Calendar Search Results: ne hits
November 27, 1941 Country singer Eddie Rabbitt is born in Brooklyn, New York. Before embarking on a recording career, he pens the hits "Kentucky Rain" for Elvis Presley and "Pure Love" for Ronnie Milsap.
November 21, 1941 David Porter, singer-songwriter and producer, is born in Memphis, Tennessee. A prolific songwriter, he's known for contributing to hits like Sam & Dave's "Soul Man" and "Hold On, I'm Comin," Mariah Carey's "Dreamlover," and Will Smith's "Gettin' Jiggy Wit It."
October 25, 1941 Singer/songwriter/activist Helen Reddy is born in Melbourne, Australia. In the '70s, she rises to fame in both her native country and in America, where she has three #1 hits: "I Am Woman," "Delta Dawn" and "Angie Baby."
May 19, 1940 Mickey Newbury, who penned a record-breaking string of hits across four different charts in 1968, including The First Edition's "Just Dropped In (To See What Condition My Condition Was In)," is born in Houston, Texas.
April 26, 1940 Synthpop pioneer Giorgio Moroder is born in Italy. As Donna Summer's producer, he crafts a disco sound on hits like "I Feel Love" and "Bad Girls" that elevates her to queen of the genre. In the '80s he writes and produces the soundtrack hits "Flashdance... What a Feeling" and "Danger Zone."
February 17, 1940 Gene Pitney is born in Hartford, Connecticut. He has a string of hits in the '60s, including "(The Man Who Shot) Liberty Valance" and "Only Love Can Break A Heart."
August 31, 1939 Frank Sinatra records "All Or Nothing At All," one of his first big hits.
April 2, 1939 Marvin Gaye is born Marvin Pentz Gay Jr. in Washington, DC.More
February 9, 1939 Barry Mann is born Barry Imberman in Brooklyn, New York City. He teams with wife Cynthia Weil to write a number of classic hits, including "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'."
December 12, 1938 Connie Francis is born Concetta Rosa Maria Franconero in Newark, New Jersey. A huge star in the late '50s and early '60s, she becomes the first woman to top the Hot 100 as a solo artist when "Everybody's Somebody's Fool" hits #1 in 1960. In 2025 she returns to the zeitgeist when her 1962 B-side ""Pretty Little Baby" goes viral on TikTok.
December 1, 1938 Rock 'n roll drummer Sandy Nelson is born in Santa Monica, California. Aside from being a session drummer on such tunes as the Teddy Bears' "To Know Him Is To Love Him," he releases a string of Top 40 instrumental hits, including "Teen Beat" at #4 in 1959.
August 21, 1938 Singer-songwriter Ernie Maresca, who penned several Dion hits, is born in The Bronx, New York City.
May 4, 1938 Tyrone Davis is born Tyrone Fettson in Greenville, Mississippi, but is raised by his father in Saginaw, Michigan. Known for his #1 R&B hits, "Can I Change My Mind" (1968), "Turn Back The Hands Of Time" (1970), and "Turning Point" (1975).
April 26, 1938 Twang guitar pioneer Duane Eddy is born in Corning, New York. His signature staccato riff powers hits like "Rebel Rouser" and "Because They're Young," and influences acts like The Ventures and The Shadows.
January 25, 1938 Blues singer Etta James, known for the enduring ballad "At Last," is born Jamesetta Hawkins in Los Angeles, California.More
November 12, 1936 Mort Shuman, singer-songwriter and pianist, is born in Brooklyn, New York City. Known for co-writing '60s rock 'n roll hits like "Viva Las Vegas."
September 24, 1936 Jim Henson is born in Greenville, Mississippi. Renowned for his work on Sesame Street and The Muppets, he also lands two chart hits: "Rubber Duckie" (as Ernie - #16 in 1970) and "Rainbow Connection" (as Kermit the Frog - #25 in 1979).
May 13, 1935 Pop songwriter Teddy Randazzo is born in Brooklyn, New York. Known for '60s hits "Pretty Blue Eyes," "Goin' Out Of My Head," and "Hurt So Bad," among others.
April 19, 1934 Comedic songwriter Dickie Goodman is born in Brooklyn, New York. Known for spoofs like 1962's "Batman & His Grandmother" and a string of hits ribbing the popular TV series The Untouchables: "The Touchables," "The Touchables In Brooklyn," and "Santa And The Touchables."
March 13, 1933 Songwriter Mike Stoller is born in Long Island, New York. Along with his partner Jerry Leiber, he writes a slew of hits, including "Jailhouse Rock," "Yakety Yak" and "Stand By Me."
November 12, 1930 Songwriter and music executive Bob Crewe is born Stanley Robert Crewe in Newark, New Jersey. Co-wrote many Four Seasons hits with Bob Gaudio, including "Big Girls Don't Cry" and "Walk Like a Man."
December 23, 1929 Jazz singer/trumpeter Chet Baker is born Chesney Henry Baker Jr. in Yale, Oklahoma. He hits his stride in the '50s when he joins the Gerry Mulligan Quartet and releases his signature hit "My Funny Valentine."
May 12, 1929 Burt Bacharach is born in Kansas City, Missouri.More
May 25, 1927 Norman Petty, recording engineer for Buddy Holly, is born in Clovis, New Mexico. He'll also produce hits for Roy Orbison and Waylon Jennings.
January 13, 1927 Country singer-songwriter Liz Anderson is born in Roseau, Minnesota. Aside from her own hit "Mama Spank" (1964), she pens hits for other artists, including Merle Haggard ("(My Friends Are Gonna Be) Strangers") and her own daughter, Lynn Anderson ("If I Kiss You (Will You Go Away)").
November 20, 1925 Jazz singer June Christy is born Shirley Luster in Springfield, Illinois. She would start her career as vocalist for Stan Kenton's Orchestra, garnering hits like "Shoo Fly Pie and Apple Pan Dowdy," "Tampico," and "How High the Moon" before going solo.
July 19, 1925 Sue Thompson is born Eva Sue McKee in Nevada, Missouri. Known for the '60s pop hits "Sad Movies (Make Me Cry)" and "Norman."
November 26, 1924 Pop singer Michael Holliday is born Norman Alexander Milne in Liverpool, Lancashire, England. Known for '50s and '60s hits like "The Story of My Life" and "Starry Eyed."
June 1, 1921 Nelson Riddle is born in Oradell, New Jersey. He'll become famous as the orchestrator and arranger behind countless hits for Capitol Records artists like Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Dean Martin, Peggy Lee, and - decades later - Linda Ronstadt.
June 7, 1917 Dean Martin is born Dino Paul Crocetti in Steubenville, Ohio. After teaming with Jerry Lewis in the popular comedy act Martin & Lewis, he becomes a top entertainer of the 1950s and 1960s, known for hits like "Memories Are Made Of This" and "That's Amore."
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