Pick a Day

Music History Events: Births

May 3, 1944 Pete Staples (bass guitarist for The Troggs) is born in Andover, Hampshire, England.

May 2, 1944 English drummer Bob Henrit (of The Kinks, Argent) is born in Broxbourne, Hertfordshire, England.

April 30, 1944 Folk rock singer Richard Shoff (of The Sandpipers) is born in Seattle, Washington.

April 27, 1944 Cuba Gooding Sr. (lead singer for The Main Ingredient) is born in New York City. Known for the early-'70s hits "Everybody Plays the Fool" and "Just Don't Want to Be Lonely." Of course, he also becomes the father to actor Cuba Gooding Jr.

April 25, 1944 Michael Kogel (lead singer of Los Bravos) is born in Berlin, Germany.

April 15, 1944 Dave Edmunds is born in Cardiff, Wales. He forms the band Rockpile with Nick Lowe and has a number of hits as a solo artist, including a #1 UK cover of "I Hear You Knocking."

April 13, 1944 Brian Pendleton (rhythm guitarist for The Pretty Things) is born in Heath Town, Wolverhampton, England.

April 13, 1944 Bass guitarist Jack Casady (of Jefferson Airplane/Starship, Hot Tuna) is born John William Casady in Washington, DC.

April 12, 1944 Rocker John Kay (frontman of Steppenwolf) is born Joachim Fritz Krauledat in former Tilsit, East Prussia, Germany.

April 8, 1944 Drummer Keef Hartley (of John Mayall's Bluesbreakers, Keef Hartley Band) is born in Preston, Lancashire, England.

April 6, 1944 Bass guitarist John Stax (of The Pretty Things) is born in Crayford, Kent, England.

April 5, 1944 R&B singer Nicholas Caldwell (of The Whispers) is born in San Francisco, California.

April 3, 1944 Tony Orlando is born Michael Anthony Orlando Cassavitis in the Hell's Kitchen neighborhood of New York City. He becomes a teen singing sensation with the 1961 hit "Bless You," but by 1970 is working in music publishing. That year, he is asked to record vocals for a song called "Candida," as the original singer didn't work out. When it becomes a hit, Orlando resumes his singing career as Tony Orlando & Dawn.

April 1, 1944 Pop singer Frank Gari ("Utopia," "Lullaby of Love") is born Frank Daniel Garofalo in New York City.

March 31, 1944 Guitarist Mick Ralphs of Mott the Hoople and Bad Company is born in Herefordshire, England.

March 31, 1944 Rod Allen (original lead vocalist for The Fortunes) is born Rodney Bainbridge in Leicester, England.

March 30, 1944 Ronnie Rice of The New Colony Six is born in Illinois.

March 29, 1944 Terry Jacks ("Seasons In The Sun") is born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.

March 26, 1944 Diana Ross is born in Detroit, Michigan. She finds fame as lead singer of The Supremes.

March 23, 1944 Ric Ocasek of The Cars is born in Baltimore, Maryland. His date of birth is often reported at March 23, 1949 because that's what he often claimed, but records show he was actually born five years earlier.

March 22, 1944 Tony McPhee (guitarist for The Groundhogs) is born in Humberston, Lincolnshire, England.

March 20, 1944 Jance Garfat (bassist for Dr. Hook and the Medicine Show) is born Robert Jance Garfat in California.

March 17, 1944 John Sebastian of The Lovin' Spoonful is born in New York City.

March 17, 1944 Pattie Boyd is born in Taunton, Somerset, England. She would later marry George Harrison and Eric Clapton, and also inspire the song "Layla."

March 11, 1944 Ric Rothwell (drummer for The Mindbenders) is born in Stockport, Cheshire, England.

March 7, 1944 Townes Van Zandt is born in Fort Worth, Texas.

March 6, 1944 Mary Wilson (of The Supremes) is born in Greenville, Mississippi. After moving to Detroit, she meets fellow future Supreme Florence Ballard at an elementary school talent show.

March 4, 1944 Michael Wilson (original drummer and first "Mick" of Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick and Tich) is born in Salisbury, Wiltshire, England.

March 4, 1944 R&B/soul singer Bobby Womack is born in Cleveland, Ohio.

March 1, 1944 Roger Daltrey of The Who is born in London.