1975
André 3000, (Andre Benjamin), American rapper, singer, songwriter who with Outkast had the 2001 US No.1 & UK No.2 single ‘Ms Jackson.’ In 2015, Billboard included Benjamin on its list of the 10 Greatest Rappers of All Time.
1971
Lisa Lopes, Left-Eye, singer with American girl group TLC. They scored nine top-ten hits on the Billboard Hot 100, including four No.1 singles, ‘Creep’, ‘Waterfalls’, ‘No Scrubs’, and ‘Unpretty’. Their 1999 US No.1 album Fanmail spent 57 weeks on the UK chart. Having sold over 65 million records worldwide, TLC is the best-selling American girl group. Lopes was killed in a car accident on April 25th 2002 aged 30.
1966
Sean Kinney, American musician, best known for being the drummer and co-founder of the rock band Alice in Chains.
1958
Neil Finn, guitar, vocals, from New Zealand group Split Enz who had the 1980 UK No.12 single ‘I Got You’. Split Enz had ten albums (including seven studio albums) reach the top ten of the Official New Zealand Music Chart. And with Crowded House had the 1992 UK No.7 single ‘Weather With You’ and a hit with ‘It’s Only Natural’. Finn has released many solo albums and replaced Lindsey Buckingham in Fleetwood Mac as part of their 2018 tour.
1957
Eddie Harsch, keyboardist with The Black Crowes who had the 1991 hit single ‘Hard To Handle’ and the 1992 US No.1 & UK No.2 album The Southern Harmony And Musical Companion. The band have sold more than 30 million albums.
1957
Susan Janet Ballion, (Siouxsie Sioux), vocals, Siouxsie And The Banshees, 1983 UK No.3 single ‘Dear Prudence’, plus over 15 other UK Top 40 singles). Also a member of The Creatures, (1983 UK No.14 single ‘Right Now’).
1948
English rock musician Pete Sears, who has worked with many artists including Jefferson Starship, and Rod Stewart on his Every Picture Tells a Story including the hit singles ‘Maggie May’ and ‘Reason To Believe’.
1947
Marty Kristian, singer from The New Seekers who had the 1972 UK No.1 and US No.7 single ‘I’d Like To Teach The World To Sing‘ and hits with ‘You Won’t Find Another Fool Like Me’ and ‘Beg, Steal or Borrow’.
1947
Peter Knight, violinist with English folk rock band Steeleye Span who formed in 1969. They had the 1975 UK No.5 single ‘All Around My Hat’ and a hit with ‘Gaudete’.
1944
Billy Adamson, drummer with The Searchers from 1969 to 1998, (the longest serving drummer in the group). He died on 11 November 2013
1943
Priscilla White (Cilla Black), singer, TV presenter, 1964 UK No.1 single ‘Anyone Who Had A Heart’ plus 18 other UK Top 40 singles). Black died at her holiday home near Marbella, Spain, on 1 August 2015. She was 72.
1939
Don Williams, singer of 11 #1 country hits such as “You’re My Best Friend” (1975) and “I’m Just A Country Boy” (1977), is born in Floydada, Texas. He died on September 8, 2017 in Mobile, AL.
1935
Rudy Lewis, from American doo-wop and R&B vocal group The Drifters who had the 1960 US No.1 & UK No.2 single ‘Save The Last Dance For Me’ and over 12 other chart hits. He died on May 10th 1964.
1935
Ramsey Lewis, American jazz composer, pianist and radio personality who had the 1965 US No.5 single ‘The In Crowd’, and the 1972 hit single ‘Wade In The Water’.
1933
Gene “Bowlegs” Miller, American trumpeter and band leader. He worked with many artists including Otis Redding, and Aretha Franklin. He died on 25 December 1987.
1922
Actor and occasional singer Christopher Lee is born in Belgravia, Westminster, London. He’s best known for his villainous roles in Dracula, The Lord of the Rings trilogy and the Star Wars prequel trilogy. He died on June 7, 2015.
