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 Dixon was 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 July 17
- The incomparable and legendary Screamin’ Jay Hawkins was born 96 years ago on July 18
- Queen‘s Brian May celebrated his 78th birthday on July 19
- Kool G. Rap celebrates his 57th birthday today
- Pearl Jam’s Stone Gossard celebrates his 60th — yes, y’all, 60th! — birthday today
- Soundgarden‘s and Audioslave’s Chris Cornell was born 61 years ago today
- Carlos Santana, celebrates his 78th birthday today
- Larry Levan house music pioneer was born 71 years ago on July 20
- The legendary George Clinton celebrated his 84th birthday on July 22
- Depeche Mode co-founder Martin Gore celebrated his 64th birthday on July 23
- Slash celebrated his 60th — yes, y’all, 60th! — birthday on July 23
- The legendary Rolling Stones frontman Mick Jagger celebrated his 82nd birthday on July 26
- Queen‘s Roger Taylor celebrated his 76th birthday on July 26
- Rush frontman and bassist Geddy Lee celebrated his 72nd birthday on July 29
- Boyz II Men‘s Wanya Morris celebrated his 52nd birthday on July 29
- David Sanborn was born on 80 years ago on July 30
- The legendary Chicago bluesman Buddy Guy celebrates his 89th birthday on July 30
- Daniel Ash, best known for his work with Bauhaus and Love and Rockets, celebrates his 68th birthday today
R.E.M.’s Bill Berry celebrates his 67th birthday today. I’ve been a huge R.E.M. fan — going back to the mid 80s. Unsurprisingly, much of their music has been a part of my life’s soundtrack.
Happy birthday, Bill! And thank you for being part of music that has meant so very much to me.
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