Music History Events: Births
June 24, 1939 Oz Bach (guitarist for Spanky and Our Gang) is born Paul Michael Bach in Paw Paw, West Virginia.
June 22, 1939 Bobby Harrison is born in West Ham, England. The Procol Harum drummer will leave the band, along with guitarist Ray Royer, to form Freedom.
June 19, 1939 Soul singer Al Wilson is born in Meridian, Mississippi.
June 17, 1939 Dave Alldred (drummer for The Rhythm Orchids, Dickie Doo & the Don'ts) is born.
June 16, 1939 Billy "Crash" Craddock, rockabilly/country singer of the '70s known for hits like "Rub It In" and "Broken Down In Tiny Pieces," is born in Greensboro, North Carolina.
June 11, 1939 Country singer Wilma Burgess, known for hit singles like "Misty Blue" throughout the '60s and '70s, is born in Orlando, Florida.
June 6, 1939 Gary U.S. Bonds is born Gary Anderson in Jacksonville, Florida. His stage name, originally just "U.S. Bonds," comes from posters advertising United States savings bonds. His big hit comes in 1961 with the #1 "Quarter To Three."
June 3, 1939 Ian Hunter (lead singer of Mott the Hoople) is born Ian Hunter Patterson in Shropshire, England, to a Scottish father.
May 27, 1939 Don Williams, singer of 11 #1 country hits such as "You're My Best Friend" (1975) and "I'm Just A Country Boy" (1977), is born in Floydada, Texas.
May 14, 1939 One-hit-wonder Troy Shondell, known for his 1961 chart-topper "This Time," is born Gary Wayne Schelton in Fort Wayne, Indiana.
May 7, 1939 Johnny Maestro (original lead singer for The Crests, Brooklyn Bridge) is born John Mastrangelo in New York City.
May 6, 1939 Herbie Cox (lead singer of The Cleftones) is born in Cincinnati, Ohio.
May 1, 1939 Folk singer Judy Collins is born in Seattle, Washington.
April 23, 1939 '60s pop singer Ray Peterson is born in Denton, Texas.
April 22, 1939 Pop/soul singer Mel Carter, known for the 1965 hit "Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me," is born in Cincinnati, Ohio.
April 20, 1939 Singer-songwriter Johnny Tillotson is born in Jacksonville, Florida.
April 18, 1939 Pianist Glen Hardin is born in Wellington, Texas. In addition to playing with Buddy Holly's band The Crickets, Hardin will record with artists such as Elvis Presley, John Denver, Emmylou Harris, and Rick Nelson.
April 16, 1939 Dusty Springfield is born Mary Isobel Catherine Bernadette O'Brien in West Hampstead, North London, England.
April 15, 1939 Pop singer-songwriter Marty Wilde is born Reginald Leonard Smith in Blackheath, South London, England.
April 5, 1939 R&B singer Ronnie White (of The Miracles) is born in Detroit, Michigan.
April 5, 1939 Pop singer-songwriter Crispian St. Peters is born Robin Peter Smith in Swanley, Kent, England.
April 4, 1939 Jazz musician Hugh Masekela is born in Witbank, South Africa.
April 1, 1939 Rudolph Isley (of The Isley Brothers) is born in Cincinnati, Ohio.
March 13, 1939 Neil Sedaka is born in Brooklyn, New York.
February 15, 1939 Pop singer Alvin Cash is born in St. Louis, Missouri.
February 14, 1939 Country singer Razzy Bailey is born in Alabama.
February 12, 1939 Ray Manzarek, the keyboardist of The Doors, is born Raymond Daniel Manczarek Jr. in Chicago, Illinois. His expressive, jazz-influenced style and ability to play bass notes on the keyboard with his left hand become integral elements of the band's sound.
February 1, 1939 Bluegrass musician Del McCoury is born in York, Pennsylvania.
February 1, 1939 Jazz pianist Joe Sample (of The Crusaders) is born in Houston, Texas.
January 24, 1939 Ray Stevens is born Harold Ray Ragsdale in Clarkdale, Georgia.
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