Welp, we’ve survived through October. It’s been a bit of a brutal slog of a year. But there’s postseason baseball. Hockey season just started. Basketball season will start in a few weeks.
October is also a busy month in music history.
- The legendary Donny Hathaway was born 81 years ago on October 1
- The Human League‘s Philip Oakey celebrated his 71st birthday on October 2
- Sting celebrated his 75th birthday on October 2
- Motley Crüe co-founder and drummer Tommy Lee celebrated his 64th birthday on October 3
- Chubby Checker, one of the pioneers of rock ‘n’ roll and R&B celebrated his 85th on October 3
- One of the greatest guitarists and bluesmen ever, Stevie Ray Vaughan was born 72 years ago on October 3
- The Roots‘ Black Thought, arguably one of the greatest living emcees celebrated his 53rd birthday on October 3
- AC/DC‘s Brian Johnson celebrated his 79th birthday on October 5
- Singer/songwriter, actor and television personality Toni Braxton celebrated her 59th birthday today
- Radiohead and The Smile frontman Thom Yorke celebrated his 58th birthday on October 7
- One of this country’s finest and somewhat under-appreciated, underrated singer/songwriters, and one of my personal favorites, John Mellencamp celebrated his 75th birthday on October 7
- Kool and the Gang founder Robert “Kool” Bell celebrated his 76th birthday on October 8
- PJ Harvey celebrates her 57th birthday today
- The Who bassist John Entwistle was born 82 years ago on October 9
- The legendary John Lennon was born 86 years ago on October 9
- David Lee Roth, one of the greatest rock/metal frontman to ever live, and a member of the most beloved Van Halen lineup, ever, celebrated his 72nd birthday today
- Thelonious Monk was one of the most dynamic and eccentric figures in jazz was born 109 years ago on October 10
- MC Lyte is one of the pioneers of hip-hop and just as important, one of the greatest emcees to ever do it, male, female or non-binary celebrated her 56th birthday on October 11.
- Hall & Oates‘ Daryl Hall celebrated his 80th birthday on October 11
- The legendary Art Blakey, was born on this day 107 years ago on October 11
- The Smithereens‘ founder and first frontman, Pat DiNizio was born 71 years ago on October 12
- Sam Moore, best known for being one-half of the legendary soul and R&B duo Sam and Dave, was born 91 years ago on October 12
- Sammy Hagar, one of rock’s great frontmen celebrated his 79th birthday on October 13
- Thomas Dolby, who had a smash-hit with 1982’s “She Blinded Me With Science” celebrates his 68th birthday today
- Art Tatum, one of the greatest jazz pianists to ever live was born 117 years ago today.
- The godfather of Afrobeat, Fela Kuti was born 88 years ago on October 15
- Jazz great Roy Hargrove was born 57 years ago on October 16
- Red Hot Chili Peppers‘ Flea, one of the greatest bassists in rock celebrated his 64th birthday on October 16
- The co-founder of the legendary Grateful Dead, Bob Weir was born 79 years ago on October 16
- Eminem celebrated his 54th birthday on October 17
- One of the legendary pioneers of rock ‘n’ roll, Chuck Berry was born 100 years ago on October 18
- Snoop Dogg celebrated his 55th birthday on October 20
- Tom Petty, arguably one of the greatest singer/songwriters in rock history was born 76 years on October 20
- The legendary and pioneering jazz man John Birks “Dizzy” Gillespie was born 109 years ago on October 21
- The incomparable, legendary Queen of Salsa, Celia Cruz was born on this day 102 years ago.
- The Staple Singers‘ Yvonne Staples was born 89 years ago on October 23
Former Rolling Stones bassist Bill Wyman celebrates his 90th birthday today. That’s right y’all. 90! Wyman was a member of the band for 31 years and was part of some of the most beloved — and oft covered — songs ever written or recorded.
Happy birthday, Bill! May there be many, many more!
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