Throwback: Happy 61st Birthday, Jam Master Jay!

It’s 2026 y’all. May it be a kinder, better year for all of us. January is a busy month for music birthdays. 

• Gang of Four co-founder and guitarist Andy Gill was born 70 years ago on January 1
• The pioneering and legendary Grandmaster Flash celebrated his 68th birthday on January 1
• French touch pioneer Thomas Bangalter, best known for his work in Stardust and the multi-Grammy Award-winning duo Daft Punk celebrated his 51st birthday on January 3
• The legendary Stephen Stills, known for his work with Buffalo Springfield, Crosby Stills and Nash, Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young, as well as for being a solo artist, celebrated his 81st birthday on January 3
• Led Zeppelin‘s John Paul Jones celebrated his 80th — yes, 80th — birthday on January 3
• Denise Katrina Matthews, best known as Vanity was born 67 years ago on January 4
• Joy Division and New Order founder Bernard Sumner celebrated his 70th — yes, y’all, 70th! — birthday on January 4
• Portishead frontperson Beth Gibbons celebrated her 60th — yes, ya’ll, 60th! — birthday on January 4
• Cocteau Twins‘ co-founder, multi-instrumentalist and producer Robin Guthrie celebrated his 64th birthday on January 4
• R.E.M. frontman Michael Stipe celebrated his 66th birthday on January 4
• Blondie co-founder and guitarist Chris Stein celebrated his 76th birthday on January 5
• Sister Sledge‘s Kathy Sledge celebrated her 67th birthday on January 6
• AC/DC co-founder, rhythm guitarist, songwriter and backing vocalist Malcolm Young was born 73 years ago on January 6
• The Doors‘ Robby Krieger celebrated his 80th — yes, ya’ll 80th — birthday on January 8
• The legendary David Bowie was born 79 years ago on January 8
• David Johansen, best known as a punk rock pioneer with New York Dolls, for a lengthy solo career and for his lounge singing alter ego Buster Poindexter was born 76 years ago on January 9
• Led Zeppelin’s Jimmy Page, one of the greatest guitarists to ever play celebrated his 82nd birthday on January 9
• Steely Dan co-founder, multi-instrumentalist and vocalist Donald Fagen celebrated his 78th birthday on January 10 
• The legendary Rod Stewart celebrated his 81st birthday on January 10
• Mary J. Blige, the Queen of Hip-Hop Soul celebrated her 55th — yes, y’all 55th! — birthday on January 11
• Wu-Tang Clan’s Raekwon celebrated his 56th birthday on January 12
• Rage Against the Machine‘s  Zack de la Rocha celebrated his 56th birthday on January 12
• Earth Wind and Fire’s Fred White was born 71 years ago on January 13
• One of the greatest, most commercially successful emcees ever, LL Cool J celebrated his 58th birthday on January 14
• Dave Grohl celebrated his 57th birthday on January 14
• New Orleans‘ greatest sons, the legendary singer/songwriter, pianist, composer and producer Allen Toussaint was born 88 years ago on January 14 
• Slick Rick, one of the greatest living emcees to ever do it, celebrated his 61st birthday on January 14
• Lisa Lisa and The Cult Jam’s frontwoman Lisa “Lisa Lisa” Velezcelebrated her 60th birthday on January 15
• Aaliyah was born 47 years ago on January 16
• Sade, the queen of the Quiet Storm/smooth jazz sound of the 80s and 90s celebrated her 67h birthday on January 16
• The Smiths‘ Andy Rourke was born 62 years ago on January 17
• Jamaican-born, New York-based dancehall legend Shabba Rankscelebrated his 60th — 60th y’all!– birthday on January 17
• The Bangles’ co-founder and frontperson Susanna Hoffs celebrated her 67th birthday on January 17 
• The Delfonics‘ William Hart was born 81 years ago on January 17 
• The Temptations‘ former lead singer David Ruffin was born 85 years ago on January 18
• Janis Joplin, arguably one of the greatest, most influential and most beloved vocalist ever was born 83 years ago on January 19
• Robert Palmer was born on 77 years ago on January 19
• The legendary and incomparable Dolly Parton celebrated her 80th — yes, y’all, 80th! — birthday on January 19
• Kevin Parker, the acclaimed Aussie singer/songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and producer, best known as the creative mastermind behind the JOVM mainstay Tame Impala celebrated his 40th birthday on January 20
• The Roots‘ co-founder and drummer Questlove celebrated his 55th — yes, y’all, 55th! — birthday on January 20
• Billy Ocean celebrates his 76th birthday today

As a kid, Run DMC were both a revelation — and my heroes. They still are. Jason Mizell, best known to music lovers everywhere as Jam Master Jay was born 61 years ago today. We tragically lost him 24 years ago but he and his influential and massively important work will live on forever. Long live Jam Master Jay! Long live Run DMC!

Happy birthday, brother! Happy birthday, wherever you are!

____

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