American
15th June 1941, born on this day, American singer-songwriter Harry Nilsson, who had the 1972 UK & US No.1 single with his version of The Badfinger song 'Without You', and the 1969 US No.6 single 'Everybody's Talkin' from the film Midnight Cowboy'. The Monkees, Three Dog Night & Ronettes all covered his songs. He died […]
Happy birthday to Frank Beard, American drummer with ZZ Top, who had the 1984 US No.8 & 1985 UK No.16 single ‘Legs’. Beard is notable as being the only musician in the band without a long beard, an ironic fact considering his last name. The band has had global album sales in excess of 50 […]
Very sad to hear that American singer Dr John has died at the age of 77 after suffering a heart attack. His career started in the late 1950s, when he became prominent as a pianist and singer on the New Orleans music scene. He worked with many other artists including Carly Simon, James Taylor, Neil […]
Happy birthday to American musician, singer-songwriter and political activist Tom Morello born on 30 May 1964. With Rage Against The Machine, he had the 1996 US No.1 album Evil Empire and with Audioslave the 2005 US No.1 album Out of Exile. Morello was most recently a touring musician with Bruce Springsteen and the E Street […]
Happy birthday to Cher, born on 20th May 1946, American singer and actress, one-half of the folk rock husband-wife duo Sonny & Cher who had the 1965 UK & US No.1 single 'I Got You Babe'. She became a television personality in the 1970s with her shows The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour, watched by […]
Happy birthday to Burt Bacharach born on 12th May 1928, American composer, songwriter, record producer, pianist, and singer. With Hal David he wrote many classic songs including, 'Close To You', '24 Hours From Tulsa', 'Make It Easy On Yourself', 'Magic Moments', 'I Say A Little Prayer'. He won two Oscars for the film score to […]
30th April 1983, American Blues legend Muddy Waters (McKinley Morganfield) died in his sleep at his home in Westmont, Illinois, aged 68. Major influence of many acts, Cream, Eric Clapton, Led Zeppelin, The Rolling Stones named themselves after Waters' 1950 song 'Rollin' Stone.' Best known songs include 'I Just Want To Make Love To You', […]
12 April 1950, Born on this day American actor, singer, songwriter, and guitarist David Cassidy, known for his role as Keith Partridge, the son of Shirley Partridge (played by his stepmother Shirley Jones), in the 1970s musical-sitcom The Partridge Family, which led to him becoming one of popular culture's teen idols and pop singers of […]
11 April 2014, American musician and songwriter Jesse Winchester died aged 69. To avoid the Vietnam War draft he moved to Canada in 1967, where he began his career as a solo artist. His best known songs include ‘Yankee Lady’, ‘The Brand New Tennessee Waltz’, ‘Mississippi, You’re on My Mind’, ‘A Showman’s Life’, and ‘Biloxi’. […]
6th April 2016, American singer, songwriter, guitarist, and fiddler, Merle Haggard died of complications from pneumonia at his home in Palo Cedro, California. Along with Buck Owens, Haggard and his band the Strangers helped create the Bakersfield sound, which is characterized by the twang of Fender Telecaster and the unique mix with the traditional country […]