July Birthdays

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July 1

Dick Brady (Richard J. Brady)

b. 1930 in Pittston, PA - d. 29 Jun 2002 (renal cancer)
Dixieland jazz/folk singer
instruments: clarinet, trombone
founding member of The Village Stompers (1963-67), "Washington Square" (#2 1963, One-Hit Wonder), "From Russia with Love" (#81 1964), "Fiddler on the Roof" (#97 1964)
session musician

Delaney Bramlett

b. 1939 in Pontotoc County, MS
rock/pop singer
instrument: guitar
"You Never Looked Sweeter" (1964), "Guess I Must Be Dreaming" (1967), "Try a Little Harder" (1972), "A Little Bit of You in Me" (1973), "Nothing Without You" (1976), "Every Day's a Holiday" (1977, he co-wrote), "You Were the Light" (1977), "Brown Paper Bag" (2001), "Things I Didn't Say" (2006)
with The Shindogs
founding member of Delaney and Bonnie (1968-72), "Get Ourselves Together" (1969), "Just Plain Beautiful" (1969), "Only You Know and I Know" (#20 1971), "Never Ending Song of Love" (#13 1971, he co-wrote), "Move 'Em Out" (1972)
duet with Susie Allanson, "For Old Times Sake" (1977)
session musician with Eric Clapton, Duane Allman, The Everly Brothers, Jerry Lee Lewis, and others
songwriter
music producer
md. to Bonnie Lynn O'Farrell (1967-72); father of singer, Bekka Bramlett
see Delaney Bramlett

Bobby Day (Robert James Byrd)

b. 1928/32 in Fort Worth, TX – d. 27 Jul 1990 in Los Angeles, CA (cancer)
doo-wop/rock/soul singer
instruments: piano, keyboards
"Darling, if I Had You" (1957), "Rockin' Robin'" (#2 1958, One-Hit Wonder, he wrote), "Gotta New Girl" (1959, he wrote), "Mr. and Mrs. Rock and Roll" (1959), "What Fools We Mortals Be" (1961)
recorded as Bobby Byrd, "Peanut Brittle" (1955), "Know-it-All" (1963), "When I Started Dancing" (1965), "You Gave My Heart a Brand New Song to Sing" (1968)
founding member of Bobby Day and the Satellites, "Come Seven" (1957), "When the Swallows Come Back to Capistrano" (1957), "The Bluebird, the Buzzard and the Oriole" (1959), "That's All I Want" (1959, he wrote)
founding member of The Hollywood Flames (1949-58), "Please Say I'm Wrong" (1952), "I'll Hide My Tears" (1954), "Ride, Helen, Ride" (1954), "Buzz, Buzz, Buzz" (#11 1958, One-Hit Wonder, he wrote), "Strollin' on the Beach" (1958)
founding member of Voices, "Two Things I Love" (1955)
duet with Earl Nelson as Bob and Earl, "When She Walks" (1958)
songwriter, wrote The Dave Clark Five's "Over and Over" (#1 1965), Thurston Harris' "Little Bitty Pretty One" (#6 1957)
music producer
see The Hollywood Flames on R&B Notebooks

Kyle Evans (Kyle Edwin Fagerhaug)

b. 1947 in Mitchell, SD (grew up near Wessington Springs, SD) - d. 5 Jul 2001 near Wessington Springs, SD (his motorcycle collied with a deer)
country singer
instrument: guitar
"In Heaven on a Horse" (1989, he wrote), "Yesterday's Rodeo Man" (2003, he wrote)
founding member of The Company Cowboy Band (1969- ), "South Dakota, You've Been Good to Me" (1989, he wrote)
songwriter
rodeo rider, auctioneer, pilot
father of singer, Dustin Evans

John Farnham (John Peter Farnham)

b. 1949 in Essex, England (grew up in Australia)
rock singer
"Please Don't Ask Me" (1980), "Jillie's Song" (1980), "You're the Voice" (1987), "Listen to the Wind" (1988), "Two Strong Hearts" (1988), "It All Comes Back to You" (1993), "When All Else Fails" (1993)
lead singer with Little River Band (1982-86, replaced Glenn Shorrock), "Man on Your Mind" (#14 1982), "The Other Guy" (#11 1982), "We Two" (#22 1983), "You're Driving Me Out of My Mind" (#35 1983)
songwriter
see Little River Band
see John Farnham

Randall Hall

b. 1954 in Jacksonville, FL
rock musician, instrument: guitar
founding member of the Randall Hall Band, "Trust" (2007), "Square Peg (in a Round Hole)" (2007), "Just Trouble" (2007, he wrote)
founding member of Running Easy (1971-86)
founding member of the new Lynyrd Skynyrd (1987-94), "Pure and Simple" (1991), "Can't Take That Away" (1993)
with World Classic Rockers
songwriter
see World Classic Rockers
see Lynyrd Skynyrd

Clay Hart (Henry Clay Hart III)

b. 1942 in Providence, RI
country singer
instrument: guitar
"The Wind, the River and You" (1967), "Spring" (#30c 1969), "Another Day, Another Mile, Another Highway" (#25c 1969), "Face of a Dear Friend" (#73c 1970), "If I'd Only Come and Gone" (#62c 1970), "Another New Day" (1973), "Sing Me a Love Song" (1974), "Love is (Chasin' Rainbows)" (1974)
duet with Sally Flynn, "I Will" (1974)
songwriter
md. to singer, Sally Flynn (1974- )

Patty Miller

b. 1943
rock/pop singer (soprano)
with The Secrets (1962-65), "The Boy Next Door" (#18 1963, One-Hit Wonder), "Learnin' to Forget" (1963), "Hey, Big Boy" (1964), "The Other Side of Town" (1964), "He's the Boy" (1964), "He Doesn't Want You" (1964), "Here He Comes Now" (1964)
see The Secrets on Spectropop

June Montiero

b. 1946 in Queens, NY
R&B/soul singer
founding member of The Toys (1961-68), "The Fight's Not Over" (1963), "A Lover's Concerto" (#2 1965, based on music by Johann Sebastian Bach), "This Night" (1965), "Attack" (#18 1965), "May My Heart Be Cast into Stone" (#85 1966), "I Close My Eyes" (1967)
see The Toys

Alvino Rey (Alvin Henry McBurney aka Father of the Pedal Steel Guitar)

b. 1907/11 in Oakland, CA (grew up in Cleveland, OH) - d. 2 Feb 2004 in UT (pneumonia and congestive heart failure)
pop/swing musician, instruments: banjo, pedal steel guitar
"Steel Guitar Rag" (1950), "Steel Guitar Blues" (1961)
conductor of the Alvino Rey Orchestra (1939- ), "Deep in the Heart of Texas" (#1 1942), "Strip Polka" (#6 1942), "High Octane" (1946), "Just You, Just Me" (1946), "Near You" (#3 1947)
founding member of The Surfmen, "Paradise Cove" (1962)
session musician
helped develop early electric and pedal steel guitars
served in the Navy (1944-45)
md. to singer, Luise (Driggs) King (1937-97, her death)

Lucky Ward (James C. Ward)

b. 1936 - d. 16 Feb 2002 in GA
country/rock musician, instrument: guitar
"Just a Dreamer" (1958), "Satellite Rock" (1958)
founding member of Lucky Ward and the Mints
with The Sandy Knox Showcase
session musician with Barbi Benton, Chet Atkins, Buck Owens, Ernest Tubb, Merle Haggard, Hank Williams Jr., Janis Joplin, Jefferson Airplane, Otis Redding, and others
songwriter

Keith Whitley (Jesse Keith Whitley)

b. 1955 in Sandy Hook, KY – d. 9 May 1989 in Nashville, TN (alcohol poisoning)
country/bluegrass singer
instrument: guitar
* "Miami, My Amy" (#14c 1986), "Hard Livin'" (#10c 1986), "Homecoming '63" (#9c 1986), "Ten Feet Away" (#9c 1986), * "When You Say Nothing at All" (#1c 1988), * "Don't Close Your Eyes" (#1c 1988), "Some Old Side Road" (#16c 1987), * "Honky-Tonk Heart" (1988), * "I'm No Stranger to the Rain" (#1c 1989, CMA single of the year 1989), * "(I Wonder) Do You Think of Me" (#1c 1989), "It Ain't Nothin'" (#1c 1989), * "Between an Old Memory and Me" (1989), "Talk to Me, Texas" (1989), "Tennessee Courage" (1989), "I'm Over You" (#3c 1990), * "Til a Tear Becomes a Rose" (#13c 1990), * "Tell Lorrie I Love Her" (1990), "Wherever You Are Tonight" (#75c 1995, he co-wrote)
with J.D. Crowe and the New South (1978, 1982), "Will You Be Lonesome, Too?" (1978), "My Window Faces the South" (1978), "Rose-Colored Glasses" (1982)
with The Clinch Mountain Boys (1970-73, 1975-76), "Katy Daley" (1971), "Bright Morning Star" (1972), "Death is Only a Dream" (1972), "Step Out in the Sunshine" (1972), "Those Two Blue Eyes" (1972), "How Far to Little Rock?" (1973)
The Clinch Mountain Boys were also known as The Stanley Brothers
duet with Earl Thomas Conley, "Brotherly Love" (#2c 1991)
duet with Lorrie Morgan (her voice overdubbed), "Til a Tear Becomes a Rose" (#13c 1990)
songwriter
md. to Lorrie Morgan (1986-89, his death)
had problems with alcohol and cocaine
see Keith Whitley on Wikipedia

Dennis Whitted

b. 1942 in Chicago, IL - 1990
blues/rock singer
instrument: drums
with Paul Butterfield's Better Days (1971-73), "Drowned in My Own Tears" (1971), "The Blind Leading the Blind" (1971), "Rule the Road" (1973), "Highway 28" (1973)
session musician with the Paul Butterfield Blues Band, Bonnie Raitt, and others

Victor Willis (Victor Edward Willis)

b. 1951/52
pop/disco singer
founding member of Village People (1977-79, 1982, cop character), "Macho Man" (#25 1978, he wrote), * "Y.M.C.A." (#2 1978), "Hot Cop" (1978), "In the Navy" (#3 1979, he wrote), "Go West" (1979, he wrote)
contrary to the group's image, only Felipe Rose was actually gay
songwriter
md. to Phylicia Rashad 1978-80
fired from Village People for cocaine abuse; has been arrested several times for drug violations
see Village People

Michelle Wright

b. 1961 in Ontario, Canada
country singer
instruments: guitar, drums
"A New Kind of Love" (#32c 1990), "Take it Like a Man" (#10c 1992), "He Would Be Sixteen" (#31c 1991), "One Good Man" (#57c 1994), "Nobody's Girl" (#50c 1996), "Shut up and Kiss Me" (2004)
songwriter
see Michelle Wright

July 2

Wyvon Alexander

b. 1954 in Weaverville, CA
country singer
"Old Familiar Feeling" (#86c 1981, he wrote), "Alice in Dallas (Sweet Texas)" (#69c 1982), "Hungry Man's Dream" (1982), "The Look of a Lovin' Lady" (#68c 1984), "High Time" (1983)
songwriter

Lee Allen

b. 1926 in Pittsburg, KS - d. 18 Oct 1994 in Los Angeles, CA
soul/blues/rock/rockabilly musician, instrument: tenor sax
"Walkin' with Mr. Lee" (#54 1958, he wrote), "Tic Toc" (#92 1958, he wrote), "Boppin' at the Hop" (1958, he wrote), "Hot Rod Special" (1958), "Short Circuit" (1958), "Cat Walk" (1959)
with The Blasters (1983-94), "Red Rose" (1983), "Dark Night" (1985), "Rock 'n' Roll Will Stand" (1985)
session musician on Little Richard's "Tutti Frutti" (#17 1956); and with Fats Domino, Shirley and Lee, The Stray Cats, Lloyd Price, and others
songwriter

Roy Bittan

b. 1949 in Queens, NY
rock musician, instruments: keyboards, piano, organ, accordion
with Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band (1974- ), "Hungry Heart" (#5 1980), "Born in the USA" (#9 1984), "Dancing in the Dark" (#2 1984), "Glory Days" (#5 1985), "My Hometown" (#6 1985), "Streets of Philadelphia" (#9 1994), "Secret Garden" (#19 1997)
session musician on Bon Jovi's "Runaway" (#39 1983); and with Chicago, Stevie Nicks, Bob Seger, and others
music producer

Michelle Branch (Michelle Jacquet DeSevren Branch)

b. 1983 in Phoenix, AZ
country/pop/rock singer
instruments: guitar, mandolin, cello, piano, harmonica, drums
"Everywhere" (#12 2001, she co-wrote), "All You Wanted" (#6 2002, she co-wrote), "Goodbye to You" (#21 2002, she co-wrote), "Are You Happy Now?" (#16 2002, she co-wrote)
duet with Carlos Santana, "Game of Love" (#5 2002)
founding member of The Wreckers, "Leave the Pieces" (#34, #1c 2006), "My, Oh My" (#87, #9c 2006, she co-wrote), "Tennessee" (#33c 2006), "Different Truck, Same Loser" (2007)
songwriter
md. to bass player, Teddy Landau (2004- )

Janette Carter

b. 1923 Maces Springs, VA - d. 22 Jan 2006 in Kingsport, TN (Parkinson's disease and other illnesses)
country/folk singer
instrument: autoharp
"Just Another Broken Heart" (1939), "Bury Me Not on the Lone Prairie" (1939), "I Ain't Gonna Work Tomorrow" (1972), "Johnny Doesn't Live Here Anymore" (1972), "Waltz, Kitty, Waltz" (1972), "Dark and Stormy Weather" (1972), "Heartbreaking Waltz" (1972)
session musician with Mike Seeger, and others
daughter of A. P. and Sara Carter
see The Carter Family

Ken Curtis (Curtis Wain Gates)

b. 1916 in Lamar, CO - d. 28 Apr 1991 in Clovis, CA
country/swing singer (baritone)
"Hanna Lee" (1952), "The Call of the Faraway Hills" (1953), "Cottonwood" (1956), "Wedding Day" (1956), "Kiss and Run Lover" (1958), "Five Years" (1958)
with Sons of the Pioneers (1949-52, 1955- , replaced Tim Spencer), "Room Full of Roses" (#26, #10c 1949), "The Timber Trail" (1949), "Santa Fe, New Mexico" (1949), "Wagons West" (1950), "Little White Cross" (1950), "Echoes from the Hills" (1951), "The Tennessee Rock and Roll" (1955), "A Fiddle, a Rifle, an Axe and a Bible" (1958), "Blue Shadows on the Trail" (1959), "Riders in the Sky" (1959), "San Antonio Rose" (1968), "I'll Hold You in My Heart" (1968), "Pretty Painted Ladies" (1976)
The Sons of the Pioneers and Rex Allen, Jr., "Can You Hear Those Pioneers?" (#17c 1976)
the Sons of the Pioneers backing Roy Rogers, "That Palomino Pal of Mine" (1949), "Stampede" (#8c 1950)
with Tommy Dorsey's band
cowboy actor
see The Sons of the Pioneers on CMT.com

Don Ellis (Don Ellis Gatlin)

b. 1967 in Norfolk, VA (grew up in Beaver Falls, PA)
country singer
founding member of The Ellis Brothers, "Goodbye Highway" (#70c 1992), "Those Letters" (1992), "No Sir" (#58c 1992, he co-wrote), "It's Bigger Than Both of Us" (1992), "Goodbye Eyes" (1994), "Kentucky Woman" (1994)
songwriter
brother of Darryl Ellis

Gene Glass (Eugene Glass)

b. 1939
doo-wop/soul singer
founding member of The Versitiles (1958-62), "I'll Whisper in Your Ear" (1960), "Just Words" (1962)
founding member of The Majors (1961- ), "A Wonderful Dream" (#22 1962, One-Hit Wonder), "A Little Bit Now (and a Little Bit Later)" (1962), "She's a Troublemaker" (1962), "One Happy Ending" (1963)

Terri Hollowell

b. 1956 in Jeffersonville, IN
country singer
"Happy-Go-Lucky Morning" (#81c 1978), "Strawberry Fields Forever" (#76c 1978), "Just Stay With Me" (#76c 1979), "May I?" (#36c 1979), "It's Too Soon to Say Goodbye" (#56c 1979), "Six Weeks Every Summer" (2007), "I Believe in Someone" (2007), "You're My Hiding Place" (2007)

Leapy Lee (Graham Pulliblank aka Lee Graham)

b. 1942 in East Sussex, England
pop/rock/country singer
"Little Arrows" (#16, #11c 1968, One-Hit Wonder), "Little Yellow Aeroplane" (1969), "Good Morning" (#55c 1970), "Every Road Leads Back to You" (#82c 1975)
actor

Lindsay Lohan (Lindsay Dee Lohan)

b. 1986 in New York City, NY
pop singer
"Rumors" (#106 2004), "Over" (#101 2004), "Confessions of a Broken Heart (Daughter to Father)" (#42 2005)
actress

Charlie Phillips

b. 1937 in Clovis, NM
country singer
"Be My Bride" (1958), "I Guess I'll Never Learn" (#9c 1962), "This is the House" (#30c 1963), "Twenty Fools Ago" (1970)
founding member of Charlie Phillips and the Sugartimers, "Sugartime" (1957, he co-wrote), "One Faded Rose" (1957) (Buddy Holly played guitar on both songs)
songwriter
music producer

Marvin Rainwater (Marvin Karlton Percy aka Marvin Percy Rainwater)

b. 1925 in Wichita, KS
country/rockabilly singer
instrument: guitar
"Gonna Find Me a Bluebird" (#18, #3c 1957, Pop One-Hit Wonder, he wrote), "So You Think You've Got Troubles" (#3c 1957, he wrote), "Whole Lotta Woman" (#60, #15c 1958, he wrote), "Lucky Star" (1958), "Nothin' Needs Nothin' (Like I Need You)" (#11c 1958), "Half-Breed" (#66, #16c 1959), "The Wanderer in Me" (1963), "It Wasn't Enough" (1965), "A Long Way to Yesterday" (1965)
duets with Mike Cowdery, "My Soul is an Eagle" (1981), "Glendale, California in the Summer of '63" (1981)
songwriter
served in the Navy during WWII
he is 1/4 Cherokee

Tom Springfield (Dion O'Brien)

b. 1934 in London, England
folk/pop singer
founding member of The Springfields (1960-63), "Dear John" (1961), "Breakaway" (1961, he wrote), "Silver Threads and Golden Needles" (#20, #16c 1962, One-Hit Wonder), "Island of Dreams" (1962, he wrote), "Say I Won't Be There" (1963), "Little Boat" (1963, he co-wrote)
songwriter, wrote The Seekers' * "I'll Never Find Another You" (#4 1964), * "A World of Our Own" (#19 1965); co-wrote The Seekers' "Georgy Girl" (#2 1966)
songwriter
arranger, producer
brother of Dusty Springfield
see The Springfields on Wikipedia

Randy Starr (Warren Nadel)

b. 1930
pop singer, whistler
instrument: guitar
"After School" (#32 1957, One-Hit Wonder, he co-wrote), "A Dance, a Kiss, and a Promise" (1957), "Double Date" (1957), "Sweet Talk and Sugar Kisses" (1957), "Pink Lemonade" (1957), "Do You Remember the Day?" (1964)
with The Islanders, "The Enchanted Sea" (#15 1959, One-Hit Wonder), "Blue Rain" (1959), "Paradise Lost" (1959)
songwriter
dentist

Roland Trone

b. 1936 - d. May 1982/83
doo-wop singer
founding member of Don and Juan (1962-67), "What's Your Name?" (#7 1962, One-Hit Wonder), "Pot Luck" (1962), "Magic Wand" (#91 1962), "Could This Be Love?" (1963), "Maryana Cherie" (1964), "All That's Missing is You" (1964), "The Heartbreaking Truth" (1965)

Kay Weber (Katherine Weber)

b. 1909 Ellinwood, KS - d. 23 Sep 2005 in Dallas, TX
pop/swing singer
instruments: piano, organ
with The Dorsey Brothers Orchestra (1934-35), "Dancing in the Moonlight" (1934), "I'm Getting Sentimental Over You" (1934), "Sandman" (1934), "Let's Take a Walk Around the Block" (1934), "The Words Are in My Heart" (1935)
with The Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra (1935-36)
with The Bob Crosby Orchestra (1937-38), "Whispers in the Dark" (#1 1937), "Let's Give Love Another Chance" (1937)
session musician
music teacher
md. to trombonist, Ward Sillaway (1938- )

Bill Wence

b. 1942 in Salinas, CA
country/rock singer
instrument: keyboards
"Quicksand" (#92c 1979, he wrote), "Break Away" (#85c 1980, he wrote), "I Wanna Do it Again" (#63c 1980, he wrote), "California Callin'" (2001), "I'm Still Lovin' You" (2001), "This is a Holdup" (2001), "Old Rock and Roller" (2007), "She's Leavin' for Dallas" (2007), "Soulmate" (2007), "Angelene" (2007)
session musician with Tom T. Hall, Bobby Bare, Slim Whitman, and others
songwriter
music producer

Paul Williams

b. 1939 in Birmingham, AL – d. 17 Aug 1973 (shot himself)
R&B/soul/doo-wop singer (baritone)
with The Primes
founding member of The Temptations (1961-71, left for health reasons), "The Further You Look, the Less You See" (1963), "May I Have This Dance?" (1963), "The Way You Do the Things You Do" (#11 1964), "It's Growing" (1965), "Since I Lost My Baby" (#17 1965), "My Girl" (#1 1965, reply to Mary Wells' "My Guy"), "What Love Has Joined Together" (1965), "Beauty is Only Skin Deep" (#3 1966), "Ain't Too Proud to Beg" (#13 1966), "(I Know) I'm Losing You" (#8 1967), "All I Need" (#8 1967), "You're My Everything" (#6 1967), "I Wish it Would Rain" (#4 1968), "I Could Never Love Another (After Loving You)" (#13 1968), "Please Return Your Love to Me" (#26 1968), "Cloud Nine" (#6 1969), "I Can't Get Next to You" (#1 1969), "Ball of Confusion (That's What the World is Today)" (#3 1970), "Just My Imagination (Running Away with Me)" (#1 1971)
see The Temptations

July 3

Fontella Bass

b. 1940 in St. Louis, MO
R&B/pop singer
instruments: piano, organ
"Bad Boy" (1963), "Leave it in the Hands of Love" (1965), "Rescue Me" (#4 1965), "Recovery" (#37 1966), "Safe and Sound" (1966), "You'll Never Ever Know" (1966), "I Surrender" (#78 1966)
duet with Bobby McClure, "Don't Mess up a Good Thing" (#33 1965), "You'll Miss Me (When I'm Gone)" (#91 1965)
md. to jazz trumpeter, Lester Bowie

Monty Byrom (Monty Curtis Byrom)

b. 1958 in Corpus Christi, TX (grew up in Bakersfield, CA)
country/rock singer
instruments: acoustic guitar, electric guitar
founding member and lead singer of Big House (1995-2000), "Cold Outside" (#30c 1997, he co-wrote), "You Ain't Lonely Yet" (#57c 1997, he co-wrote), "Sunday in Memphis" (1997), "Faith" (#63c 1998, he co-wrote), "Don't Believe Everything You're Told" (1998), "Ain't Slept in Our Bed" (1998), "Lonely Shade of Blue" (2000), "Don't Do Me Any Favors" (2000)
with New Frontier
songwriter, wrote Eddie Money's "I Wanna Go Back" (#14 1986)
music producer
brother of Tanner Byrom

Judith Durham (Judith Mavis Cock)

b. 1943 in Melbourne, Australia
jazz/folk/blues singer
instrument: piano
"I Wish I Knew" (1970), "The Light is Dark Enough" (1970), "That's How My Love is" (1970)
founding member and lead singer of The Seekers (1964-68, 1994- ), * "I'll Never Find Another You" (#4 1964), * "A World of Our Own" (#19 1965), "Georgy Girl" (#2 1967), "Chase a Rainbow (Follow Your Dreams)" (1967)
songwriter
md. to pianist, Ron Edgeworth (1969-94, his death)
see Judith Durham

Jimmy Gaudreau

b. 1946
country/bluegrass singer
instrument: mandolin
with The Country Gentlemen (1969-72, 1981- , replaced John Duffey), "Going to the Races" (1969), "Yesterday" (1971), "The Girl Behind the Bar" (1972), "Secret of the Waterfall" (1972), "I've Gone Back to Being Me" (1981), "Night Ridin'" (1981), "Lonely Dancer" (1988), "Honey, Don't" (1989), "Cold Wind Blowing" (1990), "Nashville Jail" (1990), "Working on a Road" (1991), "Somewhere in Kansas" (1992), "Mountains and Memories" (1995), "Wild Rose" (1995), "Free As the Wind" (1997), "Ages and Ages Ago" (1997), "Sunrise" (1998), "Little Sparrow" (2001), "Katy Dear" (2003), "Many a Mile" (2003), "Blackberry Blossom" (2004)
see Charlie Waller

Johnny Hartman (John Maurice Hartman)

b. 1923 in Chicago, IL – d. 15 Sep 1983 in New York, NY
jazz/pop singer
instrument: piano
"Only for You, Lucia" (1950), "6 P.M." (1950), "I Ran All the Way Home" (1951), "Bye, Baby, Bye" (1957), "If I'm Lucky" (1963), "When I Get the Time" (1967)
duets with John Coltrane, "They Say it's Wonderful" (1963), "Lush Life" (1963)
session musician with Earl Hines, Dizzy Gillespie, and others

Johnny Lee (John Lee Harn)

b. 1945/46 in Texas City, TX (grew up near Alta Loma, TX)
country/rock singer
instruments: guitar, trumpet
"Red Sails in the Sunset" (#22c 1976), "Country Party" (#15c 1977), * "Lookin' for Love" (#5, #1c 1980, Pop One-Hit Wonder), "One in a Million" (#1c 1980), * "Prisoner of Hope" (#3c 1981), * "Pickin' up Strangers" (#3c 1981), * "Bet Your Heart on Me" (#54, #1c 1981), * "Rode Hard and Put up Wet" (#52 1981), "Highways Run Forever" (1981, he wrote), * "I've Come a Long Way (But I've Got a Long Way to Go)" (1981), * "When You Fall in Love" (#14c 1982), * "Be There for Me, Baby" (#10c 1982), "Cherokee Fiddle" (#10c 1982), "Hey, Bartender" (#2c 1983), "Sounds Like Love" (#6c 1983), "You Could Have Heard a Heart Break" (#1c 1984), "Rollin' Lonely" (#9c 1985), "They Never Had to Get Over You" (#19c 1985), "Treat Her Like a Lady" (1989), "Anni" (1989, he wrote), "Stand by Me" (2003), "Don't Tell Me (to Stop Loving You)" (2003), "If You're Ever Down in Dallas" (2003)
duet with Lane Brody, "The Yellow Rose of Texas" (#1c 1984)
songwriter
actor
served in the Navy 4 years during the Vietnam War
md. to actress, Charlene Tilton (1982-87)

David Lynch

b. 1929 in St. Louis, MO – d. 2 Jan 1981 (cancer)
pop/R&B/doo-wop/soul singer (tenor)
founding member of The Platters (1953- ), "Tell the World" (1954), * "Only You (and You Alone)" (#5 1955), "I'm Just a Dancing Partner" (1955), "The Great Pretender" (#1 1956), "My Prayer" (#1 1956), "(You've Got) the Magic Touch" (1956), "On My Word of Honor" (1957), "My Dream" (1957), "Twilight Time" (#1 1958), "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes" (#1 1959), "Harbor Lights" (#8 1960), "I'll Never Smile Again" (#25 1961), "It's Magic" (1962), "Endless Street" (1965), "I Love You 1000 Times" (1966)

Fred Maddox (Fred Roscoe Maddox)

b. 1919 in Boaz, AL - d. 29 Oct 1992
country/honky-tonk singer
instrument: bass
"For Old Times" (1961)
founding member of The Maddox Brothers and Rose (1933-57), "Careless Driver" (1947), "Gosh, I Miss You All the Time" (1948), "At the First Fall of Snow" (1949), "I'm Sending You Daffydills" (1949), "Sally Let Your Bangs Hang Down" (1950), "Just One Little Kiss" (1950), "Dark as a Dungeon" (1950), "Chocolate Ice Cream" (1950), "I'll Make Sweet Love to You" (1952), "These Wasted Years" (1953), "Kiss Me Like Crazy" (1953), "Poor Little Heartbroken Rose" (1954), "You've Been Talkin' in Your Sleep" (1954), "Second Choice" (1955), "Hey, Little Dreamboat" (1956), "Wish You Would" (1956), "Take a Gamble on Me" (1957), "1-2-3-4 Anyplace Road (Somewhere, USA)" (1957)

Tex Makins (Anthony Paul Makins)

b. 1940 in Wembley, England
R&B/rock/pop musician, instrument: bass
in Billy Fury's backup band (1961)
founding member of Georgie Fame and the Blue Flames (1962-65), "Yeh, Yeh" (#21 1965), "Blue Monday" (1965)
with The Sidewinders (1966- )
session musician on Simon and Garfunkel's "Homeward Bound" (#5 1966); and others

Frank J. Myers

b. 19?? in Dayton, OH
country singer
instrument: guitar
founding member of Baker and Myers, "These Arms" (#67c 1995, he co-wrote), "A Random Act of Senseless Kindness" (1995, he co-wrote), "Still Fallin'" (1995, he co-wrote), "Years from Here" (#48c 1995, he co-wrote), "Full Moon" (1995, he co-wrote), "Real Deal" (1995, he co-wrote), "Shoulder to Cry on" (1995, he co-wrote)
leader and lead guitar with Eddy Raven's band (1981-90), "I Should Have Called" (#13c 1981), * "Who Do You Know in California?" (#11c 1981), "She's Playing Hard to Forget" (#10c 1982), * "Lovin' Arms and Lyin' Eyes" (1982), "I Got Mexico" (#1c 1984, he co-wrote), "Operator, Operator" (#9c 1985), "You Should Have Been Gone by Now" (#3c 1985, he co-wrote), "I Wanna Hear it from You" (#8c 1985), "Sometimes a Lady" (#3c 1986, he co-wrote), "You're Never Too Old for Young Love" (#3c 1987), "Shine Shine Shine" (#1c 1987), "I'm Gonna Get You" (#1c 1988), "Joe Knows How to Live" (#1c 1988), "In a Letter to You" (#1c 1989), "Bayou Boys" (#1c 1989), "Sooner or Later" (#6c 1990)
backup singer and session musician with, Gary Morris, and others
songwriter, wrote Lonestar's "I'm Already There" (#24, #1c 2001), "My Front Porch Looking in" (#23, #1c 2003); Eddie Rabbitt and Crystal Gayle's "You and I" (#1c #6 1982); co-wrote John Michael Montgomery's "I Swear" (#1c #1 1994); Alabama's "Once in a Lifetime" (#3c 1993), "T.L.C. A.S.A.P" (#7c 1994); Reba McEntire's "One Honest Heart" (#7c 1999)
md. to Belinda Watkins (1980- )

Tupper Saussy (Frederick Tupper Saussy III)

b. 1936 in Statesboro, GA (grew up in Tampa, FL) - d. 16 Mar 2007 in Nashville, TN (heart attack)
pop/jazz/rock singer
instrument: keyboards
"Contrary Waltz" (1963), "Chocolate Orchid Piano Bar" (2007, he wrote), "If You Come This Way Again" (2007, he wrote), "Songs Come True" (2007, he wrote)
with Wayward Bus, "Love Hum" (1968)
founding member of The Neon Philharmonic (1967-75), "Morning Girl" (#17 1969, One-Hit Wonder, he wrote), "Midsummer Night" (1969, he wrote), "The Last Time I Saw Jacqueline" (1969, he wrote), "Heighdy-Ho Princess" (1970)
songwriter
arranger
author; artist
served time in prison for tax evasion after being in hiding for ten years after his appeal was denied
md. 1st to Lola Haun; md. 2nd to Frederique Louise Blanco

Aaron Tippin (Aaron D. Tippin)

b. 1958 in Pensacola, FL (grew up near Greer, SC)
country/honky-tonk singer
instruments: guitar, banjo, harmonica
"You've Got to Stand for Something" (#6c 1991, he co-wrote), "I Wonder How Far it is Over You" (#40c 1991, he co-wrote), "There Ain't Nothin' Wrong with the Radio" (#1c 1992, he co-wrote), "I Wouldn't Have it Any Other Way" (#5c 1991, he co-wrote), "My Blue Angel" (#7c 1993, he co-wrote), "Working Man's PhD" (#7c 1993, he co-wrote), "I Got it Honest" (#15c 1994, he co-wrote), * "That's As Close As I'll Get (to Loving You)" (#1c 1995), "Without Your Love" (#22c 1995), * "I Didn't Come This Far (Just to Walk Away)" (1998), * "For You I Will" (#49, #6c 1999), "I'm Leaving" (#87, #17c 1999), "Kiss This" (#42, #1c 2000, he co-wrote), "Where the Stars and the Stripes and the Eagles Fly" (#20, #2c 2002, he co-wrote)
duet with Thea Tippin, "Love Like There's No Tomorrow" (#35c 2003, he co-wrote)
truck driver; pilot
md. to Thea Corontzos (1995- )

Tommy Tedesco

b. 1930 in Niagara Fall, NY – d. 10 Nov 1997 in Northridge, CA (lung cancer)
rock/jazz musician, instruments: guitar, mandolin, ukulele, sitar
"Take This Hammer" (1963), "Sweet September" (1965), "Guitar Ramblin'" (1966), "Pasta Nova" (1979), "Cavatini" (1979), "Our Waltz" (1979)
with The Routers (actually a group of session musicians), * "Let's Go (Pony)" (#19 1962, One-Hit Wonder), "Sting Ray" (1963)
with The Marketts, "Surfer's Stomp" (#31 1962), "Balboa Blue" (1962), "Out of Limits" (#3 1963), "Vanishing Point" (1964), "Batman Theme" (#17 1966) (not sure if he was on all of the songs)
session guitarist on Bonanza and M*A*S*H theme songs; Bobby Darin's "Eighteen Yellow Roses" (#10 1963); and with the Beach Boys, Cher, Linda Ronstadt, The Everly Brothers, Frank Zappa; and others
had to retire in 1992 because a stroke caused partial paralysis

John Verity

b. 1944/49 in England
rock singer
instrument: guitar
"What about Me?" (1984), "Honesty and Emotion" (1985), "Want You" (1987)
with Argent (1973-76)
founding member of Phoenix, "Time of the Season" (1977), "Juliet" (1980)
founding member of Verity, "Two Hearts Burning" (1987)
see John Verity
see Argent

July 4

Annette Beard

b. 1942/43 in Detroit, MI
doo-wop/soul/blues/rock/pop singer
founding member of Martha and the Vandellas, (1960-63, and reunions), "Come and Get These Memories" (#29 1963), "(Love is Like a) Heat Wave" (#4 1963), "Quicksand" (#8 1963)
md. to Mr. Sterling; md. to Mr. Helton
EKG technologist
see The Vandellas

Teddy Carr

b. 1960 in Lafayette, TN
country musician, instruments: steel guitar, lap steel guitar, dobro
founding member of Ricochet (1993-2000), "What Do I Know?" (#5c 1996), "Daddy's Money" (#1c 1996), "Love is Stronger Than Pride" (#9c 1996), "The Truth is, I Lied" (1996), "Don't Forget to Feed the Jukebox (While I'm Gone)" (1997), "The Girl Formerly Known As Mine" (1997), "Ease My Troubled Mind" (#20c 1997), "He Left a Lot to Be Desired" (#18c 1997), "Blink of an Eye" (#39c 1997), "Connected at the Heart" (#44c 1998), "Seven Bridges Road" (#48c 2000), "Do I Love You Enough?" (#45c 2000), "She's Gone" (#48c 2000)
see Ricochet

Gene Gunnels

b. 1949 in Anderson, SC
country/rock/Christian singer
instrument: drums
founding member of Strawberry Alarm Clock (1967, 1969-71), "Strawberries Mean Love" (1967), "Incense and Peppermints" (#1 1967)
see Strawberry Alarm Clock on Wikipedia

