Pick a Day

Music History Events: Births

November 12, 1934 Charles Manson is born. Why is he on a music calendar? He wrote and recorded songs before he was imprisoned, including one called "Cease To Exist," which Dennis Wilson re-wrote for The Beach Boys as "Never Learn Not to Love."

June 22, 1934 Leon Rosselson, satirical singer and children's book author, is born in Harrow, Middlesex, England.

March 18, 1934 Charley Pride is born on a cotton farm in the tiny town of Sledge, Mississippi. After his baseball career stalls, he becomes a country music star, one of the first African Americans to break through in the format.

September 8, 1933 Playback singer Asha Bhosle is born in Imperial India. She goes on to record more songs than anyone in history, mostly for Bollywood films.

August 1, 1930 Composer Lionel Bart is born in Stepney, London, England.

April 8, 1929 Singer-songwriter Jacques Brel is born in Schaerbeek, Brussels, Belgium.

December 13, 1925 Actor/entertainer Dick Van Dyke is born in West Plains, Missouri, but grows up in Danville, Illinois. He stars and sings in the hit musicals Mary Poppins and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, featuring the famous title song.

October 29, 1925 Israeli songwriter Haim Hefer is born Haim Feiner in Sosnowiec, Poland.

October 22, 1925 Singer-songwriter Dory Previn is born Dorothy Langan in New Jersey. She writes the lyrics to many movie song compositions from her second husband, André Previn.

October 20, 1925 Tom Dowd is born in New York City. After giving up a career in nuclear physics, he becomes a top producer, able to coax sounds out of many famous artists with his technical expertise and agreeable personality. His production credits include Idlewild South by The Allman Brothers and 461 Ocean Boulevard by Eric Clapton.

August 14, 1924 Lyricist Lee Adams is born in Mansfield, Ohio. Known for his work with composer Charles Strouse, particularly Bye Bye Birdie.

October 17, 1923 Jazz guitarist Barney Kessel is born in Muskogee, Oklahoma.

August 11, 1922 Ron Grainer, composer of the "Doctor Who Theme," is born in Queensland, Australia.

May 27, 1922 Actor and occasional singer Christopher Lee is born in Belgravia, Westminster, London. He's best known for his villainous roles in Dracula, The Lord of the Rings trilogy and the Star Wars prequel trilogy.

November 16, 1921 Composer Ben Weisman, co-author of "Rock-A-Hula Baby," is born.

March 19, 1921 Tommy Cooper is born in Caerphilly, Wales.

December 12, 1920 British music publisher Dick James is born Leon Isaac Vapnick in London. His high-profile clients include Elton John and The Beatles.

October 1, 1919 Songwriter J.M. Robinson is born Jessie Mae Booker in Call, Texas.

March 15, 1919 Record producer George Avakian is born in Russia. Produced albums for Jazz artists like Louis Armstrong and Miles Davis.

December 19, 1918 Blues singer Henry Roeland "Roy" Byrd, better known as Professor Longhair, is born in Bogalusa, Louisiana.

May 3, 1917 Betty Comden is born Basya Cohen in Brooklyn. Along with her partner Adolph Green, she writes the screenplay for Singin' In The Rain along with many other musicals.

April 6, 1917 Blues harmonica player Walter Horton is born in Horn Lake, Mississippi.

March 20, 1917 Vera Lynn is born Vera Welch in East Ham, Essex, England. She becomes one of England's top entertainers during World War II, a time when she becomes an emblem of wartime spirit and national pride thanks in part to her rendition of "We'll Meet Again."

March 22, 1916 Bernard Weissman, the future George Wyle, is born in New York City. Among his compositions: the Gilligan's Island theme song.

September 3, 1915 Memphis Slim is born John Len Chatman in Memphis, Tennessee.

May 27, 1915 Lyricist Fred Wise is born in New York City. Among his compositions: "Rock-A-Hula Baby" and "Pretty Little Black Eyed Susie."

December 2, 1914 Libretto writer Adolph Green is born in New York City. Along with his partner Betty Comden, he writes lyrics for a number of musicals, including On the Town, Bells Are Ringing and Singin' in the Rain.

June 28, 1913 The British composer George Walter Selwyn Lloyd is born.

April 7, 1912 Songwriter Jack Lawrence is born Jacob Louis Schwartz in Brooklyn, New York. Co-wrote Frank Sinatra's first solo hit, "All or Nothing at All."

December 15, 1910 Producer and record executive John Hammond is born in New York City. A mainstay at Columbia Records, he champions jazz music at the label, and in 1961, signs Bob Dylan.