We’ve made it halfway through 2026 y’all. And for my friends, readers and dearest ones in the LGQBTIA+ community: Happy Pride!
June is a busy month for birthdays.
- Alanis Morisette celebrated her 52nd birthday on June 1
- The Smiths‘ Mike Joyce celebrated his 63rd birthday on June 1
- Brandi Carlile celebrated her 45th birthday on June 1
- Cypress Hill’s and Prophets of Rage’s B Real celebrated his 56th birthday on June 2
- The Rolling Stones‘ Charlie Watts was born 85 years ago.on June 2
- One of the greatest singer/songwriters to ever live, Curtis Mayfield was born 84 years ago on June 3
- Al B. Sure! celebrated his 58th birthday on June 4
- The Psychedelic Furs and Love Spit Love frontman Richard Butler celebrated his 70th birthday on June 5
- The legendary Prince was born 68 years ago on June 7
- Duran Duran‘s Nick Rhodes celebrated his 64th birthday on June 8
- “Mr. Excitement,” the great Jackie Wilson was born 92 years ago on June 9
- Faith Evans celebrated her 53rd birthday on June 10
- Howlin’ Wolf, one of the greatest bluesmen to have done it was born 116 years ago on June 10
- ZZ Top‘s drummer Frank Beard celebrated his 77th birthday on .June 11
- Boy George celebrated his 65th birthday on June 14
- Ice Cube, one of the greatest emcees to ever spit a bar on an album celebrated his 57th birthday on June 15
- Waylon Jennings was born 89 years ago on June 15
- Tupac Shakur, one of the most dynamic, supremely talented and contradictory figures in hip hop was born 55 years ago on June 16
- The O’Jays‘ Eddie Levert celebrated his 84th birthday on June 16
- Holland-Dozier-Holland‘s Lamont Dozier was born 84 years ago on June 16
- Dead Kennedys co-founder Jello Biafra celebrated his 68th birthday on June 17
- Pulitzer Prize-winning, Grammy Award-winning emcee Kendrick Lamar celebrated his 39th birthday on June 18
- The legendary Paul McCartney celebrated his 84th birthday on June 18
- Duran Duran’s and The Power Station‘s John Taylor celebrates his 66th 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 last year, days before what would have been his 83rd birthday. So today, let’s celebrate the legend and his remarkable and deeply influential work on the 84th anniversary of his birth.
Happy birthday, legend. Happy birthday, wherever you are.
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