1985
American singer-songwriter, Lana Del Rey, (born Elizabeth Woolridge Grant). In 2011 a music video for her debut single ‘Video Games’ created by Del Rey was posted on YouTube and became a viral internet hit with over 20 million views. Her third studio album, Ultraviolence (2014), became her first album to reach No.1 in the United States.
1981
American singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist Brandon Flowers from The Killers, who scored the 2005 UK No.1 with their debut album Hot Fuss. Their 2017 album Wonderful Wonderful peaked at No.1 on the US & UK chart. In 2010, Flowers released a solo album, entitled Flamingo which peaked at No.1 on the UK charts.
1976
Michael Einziger, from American rock band Incubus, who had the 2001 US No.9 & UK No.40 single, ‘Drive’, and the 2004 US No.2 and UK No.6 album A Crow Left of the Murder’, and the 2006 US No.1 album Light Grenades. Worldwide, Incubus has sold over 23 million albums.
1975
Lee Gaze, lead guitarist, from Welsh rock band Lostprophets, who scored the 2006 UK No.1 album Liberation Transmission.
1975
Justin Cary, bassist for Sixpence None the Richer, is born in New York’s Catskill Mountains.
1972
Allison Moorer is born in Monroeville, Alabama. Her debut single, “A Soft Place To Fall,” which she co-wrote with Gwil Owen, was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Song in 1999.
1969
Pat Sansone, multi-instrumentalist, from American alternative rock band Wilco who released the albums Yankee Hotel Foxtrot, A Ghost Is Born, Sky Blue Sky and Wilco (The Album).
1968
British singer, musician and DJ Sonia Clarke, (Sonique), who scored the 2000 UK No.1 & US No.5 single ‘It Feels So Good’. She was the lead vocalist on two S’Express singles.
1959
American soprano vocalist, guitarist, and songwriter Marcella Detroit who with Shakespears Sister had the 1992 UK No.1 single ‘Stay’. She co-wrote the 1977 Eric Clapton hit ‘Lay Down Sally’ and released her debut album Marcella in 1982.
1959
Country singer Kathy Mattea, known for chart-toppers like 1988’s “Eighteen Wheels and a Dozen Roses,” is born in South Charleston, West Virginia.
1957
Mark Brzezicki, drummer with Scottish rock band Big Country, who had the 1983 UK No.10 single ‘Fields Of Fire’ plus 14 other UK Top 40 singles.
1951
Alan Silson, from English rock band Smokie who had the 1975 UK No.3 single ‘If You Think You Know How To Love Me’. Their most popular hit single was ‘Living Next Door to Alice’.
1951
American musician Nils Lofgren. He joined Neil Young’s band aged 17, playing piano on the album After the Gold Rush. From 1971 to 1974 he recorded four albums with his own band, Grin. He had the 1976 solo album, ‘Cry Tough’. Joined Bruce Springsteen E Street Band in 1984. And has been a member of Ringo Starr’s All-Starr Band.
1950
Joey Kramer, drummer with Aerosmith who scored the 1989 UK No.13 single ‘Love In An Elevator’, and their 1989 album Pump spent 53 weeks on the US charts They had the 1993 US No.1 & UK No.2 album Get A Grip and the 1998 US No.1 & UK No.4 single ‘I Don’t Want To Miss A Thing’. Aerosmith is the best-selling American hard rock band of all time, having sold more than 150 million records worldwide.
1949
Greg Munford, from psychedelic rock band Strawberry Alarm Clock who scored the 1967 US No.1 single ‘Incense And Peppermints’.
1947
English composer and rock guitarist Joey Molland who with Badfinger, scored the hits ‘Come and Get It’ (written and produced by Paul McCartney), ‘No Matter What’, ‘Day After Day’ (produced by George Harrison) and ‘Baby Blue’.
1946
American singer and songwriter Brenda Holloway, recording artist for Motown Records during the 1960s. Her best-known recordings are the soul hits, ‘Every Little Bit Hurts’, ‘When I’m Gone”‘ and ‘You’ve Made Me So Very Happy.’ The latter, which she co-wrote became a 1969 Top Ten hit for Blood, Sweat & Tears.
1945
Chris Britton, guitarist with English garage rock band The Troggs, who had the 1966 US No.1 & UK No.2 single ‘Wild Thing’ and the hits ‘With a Girl Like You’ and ‘Love Is All Around’.
1944
English musician Ray Davies, singer, songwriter with The Kinks, who had the 1964 UK No.1 & US No.7 ‘You Really Got Me’, and the 1967 UK No.2 single ‘Waterloo Sunset’ and the 1983 US No.6 single ‘Come Dancing’. The Kinks have sold over 50 million records worldwide and among numerous honours, they received the Ivor Novello Award for “Outstanding Service to British Music”.
1944
Miguel Vicens, from Spanish beat group Los Bravos who had the 1966 UK No.2 & US No.4 single ‘Black Is Black’. They were the first Spanish rock band to have a UK & US hit single.
1944
English drummer Jon Hiseman who replaced Ginger Baker in the Graham Bond Organisation and worked with Arthur Brown, Colosseum and Jack Bruce. Hiseman died on 12 June 2018 nine days short of his 74th birthday.
1932
O.C. Smith, American musician who had the 1968 US No.1 single ‘Little Green Apples’ and 1968 UK No.2 single ‘The Son Of Hickory Holler’s Tramp’. He died on November 23rd 2001 age 69.
1932
Argentine-born American pianist, composer, arranger Lalo Schifrin, film soundtracks, including, Theme from Mission: Impossible, Enter the Dragon, the Dirty Harry films and Jaws.
