Throwback: Happy 64th Birthday, G.U.R.U.!

We’ve somehow managed to survive through July so far, eh? Well, July is a busy month in music history.

• One of the most important figures of the blues, Chicago blues especially, Willie Dixonwas born 110 years ago on July 1
• James Cotton was born 90 years ago on July 1
• Syl Johnson was born 89 years ago on July 1
• The B-52s Fred Schneider celebrated his 74th birthday on July 1
• The iconic Debbie Harry celebrated her 80th birthday today on July 1
• Evelyn “Champagne” King celebrated her 65th birthday on July 1
• Depeche Mode‘s Yaz’s/Yazoo’s and Erasure‘s Vince Clarke celebrated his 64th birthday on July 3
• Dr. Lonnie Smith was born 83 years ago on July 3
• Bill Withers was born 87 years ago on July 4
• Huey Lewis and The News‘ frontman Huey Lewis celebrated his 75th birthday on July 5
• Acclaimed, Wu-Tang mastermind and producer The RZA celebrated his 56th birthday on July 5
• 50 Cent celebrated his 50th birthday on July 6
• The Beatles‘ Ringo Starr celebrated his 85th birthday on July 7
• Depeche Mode co-founder Andy “Fletch” Fletcher was born 64 years ago on July 8 
• AC/DC‘s first frontman, Bon Scott was born 79 years ago on July 9
• Simple Minds‘ founder and frontman Jim Kerr celebrated his 66th birthday on July 9
• Pet Shop Boys‘ frontman Neil Tennant celebrated his 71st birthday on July 10
• The legendary and incomparable Mavis Staples celebrated her 86th birthday on July 10
• Lil’ Kim celebrated her 51st birthday on July 11
• Bauhaus frontman Peter Murphy celebrated his 68th birthday on July 11
• Joy Division‘s Ian Curtis was born 69 years ago on July 15
• Linda Ronstadt, one of the greatest vocalists — and arguably one of the most commercially successful female artists — celebrated her 79th birthday on July 15
• The Police’s Stewart Copeland celebrated his 73rd birthday on July 16
• Live‘s frontman Ed Kowalczyk celebrated his 54th birthday on July 16

Gang Starr‘s legendary G.U.R.U was born 64 years ago on this day. If you’re a real hip-hop head, you know that the man was deeply influential and important to the genre.  

For me, these tracks bring me back to what seemed to be — at points — a much simpler life.

Happy birthday brother! Happy birthday, wherever you are!