Throwback: Happy 81st Birthday, Grover Washington, Jr.

December is here. 2024 has flown by and is almost over. 

Much like the previous 11 months, this month is a busy month in music birthdays. Let’s get to it y’all. 

• The legendary Lou Rawls was born 85 years ago on December 1
• The Doors‘ John Densmore celebrated his 80^th birthday on December 1
• Jaco Pastorius, one of the greatest bassists ever was born 73 years ago on December 1
• Def Leppard bassist Rick Savage celebrated his 64^th birthday on December 2
• Montell Jordan celebrates his 56th birthday today
• Ozzy Osbourne, the “Prince of Darkness” and “Godfather of Metal,” celebrated his 76th birthday on December 3
• One of the greatest and most successful emcees both commercially and critically to ever do it, Jay-Z celebrated his 55th — yes, 55th ya’ll! — birthday on December 4
• The pioneering rock legend Little Richard was born 92 years ago on December 5
• R.E.M co-founder and lead guitarist Peter Buck celebrated his 68th birthday on December 5
• The Doors‘ Jim Morrison was born 81 years ago on December 8
• The fearlessly uncompromising Sinead O’Connor was born 58 years ago on December 8
• Yeah Yeah Yeahs‘ Nick Zinner celebrated his 50th — that’s right y’all 50th! — birthday on December 8
• The legendary Willie Mae “Big Mama” Thornton was born 98 years ago on December 12
• Motley Crüe‘s Nikki Sixx celebrated his 66th birthday on December 12
• Yasiin Bey, one of the greatest living emcees celebrated his 51st birthday on December 12
• The incomparable, elegant and absolutely legendary Ms. Dionne Warwick celebratesd her 84th birthday on December 12
• The Fixx’s frontman Cy Curnin celebrated his 67th birthday on December 12
• Sheila E celebrated her 67th birthday on December 12

Grammy Award-winning multi-instrumentalist, arranger and producer Grover Washington, Jr. was born 81 years ago yesterday. Along with Wes Montgomery and George Benson, Washington is considered to be one of the pioneers — and legends — of smooth jazz, writing and recording a number of hits, while collaborating with Bill Withers, Patti LaBelle, and Phyllis Hyman.

Happy belated birthday, sir! Happy birthday, wherever you are!