Harold Johnson

b. 1931 in the Bronx, NY - d. 8 May 1985 (cancer)
doo-wop/pop singer (tenor)
instrument: guitar
founding member of The Crickets (1951-53), "Milk and Gin" (1953), "For You I Have Eyes" (1953), "I'll Cry No More" (1953), "When I Met You" (1953), "I'm Not the One You Love" (1953)
founding member of The Halos (1960- ), "Nag" (#25 1961, One-Hit Wonder), "Copy Cat" (1961)
The Halos sang backup on Curtis Lee's "Pretty Little Angel Eyes" (#7 1961), "Under the Moon of Love" (#50 1961); Barry Mann's "Who Put the Bomp?" (#7 1961); and with Ben E. King, Connie Francis, Bobby Vinton, Dion, Little Eva, Johnny Mathis, and others
songwriter

Baker Knight (Thomas Baker Knight, Jr.)

b. 1933 in Birmingham, AL - d. 12 Oct 2005 in Birmingham, AL
rock musician, instrument: guitar
"Bop Boogie to the Blues" (1956), "The Beginning of the End" (1961), "The House Next Door" (1962), "Best Thing That Every Happened to Me" (1963), "When Somebody Mentions Your Name" (1964), "It Goes Deeper Than That" 1966), "If Only" (1977)
founding member and leader of Baker Knight and the Knightmares, "Bring My Cadillac Back" (1956, he wrote)
songwriter, wrote Ricky Nelson's "Lonesome Town" (#6 1958), "Never Be Anyone Else But You" (#6 1959); Mickey Gilley's "Don't the Girls Get Prettier at Closing Time" (#1c 1976); Elvis Presley's "The Wonder of You" (#9 1970); Dave and Sugar's "I'm Gonna Love You" (#3 1976); Ernie Ashworth's "A Week in the Country" (#10c 1964); Dave Dudley's "Cowboy Boots" (#95, #3c 1963)
served in the Air Force (1951-53)
had suffered from anxiety, depression, alcoholism, and chronic fatigue syndrome

Gilbert Lopez (Gilbert J. Lopez)

b. 1934 in Boston, MA - d. Jul 1998
doo-wop/pop singer (tenor)
founding member of The Tune Weavers (195?-62), "Happy, Happy Birthday Baby" (#11 1957, One-Hit Wonder, he co-wrote), "Pamela Jean" (1957), "This Can't Be Love" (1960), "Congratulations on Your Wedding" (1962, he co-wrote), "Your Skies of Blue" (1962), "I've Tried" (1988)
songwriter
brother of Margo Sylvia

Wild Bill McCorvey

b. 1959 in Montgomery, AL
country/rock singer
instrument: guitar
founding member and lead singer of Pirates of the Mississippi (1987-96, 2000- ), "Honky-Tonk Blues" (#26c 1990), "Feed Jake" (#15c 1990), "This Ain't the Denver I Remember" (1991), "Till I'm Holding You Again" (#22c 1992), "Dream You" (#68c 1993), "The Biggest Broken Heart in Tennessee" (1995), "Weakness for the Weekend" (1995)
session musician
songwriter

Mitch Miller (Mitchell William Miller)

b. 1911 in Rochester, NY - d. 31 Jul 2010
pop musician, instruments: piano, oboe
bandleader
founding member and leader of Mitch Miller and His Gang, "The Yellow Rose of Texas" (#1 1955), "A Ballad From Vietnam (The Rain on the Leaves)" (1956), "By the Light of the Silvery Moon" (1958), "Children's Marching Song" (#16 1959), "The Bridge Over the River Kwai" (1960), "Into Each Life Some Rain Must Fall" (1966)
Mitch Miller and His Orchestra and Chorus backing Guy Mitchell, "My Heart Cries for You" (#2 1951), "The Roving Kind" (1951), "My Truly, Truly Fair" (#2 1951), "(There's a Pawnshop on the Corner in) Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania" (#4 1952)
producer; arranger
see Mitch Miller on Wikipedia

Crazy Otto (Fritz Schulz-Reichel)

b. 1912 in Germany – d. 4 Feb 1990
pop/jazz musician, instrument: piano (played melody with his left hand, rhythm with his right)
"If You Knew Susie" (1956), "Crazy Rhythm" (1963), "Crazy Girl" (1963), "You're Driving Me Crazy" (1963)
songwriter, wrote Johnny Maddox's "Crazy Otto Medley" (#2 1955)

Dave Patillo (David Patillo)

b. 1914 in Marshall, TX - d. 17 Sep 1967
R&B singer (second tenor)
instrument: bass
founding member of The 5 Red Caps (1943-61), "Words Can't Explain" (1944), "I Learned a Lesson I'll Never Forget" (#2c 1944), "In the Quiet of the Dawn" (1945), "Boogie Woogie on a Saturday Night" (1945), "Wedding Bells Are Breaking Up That Old Gang of Mine" (#21 1948), "Petunia" (1949), "I'll Never Love Anyone Else" (1950), "When You Come Back to Me" (1951), "Three Dollars and Ninety-Eight Cents" (1951), "I Went to Your Wedding" (#20 1952), "I Do, I Do, I Do" (1953), "Ouch!" (1954), "Cheryl Lee" (1960)
see The 5 Red Caps on R&B Notebooks

Ray Pillow

b. 1937 in Lynchburg, VA
country singer
instrument: guitar
"Take Your Hands Off My Heart" (#49c 1965), "Thank You, Ma'am" (#17c 1966), "Common Colds and Broken Hearts" (#32c 1966), "Volkswagen" (#26c 1966), "I Ran Out of Tomorrows Today" (1969), "Reconsider Me" (#38 1969), "The Simple Things in Life" (1975), "Rita Faye" (1975), "Dog-Tired of Cattin' Around" (1975), "One Too Many Memories" (#82c 1981)
duets with Jean Shepherd, "I'll Take the Dog" (#9c 1966), "Mister Do-it-Yourself" (#25c 1967)
founding member of Sycamore
songwriter
served in the Navy (1954- )
see Ray Pillow

Timmie 'Oh Yeah' Rogers

b. 1915/16 in Detroit, MI - d. 17 Dec 2006 in Los Angeles, CA
pop singer
"Drop Another Nickel in the Jukebox" (1945), "Back to School Again" (#36 1957, One-Hit Wonder), "I've Got a Dog Who Loves Me" (1957), "Take Me to Your Leader" (1958)
songwriter
comedian

Peter Rowan (Peter Hamilton Rowan)

b. 1942 in Boston, MA (grew up in Weyland, MA)
country/bluegrass/rock/folk singer, yodeler
instruments: guitar, mandolin, sax
"Sweet Melinda" (1981, he wrote), "Thirsty in the Rain" (1982, he wrote), "It's Mighty Dark to Travel" (1985), "New Moon Rising" (1988, he wrote), "Barefoot Country Road" (1990, he co-wrote), "Deal with the Devil" (1991, he co-wrote), "Midnight Highway" (1991, he co-wrote), "Tree on a Hill" (1994, he wrote)
with Bill Monroe's Blue Grass Boys (1964-67), "Shenandoah Breakdown" (1964), "Scotland" (#27c 1965, he wrote), "I Live in the Past" (1965), "My Little Georgia Rose" (1966), "When My Blue Moon Turns to Gold Again" (1967), "Easy Way Out" (1967)
with Earth Opera
founding member of The Rowans (1975- ), "Take it as it Comes" (1975), "Beggar in Blue Jeans" (1976), "If I Only Could" (1976)
founding member of Old and in the Way, "Goin' to the Races" (1973), "Lonesome L.A. Cowboy" (1973), "Panama Red" (1975), "Old and in the Way" (1975)
songwriter
see The Blue Grass Boys
see Peter Rowan

Bob Shelton (Robert Attlesey)

b. 1909 in Reilly Springs, TX - d. 26 Nov 1986
country/honky-tonk singer
instruments: guitar, fiddle
founding member of The Shelton Brothers, "Sweet Evalina" (1935), "At the Shelby County Fair" (1935), "Story of Seven Roses" (1937), "Goodness Gracious Gracie" (1937), "Someday, Baby" (1938), "Those Dusty Roads" (1938), "Meet Me Somewhere in Your Dreams" (1938), "Parking Meter Blues" (1939), "Doggone Crazy Blues" (1940), "I'll Be Seein' You in Dallas, Alice" (1940), "Tell Me with Your Blue Eyes" (1940), "I'm Driftin' and Shiftin' My Gears" (1941)
The Shelton Brothers were backup for Jimmie Davis
songwriter

James Stroud (James Cary Stroud)

b. 1949 in Shreveport, LA
country musician, instrument: drums
session musician on Tim McGraw's "Two-Steppin' Mind" (#71c 1993); Tracy Lawrence's "Alibis" (#72, #1c 1993), "Can't Break it to My Heart" (#1c 1993), "My Second Home" (#1c 1993); and with Clay Walker, Chalee Tennison, Toby Keith, Regina Regina, George Strait, The Charlie Daniels Band, Hank Williams, Jr., Martina McBride, Randy Travis, and others
music producer

Mary Stuart (Mary Stuart Houchins)

b. 1926 in Miami, FL (grew up in Tulsa, OK) - d. 28 Feb 2002 in New York, NY (stroke)
pop singer
instrument: guitar
"More I Cannot Wish You" (1955), "Dance Like a Lady" (1955), "Long White Ribbon" (1973), "Cherry Blossom Spring" (1973), "Lonely There" (1973)
songwriter
actress; author
md. to Richard Krolik (1951-66), md. to Wolfgang Neumann (1986-2002, her death)
toured with the USO
she was a breast cancer survivor since 1988 and had stomach and bone cancer when she died

Tony Toliver (Charles Anthony Toliver)

b. 1968 in Richards, TX
country singer
instruments: piano, keyboards
"The Cost of Lovin' You" (1991), "That's How Strong My Weakness is" (1991), "Bettin' Forever on You" (#71c 1996), "Just Another House for Sale" (1996), "Louisiana Lonely" (1996, he co-wrote), "He's on the Way Home" (#67c 1997)
duet with Merle Haggard, "Swinging Doors" (1996)
with Dottie West's band (1987-91)
music producer

Cliff Trenier (Clifford Trenier)

b. 1919 in Mobile, AL - d. 1983 (cancer)
swing/rock/R&B singer
founding member of The Trenier Twins (1947-49), "Hey, Sister Lucy" (1948), "My Convertible Cadillac" (1948)
founding member of The Treniers (1950-83), "Go! Go! Go!" (1951), "It Rocks! it Rolls! it Swings!" (1952), "Long Distance Blues" (1952), "Rockin' on Saturday Night" (1952), "Rockin' is Our Bizness" (1953), "Say Hey (The Willie Mays Song)" (1954), "Rubbing Noses in the Midnight Sun" (1958)
served in the military during WWII
identical twin of Claude Trenier

Claude Trenier

b. 1919 in Mobile, AL - d. 18 Nov 2003 in Las Vegas (cancer)
swing/rock/R&B singer
"I'm Gonna See My Baby" (1945), "That Someone Must Be You" (1945), "Baby, Take a Chance with Me" (1946), "Weird Nightmare" (1946)
founding member of The Trenier Twins (1947-49), "Hey, Sister Lucy" (1948), "My Convertible Cadillac" (1948)
founding member of The Treniers (1950- ), "Go! Go! Go!" (1951), "It Rocks! it Rolls! it Swings!" (1952), "Long Distance Blues" (1952), "Rockin' on Saturday Night" (1952), "Rockin' is Our Bizness" (1953), "Say Hey (The Willie Mays Song)" (1954), "Rubbing Noses in the Midnight Sun" (1958)
served in the military during WWII
identical twin of Cliff Trenier

Al 'Blind Owl' Wilson (Alan Christie Wilson)

b. 1943 in Boston, MA – d. 3 Sep 1970 in Topanga Canyon, CA (overdose of sleeping pills, likely suicide)
rock/country/blues singer
instruments: guitar, harmonica
founding member of Canned Heat (1966-70), "Bullfrog Blues" (1967), "On the Road Again" (#16 1968), "Going up the Country" (#11 1968), "Let's Work Together" (#26 1970)
Canned Heat recorded an album with John Lee Hooker titled Hooker 'n' Heat, "Drifter" (1970), "I Got My Eyes on You" (1970)
Canned Heat performed at Woodstock
songwriter
see Canned Heat
see Blind Owl Wilson

Bill Withers

b. 1938 in Slab Fork, WV (grew up in Beckley, WV)
soul/R&B singer
instrument: acoustic guitar
"Ain't No Sunshine" (#3 1971), "Grandma's Hands" (#42 1971), "Friend of Mine" (#80 1973), "Kissing My Love" (#31 1973), "Let Us Love" (#47 1973), "Lovely Day" (#30 1978), "Lovely Night for Dancing" (1978), "Memories Are That Way" (1981), "Just Like the First Time" (1985)
duet with Anne Murray, "Lean on Me" (#1 1972)
duet with Grover Washington, Jr., "Just the Two of Us" (#2 1981)
songwriter
served in the Navy (1957-65)

Marion Worth (Mary Ann Ward aka 'Lady Marion')

b. 1930 in Birmingham, AL – d. 19 Dec 1999 in Nashville, TN (emphysema)
country/pop singer
instruments: guitar, piano
"Are You Willing, Willie?" (#12c 1959, she wrote), "That's My Kind of Love" (#5c 1960, she wrote), "I Think I Know" (#7c 1960), "There'll Always Be Sadness" (#25c 1961), "Shake Me I Rattle (Squeeze Me I Cry)" (#42, #14c 1963), "Crazy Arms" (#18c 1963), "You Took Him Off My Hands (Now Please Take Him Off My Mind)" (#33c 1964), "I Will Blow Out the Light" (#32c 1966), "A Woman Needs Love" (#38c 1967), "Mama Sez" (#45c 1968, she wrote)
duet with George Morgan, "Slipping Around" (#12c 1964)
songwriter

Doug Wray

b. 1933 in Dunn, NC - d. 1984 (heart attack)
rock musician, instruments: drums, percussions
"Goosebumps" (1959), "School Girl" (1959)
founding member of Link Wray and the Raymen, "Rumble" (#16 1958), "Rawhide" (#23 1959), "Ain't That Lovin' You, Babe?" (1960), "Right Turn" (1960), "Danger, One-Way Love Affair" (1961), "Big City after Dark" (1962), "Dance Contest" (1962), "The Black Widow" (1963), "Jack the Ripper" (#64 1963), "My Beth" (1963), "Steel Trap" (1963), "Ace of Spades" (1965), "Juke Box Mama" (1971), "Crowbar" (1971), "Don't" (1979), "Switchblade" (1979)
sessionist with Jimmy Dean, and others
brother of Link and Vernon Wray
see Link Wray

July 5

Terry Cashman (Dennis Minogue)

b. 1941 in NY
pop singer
"Talkin' Baseball (Willie, Mickey and the Duke)" (1981)
founding member of The Buchanan Brothers (1969-70), "Medicine Man" (#27 1969, One-Hit Wonder, he co-wrote), "The Feeling That I Get" (1969)
founding member of Cashman, Pistilli and West, "Some of My Best Friends Are People" (1968), "Goodbye, Jo" (1970)
founding member of Cashman and West, "American City Suite" (#27 1972), "Songman" (#69c 1973, he co-wrote), "Is it Raining in New York City?" (1973), "I Could Feel the Morning" (1974)
songwriter, co-wrote Spanky and Our Gang's "Sunday Will Never Be the Same" (#9 1967)
music producer
minor league baseball player

Aaron Casida

b. 1970 in Bakersfield, CA
country/rock singer
instrument: bass
founding member of Smokin' Armadillos (1992- ), "My Girlfriend Might" (1995), "Red Rock" (1995), "Let Your Heart Lead Your Mind" (#53c 1996), "Love of a Lifetime" (1996), "I Don't Want No Part of it" (#64c 1998), "You Were a Mountain" (2003), "Is That Askin' Too Much?" (2003)

Marc Cohn

b. 1959 in Cleveland, OH
rock/pop/country singer
instruments: guitar, piano
"Walking in Memphis" (#13, #74c 1991, he wrote), "Silver Thunderbird" (#63 1991, he wrote), "True Companion" (#80 1991), "Strangers in a Car" (1991, he wrote), "Walk Through the World" (1993, he co-wrote), "The Things We've Handed Down" (1993, he wrote), "The Rainy Season" (1993, he wrote), "Turn to Me" (1998, he co-wrote), "My Sanctuary" (2007, he wrote), "Listening to Levon" (2007, he wrote)
md. to journalist, Elizabeth Vargas
see Marc Cohn

Mitch Jayne (Mitchell Jayne Dean)

b. 1930 in Hammond, IN
country/bluegrass singer
instruments: bass, piano
founding member of The Dillards (1962- ), "Somebody Touched Me" (1963), "Rainin' Here This Mornin'" (1963), "Polly Vaughn" (1964), "Biggest Whatever" (1968), "West Montana Hanna" (1970), "Hot Rod Banjo" (1973), "Headed for the Country" (1979)
songwriter
see The Dillards

Joe (Joe Lewis Thomas)

b. 1973 in GA
R&B singer
instrument: guitar
"All the Things (Your Man Won't Do)" (#11 1997), "Don't Wanna Be a Player" (#25 1997), * "I Wanna Know" (#4 2000), "Stutter" (#1 2000), "More and More" (#48 2003), "Where You At?" (#29 2006)
backup singer on Mariah Carey's "Thank God I Found You" (#1 2000)
songwriter
music producer

Henry Meyer (Henry Allen Meyer)

b. 1964 - d. 7-27-2003 (auto accident)
country/rock musician, instrument: drums
founding member of Jasper Stone (1997-2003), "Old Boots" (1999), "One Dollar Rose" (1999), "Rural Box A" (1999), "Handful of Change" (1999), "Misery-Go-Round" (1999), "Back on the Road" (2003), "Out the Window" (2003)

Michael Monarch

b. 1950 in Los Angeles, CA
rock backup singer
instrument: lead guitar
founding member of Steppenwolf (1968-69), "Born to Be Wild" (#2 1968), "Magic Carpet Ride" (#3 1968), "Rock Me" (#10 1969), "It's Never Too Late" (#51 1969), "Move Over" (#31 1969)
with World Class Rockers
session musician with Janis Joplin, and others
songwriter
see Steppenwolf
see Michael Monarch Music
see World Classic Rockers

Robbie Robertson (Jaime Robertson)

b. 1943/44 in Toronto, Canada
rockabilly/folk/rock singer
instruments: guitar, bass, piano
"Showdown at Big Sky" (1987, he wrote), "Hold Back the Dawn" (1991, he wrote), "What about Now?" (1991, he co-wrote)
with The Hawks (1960-66), "He Don't Love You" (1965), "The Stones I Throw" (1965)
The Hawks backing Ronnie Hawkins (1960-64), "Lonely Hours" (1960)
The Hawks backing Bob Dylan (1965-66), "Just Like a Woman" (#33 1966), "Rainy Day Women #12 and 35" (#2 1966), "I Want You" (#20 1966), "Leopard-Skin Pill-Box Hat" (#81 1966)
founding member and guitarist with The Band, (1967-76), "The Weight" (#63 1968, he wrote), "Up on Cripple Creek" (#25 1969), "Whispering Pines" (1969), "Life is a Carnival" (#72c 1971), "Thinking Out Loud" (1971), "Don't Do it" (#34 1972), "Ain't Got No Home" (#73 1973)
songwriter
music producer; actor
see The Band

Rick Russell

b. 1970 in Bakersfield, CA
country/rock singer
founding member and lead singer of Smokin' Armadillos (1992- ), "My Girlfriend Might" (1995), "Red Rock" (1995), "Let Your Heart Lead Your Mind" (#53c 1996), "Love of a Lifetime" (1996), "I Don't Want No Part of it" (#64c 1998), "You Were a Mountain" (2003), "Is That Askin' Too Much?" (2003)

Dick Scoppettone

b. 1945 in Santa Cruz, CA
pop singer
instrument: guitar
founding member of Harpers Bizarre (1963-69), "The 59th Street Bridge Song" (#13 1967, he co-wrote), "Come to the Sunshine" (#37 1967), "Anything Goes" (#43 1968)
with The Tikis, "Stop-Look-Listen" (1965), "Cream in My Coffee" (1965), "If I've Been Dreaming" (1965), "Little Miss Love Light" (1966)
songwriter
see Harpers Bizarre on Wikipedia

Ronnie Self (aka Mr. Frantic)

b. 1938 in Tin Town, MO - d. 28 Aug 1981 in Springfield, MO
rockabilly/rock/country/R&B singer
instrument: guitar
"Pretty Bad Blues" (1956, he wrote), "Flame of Love" (1957), "Ain't I'm a Dog" (1957), "I Ain't Goin' Nowhere" (1957), "Bop-a-Lena" (#68 1958), "Past, Present, and Future" (1962), "Bless My Broken Heart" (1963), "The Road Keeps Winding" (1968), "High on Life" (1968)
songwriter, wrote Brenda Lee's "I'm Sorry" (#1 1960)
music producer
father of singer/songwriter, Roman Self
see Ronnie Self on the Rockabilly Hall of Fame

Darron Stankey

b. 1942 in Hollywood, CA - 11 May 2005
pop singer
instrument: guitar
tenor and guitarist with The Innocents (1958-64), "Honest I Do" (#28 1960), "Gee Whiz" (#28 1961)
The Innocents backing Kathy Young, "A Thousand Stars" (#3 1960), "Happy Birthday Blues" (#30 1961), "Magic is the Night" (1961), "Just as Though You Were Here" (1961), "I'll Hang My Letters Out to Dry" (1961), "Send Her Away" (1962), "Dream Awhile" (1962)
see The Innocents

Bobby Thompson (Robert Clark Thompson)

b. 1937 in Converse, SC - d. 18 May 2005 (multiple sclerosis)
bluegrass/country/rock musician, instruments: banjo, rhythm guitar, bass
"Devil Dance" (1977), "Take Five" (2008), "The Bandit" (2008)
founding member of Area Code 615, "Why Ask Why?" (1969), "Southern Comfort" (1969), "Stone Fox Chase" (1970)
with Barefoot Jerry (1974- ), "There Must Be a Better Way" (1974), "Violets and Daffodils" (1974), "Slowin' Down" (1975), "Sinkin' in the Sea" (1975), "Barefootin'" (1976), "Wilma Lou" (1976), "Woes of the Road" (1976)
Barefoot Jerry and Charlie McCoy, "T.D.'s Boogie Woogie" (#22c 1974), "Summit Ridge Drive" (#98c 1977)
with Jim and Jesse, "Border Ride" (1958)
with Bill Monroe's The Blue Grass Boys (1970)
session musician on Bobby Bare's "Marie Laveau" (#1c 1974); Neil Young's "Get Back to the Country" (#33c 1985); Randy Travis' "1982" (#6c 1986), "On the Other Hand" (#1c 1986), "Diggin' up Bones" (#1c 1986), "No Place Like Home" (#2c 1987); and with Johnny Cash, Marty Robbins, Leon Russell, Hank Snow, Elvis Presley, Perry Como, Carl Perkins, Jerry Lee Lewis, Loretta Lynn, Eddy Arnold, Merle Haggard, Olivia Newton-John, The Monkees, Jimmy Buffett, and others
served in the military
see Barefoot Jerry

Charles Ventre

b. 1952
country singer
instruments: keyboards, guitar
with River Road, "I Broke It, I'll Fix it" (#48c 1997), "Nickajack" (#37c 1997), "Wishful Thinkin'" (1997), "As if You Didn't Know" (1997), "Somebody Will" (#51c 1998), "Breathless" (#41c 2000)
with the Whiskey River Band
session musician
see River Road on Wikipedia

Guy Willis (James Ulysses Willis)

b. 1915 in Alex, AR - d. 13 Apr 1981
country/western swing singer
instrument: guitar
"Slow Horses, Fast Women" (1952)
founding member of The Oklahoma Wranglers (aka The Willis Brothers) (1932-42, 1946-81), "Came the Dawn" (1947), "The Waltz and That Tennessee Moon" (1948), "Wrangler Boogie" (1950), "Country Kisses" (1951), "Hoot Owl Boogie" (1951), "Unhappy New Year" (1951), "Back Up and Push" (1951), "East a Long Way" (1954), "Little Footprints in the Snow" (1960), "Buyin' Popcorn" (1962), "Sally's Bangs" (1962), "Cody of the Pony Express" (1963), "Somebody Knows" (1963), "Give Me Forty Acres (to Turn This Rig Around)" (#9c 1964), "Gonna Buy Me a Juke Box" (1964), "Too Early to Get Up" (1964), "When I Came Driving Through" (1965), "A Six Foot Two by Four" (#41c 1965), "Diesel-Drivin' Donut-Dunkin' Dan" (1965), "Pinball Anonymous" (1965), "Waltzing with Sin" (1966), "Ruby Ann" (1966), "Diamonds for Ruby" (1966), "Bob" (#14c 1967), "Rosebuds and You" (1967), "Show Her Lots of Gold" (1967), "Drivin's in My Blood" (1968), "Motorcycle Bill" (1968), "A Moonlight Ride in a Diesel" (1968), "Alcohol and No. 2 Diesel" (1969), "Gypsy Rose and Me" (1969), "Cold North Wind" (1969), "Why Don't You Haul Off and Love Me?" (1973)
The Willis Brothers and Johnny Bond, "One More Ride" (1977), "Sioux City Sue" (1977), "Idaho" (1977), "Boots and Saddles" (1977)

July 6

LaVerne Andrews (LaVerne Sophie Andrews)

b. 1911 in Minneapolis, MN – d. 8 May 1967 in Brentwood, CA (cancer)
pop singer
founding member of The Andrews Sisters, "Lullaby to a Jitterbug" (#10 1938), "Ferry Boat Serenade" (#1 1940), "The Shrine of St. Cecilia" (#3 1941), "Six Jerks in a Jeep" (1942), "Here Comes the Navy" (#17 1942), "Pennsylvania Polka" (#17 1942), "Three Little Sisters" (#8 1942), "Shoo Shoo Baby" (#1 1944), "The Blond Sailor" (#8 1945), "Rum and Coca-Cola" (#1 1945), "Near You" (#2 1947), "I Can Dream, Can't I?" (#1 1949), "(I Love You) a Bushel and a Peck" (#17 1950), "I Wanna Be Loved" (#1 1950), "My Mom" (1951), "That's the Chance You Take" (1952), "My Midnight Prison" (#1963), "Three Little Fishes" (1973)
The Andrews Sisters with Bing Crosby, "Pistol Packin' Mama" (#1c 1943), "Don't Fence Me in" (#1 1944), "Along the Navajo Trail" (#2 1945)
The Andrews Sisters with Ernest Tubb, "I'm Bitin' My Fingernails and Thinking of You" (#2c 1949)
md. to Mr. Rogers
see The Andrews Sisters

Charles Baskerville (Charles William Baskerville, Jr.)

b. 1936 in VA - d. 18 Jan 1998 in NY
doo-wop singer
founding member of Shep and the Limelites (1960-66), "One Week from Today" (1960), "Daddy's Home" (#2 1961, One-Hit Wonder, answer to The Heartbeats' "A Thousand Miles Away"), "Three Steps From the Altar" (1961), "This I Know" (1961), "Our Anniversary" (#59 1962)
with The Flamingos (1972- )
with The Videos, "Moonglow You Know" (1958)

Byron Berline

b. 1944 in Caldwell, KS (grew up in OK)
bluegrass/country/rock singer
instruments: fiddle, guitar, banjo, mandolin
founding member of Country Gazette (1971, 1972-75, 1977), "I Wish You Knew" (1972), "The Fallen Eagle" (1973), "Roses for a Sunday Morning" (1974), "Holland Holiday" (1974), "Sunday Sunrise" (1974), "Still Feeling Blue" (1975), "Sure Didn't Take Him Long" (1975), "In Despair" (1977)
founding member of the Byron Berline Band, "With Care From Someone" (2001), "One Hundred Years From Now" (2001)
with the Flying Burrito Brothers (1971-72), "Tried So Hard" (1971), "Just Can't Be" (1971), "Colorado" (1971), "Dixie Breakdown" (1972), "Losing Game" (1972)
with Bill Monroe's Blue Grass Boys (1967), "When My Blue Moon Turns to Gold Again" (1967)
founding member of California
duets with Vince Gill, "Rose of Old Kentucky" (1995), "Sweet Memory Waltz" (1995)
session musician with Bob Dylan,The Dillards, Earl Scruggs, Willie Nelson, Rod Stewart, Mary Chapin Carpenter, and others
served in the Army
see The Blue Grass Boys
see Country Gazette on CMT.com

Jan Bradley (Addie Bradley)

b. 1943 in Byhalia, MS (grew up in Robbins, IL)
R&B singer
"These Tears" (1962), "Mama Didn't Lie" (#14 1963, One-Hit Wonder), "Curfew Blues" (1964), "Just a Summer Memory" (1966), "You Gave Me What's Missing" (1968)
social worker

Gene Chandler (Eugene Dixon aka 'the Duke')

b. 1937 in Chicago, IL
soul/doo-wop singer
"Duke of Earl" (#1 1962), "I'll Follow You" (1962), "You Threw a Lucky Punch" (1962, reply to Mary Wells' "You Beat Me to the Punch"), "Just Be True" (#19 1964), "Bless Our Love" (#39 1964), "Nothing Can Stop Me" (#18 1965), "I Hate to Be the One to Say" (1966), "After the Laughter" (1967), "No Peace, No Satisfaction" (1967), "River of Tears" (1968), "Those Were the Good Old Days" (1968), "Familiar Footsteps" (1969), "Groovy Situation" (#12 1970), "Without You Here" (1973), "There Was a Time" (1976), "Please Sunrise" (1979), "Does She Have a Friend?" (1980)
founding member of The Dukays (1957, 1960- ), "Nite Owl" (1961), "The Girl is a Devil" (1961), "I'm Gonna Love You So" (1962), "Every Step" (1963)
duets with Barbara Acklin, "Show Me the Way to Go" (1968), "Anywhere But Nowhere" (1968)
duets with Jerry Butler, "You Just Can't Win" (1971), "Everybody is Waiting" (1971)
songwriter
music producer
served in the Army (1957-60)

Rik Elswit (Richard Elswit)

b. 1945 in NY
country/rock singer
instrument: guitar
lead guitar with Dr. Hook and the Medicine Show (1973- ), "Carry Me, Carrie" (1973), "Only Sixteen" (#6 1976), "A Little Bit More" (#11 1976), "If Not You" (#55 1976), "Sharing the Night Together" (#6, #50c 1978), "When You're in Love with a Beautiful Woman" (#6 1979), "All the Time in the World" (#54 1979), "Better Love Next Time" (#12 1980), "Sexy Eyes" (#5 1980), "Years from Now" (#51 1980), "Baby Makes Her Blue Jeans Talk" (#25 1982), "Chained to Your Memory" (1982)
he is a cancer survivor

Nanci Griffith

b. 1953/54 in Sequin, TX (grew up in Austin, TX)
country/folk singer
instrument: acoustic guitar
"Dollar Matinée" (1978), "Montana Back Roads" (1978), "Julie Anne" (1982), "October Reasons" (1982), "I'm Not Drivin' These Wheels" (1984), "Once in a Very Blue Moon" (#85c 1986), "If I Were the Woman You Wanted" (1986), "Lone Star State of Mind" (#36c 1987), "Cold Hearts, Closed Minds" (#64c 1987, she wrote), "Never Mind" (#58c 1987), "I Knew Love" (#37c 1988), "Gulf Coast Highway" (1988), "Deadwood, South Dakota" (1988), "Drive-in Movies and Dashboard Lights" (1989), "San Diego Serenade" (1991), "Everything's Coming Up Roses" (1998), "Roses on the Fourth of July" (2001), "Tumble and Fall" (2003), "Last Train Home" (2004)
songwriter, wrote Kathy Mattea's "Love at the Five and Dime" (#3 1986); co-wrote Suzy Bogguss' "Outbound Plane" (#9c 1991)
she is a survivor of breast cancer (1996) and thyroid cancer (1998)

Bill Haley (William John Clifton Haley Jr.)

b. 1925 in Highland Park, MI – d. 9 Feb 1981 in Harlingen, TX (heart attack)
rock/country/rockabilly singer
instruments: guitar, steel guitar, bass, fiddle
"Tenor Man" (1963), "Up Goes My Love" (1963)
founding member of Four Aces of Western Swing (1947-49), "Four-Leaf Clover Blues" (1948), "Candy Kisses" (1949), "Gotta Have My Baby Back" (1950)
founding member of Bill Haley and His Saddlemen (1949-52), "Deal Me a Hand" (1950), "Ten-Gallon Stetson" (1950), "Why Do I Cry Over You?" (1950), "I'm Gonna Dry Every Tear with a Kiss" (1950), "Rocket 88" (1951), "Down Deep in My Heart" (1951), "Dance with a Dolly (With a Hole in Her Stockin')" (1952)
in mid-1952 The Saddlemen became The Comets
founding member and leaded of Bill Haley and His Comets (1952- ), "Rock the Joint" (1952, 1957), "Crazy, Man, Crazy" (#12 1953, he co-wrote, first rock 'n' roll record to place on the pop charts), "Farewell, So Long, Goodbye" (1953), "Dim, Dim the Lights" (#11 1954), "Shake, Rattle and Roll" (#7 1954), * "(We're Gonna) Rock Around the Clock" (#1 1955, #39 1974), "Razzle Dazzle" (#15 1955), "Burn That Candle" (#9 1955), "Rock-a-Beatin' Boogie" (#23 1955, he wrote), "See You Later, Alligator" (#6 1956), "Rudy's Rock" (#34 1956), "The Saints' Rock 'n' Roll" (#18 1956), "Rockin' Rita" (1957), "Mary, Mary Lou" (1957), "B-B-Betty" (1958), "Skinny Minnie" (#22 1958), "My Kind of Woman" (1961), "What Can I Say after I Say I'm Sorry?" (1963)
songwriter
actor
md. to Dorothy Crowe (1946- ); md. 3rd to singer/dancer, Martha Velasco
see The Rockabilly Hall of Fame

John Jorgenson

b. 1955/56 in Madison, WI (grew up in CA)
country/rock/jazz singer
instruments: electric guitar, pedal steel guitar, mandolin, piano, upright bass, clarinet, sax
founding member and guitarist with the Desert Rose Band (1985-91), "Once More" (1987), "Ashes of Love" (#26c 1987), "He's Back and I'm Blue" (#1c 1987), "Love Reunited" (#6c 1987), "One Step Forward" (#2c 1987), "I Still Believe in You" (#1c 1988), "Summer Wind" (#2c 1988), "She Don't Love Nobody" (#3c 1989), "Hello, Trouble" (#11c 1989), "Start All Over Again" (#6c 1990), "In Another Lifetime" (#13c 1990), "Story of Love" (#10c 1990)
founding member of The Hellecasters
with Elton John's band (1994-99)
founding member of The John Jorgenson Quintet
session musician
see John Jorgenson

Mike McClure (Michael Ray McClure)

b. 1971 in Tecumseh, OK
country/rock singer
instruments: guitar, harmonica
founding member, lead singer and lead guitarist of Great Divide (1992- ), "Rather Have Nothin'" (1995), "Pour Me a Vacation" (#59c 1998), "Never Could" (#74c 1998), "Yesterday Road" (1999), "Ain't about to Fall" (2000), "Lost in the Night" (2002), "If Not for You" (2002), "Just Another Day" (2005), "Love and Gasoline" (2005), "Spanning Time" (2006)
songwriter

Gary Dale Parker

b. 1958 in Nashville, TN
country singer
"Start a Little Fire Tonight" (1987), "Once and For Always" (#87c 1990)

