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 today
- The legendary and incomparable Billie Holiday as born 110 years ago today
If you didn’t know. I’m a huge Kraftwerk fan.
The German electronic outfit created the sound of the future, 50 years early. And without their early adoption of the synthesizer as a melodic instrument and sound processor in 1974 — yes, 1974! — the sounds and music we know and love know wouldn’t be possible.
It shouldn’t be surprising that I’ve played Kraftwerk while in Germany, The Netherlands and even in Montréal. Listening to them brings back very fond memories of riding the S-bahn 3 into Frankfurt’s Haupwatche section; of riding the Dutch railways back and forth between Dordrecht and Amsterdam; and of riding Montréal’s Métro.
Kraftwerk’s co-founder Florian Schneider was born 78 years ago today.
Happy birthday, Florian! Happy birthday, wherever you are!
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