Born On This Day In Music, June 7th

1993
English singer-songwriter George Ezra. His 2014 hit single ‘Budapest’ reached the top 10 in numerous countries and his debut studio album Wanted on Voyage reached No.1 in the UK and was the third best-selling album of 2014 in the UK.

1991
American rapper Fetty Wap, (Willie Maxwell II). His debut single ‘Trap Queen’, reached No.2 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart in May 2015 and his eponymous debut studio album peaked at No.1 on the US chart.

1990
Iggy Azalea Australian singer who scored the 2014 US No.1 single ‘Fancy’.

1989
Dave Bayley lead vocalist for Glass Animals. Their song ‘Heat Waves’ reached No.1 in Australia in February 2021 and eventually reached No.1 in the US Billboard Hot 100 and No.5 on the UK Singles Chart. At the 2022 Brit Awards, Glass Animals were nominated for two Brit Awards (Best British Rock Act and ‘Heat Waves’ for Best British Single).

1985
Charlie Simpson, guitar, vocals, from English pop rock band Busted. Formed in 2000, the band had four UK No.1 singles, and released two studio albums – Busted (2002) and A Present for Everyone (2003) – before disbanding in January 2005.

1967
David Navarro, American guitarist, singer-songwriter, and actor, best known as a founding member of Jane’s Addiction, (1991 UK No.34 single ‘Been Caught Stealing’), and as a former member of Red Hot Chili Peppers from 1993 – 1998. (1994 UK No.9 single ‘Give It Away’). Also worked with Alanis Morissette on her album Jagged Little Pill and the band Deconstruction and The Panic Channel.

1966
Eric Kretz, American musician, producer and drummer with Stone Temple Pilots. Along with lead vocalist Scott Weiland, Kretz wrote the lyrics to the Grammy Award-winning hit ‘Plush’ off Stone Temple Pilots 1992 debut album Core.

1964
John “Ecstacy” Fletcher (co-vocalist for Whodini) is born.

1962
American drummer Michael Cartellone the former drummer of Damn Yankees. He has also worked with John Fogerty, Peter Frampton, Freddie Mercury, Cher, Adrian Belew and Lynyrd Skynyrd.

1958
Prince Rogers Nelson, the American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and actor. He produced ten platinum albums and thirty Top 40 singles during his career including the 1984 US No.1 & UK No.4 single ‘When Doves Cry’. His releases have sold over 80 million copies worldwide. He won seven Grammy Awards, a Golden Globe, and an Academy Award. Prince died on April 21, 2016, aged 57 after being found unresponsive, in an elevator at Paisley Park his Minnesota home.

1957
Paddy McAloon, English singer-songwriter with Prefab Sprout who had the 1988 UK No.7 single ‘The King Of Rock ‘N’ Roll’. McAloon has written songs covered by Kylie Minogue, Jimmy Nail, The Zombies, Lisa Stansfield and Snow Patrol.

1955
Joey Scarbury is born in Ontario, California. Known for the 1981 hit “Believe It or Not,” the theme from the popular TV series The Greatest American Hero.

1946
English record producer and songwriter Phil Wainman noted for his work with Sweet, XTC, Dollar, Mud, and the Bay City Rollers. His greatest chart success was the production of ‘I Don’t Like Mondays’ the 1979 hit by the Boomtown Rats.

1944
Clarence White, American bluegrass and country guitarist and singer, who was a member of the bluegrass ensemble the Kentucky Colonels and The Byrds. White also worked as a session musician, appearing on recordings by The Everly Brothers, Joe Cocker, Ricky Nelson, The Monkees, Randy Newman, Gene Clark, Linda Ronstadt, Arlo Guthrie, and Jackson Browne amongst others. White died on July 14th 1973.

1944
American drummer Melvin Parker. He and his brother, saxophonist Maceo Parker, were key members of James Brown’s band. Parker was the drummer on three of Brown’s recordings: ‘Out of Sight,’ ‘Papa’s Got A Brand New Bag,’ and ‘I Got You (I Feel Good).’ Parker died on 3 December 2021.

1940
Thomas Woodward, (Tom Jones), Welsh singer who has sold over 100 million records. Scored the 1965 UK No.1 and US No.10 single ‘It’s Not Unusual’ plus over 20 other UK and US Top 40 hit singles. Jones was awarded an OBE in 1999 and received a knighthood from Queen Elizabeth II for “services to music” in 2006. From 2012 to 2015 Jones was one of the four coaches on the BBC television talent show The Voice UK.

1917
Dean Martin, American singer, actor, comedian, and film producer, nicknamed the “King Of Cool”. He was a member of the Rat Pack and the host of the television variety program The Dean Martin Show (1965–1974) and The Dean Martin Celebrity Roast (1974–1985).Hits include t 1956 UK & US No.1 single ‘Memories Are Made Of This’ and ‘Everybody Loves Somebody’. He died December 25th 1995.

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