Born on this day in music: December 5th

1982 – Keri Hilson
American singer, songwriter Keri (Lynn) Hilson who has written songs for artists, including Britney Spears, The Pussycat Dolls, and Mary J. Blige, with the production and songwriting team, The Clutch. Her breakthrough came in 2007 after appearing on Timbaland’s single ‘The Way I Are’, which topped charts around the world.

1980 – Zainam Higgins
Zainam Higgins, singer from R&B/pop girl group Cleopatra who had the 1998 UK No.3 single ‘Cleopatra’s Theme’.

1971 – Craig Gill
Craig Gill, drummer from English alternative rock band Inspiral Carpets who had the 1990 UK No.14 single ‘This Is How It Feels’. He ran musical tours of the Manchester area, explaining landmarks relating to the Madchester scene and Manchester’s musical heritage. He co-wrote the book, The Manchester Musical History Tour. Gill died at the age of 44 on 22 November 2016.

1965 – Johnny Rzeznik
Johnny Rzeznik, singer and guitarist with Goo Goo Dolls who had the 2002 US No.3 album ‘Gutterflower’. In 2007, Rzeznik was a judge on the Fox network’s The Next Great American Band.

1960 – Les Nemes
Les Nemes, bass, Haircut 100. The band had four UK Top 10 hit singles between 1981 and 1982, including ‘Favourite Shirts (Boy Meets Girl)’, ‘Love Plus One’ and ‘Fantastic Day’.

1960 – Jack Russell
Jack Russell (Great White vocalist) is born in Montebello, California.

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1947 – Rick Wills
British bass guitarist, Rick Wills. He is best known for his work with Foreigner and his associations with the Small Faces Peter Frampton and Bad Company.

1947 – Jim Messina
American musician, songwriter, singer, guitarist, Jim Messina, who with Buffalo Springfield scored the 1967 US No.17 single ‘For What It’s Worth’. With the soft rock duo Loggins and Messina he had the 1972 US No.4 single ‘Your Mama Don’t Dance’.

1946 – Andy Kim
Andy Kim, singer, (1974 US No.1 & UK No.2 single ‘Rock Me Gently’)

1945 – Eddie Serrato
Eddie Serrato, drummer with ? & The Mysterians, (1966 US No. 1 & UK No.37 single ’96 Tears’). ’96 Tears’ was a UK No.17 hit for The Stranglers in 1990. He died from a heart attack on February 24, 2011, aged 65.

1938 – JJ Cale
JJ Cale, US guitarist, singer songwriter. Songs written by Cale that have been covered by other musicians include ‘After Midnight’ by Eric Clapton, Phish and Jerry Garcia, ‘Cocaine’ by Eric Clapton, ‘Clyde’ by Waylon Jennings and Dr. Hook, and ‘Call Me the Breeze’ by Lynyrd Skynyrd, John Mayer, Johnny Cash, Bobby Bare and Eric Clapton. Cale died on 26th July 2013 of a heart attack.

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1932 – Little Richard 
American musician, singer and songwriter Richard Penniman, (Little Richard) who had the 1956 US No. 6 & 1957 UK No.3 single ‘Long Tall Sally’, plus over 10 other US & UK Top 40 singles. His music played a key role in the formation of other popular music genres, including soul and funk and helped shape rhythm and blues for generations to come. He died of bone cancer on 9 May 2020 at the age of 87.

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1922 – Don Robertson
Songwriter Don Robertson is born in Beijing, China. Aside from his own 1956 hit, “The Happy Whistler,” he penned songs for several artists, including Elvis Presley (“Anything That’s Part of You,” “Love Me Tonight,” among others), The Chordettes (“Born to Be with You”) and Les Paul and Mary Ford (“Hummingbird”).

1912 – Sonny Boy Williamson II
Sonny Boy Williamson II, American blues harmonica player, singer and songwriter. He used various names, including Rice Miller and Little Boy Blue, before calling himself Sonny Boy Williamson. Van Morrison, The Who The Animals, Yardbirds and Moody Blues and many blues and rock artists have recorded his songs. He died on 25th May 1965.

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