Della Reese (Delloreese Patricia Early)

b. 1931 in Detroit, MI
pop/jazz/R&B/gospel
"And That Reminds Me" (#12 1957), "Dreams End at Dawn" (1958), "Don't You Know?" (#2 1959), "Soldier, Won't You Marry Me?" (1959), "Not One Minute More" (#16 1960), "Someday (You'll Want Me to Want You)" (#56 1960), "Faraway Boy" (1960), "After Loving You" (#95 1965), "It Was a Very Good Year" (#99 1966)
actress
md. to Franklin Thomas Lett, Jr. (1983- )
she is a diabetic and speaks to raise awareness of diabetes
she is half black and half Cherokee
see Della Reece

Steve Murray

b. 1964 in Crockett, TX
country singer
instrument: acoustic guitar
founding member and lead singer of Perfect Stranger (1986- ), "Ridin' the Rodeo" (1994), "You Have the Right to Remain Silent" (#61, #4c 1995), "I'm a Stranger Here Myself" (#52c 1995), "Even the Jukebox Can't Forget" (1995), "Remember the Ride" (#56c 1996), "Fire When Ready" (#62c 1997), "A Little Bit More of Your Love" (#66c 1999)
md. to Lisa Starr

Jeannie Seely (Marilyn Jeanne Seely)

b. 1940 in Titusville, PA (grew up in Townville, PA)
country singer
instrument: guitar
"Old Memories Never Die" (1965), "It's Only Love" (#15c 1966), "Don't Touch Me" (#85, #2c 1967), "These Memories" (#42c 1967), "Be Just as Lonely There" (1967), "I'll Love You More (Than You Need)" (#10c 1967), "Maybe I Should Leave" (1968), "Welcome Home to Nothing" (1968), "Just Enough to Start Me Dreaming" (#43c 1969), "Can I Sleep in Your Arms?" (#6c 1973), "Lucky Ladies" (#11c 1974), "I Miss You" (#37c 1974)
duets with Jack Greene, "I Wish I Didn't Have to Miss You" (#2 1970), "Much Obliged" (#15c 1972), "It's Time to Cross That Bridge" (#13c 1974)
songwriter, wrote Faron Young's "Leavin' and Sayin' Goodbye" (#1c 1972)
DJ; actress
md. to Hank Cochran
see Jeannie Seely

July 7

Shelly Lee Alley

b. 1894 near Alleyton, TX - d. 1 Jun 1964
country/western swing singer
instrument: fiddle
founding member and lead of The Alley Cats (1936-41, 1946), "You've Made a Dream Come True" (1937), "Try it Once Again" (1938), "She's So Different" (1938), "Houston Blues" (1938), "Alley Cat Stomp" (1938), "I Wish I'd Never Learned to Love" (1939), "I'll Keep Thinking of You" (1939), "It Took My Breath Away" (1940), "I Just Can't Forget the Past" (1940), "Beer Joint Blues" (1941, he wrote)
session musician with Jimmie Rodger, and others
songwriter
served in the Army during WWI
step-father of Clyde Brewer

Andy Brown (Andrew Brown)

b. 1946 (maybe Jan 7) in Birmingham, England
rock musician, instrument: drums
founding member of The Fortunes (1963- ), "You've Got Your Troubles" (#7 1965), "Here it Comes Again" (#27 1965), "This Golden Ring" (#82 1966), "Lifetime of Love" (1970), "That Same Old Feeling" (#62 1970), "Here Comes That Rainy Day Feeling Again" (#15 1971), "Freedom Come, Freedom Go" (#72 1972), "Kentucky Girl" (1977)
see The Fortunes

Warren Entner

b. 1944 in Boston, MA
folk/rock singer
instrument: rhythm guitar
founding member of The Grass Roots (1967-75), "Let's Live for Today" (#8 1967), "Things I Should Have Said" (#23 1967), "No Exit" (1967), * "Midnight Confessions" (#5 1968), "Bella Linda" (#28 1969), "Walking Through the Country" (#44 1969), * "Heaven Knows" (#24 1969), "I'd Wait a Million Years" (#15 1969), "The River is Wide" (#31 1969), "Come on and Say it" (#61 1970, he co-wrote), "Temptation Eyes" (#15 1970), * "Baby, Hold on" (#35 1970), * "Sooner or Later" (#9 1971), "I Can Turn Off the Rain" (1971), "Two Divided by Love" (#16 1972), "Glory Bound" (#34 1972), "Love is What You Make it" (#55 1973), "We Can't Dance to Your Music" (1973), "The Last Time Around" (1975)
songwriter
see The Grass Roots

Preston Epps

b. 1931 in Oakland, CA
rockabilly musician, instruments: bongos, percussions
"Bongo Rock" (#14 1959, One-Hit Wonder, he co-wrote), "Bongo Bongo Bongo" (#78 1960), "Call of the Jungle" (1960, he co-wrote), "Surfin' Bongos" (1962)
session musician with Johnny Otis, and others
songwriter
served in the Korean War

Mary Ford (Iris Colleen Summers aka Colleen Hatfield)

b. 1924/28 in El Monte, CA or Pasadena, CA - d. 30 Sep 1977 in Arcadia, CA (cancer and complications of diabetes)
country/jazz/pop singer
instrument: guitar
"Time Stands Still" (1965), "Why Can't He Be You?" (1966)
duets with Les Paul, "How High the Moon" (#1 1951), "The World is Waiting for the Sunrise" (#2 1951), "Mockin' Bird Hill" (#2, #7c 1951), "Vaya Con Dios (May God Be with You)" (#1 1953), "Hummingbird" (#7 1955), "Cinco Robles (Five Oaks)" (#35 1957)
md. to singer, Les Paul (1949-63)

Hugh Geyer

b. 1943
pop singer (tenor)
founding member and first tenor of The Vogues (1964-71), "You're the One" (#4 1965), "Five O'Clock World" (#4 1965), "Golden Locket" (1965), "The Land of Milk and Honey" (#29 1966), "Magic Town" (#21 1966), "Don't Blame the Rain" (1966), "Turn Around, Look at Me" (#7 1968), "My Special Angel" (#7 1968), "Till" (#27 1968), "No, Not Much" (#34 1969)
see The Vogues

David 'Scar' Hodo

b. 1950/57 in San Andreas, CA
pop/disco singer
founding member of Village People (1977-81, 1987- , construction worker character), "Macho Man" (#25 1978), * "Y.M.C.A." (#2 1978), "Hot Cop" (1978), "In the Navy" (#3 1979), "Go West" (1979), "Can't Stop the Music" (1980), "Do You Wanna Spend the Night?" (1981), "5 O'Clock in the Morning" (1981)
contrary to the group's image, only Felipe Rose was actually gay
his nickname is from getting badly burned when he was a roller-skating fire-eater
concerned with animal welfare
see Village People

Anton Karas

b. 1906 in Vienna, Austria – d. 10 Jan 1985 in Vienna, Austria
pop musician, instrument: zither
"The Third Man Theme" (#1 1950, he wrote), "Danube Dreams" (1959, he wrote), "Vienna, City of My Dreams" (1963)
songwriter
café owner

Daisy Lange (Evelyn Lange)

b. 1919 in North Star, OH
bluegrass/folk singer
instruments: string bass, fiddle, mandolin, guitar
founding member of The Coon Creek Girls (1937-39), "Banjo Pickin' Girl" (1938), "The Soldier and the Lady" (1938)
with The Callahan Brothers
md. to Mr. Perry
see The Callahan Brothers on CMT.com

Charlie Louvin (Charles Elzer Loudermilk)

b. 1927 near Section, AL
country/gospel singer
instrument: guitar
"I Don't Love You Anymore" (#4c 1964), "See the Big Man Cry" (#7c 1965), "I Think I'll Go Somewhere and Cry Myself to Sleep" (#26c 1965), "You Finally Said Something Good (When You Said Goodbye)" (#15c 1966), "The Proof is in the Kissing" (#58c 1966, he co-wrote), "Will You Visit Me on Sundays?" (#20c 1968), "She Forgot to Take Me" (1968), "Hey Daddy" (#15c 1968), "You're My Wife, She's My Woman" (#36c 1974), "It Almost Felt Like Love" (#76 1974), "Silver Dish Café" (1976), "Ten Years, Three Kids, and Two Loves Too Late" (1981)
founding member of The Louvin Brothers (1949-63), "Seven-Year Blues" (1949), "When I Stop Dreaming" (#8c 1955, he co-wrote), "I Don't Believe You've Met My Baby" (#1c 1956), "Hoping That You're Hoping" (#7c 1956), "Cash on the Barrel Head" (#7c 1956, he co-wrote), "You're Running Wild" (#7c 1956), "Plenty of Everything But You" (#14c 1957, he co-wrote), "My Baby's Gone" (#9c 1958), "Knoxville Girl" (#19c 1959), "Nellie Moved to Town" (1960), "I Love You Best of All" (#12c 1961, he co-wrote)
duet with Melba Montgomery, "Something to Brag About" (#18c 1970)
songwriter, co-wrote The Browns' "Just As Long As You Love Me" (#11c 1956), "I Take the Chance" (#2c 1956); Ernie Ashworth's "I Take the Chance" (#7c 1963); Emmylou Harris's "If I Could Only Win Your Love" (#4c 1975); Carl Smith's "Are You Teasing Me?" (#1c 1952)
postal clerk
served in the Army during WWII and the Korean War
md. to Betty Harrison
brother of Ira Louvin, cousin of John D. Loudermilk

Greg Luck

b. 1968
bluegrass singer
instruments: guitar, fiddle
with J.D. Crowe and the New South (1999), "Come on Down to My World" (1999), "(I'm So) Afraid of Losing You Again" (1999), "You Didn't Say Goodbye" (1999)
with the Lynn Morris Band
with Redwing
with The Bass Mountain Boys
with The Bluegrass Cardinals
with IIIrd Tyme Out (2002-05)
with The Circuit Riders
songwriter, co-wrote Leann Womack's "The Healing Kind" (2000)
see IIIrd Tyme Out

Gabbie Nolen

b. 1982 in TX
country singer
"Wait a Minute" (2001), "Almost There" (#45c 2002), "Little Did She Know (She'd Kissed a Hero)" (2002)

Herb Rooney (Herbert Rooney)

b. 1941 in New York, NY
pop/soul singer
founding member of The Exciters (1961- ), * "Tell Him" (#4 1963, One-Hit Wonder), "He's Got the Power" (#57 1963), "Get Him" (#76 1963), "I Knew You Would" (1965), "I Want You to Be My Boy" (#98 1965), "A Little Bit of Soap" (#58 1966), "Weddings Make Me Cry" (1966), "Take One Step (I'll Take Two)" (1968), "Learning How to Fly" (1971)
founding member of Brenda and Herb, "I (Who Have Nothing)" (1978), "Sweet Dreamer" (1978)
md. to singer, Brenda Reid
see The Exciters

Ringo Starr (Richard Starkey)

b. 1940 in Liverpool, England
rock singer
instrument: drums
"It Don't Come Easy" (#4 1971), "Back Off Boogaloo" (#9 1972), "Photograph" (#1 1973), "You're Sixteen (You're Beautiful and You're Mine)" (#1 1973), "The No No Song" (#3 1975)
with The Beatles (1962-70), * "P.S. I Love You" (1962), * "Anna (Go to Him)" (1963), "She Loves You" (#1 1963), "Can't Buy Me Love" (#1 1964), * "Love Me Do" (#1 1964), * "Please, Please Me" (#3 1964), * "Twist and Shout" (#4 1964), "A Hard Day's Night" (#1 1964), "I Saw Her Standing There" (#14 1964), "Do You Want to Know a Secret?" (#9 1964), "I Want to Hold Your Hand" (#1 1964), "I Feel Fine" (#1 1965), "Eight Days a Week" (#1 1965), "Ticket to Ride" (#1 1965), "Help!" (#1 1965), "Yesterday" (#1 1965), "Yellow Submarine" (#2 1966), "We Can Work it Out" (#1 1966), "Paperback Writer" (#1 1966), "When I'm Sixty-Four" (1967), "Penny Lane" (#1 1967), "All You Need is Love" (#1 1967), "I Am the Walrus" (1967), "Rocky Raccoon" (1968), "Hello, Goodbye" (#1 1968), "Hey Jude" (#1 1968), "Come Together" (#1 1969), "Let it Be" (#1 1970), (he was not on "The Long and Winding Road")
4 Apr 1964 The Beatles had the top five singles on the Billboard charts
The Beatles with Billy Preston, "Get Back" (#1 1969)
The Beatles with Tony Sheridan, "Ain't She Sweet?" (1962), "Sweet Georgia Brown" (1962), "Nobody's Child" (1962), "My Bonnie (Lies Over the Ocean)" (#26 1964)
duet with Buck Owens, "Act Naturally" (#27c 1989)
songwriter
music producer; actor
quote by Ringo Starr: "That's all drugs and alcohol do, they cut off your emotions in the end."
see The Beatles

Johnny 'Lonzo' Sullivan (John Y. Sullivan)

b. 1917 in Edmonton, KY - d. 5 Jun 1967 (auto accident)
country singer
instrument: guitar
founding member of Lonzo and Oscar (1950-1967), "Wild Oats" (1954), "Gotta Find Julie" (1959), "I Lost an Angel" (1960), "Hills of East Tennessee" (1960), "Country Music Time" (#26c 1961), "Can't Pitch Woo (in an Igloo)" (1961), "No One Can Teach You" (1966)
session musician on Eddy Arnold's "That's How Much I Love You" (#2c 1946), "Chained to a Memory" (#3c 1946), "It's a Sin" (#1c 1947), "What is Life Without Love?" (#1c 1947)
comedian
served in the military during WWII
brother of Rollin Sullivan

Doyle Wilburn (Virgil Doyle Wilburn)

b. 1930 in Hardy, AR – d. 16 Oct 1982 in Nashville, TN
country singer
instrument: guitar
founding member of The Wilburn Brothers (1953- ), "I'm So in Love with You" (#10c 1956), "Go Away With Me" (#6c 1956), "Which One to Blame?" (#4c 1959), "Somebody's Back in Town" (#6c 1959), "A Woman's Intuition" (#9c 1959), "Knoxville Girl" (#18c 1959), * "Trouble's Back in Town" (#4c 1962), "Roll Muddy River" (#4c 1963), "Tell Her So" (#10c 1963), "It's Another World" (#5c 1965), "Someone Before Me" (#8c 1966), "Hurt Her Once for Me" (#3c 1966), "Roarin' Again" (#13c 1967), "Arkansas" (#47c 1972)
The Wilburn Brothers sang backup on Webb Pierce's "In the Jailhouse Now" (#1 1955)
The Wilburn Brothers duets with Ernest Tubb, "Mister Love" (#8c 1957), "Hey, Mister Bluebird" (#9c 1958)
The Wilburn Brothers duet with Webb Pierce, "Sparkling Brown Eyes" (#4c 1954)
songwriter
md. to Margie Bowes (1961- ); brother of Teddy Wilburn

Linda Williams (Linda Hill)

b. 1947/49 in Anniston, AL
country/folk/bluegrass singer
instruments: guitar, banjo
duets with Robin Williams, "All Broken Hearts Are the Same" (1988, she co-wrote), "Stone Wall Country" (1988, she co-wrote), "Six O'Clock News" (1990, she co-wrote), "Hired Gun" (1990, she co-wrote), "Lying to the Moon" (1993), "On the Day the Last Tear Falls" (1993, she co-wrote), "Letter That I Wrote" (1999, she co-wrote), "Men with Guns" (1999, she co-wrote), "Sometime Tomorrow" (2000, she co-wrote)
songwriter
see Robin and Linda Williams

July 8

Bob Beckham

b. 1927 in Stratford, OK
country singer
"Just As Much As Ever" (#32 1959), "Crazy Arms" (#36 1960), "Beloved" (1960), "Two Wrongs Don't Make a Right" (1960), "Slowly Dying" (1965), "Cherokee Strip" (#73c 1967), "You Really Know How to Hurt a Guy" (1967), "Look at Them" (1967)
songwriter
music publisher

Bill Deal (William Franklin Deal)

b. 1944 in Portsmouth, VA - d. 10 Dec 2003 in Portsmouth, VA
rock/soul singer
instruments: piano, keyboards, organ
founding member of Bill Deal and the Rhondels (1965- ), "Proud Mary" (#39 1969), "I've Been Hurt" (#35 1969), "What Kind of Fool Do You Think I Am" (#23 1969), "Hey, Bulldog" (1970), "Nothing Succeeds Like Success" (#62 1971)
session musician on Jimmy Soul's "If You Wanna Be Happy" (#1 1963); and with others
md. to Janice Burton

Jaimoe Johanson (John Lee Johnson aka Jai Johanny Johanson)

b. 1944 in Ocean Springs, MS
rock/blues/country singer
instruments: drums, percussions
founding member of the Allman Brothers Band (1969-75, 1979-80, 1989- ), "Black-Hearted Woman" (1969), "Revival" (#92 1971), "Melissa" (1972), "Ramblin' Man" (#2 1973), "Jessica" (1973), "Crazy Love" (#29 1979), "Angeline" (#58 1980), "Good Clean Fun" (1990), "Seven Turns" (1990), "It Ain't Over Yet" (1990), "The High Cost of Low Living" (2003), "Old Friend" (2003), "Who to Believe" (2003)
with Sea Level
see The Allman Brothers

Johnnie Johnson (Johnnie Clyde Johnson aka 'The Founding Father of Rock 'n' Roll')

b. 1924 in Fairmont, WV – d. 13 Apr 2005 in St. Louis, MO
rock/blues/jazz musician, instrument: piano
"See See Rider" (1987), "Fault Line Tremor" (1991), "Johnnie B. Bad" (1991)
founding member of Chuck Berry's band (1954-73), "Maybelline" (#5 1955), "Roll Over Beethoven" (#29 1956), "School Days" (#3 1957), "Almost Grown" (#32 1959), "Back in the U.S.A." (#37 1959), "Let it Rock" (#64 1960), "No Particular Place to Go" (#10 1964), "Nadine (is it You)" (#23 1964), "You Never Can Tell (C'est La Vie)" (#14 1964), "My Ding-a-Ling" (#1 1972), and others
duets with the Kentucky Headhunters, "That'll Work" (1993), "I Know You Can" (1993), "Derby Day Special" (1993)
founding member of the Johnnie Johnson Band
session pianist with Keith Richards, Eric Clapton, Bo Diddley, Kentucky Headhunters, and others
songwriter
he was the inspiration for Chuck Berry's "Johnny B. Goode" (#8 1958)
served in the Marines during WWII

Louis Jordan (Louis Thomas Jordan aka 'King of the Jukebox')

b. 1908/09 in Brinkley, AR – d. 4 Feb 1975 in Los Angeles, CA (heart attack)
R&B/jazz/blues singer
instruments: alto sax, baritone sax, tenor sax, piano, clarinet
backed by his band Tympany Five, "The Two Little Squirrels (Nuts to You)" (1940), "That'll Just about Knock Me Out" (1942), "I'm Gonna Leave You on the Outskirts of Town" (1942), "What's the Use of Gettin' Sober (When You're Gonna Get Drunk Again)?" (1942), "Ration Blues" (#1, #1c 1944), "Deacon Jones" (#7c 1944), "G.I. Jive" (#1 1944), "Is You or is You Ain't My Baby?" (#2, #1c 1944), "You Can't Get That No More" (#11 1945), "Caldonia Boogie" (#6 1945, he wrote), "Buzz Me" (#9 1946), "Don't Worry 'Bout That Mule" (1946), "Salt Pork, West Virginia" (1946), "Reconversion Blues" (1946), "Beware (Brother Beware)" (#20 1946), "Choo Choo Ch'Boogie" (#7 1946), "Ain't That Just Like a Woman (They'll Do it Every Time)" (#17 1946), "Ain't Nobody Here But Us Chickens" (#6 1946), "Texas and Pacific" (#20 1947), "Open the Door, Richard" (#6 1947), "Jack, You're Dead" (#21 1947), "Early in the Mornin'" (1947), "Run Joe" (#23 1948), "Don't Burn the Candle at Both Ends" (1948), "Barnyard Boogie" (1948), "You Broke Your Promise" (1949), "Baby, it's Cold Outside" (#9 1949), "Beans and Cornbread" (1949), "Saturday Night Fish Fry" (#21 1949, considered by some as one of the earliest rock 'n' roll recordings), "Blue Light Boogie" (1950)
duet with Bing Crosby, "My Baby Said Yes" (#14 1945)
duet with Ella Fitzgerald, "Stone Cold Dead in the Market (He Had it Coming)" (#7 1946)
songwriter
actor
md. to Fleecie Moore

Toby Keith (Toby Keith Covel)

b. 1961 in Clinton, OK (grew up in Moore, OK)
country singer
instrument: rhythm guitar
"Should've Been a Cowboy" (#93, #1c 1993, he wrote), "He Ain't Worth Missing" (#5c 1993, he wrote), "Close, But No Guitar" (1993, he wrote), * "A Little Less Talk and a Lot More Action" (#2c 1993, he co-wrote), "Wish I Didn't Know Now (What I Didn't Know Then)" (1994, he wrote), "Who's That Man?" (#1c 1994, he wrote), "Big Ol' Truck" (#15c 1994, he wrote), "Upstairs Downtown" (#10c 1995, he co-wrote), "You Ain't Much Fun (Since I Quit Drinking)" (#2c 1995, he co-wrote), "Does That Blue Moon Ever Shine on You?" (#2c 1996, he wrote), "Lucky Me" (1996, he co-wrote), "Me Too" (#1c 1997, he co-wrote), "We Were in Love" (#2c 1997), "Dream Walkin'" (#5c 1998, he co-wrote), * "She Only Gets That Way with Me" (1999, he co-wrote), "Die with Your Boots on" (1999, he co-wrote), "Country Comes to Town" (#54, #4c 2000, he wrote), "How Do You Like Me Now?" (#31, #1c 2000, he co-wrote), * "You Shouldn't Kiss Me Like This" (#32, #1c 2001, he wrote), * "Forever Hasn't Got Here Yet" (2001, he co-wrote), * "Yesterday's Rain" (2001, he co-wrote), * "I'm Just Talkin' about Tonight" (#27, #1c 2001, he co-wrote), * "I Wanna Talk about Me" (#28, #1c 2001), * "You Leave Me Weak" (2001, he co-wrote), * "Pull My Chain" (2001, he co-wrote), * "My List" (#26, #1c 2002, he co-wrote), "Rodeo Moon" (2002, he co-wrote), * "Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue (The Angry American)" (#25, #1c 2002, he wrote), * "Who's Your Daddy?" (#22, #1c 2002, he wrote), "I Love This Bar" (#26, #1c 2003, he co-wrote), "Nights I Can't Remember, Friends I'll Never Forget" (2003, he co-wrote), "Whiskey Girl" (#31, #1c 2004, he co-wrote), "Baddest Boots" (2003, he wrote), "American Soldier" (#26, #1c 2004, he co-wrote), "Stays in Mexico" (#51, #3c 2004, he wrote), "As Good As I Once Was" (#28, #1c 2005, he co-wrote), * "Big Blue Note" (#55, #5c 2005, he co-wrote), "Get Drunk and Be Somebody" (#47 #3c 2006, he co-wrote), "A Little Too Late" (#2c 2006, he co-wrote), "High-Maintenance Woman" (#67, #3c 2007, he co-wrote), "Love Me if You Can" (#19c 2007), "White Rose" (2007)
with Easy Money (1984-88)
duet with Willie Nelson, "Beer for My Horses" (#22, #1c 2003, he co-wrote)
duet with Cledus T. Judd, "I Love NASCAR" (#48c 2004)
duet with Sting, "I'm So Happy I Can't Stop Cryin'" (#84, #2c 1997)
duets with Scotty Emerick, * "I Can't Take You Anywhere" (#91, #24c 2003, he co-wrote), "Hurtin' All Over" (2007), "Love Me Like My Dog Does" (2007)
backup singer on Jimmy Buffett's "Hey, Good Lookin'" (#8c 2004)
songwriter
md. to Trica (1984- )
quote by Toby Keith: "You know, I'm pro-troops, but I'm not pro-war."
see Toby Keith

Steve Lawrence (Sidney or Stephen Leibowitz)

b. 1935 in Brooklyn, NY
pop singer
instruments: piano, sax
"Ethel, Baby" (1956), "Party Doll" (#5 1957), "A Long Last Look" (1957), "Blue Remembrin' You" (1957), "Pretty Blue Eyes" (#9 1959), "Footsteps" (#7 1960), "Portrait of My Love" (#9 1961), * "Go Away, Little Girl" (#1 1963), "Don't Be Afraid, Little Darlin'" (#26 1963)
duets with Eydie Gorme (sometimes as Parker and Penny), "Close Your Eyes, Take a Deep Breath" (1955), "Sentimental Me" (1959), "We Got Us" (1960), "Would You Like to Take a Walk?" (1961), "Wouldn't it Be Lovely?" (1961), "I Want to Stay Here" (#28 1963), "I Can't Stop Talking about You" (1963), "Watch What Happens" (1970), "Suddenly You" (1970)
actor
md. to Eydie Gorme (1957- )
see Steve and Eydie

Raffi (Raffi Cavoukain)

b. 1948 in Cairo, Egypt (grew up in Canada)
children's music/folk singer
instrument: guitar
"Feel Like a Million" (1975, he wrote), * "Down by the Bay" (1976), * "Mister Sun" (1976, he wrote), "The More We Get Together" (1976, he wrote), * "Shake My Sillies Out" (1977, he wrote), "Listen to the Horses" (1977, he wrote), "Six Little Ducks" (1977), "Going on a Picnic" (1979, he wrote), "Baby Beluga" (1980, he wrote), * "He's Got the Whole World in His Hands" (1982), "This Little Light of Mine" (1982), "Riding in an Airplane" (1985), "Teddy Bear Hug" (1987), "Evergreen Everblue" (1990), * "Raining Like Magic" (1992, on the soundtrack of the movie Fern Gully), "Bananaphone" (1994, he co-wrote), "Simple Gifts" (1994), "All I Really Need" (1996), "May There Always Be Sunshine" (2002), "If You're Happy and You Know it" (2002), "Slow Day" (2006), "Blessed Be" (2006)
songwriter, wrote "Cool it" (2007)
author
environmentalist
see Raffi News

Jerry Vale (Genaro Luigi Vitaliano)

b. 1932 in the Bronx, NY
pop singer
"Two Purple Shadows" (1954), "You Don't Know Me" (#14 1956), "Pretend You Don't See Her" (1957), "Go Chase a Moonbeam" (1958), "I've Got a Feeling I'm Falling" (1958), "Have You Looked into Your Heart?" (#24 1964), "Lulu's Back in Town" (1964), "Tears Keep on Falling" (1965), "Eternally" (1968), "Put Your Head on My Shoulder" (1969), "Till" (1969)

Deek Watson (Ivory Watson)

b. 1909 in Mounds, IL - d. 4 Nov 1969 in Washington, DC
R&B singer
"Why Does a Drink Make You Think?" (1954)
founding member of The Ink Spots (1932-44), "Swingin' on the Strings" (1935), "Address Unknown" (#1 1939), "If I Didn't Care" (#2 1939, re-release #1 1946), "Do I Worry?" (1940), "We Three (My Echo, My Shadow, and Me)" (#1 1941), "I Don't Want to Set the World on Fire" (#4 1941), "Shout, Brother, Shout" (1942, he co-wrote)
The Ink Spots with Ella Fitzgerald, "I'm Making Believe" (#1 1944)
with various 'reunion' groups using The Ink Spots' name
with The Percolating Puppies (1928)
founding member of The Brown Dots, "Pray for the Lights to Go Out" (1948)
songwriter

Larry Weber (Larry J. Weber)

b. 1970 in Reynolds, ND
country musician, instruments: keyboards, piano, guitar
with Perfect Stranger (1997-99), "Fire When Ready" (#62c 1997), "A Little Bit More of Your Love" (#66c 1999)
songwriter
CPA

Drew Womack

b. 1970 in Brownwood, TX
country singer
instrument: rhythm guitar
founding member of the Drew Womack Band, "Hey, Daisy" (2004, he wrote), "Premium Gasoline" (2004, he wrote), "The Fine Art of Failure" (2004, he wrote), "Leaving October" (2004, he co-wrote), "Country Heart" (2006), "Love of My Life" (2006)
founding member of Sons of the Desert (1989- ), "Hand of Fate" (#33c 1997), "Whatever Comes First" (#10c 1997, he wrote), "Leaving October" (#31c 1998, he co-wrote), "What about You?" (#45c 1999), "Everybody's Gotta Grow up Sometime" (#42c 2000), "What I Did Right" (#22c 2001)
Sons of the Desert were backup on Ty Herdon's "It Must Be Love" (#1c 1998), Lee Ann Womack's "I Hope You Dance" (#1c 2000)
songwriter, co-wrote Kenny Chesney's "She's Got it All" (#1 1997)
he is not related to LeAnn Womack

Fred Young

b. 1958 in Edmonton, KY or Glasgow, KY
country/rock singer
instruments: drums, percussions
founding member of Kentucky Headhunters (1985- ), "Walk Softly on This Heart of Mine" (#25c 1989), "Oh, Lonesome Me" (#8c 1990), "Rock 'n' Roll Angel" (#23c 1990), "With Body and Soul" (#56c 1991), "Honky-Tonk Walkin'" (#54c 1992), "Singin' the Blues" (#70c 1997), "Too Much to Lose" (#66c 2000)
the Kentucky Headhunters and Johnnie Johnson, "That'll Work" (1993), "I Know You Can" (1993), "Derby Day Special" (1993)
brother of Richard Young
see The Kentucky Headhunters

July 9

Pat Allingham (Patrick Thomas Allingham)

b. 1978 in Canada
country singer
instruments: fiddle, acoustic guitar, mandolin
with 12 Gauge
founding member of Emerson Drive (1995-2003), * "I Should Be Sleeping" (#4c 2002), "Fall into Me" (#34, #3c 2002), "Only God (Could Stop Me Loving You)" (#23c 2003)
see Emerson Drive

Ed Ames (Edmund Dantes Urick)

b. 1927 in Malden, MA
pop singer
"Try to Remember" #73 1965), "My Cup Runneth Over" (#8 1967), "Time, Time" (#61 1967), "When the Snow is on the Roses" (#98 1967), "Timeless Love" (1967), "Who Will Answer?" (#19 1968), "The Wind Will Change Tomorrow" (1968), "Gloves, Pictures, Dreams (Doors, Mirrors, and Heartaches)" (1968), "Apologize" (#79 1968), "Sing Away the World" (1970)
founding member of The Ames Brothers, "Can Anyone Explain? (No No No)" (#5 1950), "Sentimental Me" (#1 1950), "Rag Mop" (#1 1950), "Undecided" (#6 1951), "More Than I Care to Remember" (1951), "More Beer" (1951), "You, You, You" (#1 1953), "The Naughty Lady of Shady Lane" (#3 1954), * "My Bonnie Lassie" (#11 1955), "Sympathetic Eyes" (1955), "49 Shades of Green" (1956), * "So Little Time" (1956), "It Only Hurts for a Little While" (#15 1956), "Rockin' Shoes" (1957), "Melodie D'Amour" (#12 1957), "Red River Rose" (1959), "China Doll" (#38 1960), "Kiss From Cora" (1961)
actor
see The Ames Brothers

David Ball (David Alderman Ball)

b. 1953 in Rock Hill, SC
country/bluegrass singer
instruments: guitar, stand-up bass
"Steppin' Out" (#46c 1988, he co-wrote), "Thinkin' Problem" (#40, #2c 1994, he co-wrote), * "When the Thought of You (Catches up with Me) (#7c 1994, he wrote), "Look What Followed Me Home" (#11c 1995, he co-wrote), "Circle of Friends" (#49c 1996), "Watching My Baby Not Coming Back" (#47c 1999, he co-wrote), "I Want to Be with You" (#67c 1999), "Loser Friendly" (2001), "Riding with Private Malone" (#36, #2c 2001)
with Uncle Walt's Band
songwriter
see David Ball

Alan Dale (Aldo Sigiamundi)

b. 1925/26 in Brooklyn, NY - d. 20 Apr 2002 in Brooklyn, NY
pop/rock singer (baritone)
"Oh, Marie" (1947), "More Than I Should" (1949), "You're My Destiny" (1952), "A Song I Heard Last Night" (1954), "Cherry Pink (and Apple Blossom White)" (#14 1955), "Sweet and Gentle" (#10 1955), "Me 'n' You 'n' the Moon" (1956), "Cindy and I" (1957), "The Girl Can't Help it" (1957), "The Sound of a Breaking Heart" (1958), "Seven-Eleven" (1965)
duets with Johnny Desmond and Don Cornell, "(The Gang That Sang) Heart of My Heart" (#10 1953), "This is Only the Beginning" (1974)
music producer
actor
see Alan Dale

Eddie Dean (Edgar Dean Glosup)

b. 1907 in Posey, TX - d. 4 Mar 1999 in Thousand Oaks, CA (emphysema and heart disease)
country singer
instrument: guitar
"I'm a Kansas Man" (1947), "One Has My Name, the Other Has My Heart" (11c 1948, he co-wrote), "I Asked a Dream" (1951), "Roses Remind Me of You" (1951), "I'm the Old Friend" (1951), "Second-Hand Romance" (1954), "Walk Beside Me" (1954), "I Dreamed of a Hillbilly Heaven" (#10c 1955, he co-wrote), "Downgrade" (1955), "Taos" (1955), "Fingerprint" (1955), "Iowa Rose" (1956), "Nothing But Echoes" (1956), "If Dreams Could Come True" (1961), "Stop Me if You've Heard This One Before" (1966), "Wagon Wheels" (1976)
songwriter
actor, stuntman

Lee Hazlewood (Barton Lee Hazlewood)

b. 1929 in Mannford, OK - 4 Aug 2007 in Henderson, NV (renal cancer)
country/pop singer (baritone)
instrument: guitar
"We All Make the Flowers Grow" (1963, he wrote), "By the Way (I Still Love You)" (1965, he wrote), "Four Kinds of Lonely" (1965, he wrote), "Love and Other Crimes" (1968, he wrote), "Greyhound Bus Depot" (1969), "I'll Live Yesterdays" (1971, he wrote), "It Must Have Been Something I Loved" (1971, he wrote), "And I Loved You Then" (1972, he wrote), "Absent Friends" (1975, he wrote), "Kari" (1973, he wrote), "Mannford, Oklahoma" (1968, he wrote), "Tulsa Sunday" (2000, he wrote)
recorded as Mark Robinson, "Pretty Jane" (1958, he wrote), "Want Me" (1958), "I've Made Enough Mistakes Today" (1962)
duets with Nancy Sinatra, "Summer Wine" (#49 1966, he wrote), "Jackson" (#14 1967), "Lady Bird" (#20 1967, he wrote), "Some Velvet Morning" (#26 1968, he wrote), "She Won't" (1968)
duet with Al Casey, "Lost on the Wrong Road" (2002, he wrote)
duet with Donnie Owens, "After Six" (1968, he wrote)
songwriter, wrote Nancy Sinatra's "These Boots are Made for Walkin'" (#1 1966), "Love Eyes" (#15 1967), "How Does That Grab You, Darlin'?" (#7 1966); Al Casey's "(Dance with the) Guitar Man" (#12 1962)
co-wrote Duane Eddy's "Boss Guitar" (#28 1963), "Cannonball" (#15 1958), "Rebel Rouser" (#6, #17c 1958); "Sanford Clark's "The Fool" (#7 1956)
music producer
served in the Army during the Korean War
md. to Naomi Shackleford
he was diagnosed with renal cancer in 2006

Phil Levitt

b. 1935 in Toronto, Canada
pop singer (baritone)
founding member of The Diamonds (1953-57), "Why Do Fools Fall in Love?" (#12 1956), "The Church Bells May Ring" (#14 1956), "Little Darlin'" (#2 1957), "Words of Love" (#13 1957), "Silhouettes" (#10 1957), "The Stroll" (#4 1958)
electrical engineer
see The Diamonds

Don McPherson (Donald McPherson)

b. 1941 – d. 4 Jul 1971 (leukemia)
soul/R&B singer
founding member and lead singer of Main Ingredient (1966-71), "You've Been My Inspiration" (#64 1970), "I'm So Proud" (#49 1970), "Spinning Around (I Must Be Falling in Love)" (#52 1970)

