1982
American singer-songwriter Nate Ruess, lead vocalist of Fun. Nate featured on Pink’s 2013 US No.1 hit ‘Just Give Me a Reason’.
1979
Corinne Bailey Rae, UK singer, songwriter who had the 2006 UK No. 2 single ‘Put Your Records On’, and the 2006 self-titled UK No.1 album. She is only the fourth female British act in history to have her first album debut at No.1 on the UK chart.
1971
Erykah Badu, is born Erica Abi Wright in Dallas, Texas. She had the 1997 UK No.12 single ‘On & On’, and the 2001 UK No.23 single with Macy Gray, ‘Sweet Baby’.
1971
Max Martin, Swedish music producer and songwriter. Martin has produced hits for the Backstreet Boys, *NSYNC, Britney Spears, Kelly Clarkson, Adele, Bon Jovi, Taylor Swift, Ellie Goulding and Pink. In addition he has written or co-written 22 Billboard Hot 100 No.1 hits, most of which he has also produced or co-produced, including Katy Perry’s ‘I Kissed a Girl’, Maroon 5’s ‘One More Night’, Taylor Swift’s ‘Blank Space’ and The Weeknd’s ‘Can’t Feel My Face’. Martin is the songwriter with the third-most No.1 singles on the chart, behind only Paul McCartney (32) and John Lennon (26).
1968
Tim Commerford, bassist with Rage Against The Machine who had the 1996 US No.1 album Evil Empire. Also a member of Audioslave who had the 2005 US No.1 album Out of Exile.
1961
John “Jon Jon” Foster (of The Bronski Beat) is born in Basildon, Essex, England.
1960
English musician, composer, singer-songwriter and record producer, Jaz Coleman, lead vocalist with Killing Joke.
1958
Steve Grant, singer with Tight Fit who had the 1982 UK No.1 single ‘The Lion Sleeps Tonight’.
1953
Michael Bolton, American singer who had the 1990 US No.1 & UK No.3 single ‘How Am I Supposed To Live Without You’.
1950
American musician, singer, and songwriter Jonathan Cain, best known for his work with The Babys, Journey, and Bad English.
1947
Sandie Shaw, British singer who had the 1964 UK No.1 single ‘There’s Always Something There To Remind Me’, plus 15 other UK Top 40 singles. Shaw was the first UK act to win the Eurovision Song Contest with her 1967 song ‘Puppet On A String.’
1945
Mitch Ryder, American musician, who has recorded more than 25 albums over more than four decades. Ryder formed his first band, Tempest, when he was at High School, and the group gained some notoriety playing at a Detroit soul music club called The Village. Ryder next appeared fronting a band named Billy Lee & The Rivieras, which had limited success until they met songwriter / record producer Bob Crewe. Crewe renamed the group Mitch Ryder & The Detroit Wheels, and they recorded several hit records in the mid to late 1960s, most notably ‘Devil with a Blue Dress On’.
1945
Bob The Bear Hite, vocalist and harmonica player with Canned Heat who had the 1968 US No.11 single with ‘Going Up The Country’ and a 1970 UK No.2 single with ‘Let’s Work Together’. He died on April 5th 1981.
1943
Paul Cotton, American guitarist and singer-songwriter, most notable as a member of the band Poco and as the writer of the international hit song from that band, ‘Heart of the Night’. He died on 31 July 2021 at the age of 78.
1932
Johnny Cash US country singer, songwriter who was considered one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century. Although he is remembered as a country icon, his songs spanned other genres including rock and roll and rockabilly and blues, folk, and gospel. This crossover appeal won Cash the rare honour of induction in the Country Music Hall of Fame, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and the Gospel Music Hall of Fame. During the last stage of his career, Cash covered songs by several late 20th-century rock artists, most notably ‘Hurt‘ by Nine Inch Nails. Cash died of respiratory failure on September 12th 2003, aged 71.
1928
Fats Domino, (Antoine Domino), singer, pianist, bandleader, songwriter. Domino attracted national attention with his first recording, ‘The Fat Man’, made in late 1949 for Imperial Records, an early rock-and-roll record. ‘The Fat Man’ sold one million copies by 1953 and it is widely considered the first rock-and-roll record to achieve this feat. Domino had 35 records in the US Billboard Top 40. Domino died on 24 October 2017 aged 89 at his home in Harvey, Louisiana after a long-term illness.
