The lady Drummer with the golden voice as smooth as chocolate and as rich as caramel, Karen Carpenter of Easy Listening sibling act, The Carpenters was born on this day in New Haven, Connecticut in 1950. She suffered from Anorexia and tragically lost her battle with it in 1983 aged just 33....
Happy 56th Birthday to Bon Jovi Frontman and Songwriter, Jon Bon Jovi was born John Francis Bongiovi Jr on this day in New Jersey in 1962. He is also an Actor, Record Producer, Political Activist and a Philanthropist...
The late Irish rocker Rory Gallagher was born William Rory Gallagher in Ballyshannon, County Donegal on this day in 1948. As well as being a brilliant Guitarist, he also played Banjo, Sax, Bass, Sitar, Harmonica and was a Singer/Songwriter...
Coldplay Frontman, Keyboardist and Songwriter, Chris Martin turns 41 today, having been born in Exeter on this day in 1977...
His first solo album (“Rory Gallagher”) was, in my opinion, a masterpiece and is still one of my most played albums. He was also one of the nicest, genial and friendly guys I have ever met. Always willing to spend time talking to fans. A great loss to music and a huge influence on many musicians. If you want to hear great guitar, listen to his early stuff - I rate him as a slide player as good as Duane Allman (and, that, for me, is saying something).
Amen to that, and he always had a cult following going right back to his Taste days. In the early 70’s I did some roadie-ing for a part-time folk-rock band, and at almost every gig, someone in the audience would shout out in frustration “Do you know any Rory Gallagher?”, which never went down very well with the band!
Happy 51st Birthday to Frontman, Songwriter and Guitarist of one of my favourite 90s bands, Power Poppers, The Lemonheads, Evan Dando who was born on this day in Essex, Massachusetts in 1967...
Antonio Vivaldi, Virtuoso Violinist and Baroque Composer of The Four Seasons, was born in Venice on this day in 1678... Spring is here soon....surely!
R&B and Soul Singer/Songwriter and Record Producer, Bobby Womack was born on this day in Cleveland, Ohio in 1944...
The late Bassist and Songwriter of Prog Rock band, Yes, Chris Squire was born on this day in Kingsbury, London in 1948... He wrote this one...
Happy Birthday to Shaky, who turns 70 today, he was born Michael Barrett on this day in Cardiff in 1948... This song was before he turned into the cartoon Elvis impersonator in the 80s!...
Happy 39th Birthday to Lead Singer, Guitarist and Songwriter of Scottish Indie band, The Fratellis, Jon Fratelli who was born John Lawler on this day in Glasgow in 1979...
Happy 67th Birthday to Soft Rock Singer/Songwriter and Guitarist, Chris Rea who was born on this day in Middlesbrough in 1951. He is part of one of my favourite music jokes which goes... "Have you heard that Chris Rea and Dire Straits are going to collaborate on an album?". "No, what's it going to be called?". "Dire-Rea" This is about the River Tees where he grew up...