Joe Miceli

b. 1946 in Baton Rouge, LA
R&B musician, instrument: percussions
founding member of John Fred and His Playboy Band (1964-70), "Can't I Get a Word in?" (1966), "Agnes English" (1967), "Up and Down" (1967), "Judy in Disguise (With Glasses)" (#1 1968, One-Hit Wonder, he co-wrote), "Hey, Hey Bunny" (#57 1968), "Silly Sarah Carter" (1969)
session musician

Mitch Mitchell (John Mitchell)

b. 1946 in England
rock/jazz musician, instrument: drums
with Jimi Hendrix Experience (1966-69), "Purple Haze" (#65 1967), "The Wind Cries Mary" (1967), "Foxy Lady" (#67 1967), "All Along the Watchtower" (#20 1968), "Crosstown Traffic" (#52 1968), "Come on (Let the Good Times Roll)" (1968)
founding member of Ramatam (1972- )
with The Riot Squad, "Gonna Make You Mine" (1965), "Nevertheless (I Love You)" (1965), "I Take it That We're Through" (1966)
session musician with Muddy Waters, Randy California, and others
see Jimi Hendrix
see Mitch Mitchell

Jesse McReynolds (Jesse Lester McReynolds)

b. 1929 in Carfax, VA
bluegrass/country/folk singer
instruments: mandolin, fiddle
founding member of Jim and Jesse (1945-2002), "Border Ride" (1958), "The Flame of Love" (1960), "Are You Missing Me?" (1963), "Better Times a Coming" (#39c 1965), "Tell Her Lies and Feed Her Candy" (1965), "Diesel on My Tail" (#18c 1967), "Hot Rod Race" (1967), "Greenwich Village Folk Song Salesman" (#49c 1968), "Golden Rocket" (#38c 1970), "Freight Train in My Mind" (#41c 1970), "Colorado Calling Me" (1980)
Jim and Jesse and Charlie Louvin, "North Wind" (#56c 1982)
session musician
served in the Army during the Korean War (1952-54)
md. to Constance Darlene McCoy
brother of Jim McReynolds
he is a cancer survivor since 2002
see Jim and Jesse

Molly O'Day (Lois LaVerne Williamson aka 'Mountain Fern')

b. 1923 in McVeigh, KY – d. 5 Dec 1987 (cancer)
country/honky-tonk/gospel singer
instruments: guitar, banjo
"Matthew Twenty-Four" (1947)
duet with Lynn Davis, "I'm Going Home on the Morning Train" (1966)
with The Forty-Niners
founding member of Cumberland Mountain Folks, "The Evening Train" (1949), "With You on My Mind" (1950), "It's Different Now" (1951)
md. to guitarist, Lynn Davis (1941-87, her death)

Sam the Sham (Domingo Samudio)

b. 1940 near Dallas, TX
rock/novelty singer
instrument: organ
founding member of Sam the Sham and the Pharaohs (1963-65), * "Wooly Bully" (#2 1965), "Ring Dang Do" (#33 1965), "Li'l Red Riding Hood" (#2 1966), "The Hair on My Chinny Chin Chin" (#22 1966), "(I'm in with the) Out Crowd" (1966)
founding member of The Sam the Sham Revue, "Hey There, Big Bad Wolf" (1966), "Banned in Boston" (1967)
songwriter

July 10

Ivie Anderson

b. 1905 in Gilroy, CA - d. 28 Dec 1949 in Los Angeles, CA
jazz/swing/country singer
"Mexico Joe" (#4c 1944), "Play Me the Blues" (1944)
with the Duke Ellington Orchestra (1931-42, off and on), "It Don't Mean a Thing (if it Ain't Got That Swing)" (1932), "Oh Babe, Maybe Someday" (1936), "I Got it Bad (and That Ain't Good)" (1941)
dancer
md. to William Johnson (1925- )
asthma caused her to retired from singing

Don Costa (Dominick P. Costa)

b. 1925 in Boston, MA - d. 19 Jan 1983 in New York City, NY (heart attack)
pop musician, instrument: guitar
founding member of Don Costa and His Orchestra, "Theme from 'Exodus'" (#31 1960), "Never on Sunday" (#19 1960), "The Need for Love (Theme from The Unforgiven)" (#27 1960), "Off Broadway" (1964), "Pretty Blue Eyes" (1965), "Elise" (1965)
session musician on Vaughn Monroe's "Riders in the Sky" (#1, #2c 1949), and others
songwriter
arranger; music producer

Bela Fleck (Bela Anton Leos Fleck)

b. 1958/59 in New York, NY
folk/bluegrass/jazz musician, instruments: banjo, slide banjo, electric banjo, guitar, French horn
with New Grass Revival (1984-89), "You're the Best Friend That I Know" (1984), "Where Do I Go from Here?" (1984), "Ain't That Peculiar" (#53c 1986), "Unconditional Love" (#44c 1987), "Hold on to a Dream" (1987), "One-Way Street" (1987), "Can't Stop Now" (#45c 1988), "Callin' Baton Rouge" (#37c 1989)
founding member of Bela Fleck and the Flecktones (1989- ), "The Sinister Minister" (1990, he wrote), "Blu-Bop" (1991, he co-wrote), "For Now" (1993, he wrote), "Sleeping Dogs Lie" (1998, he wrote), "Something She Said" (2000), "New Math" (2003), "Misunderstood" (2006, he wrote), "Labyrinth" (2006, he wrote), "Kaleidoscope" (2006, he co-wrote)
duet with Derek Trucks, "Centrifuge" (2003)
duet with Nickel Creek, "Off the Top" (1993)
session musician
songwriter
see New Grass Revival on Wikipedia
see Bela Fleck

Rusty Gill (Ralph Gill)

b. 1919 in St. Louis, MO (grew up in TX)
western swing singer
instrument: guitar
with The Prairie Ramblers, "Go Easy Blues" (1933, he co-wrote), "Shady Grove, My Darling" (1933, he co-wrote), "Next Year" (1933), "Blue River" (1933, he co-wrote), "Riding Down the Canyon" (1935), "Put on an Old Pair of Shoes" (1935)
The Prairie Ramblers backing Gene Autry, "Old Faithful" (#10 1935)
The Prairie Ramblers backed Patsy Montana (1933-41), * "I Want to Be a Cowboy's Sweetheart" (1935), "Give Me a Home in Wyoming" (1936), "Rodeo Sweetheart" (1938), "Shine on Rocky Mountain Moonlight" (1938), "Little Rose on the Prairie" (1938), "Someone to Go Home to" (1938), "Give Me a Straight-Shootin' Cowboy" (1938), "That's Where the West Begins" (1938), "My Pinto Pony" (1939), "Shy Little Anne from Cheyenne" (1940), "Swing-Time Cowgirl" (1940)
The Prairie Ramblers also recorded as Rusty Gill and the Westernaires, "Whatever Made You Stop Loving Me?" (1941, he wrote), "I Ain't the Man I Used to Be" (1941, he wrote), "Weary and Worried" (1941, he wrote), "Straddlin' My Saddle" (1941, he wrote), "Blaze Away" (1941, he co-wrote), "In a Little Texas Town" (1941, he co-wrote), "To You and My West Virginia Home" (1941), "Let Me Wake up in Wyoming" (1941)
songwriter
actor
served in the military
md. to Carolyn De Zurik

Arlo Guthrie

b. 1947 in Brooklyn, NY
folk singer
instruments: guitar, harmonica
"The Motorcycle Song" (1967), "Highway in the Wind" (1967), "Oklahoma Hills" (1969), "Coming into Los Angeles" (1969, he wrote), "Fence Post Blues" (1970), "The City of New Orleans" (#18 1972), "When a Soldier Makes it Home" (1996)
duets with Pete Seeger, "Kisses Sweeter Than Wine" (1981), "If I Had a Hammer" (1981)
songwriter
actor
social activist
son of folk singer/songwriter, Woody Guthrie
see Arlo Guthrie

Dave Kirby

b. 1938 in Brady, TX – d. 17 Apr 2004 in Branson, MO (multimyloma cancer)
country singer
instrument: guitar
"Her and the Car and the Mobile Home" (#67c 1969), "The Rumor" (1969), "Lila is My Kind of Woman" (1972), "Better Off When I Was Hungry" (1973, he wrote), "The Silence is So Loud" (1973), "North Alabama" (#37c 1981), "No More One More Time" (2004)
session lead guitarist with Merle Haggard, George Strait, Janie Fricke, Emmylou Harris, Willie Nelson, Ronnie Milsap, and others
songwriter, wrote Jack Greene and Jeannie Seely's "I Wish I Didn't Have to Miss You" (#2 1970); Bill Anderson and Mary Lou Turner's "Where Are You Going, Billy Boy?" (#18c 1977); Gene Watson's "Memories to Burn" (#5c 1985), "Forever Again" (#10c 1983); Johnny Cash and Waylon Jenning's "There Ain't No Good Chain Gang" (#2c 1978); Shenandoah's "Leavin's Been a Long Time Comin'" (#15c 1992); co-wrote Charley Pride's "Is Anybody Goin' to San Antone?" (#1c 1970)
md. to country singer, Leona Williams (1985-2004, his death)

Gary LeVox (Gary Wayne Vernon, Jr.)

b. 1970 in Columbus, OH
country singer
instrument: acoustic guitar
founding member and lead singer of Rascal Flatts (2000- ), "Prayin' for Daylight" (#38, #3c 2000), "This Everyday Love" (#9c 2001), "Long Slow Beautiful Dance" (#73c 2001), "While You Loved Me" (#60, #7c 2001), * "I'm Moving on" (#37, #4c 2001), * "These Days" (#23, #1c 2002), "Love You Out Loud" (#30, #2c 2003), "I Melt" (#33, #2c 2003), "Mayberry" (#21, #1c 2004), "Bless the Broken Road" (#29, #1c 2005), "Fast Cars and Freedom" (#38, #1c 2005), "Skin (Sarabeth)" (#42, #2c 2005), "What Hurts the Most" (#6, #1c 2006), "Pieces" (#57c 2006), "Life is a Highway" (#7, #18c 2006), "My Wish" (#28, #1c 2006), "Me and My Gang" (#50, #6c 2006), "Stand" (#46, #1c 2007), "Take Me There" (#1c 2007)
cousin of Jay DeMarcus
see Rascal Flatts

Ken Mellons (Kenneth Edward Mellons)

b. 1965 in Kingsport, TN (grew up in Nashville, TN)
country singer
instrument: acoustic guitar
"Juke Box Junkie" (#8c 1994, he co-wrote), "Looking in the Same Direction" (#55c 1994, he co-wrote), "I Can Bring Her Back" (#42c 1995, he co-wrote), "Fuel to the Fire" (1995, he co-wrote), "Workin' for the Weekend" (#39c 1995, he co-wrote), "Stranger in Your Eyes" (#55c 1995), "Paint Me a Birmingham" (#54c 2004)
songwriter
md. to Stephanie Poole (1995- )

Jerry Miller

b. 1943 in Tacoma, WA
rock/blues singer
instrument: lead guitar
founding member of Moby Grape, (1966-71, and reunions), "Omaha" (#88 1967), "Hey, Grandma" (1967, he co-wrote), "Sitting by the Window" (1967), "Mister Blues" (1967), "8:05" (1967, he co-wrote), "Boysenberry Jam" (1968), "Motorcycle Irene" (1968), "The Place and the Time" (1968), "Rose-Colored Eyes" (1968), "What's to Choose" (1969), "Going Nowhere" (1969, he co-wrote), "Changes, Circles Spinning" (1969)
founding member of the Jerry Miller Band
session musician on Bobby Fuller's "I Fought the Law" (#9 1965); and with Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, and others
songwriter
see Moby Grape on Wikipedia

Gene Simmons (Morris Eugene Simmons aka 'Jumpin' Gene Simmons')

b. 1933/37 in Tupelo, MS - d. 29 Aug 2006 in Tupelo, MS
rockabilly/novelty singer
"Drinkin' Wine" (1958), "Sharlene" (1959), "Goin' Back to Memphis" (1960), "The Shape You Left Me in" (1961), "The Dodo" (#83 1964), "Skinnie Minnie" (1965), "Mattie Rea" (1965), "Bossy Boss" (1966), "Go on, Shoes" (1966), "Magnolia Street" (1970), "Why Didn't I Think of That?" (#88c 1977), "Coupon Clippin'" (1982), "A Peroxide Blonde and a Hopped-Up Model Ford" (2001)
backed by The Bill Black Combo, * "Haunted House" (#11 1964, One-Hit Wonder), "Hey Hey, Little Girl" (1964)
songwriter, co-wrote Tim McGraw's "Indian Outlaw" (#15, #8c 1994)

Mavis Staples

b. 1939 in Chicago, IL
soul/gospel/blues/pop singer
"What Happened to the Real Me?" (1970), "Chocolate City" (1977), "Tonight I Feel Like Dancing" (1979), "See What You Started" (1984), "Half-Time" (1986), "All the Discomforts of Home" (1989), "Jaguar" (1989), "I Guess I'm Crazy" (1989), "Melody Cool" (1989), "In Times Like These" (2004)
founding member of The Staple Singers (1948-76), "Faith and Grace" (1953), "This May Be the Last Time" (1960), "Too Close" (1960), "Use What You Got" (1962), "I Wish I Had Answered" (1963), "I'll Fly Away" (1965), "For What it's Worth" (#66 1967), "Got to Be Some Changes Made" (1968), "The Gardener" (1969), "Who Took the Merry Out of Christmas?" (#2 1970), "Heavy Makes You Happy (Sha-Na-Boom-Boom)" (#27 1971), "I'll Take You There" (#1 1972), "Respect Yourself" (#12 1972), "If You're Ready (Come Go with Me)" (#9 1973), "Touch a Hand, Make a Friend" (#23 1974), "Let's Do it Again" (#1 1975)
duet with Eddie Floyd, "Never, Never Let You Go" (1969)
duet with Bob Dylan, "Gotta Change My Way of Thinking" (2003)
backup singer for Ray Charles, George Jones, Delbert McClinton, and others
actress
civil rights activist
see Mavis Staples
see The Staple Singers on Wikipedia

Sandy Stewart (Sandra Galitz)

b. 1937
pop/folk/jazz singer
"Puddin' 'n' Pie" (1955), "Playmates" (1959), "My Coloring Book" (#23 1962, One-Hit Wonder), "Draw Me a Circle" (1964), "Yellow and Green Make Me Blue" (1964), "Cat Dancers" (1984), "Not Like the Others" (1984)
duets with Stevie Nicks, "Nightbird" (#33 1983), "Whenever a Soft Rain Falls" (1992), "Moments Like This" (1999)
duets with Bill Carlap, "Where is Me?" (2005), "I'll Never Go There Anymore" (2005)
md. to songwriter, Morris 'Moose' Charlap; mother of piano player, Bill Charlap

B.B. Watson (Haskell Watson)

b. 1953 in Tyler, TX (grew up in LaPorte, TX)
country/rock singer
"Light at the End of the Tunnel" (#23c 1991), "Eye for an Eye" (1992), "Say Goodbye" (1992), "Lover Not a Fighter" (#43c 1993), "The Memory is the Last Thing to Go" (#73c 2000), "Ride to Live, Live to Ride" (2002), "Both Sides of Goodbye" (2002), "Drivin' Under the Influence of Love" (2002)
B.B. stands for 'Bad Boy'

Cheryl Wheeler

b. 1951 in Timonium, MD
folk singer
"Quarter Moon" (1986, she wrote), "Arrow" (1992, she wrote), "When Fall Comes to New England" (1992, she wrote), "Seventy-Five Septembers" (1993, she wrote about her father), "Driving Home" (1993, she wrote), "Further and Further Away" (1995, she wrote), * "Unworthy" (1999, she wrote), "If it Were up to Me" (1999, she wrote), "Meow" (1999, she wrote), "Right Way to Do the Wrong Thing" (1999, she wrote), "It's the Phone" (2005, she wrote), "Since You've Been Gone" (2005, she wrote about missing her father)
songwriter
see Cheryl Wheeler

Ian Whitcomb (Ian Timothy Whitcomb)

b. 1941 in Surrey, England
pop/novelty singer
instrument: ukulele
founding member of Bluesville, "This Sporting Life" (1964), "Fizz" (1965), "You Turn Me on (Turn on Song)" (#8 1965, One-Hit Wonder), "N-N-Nervous" (#59 1965), "18 Whitcomb Street" (1965), "High Blood Pressure" (1965), "Where Did Robinson Crusoe Go with Friday on Saturday Night?" (#101 1966), "Rolling Home with Georgeanne" (1966), "Sally Sails the Sky" (1967), "Somewhere in Virginia in the Rain" (1976)
songwriter
author; actor
see Ian Whitcomb

Hawk Shaw Wilson (Randall Edward Shaw Wilson)

b. 1960 in Topeka, KS
country singer
instrument: drums
with BR5-49 (1995-2001, 2004- ), "Cherokee Boogie" (#44c 1996), "Even if it's Wrong" (#68c 1996), "Uneasy Rider" (2000), "Too Lazy to Work, Too Nervous to Steal" (#11c 2001), "She's Talking to Someone (She's Not Talking to Me)" (2004), "A-1 on the Jukebox" (2006), "After the Hurricane" (2006)

July 11

Ray Cardwell

b. 1963 in Springfield, MO
country/bluegrass musician, instrument: bass
with New Tradition (1994-98), "Heaven's Highway" (1997), "Daddy on His Knees" (1997), "I'll Take Your Love Anytime" (1997), "Dreams of the Past" (1997)
with Cedar Hill (2007- )

Terry Carisse (Terrance Victor Carisse)

b. 1942/46 in Ottawa, Canada - d. 22 May 2005 in Ottawa, Canada (cancer)
country/rock singer
instrument: guitar
"Lonely Highway Blues" (1978), "Time to Go" (1979), "Sparkle in Her Eyes" (1980, he co-wrote), "All Her Letters" (1980), "We Could Make Beautiful Music Together" (1980), "Windship" (1981), "Sweet Blues" (1985), "Counting the I Love You's" (1985, he co-wrote), "Love, Sweet Love" (1986), "Starting Forever Again" (1987), "I Thought Leaving Would Be Easy" (1988), "What about Her?" (1989), "That Was a Long Time Ago" (1991)
with The Fabulous Fairlanes
with The Starlights
founding member of Terry and the Stables (1964- )
founding member of Tracks
with Carroll Baker's backing band, Tenderfoot (1978-80)
duet with Michelle Wright, "None of the Feeling is Gone" (1987)
songwriter

Smokey Dacus (William E. Dacus)

b. 1911 in Quinton, OK - d. 9 Oct 2001
western swing musician, instrument: drums
founding member of The Texas Playboys (1935-40, off and on later), "Spanish Two-Step" (1935), "San Antonio Rose" (1938), "Maiden's Prayer" (1938), "Time Changes Everything" (1940), "Ida Red" (1940)
see The Texas Playboys

Jeff Hanna

b. 1947 in Detroit, MI
folk/country/rock singer
instruments: guitar, mandolin, washboard
founding member of the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band (1965-69, 1970- ), "Buy for Me the Rain" (#45 1967), "The Teddy Bear's Picnic" (1967), "Mr. Bojangles" (#9 1971), "Sunny Side of the Mountain" (1971), "(All I Have to Do is) Dream" (#79c 1975), "Shot Full of Love" (#19c 1983), "Dance Little Jean" (#9c 1983), "I Love Only You" (#3c 1984), "Long Hard Road (Sharecropper Dreams)" (#1c 1984), "High Horse" (#2c 1984), "Modern-Day Romance" (#1c 1985), "Home Again in My Heart" (#3c 1985), "Partners, Brothers and Friends" (#6c 1986, he co-wrote), "Stand a Little Rain" (#5c 1986), "Fire in the Sky" (#7c 1987, he co-wrote), "Baby's Got a Hold on Me" (#2c 1987, he co-wrote), "Oh, What a Love" (#5c 1987), "Fishin' in the Dark" (#1c 1987), "I've Been Lookin'" (#2c 1988, he co-wrote), "Workin' Man (Nowhere to Go)" (#4c 1988), "Down That Road Tonight" (#6c 1989, he co-wrote), "Turn of the Century" (#27c 1989), "When it's Gone" (#10c 1989), "Mary Danced With Soldiers" (1989), "The Rest of the Dream" (1990), "You Made Life Good Again" (#60c 1990), "One Good Love" (#74c 1992, he co-wrote), "Colorado Christmas" (#93c 1997), "Bang, Bang, Bang" (#52c 1998), "Redneck Riviera" (2008)
the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band and Nicolette Larson, "Make a Little Magic" (#77c 1980)
the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band and Linda Ronstadt, "American Dream" (#13, #58c 1980)
the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band and John Denver, "And So it Goes" (#14c 1989)
the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band with Roseanne Cash and John Hiatt, "One Step Over the Line" (#63c 1990)
songwriter
md. to songwriter, Matraca Berg
see The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band

Thurston Harris (Thurston Theodore Harris)

b. 1930 in Indianapolis, IN – d. 14 Apr 1990 in Pomona, CA (heart attack)
R&B/rock singer
instrument: sax
* "Little Bitty Pretty One" (#6 1957, One-Hit Wonder), "Do What You Did" (1957), "Smokey Joe's" (1958), "I'd Like to Start Over Again" (1962), "Quiet as it's Kept" (1963), "Tears From My Heart" (1963), "Dance on, Little Girl" (1964)
founding member of The Lamplighters (1953-54, 1956), "Five Minutes Longer" (1954), "Ride, Jockey, Ride" (1954), "Hug a Little, Kiss a Little" (1956)

Gene Hughes (Eugene V. Hughes)

b. 1936 in Cincinnati, OH - d. 3 Feb 2002 in Nashville, TN (auto accident)
doo-wop/pop singer
"Peggy" (1967), "We Could" (1967)
founding member and lead singer of The Casinos (1958- ), "She's Out of Sight" (1965), "Right There Beside You" (1965), * "Then You Can Tell Me Goodbye" (#6 1967, One-Hit Wonder), "It's All Over Now" (#65 1967), "Forever and a Night" (1967), "These Are Things We'll Share" (1969), "I Wish I Were Anyone But Me" (1970), "I Just Want to Stay Here" (1970)

Tab Hunter (Arthur Andrew Kelm/Gelien)

b. 1931 in New York, NY
pop singer
"Young Love" (#1 1957), "Ninety-Nine Ways" (#11 1957), "I'm Alone Because I Love You" (1957), "It's All Over Town" (1958), "(I'll Be with You in) Apple Blossom Time" (1959), "You Cheated" (1961),
actor
see Tab Hunter

Bonnie Pointer (Patricia Bonnie Pointer)

b. 1951 in East Oakland, CA
country/R&B singer
"Heaven Must Have Sent You" (#11 1979), "I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch)" (#40 1979), "Tight Blue Jeans" (1984), "Under the Influence of Love" (1984), "There's Nobody Quite Like You" (1985)
founding member of The Pointer sisters (1973-77), "Yes, We Can" (#11 1973), "Love in Them There Hills" (1974), "Fairytale" (#13, #37c 1974, she co-wrote)
songwriter
actress

Bobby G. Rice (Robert Gene Rice)

b. 1944 in Boscobel, WI
country singer
instrument: steel guitar
"Sugar Shack" (#32c 1972), "You Lay So Easy on My Mind" (#3c 1973, he co-wrote), "You Give Me You" (#8c 1973), "What Better Way to Say I Love You?" (1974), "Freda Comes, Freda Goes" (#10c 1975), "Write Me a Letter" (#9c 1975), "I May Never Be Your Lover (But I'll Always Be Your Friend)" (#64c 1975), "Little Drops of Memories" (1975), "Memory Go Round" (1976), "The Softest Touch in Town" (#30c 1978), "The Man Who Takes You Home" (#53c 1980), "Through Each Other's Eyes" (1985), "Those Words I Never Heard" (1985)
songwriter
music producer

Chuck Rio (Daniel Flores aka Danny Flores)

b. 1929 in Santa Paula, CA - d. 19 Sep 2006 in Huntington Beach, CA (pneumonia)
rock musician, instruments: sax, piano, guitar
"Trying to Forget" (1957), "No Matter What You Do" (1958), "Denise" (1958), "Akiko" (1960)
founding member of The Champs (1957-58), "Tequila" (#1 1958, he co-wrote), "Maybelle" (1958), "Subway" (1958), "Turnpike" (1958), "What's Up, Buttercup?" (1958)
The Champs first recorded in a studio owned by Gene Autry and took their name from his horse, Champion
session musician
songwriter
see The Champs

Richie Sambora (Richard Stephen Sambora)

b. 1959 in Perth Amboy, NJ
rock/blues/country singer
instruments: electric guitar, acoustic guitar, mandolin, bass, keyboards, drums, sax
"Ballad of Youth" (#63 1991, he co-wrote), "Made in America" (1998, he co-wrote), "All That Really Matters" (1998, he co-wrote), "In it for Love" (1998, he co-wrote)
founding member of Bon Jovi (1983- ), "Runaway" (#39 1983), "You Give Love a Bad Name" (#1 1986), "Livin' on a Prayer" (#1 1987), "Never Say Goodbye" (1987), "Bad Medicine" (#1 1988), "Born to Be My Baby" (#3 1988), "I'll Be There for You" (#1 1989), "Keep the Faith" (#29 1992), "Always" (#4 1994), "This Ain't a Love Song" (#14 1995), "Who Says You Can't Go Home?" (#23, #1c 2006), "(You Want to) Make a Memory" (#27, #35c 2007)
Bon Jovi and LeeAnn Rimes, "Til We Ain't Strangers Anymore" (#123, #47c 2007)
session musician
songwriter
actor
humanitarian
md. to actress, Heather Locklear (1994-2007)
see Bon Jovi

July 12

Tim Alexander

b. 19??
western swing singer
instruments: piano, accordion
with Asleep at the Wheel (1985-95), "House of Blue Lights" (#17c 1987), "Way Down Texas Way" (#39c 1987), "Hot Rod Lincoln" (#65c 1988), "Walk on By" (#55c 1988), "Keepin' Me Up Nights" (#54c 1990), "Dance With Who Brung You" (#71c 1991), "Red Wing" (1993)
see Asleep at the Wheel

Billy Bennett (William Martin Bennett)

b. 1944/46 in Staten Island, NY - d. 25 Oct 2000 (heart attack)
rock/novelty singer
instrument: drums
with Sam the Sham and the Pharaohs (1966- ), "Li'l Red Riding Hood" (#2 1966), "The Hair on My Chinny Chin Chin" (#22 1966), "(I'm in with the) Out Crowd" (1966), "Black Sheep" (#68 1967), "How Do You Catch a Girl?" (#27 1967)

Barbara Cowsill

b. 1928 in Newport, RI – d. 31 Jan 1985 in AZ (emphysema)
pop/rock singer
with The Cowsills (1966-71, and reunions), "The Rain, the Park and Other Things" (#2 1967), "We Can Fly" (#21 1967), "In Need of a Friend" (#54 1968), "Poor Baby" (#44 1968), "Hair" (#2 1969)
see The Cowsills

Walter Egan

b. 1948
country/rock singer
instrument: guitar
"Magnet and Steel" (#8 1978, One-Hit Wonder), "Blonde in the Blue T-Bird" (1978), "Hurt Again" (1979), "Strange Love Affair" (1999), "Vergin' on Tears" (1999), "Someone Like You" (2000), "Pistols of Power" (2000)
songwriter

Kenn Ellner

b. 1948 in Brooklyn, NY
pop singer
instruments: tambourine, harmonica
founding member of The Count Five (1964-69), "Psychotic Reaction" (#5 1966, One-Hit Wonder), "Revelation in Slow Motion" (1968), "Mailman" (1969)
founding member of The Count, "See You in the Morning" (2002), "White Powder" (2002), "I'm in Love Again" (2002), "Can't Sleep" (2002)
songwriter
see The Count Five

Butch Hancock (George Hancock)

b. 1945 in Lubbock, TX
country/folk singer
instruments: guitar, harmonica
"Dirt Road Song" (1978, he wrote), "Little Coyote Waltz" (1978, he wrote), "You've Never Seen Me Cry" (1978, he wrote), "Wild Horses Chase the Wind" (1979, he wrote), "Ghost of Give and Take Avenue" (1980, he wrote), "Firewater" (1981, he wrote), "The Wind's Dominion" (1981, he wrote), "Like the Light at Dawn" (1981, he wrote), "One Road More" (1981, he wrote), "Boxcars" (1995, he wrote), "Junkyard in the Sun" (1995, he wrote), "Barefoot Prints" (2000, he wrote), "Long Sunsets" (2000, he wrote), "You Coulda Walked Around the World" (2000, he wrote), "Damage Done" (2006, he wrote), "Between Wars" (2006, he wrote), "The Devil in Us All" (2006, he wrote)
founding member of Flatlanders (1970-73, and reunions), "The Heart You Left Behind" (1990), "South Wind of Summer" (1998, he co-wrote), "Right Where I Belong" (2002, he co-wrote), "My Wildest Dreams Grow Wilder Every Day" (2002, he co-wrote), "Neon of Nashville" (2004), "Once Followed By the Wind" (2004), "Wishin' for You" (2004)
songwriter
photographer; architect

Cheryl Ladd (Cheryl Jean Stoppelmoor aka Cherie Moor)

b. 1951 in Huron, SD
pop singer
"Think it Over" (#38 1978), "Walking in the Rain" (1978), "Dance Forever" (1979)
'Melody' of Josie and the Pussycats, * "Every Beat of My Heart" (1970), "Inside, Outside, Upside Down" (1970), "It's Alright with Me" (1970), "Stop, Look and Listen" (1971), "You've Come a Long Way, Baby" (1971)
actress; author
md. to David Ladd; md. to Brian Russell
see Cheryl Ladd

Shannon Lawson

b. 1973 in Taylorsville, KY
country singer
instrument: guitar
"Slow Down Sunrise" (2002), "Goodbye on a Bad Day" (#28c 2002, he co-wrote), "Dream Your Way to Me" (#46c 2002, he co-wrote), "This Old Heart" (2002), "Just Like a Redneck" (#48c 2004, he co-wrote)
songwriter
md. to DJ, Mandy Snider
see Shannon Lawson Fans

Christine McVie (Christine Perfect)

b. 1943
rock singer
instrument: keyboards
recorded as Christine Perfect, "No Road is the Right Road" (1969), "I'm Too Far Gone" (1970)
"Love Will Show Us How" (1984, she co-wrote), "Keeping Secrets" (1984)
with Fleetwood Mac (1971-80 and reunions), "Say You Love Me" (#11 1976), "You Make Loving Fun" (#9 1977), "Go Your Own Way" (#10 1977), "Don't Stop" (#3 1977), "Dreams" (#1 1977), "Sara" (#7 1980), "Hold Me" (#4 1982), "Got a Hold on Me" (#10 1984), "So Excited" (1984), "Little Lies" (#4 1987)
with Chicken Shack, "It's OK With Me, Baby" (1967), "Six Nights in Seven" (1968), "Maudie" (1970), "As Time Goes Passing By" (1970)
songwriter
md. to John McVie (1971-76)

Kenny Smith (Kenneth Eugene Smith)

b. 1931 near Strong, AR - d. 13 May 2003 (heart attack)
country singer
instruments: guitar, bass
"Walkin' by My Lonesome" (1957), "Go Right Back" (1957), "Dee Dee Darlin'" (1963), "Deep in My Heart" (1964), "Let's Try Again" (1967)
founding member of The Kenny Smith Trio

Paul Villepigue (Paul Villepigue, Jr.

b. 1919 in Ottawa, KS (grew up in Chanute, KS) - d. 19 Jun 1953 (suicide)
jazz/bebop/swing musician, instruments: tenor sax, clarinet
with Ike Ragon's band (1941)
with Boyd Raeburn's band, "Temptation" (1951), "Prelude to Dawn" (1951)
songwriter
arranger
served in the Army (1943-46)
md. to Maxine Virginia Brown in Wichita, KS (1941-53)

Steve Young

b. 1942 in Newnan, GA
country/rock/folk/blues singer
instrument: guitar
"Crash on the Levee" (1970), "Many Rivers" (1972, he wrote), "Montgomery in the Rain" (1972, he wrote), "Alabama Highway" (1975, he wrote), "We've Been Together on This Earth Before" (1975, he wrote), "Old Memories" (1976, he wrote), "It's Not Supposed to Be This Way" (#84c 1977, he wrote), "Switchblades of Love" (1993, he wrote), "Shelter You" (1993, he wrote)
with Stone Country (1968), "Wheels on Fire" (1968), "Magnolias" (1968)
songwriter, wrote The Eagles' "Seven Bridges Road" (#21, #55c 1981)
mail carrier
father of singer/songwriter, Jubal Lee Young
see Steve Young

July 13

Rosey Nix Adams (Rozanna Lea Nix)

b. 1958 in Madison, TN - d. 24 Oct 2003 in TN (accidental carbon monoxide poisoning)
bluegrass/country singer
"Amazing Grace" (1993), "Angel From Montgomery" (1997)
duet with Johnny Cash, "Father and Daughter (Father and Son)" (1974)
duet with Johnny Cash and June Carter, "Little Green Fountain" (1975), "Daddy Sang Bass" (1997)
duet with June Carter, "Wabash Cannonball" (1997)
backup singer with June Carter, Johnny Cash, Phillip Adams, and others
songwriter
daughter of singer, June Carter Cash and Edwin Nix
md. to Phillip Adams (2000-03, her death)
died in a tour bus where propane and kerosene lanterns were being used
see The Carter Family

Joe Barry (Joseph Barrios)

b. 1939 in Cut Off, LA - d. 2004
rock/swamp-pop/R&B/country singer
instrument: guitar
"I'm a Fool to Care" (#24 1961, One-Hit Wonder), "Teardrops in My Heart" (#63 1961), "For You, Sunshine" (1961), "Don't Close That Door" (1963), "You're Why I'm So Lonely" (1977), "Every Morning, Noon and Night" (1999), "Watching Raindrops" (2002, he wrote), "Louisiana Moon" (2002, he wrote), "Back Streets of Houston" (2002, he wrote)
songwriter
by the time he recorded his last album in 2003 he was suffering from several chronic illnesses, including rheumatoid arthritis, asthma, emphysema and diabetes

Christal Garoutte

b. 1964 in Dallas, TX - d. 27 Jul 2004 (heart attack)
country/Christian singer
with Ramblin' Fever
with The Texas Legend Band
with Crimson, "I Can Almost See Heaven" (2002)
backup singer
orthodontic assistant

Bradley Kincaid (William Bradley Kincaid)

b. 1895 in Point Level, KY - d. 23 Sep 1989 in Springfield, OH
folk singer
"Angels in Heaven Know I Love You" (1920), "After the Ball is Over" (1929), "Barbara Allen" (1930), "I Wish I Had Someone to Love Me" (1930), "Pictures of Life's Other Side" (1930), "Gooseberry Pie" (1931), "My Mother's Beautiful Hands" (1933), "Curtains of Night (I'll Remember You Love in My Prayers)" (1935), "That Old Tintype Picture" (1941, he wrote), "There's a Red Light Ahead" (1963, he wrote), "Little Old Log Cabin in the Lane" (1963)
songwriter

Louise Mandrell (Thelma Louise Mandrell)

b. 1954 in Corpus Christi, TX
country singer
instruments: banjo, guitar, fiddle, bass, upright bass, mandolin, accordion, drums, autoharp, synthesizer
"(You Sure Know Your Way) Around My Heart" (#35c 1982), "Some of My Best Friends Are Old Songs" (#20c 1982), "Save Me" (#6c 1983), "Runaway Heart" (#13c 1983), "I'm Not Through Loving You Yet" (#7c 1984), "Devil in a Fast Car" (1985), "Maybe My Baby" (#8c 1985), "I Wanna Say Yes" (#5c 1985), "Do I Have to Say Goodbye?" (#28c 1987)
duets with R.C. Bannon, "I Thought You'd Never Ask" (#46c 1981), "Reunited" (#13c 1979), "Our Wedding Bands" (#56c 1981), "Christmas is Just a Song for Us This Year" (#35c 1983)
songwriter
sister of Barbara and Irlene Mandrell
md. to R.C. Bannon (1979- ), md. to Gary Buck; md. to John Haywood (1993- )

