Born On This Day In Music, June 26th

1993 – Ariana Grande
Ariana Grande, American singer, songwriter, and actress. Grande’s second studio album, My Everything (2014), reached No.1 in the US, and contained the hit singles ‘Problem’ and ‘Break Free’.

1979 – Ryan Tedder
Ryan Tedder, US singer, songwriter with OneRepublic who had the 2013 UK No.1 hit ‘Counting Stars’. As a songwriter and producer Tedder has worked with Madonna, U2, Adele, Beyoncé, Maroon 5, Ellie Goulding, Carrie Underwood, Jennifer Lopez, Leona Lewis, One Direction, James Blunt, Taylor Swift, Gwen Stefani and many others.

1979 – Nathan Followill
Nathan Followill, drummer from American rock band Kings of Leon who had the 2007 UK No.1 album Because Of The Times, and the 2008 UK No.1 single ‘Sex on Fire’. The band has sold over 21 million albums worldwide and 38 million singles.

1973 – Gretchen Wilson
Female US country singer, Gretchen Wilson, who had the 2004 US country No.1 album ‘Here For The Party’, and the 2005 US No.1 album ‘All Jacked Up’.

1972 – Lordi
Jussi Syd’nmaa, guitarist, Lordi. Became Finland’s first ever Eurovision Song Contest winners after their song ‘Hard Rock Hallelujah’ won the contest held in Athens in 2006.

1969 – Colin Greenwood
Colin Greenwood, bass, Radiohead. Their 1993 debut single ‘Creep’ was initially unsuccessful, but it became a worldwide hit several months after the release of their debut album, ‘Pablo Honey’. Their 1997 album OK Computer appeared in many 1997 critics’ lists and listener polls for best album of the year.

1969 – Mark Decloedt
Mark Decloedt drummer from British dance music/rock band EMF who had the 1990 UK No.3 & US No.1 single ‘Unbelievable’. Their debut album, Schubert Dip, went to No.3 on the UK albums chart.

1966 – Pär Wiksten
Pär Wiksten, guitar, vocals, with alternative Swedish rock band The Wannadies who had the 1996 UK No. 18 single, ‘You And Me Song’.

1963 – Harriet Wheeler
Harriet Wheeler, singer, songwriter with English alternative rock band The Sundays. Their first album, Reading, Writing and Arithmetic, was released in 1990 and was a UK Top 5 hit along with the single ‘Here’s Where the Story Ends’.

1961 – Terri Nunn
Terri Nunn, singer from American new wave band Berlin, who scored the 1986 UK & US No.1 single ‘Take My Breath Away’ which was featured in the 1986 film Top Gun.

1956 – Chris Isaak
American rock musician and occasional actor Chris Isaak, who scored the 1990 UK No.10 & 1991 US No.6 single ‘Wicked Game’. Film director David Lynch, has used his music in numerous films and gave him a large role in the film Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me.

1955 – Mick Jones
Mick Jones, guitarist, singer with The Clash, who had the 1979 UK No. 11 single London Calling and the 1982 US No. 8 single ‘Rock The Casbah. Their 1991 UK No.1 single ‘Should I Stay Or Should I Go’, was first released 1982. And with Big Audio Dynamite had the 1986 UK No.11 single ‘e=mc2’. Jones plays with Carbon/Silicon and also toured the world as part of the Gorillaz live band.

1955 – Ivan Julian
Ivan Julian, from American punk rock band Richard Hell And The Voidoids. Their 1977 album Blank Generation features the track ‘Love Comes In Spurts’.

1950 – Junior Daye
Junior Daye, from British soul group Sweet Sensation who scored the 1974 UK No.1 and US No.14 single ‘Sad Sweet Dreamer’.

1948 – Richard McCarken
Richard McCarken, bassist from Irish rock and blues band Taste who had the 1970 UK No.18 album ‘On The Boards’. Its founder was songwriter and musician Rory Gallagher.

1946 – Brenda Holloway
Motown singer-songwriter Brenda Holloway is born in Atascadero, California.

1943 – Georgie Fame
Georgie Fame, UK singer, keyboards, (1965 UK No.1 single ‘Yeh Yeh’. 1968 UK No.1 single ‘The Ballad Of Bonnie and Clyde’).

1942 – Larry Taylor
Larry Taylor, bassist with American rock band Canned Heat. Two of their songs ‘Going Up the Country’ and ‘On the Road Again’ became international hits. He died on 19 August 2019 age 77.

1940 – Billy Davis Jr
American musician Billy Davis Jr, who had the 1977 US No.1 & UK No.7 single ‘You Don’t Have To Be A Star’. He is best known as a member of the 5th Dimension along with his wife, Marilyn McCoo.

1910 – Colonel Tom Parker
Dutch-born American manager Colonel Tom Parker, who became Elvis Presley’s manager. Before working in the music business Parker ran a troupe of dancing chickens. His exceptionally high earnings have led some to question whether it came at the detriment of his client. He died on January 21st 1997 age 87 after he suffered a stroke.

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