Born on March 25th in music

Born On This Day In Music, March 25th

1988 – Ryan Lewis
American music producer, musician, and DJ Ryan Lewis. The Macklemore’s and Lewis single ‘Thrift Shop’ reached No.1 on the US singles chart in 2013 and their second single, ‘Can’t Hold Us’ also peaked at No.1, making Macklemore and Lewis the first duo in the chart’s history to have their first two singles both reach the top of the US charts.

1975 – Melanie Blatt
Melanie Blatt, singer from British girl group All Saints, who had the 1998 UK No.1 and US No.4 single ‘Never Ever’. The group’s debut album, All Saints (1997), went on to become the third best-selling girl group album of all time in the UK.

1974 – Finley Quaye
British musician Finley Quaye. He won the 1997 Mobo Award for best reggae act, and the 1998 BRIT Award for Best Male Solo Artist.

1971 – Michael McKeegan
Michael McKeegan, bassist with alternative metal band from Northern Ireland Therapy? who had the 1993 UK No.9 single ‘Screamager’.

1969 – Cathy Dennis
Cathy Dennis, singer, songwriter, (1991 US No.2 & UK No.5 single ‘Touch Me All Night Long’). Co-wrote ‘Can’t Get You Out Of My Head’ for Kylie Minogue and has also written songs recored by S Club 7, Kelly Clarkson, Brian Kennedy, Celine Dion, Ronan Keating, Janet Jackson and Britney Spears.

1966 – Frank Ferrer
American rock drummer Frank Ferrer best known as the drummer for Guns N’ Roses with whom he has played, toured, and recorded since 2006. Ferrer was also a member of The Psychedelic Furs, Love Spit Love as well as The Beautiful.

1966 – Jeff Healey
Canadian guitarist, singer, Jeff Healey. He lost his sight to retinoblastoma, a rare cancer of the eyes when he was eight months old, resulting in his eyes being surgically removed. Healey died of cancer on March 2nd 2008.

1960 – Steve Norman
Steve Norman, guitar, sax, with Spandau Ballet who became one of the most successful groups to emerge during the New Romantic era and have produced a number of international hits during the 80s including ‘True’, ‘Gold’ and ‘Through the Barricades.’

1951 – Maisie Williams
Maisie Williams, from German vocal group Boney M, who had the 1978 UK No.1 & US No.30 single ‘Rivers Of Babylon‘ and with more than 150 million records sold, they are one of the best-selling artists of all time.

1949 – Neil Jones
Neil Jones, from Welsh rock group Amen Corner who had the 1969 UK No.1 single ‘If Paradise Is Half As Nice’ plus five other UK Top 40 hits.

1949 – Bob Ezrin
Canadian music producer and keyboardist Bob Ezrin best known for his work with Lou Reed, Alice Cooper, Kiss, Pink Floyd, Deep Purple, Peter Gabriel, Jane’s Addiction, Dr. John, Nils Lofgren and Phish.

1947 – Jack Hall
Jack Hall from the Charlie Daniels Band, who had the 1979 US No.3 & UK No.14 single ‘The Devil Went Down To Georgia’.

1947 – Elton John
Sir Elton John singer, songwriter, pianist, (Reginald Dwight), who had the 1971 UK No.7 single ‘Your Song’, the 1973 US No.1 single ‘Crocodile Rock‘ along with seven other US No.1’s. He had the biggest selling single of all time in 1997 with ‘Candle In The Wind 97‘, plus has scored over 50 UK Top 40 hit singles. John has sold over 150m records worldwide. Elton and Bernie Taupin wrote the No.1 (with Kiki Dee) ‘Don’t Go Breaking My Heart‘ under the pseudonyms Ann Orson and Carte Blanche. Some of the aliases Sir Elton has used checking into hotels include, Prince Fooboo, Sir Humphrey Handbag, Lillian Lollipop, Lord Choc Ice, Lord Elpus, Binky Poodleclip and Sir Henry Poodle. Elton John’s official nickname is Rocket Man.

1947 – Brinsley Schwarz
Brinsley Schwarz is born in Suffolk, England. His self-titled band would include Nick Lowe.

1947 – Duncan Browne
English singer-songwriter Duncan Browne, who had the 1972 UK No.23 single ‘Journey’. Browne died of cancer on 28 May 1993 aged 46.

1942 – Aretha Franklin
American singer and songwriter Aretha Franklin, The Queen of Soul, who had the 1967 US No.1 & UK No.10 single ‘Respect‘, the 1968 UK No.4 single ‘I Say A Little Prayer’ and the 1987 UK No.1 single with George Michael, ‘I Knew You Were Waiting‘. She scored over 15 other Top 40 hits and won 18 Grammys during her career. Franklin died on August 16, 2018 in Detroit at the age of 76 after being diagnosed with cancer in 2010.

1938 – Hoyt Axton
Hoyt Axton, US singer, songwriter and actor who wrote songs for Elvis Presley, Three Dog Night, (‘Joy to the World’), John Denver, Ringo Starr and Glen Campbell. He had his own hits with ‘sWhen The Morning Come’ and ‘Flash Of Fire’. Acting roles included Bionic Woman and McCloud. Axton died of a heart attack on October 26th 1999, aged 61.

1934 – Johnny Burnette
American singer-songwriter of rockabilly and pop music Johnny Burnette who had the 1961 UK No.3 & US No.8 single ‘Your Sixteen’. He was killed on 14 August 1964 aged 30 when his unlit fishing boat was struck by an unaware cabin cruiser on Clear Lake, California. The impact threw him off the boat, and he drowned.

1931 – Tom Wilson
American record producer Tom Wilson. He worked with various US acts including Bob Dylan (The Times They Are a-Changin’, Another Side of Bob Dylan, and Bringing It All Back Home), Frank Zappa (Freak Out!), Simon And Garfunkel (Wednesday Morning, 3 A.M.) and The Velvet Underground, (White Light/White Heat). He died on September 6, 1978.

1923 – Bonnie Guitar
Bonnie Guitar, known for the 1957 country-pop hit “Dark Moon,” is born Bonnie Buckingham in Seattle, Washington. She died January 13, 2019.