Brent Mason

b. 1959 in Van Wert, OH
country/swing singer
instruments: acoustic guitar, electric guitar, 6-string bass guitar
"Hot-Wired" (1997), "Blue Water Girl" (1997)
duets with Randy Mason, "December" (2004), "Nothing to it" (2004), "Since I Fell for You" (2004), "Last-Minute Waltz" (2006), "Real Bad Blues" (2006), "Hip Pocket" (2006)
session musician with Alan Jackson, George Strait, Brooks and Dunn, Faith Hill, Tim McGraw, Trisha Yearwood, Willie Nelson, Chet Atkins, and others
songwriter, co-wrote McBride and the Ride's "Hurry Sundown" (#17c 1993); Clinton Gregory's "Play, Ruby, Play" (#25c 1992)
brother of drummer, Randy Mason
see Brent Mason

Roger McGuinn (James Joseph McGuinn III)

b. 1942 in Chicago, IL
folk/rock/country singer
instruments: 12-string Rickenbacker guitar, keyboards, banjos
"Suddenly Blue" (1990, he co-wrote), "If We Never Meet Again" (1990), "If I Needed Someone" (2004), "Parade of Lost Dreams" (2004)
founding member and lead of The Byrds (1964-73, 1989-90), "Mr. Tambourine Man" (#1 1965), * "Turn! Turn! Turn! (To Everything There is a Season)" (#1 1965), "Eight Miles High" (#14 1966), "So You Want to Be a Rock 'n' Roll Star" (#29 1967), "Renaissance Fair" (1967), "Ballad of Easy Rider" (#65 1969), "Cowgirl in the Sand" (1972)
duet with Chris Hillman, "You Ain't Going Nowhere" (#6c 1989)
backup for Chad Mitchell Trio, Bobby Darin, The Limeliters, and others
songwriter
changed his middle name to Roger in 1967 and used as his stage name

Diane Renay (Renee Diane Kushner)

b. 1945/46 in South Philadelphia, PA
pop singer
"Dime a Dozen" (1963), * "Blue, Navy Blue" (#6 1964), "Unbelievable Guy" (1964), "Kiss Me Sailor" (#29 1964), "Growin' up Too Fast" (1964), "Soft-Spoken Guy" (1964), "It's in Your Hands" (1964), "Bell Bottom Trousers" (1964), "Watch Out, Sally" (1964), "Happy Birthday, Broken Heart" (1965), "Troublemaker" (1965), "Little Miss Lonely Heart" (2001), "First Corsage" (2001)
see Diane Renay

Lawrence Reynolds

b. 1944 in St. Stephens, AL (grew up in Prichard, AL) - d. 15 Aug 2000 (coronary artery disease)
gospel/pop/country singer
instrument: guitar
"Jesus is a Soul Man" (#28 1969, One-Hit Wonder, he co-wrote), "Them Old Hank Williams' Songs" (2003, he wrote), "Survivor" (2003, he wrote), "I Hope You Choke" (2003, he wrote), "Hell Must Be Like Today" (2003, he wrote), "He Came From Alabama" (2003, he wrote)
songwriter

Victoria Shaw (Victoria Lynn Shaw)

b. 1962 in Manhattan, NY (grew up in Los Angeles, CA)
country singer
instrument: keyboards
"Cry Wolf" (#57c 1994, she co-wrote), "Forgiveness" (#58c 1995, she co-wrote), "Where Your Road Leads" (1995), "Just to Say We Did" (1997), "In Spite of it All" (1997), "Wild Rose" (1997)
songwriter, co-wrote Garth Brooks' "The River" (#1c 1992); Doug Stone's "Too Busy Being in Love" (#1c 1993); John Michael Montgomery's "I Love the Way You Love Me" (#60, #1c 1992)
md. to Bob Locknar (1992- )
see Victoria Shaw

Tim Spencer (Vernon Tim Spencer)

b. 1908 in Webb City, MO – d. 26 Apr 1974 in Apple Valley, CA
country singer (tenor), guitar
with The Rocky Mountaineers (1932)
with The Pioneer Trio (1933-34)
founding member of the Sons of the Pioneers (1933-36, 1938-49), "Nellie's Blue Eyes" (1934), "Moonlight on the Prairie" (1934), "Hills of Old Montana" (1934), "Cowboy's Dance Song" (1934), "Let Me Keep My Memories" (1943), "No One to Cry to" (#6c 1946), "Home in Oklahoma" (1946), "Cool Water" (#4c 1947, he co-wrote), "Teardrops in My Heart" (#4c 1947, #7c 1948), "The Everlasting Hills of Oklahoma" (1947), "Tumbling Tumbleweeds" (#11c 1948, he co-wrote), "Room Full of Roses" (#26, #10c 1949, he co-wrote), "The Timber Trail" (1949), "Santa Fe, New Mexico" (1949)
the Sons of the Pioneers backing Roy Rogers, "Blue Shadows on the Trail" (#6c 1948), "That Palomino Pal of Mine" (1949)
songwriter, wrote Red Foley's "Careless Kisses" (#8c 1950)
see The Sons of the Pioneers on CMT.com

Neil Thrasher

b. 1963/65 in Birmingham, AL
country singer
founding member of Thrasher Shiver, "Run Like the Wind" (1996), "You and I Belong" (1996), "Goin', Goin', Gone" (#65c 1996, he co-wrote), "Be Honest" (#49c 1997)
songwriter, co-wrote, Kenny Chesney's "There Goes My Life" (#29, #1c 2004), "I Lost it" (#34, #3c 2000), "How Forever Feels" (#27, #1c 1999); Diamond Rio's "That's What I Get for Loving You" (#4c 1996); Andy Grigg's "How Cool is That?" (#22c 2001); Reba McEntire's "What Do You Say?" (#31, #3c 1999); Jeff Carson's "Real Life (I Never Was the Same Again)" (#14c 2001); Rascal Flatts' "Fast Cars and Freedom" (#38, #1c 2005), "Take Me There" (#1c 2007)

Rhonda Vincent (Rhonda Lea Vincent)

b. 1962 in Kirksville, MO
country/bluegrass singer
instruments: fiddle, guitar, bass, mandolin, dobro, banjo
"Just for Old Times Sake" (1990), "A Far Cry from You" (1990), "Birmingham Turnaround" (1991), "An Old Memory (Found its Way Back Home Again)" (1996), "Driving Nails in My Coffin" (2001), "You Can't Take it with You When You Go" (#58c 2002), "If Heartaches Had Wings" (#48c 2004), "I've Forgotten You" (#59c 2005)
songwriter

July 14

Spencer Davis (Spence David Nelson Davis)

b. 1939/42 in South Wales
rock/R&B singer
instrument: 12-string guitar, harmonica
founding member of The Spencer Davis Group (1963-68, and reunions), "Somebody Help Me" (#47 1966), "Keep on Running" (1966), "When I Come Home" (1966), "Trampoline" (1966), "Blues in F" (1967), "Gimme Some Lovin'" (#7 1967), "I'm a Man" (#10 1967), "Time Seller" (1967), "Mister Second-Class" (1967), "Sanity Inspector" (1967), "After Tea" (1968)
see the Spencer Davis Group

Keith Godchaux

b. 1948 in Seattle, WA (grew up in Concord, CA) – 21 Jul 1980 in Marin, CA (motorcycle accident)
rock musician, instrument: keyboards, acoustic piano
with The Grateful Dead (1972-79), "Ramble on Rose" (1972), "One More Saturday Night" (1972), "Sugar Magnolia" (#91 1973), "The Music Never Stopped" (#81 1975), "Dancin' in the Streets" (1977)
founding member of The Heart of Gold Band (1979-80)
session musician with Jerry Garcia, New Riders of the Purple Sage, and others
songwriter
md. to Donna Jean (1970-80, his death
see The Grateful Dead

Woody Guthrie (Woodrow Wilson Guthrie)

b. 1912 in Okemah, OK – d. 3 Oct 1967 in NY (Huntington's Disease)
folk/country singer
instruments: guitar, mandolin, fiddle, harmonica
"The Ladies' Auxiliary" (1942), "So Long, it's Been Good to Know You" (1942, he wrote), "This Land is Your Land" (1944, he wrote), "Red Wine" (1960, he wrote), "Oregon Trail" (1962, he wrote), "Dirty Overalls" (1962, he wrote), "Rye Whiskey" (1964), "Greenback Dollar" (1964), "Dust Storm Disaster" (1964)
founding member of The Almanac Singer, "Keep That Oil a-Rollin'" (1942)
songwriter
political activist; house painter
served in the Merchant Marines, served in the Army
md. 1st to Mary Jennings (1931- ); md. 2nd to dancer, Marjorie Mazia Greenblatt; md. 3rd to Anneke Van Kirk
father of singer/songwriter Arlo Guthrie
he spent most of his last ten years in psychiatric hospitals
see

Ray Herndon

b. 1960 in Phoenix, AZ (grew up in Scottsdale, AZ)
country singer
instrument: guitar
"Livin' the Dream" (2004), "When I Let You Go" (2004)
founding member of McBride and the Ride (1989-93, 2001- ), "Can I Count on You?" (#15c 1991), "Same Old Star" (#28c 1991), "Sacred Ground" (#2c 1992), "Going Out of My Mind" (#5c 1992), "Just One Night" (#5c 1992), "Love on the Loose, Heart on the Run" (#3c 1993), "No More Cryin'" (#26c 1993), "Hurry Sundown" (#17c 1993), "Anything That Touches You" (#50c 2002)
session guitarist with Lyle Lovett, and others
backup singer with Aaron Tippin, Marty Stuart, and others
songwriter, co-wrote Kenny Chesney's "Me and You" (#2c 1996)
see McBride and the Ride on Wikipedia

Gloria Lambert

b. 1936 in Worcester, MA
rock/folk/pop singer
"Will I?" (1958), "You Only Love Me" (1958), "Anyone Would Love You" (1959)
founding member of Haymaket Square (1968-74), "Elevator" (1968), "Funeral" (1968)
songwriter
actress
high school teacher
md. to singer/guitar player, Marc Swenson

Charles Lilly (Charles Everett Lilly, Jr.)

b. 1961 in Somerville, MA - 21 May 2006 in AL (auto accident)
country singer
instrument: bass
with Billy Walker's band The Tennessee Walkers, "On My Mind Again" (#12c 1957), "I Wish You Love" (#19c 1960), "Charlie's Shoes" (#1c 1962), "Willie the Weeper" (#5c 1962), "Circumstances" (#7c 1964), "Cross the Brazos at Waco" (#2c 1964), "If it Pleases You" (#8c 1965), "Million and One" (#2c 1966), "I Taught Her Everything She Knows" (#11c 1968), "Sundown Mary" (#18c 1968), "From the Bottle to the Bottom" (#20c 1969), "When a Man Loves a Woman" (#3c 1970), "I'm Gonna Keep on Lovin' You" (#3 1970), "Gone (Our Endless Love)" (#24c 1972), "She goes Walking Through My Mind" (#3c 1971), "Love You All to Pieces" (#67c 1976), and others
founding member of Lee, Weller, and the Other Guy
founding member and lead of Formerly With
sessionist with Joe Diffie, Johnny Russell, and others
killed in the same accident as Billy Walker and Danny Patton
see Charles Everett Lilly, Jr.

Del Reeves (Franklin Delano Reeves)

b. 1932/33 in Sparta, NC - d. 1 Jan 2007 in Centerville, TN (emphysema)
country/pop singer
instruments: guitar, bass, fiddle, banjo, piano
"You're Not the Changing Kind" (1957), "Be Quiet Mind" (#9c 1961), "The Only Girl I Can't Forget" (#13c 1963, he wrote), "The Girl on the Billboard" (#96, #1c 1965), "The Belles of Southern Bell" (#4c 1965), "This Must Be the Bottom" (#27c 1966, he co-wrote), "A Dime at a Time" (#1c 1967), "Good-Time Charlie's (Got the Blues)" (#3c 1968), "Lookin' at the World Through a Windshield" (#5c 1968), "Anything Goes for the Love of Rose" (1968), "Be Glad" (#5c 1969), "A Lover's Question" (#14c 1970), "Right Back Loving You Again" (#22c 1970), "Philadelphia Fillies" (#9c 1971), "A Dozen Pairs of Boots" (#31c 1971), "The Best is Yet to Come" (#29c 1972), "A Gathering of My Memories" (1972), "Lay a Little Lovin' on Me" (#22c 1973), "But I Do" (#65c 1975), "Puttin' in Overtime at Home" (#74c 1975)
duets with Penny DeHaven, "Landmark Tavern" (#20c 1970), "Crying in the Rain" (#54c 1971)
duets with Billie Jo Spears, "On the Rebound" (#29c 1976), "Teardrops Will Kiss the Morning Dew" (#42c 1976)
duet with Liz Lyndell, "If You Think I Love You Now" (1980)
songwriter
actor
served in the Air Force

Ronny Robbins (Ronald Carson Robbins)

b. 1949 in Phoenix, AZ
country singer
"The Last Lie I Told Her" (#99c 1978), "I Know I'm Not Your Hero Anymore" (#91c 1979), "Those You Lose" (#62c 1984)
son of singer, Marty Robbins and his wife, Marizona
songwriter

Taco Ryan (Patrick Ryan)

b. 1953 in TX
western swing musician, instruments: sax, clarinet, flute
with Asleep at the Wheel (1976-77), "Nothin' Takes the Place of You" (#35c 1976), "Route 66" (#48c 1976), "Miles and Miles of Texas" (#38c 1977)
see Asleep at the Wheel

Danny Trammell

b. 1940 in Raton, NM
pop musician, instrument: rhythm guitar
founding member of The Fireballs (1958), "Fireball" (1958)
see The Fireballs

Richie Underwood (Richard Underwood)

b. 1956 in Washington, D.C.
bluegrass singer
instruments: banjo, guitar
founding member of The Johnson Mountain Boys (1978-87, 1996- ), "I'm Still to Blame" (1983), "Say You'll Take Me Back" (1983), "Five Speed" (1983, he wrote), "Making up Stories" (1984), "I'll Never See You Anymore" (1984), "Let the Whole World Talk" (1987), "Memories That We Shared" (1987)
songwriter

Jay 'Bird' Uzzell (Jay Uzzell)

b. 1942 in La Grange, NC
doo-wop/pop singer
founding member and lead singer of The Corsairs (1961- ), "Smokey Places" (#12 1962, One-Hit Wonder), "I'll Take You Home" (#68 1962), "Dancing Shadows" (1962), "At the Stroke of Midnight" (1962)
brother of Moses and James Uzzell, cousin of George Wooten

Vicki Vann (Vicki Denise Turnbough)

b. 19?? in >Los Angeles, CA
country singer
* "Wednesday Kisses" (2002), "He'll Promise You the Moon" (2002), "I Was Leavin' Anyway" (2002)
see Vicki Vann

Sterling Whipple

b. 1927 in Eugene, OR
country singer
"Dirty Work" (#26c 1978, he wrote), "Then You'll Remember" (#25c 1978, he wrote), "Love is Hours in the Making" (#84c 1979, he wrote)
songwriter, wrote Gary Stewart's "In Some Room Above the Street" (#15c 1976); Kenny Starr's "The Blind Man in the Bleachers" (#1c 1975); Cal Smith's "Thunderstorms" (#33c 1976); Henson Cargill's "Silence on the Line" (#29c 1980)

July 15

H.B. Barnum (Hidle Brown Barnum)

b. 1936 in Houston, TX
pop/doo-wop singer
instruments: keyboards, piano
"Lost Love" (#35 1961, One-Hit Wonder), "How Many More Times?" (1961), "Rented Tuxedo" (1964), "Don't Forget 127th Street" (1965), "The Bad Luck's on Me" (1967), "Run to Daylight" (1971)
recorded as Pee Wee Barnum, "Don't Cha Know" (1958)
founding member of Jack B. Nimble and the Quicks, "Never on Sunday" (1962)
recorded as Dudley, "El Pizza" (1960, parody of Marty Robbin's "El Paso")
founding member of The Dootones (55-56), "Teller of Fortune" (1955)
with The Robins, "Merry-Go-Rock" (1956), "Snowball" (1958)
session musician with Aretha Franklin, Lou Rawls, Etta James, The Supremes, and others
songwriter
producer; arranger
actor

John Cassese/Cassessa

b. 1941
doo-wop/rock singer (bass)
founding member of The Capris (1958-59, 1961-65), "My Promise to You" (1959), "There's a Moon Out Tonight" (#3 1961, One-Hit Wonder), "Some People Think" (1961), "Girl in My Dreams" (#92 1961), "Limbo" (#99 1962), "From the Vine Came the Grape" (1963)
songwriter
retired police officer
served in the Army (1959-60)
see The Capris

Cowboy Copas (Lloyd Estel Copas)

b. 1913 in Blue Creek, OK or Adams County, OH – d. 5 Mar 1963 near Camden, TN
country/honky-tonk singer
instrument: guitar, fiddle
"Filipino Baby" (#4c 1946), "Breeze (Blow My Baby Back to Me)" (#17c 1946), "Please Answer My Letter" (1946), "Tennessee Waltz" (#3c 1948), "Tennessee Moon" (#7c 1948), "Signed, Sealed and Delivered" (#2c 1948, he co-wrote), "I'm Waltzing with Tears in My Eyes" (#18c 1949, he co-wrote), "Candy Kisses" (#5c 1949), "It's Wrong to Love You, But I Do" (1949), "An Old Farm for Sale" (1949), "Down in Nashville, Tennessee" (1949), "A Package of Lies Tied in Blue" (1949), "Signed, Sealed, Then Forgotten" (1950), "The Postman Just Passes Me By" (1950), "Road of Broken Hearts" (1950), "The Strange Little Girl" (#5c 1951), "I Can't Remember to Forget" (1952), "Purple Rose" (1952), "Carbon Copy" (1954), "I'll Waltz With You in My Dreams" (1954), "Blue Kimono" (1957), "Looking for an Angel" (1958), "Black Cloud Raisin'" (1959), "Alabam" (#63, #1c 1960, he wrote), "That's All I Can Remember" (1960), "Settin' Flat on Ready" (1960), "Flat Top" (#9c 1961, he co-wrote), "You Walked Right Out of My Dreams" (1961), "Sunny Tennessee" (#12c 1961, he wrote), "A Thousand Miles of Ocean" (1961), "Signed, Sealed and Delivered" (re-recorded, #10c 1961, he co-wrote), "Seven Seas From You" (1962), "Autobiography" (1963), "Goodbye Kisses" (#12c 1963, he co-wrote)
with Pee Wee King's Golden West Cowboys (1945- )
duets with Hawkshaw Hawkins, "Don't Let Them Change Your Mind" (1963), "You go Your Way, I'll Go Mine" (1963)
duet with Ruby Wright, "I'll Never Be More Shackled" (1950)
duet with Cathy Copas, "You'll Never See Me Cry" (1951)
songwriter
he died in the same plane crash as Patsy Cline, Hawkshaw Hawkins and pilot Randy Hughes (his son-in-law)

Tommy Dee (Thomas Donaldson)

b. 1933/36 (maybe Jul 7) in Vicker, VA - d. 26 Jan 2007 in Nashville, TN
pop singer
backed by Carol Kay and the Teen-Aires, "Three Stars" (#4 1959, One-Hit Wonder, he wrote as a tribute to Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and the Big Bopper)
"Hello, Lonesome" (1959), "Merry Christmas, Mary" (1959), "The Hobo and the Puppy" (1960), "Ballad of a Drag Race" (1960), "Goodbye High School (Hello Vietnam)" (1966), "Loving You (on Someone Else's Time)" (1960)
songwriter
music producer; DJ

Dolph Hewitt

b. 1914 in near West Alexander, PA - d. 10 Dec 1996
country singer; yodeler
instrument: fiddle
"I Wish I Knew" (#8c 1949), "I Would Send You Roses (But They Cost Too Much)" (1949), "Ask My Heart" (1950), "Waltzing My Blues Away" (1950), "When a Dream is Broken in Two" (1950), "You Gave Me Back My Ring (Please Give Me Back My Heart)" (1951), "Teardrops on the Roses" (1951)
served in the Marines during WWII
md. to singer, Ruth Arlene Johnson

Cordell Jackson (Cordell Miller aka the 'Rockin' Granny'

b. 1923 in Pontotoc, MS - d. 14 Oct 2004 in Memphis, TN
rockabilly musician, instruments: electric guitar, piano, upright bass, mandolin, banjo
"Beboppers Christmas" (1956), "Rock and Roll Christmas" (1956), "Football Widow" (1983), "I'm at Home Again (in the Memories of My Mind)" (1983)
with The Fisher Air Craft Band
songwriter
the first female recording engineer in the U.S.
md. to William Jackson (1943- )

Millie Jackson (Mildred Jackson)

b. 1944 in Thompson, GA
soul singer
"A Little Bit of Something" (1969), "A Child of God (it's Hard to Believe)" (1971), "Ask Me What You Want" (1972), "My Man, a Sweet Man" (1972), "If Loving You is Wrong, I Don't Want to Be Right" (1975), "If You're Not Back in Love by Monday" (1976), "Keep the Home Fire Burnin'" (1978), "Love is a Dangerous Game" (1986), "Something You Can Feel" (1988), "The Lies That We Live" (1995), "Check in the Mail" (1996)
duets with Isaac Hayes, "I Changed My Mind" (1979), "Sweet Music, Soft Lights and You" (1979), "Feels Like the First Time" (1980), "I Feel Like Walking in the Rain" (1983)
songwriter
model
see Millie Jackson

Peter Lewis

b. 1945
rock singer
instrument: guitar
founding member of Moby Grape (1966- ), "Omaha" (#88 1967), "Hey, Grandma" (1967), "Sitting by the Window" (1967, he wrote), "Mister Blues" (1967), "8:05" (1967), "Boysenberry Jam" (1968), "Motorcycle Irene" (1968), "The Place and the Time" (1968), "Rose-Colored Eyes" (1968), "What's to Choose?" (1969, he wrote), "Going Nowhere" (1969), "Changes, Circles Spinning" (1969)
songwriter
see Moby Grape on Wikipedia

Mac McAnally (Lyman McAnally, Jr.)

b. 1957 in Red Bay, AL (grew up in Belmont, MS)
country singer
instrument: guitar
"It's a Crazy World" (#37 1977, he wrote), "Back Where I Come From" (#14c 1990, he wrote), "Live and Learn" (#62c 1992, he wrote), "The Trouble with Diamonds" (#72c 1992, he wrote), "Junk Cars" (#72c 1993, he wrote)
session musician with Ricky Skaggs, Don Williams, Keith Whitley, and others
songwriter, wrote Shenandoah's "Two Dozen Roses" (#1c 1989); T.G. Sheppard's "One-Owner Heart" (#4c 1985), "You're My First Lady" (#2c 1987); Alabama's "Old Flame" (#1c 1981); Ricky Van Shelton's "Crime of Passion" (#7c 1987)
co-wrote Sawyer Brown's "Café on the Corner" (#5c 1992), "All These Years" (#3c 1993), "Thank God for You" (#1c 1993), "The Boys and Me" (#4c 1994), "This Time" (#2c 1995)
music producer
see Mac McAnally

Blue Miller (William Mueller)

b. 1957 in Detroit, MI
country/rock singer
instrument: guitar
"Don't Shoot, Let's Talk" (2000), "It Ain't Easy" (2000)
founding member, lead singer and lead guitarist of The Gibson/Miller Band (1990- ), "Big Heart" (#37c 1993), "High Rollin'" (#20c 1993), "Texas Tattoo" (#22c 1993), "Stone Cold Country" (#40c 1993), "Red, White and Blue Collar" (#59c 1994), "Mamas Don't Let Your Babies Grow up to Be Cowboys" (#49c 1994), "All Because of You" (1994), "Sudden Stop" (1994)
see The Gibson/Miller Band on WikipediA

Tony O'Malley

b. 1948
rock/jazz/soul singer
instrument: keyboards
founding member of Kokomo, "Kitty Sittin' Pretty" (1975), "Use Your Imagination" (1976), "Keep on Dancin'" (1982), "Nowhere to Go on Tuesday Night" (1982)
with Arrival, "I Will Survive" (1970), "Not Right Now" (1970)
with 10cc (1977-78), "The Things We Do for Love" (#5 1977)
with the Mike Cox Band
see 10cc
see Kokomo
see Tony O'Malley

Rusty Oppenheimer

b. 1948
pop singer
instrument: drums
with 1910 Fruitgum Company (1968-69), "Goody Goody Gumdrops" (#37 1968), "Hot Diggity Dog" (1968), "Indian Giver" (#5 1969)
session musician

Artimus Pyle (Thomas Delmar Pyle)

b. 1948 in Louisville, KY
rock musician, instrument: drums
with Lynyrd Skynyrd (1975-77), "Saturday Night Special" (#27 1975), "Double Trouble" (#80 1976), "Give Me Back My Bullets" (1976), "What's Your Name?" (#13 1977), "You've Got the Right" (1978)
founding member of the new Lynyrd Skynyrd (1987-92), "Pure and Simple" (1991)
session drummer with Charlie Daniels, Marshall Tucker Band, and others
served in the Marines
he did not join the Rossington Collins Band because of serious injuries from a motorcycle crash
he suffered several broken ribs in the plane crash that killed other Lynyrd Skynyrd members in 1977; he was reportedly shot in the shoulder when wading through the swamp to get help (a farmer thought he was a trespasser)
see Lynyrd Skynyrd

Linda Ronstadt (Linda Marie Ronstadt)

b. 1946 in Tucson, AZ
country/folk/rock singer
instrument: guitar
"Long Long Time" (1970), "When Will I Be Loved?" (#2, #1c 1975), "Hey Mister, That's Me on the Jukebox" (1975), "You're No Good" (#1 1975), "Heat Wave" (#5 1975), "I Can't Help it (if I'm Still in Love with You)" (#2c 1975), "Love is a Rose" (#63, #5c 1975), "The Tracks of My Tears" (#25, #11c 1975), "That'll Be the Day" (#11, #26c 1976), "Crazy" (#6c 1977), "It's So Easy" (#5, #81c 1977), "Blue Bayou (#3, #2c 1977), "I Never Will Marry" (#8c 1978), "Ooh Baby Baby" (#7, #85c 1978), "Tumbling Dice" (#32 1978), "Hurt So Bad" (#8 1980), "I Knew You When" (#37, #84c 1982), "Someone to Watch Over Me" (#2 1984)
founding member of Stone Poneys (1965-68), "Different Drum" (#13 1968, One-Hit Wonder), "I've Got to Know" (1967)
with Trio, "To Know Him is to Love Him" (#1c 1987), "Telling Me Lies" (#35, #3c 1987), "Those Memories of You" (#5c 1987), "Wildflowers" (#6c 1988), "Do I Ever Cross Your Mind?" (1999)
duet with Jack Ingram, "Somewhere Out There" (#2 1987)
duet with Hoyt Axton, "When the Morning Comes" (#10 1974)
duets with Aaron Neville, "Don't Know Much" (#2c 1989), "All My Life" (#11 1990)
duet with the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, "American Dream" (#13, #58c 1980)
duet with J.D. Souther, "Sometimes You Just Can't Win" (#27c 1982)
duet with Emmylou Harris, "The Sweetest Gift" (#12c 1976)
duet with Paul Simon, "Under African Skies" (1986)
songwriter
actress
quotes by Linda Ronstadt: "Cocaine made people deaf, it made people dead and it made people real obnoxious."
"We were raised with the idea that we had limitless chances and we got very shocked to learn that wasn't the case."
see Linda Ronstadt

Johnny Sea (John Allan Seay, Jr.)

b. 1940 in Gulfport, MS (grew up in Atlanta, GA)
country singer
instrument: 12-string guitar
"It Won't Be Easy to Forget" (1958), "Frankie's Man Johnny" (#13c 1959), "Nobody's Darling But Mine" (#13c 1960), "My Baby Walks All Over Me" (#27c 1964), "If it Wasn't for Hard Luck" (1965), "My Old Faded Rose" (#19c 1965), "Hitchin' and Hikin'" (1965), "Day for Decision" (#35, #14c 1966, answer to Barry McGuire's "Eve of Destruction", One-Hit Wonder), "Goin' to Tulsa" (#68c 1968), "Three Six-Packs, Two Arms and a Juke Box" (#32c 1968)
songwriter
see Johnny Seay

Hal Willis (Leonald Gauthier)

b. 1933 in Quebec, Canada
country/rock singer
instrument: guitar
"Walkin' Dream" (1958), "The Lumberjack" (#5c 1964, he co-wrote), "So Right But So Wrong" (1964), "Thumb and Shoes" (1965), "Doggin' in the U.S. Mail" (#45c 1966, he co-wrote)
songwriter

Frankie Yankovic (aka 'America's Polka King')

b. 1915 in Davis, WV (grew up in Cleveland, OH) - d. 14 Oct 1998 in New Port Richie, FL (heart failure)
pop musician, instrument: accordion
founding member of Frankie Yankovic and His Yanks, "The Girl in the Garden Waltz" (1939), "Rendezvous Waltz" (1947), "Dizzy Day Polka" (1947), "Detroit Polka" (1947), "Just Because" (#7c 1948), "The Iron Range" (#13c 1949), "I've Got a Date With Molly" (1950), "Felicia's Waltz" (1963), "Mary Jo Waltz" (1970, he co-wrote), "Wondering Waltz" (1970), "Whirl-Away Waltz" (1970), "Pennsylvania Polka" (1983)
duet with The Marlin Sisters, "Blue Skirt Waltz" (#7c 1949)
served in the Army during WWII (1943-45), earned a Purple Heart

July 16

William Bell (William Yarborough)

b. 1937 in Memphis, TN
soul singer
"You Don't Miss Your Water" (1961), "Any Other Way" (1963), "Don't Make Something Out of Nothing" (1964), "Soldier's Goodbye" (1966), "Marching Off to War" (1966), "Everybody Loves a Winner" (1967), "I Forgot to Be Your Lover" (1968), "A Smile Can't Hide a Broken Heart" (1959), "Lonely Soldier" (1970), "Let Me Ride" (1970), "Tryin' to Love Two" (1977)
duet with Judy Clay, "Left-Over Love" (1968), "Private Number" (1968, he co-wrote)
songwriter
served in the Army

Tom Boggs (Thomas Boggs)

b. 1947 in Wynn, AR
rock/soul/blues singer
instrument: drums
with The Board of Directors, "I Pray for Rain" (1968), "Goodbye, Debra Lewis" (1968)
with The Box Tops (1968-69, replaced Danny Smythe after "Cry Like a Baby"), "Choo Choo Train" (#26 1968), "The Door You Closed to Me" (1968), "Fields of Clover" (1968), * "Soul Deep" (#18 1969)
see The Box Tops

Laura Cantrell (Laura Rose Cantrell)

b. 196? in Nashville, TN
country singer
instruments: guitar, sitar
* "Do You Ever Think of Me" (2000), "Little Bit of You" (2000), "When the Roses Bloom Again" (2002), "All the Same to You" (2002), "Broken Again" (2002)
songwriter

Mindy Carson

b. 1927 in New York City, NY
pop singer
"My Guy's Come Back" (1946), "Rumors Are Flying" (#12 1946), "Either it's Love or it isn't" (1946), "Blame My Absent-Minded Heart" (1949), "Parade of the Wooden Soldiers" (1950), "A Rainy Day Refrain" (1950), "I'm Bashful" (1950), "Candy and Cake" (1951), "My Foolish Heart" (#6 1951), "Button Up Your Overcoat" (1951), "Irish Stew" (1951), "Boutonnière" (1951), "Doors That Lead to You" (1951), "Dance Me Loose" (1952), "Wake the Town and Tell the People" (#13 1955), "Since I Met You, Baby" (#34 1957)
duets with Guy Mitchell, "Tell Me You're Mine" (#22 1952), "Tell Us Where the Good Times Are" (1953), "This Above All" (1954)

Desmond Dekker (Desmond Adolphus Dacres)

b. 1941/42 in Jamaica - d. 25 May 2006 in London, England (heart attack)
pop/reggae singer
founding member of Desmond Dekker and the Aces, "Israelites" (#9 1969, One-Hit Wonder), "It Miek" (1969), "You Can Get it if You Really Want it" (1970)
songwriter

Bob del Din (Robert del Din)

b. 1942
doo-wop singer
founding member and first tenor of The Earls (1957-70), "Spinnin'" (1957), "Believe Me, My Love" (1957), "Life is But a Dream" (1961), "Remember Then" (#24 1963, One-Hit Wonder), "Eyes" (1963)
songwriter
see Larry Chance and the Earls on Wikipedia

Fitz Fitzgerald (Alan Fitzgerald)

b. 1949
rock singer
instruments: keyboards, bass
founding member of Night Ranger (1982-88), "Don't Tell Me You Love Me" (#40 1983), "Sister Christian" (#5 1984), "When You Close Your Eyes" (#14 1984), "Sentimental Street" (#8 1985), "Four in the Morning" (#19 1985), "Goodbye" (#17 1985)
session musician with Montrose, Sammy Hagar, and others
see Night Ranger

Tony Jackson (Anthony Paul Jackson aka Black Jake)

b. 1940 in Liverpool, England - d. 18 Aug 2003 in England
rock singer
instrument: bass
"Watch Your Step" (1964), "Stage Door" (1965)
with The Searchers (1960-64), "Sugar and Spice" (#44 1963), "Needles and Pins" (#13 1964), "Don't Throw Your Love Away" (#16 1964), "Someday We're Gonna Love Again" (#34 1964), * "When You Walk in the Room" (#35 1964), "I'll Be Missing You" (1964), "This Feeling Inside" (1964), "Love Potion #9" (#3 1964), "What Have They Done to the Rain?" (#29 1964), "I'll Pretend I'm With You" (1964)
see The Searchers

J.J. Lester (Jeffrey John Lester)

b. 1968 in Edmond, OK
country/rock musician, instruments: drums, percussions
founding member and drummer of Great Divide (1992- ), "Rather Have Nothin'" (1995), "Pour Me a Vacation" (#59c 1998), "Never Could" (#74c 1998), "Yesterday Road" (1999), "Ain't about to Fall" (2000), "Lost in the Night" (2002), "If Not for You" (2002), "Just Another Day" (2005), "Love and Gasoline" (2005), "Spanning Time" (2006)

Sollie McElroy

b. 1933 in Gulfport, MS – d. 15 Jan 1995 (cancer)
soul/doo-wop singer
lead singer of The Flamingos (1953-54, replaced Earl Lewis), "I'm Yours" (1954)
with The Moroccos (1955-57), "Pardon My Tears" (1955), "Teenage Prayer" (1956), "Sad Sad Hours" (1956)

Craig Morgan (Craig Morgan Greer)

b. 1965 in Kingston Springs, TN
country singer
"Something to Write Home About" (#38c 2000), "Almost Home" (#59, #6c 2002), "Every Friday Afternoon" (#25c 2003), "That's What I Love about Sunday" (#51, #1c 2005), "Redneck Yacht Club" (#45, #2c 2005), "I Got You" (#92, #12c 2006), "Little Bit of Life" (#75, #7c 2006), "Tough" (#94, #13c 2007)
songwriter
served in the Army in Korea and Panama (1985-95)
performs frequently for the USO
see Craig Morgan

Keni Thomas (Kenneth M. Thomas)

b. 19?? in Gainesville, FL or Columbus, GA
country/rock singer
instrument: guitar
"Chicks in Boots" (1998), "Hero" (2002), "Gloryland" (#56c 2005), "Fight I Couldn't Win" (2005), "Prove Them Wrong" (2005)
founding member of Cornbread (1996-2000)
duet with Emmylou Harris and Vince Gill, "Not Me" (#47c 2005)
songwriter
served in the Army (1991- ), earned the Bronze Star

