Born On This Day In Music: June 18th

1994
American rapper Kirshnik Khari Ball, known professionally as Takeoff, best known as a member of the southern hip hop group Migos. Their second album, Culture, released in January 2017 debuted atop the Billboard 200 chart.

1988
Josh Dun American drummer for the musical duo Twenty One Pilots. Their second album the 2015 Blurryface peaked at No.1 on the US chart.

1986
Jimmie Allen is born in Delaware. He signs with Stoney Creek, earning hits with his first two singles, 2018’s “Best Shot” and 2019’s “Make Me Want To.” The Academy of Country Music names him New Male Artist of the Year in 2021

1976
Blake Shelton, American country music singer and television personality. Blake Shelton has charted over 20 country singles, including 11 No.1’s. He was the husband of country singer Miranda Lambert.

1976
Michael James Ryan Busbee known professionally as busbee, was an American songwriter, record producer, publisher, record label executive, and multi-instrumentalist. Busbee has written for and cowritten with a broad range of artists including Gwen Stefani, P!nk, Shakira, Keith Urban, Florida Georgia Line, and Lady Antebellum. He died from a form of brain cancer on 29 September 2019 age 43.

1973
Gary Stringer, vocals, with English band Reef who had the 1996 UK No. 6 single ‘Place Your Hands’ and the 1997 UK No.1 album ‘Glow’.

1971
Nathan Morris, from American R&B vocal group Boyz II Men, who had the 1992 US & UK No.1 single ‘End Of The Road’ which set a new record for longevity, staying at No.1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for thirteen weeks, breaking the decades-old record held by Elvis Presley.

1969
Simon Rowbottom, guitarist with English alternative rock band The Boo Radleys who had the 1995 UK No.9 single ‘Wake Up Boo’.

1967
Tim Hunt, the lead vocalist for Yankee Grey, is born. The group scores one Top 10 single, “All Things Considered,” in 1999, mixing Southern rock and tight harmonies

1963
American musician Dizzy Reed, best known as the keyboardist for Guns N’ Roses. with whom he has played, toured, and recorded since 1990.

1961
English singer, songwriter Alison Moyet, who with Yazoo had the 1982 UK No.2 single ‘Only You’ and solo hits in 1985 with the UK No.2 single ‘That Ole Devil Called Love’.

1960
Pop singer Jude Cole is born in Carbon Cliff, Illinois. Best known for the 1990 hit “Baby, It’s Tonight,” he appears in country music as a co-producer on Clay Davidson’s 2000 debut, “Unconditional”

1953
Jerome Smith, guitarist, with American disco and funk group KC and the Sunshine Band who had the 1975 US No.1 single ‘That’s The Way, I Like It’, and the 1983 UK No.1 single ‘Give It Up’. He died on August 2nd 2000 after being crushed by a bulldozer he was operating.

1952
Ricky Gazda, from the Jersey Shore group Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes who had the 1978 album Hearts Of Stone and have released over ten other albums.

1942
Paul McCartney, The Beatles Wings, solo. The most successful rock composer of all time. McCartney first met John Lennon on July 6th 1957, who was impressed that Paul could tune a guitar. With The Beatles he scored 21 US No.1 & 17 UK No.1 singles plus McCartney has scored over 30 US & UK solo Top 40 hit singles. He has written and co-written 188 charted records, of which 91 reached the Top 10 and 33 made it to No.1 totalling 1,662 weeks on the chart.

1942
Carl Radle, bassist with Derek and the Dominoes, who had the 1972 UK No.7 single ‘Layla’. He died of kidney failure June 30th 1980, aged 38. Also worked with George Harrison and Delaney And Bonnie.

1942
Richard Perry, US producer. Member of The Legends during the 60s. Worked with Carly Simon, Barbra Streisand, Ringo Starr, Captain Beefheart, Leo Sayer, Diana Ross, The Pointer Sisters.

1925
Johnny Pearson, British composer, orchestra leader and pianist. He led the Top Of The Pops orchestra for sixteen years and took part in helping launch the career of Cilla Black. Pearson also worked on TV shows for Dusty Springfield and The Carpenters. He died on 20 March 2011.