Music History Events: Births
May 27, 1939 Don Williams, singer of 11 #1 country hits such as "You're My Best Friend" (1975) and "I'm Just A Country Boy" (1977), is born in Floydada, Texas.
May 14, 1939 One-hit-wonder Troy Shondell, known for his 1961 chart-topper "This Time," is born Gary Wayne Schelton in Fort Wayne, Indiana.
May 7, 1939 Johnny Maestro (original lead singer for The Crests, Brooklyn Bridge) is born John Mastrangelo in New York City.
May 6, 1939 Herbie Cox (lead singer of The Cleftones) is born in Cincinnati, Ohio.
May 1, 1939 Folk singer Judy Collins is born in Seattle, Washington.
April 23, 1939 '60s pop singer Ray Peterson is born in Denton, Texas.
April 22, 1939 Pop/soul singer Mel Carter, known for the 1965 hit "Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me," is born in Cincinnati, Ohio.
April 20, 1939 Singer-songwriter Johnny Tillotson is born in Jacksonville, Florida.
April 18, 1939 Pianist Glen Hardin is born in Wellington, Texas. In addition to playing with Buddy Holly's band The Crickets, Hardin will record with artists such as Elvis Presley, John Denver, Emmylou Harris, and Rick Nelson.
April 16, 1939 Dusty Springfield is born Mary Isobel Catherine Bernadette O'Brien in West Hampstead, North London, England.
April 15, 1939 Pop singer-songwriter Marty Wilde is born Reginald Leonard Smith in Blackheath, South London, England.
April 5, 1939 R&B singer Ronnie White (of The Miracles) is born in Detroit, Michigan.
April 5, 1939 Pop singer-songwriter Crispian St. Peters is born Robin Peter Smith in Swanley, Kent, England.
April 4, 1939 Jazz musician Hugh Masekela is born in Witbank, South Africa.
April 1, 1939 Rudolph Isley (of The Isley Brothers) is born in Cincinnati, Ohio.
March 13, 1939 Neil Sedaka is born in Brooklyn, New York.
February 15, 1939 Pop singer Alvin Cash is born in St. Louis, Missouri.
February 14, 1939 Country singer Razzy Bailey is born in Alabama.
February 12, 1939 Ray Manzarek (of The Doors) is born in Chicago, Illinois.
February 1, 1939 Bluegrass musician Del McCoury is born in York, Pennsylvania.
February 1, 1939 Jazz pianist Joe Sample (of The Crusaders) is born in Houston, Texas.
January 24, 1939 Ray Stevens is born Harold Ray Ragsdale in Clarkdale, Georgia.
January 19, 1939 Phil Everly of The Everly Brothers is born in Chicago, Illinois, the younger brother of future bandmate Don.
January 16, 1939 Ray Phillips (of The Nashville Teens) is born in Tiger Bay, Cardiff, South Wales.
January 12, 1939 William Lee Golden of The Oak Ridge Boys is born in Brewton, Alabama.
January 10, 1939 Actor Sal Mineo is born in New York City. His music connection is on the operatic stage, where he played in NBC Opera Theatre's 1954 production of Richard Strauss' Salome and directed Gian Carlo Menotti's The Medium in 1972.
January 10, 1939 Scott McKenzie ("San Francisco (Be Sure To Wear Some Flowers In Your Hair)") is born Philip Wallach Blondheim in Jacksonville, Florida, but is raised in North Carolina.
January 7, 1939 Lefty Baker (guitarist, vocalist for Spanky & Our Gang) is born Eustace Britchforth in Roanoke, Virginia.
December 22, 1938 Country singer-songwriter Red Steagall is born Russell Steagall in Gainesville, Texas. He discovers Reba McEntire in 1975.
December 18, 1938 Chas Chandler (bassist for The Animals, Jimi Hendrix Experience) is born Bryan James Chandler in Heaton, Newcastle upon Tyne, England.
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