Bob Wilson

b. 1949
country musician, instrument: piano
with Earl Scruggs Revue, "Foggy Mountain Breakdown" (1972), "Step it up and Go" (1973), "Good Morning Sundown" (1974), "Harley" (1976), "Stay a Little Longer" (1977), "I Could Sure Use the Feeling" (#30c 1979), "Blue Moon of Kentucky" (#46c 1980)
session musician with Bob Dylan, Jerry Jeff Walker, and others

July 17

Susan Ashton (Susan Rae Hill)

b. 1967 in Irving, TX
Christian/country singer
"Down on My Knees" (1991), "Here in My Heart" (1992), "Grand Canyon" (1992), "Started As a Whisper" (1992), "Summer Solstice" (1993), "Hunger and Thirst" (1993), "Remember Not" (1994), "Blind Side" (1996), "You're Lucky I Love You" (#37c 1999), "Faith of the Heart" (#51c 1999), "She is" (#56c 2003, she co-wrote)
songwriter
md. to John David Cunningham (1993- )
Ashton is her mother's maiden name

George Barnes

b. 1921 in South Chicago Heights, IL - d. 15 Sep 1977 in Concord, CA (heart attack)
swing/jazz musician, instruments: electric guitar, piano
"Lover, Come Back to Me" (1946), "Frisky" (1959), "Lady in Red" (1960)
founding member of The George Barnes Quartet (1935-41), "I Can't Believe You're in Love with Me" (1937)
founding member of George Barnes and His Octet, "Priority on a Moonbeam" (1946), "Girl in a Picture Hat" (1946)
duets with Carl Kress, "The Golden Retriever Puppy Dog Blues" (1962), "All I Do is Dream of You" (1963), "Stairway to the Stars" (1963)
duet with Bucky Pizzarelli, "Slow Street" (1971)
session musician
he was one of the first electric guitar players
served in the Army as a code translator (1942-46)

Diahann Carroll (Carol Diahann Johnson)

b. 1935 in The Bronx, NY
pop singer
"I Never Has Seen Snow" (1955), "I Wonder What Became of Me" (1957), "It Ain't Necessarily So" (1959), "I'm Not at All in Love" (1961), "Hidden Meaning" (1967), "Don't Answer Me" (1967), "You Better go Now" (1967), "Like Someone in Love" (1967), "The Need of You" (1967), "Goodbye Young Dreams" (1967), "Runnin' Out of Fools" (1967), "Somewhere Between Love and Tomorrow" (1974), "After Being Your Lover" (1974), "With One Look" (1996)
actress
breast cancer survivor
md. 1st to Monte Kay (1956-63); md. 2nd to Fred Glusman (1973); md. 3rd to Robert DeLeon (1975-77, his death); md. 4th to singer, Vic Damone (1987-96)

Johnny Dean

b. 1942 in Coldwater, MS
doo-wop singer
founding member of The Reflections (1961- ), "You Said Goodbye" (1963), * "(Just Like) Romeo and Juliet" (#6 1964, One-Hit Wonder), "Like Columbus Did" (#96 1964), "Can't You Tell By the Look in My Eyes?" (1964), "Poor Man's Son" (#55 1965), "Deborah Ann" (1965), "June Bride" (1965), "Girl in the Candy Store" (1965)

Gale Garnett (Gale Zoe Garnett)

b. 1942 in Aukland, New Zealand (grew up in Canada)
folk/pop singer
"We'll Sing in the Sunshine" (#4, 43c 1964, One-Hit Wonder, she wrote), "Lovin' Place" (#54 1965), "Prism Song" (1964), "I Used to Live Here" (1965), "I'll Cry Alone" (1965), "It's Been a Lonely Summer" (1966), "The Cats I Know" (1967)
songwriter
author; actress

Vince Guaraldi

b. 1928 in San Francisco, CA - d. 6 Feb 1976 in Menlo Park, CA (heart attack)
jazz/pop musician, instrument: piano
with The Vince Guaraldi Trio, "Cast Your Fate to the Wind" (#22 1962, One-Hit Wonder, he wrote), "Whirlpool" (1964), "Linus and Lucy" (1964, he wrote)
with The Cal Tjader Trio
songwriter, wrote several songs for the animated Peanuts shows
served in the Army in the Korean War

Damon Harris (Otis Robert Harris, Jr.)

b. 1950 in Baltimore, MD
R&B/soul singer
"It's Music" (1978)
with The Temptations (1971-75, replaced Ricky Owens), "Just My Imagination (Running Away with Me)" (#1 1971), "Papa Was a Rolling Stone" (#1 1972), "Masterpiece" (#7 1973), "Superstar (Remember How You Got Where You Are)" (1971), "Take a Look Around" (1972), "Hey Girl (I Like Your Style)" (1973), "Hurry Tomorrow" (1973), "Shaky Ground" (1975), "Glasshouse" (1975)
founding member of Impact, "Happy Man" (#94 1976), "Give a Broken Heart a Break" (1976), "Rainy Days, Stormy Nights" (1977)
he is a survivor of prostate cancer since 1997 and promotes education about the disease
see The Temptations

Mickey Hawks (David Michael Hawks)

b. 1940 in Thomasville, NC (grew up in High Point, NC) - d. 31 Aug 1989 in NC
rockabilly/rock singer
instrument: piano
"Me and My Harley-Davidson" (#94c 1989), "The Good Old Days" (1989), "Fifties Girls" (1989), "Rockin' in the Fifties" (1989)
lead singer and pianist with Moon Mullins and His Night Raiders (1957- ), "Bip Bop Boom" (1958, he wrote), "Rock and Roll Rhythm" (1958, he co-wrote), "Screamin' Mimi Jeanie" (1960, he wrote), "Gonna Dance Tonight" (1961)
songwriter

Nicolette Larson

b. 1952 in Helena, MT (grew up in Kansas City, MO) – d. 16 Dec 1997 in Los Angeles, CA (cerebral edema)
country/rock singer
instrument: guitar
"Lotta Love" (#8 1978), "When You Come Around" (1980), "Only Love Can Make it Right" (#42c 1985), "When You Get a Little Lonely" (#46c 1985), "Building Bridges" (#72c 1985), "Fool Me Again" (1999)
with Commander Cody and His Lost Planet Airmen (1975-78), "That's What I Like about the South" (1975)
duet with Steve Wariner, "That's How You Know When Love's Right" (#9c 1986)
duet with the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, "Make a Little Magic" (#77c 1980)
backup singer with Ian Tyson, Emmylou Harris, Linda Rondstadt, Rodney Crowell, Hoyt Axton, Willie Nelson, and others
songwriter
actress
md. to drummer, Russell Kunkel
see Commander Cody
see Nicolette Larson

Bobby Moore (Robert Moore)

b. 1930/31 in New Orleans – d. 1 Feb 2006 in Montgomery, AL (kidney failure)
R&B singer
instrument: tenor sax
"Ginger Snap" (1962), "Let's Prove Them Wrong" (1964), "I Was Born a Loser" (1966), "My Luck is About to Change" (1966)
founding member of Bobby Moore and the Rhythm Aces (1961- ), "Hey, Mister DJ" (1965), "Searching for a Love" (#27 1966, One-Hit Wonder), "Try My Love Again" (1966), "Chained to Your Heart" (1967)
founding member of Bobby Moore and the Fourmost, "The Breeze and I" (1960), "Dance of the Land" (1964), "It Was a Lie" (1965)
songwriter

Joe Morello (Joseph A. Morello)

b. 1928/29 in Springfield, MA
jazz musician, instrument: drums
founding member of The Dave Brubeck Quartet (1951-67), "Take Five" (#25 1960, One-Hit Wonder), "Unsquare Dance" (1961), "Far More Blue" (1961)
sessionist with Stan Kenton, and others
songwriter

Vonda Sheppard

b. 1963 in NY
pop singer
"Hooked on a Feeling" (1998), "I Only Wanna Be with You" (1998), "Searchin' My Soul" (1998), "For Once in My Life" (2001)
duet with Dan Hill, "Can't We Try" (#6 1987)
actress

Red Sovine (Woodrow Wilson Sovine)

b. 1918 in Charleston, WV – d. 4 Apr 1980 in Nashville, TN (heart attack while driving)
country/honky-tonk singer
instrument: guitar
"Hold Everything (Till I Get Home)" (#5c 1956), "No Money in This Deal" (1960), "Rose of Love" (1962), "She Can't Read My Writing" (1962), "Dream House for Sale" (#22c 1964), "Salt on My Eggs" (1965), "A Kiss and the Keys" (1965), "Giddyup Go" (#82, #1c 1966, he co-wrote), "I Think I Can Sleep Tonight" (1966), "Class of '49" (#44c 1966, he co-wrote), "Sweet Nellie" (1966), "Rosebuds and You" (1967), "I Didn't Jump the Fence" (1967), "Not Like it Was With You" (1967), "Tell Maude I Slipped" (1967), "Phantom 309" (#9c 1967, #47c 1976), "Normally, Norma Loves Me" (1968), "Between Closing Time and Dawn" (1968), "Savannah, Georgia Vagrant" (1968), "Sparkling Wine" (1968), "The Father of Judy Ann" (1968), "A Railroad Trestle in California" (1969), "That Was Once Upon a Time" (1970), "Unfinished Letter" (1970), "It'll Come Back" (#16c 1974), * "Daisy's Chain" (1975), * "Daddy's Girl" (#91c 1975), "Teddy Bear" (#40, #1c 1976, he co-wrote), "Little Joe" (#45c 1976), "The Woman Behind the Man Behind the Wheel" (#92c 1978, he co-wrote), "Legend of a Christmas Rose" (1978), "Lay Down, Sally" (#70c 1978), "The Days of Me and You" (1978), "A Place for Mama's Roses" (1978), "Colorado Kool-Aid" (1979), "The Prettiest Dress" (1979), "The First Time I Saw Her" (1980), "She Was Loving Me Goodbye" (1980)
duet with Webb Pierce, * "Why, Baby, Why?" (#1c 1956), "Little Rosa" (#5c 1961, he co-wrote)
duet with Goldie Hill, "Are You Mine?" (#15c 1955)
songwriter

Dewey Terry

b. 1937 in Los Angeles, CA - d. 11 May 2003 (cancer)
blues/rock singer
instruments: guitar, piano
founding member of The Squires (1954-55), "Sindy" (1955), "Sweet Girl" (1955)
founding member of Don and Dewey, "Jelly Bean" (1957), "Miss Sue" (1957), "Soul Motion" (1962), "Stretchin' Out" (1962), "Annie Lee" (1964)
session musician
songwriter, co-wrote The Premiers' "Farmer John" (#19 1964); Donny and Marie Osmond's "I'm Leaving it All up to You" (#4, #17c 1974); The Olympics' "Big Boy Pete" (#50 1960)
see Don and Dewey

Mick Tucker (Michael Thomas Tucker)

b.1947 in London, England – d. 14 Feb 2002 in England (leukemia)
pop/rock singer
instrument: drums
founding member of Sweet (1968-81, 1985-91), * "Funny, Funny" (1971), "Little Willy" (#3 1973), "The Ballroom Blitz" (#5 1975), "Fox on the Run" (#5 1976, he co-wrote), "Action" (#20 1976), "Love is Like Oxygen" (#8 1978)
songwriter
see Sweet

Mike Vale (Michael Vale)

b. 1949
rock musician, instrument: bass
with Tommy James and the Shondells, "Hanky Panky" (#1 1966), "Say I Am (What I Am)" (#21 1966), * "I Think We're Alone Now" (#4 1967), "Gettin' Together" (#18 1967), "I Like it That Way" (#25 1967), "Mirage" (#10 1967), "Mony, Mony" (#3 1968), "Crimson and Clover" (#1 1969), "Crystal Blue Persuasion" (#2 1969, he co-wrote), "Sweet Cherry Wine" (#7 1969), "Kelly Told Anne" (1970, he co-wrote)
songwriter
see Tommy James and the Shondells

July 18

Earl Beal (Earl T. Beal)

b. 1924 in Denora, PA – d. 22 Mar 2001
doo-wop/gospel singer (baritone)
founding member of The Silhouettes (1957-68, 1980-93), "I Am Lonely" (1957), "Get a Job" (#1 1958, One-Hit Wonder, he co-wrote), "What Would You Do?" (1958), "Voodoo Eyes" (1958), "Evelyn" (1959), "Never Will Part" (1959), "Bull Frog" (1959), "Wish I Could Be There" (1961), "The Push" (1962), "Your Love (is All I Need)" (1963)
songwriter

Joe 'Fingers' Carr (Louis Ferdinand Bush aka Lou Busch)

b. 1910 in Louisville, KY - d. 19 Sep 1979 in Camarillo, CA (auto accident)
jazz/honky-tonk musician, instrument: piano
"Sam's Song" (#7 1950), "The Love Bug Itch" (1951), "Snuggle Bug" (1951), "Headin' for Home" (1953), "Portuguese Washerwomen" (#25 1956)
founding member of Joe Busch and His Orchestra, "11th Hour Melody" (#35 1956, One-Hit Wonder)
founding member of The Carr-Hops
duet with Tennessee Ernie Ford, "Tailor-Made Woman" (#8c 1951)
session musician with Jo Stafford, Hal Kemp, Peggy Lee, Tennessee Ernie Ford, and others
songwriter
arranger
served in the Army during WWII
md. 1st to Janet Blair; md. 2nd to singer, Margaret Whiting; md. 3rd to Nita Archambeau

Dion (Dion DiMucci)

b. 1939 in the Bronx, NY
pop/rock/doo-wop singer
instrument: guitar
"Kissin' Game" (1961), "Somebody Nobody Wants" (1961), "Be Careful of Stones That You Throw" (#31 1963), "Abraham, Martin and John (#4 1968), "Purple Haze" (1969)
backed by The Del-Satins, * "Runaround Sue" (#1 1961), "Runaway Girl" (1961), "The Wanderer" (#2 1961), "(I Was) Born to Cry" (1962), * "Lovers Who Wander" (#3 1962), "Little Diane" (#8 1962), "Love Came to Me" (#10 1962), "Ruby Baby" (#2 1963), "Donna, the Prima Donna" (#6 1963, he co-wrote), "Drip Drop" (#6 1963), "Sandy" (#21 1963), "This Little Girl" (#21 1963)
founding member and lead of Dion and the Belmonts (1958-60, reunions), * "No One Knows" (#19 1958), * I Wonder Why" (#22 1958), * "Every Little Thing I Do" (#48 1959), * "Don't Pity Me" (#40 1959), "Teenager in Love" (#3 1959), * "Where or When" (#3 1960), * "When You Wish Upon a Star" (#30 1960)
bandleader
songwriter
see The Belmonts on Wikipedia
see Dion

Craig Fuller (Craig Lee Fuller)

b. 1949 in Portsmouth, OH
country/rock singer
instrument: lead guitar, electric guitar, bass
founding member of Pure Prairie League (1970-72, 1985-87, 1998- ), "Boulder Skies" (1972, he wrote), "Falling in and Out of Love" (1972, he wrote), "Amie" (#27 1974, recorded 1972, he wrote)
Pure Prairie League's name came from a women's temperance group in the 1939 movie Dodge City
with American Flyer (1976- )
with Little Feat (1987- , replaced Lowell George), "Six Feet of Snow" (1979), "Wake Up Dreaming" (1979), "Front Page News" (1979), "Texas Twister" (1990)
songwriter
see Pure Prairie League

Johnny Funches

b. 1935 in Harvey, IL – d. 23 Jan 1998 in IL (emphysema)
rock/R&B singer (tenor)
founding member and lead singer of The Dells (1952-60), "Oh What a Nite" (#4 1956)
steel worker
see The Dells

John Goleman (John Robert Goleman)

b. 1962 in Shreveport, LA
country musician, instrument: bass
founding member of The Cactus Brothers (1992-96), "Sweet Old-Fashioned Girl" (1993), "One More Night with You" (1993), "This Love's Gonna Fly" (1995), "Secret Language" (1995), "A Woman's Touch" (1995)
founding member of Walk the West (1984-89), "Do You Wanna Dance?" (1986), "Precious Times" (1986), "Think it Over" (1986)

Glenn Hughes (Glenn R. Hughes)

b. 1950 in New York, NY – d. 4 Mar 2001 (lung cancer)
pop/disco/rock singer
founding member of Village People (1977-95, biker character), "Macho Man" (#25 1978), * "Y.M.C.A." (#2 1978), "Hot Cop" (1978), "In the Navy" (#3 1979), "Go West" (1979), "Can't Stop the Music" (1980), "Do You Wanna Spend the Night?" (1981), "5 O'Clock in the Morning" (1981), "Sex Over the Phone" (1985)
Village People also recorded as The Amazing Veepers
contrary to the group's image, only Felipe Rose was actually gay
a real-life motorcycle enthusiast with a custom Harley Davidson, he was buried in biker gear
see Village People

Mark Jones

b. 1954 in Harlan, KY
country/rock singer
instrument: guitar
with Exile (1989-95, replaced Les Taylor), "Keep it in the Middle of the Road" (#17c 1990), "Nobody's Talking" (#2c 1990), "Yet" (#7c 1990), "Even Now" (#16c 1991)

Audrey Landers

b. 1956/59 in Philadelphia, PA
country/pop singer
"Manuel, Goodbye" (1983), "Little River" (1983), "Jim, Jeff and Johnny" (1985), "Yellow Rose of Texas" (1986), "Never Wanna Dance (When I'm Blue)" (1988), "Shadows of Love" (1990)
songwriter
actress
md. to Donald Berkowitz

Linda Gail Lewis

b. 1947 in Ferriday, LA
country singer
instruments: keyboards, piano
"Small Red Diary" (1965), "T-H-E E-N-D" (1969), "He Loved Me Much Too Much (Much Too Long)" (1969), "Southside Soul Society, Chapter No. 1" (1969), "My Heart Was the Last One to Know" (1970), "Smile, Somebody Loves You" (#39c 1972)
duet with Jerry Lee Lewis, "Don't Let Me Cross Over" (#9c 1969)
duets with Van Morrison, "You Win Again" (2000), "Let's Talk about Us" (2000), "Baby (You've Got What it Takes)" (2000)
session musician
songwriter
author
younger sister of Jerry Lee Lewis
see Linda Gail Lewis

Robin MacDonald

b. 1943 in Scotland
rock/pop musician, instrument: rhythm guitar, bass
founding member of The Dakotas (1960- ), "The Cruel Surf" (1963), "Magic Carpet" (1963)
Billy J. Kramer with The Dakotas * "Do You Want to Know a Secret?" (1963), * "Little Children" (#7 1964), "Bad to Me" (#9 1964), "I'll Keep You Satisfied" (#30 1964), "From a Window" (#23 1964), "It's Gonna Last Forever" (1965), "You Make Me Feel Like Someone" (1966)
see Billy J. Kramer and the Dakotas

Lonnie Mack (Lonnie McIntosh)

b. 1941 in Harrison, IN
blues/rockabilly singer
instrument: guitar
"Baby, What's Wrong" (#93 1963), "Memphis" (#5 1963), "Wham!" (#24 1963), "Where There's a Will" (1963), "Coastin'" (1965), "Honky-Tonk '65" (#78 1965), "She Even Woke Me Up to Say Goodbye" (1971), "Rings" (1972), "All We Need is Love" (1975), "Too Rock for Country, Too Country for Rock and Roll" (1988)
songwriter

Steve Madaio

b. 1948 in Brooklyn, NY
blues/rock musician, instrument: trumpet
with the Paul Butterfield Blues Band (1968-71), "In My Own Dream" (1968), "Walking by Myself" (1969), "Losing Hand" (1969), "Love March" (1969)
the Paul Butterfield Blues Band performed at Woodstock
session musician with Janis Joplin, Stevie Wonder, Bob Dylan, Bonnie Raitt, The Rolling Stones, Kiki Dee, Joe Cocker, Bobby Bland, Earth, Wind and Fire, Olivia Newton-John, Rod Stewart, and others

Martha Reeves (Martha Rose Reeves)

b. 1941 in Eufaula, AL (grew up in Detroit, MI)
doo-wop/soul/blues/rock/pop singer
"Power of Love" (#76 1974), "Love Blind" (1977), "Love Don't Come No Stronger" (1978), "You're Like Sunshine" (1978)
founding member and lead of Martha and the Vandellas (1960-72, and reunions), "Come and Get These Memories" (#29 1963), "(Love is Like a) Heat Wave" (#4 1963), "Quicksand" (#8 1964), * "Dancin' in the Street" (#2 1964), "Wild One" (#34 1964), "Old Love (Let's Try it Again)" (1964), "Dancing Slow" (1964), "Motoring" (1965), "Love (Makes Me Do Foolish Things)" (1965), "Nowhere to Run" (#8 1965), "I'm Ready for Love" (#9 1966), "Jimmy Mack" (#10 1967), "Honey Chile" (#11 1967), "Third Finger, Left Hand" (1967), "I Can't Dance to That Music You're Playin'" (1968), "Taking My Love (and Leaving Me)" (1969), "Hope I Don't Get My Heart Broke" (1971), "Bless You" (#33 1971)
see The Vandellas

Ricky Skaggs (Ricky Lee Skaggs)

b. 1954 (maybe Aug 18) in Brushey Creek, KY or Cordell, KY
country/bluegrass/Western Swing/honky-tonk singer
instrument: mandolin, acoustic guitar, fiddle, banjo
"I'll Take the Blame" (#86c 1980), "Cryin' My Heart Out Over You" (#1c 1982), "I Don't Care" (#1c 1982), "Heartbroke" (#1c 1982), "I Wouldn't Change You if I Could" (#1c 1983), "Highway 40 Blues" (#1c 1983), "Don't Cheat in Your Hometown" (#1c 1983), "Honey (Open That Door)" (#1c 1984), "Uncle Pen" (#1c 1984), "Country Boy" (#1c 1985), "Cajun Moon" (#1c 1986), "Lovin' Only Me" (#1c 1989), "Let it Be You" (#5c 1989), "Life's Too Long to Live Like This" (#37c 1991), "Cat's in the Cradle" (#45c 1995), "Can't Control the Wind" (1995), "Drunken Driver" (1997), "Halfway Home Café" (#56c 2001)
founding member of Boone Creek (1976-78)
with J.D. Crowe and the New South (1975, 1978), "I'm Walkin'" (1975), "Will You Be Lonesome, Too?" (1978), "My Window Faces the South" (1978)
with The Clinch Mountain Boys (1973-74), "How Far to Little Rock?" (1973)
The Clinch Mountain Boys were also known as The Stanley Brothers
with The Country Gentlemen (1970-72), "Yesterday" (1971), "The Girl Behind the Bar" (1972), "Secret of the Waterfall" (1972)
with Emmylou Harris' band (1977-80), "I'll Take the Blame" (#86c 1980)
duet with Sharon White, * "Love Can't Ever Get Better Than This" (#10c 1987)
with Del and Ronnie McCoury, and David Grisman, "Boston Boy" (1999)
played fiddle and guitar with The Whites
songwriter
md. to Sharon White (1981- )
see Charlie Waller

July 19

Papa Dee Allen (Thomas Sylvester Allen)

b. 1931 in Wilmington, DE - d. 30 Aug 1988 (brain aneurysm)
rock/soul singer
instruments: percussions, drums piano, soprano sax
founding member of Night Shift (1969- )
founding member of War, "All-Day Music" (#35 1971), "The Cisco Kid" (#2 1973), "Low Rider" (#35 1975), "Why Can't We Be Friends?" (#6 1975), "Summer" (#7 1976), "L.A. Sunshine" (#45 1977)
'War' stands for 'Wild and Reckless'
session musician
songwriter
he died after collapsing on stage during a performance
see War on Wikipedia

Vikki Carr (Florencia Bisenta de Casillas Martinez Cardona)

b. 1941 in El Paso, TX
pop/jazz/country singer
"I'll Walk the Rest of the Way" (1962), "Beside a Bridge" (1962), "Until Today" (1966), "It Must Be Him" (#3 1967), "The Lesson" (#34 1968), "Your Heart is Free Just Like the Wind" (#91 1968), "Don't Break My Pretty Balloon" (1968), "With Pen in Hand" (#35, #6c 1969), "Eternity" (#79 1969)
humanitarian
see Vikki Carr

Commander Cody (George Frayne IV)

b. 1944 in Ann Arbor, MI or b. in Boise, ID (grew up in Brooklyn, NY)
country/rockabilly/rock/honky-tonk/western swing singer
instrument: piano
"Midnight Man" (1977, he wrote)
founding member and leader of Commander Cody and His Lost Planet Airmen (1967-76), "Hot Rod Lincoln" (#9, #51c 1972, One-Hit Wonder), "Truck-Stop Rock" (1972), "It Should've Been Me" (1972), "That's What I Like about the South" (1975)
founding member and leader of the Commander Cody Band (1977- ), "Rock 'n' Roll Again" (1977), "Either He's Wrong" (1980), "Roll the Dice" (1980, he wrote)
session musician with New Riders of the Purple Sage, and others
actor
see Commander Cody

Allen Collins (Allen Larkin Collins)

b. 1952 in Jacksonville, FL - d. 23 Jan 1990 (pneumonia)
rock musician, instrument: guitar
founding member of Lynyrd Skynyrd (1965-77), "Sweet Home Alabama" (#8 1971, he co-wrote), "Tuesday's Gone" (1973, he co-wrote), "Freebird" (#19 1974, he co-wrote), "Saturday Night Special" (#27 1975), "Double Trouble" (#80 1976, he co-wrote), "Give Me Back My Bullets" (1976), "What's Your Name?" (#13 1977), "You've Got the Right" (1978)
founding member of the Rossington Collins Band (1979-81), "Don't Misunderstand Me" (1980)
songwriter
md. to Kathy Johns (1970-80, her death)
seriously injured in the plane crash that killed other Lynyrd Skynyrd members in 1977; paralyzed from the waist down from an auto accident in 1986 when he was driving drunk
see Lynyrd Skynyrd

George Hamilton IV

b. 1937 in Winston-Salem, NC
folk/country singer
instrument: guitar
"A Rose and a Baby Ruth" (#6 1956), "Now and for Always" (#25 1958), "Lucy, Lucy" (1958), "Before This Day Ends" (#4c 1960), "Three Steps to the Phone (Millions of Miles)" (#9c 1961), "To You and Yours (From Me and Mine)" (1961), "Commerce Street and Sixth Avenue North" (1962), "Abilene" (#15, #1c 1963), "Why Don't They Understand?" (#10 1963), "If You Don't Know (I Ain't Gonna Tell You)" (#6c 1963, he wrote), "Linda with the Lonely Eyes" (#25c 1964), "Fort Worth, Dallas or Houston" (#9c 1964), "Truck Drivin' Man" (#11c 1965), "You Better Not Do That" (1966), "Early Morning Rain" (#9c 1966), "Break My Mind" (#6c 1967), "Song for a Winter's Night" (1967), "Wonderful World of My Dreams" (1968), "Canadian Pacific" (#25c 1969), "She's a Little Bit Country" (#3c 1970), * "Countryfied" (#35c 1971), "West Texas Highway" (#23c 1971), "Country Music in My Soul" (#63c 1972), "Ways of a Country Girl" (1974), "Blue Jeans, Ice Cream and Saturday Shows" (1976), "In the Palm of Her Hand" (1977)
songwriter
see George Hamilton IV

Tiny Hill (Harry Lawrence Hill)

b. 1906 in Sullivan, IL - d. 13 Dec 1971 in Denver, CO
country/swing/Dixieland jazz/novelty singer
instruments: banjo, drums
founding member of the Tiny Hill Orchestra (1935-71), "Sioux City Sue" (#3c 1946), "Skirts" (1946), "Never Trust a Woman" (#5c 1948), "Hot Rod Race" (#7c 1951), "I'll Sail My Ship Alone" (#10c 1951), "Pick Up Truck" (1951), "Two Letters" (1951)
he weighed over 300 lbs.

Cliff Jackson (Clifton Luther Jackson)

b. 1902 in Culpepper, WI - d. 24 May 1970 in New York, NY (heart failure)
jazz musician, instrument: piano
founding member of Krazy Kats (1927- ), "Apart from You" (1930), "Horse Feathers" (1930), "No One But Betty Brown" (1930), "We'll Be Married in June" (1930)
sessionist with Bob Fuller, Elmer Snowden, and others
md. to singer, Maxine Sullivan

Bernie Leadon

b. 1947 in Minneapolis, MN
country/rock/pop singer
instruments: guitar, banjo, dobro, mandolin
founding member of The Eagles (1971-76), "Take it Easy" (#12 1972), "Witchy Woman" (#9 1972), "Peaceful Easy Feeling" (#22 1973), "Already Gone" (#32 1974), "Lyin' Eyes" (#2, #8c 1975), "Best of My Love" (#1 1975), "One of These Nights" (#1 1975), "New Kid in Town" (#1, #43c 1976), "Take it to the Limit" (#4 1976)
with the Flying Burrito Brothers (1969-71), "Tried So Hard" (1971), "Just Can't Be" (1971), "Colorado" (1971)
with the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band (1988-89), "I've Been Lookin'" (#2c 1988), "Working Man (Nowhere to Go)" (#4c 1988), "Down That Road Tonight" (#6c 1989), "Turn of the Century" (#27c 1989), "When it's Gone" (#10c 1989), "Mary Danced With Soldiers" (1989)
the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band and John Denver, "And So it Goes" (#14c 1989)
the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band with Roseanne Cash and John Hiatt, "One Step Over the Line" (#63c 1990)
founding member of Dillard and Clark (1968-69), "The Radio Song" (1969)
with Linda Ronstadt's band
songwriter
see The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
see The Eagles

Matt Lucas

b. 1935 in Memphis, TN (grew up in Poplar Bluff, MO)
rock/rockabilly/country/blues/soul singer
instrument: drums
"Sweetest One" (1961), "Trading Kisses" (1962), "I'm Movin' on" (#56 1963), "Ooby Dooby" (1963), "Water Moccasin" (1964), "The Motor City Twine" (1965), "I've Paid My Dues" (1972), "I'm So Thankful" (1975), "Massage Parlor Blues" (1979)
session musician
motorcycle enthusiast

Billy Parker

b. 1937 in Okemah, OK (grew up in Tulsa, OK)
country singer
instrument: guitar
"I Hurt Me (Instead of You)" (1963), "Sounds Like a Winner" (1964), "You Read Between the Lines" (#62c 1978), "Until the Next Time" (#50 1978), "I'll Drink to That" (#53c 1981), "I See an Angel Every Day" (#51c 1982), "(Who's Gonna Sing) the Last Country Song?" (#41c 1982), "If I Ever Need a Lady" (#53c 1982), "One More Last Time" (1990)
duet with Cal Smith, "Love Don't Know a Lady (From a Honky-Tonk Girl)" (#59c 1983)
with Ernest Tubb's Troubadors (1968-70)
DJ

John Salvato

b. 1940
pop/R&B singer
founding member of The Duprees (1962- ), "My Own True Love" (1962), "You Belong to Me" (#7 1962), "Gone with the Wind" (#89 1963), "Have You Heard?" (#18 1963), "Why Don't You Believe Me?" (#37 1963), "The Sand and the Sea" (1963), "It's No Sin" (#74 1963), "It isn't Fair" (1964), "Wishing Ring" (1964), "Let Them Talk" (1966), "Check Yourself" (#97 1970)

Kelly Shiver

b. 1963/65 in Savannah, TN
country singer
founding member of Thrasher Shiver, "Run Like the Wind" (1996), "You and I Belong" (1996), "Goin', Goin', Gone" (#65c 1996), "Be Honest" (#49c 1997, he co-wrote)
songwriter, co-wrote, Kenny Chesney's "There Goes My Life" (#29, #1c 2004), "I Lost it" (#34, #3c 2000); Diamond Rio's "That's What I Get for Lovin' You" (#4c 1996); Andy Grigg's "How Cool is That?" (#22c 2001)

Sue Thompson (Eva Sue McKee)

b. 1925/26 in Nevada, MO (grew up in San Jose, CA)
country/pop singer
instrument: guitar
"Sad Movies (Make Me Cry)" (#5 1961), "Norman" (#3 1961), "Throwin' Kisses" (1961), "James (Hold the Ladder Steady)" (#17 1962), "Have a Good Time" (#31 1962), "If the Boy Only Knew" (1962), "True Confession" (1963), "Cause I Ask You to" (1963), "It's 12:35" (1963), "Paper Tiger" (#23 1965), "Just Kiss Me" (1965), "From My Balcony" (1966), "Ferris Wheel" (1967), "Straight to Helen" (1967), "Whole Lot of Walkin'" (1970), "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner Tonight?" (1970), "Candy and Roses" (#72c 1972), "Never Naughty Rosie" (#95c 1976)
duets with Don Gibson, "The Two of Us Together" (#50c 1971), "Over There's a Door" (1972), "I Think They Call it Love" (#37c 1972), "Go with Me" (#52c 1973), "Good Old-Fashioned Country Love" (#31c 1974), "I Can't Tell My Heart That" (1975)
duets with Hank Penny, "Walkin' in the Snow" (1954), "Walkin' to Missouri" (1957)
songwriter
md. 2nd to Dude Martin; md. 3rd to Hank Penny (1953-63)

Phil Upchurch (Philip Upchurch)

b. 1941 in Chicago, IL
R&B/jazz musician, instrument: guitar
"Crosstown Traffic" (1969), "Pretty Blue" (1970), "I Still Love You" (1973), "Washing Machine" (1973), "Cyrenna" (1978), "It's Almost Five" (1978)
founding member of The Philip Upchurch Combo, "You Can't Sit Down (#29 1961, One-Hit Wonder), "Stop and Listen" (1967), "Tell Me Something Good" (1975), "Tell Me I'm Not Dreaming" (1985), "Sister Sadie" (1987), "Midnite Blue" (1991)
session guitarist with Whitney Houston, Aretha Franklin, Bobby 'Blue' Bland, The Dells, Bo Diddley, and others
served in the Army
see Phil Upchurch

Kenny Vaughn

b. 1940 in Jackson, TN
country singer
instruments: guitar, electric guitar
guitarist with McBride and the Ride (1994-95), "Somebody Will" (#57c 1995)
with Marty Stuart's band
session guitarist with John Corbett, Emmylou Harris, and others
see McBride and the Ride on Wikipedia

Kenny Vernon

b. 1940 in Jackson, TN
country singer
instrument: guitar
"It Makes You Happy (to Know You Make Me Blue)" (#48c 1966), "Woman, Won't You Make Up Your Mind" (1968), "The Part in Between" (1970), "That'll Be the Day" (#56c 1972), "Feel So Fine" (#55c 1973)
duets with LaWanda Lindsey, "Eye to Eye" (#58c 1969), "Pickin' Wild Mountain Berries" (#27c 1970), "Let's Think About Where We're Going" (#51c 1970), "Puzzles of My Mind" (1970), "The Crawdad Song" (#42c 1971)

Joe VerScharen

b. 1942 in Pittsburgh, PA – d. 21 Feb 1980 (suicide using carbon monoxide)
pop singer (baritone)
founding member of The Skyliners (1958-61, 1970- ), "Since I Don't Have You" (#12 1959, he co-wrote), "This I Swear" (#26 1959, he co-wrote), "It Happened Today" (#59 1959), "Pennies from Heaven" (#24 1960), "Lorraine From Spain" (1960), "I'll Close My Eyes" (1961), "Our Day is Here" (1976), "We've Got Love on Our Side" (1978), "You're My Christmas Present" (1990), "Another New Year's Eve" (2005), "Who Knows I Love You?" (2005), "I'll Never Start to Stop Lovin' You" (2005)
songwriter
see The Skyliners

Patti Walter (Patricia Jo Darbonne-Walter)

b. 1957 in Kansas City, MO - d. 12 Nov in Greeley, CO
country/rock/bluegrass singer
instrument: bass
with The Rough Cut Bluegrass Band
with Why?oming!
registered nurse

