Pick a Day

Music History Events: Births

July 7, 1941 Jim Rodford (bass guitarist for Argent, The Kinks) is born in St Albans, Hertfordshire, England.

July 5, 1941 Terry Cashman (of Cashman & West, The Buchanan Brothers) is born Dennis Minogue in New York.

June 23, 1941 Lyricist Robert Hunter, best known for his work with the Grateful Dead, is born Robert Burns in Oceano, California.

June 16, 1941 Lamont Dozier, member of the famed Motown songwriting and production team Holland-Dozier-Holland, is born in Detroit, Michigan.

June 15, 1941 Nilsson is born Harry Edward Nilsson III in Bushwick, Brooklyn, New York.

June 12, 1941 Jazz keyboardist Chick Corea is born Armando Anthony Corea in Chelsea, Massachusetts.

June 12, 1941 Folk rocker Roy Harper is born in Rusholme, Manchester, England.

June 12, 1941 Reg Presley (lead singer for The Troggs) is born Reginald Maurice Ball in Andover, Hampshire, England.

June 10, 1941 Shirley Owens Alston of The Shirelles is born in Henderson, North Carolina.

June 10, 1941 Janet Vogel (soprano singer of The Skyliners) is born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

June 9, 1941 Jon Lord, keyboard player for Deep Purple and Whitesnake, is born in Leicester, England.

June 4, 1941 Linda Martell, the first Black woman to land songs on the Country chart and the first to play the Grand Ole Opry, is born Thelma Bynem in Leesville, South Carolina. She releases just one album but influences singers like Beyoncé, who includes Martell on her 2024 album Cowboy Carter.

June 2, 1941 The Rolling Stones drummer Charlie Watts is born Charles Robert Watts in London.

June 2, 1941 R&B singer William Guest (of Gladys Knight & The Pips) is born in Atlanta, Georgia.

May 29, 1941 Roy Crewdson (guitarist for Freddie & the Dreamers) is born in England.

May 26, 1941 Art Sharp (former lead vocalist, guitarist for Nashville Teens) is born in Woking, Surrey, England.

May 23, 1941 "General" Norman Johnson (frontman for Chairmen of the Board) is born in Norfolk, Virginia.

May 21, 1941 Ronald Isley (of The Isley Brothers) is born in Cincinnati, Ohio.

May 17, 1941 Malcolm Hale (lead guitarist for Spanky & Our Gang) is born in Butte, Montana.

May 13, 1941 Rock and roll pioneer Ritchie Valens is born Richard Steven Valenzuela in Pacoima, California.

May 13, 1941 Rock and roll singer and guitarist Joe Brown is born in Swarby, Lincolnshire, England.

May 11, 1941 Eric Burdon (lead singer of The Animals) is born in Newcastle upon Tyne, England.

May 9, 1941 Peter Birrell (bass guitarist for Freddie & the Dreamers) is born in Manchester, Lancashire, England.

May 9, 1941 Doo-wop singer Danny Rapp (of Danny & the Juniors) is born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

May 8, 1941 Soul singer John Fred (of John Fred & His Playboy Band) is born John Fred Gourrier in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

May 4, 1941 Motown songwriter Nick Ashford (Ashford & Simpson) is born in Fairfield, South Carolina.

May 4, 1941 Singer and violinist David LaFlamme (of It's a Beautiful Day) is born Gary Posie in New Britain, Connecticut.

April 30, 1941 Rock and roller Johnny Farina (of Santo & Johnny) is born in Brooklyn, New York.

April 28, 1941 Ann-Margret is born in Sweden. She has a few hits as a singer but is best known for her movie roles, which include Bye Bye Birdie and Viva Las Vegas, which she stars in with Elvis Presley.

April 26, 1941 R&B singer Claudine Clark, known for composing and performing the 1952 hit "Party Lights," is born in Macon, Georgia.