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January is a busy and auspicious month in music history:
- Legendary hip-hop pioneer Grandmaster Flash celebrated his 66th birthday on January 1
- Led Zeppelin‘s and Them Crooked Vultures‘ John Paul Jones celebrated his 78th birthday on January 3
- French touch pioneer Thomas Bangalter, best known for his work in Stardust and the multi-Grammy Award-winning duo Daft Punk celebrated his 49th birthday on January
- R.E.M.’s Michael Stipe celebrated his 64th birthday on January 4
- Joy Division and New Order founder Bernard Sumner celebrated his 68th birthday on January 4
- Cocteau Twins‘ co-founder, multi-instrumentalist and producer Robin Guthriecelebrated his 62nd birthday on January 4
- Portishead frontperson Beth Gibbons celebrates her 58th birthday on January 4
- The 65th anniversary of singer, model, actress and Prince protegé Denise Katrina Matthews, a.k.a. Vanity was on January 4
- Blondie co-founder and guitarist Chris Stein celebrated his 74th birthday on January 5
- AC/DC co-founder, rhythm guitarist, songwriter and backing vocalist Malcom Young was born 71 years ago on January 6
- Sister Sledge‘s Kathy Sledge celebrated her 65th birthday today on January 6
- The Doors‘ Robby Krieger celebrated his 78th on January 8
- The legendary David Bowie was born 77 years ago on January 8
- Led Zeppelin’s Jimmy Page celebrated his 80th birthday on January 9
- Steely Dan co-founder, multi-instrumentalist and vocalist Donald Fagen celebrates his 76th birthday on January 10
- Mary J. Blige, the Queen of Hip-Hop Soul celebrated her 53rd birthday on January 11
- Rage Against the Machine‘s Zack de la Rocha celebrated his 54th birthday on January 12
- Wu-Tang Clan’s Raekwon celebrated his 54th birthday on January 12
- The 69th anniversary of Earth Wind and Fire’s Fred White was on January 13
- Nirvana‘s and Foo Fighters‘ Dave Grohl celebrated his 55th birthday on January 14
- LL Cool J celebrated his 56th birthday on January 14
- Slick Rick greatest living emcees to ever do it, celebrated his 59th birthday on January 14.
- The 84th anniversary of New Orleans‘ greatest sons, the legendary singer/songwriter, pianist, composer and producer Allen Toussaint was also on January 14
- Lisa Lisa and The Cult Jam’s frontwoman Lisa “Lisa Lisa” Velez celebrated her 57th birthday on January 15
Today is yet another auspicious day in January music history:
- Sade, the queen of the Quiet Storm sound celebrates her 65th birthday today.
Aaliyah was born on this day 45 years ago. If you came of age in the 90s, much of Aaliyah’s music was part of your life’s soundtrack at the time — and you might have also had a deep and unrequited crush on her, too.
We tragically lost her 24 years ago, but her work has transformed contemporary pop, perhaps forever. So let’s celebrate her work and her life, today. Happy birthday, Aaliyah! Happy birthday, wherever you are!