July 20

Kim Carnes

b. 1945 in Los Angeles, CA
country/pop singer
instrument: piano
"More Love" (#10 1980), "Bette Davis Eyes" (#1 1981), "Draw of the Cards" (#28 1981), "Does it Make You Remember?" (#36 1983), "Crazy in the Night" (#15 1985)
duet with Kenny Rogers, "Don't Fall in Love with a Dreamer" (#4 1980)
with The New Christy Minstrels (1962-70), "Everybody Loves Saturday Night" (1963), "Green, Green" (#14 1963), "Today" (#17 1964)
duet with Gene Cotton, "You're a Part of Me" (#36, #99c 1978, she wrote)
songwriter
actress
md. to Dave Ellingson
see The New Christy Minstrels
see Kim Carnes

Radney Foster (Radney Muckleroy Foster)

b. 1959 in Del Rio, TX
country singer
instrument: guitar
Just Call Me Lonesome" (#10c 1992), "Nobody Wins" (#2c 1993), "Easier Said Than Done" (#20c 1993), "Hammer and Nails" (#34 1993), "Everyday Angel" (#43c 2002), "New Zip Code" (2006)
founding member of Foster and Lloyd (1987-90), "Texas in 1880" (1987), "Crazy Over You" (#4c 1987), "Sure Thing" (#8c 1988), "What Do You Want from Me This Time?" (1987), "Fair Shake" (#5c 1988), "Suzette" (#48c 1989), "Whoa" (1990), "Is it Love?" (#43c 1990)
duet with Emmylou Harris, "Godspeed (Sweet Dreams)" (#74c 1999)
songwriter, co-wrote Sweethearts of the Rodeo's "Since I Found You" (#7c 1986)
see Radney Foster

James Hooker (James Brown)

b. 1948 in Winnsboro, SC
country/rock/pop singer
instrument: piano
founding member of The Amazing Rhythm Aces (1974-80, 1994- ), "Third-Rate Romance" (#14, #11c 1975), "Amazing Grace (Used to Be Her Favorite Song)" (#9c 1976), "Dancin' the Night Away" (1976), "If I Just Knew What to Say" (1976), "The End is Not in Sight (The Cowboy Tune)" (#12c 1976), "Ashes of Love" (#100c 1978), "Whispering in the Night" (1979), "I Musta Died and Gone to Texas" (#77c 1980), "Waitin' on Sundown" (1997), "Cold, Cold Rain" (1997), "I Feel Forever" (1997), "Out of the Storm" (1997)
with Nanci Griffith's band (1987- )
session musician with Bill Black Combo, Jimi Hendrix, Al Green, and others

Buddy Knox (Buddy Wayne Knox)

b. 1933 in Happy, TX – d. 14 Feb 1999 (lung cancer)
rockabilly/pop/country singer
instrument: rhythm guitar
"Don't Make Me Cry" (1957), "I Ain't Sharin' Sharon" (1959), "I Think I'm Gonna Kill Myself" (1959), "Lovey Dovey" (#25 1960, he wrote), "Love Has Many Ways" (1966), "Sixteen Feet of Patio" (1966), "Gypsy Man" (#64c 1968), "Today My Sleepless Nights Came Back to Town" (1968), "This Time Tomorrow" (1968), "God Knows I Love You" (1969), "Back to New Orleans" (1970)
founding member of The Rhythm Orchids, "Party Doll" (#1 1957, he co-wrote), "I'm Stickin' with You" (#14 1957, he co-wrote), "Rock Your Little Baby to Sleep" (1957), "Hula Love" (#9 1957), "Teasable, Pleasable You" (1958), "Somebody Touched Me" (#22 1958), "C'mon, Baby" (1958), "Hitchhike Back to Georgia" (1964), "Jo Ann" (1964)
songwriter
actor
see Buddy Knox
see The Rhythm Orchids

Sleepy LaBeef (Thomas Paulsley LaBeff)

b. 1935 near Smackover, AR
rockabilly singer (baritone)
instrument: guitar
"I'm Through" (1957), "Ridin' Fence" (1961), "Teardrops on a Rose" (1963), "Everybody's Got to Have Somebody (to Love)" (1965), "A Man in My Position" (1966), "Every Day" (#73c 1968), "Blackland Farmer" (#67c 1971)
pro-wrestler
John Lodge
- b. 1945 in Birmingham, England
- rock/rockabilly singer
- instruments: bass, guitar
- "Children of Rock and Roll" (1977), "Summer Breeze" (1977), "Broken Dreams, Hard Road" (1977)
- with The Moody Blues (1967-74, 1979- , replaced Clint Warwick), "Ride My See-Saw" (#61 1968, he wrote), "Tuesday Afternoon (Forever Afternoon)" (#24 1968), "Another Morning" (1968), "Never Comes the Day" (1969), "The Story in Your Eyes" (#23 1971), "Nights in White Satin" (#2 1972), "I'm Just a Singer (in a Rock 'n' Roll Band)" (#12 1972, he wrote), "Isn't Life Strange?" (1972, he wrote), "Steppin' in a Slide Zone" (#38 1979, he wrote), "Gemini Dream" (#12 1981, he co-wrote), "Sitting at the Wheel" (#27 1983), "Your Wildest Dreams" (#9 1986), "I Know You're Out There Somewhere" (#30 1988)
- duets with Justin Hayward, "I Dreamed Last Night" (1975), "Nights, Winters, Years" (1975)
- songwriter
- see The Moody Blues
- see The Moody Blues on Wikipedia
- see John Lodge
T.G. Sheppard (Billy Neal Browder)
- b. 1942/44 in Humboldt, TN
- country/pop singer
- instruments: guitar, sax, piano
- "Devil in the Bottle" (#54, #1c 1975), "Tryin' to Beat the Morning Home" (#1c 1975, he co-wrote), "Motels and Memories" (#7c 1975), "Solitary Man" (1976), "Show Me a Man" (#8c 1976), "We Just Live Here (We Don't Love Here Anymore)" (1976), "May I Spend Every New Years With You?" (#37c 1977), "When Can We Do This Again?" (#9c 1978), "Daylight" (#7c 1978), "The Last Cheater's Waltz" (#1c 1979), "You Feel Good All Over" (#4c 1979), "I'll Be Coming Back for More" (#1c 1980), * "I Could Never Dream the Way You Feel" (1980), "Do You Wanna Go to Heaven?" (#1c 1980), "I Feel Like Lovin' You Again" (#1c 1980), * "Let the Little Bird Fly" (1980), * "Smooth Sailin'" (#6c 1980), * "The State of Our Union" (1981), * "I Loved 'em Every One" (#37, #1c 1981), "Party Time" (#1c 1981), "Only One You" (#68, #1c 1981), "Finally" (#58, #1c 1982), "War is Hell (on the Home Front Too)" (#1c 1982), "Slow Burn" (#1c 1983), "Somewhere Down the Line" (#3c 1984), "Doncha?" (#8c 1985), "One-Owner Heart" (#4c 1985), "In Over My Heart" (#9c 1986), "Strong Heart" (#1c 1986), "Half Past Forever (Till I'm Blue in the Heart)" (#2c 1986), "You're My First Lady" (#2c 1987), "One for the Money" (#2c 1987), "Don't Say it with Diamonds (Say it with Love)" (#48c 1988), "You Still Do" (#14c 1988), "Born in a High Wind" (#63c 1991)
- recorded as Brian Stacy, "High School Days" (1966)
- duet with Karen Brooks, "Faking Love" (#1c 1982)
- duet with Clint Eastwood, "Make My Day" (#62, #12c 1984)
- songwriter
- see T.G. Sheppard
Jim Unger (James Richard Unger, Jr.)
- b. b. 1954 in Martinsburg, WV - d. 25 Sep 2006 (heart attack)
- country/western swing/bluegrass/jazz musician, instruments: fiddle, mandolin
- with Billy 'Crash' Craddock's band
- with The Trinity Mountain Boys
- session musician with Johnny Paycheck, and others
- see Jim Unger
Cindy Walker
- b. 1918 in Mart, TX or Mexia, TX - d. 23 Mar 2006 in Mexia, TX
- country singer
- instrument: guitar
- "He Knew All the Answers" (1941), "Why Don't I Trust Men?" (1941), "It Never Can Be" (1942), "When My Blue Moon Turns to Gold Again" (#5c 1944), "Don't Talk to Me About Men" (1941, she wrote), "Me and the Moon Aren't Speaking" (2006)
- songwriter, wrote Bob Wills' "Cherokee Maiden" (1942), "You're from Texas" (#2c 1944); Ernest Tubb's "Warm Red Wine" (#8c 1949); Roy Orbison's "Dream Baby (How Long Must I Dream)" (#4 1962); Jerry Wallace's "In the Misty Moonlight" (#19 1964); Jim Reeves' "Anna Marie" (#93, #3c 1958), "This is it" (#88, #1c 1965), "Distant Drums" (#45, #1c 1966); The Ames Brothers' "China Doll" (#38 1960)
- co-wrote Webb Pierce's "I Don't Care" (#1c 1955); Eddy Arnold's "You Don't Know Me" (#10c 1956, also #2 1962 for Ray Charles); Bob Wills' "Sugar Moon" (#1c 1947), "Bubbles in My Beer" (#4c 1948)
- dancer
Ed Wells
- b. 1937 - d. 18 Feb 2001 (throat cancer)
- R&B/doo-wop singer (tenor)
- founding member of The Six Teens, "A Casual Look" (#25 1956, One-Hit Wonder, he wrote), "Only Jim" (1956, he wrote), "Was it a Dream of Mine?" (1957), "Love's Funny That Way" (1958), "Stop Playing Ping-Pong" (1958)
- songwriter
- see The Six Teens on R&B Notebooks
Dennis Yost
- b. 1943 in Detroit MI (grew up in Jacksonville, FL), d. 7 Dec 2008 in Hamilton, OH (respiratory failure)
- rock singer
- instrument: drums
- founding member and lead singer of The Classics IV, "Don't Make Me Wait" (1964), "Spooky" (#3 1968), "Strange Changes" (1968), "Stormy" (#5 1969, he co-wrote), "Every Day With You, Girl" (#19 1969), "Traces" (#2 1969), "God Knows I Loved Her" (1970), "What Am I Crying for?" (1972), "Rosanna" (#35 1973)
- songwriter
- he was never well after a head injury suffered in a fall in 2005
July 21

Paul Brandt (Paul Rennee Belobersycky)
- b. 1972 in Alberta, Canada
- country singer
- instrument: guitar
- "My Heart Has a History" (#5c 1996, he co-wrote), "I Do" (#2c 1996, he wrote), "Outside the Frame" (1997), "I Meant to Do That" (#39c 1997, he co-wrote), "What's Come Over You?" (#68c 1998), "That's the Truth" (#47c 1999, he co-wrote), "It's a Beautiful Thing" (#38c 2000), "That Hurts" (#68c 2000), "Small Towns and Big Dreams" (2002)
- songwriter
- pediatric nurse
- md. to Elizabeth Peterson (1997- )
- see Paul Brandt
Sara Carter (Sara Dougherty)
- b. 1898 in Wise County, VA – d. 8 Jan 1979 in Lodi, CA
- country/bluegrass singer
- instruments: guitar, autoharp
- founding member of The Carter Family (1926-43, and reunions), "Poor Orphan Child" (1927)
- duet with Jimmie Rodgers, "Why There's a Tear in My Eye" (1931)
- duets with Maybelle Carter, "Little Darling Pal of Mine" (1931), "Who's That Knocking at My Window?" (1939), "The Soldier and His Sweetheart" (1939)
- songwriter
- cousin of Maybelle Carter; md. 1st to A.P. Carter (1915-39); md. 2nd to Coy Bayes (1939- )
- see The Carter Family
Sidney Cox (Sidney Lawrence Cox)
- b. 1965 in Homer, LA
- bluegrass singer
- instruments: banjo, dobro, fiddle, mandolin, guitar
- founding member of The Cox Family, "My Favorite Memory" (1993), "Backroads" (1993), "Another Lonesome Morning" (1995), "Love of a Lifetime" (1996), "I am Weary (Let Me Rest)" (2000), "Will There Be Stars in My Crown?" (2000)
- son of Willard Cox
Rosie Hamlin (Rosalie Hamlin)
- b. 1945 in Klamath Falls, OR (grew up in San Diego, CA)
- pop singer
- instrument: piano
- "Lonely Blue Nights" (1962), "My One and Only Love" (1969)
- founding member of Rosie and the Originals, "Angel Baby" (#5 1961, One-Hit Wonder, she co-wrote), "We'll Have a Chance" (1962)
- songwriter
- md. to guitarist, Noah Tafolla
- see Rosie and the Originals
Eddie Hill (James Edward Hill)
- b. 1921 in Delano, TX - d. 1994
- country/rockabilly singer
- instrument: rhythm guitar
- "The Hot Guitar" (1951), "The Same Old Dream About You" (1954), "I Did, I Does and I Do" (1954), "Monkey Business" (1959)
- with The Billy Smith Combo, "Tough" (1963)
- session musician with Johnnie and Jack, Kitty Wells, Hank Williams, The Louvin Brothers, and others
- songwriter, co- wrote Jimmy Wakely's , "Someday You'll Call My Name" (#10c 1949)
- DJ
Plas Johnson (John Johnson, Jr. aka Johnny Beecher)
- b. 1931 in Donaldsonville, LA
- jazz/swing/soul/rock musician, instruments: sax, tenor sax
- "Blue Jean Shuffle" (1956) "The Music From the House Next Door" (1962), "Lift Off" (1963)
- founding member of B. Bumble and the Stingers, "B. Bumble Boogie" (#21 1961), "School Day Blues" (1961), "Bee Hive" (1961), "Nut Rocker" (#23 1962), "Chicken Chow Mein" (1963)
- with The Marketts, "Surfer's Stomp" (#31 1962), "Balboa Blue" (1962), "Out of Limits" (#3 1963), "Vanishing Point" (1964), "Batman Theme" (#17 1966) (not sure if he was on all of the songs)
- session musician on Henry Mancini's "Pink Panther Theme" (#31 1964); Bobby Day's "Rockin' Robin" (#2 1958); Sonny Knight's "Confidential" (#17 1956); and with The Beach Boys, Dave Cavanaugh, Nat 'King' Cole, B.B. King, The Supremes, Peggy Lee, and others
- served in the Army (1952-54)
- see Plas Johnson
Bob King
- b. 1906 – d. 14 Oct 1955
- R&B/gospel singer
- with The Soul Stirrers, "End of My Journey" (1951), "Listen to the Angels" (1961)
Brad Mates (Bradley Lydell Mates)
- b. 1978 in Alberta, Canada
- country singer
- instrument: acoustic guitar
- with 12 Gauge
- lead singer and founding member of Emerson Drive (1995- ), * "I Should Be Sleeping" (#4c 2002), "Fall into Me" (#34, #3c 2002), Only God (Could Stop Me Loving You) (#23c 2003), "Fishin' in the Dark" (2004), "Last One Standing" (#89, #21c 2004), "November" (#41c 2004), "A Good Man" (#19c 2006), "Moments" (#56, #1c 2007), "You Still Own Me" (#35c 2007)
- see Emerson Drive
Hal Rugg (Harold Rugg)
- b. 1936 in New York, NY (grew up in Tucson, AZ) - d. 9 Aug 2005 in Tucson, AZ (complications of a brain tumor)
- country musician, instruments: pedal steel guitar, dobro
- with George Jones's band (1963- )
- with Loretta Lynn's band (1965-84), "Dear Uncle Sam" (#4c 1966), "You Ain't Woman Enough (to Take My Man)" (#2c 1966), "Don't Come Home Drinkin' (With Lovin' on Your Mind)" (#1c 1967), "Fist City" (#1c 1968), "Your Squaw is in the Warpath" (#3c 1968), "You've Just Stepped in (From Steppin' Out on Me)" (#2c 1968), "Woman of the World (Leave My World Alone)" (#1c 1969), "Coal Miner's Daughter" (#83, #1c 1970), "One's on the Way" (#1c 1971), "Here I Am Again" (#3c 1972), "Love is the Foundation" (#1c 1973), "Rated X" (#1c 1973), "Trouble in Paradise" (#1c 1974), "When the Tingle Becomes a Chill" (#2c 1975), "Somebody Somewhere (Don't Know What He's Missin' Tonight)" (#1c 1976), "She's Got You" (#1c 1977), "Out of My Head and Back in My Bed" (#1c 1978), "I Can't Feel You Anymore" (#3c 1979), and others
- session musician on Sammi Smith's "My Window Faces the South" (#51c 1975), "Today I Started Loving You Again" (#9c 1975); The Osborne Brothers' "Rocky Top" (#33 1968); and with Gene Pitney, Ray Stevens, Ronnie Milsap, Joan Baez, Ray Price, k. d. lang, Porter Wagoner, Floyd Tillman, Billy Walker, Sammy Kershaw, and others
Kay Starr (Katherine LaVerne Starks)
- b. 1922 on a reservation in Dougherty, OK (grew up in Dallas, TX and Memphis, TN)
- pop/jazz/western swing singer
- "You Were Only Foolin' (While I Was Falling in Love)" (#16 1948), "Hoop-Dee-Doo" (#2 1950), "Bonaparte's Retreat" (#4 1950), "A Woman Likes to Be Told" (1950), "Oh, Babe" (#7 1950), "Frying Pan" (1951), "Comes A-Long A-Love" (#9 1952), "Wheel of Fortune" (#1 1952), "Side by Side" (#3 1953), "Allez-Vous-En" (#11 1953), "Half a Photograph" (#7 1953), "Changing Partners" (#7 1953), "If You Love Me (Really Love Me)" (#4 1954), "Am I a Toy or a Treasure?" (1954), "The Man Upstairs" (#7 1954), "Turn Right" (1955), "Foolishly Yours" (1955), "Where, What or When?" (1955), "The Things I Never Had" (1956), "The Rock and Roll Waltz" (#1 1956), "My Heart Reminds Me" (#9 1957), "Jamie Boy" (1957), "The Last Song and Dance" (1957), "I Forgot to Forget" (1965)
- with Joe Venuti's orchestra (1937-42)
- with Charlie Barnet's band (1943-45)
- duets with Tennessee Ernie Ford "I'll Never Be Free" (#3, #2c 1950), "Ain't Nobody's Business But My Own" (#5c 1950)
- duets with The Lancers, "Kay's Lament" (#18 1952), "Fool, Fool, Fool" (#13 1952)
- her father was Iroquios and her mother was Irish and Native American
Cat Stevens (Steven Demetre Georgiou aka Yusuf Islam)
- b. 1948 in London, England
- folk/pop/rock singer
- instruments: guitar, bass, electric mandolin, drums, keyboards, harpsichord
- "Kitty" (1966), "I Love My Dog" (1966, he wrote), "Portobello Road" (1966), "Matthew and Son" (1967, he wrote), "Granny" (1967), "I'm Gonna Get Me a Gun" (1967), "The Blackness of Night" (1968), "Image of Hell" (1968), "Moon Shadow" (#30 1971), "Wild World" (#11 1971), "Miles From Nowhere" (1971), "Peace Train" (#10 1971), "Morning Has Broken" (#6 1972), "Silent Sunlight" (1973), "Oh, Very Young" (#10 1974), "Another Saturday Night" (#6 1974), "Two Fine People" (#33 1975), "(Remember the Days of the) Old School Yard" (#33 1977), "Last Love Song" (1979)
- songwriter, wrote The Tremeloes' "Here Comes My Baby" (#13 1967)
- philanthropist
Kaye Stevens (Catherine Stevens)
- b. 1932/35 in Pittsburgh, PA
- pop singer
- "Someone Must Have Hurt You a Lot" (1964), "The Grass Will Sing for You" (1968), "Until it's Time for You to Go" (1968)
- USO performer
- actress/comedienne
July 22
Estelle Bennett (Estelle Bennett-Vann)
- b. 1944 in New York, NY
- rock/R&B singer
- "In the Year 2000" (1969)
- founding member of The Ronettes (1959-66), "You Bet I Would" (1962), * "Be My Baby" (#2 1963), * "Baby, I Love You" (#24 1963), "(The Best Part of) Breakin' Up" (#39 1964), * "Do I Love You?" (#34 1964), "Walking in the Rain" (#23 1964), "Born to Be Together" (#52 1965), "Is This What I Get for Loving You?" (#75 1965), * "You, Baby" (1965), "I Can Hear Music" (#100 1966), "You Can, You Saw, You Conquered" (released 1969), * "I Wish I Never Saw the Sunshine" (released 1974)
- sister of Ronnie (Bennett) Spector; cousin of Nedra Tally
- see The Ronettes on The History of Rock 'n' Roll
Richard Bennett
- b. 1951 in Chicago, IL (grew up in Phoenix, AZ)
- country musician, instrument: lead guitar
- "Castaway" (2004), "Blue at Best" (2004), "Ashes" (2004)
- with The Cherry Bombs (Rodney Crowell's road band)
- with The Notorious Cherry Bombs (2002- ), "Making Memories of Us" (2004), "Forever Someday" (2004), Let it Roll, Let it Ride" (2004), "If I Ever Break Your Heart" (2004)
- with Neil Diamond's band (1971-87), "Song Sung Blue" (#1 1972), "If You Know What I Mean" (#11 1976), "Forever in Blue Jeans" (#20 1979, he co-wrote), "Love on the Rocks" (#2 1981), "America" (#8 1981), "Hello Again" (#6 1981), "Yesterday's Songs" (#11 1982), "Heartlight" (#5 1982), "Headed for the Future" (#53 1986)
- with Mark Knopfler's band (1994- )
- with Jack Ingram's Beat up Ford Band (1999), "I Would" (1999), "Work This Out" (1999), "How Many?" (#64c 1999)
- session musician with Gene Vincent, Chubby Checker, The Everly Brothers, Emmylou Harris, Waylon Jennings, Trisha Yearwood, Steve Earle, and others
- songwriter
- music producer
- see The Notorious Cherry Bombs
- see Richard Bennett
Lawrence J. Clark
- b. 19?? in Austin, TX
- country/folk/novelty singer
- instrument: guitar
- "Internet Blues" (2001, he co-wrote), * "Wal-Mart Girl" (2001, he wrote), "In the Moonlight" (2004), "New Horizon" (2004), "Desert Sky" (2004), "Seventeen Again" (2004)
- songwriter
- author
George Clinton
- b. 1940 in Kannapolis, NC (grew up in Plainfield, NJ)
- doo-wop/soul singer
- instruments: keyboards, synthesizers
- "Atomic Dog" (1983), "Do Fries Go with That Shake?" (1986)
- founding member of The Parliaments, "You're Cute" (1962), "That Was My Girl" (1966), "(I Wanna) Testify" (#20 1967), "I Can Feel the Ice Melting" (1967), "Look at What I Almost Missed" (1968), "A New Day Begins" (1969)
- founding member of Funkadelic, "One Nation Under Groove" (#29 1978)
- founding member of Parliament, "Give up the Funk" (#15 1976), "Flashlight" (#16 1978)
- songwriter
- music producer
- see The Parliaments on the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
- see George Clinton
Rick Davies (Richard Davies)
- b. 1944 in London, England
- rock/pop singer
- instruments: keyboards, piano, harmonica
- founding member of Supertramp (1969-88, 1997- ), "Dreamer" (#36 1975), "Ain't Nobody But Me" (1976, he wrote), "Give a Little Bit" (#15 1977), "The Logical Song" (#6 1979), "Goodbye, Stranger" (#15 1979, he wrote), "Take the Long Way Home" (#10 1979), "It's Raining Again" (#11 1982), "My Kind of Lady" (#31 1983, he wrote), "Cannonball" (#28 1985, he wrote), "School" (#33 1992)
- songwriter
- see Supertramp
Don Henley (Donald Hugh Henley)
- b. 1947 in Gilmer, TX or Linden, TX
- rock/country singer
- instruments: drums, guitar, keyboards
- "I Can't Stand Still" (1982), "Johnny Can't Read" (#42 1982, he co-wrote), "Dirty Laundry" (#3 1983), "The Boys of Summer" (#5 1984), "All She Wants to Do is Dance" (#9 1985), "Not Enough, in the World" (#34 1985), "Sunset Grill" (#22 1985), "The End of the Innocence" (#8 1989, he co-wrote), "The Heart of the Matter" (#21 1989), "Taking You Home" (#58 2000), "For My Wedding" (#61c 2000)
- founding member of Shiloh, "Tell Her to Get Out of Your Life" (1970)
- founding member and lead singer of The Eagles (1971-82, 1994-95), "Take it Easy" (#12 1972), "Witchy Woman" (#9 1972, he co-wrote), "Peaceful Easy Feeling" (#22 1973), "Already Gone" (#32 1974), "Lyin' Eyes" (#2, #8c 1975, he co-wrote), "Best of My Love" (#1 1975), "One of These Nights" (#1 1975, he co-wrote), "New Kid in Town" (#1, #43c 1976), "Take it to the Limit" (#4 1976), "Life in the Fast Lane" (#11 1977), "Hotel California" (#1 1977, he co-wrote), "Heartache Tonight" (#1 1979), "The Long Run" (#8 1980), "I Can't Tell You Why" (#8 1980), "Seven Bridges Road" (#21, #55c 1981), "Get Over it" (#31 1994), "The Girl From Yesterday" (#58c 1994)
- with the Souther Hillman Furay Band (1975-76), "Prisoner in Disguise" (1975), "Trouble in Paradise" (1975), "For Someone I Love" (1975)
- duet with Stevie Nicks, * "Leather and Lace" (#6 1981)
- duet with Patty Smyth, "Sometimes Love Just Ain't Enough" (#2 1992)
- duet with Kenny Rogers, "Calling Me" (#53c 2007)
- duets with Trisha Yearwood's "Walkaway Joe" (#2c 1993), "Inside Out" (#31c 2001)
- songwriter
- music producer
- environmentalist, political activist
- md. to model, Sharon Summerall (1995- )
- see The Eagles
- see Don Henley
Jimmy Hennant
- b. 1947
- pop/soul musician, instrument: bass
- founding member of The O'Kaysions (1961-69), "Hey, Girl" (1964), "Shout" (1964), "(I'm a) Girl Watcher" (#5 1968, One-Hit Wonder), "Deal Me in" (1968), "Dedicated to the One I Love" (1968), "Colors" (1969)
Sonya Isaacs (Sonya Melissa Isaacs)
- b. 1974/75 in LaFollette, TN
- country/bluegrass/gospel singer
- instruments: mandolin, guitar
- "On My Way to You" (#54c 1999, she co-wrote), "I've Forgotten How You Feel" (#46c 2000, she co-wrote), "How Can I Forget?" (2000), "Barefoot in the Grass" (#64c 2000), "Two Badly Broken Hearts" (2000, she co-wrote), "What Do You See" (#59c 2002, she wrote), "No Regrets Yet" (#36c 2004, she co-wrote)
- with The Isaacs, "Carry Me" (1994), "Peace Like a River" (1994), "The Master's Bouquet" (1996), "The Lowest Valley" (1996), "In God's Hand" (1997), "Bridges That You've Burned" (1997), "Promise from on High" (1998), "Increase My Faith" (1998), "Wayfaring Stranger" (1999), "He Never Failed Me" (1999), "Closer to My Journey" (2005), "The Beautiful River of Life" (2005), "Sea of Galilee" (2005)
- duets with Dolly Parton, "Healing Hands" (2000, she co-wrote), "The Angels Rejoiced" (2003)
- backup singer with Vince Gill, and others
- songwriter
- daughter of Joe Isaacs; md. to Tim Surrett
- see The Isaacs on CMT.com
Chuck Jackson (Charles Jackson)
- b. 1937 in Latta, SC (grew up in Pittsburgh, PA)
- soul/pop/doo-wop singer
- "I Don't Want to Cry" (#36 1961, he co-wrote), "Any Day Now (My Wild Beautiful Bird)" (#23 1962), "In Between Tears" (1962), "For All Time" (1964), "Every Man Needs a Down Home Girl" (1965), "And That's Saying a Lot" (1966), "The Day My World Stood Still" (1969), "Pet Names" (1971), "Is There Anything Love Can't Do?" (1971), "Take Off Your Make-up" (1974)
- with Kripp Johnson's Dell-Vikings (1957), "Whispering Bells" (#9 1957), "Don't Be a Fool" (1957), "I'm Spinning" (1957)
- duets with Kripp Johnson, "Watching the Moon" (1959)
- duets with Maxine Brown, "Something You Got" (1965), "I Need You So" (1965), "Please Don't Hurt Me" (1966), "Tennessee Waltz" (1967)
- songwriter
Daniel Jones
- b. 1973 in Essex, England (grew up in Australia)
- pop singer
- instruments: keyboards, guitar
- founding member of Savage Garden (1994-2001), "I Want You" (#4 1996, he co-wrote), "To the Moon and Back" (#24 1996, he co-wrote), * "Truly, Madly Deeply" (#1 1998, he co-wrote), "The Animal Song" (#19 1999, he co-wrote), "I Knew I Loved You" (#1 1999, he co-wrote), "Crash and Burn" (#24 2000, he co-wrote)
- Savage Garden's name came from a quote in an Anne Rice novel "The mind of each man is a savage garden...")
- songwriter
- music producer
- md. to singer, Kathleen de Leon (2005- )
- see Savage Garden
Carmine Riale
- b. 1942 - d. 9 Jan 2004
- rock musician, instrument: bass
- with The Chicago Loop, "(When She Needs Good Lovin') She Comes to Me" (#37 1966, One-Hit Wonder), "This Must Be the Place" (1966), "Cloudy" (1967)
- with Mitch Ryder (1967)
Bobby Sherman (Robert Cabot Sherman, Jr.)
- b. 1943 in Santa Monica, CA
- pop singer
- instruments: guitar, sitar, piano, drums, trumpet, trombone, french horn
- "I Want to Hear it from Her" (1963), "Anything Your Little Heart Desires" (1966), "Little Women" (#3 1969), "Seattle" (1969), "Oklahoma City Times" (1969), "Julie, Do Ya Love Me?" (#5 1970), * "Easy Come, Easy Go" (#9 1970), "Hey, Mister Sun" (#24 1970), "Cried Like a Baby" (#16 1971), * "La La La (If I Had You)" (#9 1969), * "Come Close to Me" (1970), * "Bubble Gum and Braces" (1971), "Jennifer" (#60 1971), "Waiting at the Bus Stop" (#54 1971), "The Drum" (#29 1971), "Together Again" (#91 1972), "Sunshine Rose" (1975)
- actor
- sheriff
- see Bobby Sherman
Ryan Shupe
- b. 19?? in UT
- country singer
- instruments: fiddle, mandolin, guitar
- founding member and lead singer of Ryan Shupe and the RubberBand, "Small House, Big Yard" (1996), "Two-Year Old Attitude" (1996), "Simplify" (1999), "Freeway" (1999), "Dream Big" (#27c 2005, he wrote), "Same Sun" (2005), "Crash and Burn" (2005), "Banjo Boy" (2006), "Be the One" (2008), "Corn Dogs" (2008, he wrote), "If You Could Live a Different Life" (2008, he wrote)
- songwriter
Thomas Wayne (Thomas Wayne Perkins)
- b. 1940 in Batesville, MS – d. 15 Aug 1971 (auto accident)
- country/rockabilly singer
- instrument: guitar
- "You're the One That Done it" (1958), "Saturday Date" (1958), "Guilty of Love" (1960), "The Quiet Look" (1962), "Eighth Wonder of the World" (1964), "You're Tearin' Down My Mind" (1969)
- founding member and lead of Thomas Wayne and the Delons, "Gonna Be Waitin'" (1959), "Tragedy" (#5 1959, One-Hit Wonder)
- songwriter
- brother of Luther Perkins
- some believe his 'accident' was actually a suicide
Margaret Whiting
- b. 1924 in Detroit, MI (grew up in Hollywood, CA)
- pop/country singer
- "That Old Black Magic" (#10 1943), "All Through the Day" (1945), "Come Rain or Come Shine" (#17 1946), "Oh, But I Do" (#7 1946), "Guilty" (#4 1947), "Old Devil Moon" (#11 1947), "You Do" (#5 1947), "A Tree in the Meadow" (#1 1948), "If I Can Love You in the Morning" (1951), "The Sun is Always Shining Somewhere" (1952), "Waltz to the Blues" (1953), "C.O.D." (1953), "The Money Tree" (#20 1956), "That's Why I Was Born" (1957), "Speak for Yourself, John" (1957), "Pretty-Eyed Baby" (1958), "The Wheel of Hurt" (#26 1966)
- duets with Jimmy Wakely, "Slippin' Around" (#1, #1c 1949), "Wedding Bells" (#6c 1949), "I'll Never Slip Around Again" (#2c 1949), "Broken Down Merry-Go-Round" (#2c 1950), "Let's Go to Church (Next Sunday Morning)" (#2c 1950), "Six Times a Week and Twice on Sunday" (1950), "A Bushel and a Peck" (1953)
- md. to Jack Wrangler (1994- , he is 22 years younger than her)
July 23
Madeline Bell
- b. 1942 in Newark, NJ
- soul/pop/jazz singer
- "Don't Cross Over (to My Side of the Street)" (1964), "I'm Gonna Make You Love Me" (#26 1968, One-Hit Wonder), "Picture Me Gone" (1967), "What Am I Supposed to Do?" (1968, she co-wrote), "Comin' Atcha" (1973, she co-wrote), "All That Love Went to Waste" (1973), "I'm So Glad" (1973, she co-wrote), "I Think I'm Getting Over You" (1976), "Dance, Dance, Dance" (1976)
- founding member of Blue Mink (1969-72), "But Not Forever" (1969), "Melting Pot" (1969), "Can You Feel it, Baby?" (1969), "It Just Goes to Show" (1970), "I Lose the Game" (1970), "Our World" (#64 1970)
- backup singer on Elton John's "Your Song" (#8 1971); and with Tom Jones, Dusty Springfield, and others
- songwriter
- md. to drummer, Barry Reeves
- see Madeline Bell
Henry Bellinger
- b. 1942
- rock musician, instrument: lead guitar
- founding member of The Duals, "Stick Shift" (#25 1961, One-Hit Wonder, he co-wrote), "Running Water" (1961, he co-wrote), "Cha Cha Guitars" (1961, he co-wrote), "Music Appreciation" (1961, he co-wrote), "The Big Race" (1964)
- songwriter
Shannon Brown
- b. 1973 in Spirit Lake, IA
- country singer
- "I Won't Lie" (#58c 1998), "Baby, I Lied" (#40c 2001), "Untangle My Heart" (#58c 2002), "Corn Fed" (2006), "Small-Town Girl" (2006), "Good Ole Days" (2006)
- md. to Shaun Silva
Bert Convy (Bernard Whalen Convy)
- b. 1933 in St. Louis, MO - d. 15 Jul 1991 in Los Angeles, CA (brain tumor)
- rock/novelty singer
- "The Monster's Hop" (1959), "Renetta" (1962), "Something to Think About" (1970), "Just Give Me a Chance" (1970)
- founding member of The Cheers (1954-57), "(Bazoom) I Need Your Lovin'" (#15 1954), "Some Night in Alaska" (1955), "Black Denim Trousers (and Motorcycle Boots)" (#6 1955, One-Hit Wonder)
- actor; game-show host
- minor league baseball player
- md. 1st to Anne Anderson; md. 2nd to Catherine Hall
Dino Danelli
- b. 1945 in Jersey City, NJ
- soul/rock musician, instrument: drums
- founding member of The (Young) Rascals (1965-72), "Good Lovin'" (#1 1966), "Groovin'" (#1 1967), "How Can I Be Sure?" (#4 1967), "I've Been Lonely Too Long" (#16 1967), "A Girl Like You" (#10 1967), "Any Dance'll Do" (1968), "A Ray of Hope" (#24 1968), "People Got to Be Free" (#1 1968), "A Beautiful Morning" (#3 1968), "See" (#27 1969), "Heaven" (#39 1969), "Carry Me Back" (#26 1969)
- the group dropped 'Young' from their name in 1968
- with Little Steven and the Disciples of the Soul (1982-84), "Forever" (#63 1982), "Men Without Women" (1982), "I am a Patriot" (1984), "Checkpoint Charlie" (1984)
- founding member of Fotomaker (1978-79), "Where Have You Been All My Life?" (1978), "All There in Her Eyes" (1978), "Love Me Forever" (1979), "Fooled Again" (1979)
- see The Young Rascals
Johnny Darrell (Eddie Rae White)
- b. 1940 in Hopewell, AL (grew up in Marietta, GA) – d. 7 Oct 1997 in Kennesaw, GA (diabetes)
- country/pop singer
- instrument: guitar
- "As Long As the Wind Blows" (#30c 1966), "Ruby, Don't Take Your Love to Town" (#9c 1967), "The Son of Hickory Holler's Tramp" (#22c 1968), "With Pen in Hand" (#3c 1968), "Woman Without Love" (#20c 1969), "Why You Been Gone So Long?" (#17c 1969), "Dakota the Dancing Bear" (#66c 1973), "Was Yesterday That Long Ago?" (1978)
- duet with Anita Carter, "The Coming of the Roads" (#50c 1969)
- songwriter
- served in the Army
Cleve Duncan (Cleveland Duncan)
- b. 1935 in Los Angeles, CA
- doo-wop/rock/pop singer (tenor)
- founding member and lead singer of The Penguins (1954-59, and reunions), "Hey, Senorita" (1954), "Earth Angel (Will You Be Mine)?" (#8 1955, One-Hit Wonder), "Kiss a Fool Goodbye" (1955), "It Only Happens with You" (1955), "Dealer of Dreams" (1956), "I Knew I'd Fall in Love" (1957), "Do Not Pretend" (1958), "If You're Mine" (1958)
- founding member of The Radiants, "To Keep Our Love" (1959), "I'm Betting My Heart" (1959)
- see The Penguins on Marv Goldberg's R&B Notebooks
Keith Ferguson
- b. 1946 in Houston, TX – d. 29 Apr 1997 in Austin, TX (liver failure)
- blues/rock musician, instrument: bass
- founding member of Fabulous Thunderbirds (1974-84), "Marked Deck" (1979), "Walkin' to My Baby" (1979), "Things I Forgot to Do" (1979), "Runnin' Shoes" (1980), "How Do You Spell Love?" (1982)
- with The Tail Gators (1985-90)
- session musician
- md. to singer Lou Ann Barton
- he is left-handed
- see The Fabulous Thunderbirds
John Hall
- b. 1948 in Baltimore, MD
- rock singer
- instruments: guitar, bass
- "Break of Day" (1978), "Give Me the Right" (1978), "Give One Heart" (1998), "New Star Shining" (1998), "Half Moon" (1998)
- founding member of The John Hall Band, "Crazy (Keep on Fallin')" (1981), "You Sure Fooled Me" (1981)
- founding member of Orleans (1972- ), "Let There Be Music" (1975), "Reach" (1976), "Grown-up Children" (1986), "Speed of Love" (1986), "You're Mine" (#59c 1986), "Compared to What?" (1990), "Back to Your Arms" (1994), "I'm on Your Side" (1996), "In My Dreams" (1996, he wrote)
- Orleans backing Steve Wariner, "You Can Dream of Me" (#1c 1986)
- session musician with Seals and Croft, Janis Joplin, Bonnie Raitt, Carly Simon, Jackson Browne, and others
- songwriter
- music producer
- proponent of safe energy
- U.S. Congressman from NY (2007- )
- see John Hall Music
Allison Krauss
- b. 1971 in Decatur, IL (grew up in Champaign, IL)
- bluegrass/country/folk singer
- instruments: fiddle, mandolin
- founding member and lead of Union Station (1987- ), "Baby, Now That I've Found You" (#49c 1995), "When You Say Nothing at All" (#53, #3c 1995, CMA single of the year 1995), "Forget about it" (#67c 1999), * "Stay" (1999), * "Maybe" (1999), * "The Lucky One" (#46c 2001), * "Down to the River" (2002), "Restless" (#36c 2004), "The Scarlet Tide" (2007), "I Give to You This Heart" (2007)
- duet with Shenandoah, "Somewhere in the Vicinity of the Heart" (#7c 1995)
- duet with Brad Paisley, "Whiskey Lullaby" (#41, #3c 2004)
- duets with Vince Gill, "High Lonesome Sound" (#12c 1996), "The Reason Why" (#28c 2006)
- duet with John Waite, "Missing You" (#34c 2007)
- backup on John Michael Montgomery's "The Little Girl" (#35, #1c 2000); Kenny Rogers' "Buy Me a Rose" (#40, #1c 2000)
- md. to guitarist, Pat Bergeson (1997-2001)
- see Allison Krauss and Union Station
David Pichette
- b. 1977 in Montreal, Canada
- country musician, instruments: fiddle, mandolin, guitar
- with Emerson Drive (Jun2003- ), "Fishin' in the Dark" (2004), "Last One Standing" (#89, #21c 2004), "November" (#41c 2004), "A Good Man" (#19c 2006), "Moments" (#56, #1c 2007), "You Still Own Me" (#35c 2007)
- see Emerson Drive
Glenn 'Blub' Rhees (Glenn Donald Rhees)
- b. 1925 in Oilton, OK - d. 29 Mar 1996 in Collinsville, OK
- western swing/country musician, instrument: sax
- with The Texas Playboys (1958-62, and reunions), "Heart to Heart Talk" (#5c 1960)
- with Johnnie Lee Wills' band (1955-57, 1962), "Blub Twist" (1962), "Slush" (1962)
- with The Southernairs (1951-54)
- school superintendent
- see The Texas Playboys
Pat Roberts
- b. 1948 in Seattle, WA
- country singer
- "Rhythm of the Rain" (#34c 1972), "Love Lives Again" (1973), "Thanks for Lovin' Me" (#59c 1973), "Repeat After Me" (1973), "I'm Gonna Keep Searching" (#81c 1973), "Your Love's Been a Long Time Comin'" (1973), "You Got Everything That You Want" (1974), "North of Happiness" (1974), "Airports and Planes" (1974), "I Will Always Be Here" (1974)
Joe Santollo (Joseph Santollo)
- b. 1943 – d. 4 Jun 1981 (heart attack)
- pop/R&B singer
- founding member of The Duprees (1962- ), "My Own True Love" (1962), "You Belong to Me" (#7 1962), "Gone with the Wind" (#89 1963), "Have You Heard?" (#18 1963), "Why Don't You Believe Me?" (#37 1963), "The Sand and the Sea" (1963), "It's No Sin" (#74 1963), "It isn't Fair" (1964), "Wishing Ring" (1964), "Let Them Talk" (1966, he wrote), "Check Yourself" (#97 1970)
Gary Stites
- b. 1940 in Denver, CO
- pop singer
- instrument: guitar
- "Lonely for You" (#24 1959, One-Hit Wonder), "A Girl Like You" (#80 1959), "Shine That Ring" (1959), "Starry-Eyed" (#77 1959), "Lawdy Miss Clawdy" (#47 1960), "Gloria Lee" (1960), "Don't Wanna Say Goodbye" (1960), "Hurting" (1966)
- songwriter
Tony Joe White (aka the 'Swamp Fox')
- b. 1943 in Oak Grove, LA
- country/rock singer
- instruments: guitar, harmonica
- "Ten More Miles to Louisiana" (1967), "Aspen, Colorado" (1968), "Polk Salad Annie" (#8 1969, One-Hit Wonder, he wrote), "My Friend" (1970), "High Sheriff" (1970), "I Thought I Knew You Well" (1970), "A Night in the Life of a Swamp Fox" (1971), "As the Crow Flies" (1972), "Homemade Ice Cream" (1973), "Soulful Eyes" (1976), "Lady in My Life" (#55c 1983, he wrote), "We Belong Together" (#85c 1984, he wrote), "Undercover Agent for the Blues" (1991), "Closer to the Truth" (1991), "Let the Healing Begin" (1995), "All Those Tomorrows" (2004)
- session musician
- songwriter, wrote Brook Benton's "Rainy Night in Georgia" (#4 1970, also #13c 1974 for Hank Williams, Jr.)
- see Tony Joe White
July 24
Jim Armstrong
- b. 1944 in Ireland
- rock musician, instrument: guitar
- with Them (1965-70), "Baby, Please Don't Go" (1965), * "Here Comes the Night" (#24 1965), "Mystic Eyes" (#33 1965), "Friday's Child" (1967), "I Happen to Love You" (1967), "Looking for Today" (1967), "Square Room" (1968), "We All Agreed to Help" (1969), "Memphis Lady" (1970)
- founding member of Truth
- session musician with Jim Morrison, The Doors, Frank Zappa, Van Morrison, and others
- see Them
Max D. Barnes (Max Duane Barnes)
- b. 1936 in Hardscratch, IA (grew up in NE) – d. 11/12 Jan 2004 (pneumonia)
- country/rock singer
- instrument: guitar
- "Ribbons of Steel" (1971), "Growing Old with Grace" (1972), "Allegheny Lady" (#97c 1977, he co-wrote), "Cowboys Are Common as Sin" (#68c 1980, he wrote), "Don't Ever Leave Me Again" (#84c 1981, he wrote)
- founding member of The Golden Rockets
- songwriter, wrote John Anderson's "I've Got it Made" (#3c 1994); co-wrote Vern Gosdin's "Chiseled in Stone" (#6c 1988), "If You're Gonna Do Me Wrong (Do it Right)" (#5c 1983), "Way Down Deep" (#5c 1983); Vince Gill's "Look at Us" (#4c 1991); George Jones' "Who's Gonna Fill Their Shoes?" (#3c 1985); Conway Twitty's "Don't Take it Away" (#1c 1979), "Red-Neckin' Love-Makin' Nights" (#1c 1981); Keith Whitley's "Ten Feet Away" (#9c 1986); Loretta Lynn and Conway Twitty's "I Can't Love You Enough" (#2c 1977); The Kendalls' "Thank God for the Radio" (#1c 1984); Eddy Raven's "Joe Knows How to Live" (#1c 1988); Randy Travis' "I Won't Need You Anymore (Forever and Always)" (#1c 1987), "If I Didn't Have You" (#1c 1972); Pam Tillis' "Don't Tell Me What to Do"(#5c 1991)
- truck driver
John Beland
- b. 1949 in Evergreen Park, IL
- country/rock singer
- instrument: guitar
- with Swampwater (1969-73, and reunions), "Desperation's Back Again" (1970), "Take a City Bride" (#72c 1971), "It's Your Game, Mary Jane" (1971), "She's Only Dancing" (1987, he co-wrote), "Middle of Midnight" (1987, he co-wrote), "There'll Be No Getting Over You" (1987, he co-wrote), "We Knew the Bride" (1987, he co-wrote) (songs released in 1987 were recorded in 1979)
- Swampwater sang backup for Linda Ronstadt and Arlo Guthrie
- with Rick Nelson's band (1978-79), "That Ain't the Way Love's Supposed to Be" (1979)
- with the Flying Burrito Brothers (1979-84, 1987-95, and reunions), "Another Shade of Grey" (1979, he co-wrote), "White Line Fever" (#95c 1980), "She's a Friend of a Friend" (#67c 1980, he co-wrote), "Does She Wish She Was Single Again?" (#20c 1981), "She Belongs to Everyone But Me" (#16c 1981, he co-wrote), "Damned if I'll Be Lonely Tonight" (1981, he co-wrote), "That's When You Know it's Over" (1981, he co-wrote), "If Something Should Come between Us (Let it Be Love)" (#27c 1982, he co-wrote), "Closer to You" (#40c 1982, he co-wrote), "I'm Drinking Canada Dry" (#39c 1982), "Blue and Broken-Hearted Me" (#48c 1982), "Our Roots are Country Music" (1982, he co-wrote), "How'd We Ever Get This Way?" (1982, he co-wrote), "Coast to Coast" (1982, he wrote), "Almost Saturday Night" (#49c 1984), "My Kind of a Lady" (#53 1984), "Eye of the Hurricane" (1994), "Heart Highway" (1994), "Jukebox Saturday Night" (1994)
- session musician with Johnny Tillotson, Kris Kristofferson, Arlo Guthrie, Joan Baez, Pete Seeger, The Bellamy Brothers, Dolly Parton, Buck Owens, and others
- songwriter, wrote The Whites' "Forever You" (#14c 1985), co-wrote The Bellamy Brothers's "Cowboy Beat" (#23c 1992)
- music producer; arranger
- see John Beland
Albert Bouchard
- b. 1947 in Watertown, NY
- rock singer
- instruments: drum, guitar
- founding member of Blue Öyster Cult (1970-81), "Hot Rails to Hell" (1973), "(Don't Fear) the Reaper" (#12 1976) "Burnin' for You" (1981), "Take Me Away" (1983), "Dancing in the Ruins" (1985)
- session musician with Herman's Hermits, Peter Noone, Spencer Davis Group, and others
- songwriter
- brother of Joe Bouchard
- see Blue Öyster Cult
Bob Eberly (Robert Eberle)
- b. 1916 in Mechanicsville, NY - d. 17 Nov 1981 (heart attack)
- country/swing singer
- "You Redhead" (1949), "What Have You Got in Those Eyes?" (1949), "A Kiss to Build a Dream on" (1951), "Tattle Tale" (1952), "I'm a Sentimental Fool" (1954)
- founding member of The Sunshine Serenaders, "One Has My Name, the Other Has My Heart" (#8c 1949)
- with the Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra (1935-43), "Green Eyes" (#1 1941, duet with Helen O'Connell)
- duet with Kitty Kallen, "Besame Mucho" (#1 1944)
- backed by The Dorsey Brothers Orchestra, "Chasing Shadows" (#1 1935)
- served in the Army (1944-45)
- brother of Ray Eberle
- md. to Florine Callahan
Heinz (Heinz Henry Georg Schwartze aka Heinz Burt)
- b. 1942 in Germany (grew up in England) - d. 7 Apr 2000 in England (motor-neurone disease)
- rock/rockabilly singer
- instrument: bass
- "Dreams Do Come True" (1963, he wrote), "Just Like Eddie" (#5 1963, tribute to Eddie Cochran), "Lonely River" (1963, he wrote), "Questions I Can't Answer" (1964), "Please Little Girl" (1964), "Heart Full of Sorrow" (1965)
- with The Tornadoes (1962-63), "Ridin' the Wind" (1962), "Telstar" (#1 1962, One-Hit Wonder), "Globetrotter" (1963), "Phantom Surfer" (1963)
- songwriter
Barbara Jean Love
- b. 1941 in Los Angeles, CA
- pop/rock singer
- with Chapter Eight
- founding member of The Friends of Distinction (1968-69, 1971-75), "Grazin' in the Grass" (#3 1969), "Going in Circles" (#15 1969)
- see The Friends of Distinction on Wikipedia
Pam Tillis
- b. 1957 in Plant City, FL (grew up in Nashville, TN)
- country/rock/jazz singer
- instruments: rhythm guitar, piano
- "Goodbye Highway" (#71c 1984, she co-wrote), "Those Memories of You" (#55c 1986), "One of Those Things" (#6c 1991, she co-wrote), "Don't Tell Me What to Do" (#5c 1991), "Put Yourself in My Place" (#11c 1991, she co-wrote), "Maybe it Was Memphis" (#3c 1992), "Blue Rose is" (#21c 1992, she co-wrote), "Shake the Sugar Tree" (#3c 1992), "Let That Pony Run" (#4c 1993), "Spilled Perfume" (#5c 1994, she co-wrote), "When You Walk in the Room" (#2c 1994), "Mi Vida Loca (My Crazy Life)" (#1c 1995, she co-wrote), "In Between Dances" (#3c 1995), "Deep Down" (#6c 1996), "All the Good Ones Are Gone" (#4c 1997), "Land of the Living" (#5c 1997), "Please" (#22c 2001)
- songwriter
- actress
- daughter of singer, Mel Tillis; md. to songwriter, Bob DiPiero (1991- )
- see Pam Tillis
Alan Whitehead
- b. 1945 in Shropshire, England
- pop/rock musician, instrument: drums
- founding member of The Marmalade (1966-70, 1976-81), "It's All Leading Up to Saturday Night" (1966), "I See the Rain" (1967), "Lovin' Things" (1968), "Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da" (1968), "Reflections of My Life" (#10 1970), "Rainbow" (1970), "Falling Apart at the Seams" (1976)
- postman
Lawton Williams
- b. 1922 in Troy, TN - d. 26 Jul 2007 in Fort Worth, TX
- country singer
- "Don't Burn the Bridge Behind You" (1957), "Mama Doll" (1960), "I Don't Care Who Knows" (1960), "Anywhere There's People" (#13c 1962), "Lucky Heart" (1962), "Rock of Gibraltar" (1963), "Everything's OK on the LBJ" (#40c 1964, he wrote), "Mending Fences" (2005), "Neon Nights" (2005), "The McNairy County Sheriff" (2005)
- songwriter, wrote Gene Watson's "Farewell Party" (#5c 1978); Bobby Helms' "Fraulein" (#36, #1c 1957); Hank Locklin's "Geisha Girl" (#66, #4c 1957); Bobby Bare's "Shame on Me" (#23, #18c 1962)
- served in the Army during WWII
July 25

