We’ve managed to make it to June. I don’t know about you, but this year has been a brutal, fucked up slog. But it’s Pride Month — and there’s still art, music and small joys.
June is a another busy month for music birthdays:
- Alanis Morisette celebrated her 51st birthday today on June 1
- The Rolling Stones‘ Charlie Watts was born 84 years ago on June 2
- Cypress HIll’s and Prophets of Rage’s B Real celebrated his 55th — yes, ya’ll 55th! — birthday on June 2
- One of the greatest singer/songwriters to ever live, Curtis Mayfield was born 83 years ago on June 3
- Al B. Sure! celebrated his 57th birthday, on June 4
- The Psychedelic Furs and Love Spit Love frontman Richard Butler celebrated his 68th birthday on June 5
- The legendary Prince was born 67 years ago on June 7
- Duran Duran‘s Nick Rhodes celebrated his 63rd birthday on June 8
- “Mr. Excitement,” the great Jackie Wilson was born 91 years ago on June 9
- Howlin’ Wolf, one of the greatest bluesmen to have done it was born on 115 years ago on June 10
- ZZ Top‘s drummer Frank Beard celebrated his 76th birthday on June 11
- Boy George celebrated his 64th birthday on June 14
- Ice Cube, one of the greatest emcees to ever spit a bar on an album celebrates his 56th birthday today
- Waylon Jennings was born 88 years ago on June 15
- The O’Jays‘ Eddie Levert celebrates his 83rd birthday on June 16
- Tupac Shakur, one of the most dynamic, supremely talented and contradictory figures in hip hop was born 54 years ago on June 16
- Pulitzer Prize-winning, Grammy Award-winning emcee Kendrick Lamar celebrated his 38h birthday on June 17
- The legendary Paul McCartney celebrated his 83rd birthday on June 18
- Duran Duran‘s and The Power Station‘s John Taylor celebrates his 65th — yes, ya’ll, 65th! — birthday, today.
As I mentioned a little over a week ago, I had the rare opportunity to photograph the legendary Brian Wilson. Back in 2016, Wilson was touring to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Pet Sounds, and the tour included a stop at that year’s Northside Festival.
Fittingly, for a legend, The Beach Boys creative mastermind played the headlining outdoor stage at McCarren Park. After the allotted three songs in the photo pit, I walked to a vendor, bought a beer and a pretzel. At some point, I ran into a pal, who was accompanied by his adorable labradoodle. And with beer in hand, I was feeding my friend’s labradoodle, just as Wilson and his remarkable backing band started playing “God Only Knows.” I briefly looked up to see a few stars popped out.
It was arguably one of the loveliest moments of my adult life.
We lost the legend 9 days before what would be his 83rd birthday. Happy birthday, legend. Happy birthday, wherever you are.
Rest well, sir. Long live Brian Wilson!