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2025 is rushing by. It’s now April. How did that happen, y’all? April is a busy month in music history.
- Gil Scott-Heron was born 76 years ago on April 1
- The legendary Marvin Gaye was born 85 years ago on April 2
- Bella Union Records founder and label head, singer/songwriter, musician and Cocteau Twins‘ Simon Raymonde celebrated his 63rd birthday on April 3
- David Roback, one-half of acclaimed and beloved dream pop duo Mazzy Star was born on this day 67 years on April 4
- The great Jill Scott, “Jilly from Philly” celebrated her 53rd on April 4
- The legendary bluesman Muddy Waters was born 112 years ago on April 4
- Smash-hit producer, songwriter and artist Pharrell Williams celebrated his 52nd birthday on April 6
- Merle Haggard, one of the most beloved figures of the Outlaw Country movement was born on this day 85 years ago on April 6
- Charles Michael Kittridge Thompson IV, a.k.a. Black Francis, a.k.a Frank Black celebrates his 60th — yes, y’all 60th! — birthday on April 7
- John Oates, best known for his work with the blue-eyed soul duo Hall & Oates one of the most commercially successful duos ever, celebrates his 76th birthday on April 7
- The legendary and incomparable Billie Holiday as born 110 years ago on April 7
- Kraftwerk co-founder Florian Schneider was born 78 years ago on April 7
- The legendary Biz Markie was born 61 years ago on April 8
- A Tribe Called Quest‘s Q-Tip, one of hip-hop’s greatest emcees and producers celebrated his 55th — yes, y’all 55th! — birthday on April 10
- Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds celebrated his 66th birthday on April 10
- The legendary and pioneering Herbie Hancock celebrated his 85th birthday — yes 85th y’all! — on April 12
- Echo & The Bunnymen‘s Will Sergeant celebrated his 67th birthday on April 12
- Radiohead‘s Ed O’Brien celebrated his 57th birthday on April 16
- The Empress of the Blues, Bessie Smith was born on 133 years ago on April 16
- Redman, one of the most dynamic, entertaining and wildly talented emcees to ever spit a bar celebrated his 55th birthday on April 17
- Liz Phair, one of the most beloved singer/songwriters of the 90s and early 00s celebrates her 58th birthday on April 17
- Luther Vandross, one of the greatest male R&B vocalists to ever live was born 74 years ago on April 20
- The Cure‘s founding member frontman, guitarist and principle songwriter Robert Smith celebrated his 66th birthday on April 21
- The legendary Iggy Pop celebrated his 78th birthday on April 22
- Charles Mingus was born 103 years ago on this date
- Glen Campbell, one of the more publicly under-appreciated guitarists and one of country’s most beloved and commercially successful singer/songwriters and performers was born 89 years ago on April 22
- The great and legendary Roy Orbison was born 88 years ago on April 23
- Bauhaus’ and Love and Rockets‘ David J., celebrated his 68th birthday on April 24
- Ella Fitzgerald was one of the greatest and most influential vocalists to have ever lived was born 108 years ago on April 25
- Legendary electronic music artist and producer Giorgio Moroder celebrated his 85th birthday on April 26
- Duran Duran‘s Roger Taylor celebrated his 65th birthday on April 26
- The B-52’s Kate Pierson celebrates her 77th birthday on April 27
- Too Short, one of the pioneers of West Coast hip-hop and of West Coast gangsta rap celebrated his 59th birthday back on April 28
- Edward Kennedy “Duke” Ellington was born 126 years ago on April 29
- Willie Nelson, one of the world’s greatest songwriters celebrated his 92nd birthday on April 29
Singer/songwriter, guitarist, producer, film and television composer and MC5 co-founder Wayne Kramer was born on this day 77 years ago.
The MC5 were the Rage Against the Machine of their day: they were known for their explosive live shows and for their radical left-wing politics. Along with The Stooges, the MC5 were pioneers and major influences on the emerging punk scene here in the States and elsewhere — and when you hear those tunes on the MC5’s first three albums, it’s obvious. They kicked ass, took names and roared against the system. And goddamn it, we need much more of that these days.
Happy birthday, Wayne! May you be kicking out the jams wherever you are!