Born On This Day In Music, April 29th

1988 – Michael Ray
Singer/songwriter Michael Ray is born in Eustis, Florida. After winning the 2012 music competition “The Next,” he signs with Atlantic, launching a series of hits with his 2015 debut “Kiss You In The Morning.” He also co-writes the Big & Rich single “Run Away With You.” Ray is briefly married to fellow country star Carly Pearce in 2019 and 202.

1986 – Amy Noonan
Amy Heidemann of Karmin is born in Seward, Nebraska. She becomes Amy Noonan when she marries her Karmin partner, Nick. When Karmin is retired in 2017, she becomes the rapper Qveen Herby.

1981 – Tom Smith
Tom Smith, bass guitarist, with English rock band The Editors, who had the 2007 UK No.1 album An End Has a Start and earned the band a Brit Awards nomination for best British Band.

1980 – Kian Egan
Kian Egan, from Irish pop vocal group Westlife who scored 14 UK No.1 singles, and have sold over 50 million records worldwide. Despite their success worldwide, Westlife never managed to break into the US market, achieving only one hit single in 2000, ‘Swear It Again’.

1979 – Joanne Velda O’Meara
Joanne Velda O’Meara, 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.

1973 – Mike Hogan
Mike Hogan, bass, with Irish rock band The Cranberries who had the 1994 UK No.14 single ‘Linger’. The bands 1993 album Everybody Else Is Doing It So Why Can’t We spent 86 weeks on the UK chart.

1968 – Carnie Wilson
Carnie Wilson, of Wilson Phillips, daughter of Beach Boy Brian Wilson who scored the 1990 US No.1 & UK No.6 single ‘Hold On’.

1960 – Phil King
Phil King, bassist of the British alternative rock band Lush who had the 1996 UK No.21 single ‘Single Girl’.

1958 – Simon Edwards
Simon Edwards from British folk and soft rock band, Fairground Attraction who had the 1988 UK No.1 single ‘Perfect’.

1953 – Bill Drummond
Bill Drummond, producer, A&R man, writer, musician. Joined Big In Japan in 1977 (with Holly Johnson, later of Frankie Goes To Hollywood and Ian Broudie later of Lightning Seeds). Co-founder of Merseysides Zoo Records. Formed KLF in the late 1980s, who had a 1991 UK No.1 single 3 AM Eternal’.

1947 – Tommy James
Tommy James, The Shondells, from American rock band, Tommy James & The Shondells who had the 1966 US No.1 single ‘Hanky Panky’, the 1968 UK No.1 single ‘Mony Mony’ and the hit ‘I Think We’re Alone Now’.

1947 – Joel Larson
Rock drummer Joel Larson of The Grass Roots, is born in San Francisco, California.

1946 – Lorraine Chandler
American soul singer, songwriter and record producer Lorraine Chandler. She was one of the first black female songwriters and producers. She worked with Motown Records percussionist Jack Ashford (famous for playing the tambourine on hundreds of Motown recordings), The O’Jays recorded her song ‘I’ll Never Forget You’. Chandler died on 2 January 2020 age 73.

1945 – Tammi Terrell
American recording artist Tammi Terrell who had a series of duets with singer Marvin Gaye. She had had hits with Marvin Gaye, and scored seven Top 40 singles on the Billboard Hot 100, including ‘Ain’t No Mountain High Enough’, ‘Ain’t Nothing Like the Real Thing’ and ‘You’re All I Need to Get By’. Terrell died of a brain tumour on March 16th
1970 after collapsing into Marvin Gaye’s arms on stage during a duet of ‘That’s All You Need To Get By’. Terrell had undergone eight brain operations in 18 months.

1943 – Duane Allen
Duane Allen is born in Taylortown, Texas. In 1966, he joins The Oak Ridge Boys, who successfully convert 11 years later from gospel music to country. Their version of “Elvira” sells 2 million copies, as they register more than 30 Top 10 hits through 1991, joining the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2015.

1942 – Klaus Voorman
German artist, musician Klaus Voorman, who played bass with Manfred Mann and the Plastic Ono Band. Voorman designed the cover for The Beatles album Revolver . As a session musician he worked on a host of recordings, including ‘You’re So Vain’ by Carly Simon.

1936 – April Stevens
April Stevens (born Carol LoTempio), US singer, Nino Tempo and April Stevens who had the 1963 US No.1 ‘Deep Purple’, which was a No.17 hit in the UK. She died April 17, 2023 in Scottsdale, Arizona.

1934 – Otis Rush
American blues guitarist and singer-songwriter Otis Rush. His first single, ‘I Can’t Quit You Baby’, in 1956 reached No.6 on the Billboard R&B chart. Two of his other best-known songs, are ‘Double Trouble’ and ‘All Your Love (I Miss Loving).’ He died on 29 September 2018 from complications of a stroke aged 84.

1933 – Rod McKuen
American poet, singer-songwriter, and actor Rod McKuen. McKuen’s translations and adaptations of the songs of Jacques Brel were instrumental in bringing the Belgian songwriter to prominence in the English-speaking world. McKuen’s songs sold over 100 million recordings worldwide. He died on 29 January 2015.

1933 – Willie Nelson
Willie Nelson, country music singer-songwriter, (He was born on April 29, 1933, but his birth was recorded on April 30). Nelson has acted in over 30 films, co-authored several books, and has been involved in activism for the use of biofuels and the legalization of marijuana. Along with Neil Young and John Mellencamp, he set up Farm Aid in 1985 to assist and increase awareness of the importance of family farms. He wrote the country classic ‘Crazy’ a hit for Patsy Cline.

1931 – Lonnie Donegan
British skiffle singer, songwriter and musician Lonnie Donegan, who launched the skiffle craze and was Britain’s most successful and influential recording artist before The Beatles. He had a 1960 UK No.1 single with ‘My Old Man’s A Dustman’, plus over 30 other UK Top 40 singles. ‘Does Your Chewing Gum Lose Its Flavour (On the Bedpost Overnight?)’, was his biggest hit in the US. He died on 3 November 2002 age 71.

1930 – Armand “Eddie” Noack
Singer/songwriter Armand “Eddie” Noack is born in Houston, Texas. He is best known for writing Hank Snow’s 1955 hit “These Hands”. He died February 5, 1978.

1928 – Carl Gardner
Carl Gardner, The Coasters. The American rhythm and blues, rock and roll vocal group scored the 1958 US No.1 single ‘Yakety Yak’, the 1959 US No.2 and UK No.6 single ‘Charlie Brown’, as well as ‘Young Blood’ and ‘Poison Ivy’. Gardner died on June 12, 2011.

1899 – Duke Ellington
Duke Ellington, American composer, bandleader, pianist. He worked with Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald, Dizzy Gillespie, Billie Holiday. Ellington died on May 24, 1974, of complications from lung cancer and pneumonia, a few weeks after his 75th birthday.