Pick a Day

Music History Events: Births

January 13, 1954 Trevor Rabin (guitarist for Yes) is born in Johannesburg, South Africa. Rabin is also a noted film composer with over 40 scores to his credit, including Remember the Titans (2002) and National Treasure (2004).

January 12, 1954 Felipe Rose (The Indian from The Village People) is born in New York City. An original member, he's with the group until 2017, when Victor Willis (the cop) assumes control and brings in a new lineup.

January 2, 1954 Glenn Goins (singer, guitarist for Parliament, Funkadelic) is born in Plainfield, New Jersey.

December 26, 1953 Steve Witherington (drummer for Ace) is born in Enfield, Middlesex, England.

December 21, 1953 Soul singer-songwriter Betty Wright is born Bessie Regina Norris in Miami, Florida. Known for '70s hits like "Clean Up Woman" and "Tonight is the Night."

December 18, 1953 Elliot Easton (lead guitarist for The Cars) is born Elliot Steinberg in Brooklyn, New York.

December 13, 1953 Berton Averre (lead guitarist, keyboardist for The Knack) is born in Van Nuys, Los Angeles.

November 30, 1953 Guitarist Shuggie Otis is born Johnny Alexander Veliotes, Jr. in Los Angeles, California. He is the son of R&B pioneer Johnny Otis. Shuggie composes the 1977 crossover hit "Strawberry Letter 23" for The Brothers Johnson.

November 30, 1953 June Pointer (of The Pointer Sisters) is born in Oakland, California.

November 15, 1953 R&B singer Alexander O'Neal is born in Natchez, Mississippi. Known for '80s hits like "If You Were Here Tonight," "Criticize," and "Fake."

November 14, 1953 Frankie Banali (drummer for Quiet Riot) is born in Queens, New York City.

November 11, 1953 Singer-songwriter Marshall Crenshaw is born in Detroit Michigan, but will grow up in nearby Berkley, Michigan.

November 11, 1953 Andy Partridge (guitarist, songwriter for XTC) is born in Mtarfa, Malta, but will be raised in Swindon, Wiltshire, England.

November 4, 1953 Van Stephenson (tenor vocalist for the country band BlackHawk) is born in Hamilton, Ohio, but relocates to Nashville, Tennessee, at age 10.

October 26, 1953 Keith Strickland of The B-52s is born in Athens, Georgia. He starts as the band's drummer but moves to guitar after Ricky Wilson dies of AIDS in 1985.

October 21, 1953 Eric Faulkner (guitarist for Bay City Rollers) is born in Edinburgh, Scotland.

October 16, 1953 Rocker Tony Carey (keyboardist for The Rainbow) is born in Watsonville, California. Also known by the pseudonym Planet P Project.

October 15, 1953 Tito Jackson (of The Jacksons) is born Tariano Adaryll Jackson in Gary, Indiana.

October 7, 1953 Tico Torres (drummer for Bon Jovi) is born Hector Juan Samuel Torres in New York.

September 30, 1953 Country singer Deborah Allen is born Deborah Lynn Thurmond in Memphis, Tennessee. Known for the 1983 crossover hit "Baby I Lied."

September 28, 1953 Keni Burke (of The Five Stairsteps) is born in Chicago, Illinois.

September 27, 1953 Greg Ham (keyboard/flute player for Men At Work) is born in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.

September 7, 1953 Benmont Tench (keyboardist for Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers) is born Benjamin Montmorency Tench III in Gainesville, Florida.

August 30, 1953 Horace Panter (bassist for The Specials and General Public) is born Stephen Graham Panter in Croydon, Surrey, England.

August 27, 1953 Alex Lifeson (guitarist for Rush) is born Aleksandar Zivojinovic in Fernie, British Columbia, Canada, to Serbian immigrant parents. He is raised in Toronto, Ontario.

August 16, 1953 Singer James "J.T." Taylor is born in Laurens, South Carolina. He joins Kool & the Gang in 1979, leading them into a new era with hits like "Celebration" and "Cherish." He leaves for a solo career in 1988.

August 5, 1953 Singer Samantha Sang is born Cheryl Lau Sang in Melbourne, Australia.

August 3, 1953 Ian Bairnson (guitarist for Pilot, The Alan Parsons Project) is born in Lerwick, Shetland Isles, Scotland.

August 1, 1953 Blues guitarist/singer Robert Cray is born in Columbus, Georgia.

July 31, 1953 Cellist Hugh McDowell (of Electric Light Orchestra) is born in Hampstead, London, England.