Music History Events: Births
May 24, 1944 Patti LaBelle is born Patricia Louise Holt in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She leads the vocal group Patti LaBelle And The Blue Belles, which evolves into the R&B trio Labelle of "Lady Marmalade" fame. Her solo career takes off in the '80s with hit singles like "New Attitude" and "On My Own."
May 23, 1944 Ramon "Tiki" Fulwood (drummer for Parliament, Funkadelic) is born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
May 21, 1944 Marcie Blane, known for the '60s pop hit "Bobby's Girl," is born Marcia Blank in Brooklyn, New York.
May 20, 1944 Joe Cocker is born John Robert Cocker in Sheffield, England.
May 18, 1944 Singer-songwriter Albert Hammond is born in London after his family evacuates from Gibraltar during World War II.
May 17, 1944 Country musician and singer Jesse Winchester is born near Bossier City, Louisiana.
May 16, 1944 Jazz drummer Billy Cobham is born in Panama.
May 12, 1944 R&B singer James Purify (of James & Bobby Purify) is born in Pensacola, Florida.
May 9, 1944 Rock guitarist Richie Furay (of Buffalo Springfield, Poco) is born in Yellow Springs, Ohio.
May 9, 1944 Don Dannemann (singer, guitarist for The Cyrkle) is born in Brooklyn, New York City. Dannemann will also become a jingle writer, penning the original 7Up "Uncola" song.
May 8, 1944 Glam rocker Gary Glitter is born Paul Francis Gadd in Banbury, Oxfordshire, England.
May 4, 1944 '60s pop singer Peggy Santiglia (of The Angels, Dusk) is born in Belleville, New Jersey.
May 3, 1944 Pete Staples (bass guitarist for The Troggs) is born in Andover, Hampshire, England.
May 2, 1944 English drummer Bob Henrit (of The Kinks, Argent) is born in Broxbourne, Hertfordshire, England.
April 30, 1944 Folk rock singer Richard Shoff (of The Sandpipers) is born in Seattle, Washington.
April 27, 1944 Cuba Gooding Sr. (lead singer for The Main Ingredient) is born in New York City. Known for the early-'70s hits "Everybody Plays the Fool" and "Just Don't Want to Be Lonely." Of course, he also becomes the father to actor Cuba Gooding Jr.
April 25, 1944 Michael Kogel (lead singer of Los Bravos) is born in Berlin, Germany.
April 15, 1944 Dave Edmunds is born in Cardiff, Wales. He forms the band Rockpile with Nick Lowe and has a number of hits as a solo artist, including a #1 UK cover of "I Hear You Knocking."
April 13, 1944 Brian Pendleton (rhythm guitarist for The Pretty Things) is born in Heath Town, Wolverhampton, England.
April 13, 1944 Bass guitarist Jack Casady (of Jefferson Airplane/Starship, Hot Tuna) is born John William Casady in Washington, DC.
April 12, 1944 Rocker John Kay (frontman of Steppenwolf) is born Joachim Fritz Krauledat in former Tilsit, East Prussia, Germany.
April 8, 1944 Drummer Keef Hartley (of John Mayall's Bluesbreakers, Keef Hartley Band) is born in Preston, Lancashire, England.
April 6, 1944 Bass guitarist John Stax (of The Pretty Things) is born in Crayford, Kent, England.
April 5, 1944 R&B singer Nicholas Caldwell (of The Whispers) is born in San Francisco, California.
April 3, 1944 Tony Orlando is born Michael Anthony Orlando Cassavitis in the Hell's Kitchen neighborhood of New York City. He becomes a teen singing sensation with the 1961 hit "Bless You," but by 1970 is working in music publishing. That year, he is asked to record vocals for a song called "Candida," as the original singer didn't work out. When it becomes a hit, Orlando resumes his singing career as Tony Orlando & Dawn.
April 1, 1944 Pop singer Frank Gari ("Utopia," "Lullaby of Love") is born Frank Daniel Garofalo in New York City.
March 31, 1944 Guitarist Mick Ralphs of Mott the Hoople and Bad Company is born in Herefordshire, England.
March 31, 1944 Rod Allen (original lead vocalist for The Fortunes) is born Rodney Bainbridge in Leicester, England.
March 30, 1944 Ronnie Rice of The New Colony Six is born in Illinois.
March 29, 1944 Terry Jacks ("Seasons In The Sun") is born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
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