Pick a Day

Music History Events: Births

January 17, 1955 Country rocker Steve Earle is born in Fort Monroe, Virginia.

January 12, 1955 NRBQ drummer Tommy Ardolino is born in Springfield, Massachusetts.

January 10, 1955 Rock guitarist Michael Schenker (of Scorpions and UFO) is born in West Germany.

January 8, 1955 Loverboy frontman Mike Reno is born Joseph Michael Rynoski in New Westminster, Canada.

December 25, 1954 Robin Campbell (lead guitarist for UB40) is born in Birmingham, England.

December 11, 1954 Jermaine Jackson is born fourth in line (after Rebbie, Jackie and Tito) in the Jackson family clan in Gary, Indiana.

November 23, 1954 Singer-songwriter Bruce Hornsby is born in Williamsburg, Virginia. He has a string of hits in the late '80s, including "The Valley Road" and the chart-topper "The Way It Is." From 1990-1992 he tours with the Grateful Dead as a keyboard player.

November 22, 1954 Craig Huxley, film and soundtrack producer, is born Craig Hundley in Hollywood, California. He starts his career as a child actor with guest roles on Star Trek, Bewitched, and The Brady Bunch. As a producer and arranger, he works with scores of artists, including Michael Jackson, Paul McCartney and Stevie Wonder.

November 20, 1954 Frank Marino (frontman for Mahogany Rush) is born in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

November 19, 1954 Annette Guest (of the girl group First Choice) is born in Chester, Pennsylvania. The Philadelphia trio First Choice was known for '70s disco hits like "Armed and Extremely Dangerous," "Smarty Pants," and "Love Thang," among others.

November 15, 1954 Tony Thompson (drummer for The Power Station and Chic) is born in Queens, New York City.

November 14, 1954 The composer Yanni is born Yiannis Chryssomallis in Kalamata, Greece. He moves to America in 1972 and earns a psychology degree from University of Minnesota, but chooses music instead. His blend of keyboards and orchestral instruments makes him a PBS favorite and a global superstar in the '90s.

November 10, 1954 Mario Cipollina (bassist for Huey Lewis & the News) is born in San Rafael, California.

November 8, 1954 Rickie Lee Jones is born in Chicago, Illinois.

November 4, 1954 Rock musician and songwriter Chris Difford (of Squeeze) is born in Greenwich, London, England.

November 3, 1954 Adam Ant is born Stuart Goddard in Marylebone, London, England.

November 1, 1954 Chris Morris (guitarist for Paper Lace) is born in Nottingham, England.

October 30, 1954 Jeannie Kendall (of the country duo The Kendalls) is born in St. Louis, Missouri.

October 10, 1954 Longtime Van Halen frontman David Lee Roth is born in Bloomington, Indiana. Wildly extroverted, he's one of the most flamboyant frontmen in rock and helps the band earn lots of airtime on early MTV. As a solo artist, his hits include the MTV favorites "California Girls" (a Beach Boys cover) and "Just Like Paradise."

October 6, 1954 David Hidalgo (guitarist/vocalist for Los Lobos) is born in Los Angeles, California.

September 30, 1954 R&B performer Patrice Rushen is born in Los Angeles, California. Known for her 1982 single "Forget Me Nots," which earned her a Grammy Nomination for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance.

September 28, 1954 Dokken guitarist George Lynch is born in Spokane, Washington, but is raised in Auburn, California.

September 26, 1954 Guitarist Craig Chaquico (of Jefferson Airplane) is born in San Francisco, California.

September 26, 1954 Cesar Rosas (of Los Lobos) is born in Hermosillo, Mexico.

September 16, 1954 Frank Reed (lead singer for The Chi-Lites) is born in Omaha, Nebraska.

September 14, 1954 Barry Cowsill (drummer, then bassist for The Cowsills) is born in Newport, Rhode Island.

September 13, 1954 Doo-wop singer Den Hegarty (of Darts) is born in Dublin, Ireland.

August 25, 1954 Rock singer/songwriter Elvis Costello is born Declan Patrick Aloysius MacManus in Paddington, London, England. He would adopt his stage surname from his dad, who performed as Day Costello.

August 21, 1954 Drummer Steve Smith (of Focus and Journey) is born in Whitman, Massachusetts.

August 12, 1954 Jazz guitarist/composer Pat Metheny (of the Pat Metheny Group) is born in Lee's Summit, Missouri.