1988
Country singer Kacey Musgraves is born in Sulphur Springs, Texas. She wins New Artist of the Year at the Country Music Association awards in 2013 following her debut single, “Merry Go ‘Round,” and claims Song of the Year in 2014 for “Follow Your Arrow.” She also co-writes Miranda Lambert’s hit “Mama’s Broken Heart”.
1984
Melissa Schman, Dream, (2001 US No.3 & UK No.17 single ‘He Loves You Not’).
1979
Kelis Rogers, singer, (2000 UK No.4 single ‘Caught Out There’). Was once married to American rapper Nas.
1974
Preston Brust is born in Dermott, Arkansas. He’s a member of the duo LoCash, earning hits “I Love This Life,” “I Know Somebody” and “One Big Country Song.” He also co-writes Tim McGraw’s “Truck Yeah” and Keith Urban’s “You Gonna Fly”.
1971
Liam Howlett, Keyboards, with English electronic dance music group The Prodigy who scored the 1996 UK No.1 & US No. 30 single ‘Firestarter’ and the 1997 UK & US No.1 album ‘The Fat Of The Land’.
1968
Dina Carroll, singer, (1993 UK No.3 single ‘Don’t Be A Stranger’).
1967
Serj Tankian, singer with Armenian-American heavy metal band System of a Down who had the 2001 US No.1 album Toxicity and the 2005 US No.1 & UK No.2 album Mezmerize.
1961
David Morales, US DJ, producer, (1998 UK No. 8 single with The Face ‘Needin’ U’).
1957
Budgie, Siouxsie and the Banshees, (1983 UK No.3 single ‘Dear Prudence’, plus over 15 other UK top 40 singles). The Creatures, (1983 UK No.14 single ‘Right Now’).
1957
Kim Sledge, Sister Sledge, (1979 US No.2 single ‘We Are Family’, 1985 UK No.1 with ‘Frankie’).
1954
Nick Kane from the American band The Mavericks who had the 1998 UK No.4 single ‘Dance The Night Away’. The Mavericks won a Grammy Award for the song ‘Here Comes the Rain’.
1954
Steve Smith, drums, Journey, (1982 US No.2 single ‘Open Arms’).
1952
Turkish-born English musician, singer, actor and songwriter Joe Strummer who was the co-founder of The Clash, who had the 1979 UK No. 11 single ‘London Calling’ and the 1982 US No. 8 single ‘Rock The Casbah. Their 1991 UK No.1 single ‘Should I Stay Or Should I Go’, was first released 1982. He later formed Joe Strummer & The Mescaleros. He died on 22nd December 2002 of an undiagnosed congenital heart defect.
1951
English bassist and singer Glenn Hughes, who was a member of Trapeze and who has also worked with Deep Purple, Black Sabbath, Gary Moore. He is also a member of Black Country Communion.
1947
Carl Giammarese, guitarist with American Sunshine pop group The Buckinghams who had the 1967 US No.1 single ‘Kind Of A Drag’ and became one of the top selling US acts of 1967.
1944
Singer/songwriter Jackie DeShannon is born in Hazel, Kentucky. Known for her pop hits “What The World Needs Now Is Love” and “Put A Little Love In Your Heart,” she nets a country hit when Pam Tillis remakes her song “When You Walk In The Room”.
1943
Guitarist Hilton Valentine is born in North Shields, England. He plays the opening chord progression on The Animals’ 1964 recording of “The House Of The Rising Sun,” the most famous version of a song later covered in country by Dolly Parton
1941
American keyboardist and composer Tom Coster best known for playing with Carlos Santana. Coster has also worked with Joe Satriani, Boz Scaggs, Zucchero as well as other artists.
1938
Kenny Rogers, singer-songwriter, record producer, actor, and entrepreneur. He has charted more than 120 hit singles across various music genres, topping the country and pop album charts for more than 200 individual weeks in the US alone. He was voted the “Favorite Singer of All-Time” in a 1986 joint poll by readers of both USA Today and People. Rogers died on 20 March 2020 age 81 from natural causes.
1926
Pop songwriter Carolyn Leigh is born in New York City. Her best-known composition is the Frank Sinatra hit “Young At Heart,” which Willie Nelson covers for the 2000 soundtrack to “Space Cowboys”.
Died on November 19, 1983
1923
British singer Cliff Adams. He led the Cliff Adams Singers known for ballads and novelty songs and formed The Stargazers that had two UK No.1 singles, ‘Broken Wings’ in 1953 (which was the first recording by a native British act to top the UK Singles Chart) and the 1954 ‘I See the Moon’. Adams wnet on to write many TV jingles, such as ads for Murray Mints, Fry’s Turkish Delight, Milk Tray and Smash instant mashed potato.
1904
Count Basie, bandleader. Worked with Frank Sinatra as well as his own Count Basie band. He died on 26th April 1984.
