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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 celebrates his 85th birthday — yes 85th y’all! — today. Hancock is one of the few living links between the bop-era legends, jazz fusion, pop and contemporary jazz — with Hancock restlessly bouncing around genres and styles throughout his six-plus decade career.
So let’s celebrate the man and his towering influence on music today, huh? Happy birthday, Mr. Hancock! May there be many, many more!