Pick a Day

Music History Events: Births

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, keyboard player for Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, is born Benjamin Montmorency Tench III in Gainesville, Florida. In 1995 he helps out an up-and-coming Alanis Morissette by playing organ on six tracks from her album Jagged Little Pill (including "You Oughta Know") in exchange for dinner.

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.

July 29, 1953 Rush frontman Geddy Lee is born Geddy Lee Weinrib in Willowdale, Ontario, Canada.

July 29, 1953 Patti Scialfa (Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band) is born in Deal, New Jersey.

July 21, 1953 Eric Bazilian (frontman for The Hooters) is born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

July 15, 1953 Alicia Bridges is born in Lawndale, North Carolina. Known for the disco hit "I Love The Nightlife (Disco 'Round)."

July 14, 1953 Maurice Starr, creator of the boy bands New Edition and New Kids On The Block, is born Larry Johnson in Florida. Starr also produces both groups and writes many of their songs.

July 11, 1953 Singer Peter Brown ("Do Ya Wanna Get Funky with Me") is born in Blue Island, Illinois.

July 6, 1953 Nanci Griffith is born in Seguin, Texas.