August is a very busy month in music history:
- MTV was launched 43 years ago on August 1
- Coolio was born on this day 61 years ago on August 1
- Def Leppard frontman Joe Elliott celebrated his 65th birthday on August 1
- Public Enemy‘s Chuck D. celebrated his 64th birthday on August 1
- Butch Vig celebrated his 69th birthday on August 1
- Echo and the Bunnymen‘s first dummer Pete de Freitas was born 63 years ago on August 2
- Metallica‘s James Hetfield celebrated his 61st birthday on August 3
- Collective Soul‘s frontman Ed Roland celebrated his 61st birthday on August 3
- The iconic Louis Armstrong was born 123 years ago on August 4
- Beastie Boys‘ MCA, a.k.a. Adan Yauch was born 60 years ago on August 5
- U2′s The Edge celebrated his 63rd birthday today on August 8
- The incomparable, ebullient and legendary Whitney Houston was born 61 years ago on August 9
- Hip-hop was born at a house party DJ’ed by the pioneering Kool Herc at 1520 Sedgewick Avenue 51 years ago on August 11
- Mark Knopfler celebrated his 75th birthday on August 12
- The legendary and iconic Madonna celebrated her 66th birthday on August 16
- Acclaimed JOVM mainstay Genesis Owusu celebrated his 26th birthday on August 17
- Belinda Carlisle, the frontwoman of The Go-Gos and an acclaimed solo artist in her own right celebrated her 66th birthday on August 17
- The Isley Brothers‘ Marvin Isley was born 71 years ago on August 18
- Nate Dogg, the undisputed king of hip-hop hooks was born 55 years ago on August 19
- Fat Joe, celebrated his 54th birthday on August 19
- The legendary Isaac Hayes was born 82 years ago on August 20
- The pioneering and legendary KRS One celebrated his 59th birthday on August 20
- Arguably one of the greatest rock vocalists ever, and one of the most recognizable and influential vocalists ever, Robert Plant celebrated his 76th birthday on August 20
- Thin Lizzy frontman and overall pioneer, Phil Lynott was born 75 years ago on August 20
- Punk icon and frontman of The Clash, Joe Strummer was born 71 years ago on August 21
- The legendary composer, band leader and jazz pianist Count Basiewas 120 years ago on August 21
- The legendary Kenny Rogers was also born on August 21, 88 years ago
- The legendary bluesman John Lee Hooker was born 107 years ago on August 22
- Vernon Reid celebrated his 66th birthday on August 22
- Alice in Chains‘ Layne Staley was born 57 years ago on August 22
- Tears for Fears‘ Roland Orzabal celebrates his 63rd birthday on August 22
- GZA celebrated his 58th birthday on August 22
- The Who‘s Keith Moon was born 78 years ago on August 23
- My mom, Robin Helms, celebrated her 72nd birthday on August 23
- The legendary Wayne Shorter was born 91 years ago on August 25
- Elvis Costello, arguably one of the greatest singer/songwriters in rock history celebrated his 70th birthday on August 25
Branford Marsalis, one of the most talented and forward-thinking musicians ever celebrates his 64th birthday today. I especially adored his work with Sting in the 1980s.
Happy birthday, brother! May there be many, many, many more!
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