Pick a Day

Music History Events: Births

January 16, 1944 Country pop singer Jim Stafford is born in Winter Haven, Florida. His first charting hit is "Swamp Witch" in 1973.

January 12, 1944 Cynthia Robinson of Sly & the Family Stone is born in Sacramento, California.

January 10, 1944 Frank Sinatra Jr. is born Francis Wayne Emmanuel Sinatra to legendary crooner Frank Sinatra and first wife, Nancy Barbato Sinatra, in Jersey City, New Jersey. The name Emmanuel is an homage to Frank Sr.'s friend Manie Sacks, then head of Columbia Records.

January 7, 1944 Michael McCartney is born in Liverpool, England. As "Mike McGear," he forms a band called The Scaffold, but he's best known as the younger brother of Paul McCartney.

December 31, 1943 John Denver is born Henry John Deutschendorf Jr. in Roswell, New Mexico.

December 31, 1943 Pete Quaife (original bass guitarist for The Kinks) is born Peter Alexander Greenlaw Quaife in Tavistock, Devon, England.

December 29, 1943 Rick Danko (bassist for The Band) is born in Blayney, Ontario, Canada. He drops out of school at age 14 to become a musician.

December 27, 1943 Peter Sinfield (keyboardist, lyricist for King Crimson) is born in Fulham, London, England.

December 25, 1943 Guitarist Trevor Lucas (of Fairport Convention) is born in Bungaree, Victoria, Australia. He learns to play the guitar to help with his dyslexia.

December 23, 1943 Harry Shearer (aka Derek Smalls of Spinal Tap) is born in Los Angeles, California. Shearer is also known for voicing a number of characters on The Simpsons, including Principal Skinner and Ned Flanders.

December 21, 1943 Guitarist Albert Lee is born in Lingen, Herefordshire, England. Worked with Jon Lord and Eric Clapton, among others.

December 21, 1943 Gwen McCrae, known for the 1975 hit "Rockin' Chair," is born in Pensacola, Florida.

December 14, 1943 Frank Allen (bass guitarist for The Searchers) is born Francis Renaud McNeice in Hayes, Middlesex, England.

December 12, 1943 Dickey Betts, a founding member of The Allman Brothers Band, is born Forrest Richard Betts in West Palm Beach, Florida. The lead guitarist in the band for most of their run, he's also a key songwriter, writing and singing lead on their biggest hit, "Ramblin' Man."

December 12, 1943 Jazz/funk saxophonist Grover Washington Jr. is born in Buffalo, New York.

December 8, 1943 Jim Morrison, lead singer of The Doors, is born James Douglas Morrison in Melbourne, Florida. His intense, confrontational onstage persona, his poetic and dark lyrics, his booming voice, and his movie-star looks help make him a cultural icon of the 1960s and early '70s.

December 8, 1943 Graham Knight (original bass player for Marmalade) is born in Glasgow, Scotland.

December 6, 1943 Mike Smith (lead vocalist, keyboardist for The Dave Clark Five) is born in Edmonton, North London, England.

November 30, 1943 Leo Lyons (bassist for Ten Years After) is born David William Lyons in Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, England.

November 30, 1943 Grass Roots frontman Rob Grill is born in Los Angeles, California.

November 28, 1943 "Take a Letter Maria" singer R.B. Greaves is born Ronald Bertram Aloysius Greaves III in Georgetown, Guyana.

November 24, 1943 Pianist Richard Tee is born in Brooklyn, New York. In addition to being a studio and session musician, Tee forms the band Stuff with drummer Steve Gadd.

November 24, 1943 Robin Williamson (of The Incredible String Band) is born in Edinburgh, Scotland.

November 19, 1943 Fred Lipsius (original saxophonist for Blood, Sweat & Tears) is born in The Bronx, New York.

November 12, 1943 Pop singer Brian Hyland is born in Woodhaven, Queens, New York.

November 12, 1943 Errol Brown (frontman for Hot Chocolate) is born Lester Errol Brown is born in Kingston, Jamaica.

November 11, 1943 Mac Kissoon (of Mac and Katie Kissoon) is born Gerald Farthing in Port of Spain, Trinidad, West Indies.

November 9, 1943 Dennis Provisor (keyboardist for The Grass Roots) is born in Los Angeles, California.

November 9, 1943 Lee Graziano (drummer, trumpet player for The American Breed) is born in Chicago, Illinois.

November 7, 1943 Joni Mitchell is born Roberta Joan Anderson in Fort Macleod, Alberta, Canada.