2026 has gotten off to a terrible and uneasy start for most of us. But we’re here in February. Of course, February is a super busy month: It’s Black History Month, which I’ve made sure to celebrate in some way on this site for much of its history. But there are also a number of important birthdays in music history that we must celebrate. So let’s get to it.
- Big Boi celebrated his 51st birthday on February 1
- Rick James was born 78 years ago on February 1
If you’re a jazz head, you’d know that Stan Getz was born on this day 99 years ago. Inspired by Lester Young, Getz was a prominent figure in the bebop and cool jazz scenes, but he may be best for popularizing Bossa nova here in the states with his 1964 smash-hit “The Girl From Ipanema.”
Happy birthday, Stan! Happy birthday, wherever you are.
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