BIRTHDAYS Francis Scott Key (1779) songwriter/composer [“The Star-Spangled Banner”] (died 1843) age 63 – pleurisy Jerry Garcia (1942) The Grateful Dead lead guitarist/banjoist/singer/songwriter/co-founder (died 1995) age 53 – heart attack Erik “Rick” Coonce (1946) The Grass Roots drummer/fiddler (died 2011) age 64 – heart failure Raymond “Boz” Burrell (1946) King Crimson bassist/lead singer and Bad… Continue reading August 1 Music History Report

BIRTHDAYS Kenny Burrell (1931) jazz guitarist/songwriter/singer Bonnie Brown (1938) The Browns singer/co-founder [“The Three Bells”] (died 2016) age 77 – lung cancer John West (1931) Gary Lewis and the Playboys organist/electronic accordionist/co-founder [“This Diamond Ring”/”Count Me In”/”Everybody Loves a Clown”/”She’s Just My Style”] Lobo [born Roland LaVoie] (1943) singer/songwriter/guitarist [“Me and You and a Dog… Continue reading July 31 Music History Report

BIRTHDAYS Christine McGuire (1926) The McGuire Sisters singer/co-founder [“Sincerely”/”Sugartime”] (died 2019) age 92 – unknown causes Edd Byrnes (1933) actor/singer [“Kookie, Kookie–Lend Me Your Comb” with Connie Stevens] (died 2020) age 86 – natural causes George “Buddy” Guy (1936) blues guitarist/singer/songwriter [“Damn Right I’ve Got the Blues”/”Mustang Sally”] Paul Anka (1941) singer/songwriter/multi-instrumentalist [“Diana”/”Lonely Boy”/(You’re) Having… Continue reading July 30 Music History Report

BIRTHDAYS Randy Sparks (1933) The New Christy Minstrels founder/singer/songwriter Neal Doughty (1946) REO Speedwagon keyboardist/songwriter/co-founder [current] Geddy Lee [born Gary Weinrib] (1953) Rush bassist/lead singer/keyboardist/songwriter/co-founder [current] Patti Scialfa (1954) Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band guitarist/songwriter/singer [current] John Sykes (1959) Whitesnake and Thin Lizzy guitarist/songwriter and solo guitarist/songwriter/singer Martin McCarrick (1962) Siouxsie and the… Continue reading July 29 Music History Report

BIRTHDAYS Harvey Fuqua (1929) Moonglows singer/songwriter/co-founder [“Ten Commandments of Love”/”Sincerely”] (died 2010) age 80 – heart attack Nick Reynolds (1933) The Kingston Trio singer/guitarist/drummer/co-founder [“Tom Dooley”/”Reverend Mr. Black”] (died 2008) age 75 – acute respiratory disease Allan Ramsay (1943) Gary Lewis & the Playboys bassist/co-founder [“This Diamond Ring”] (died 1985) age 42 – plane crash… Continue reading July 27 Music History Report

BIRTHDAYS Bobby Hebb (1938) R&B singer/songwriter [“Sunny”] (died 2010) age 72 – lung cancer Dobie Gray (1940) singer/songwriter/multi-instrumentalist [“Drift Away”/”The ‘In’ Crowd”] (died 2011) age 71 – cancer surgery complications Brenton Wood [born Alfred Smith] (1941) singer/songwriter [“Gimme Little Sign”/”The Oogum Boogum Song”] Darlene Love [born Darlene Wright] (1941) The Crystals lead singer [“He’s a… Continue reading July 26 Music History Report

BIRTHDAYS William “Benny” Benjamin (1925) The Funk Brothers [Motown] drummer [“Money (That’s What I Want)”/”Do You Love Me”/”My Girl”/”Going to a Go-Go”] (died 1969) age 43 – stroke Manny Charlton (1941) Nazareth lead guitarist/multi-instrumentalist/songwriter/co-founder [“Love Hurts”/”Holiday”/”Hair of the Dog”] (died 2022) age 80 – unknown causes Bruce Woodley (1942) The Seekers guitarist/songwriter/co-founder [current] [“Georgy Girl”/”I’ll… Continue reading July 25 Music History Report

BIRTHDAYS Barbara Jean Love (1941) The Friends of Distinction singer/co-founder [“Grazing in the Grass”/”Love or Let Me Be Lonely”] Heinz Burt [born Heinz Schwartze] (1942) The Tornados bassist/co-founder [“Telstar”] (died 2000) age 57 – motor neuron disease Jim Armstrong (1944) Them guitarist Lynval Golding (1951) Fun Boy Three guitarist/co-founder and The Specials guitarist/co-founder [current] Pam… Continue reading July 24 Music History Report

BIRTHDAYS Cleveland Duncan (1935) The Penguins singer/co-founder [“Earth Angel”] (died 2012) age 77 – unknown causes Tony Joe White (1943) singer/songwriter/guitarist [“Polk Salad Annie”/”Rainy Night in Georgia”] (died 2018) age 75 – heart attack Dino Danelli (1944) The Rascals drummer/co-founder (died 2022) age 78 – unknown causes Andy Mackay (1946) Roxy Music saxophonist/oboist/songwriter/co-founder [“Love is the… Continue reading July 23 Music History Report