July is a very busy month in music history:
- The iconic Debbie Harry celebrated her 79th birthday on July 1
- The B-52s Fred Schneider celebrated his 73rd birthday on July 1
- Missy Elliott, one of the most forward thinking artists of her generation — and perhaps of any generation, really — celebrated her 53rd birthday on July 1
- Evelyn “Champagne” King celebrated her 64th birthday on July 1
- Depeche Mode‘s Yaz’s/Yazoo’s and Erasure‘s Vince Clarke celebrated his 63rd birthday on July 3
- The great jazz organist Dr. Lonnie Smith was born 82 years ago on July 3
- Bill Withers was born 86 years ago on July 4
- Huey Lewis and The News‘ frontman Huey Lewis celebrated his 74th birthday on July 5
- 50 Cent celebrated his 49th birthday on July 6
- The Beatles‘ Ringo Starr celebrated his 84th birthday on July 7
- Depeche Mode co-founder
- Andy “Fletch” Fletcher was born 63 years ago on July 8
- Beck celebrated his 54th birthday on July 8
- AC/DC‘s first frontman, Bon Scott was born 78 years ago on July 9
- The legendary and incomparable Mavis Staples celebrated her 85th birthday on July 10
- Pet Shop Boys‘ frontman Neil Tennant celebrated his 70th — yes, 70th! — birthday on July 10
- Bauhaus frontman Peter Murphy celebrates his 67th birthday today
- Lil’ Kim celebrated her 50th — yes, 50th! — birthday on July 11
- MF DOOM was born 53 years ago on July 13
- Joy Division‘s Ian Curtis was born on this day 68 on July 14
- Linda Ronstadt, one of the greatest vocalists — and arguably one of the most commercially successful female artists ever — celebrated her 77th birthday on July 15
- The Police‘s Stewart Copeland celebrated his 72nd birthday on July 16
- Gang Starr‘s G.U.R.U., one of the greatest emcees to ever spit bars on wax was born 63 years ago on July 17
- Queen‘s Brian May celebrated his 77th birthday back on July 19th
- Carlos Santana, one of the greatest guitarists to ever do it celebrated his 77th birthday on July 20
I’ll always remember the first time I heard Soundgarden: I was watching Headbanger’s Ball. The show’s then-host Rikki Rachtman was talking about Chris Cornell and his voice. Then they played the video for “Outshined.” My young mind was blown by Cornell’s ridiculous vocal range and the band’s sound and musicianship. They just kicked everyone’s ass — and they did so in a meaner, nastier, harder fashion.
Cornell was born 60 years ago on July 20. He and his work are sorely missed.
Happy belated birthday, Chris! Happy birthday, wherever you are!
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