7 who had the 1999 UK No.1 single ‘Bring It All Back’. Their 2000 UK No.1 album 7 spent over a year on the UK chart. The group was formed in 1998 and quickly rose to fame by starring in their own BBC television series, Miami 7.

1981 – Ms Dynamite
Ms Dynamite, (Niomi McLean Daley), English rapper, singer, songwriter. She is the recipient of the Mercury Music Prize, two Brit Awards and three MOBO Awards.

1976 – Jose Pasillas
Jose Antonio Pasillas II, drummer, from American rock band Incubus, who had the 2001 US No.9 & UK No.40 single, ‘Drive’, and the 2004 US No.2 and UK No.6 album A Crow Left of the Murder’, and the 2006 US No.1 album Light Grenades. Worldwide, Incubus has sold over 23 million albums.

1975 – Joey Jordison
Joey Jordison, drummer with American heavy metal band Slipknot. Their 2008 fourth album All Hope Is Gone gave them their first US No.1. Jordison played in Slipknot since their formation in 1995 until his departure from the band in December 2013. He was also the guitarist in the American horror punk band Murderdolls. He died on 26 July 2021 at the age of 46.

1971 – Jay DeMarcus
Jay DeMarcus, (real name: Stanley Wayne DeMarcus Jr.), bassist with American country band Rascal Flatts who scored the 2004 US country No.2 single ‘I Melt’, and the 2006 US No.1 album ‘Me And My Gang’.

1970 – Ruth Anne
Ruth Anne, English singer with Olive who scored the 1997 UK No.1 single ‘You’re Not Alone’.

1970 – T- Boz
Tionne Watkins, T- Boz, singer with American girl group TLC. They scored nine top-ten hits on the Billboard Hot 100, including four No.1 singles, ‘Creep’, ‘Waterfalls’, ‘No Scrubs’, and ‘Unpretty’. Their 1999 US No.1 album Fanmail spent 57 weeks on the UK chart. Having sold over 65 million records worldwide, TLC is the best-selling American girl group.

1967 – Darrin Mooney
English session drummer Darrin Mooney who has worked with Gary Moore, Primal Scream, Colin Blunstone, Cliff Richard, Dionne Warwick and David Holmes.

1967 – Monte Warden
Monte Warden is born in Houston, Texas. The Austin-based singer fronts the alt.country band The Wagoneers in the 1980s, records as an indie solo artist in the ’90s and nabs a hit as a songwriter in 2004 when George Strait records “Desperately”.

1966 – Jeff Huskins
Keyboard player Jeff Huskins is born in Arlington, Texas. He replaces Brady Seals as a member of Little Texas in 1994 and makes his first recordings with the band for its “Greatest Hits.” He also records with Clint Black and Chely Wright and forms a record label, Vivaton, in 2004

1961 – Chris Mars
Chris Mars, drummer from American rock band The Replacements, who released the 1984 album Let It Be. Initially a punk rock band, they are considered pioneers of alternative rock.

1960 – Roger Taylor
Roger Taylor, drummer with Duran Duran who scored the 1983 UK No.1 single ‘Is There Something I Should Know’ plus 25 other UK Top 40 singles, and the 1984 US No.1 single ‘The Reflex’. Also a member of Arcadia who had the 1985 UK No.7 single ‘Election Day’ and The Power Station.

1956 – Dave Pomeroy
Bass player Dave Pomeroy is born in Naples, Italy. His credits include Trisha Yearwood’s “The Song Remembers When,” Keith Whitley’s “I Wonder Do You Think Of Me” and Kathy Mattea’s “Where’ve You Been”.

1952 – Neol Davies
Neol Davies from 2 Tone ska revival band Selecter who had the 1979 UK No.8 single ‘On My Radio’.

1951 – Nick Garvey
Nick Garvey, guitarist and singer from British pub rock band The Motors who had the 1978 UK No.4 single ‘Airport’.

1946 – John “Bucky” Wilkin
John “Bucky” Wilkin frm Ronny of Ronny & the Daytonas, is born in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

1945 – Mike Finnigan
American keyboard player and vocalist Mike Finnigan, his speciality being the B3 Hammond Organ. Finnigan has worked with many artists including, Jimi Hendrix (Electric Ladyland), Joe Cocker, Crosby Stills & Nash, Peter Frampton, Cher, Ringo Starr, Leonard Cohen, Tower of Power and Rod Stewart.

1945 – Tony Murray
Tony Murray, with English garage rock band The Troggs, who had the 1966 US No.1 & UK No.2 single ‘Wild Thing’ and the hits ‘With a Girl Like You’ and ‘Love Is All Around’.

1943 – Gary Wright
American singer, songwriter Gary Wright who was a member of Spooky Tooth. He had the 1976 solo US No.2 single ‘Dream Weaver’. The song was inspired by Autobiography of a Yogi, which was given to him by George Harrison. Wright also played on Harrison’s 1970 All Things Must Pass triple album. Gary Wright died on September 4, 2023.

1942 – Bobby Rydell
American singer Bobby Rydell who had the 1960 US No.2 & UK No.7 single ‘Wild One’, plus 17 other US Top 40 hits.

1941 – Claudine Clark
R&B singer Claudine Clark, known for composing and performing the 1952 hit “Party Lights,” is born in Macon, Georgia.

1940 – Giorgio Moroder
Italian singer, songwriter, DJ and record producer Giorgio Moroder who had the 1979 US No.33 & UK No. 48 single, ‘Chase’ from the film Midnight Express. He produced all of Donna Summer’s world- wide 1976 hits including ‘Love To Love You Baby’, and the 1984 UK No.3 single with Phil Oakey, ‘Together In Electric Dreams.’ He also created a score of songs for performers including David Bowie, Kylie Minogue, Irene Cara and Janet Jackson.

1938 – Duane Eddy
Rock guitarist Duane Eddy is born in Corning, New York. He had a string of hit records in the late 1950s and early 1960s, produced by Lee Hazlewood, which were noted for their characteristically “twangy” sound, including ‘Rebel Rouser’, ‘Peter Gunn’, and ‘Because They’re Young’. Died April 30, 2024 after a battle with cancer.

1938 – Maurice Williams
Maurice Williams, from American doo-wop singer who had the 1960 US No.1 & 1961 UK No.14 single ‘Stay’ with The Zodiacs. The song was also a hit for Jackson Browne and The Hollies.