Born On This Day On May 12th

1978 – Alex Ebert
Alex Ebert, lead singer of Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros, is born in Los Angeles. His mother is the actress Lisa Richards, who had a regular role on the soap opera Dark Shadows and appeared on episodes of Fantasy Island and Chips.

1976 – Matt Mangano
Matt Mangano American musician with the Grammy Award winning country music group, Zac Brown Band. Their 2015 album Jekyll + Hyde which debuted at No.1 on the US chart featured the single ‘Heavy Is the Head’ with vocals from Chris Cornell.

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04:11

1972 – Mark Morrison
West German-born British hip hop and R&B singer Mark Morrison, who had the 1996 UK No.1 single ‘Return Of The Mack’ and was a hit in several European countries.

1962 – Brett Gurewitz
Brett Gurewitz, original guitarist for Bad Religion, is born in Los Angeles, California.

1961 – Billy Duffy
English guitarist and songwriter, Billy Duffy who with Theatre Of Hate, had the 1982 UK hit single ‘Do You Believe In The Westworld’. And as a member of The Cult had the 1987 UK No.11 single ‘Lil’ Devil’.

1959 – Ray Gillen
American rock singer-songwriter Ray Gillen. He was best known for his work with Badlands, in addition to his stint with Black Sabbath in the mid-1980s and recording most of the vocals on Phenomena’s Dream Runner album. Gillen died on 1 December 1993 age 34 from an AIDS related disease in a New York Hospital.

1958 – Eric Singer
Eric Singer, drummer, Kiss. He debuted with the band on the 1992 album Revenge.

1956 – Greg Phillinganes
American keyboardist, singer-songwriter, and musical director Greg Phillinganes. He has toured with Stevie Wonder, Eric Clapton, David Gilmour, Karen Carpenter, Paul McCartney, Stevie Nicks and Toto, and served as musical director for Michael Jackson contributing to every one of Jackson’s solo albums.

1954 – Barry Borden
Barry Borden, from American Southern rock/hard rock band Molly Hatchet who had the 1980 album ‘Beatin’ The Odds and their hit song ‘Flirtin’ with Disaster’.

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1950 – Billy Squier
American rock musician Billy Squier, who had the 1982 hit ‘The Stroke‘, 1984 US No.15 single ‘Rock Me Tonight’.

1950 – John “Jocko” Marcellino
John “Jocko” Marcellino of Sha Na Na is born in Quincy, Massachusetts.

1948 – Ivan Král
Czech-born American musician, filmmaker, record producer and singer-songwriter Ivan Král. He played bass with Blondie, Patti Smith and Iggy Pop. His songs have been recorded by such artists as U2, Pearl Jam, David Bowie, Simple Minds and John Waite, among others. He died on 2 February 2020 age 71.

1948 – Steve Winwood
English musician Steve Winwood, who with the Spencer Davis Group had the 1966 UK No.1 single ‘Keep On Running’, with Traffic the 1967 UK No.2 single ‘Hole In My Shoe’, Blind Faith, (with Eric Clapton, Ginger Baker and Ric Grech), 1969 UK & US No.1 album. Winwood played Hammond organ on the Jimi Hendrix Electric Ladyland album track ‘Voodoo Chile’. He also had a successful solo career with hits including ‘While You See a Chance’, ‘Valerie’, ‘Back in the High Life Again’ and during the late 80s two US No.1 hits ‘Higher Love’ and ‘Roll with It‘.

1946 – Ian McLagan
English keyboard instrumentalis Ian McLagan, Small Faces who had the 1967 UK No.3 & US No.17 single ‘Itchycoo Park’, and the 1968 UK No.1 album ‘Ogden’s Nut Gone Flake’. With The Faces, had the 1971 UK No.6 & US No.17 single ‘Stay With Me’. Also worked with The Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan, Bonnie Raitt, Joe Cocker, Billy Bragg and Bruce Springsteen. He died on 3rd Dec 2014 died aged 69, due to complications from a stroke.

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1945 – Jayotis Washington
Jayotis Washington, singer, The Persuasions, a- cappella group, worked with Joni Mitchell, Stevie Wonder, Don McLean.

1944 – Billy Swan
American Country singer-songwriter Billy Swan, who had the 1974 US No.1 & 1975 UK No.6 single ‘I Can Help‘.Billy Swan

1944 – James Purify
James Purify, singer from R&B duo James & Bobby Purify who had the 1976 US No.6 & UK No.12 single ‘I’m Your Puppet’. Purify died Pensacola, Florida, of complications due to COVID-19 on 22 January 2021.

1943 – David Walker
David Walker, from American 1960s era pop and rock group Gary Lewis and the Playboys who scored the 1965 US No.1 single ‘This Diamond Ring’ and 11 other US Top 40 hits.

1942 – Ian Dury
English rock and roll singer-songwriter and actor Ian Dury. His 1977 UK No.5 album New Boots And Panties!! spent 90 weeks on the UK chart and he scored the 1979 UK No.1 single ‘Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick’. He was also a member of of Kilburn and the High Roads. Dury died on 27th March 2000 aged 57.

1940 – Norman Whitfield
Norman Whitfield, American songwriter and producer, best known for his work with Berry Gordy’s Motown. Collaborated with Barrett Strong on such hits as, ‘I Heard It Through the Grapevine’, ‘Ain’t Too Proud to Beg’, ‘(I Know) I’m Losing You’, ‘Cloud Nine’, ‘War’, ‘Papa Was a Rolling Stone’ and ‘Car Wash’. He died on September 16, 2008.

1928 – Henry Cosby
American songwriter, arranger, producer and musician Henry Cosby who worked for Motown Records from its formative years. Along with Sylvia Moy, Cosby was a key collaborator with Stevie Wonder from 1963–1970. Cosby co-wrote three No.1 US hits: Stevie Wonder’s ‘Fingertips’1963), The Supremes ‘Love Child’ (1968), and The Miracles’ ‘The Tears of a Clown’. He died on January 22, 2002.

1928 – Burt Bacharach
American composer, songwriter, record producer, pianist, and singer Burt Bacharach. With Hal David he wrote many classic songs including, ‘Close To You’, ’24 Hours From Tulsa’, ‘Make It Easy On Yourself’, ‘Magic Moments’, ‘I Say A Little Prayer’. He won two Oscars for the film score to Butch Cassidy And The Sundance Kid, and for the song ‘Raindrops Keep Fallin’ On My Head‘. Bacharach’s songs have been recorded by more than 1,000 different artists and as of 2014, he had written 73 US and 52 UK Top 40 hits. Bacharach died of natural causes at his home in Los Angeles, California, on 8 February 2023, at the age of 94.

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