Roy Acuff, Jr. (Roy Neal Acuff)
- b. 1943 in Nashville, TN
- country singer
- instruments: guitar, drums
- "Baby Just Said Goodbye" (1965), "I Wish it Were Me" (1966), "Turn That Frown Upside Down" (1966), "Luckiest Guy in the World" (1967), "As Long As You Live" (1967), "Looks Like Baby's Gone" (1969), "The Guy Who Played Bass (So Well in Harlan Martin's Band)" (1969), "Through the Windows of Your Mind" (1969), "Back Down to Atlanta" (1970), "Running" (1971), "Good Morning, Country Rain" (1975)
- songwriter
- artist
- environmentalist
- song of singer, Roy Acuff
Benny Benjamin (William Benjamin aka 'Papa Zita')
- b. 1925 in Birmingham, AL - d. 20 Apr 1969 (stroke after years of alcoholism and heroin addiction)
- R&B/soul/jazz/swing musician, instrument: drums
- with The Funk Brothers
- session drummer on The Miracles' "Shop Around" (#2 1961); The Contours' "Do You Love Me (Now That I Can Dance)?" (#3 1962); The Supremes' "My World is Empty Without You" (#5 1966); Gladys Knight and the Pips' "I Heard it Through the Grapevine" (#2 1967); Stevie Wonder's "Uptight (Everything's Alright)" (#3 1966); Barrett Strong's "Money (That's What I Want)" (#23 1960); and with Marvin Gaye, and others
Keter Betts (William Thomas Betts)
- b. 1928 in Port Chester, NY - d. 6 Aug 2005 in Silver Springs, MD
- jazz musician, instrument: double bass
- "Calm Before the Storm" (1999), "Sophie" (1999), "Quiet Nights" (1999), "Alone Together" (1999)
- backup for Ella Fitzgerald (1971-92)
- session musician with Dina Washington, Nat Adderley, Stan Getz, Charlie Byrd, and others
Walter Brennan (Walter Andrew Brennan)
- b. 1894 in Swampscott, MA - d. 21 Sep 1974 in Oxnard, CA (emphysema)
- country singer
- "Back to the Farm" (1960), "The Thievin' Stranger" (1960), "Old Rivers" (#5, #3c 1962), "Mama Sang Me a Song" (#38 1962), "Tribute to a Dog" (1962), "The Old Kelly Place" (1962)
- duet with Billy Vaughn, "Dutchman's Gold" (#30 1960)
- actor
- served in WWI
- md. to Ruth Wells (1920-74, his death)
- see Walter Brennan on Wikipedia
Marty Brown (Dennis Marty Brown)
- b. 1965 in Maceo, KY
- country/honky-tonk singer
- instrument: guitar
- "Every Now and Then" (1991), "Wildest Dreams" (1992), "It Must Be Rain" (#74c 1993, he wrote), "Let's Begin Again" (1993), "Wild Kentucky Skies" (1993), "You Must Be Mistakin' Me" (1994), "Laurie on My Mind" (1996), "Too Lonely Too Long" (1996), "You Can't Wrap Your Arms Around a Memory" (1996)
- songwriter
Manny Charlton (Manuel Charlton)
- b. 1941 in Spain
- rock musician, instrument: guitar
- "Fallen Angel" (2005), "Nearly Fine" (2005)
- founding member of Nazareth (1968-90), "Broken-Down Angel" (1973), "Rose in the Heather" (1975), "My White Bicycle" (1975), "Love Hurts" (#8 1975), "Place in Your Heart" (1977), "Holiday" (#87 1980), "Moonlight Eyes" (1981), "Love Leads to Madness" (1982), "Ruby Tuesday" (1984)
- founding member of the Manny Charlton Band (1998-2003)
- see Nazareth
Tom Dawes
- b. 1943/44 in Brooklyn, NY
- rock/folk singer
- instruments: bass, sitar
- founding member and lead singer of The Cyrkle (1966-68), "Red Rubber Ball" (#2 1966), "Turn Down Day" (#16 1966), "Please Don't Ever Leave Me" (#59 1966), "I Wish You Could Be Here" (#70 1967)
- songwriter
- see The Cyrkle on ClassicBands.com
Bobbie Eakes (Bobbie Diane Eakes)
- b. 1961 in Warner Robins, GA
- country/pop singer
- "While You Were Out" (1998), "I Know What Happens Next" (1998), "Something Beautiful" (2005), "Moondance" (2005)
- duet with Collin Raye, "Tired of Loving This Way" (#50c 2000)
- actress
- she was Miss Georgia 1982
- md. to author, David Steen (1993- )
Smitty Gatlin (Earl Smith Gatlin)
- b. 1935 in Bethel, TN - d. 20 Mary 1972 (lung cancer)
- country/gospel singer
- founding member of The Smitty Gatlin Trio
- with The Oak Ridge Quartet (1957-66), "The Mockin' Bird" (1959), "The House of the Lord" (1959)
- The Oak Ridge Quartet later became The Oak Ridge Boys
- minister
Steve Goodman
- b. 1948 in Chicago, IL – d. 20 Sep 1984 in Seattle, WA (leukemia)
- folk/country/pop singer
- instrument: guitar
- "The I Don't Know Where I'm Going, But I'm Going Nowhere in a Hurry Blues" (1972), "The Dutchman" (1973), "Chicken Cordon Blues" (1973), "Door Number Three" (1975), "It's a Sin to Tell a Lie" (1975), "My Old Man" (1977, he wrote), "What Have You Done for Me Lately?" (1979), "Sometimes Love Forgets" (1980), "Take Me Out to the Ball Game" (1980), "A Dying Cub Fan's Last Request" (1980, he wrote), "I Just Keep Falling in Love" (1984), "The One That Got Away" (1984), "Go Cubs Go" (1984, he wrote)
- songwriter, wrote David Allen Coe's "You Never Even Called Me by My Name" (#8c 1975)
- satirist
- md. to Nancy Pruter (1969- )
- he was first diagnosed with leukemia in 1969
- his ashes were buried under home plate at Wrigley Field in Chicago
David Martin (David A. Martin)
- b. 19436/37 - d. 2 Aug 1987 in Westminster, MD (heart attack)
- rock/novelty musician, instrument: bass
- founding member of Sam the Sham and the Pharaohs (1963-65), * "Wooly Bully" (#2 1965), "Ring Dang Do" (#33 1965), "Li'l Red Riding Hood" (#2 1966), "The Hair on My Chinny Chin Chin" (#22 1966), "(I'm in with the) Out Crowd" (1966)
Jim McCarty
- b. 1943 in Liverpool, England
- rock/blues singer
- instruments: drums, lead guitar
- "Out of the Dark" (1994, he wrote), "Still You Don't Believe" (1994, he wrote)
- founding member of Mitch Ryder and the Detroit Wheels (1966-67, and reunions), "Jenny Take a Ride" (#10 1965), "Little Latin Lupe Lu" (#17 1966), "Devil with a Blue Dress on" (#4 1966), "Good Golly, Miss Molly" (1966), "Sock it to Me, Baby" (#6 1967), "Box of Old Roses" (1972)
- founding member and drummer of The Yardbirds (1963-83), "For Your Love" (#6 1965), "Heart Full of Soul" (#9 1965), "Shapes of Things" (#11 1966), "I'm Not Talking" (1966), "Over, Under, Sideways, Down" (#13 1966), "Happenings Ten Years Time Ago" (#30 1966), "Puzzles" (1967), "Only the Black Rose" (1967)
- founding member of The Rockets (1972-83), "Fastest Thing in Detroit" (1977), "Oh Well" (#30 1979), "Turn up the Radio" (1979), "Can't Sleep" (#51 1979), "Desire" (#70 1980), "Sally Can't Dance" (1980), "Tired of Wearing Black" (1981), "Rollin' by the Record Machine" (1982), "Born in Detroit" (1982), "Rock 'n' Roll Girl" (1982)
- with Cactus (1970-71), "One Way...Or Another" (1971), "Restrictions" (1971), "Guiltless Glider" (1971), "You Can't Judge a Book By its Cover" (1971)
- session musician with Jimi Hendrix, and others
- songwriter
- see The Yardbirds
- see The Rockets on Wikipedia
Jason Roberts
- b. 1975 in Anderson, SC
- western swing singer
- instruments: fiddle, guitar, bass, mandolin
- "End of the Line" (2005), "You're Making a Memory Out of Me" (2005)
- with Asleep at the Wheel (1994, 1996- ), "The End of the Line" (1999), "One Six-Pack to Go" (2003), "Amarillo by Morning" (2003), "Texas, Me and You" (2005)
- session fiddler with Darrell McCall, Clay Walker, and others
- see Asleep at the Wheel
- see The Texas Fiddle Man
Billy Wade Sanders
- b. 1942 in McAlester, OK (grew up in Fort Worth, TX) - d. 14 Sep 2003 in Bedford, TX (cancer)
- country/rock/blues/soul musician, instrument: lead guitar
- with Delbert McClinton's Rondells, "Far Horizons" (1965), "Don't Say That You Love Me" (1965)
Verdine White
- b. 1951 in Chicago, IL
- soul/pop/rock singer
- instruments: bass, percussions
- with Earth, Wind and Fire (1970-83, and reunions), "Love is Life" (#93 1970), "I Think about Lovin' You" (1971), "Keep Your Head to the Sky" (#52 1973), "Mighty Mighty" (#29 1974), "Devotion" (#33 1974), "That's the Way of the World" (#12 1975), "Shining Star" (#1 1975), "Sing a Song" (#5 1975), "Getaway" (#12 1976), "You Can't Hide Love" (1976), "Serpentine Fire" (#13 1977), "Got to Get You into My Life" (#9 1978), "September" (#8 1978), "After the Love Has Gone" (#2 1979), "Let Me Talk" (#44 1980), "Let's Groove (Tonight)" (#3 1981), "Fall in Love with Me" (#17 1983), "System of Survival" (#60 1987), "Sunday Morning" (#53 1993)
- with The Ramsey Lewis Trio (1966-69)
- brother of Fred and Maurice White
- see Earth, Wind, and Fire
Bruce Woodley
- b. 1942 in Melbourne, Australia
- folk singer
- instrument: guitar
- founding member of The Seekers (1965-68, 1994- ), * "I'll Never Find Another You" (#4 1964), * "A World of Our Own" (#19 1965), "Georgy Girl" (#2 1967), "Chase a Rainbow (Follow Your Dreams)" (1967, he wrote)
- songwriter, co-wrote The Cyrkle's "Red Rubber Ball" (#1 1967), "I Wish You Could Be Here" (#70 1967)
Charles Wright
- b. 1940/42 in Clarksdale, MS (grew up in Los Angeles, CA)
- soul/rock singer
- instruments: piano, guitar
- "Silly Lil' Girl" (1973), "Nonsense" (1973), "Worlds Apart" (2004), "High-Maintenance Woman" (2004)
- founding member and leader of The Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band (1968- ), "Do Your Thing" (#11 1969), "Till You Get Enough" (#67 1969), "Love Land" (#16 1970), "Express Yourself" (#12 1970), "Road Without an End" (1970), "Solution for Pollution" (1971), "Your Love (Means Everything to Me)" (#12 1971), "I Got Love" (1972)
- founding member of Charles Wright and the Wright Sounds (1962-67)
- see The Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band on Wikipedia
- see Charles Wright
July 26
Al Banks
- b. 1937
- doo-wop singer (tenor/falsetto)
- founding member and lead singer of The Turbans (1953-62), "Let Me Show You (Around My Heart)" (1955), "When You Dance" (#33 1955, #114 1961, One-Hit Wonder), "I'll Always Watch Over You" (1955), "It Was a Nite Like This" (1956), "All of My Love" (1956), "Sister Sookey" (1956), "B-I-N-G-O (Bingo)" (1956), "I Promise You Love" (1958), "Diamonds and Pearls" (1960), "Three Friends (Two Lovers)" (1961), "Six Questions" (1962), "I Wonder (I Wanna Know)" (1962)
- with Charlie Thomas' Drifters (197?- )
- songwriter
Dobie Gray (Leonard Victor Ainsworth or Laurence Darrow Brown)
- b. 1940/42 in Brookshire, TX
- soul/country/R&B singer
- "Love Has a Way" (1960), "A Boy and a Girl in Love" (1961), "The 'In' Crowd" (#13 1965), "Walk With Love" (1965), "Out on the Floor" (1966), * "Drift Away" (#5 1973), "Thank You for Tonight" (1979), "Stranger in the Mirror" (1983), "That's One to Grow on" (#35c 1986), "The Dark Side of Town" (#42c 1986, he co-wrote), "From Where I Stand" (#67c 1986), "You Must Have Been Reading My Heart" (1987)
- with Pollution, "Getting Together" (1970), "Angela Jerome" (1970), "Do You Really Have a Heart?" (1971)
- duet with Uncle Kracker, "Drift Away" (2003)
- songwriter
- actor
- see Dobie Gray
Erskine Hawkins (Erskine Ramsey Hawkins)
- b. 1914 in Birmingham, AL - d. 11 Nov 1993 in Willingboro, NJ (heart attack)
- jazz/blues/swing musician, instrument: trumpet
- founding member of Erskine Hawkins and His Orchestra (1934-57), "Rockin' Rollers' Jubilee" (1938), "A Study in Blue" (1938), "Tuxedo Junction" (#7 1940, he co-wrote), "Whispering Grass (Don't Tell the Trees)" (1940), "Someone's Rockin' My Dreamboat" (1941), "Don't Cry, Baby" (#6c 1944), "Miss Eva" (1949), "Remember My Love" (1952), "Midnight Stroll" (1952)
- songwriter
- md. 1st to Florence Browning (1935- ); md. 2nd to Gloria Dumas
Bobby Hebb (Robert Von Hebb)
- b. 1938 in Nashville, TN
- country/R&B/pop singer
- instrument: trumpet
- "Just a Little Bit More" (1962), "Betty Jo from Ohio" (1966), "Sunny" (#2 1966, he wrote), "A Satisfied Mind" (#39 1966), "My Pretty Sunshine" (1967), "Some Kind of Magic" (1967), "Woman in the Window" (1972), "That's All I Wanna Know" (2005)
- with Roy Acuff's Smokey Mountain Boys (1952)
- songwriter
Mick Jagger (Michael Philip Jagger)
- b. 1943 in Dartford, England
- rock singer
- instruments: guitar, piano, harp, synthesizer
- "Memo from Turner" (1970), "Just Another Night" (#12 1985), "Lucky in Love" (#38 1985)
- lead singer and founding member of the Rolling Stones (1962- ), "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" (#1 1965, he co-wrote), "She Said Yeah" (1965), "As Tears Go By" (1965, he co-wrote), "Get Off My Cloud" (#1 1965), "Oh Baby (We've Got a Good Thing Goin')" (1965), "Paint it Black" (#1 1966), "19th Nervous Breakdown" (1966, he co-wrote), "Ruby Tuesday" (#1 1967), "Stray Cat Blues" (1968), "Honky-Tonk Woman" (#1 1969), "Moonlight Mile" (1971), "Can't You Hear Me Knocking?" (1971), "Brown Sugar" (#1 1971), "Tumbling Dice" (#7 1972), "Angie" (#1 1973), "Miss You" (#1 1978), "Start Me Up" (#2 1981), "Under Cover of the Night" (#9 1983), "Mixed Emotions" (#5 1989)
- duet with David Bowie, "Dancing in the Street" (#7 1985)
- songwriter
- music producer; actor
- md. to Bianca Morena de Macias (1971-80); md. to model, Jerry Hall (1990-99)
- see The Rolling Stones on Wikipedia
- see Mick Jagger
Paul Kirby (Paul David Kirby)
- b. 1972 in Albuquerque, NM
- country singer
- instrument: guitar
- founding member of The Cactus Brothers (1992-96), "Sweet Old-Fashioned Girl" (1993, he co-wrote), "One More Night with You" (1993, he wrote), "This Love's Gonna Fly" (1995, he co-wrote), "Secret Language" (1995, he co-wrote), "A Woman's Touch" (1995, he co-wrote)
- founding member of Walk the West (1984-89), "Do You Wanna Dance?" (1986), "Precious Times" (1986), "Think it Over" (1986)
- songwriter
- son of songwriter, Dave Kirby
Darlene Love (Darlene Wright)
- b. 1938 in Los Angeles, CA
- R&B/pop singer
- "(Today I Met) the Boy I'm Gonna Marry" (#39 1963), "Playing for Keeps" (1963), "Wait Til My Bobby Gets Home" (#26 1963), "Too Late to Say You're Sorry" (1966), "Lord, if You're a Woman" (1977)
- with The Blossoms (1958-80), "Son-In-Law" (1961), "That's When the Tears Start" (1965), "Good, Good Lovin'" (1967), "Soul and Inspiration" (1969), "One Step Away" (1970), "Walking on Air" (1977)
- The Blossoms recording as The Wildcats, "What Are You Gonna Do?" (1964)
- founding member of Bob B. Soxx and the Blue Jeans, "Zip-A-Dee Doo-Dah" (#8 1962), "Why Do Lovers Break Each Other's Hearts?" (#38 1963), "Not Too Young to Get Married" (1963), "Annette" (1963)
- "He's a Rebel" (#1 1962) and "He's Sure the Boy I Love" (#11 1963) were credited to The Crystals' but were by Darlene Love backed by The Blossoms
- The Blossoms were backup on Duane Eddy's "Dance with the Guitar Man" (#12 1962), "Boss Guitar" (#28 1963)
- backup singer singer
- actress
- see The Blossoms
Kenny Maines
- b. 1954 in Lubbock, TX
- country/rock/Christian musician, instruments: guitar, harmonica
- "If I Could Find the Words" (2006, he wrote), "Muddy Road" (2006, he wrote), "I'd Rather Be Dancing" (2006, he co-wrote)
- founding member of The Maines Brothers Band (1976- ), "Dream Spinner" (1980), "Farm Road 40" (1980), "I Finally Got it Right" (1981), "On a Real Good Night" (1981), "Panhandle Dancer" (1982), "Flatland Farmer" (1982), "Easy to Love" (1982), "You Are a Miracle" (#85c 1984), "Everybody Needs Love on a Saturday Night" (#24c 1985), "Danger Zone" (#59c 1986), "River of Love" (1987), "Red Hot and Blue" (1987), "Dark Hearts" (1987), "Pink and Black Song" (1987), "You Can't Get the Hell Out of Texas" (1987), "Dry Land Farm" (1990), "Gonna Be a Cowboy" (1990), "Let the Rain Come Down" (1990)
- md. to Sharon Hibner (1980- )
- Lubbock County Commissioner (1992-2004)
- see The Maines Brothers Band
- see Kenny Maines
Jimmy Sacca
- b. 1929 in Lockport, NY
- R&B singer
- "Alone with My Heart" (1954), "Mansion on the Hill" (1954)
- founding member and lead singer of The Hilltoppers (1951-63, 1968-79), "Trying" (1952), "I Keep Telling Myself" (1952), "Love Walked in" (#8 1953), "P.S. I Love You" (#4 1953), "I Found Your Letter" (1954), "Bettina" (1954), "Only You (and You Alone)" (#8 1955), "Do the Bop" (1956), "Faded Rose" (1956), "Until You're Mine" (1956), "Marianne" (#3 1957), "Peggy's Sister" (1958), "Lots of Luck" (1959), "No Longer Lonely" (1963)
- served in the Army (1953-55), The Hilltoppers recorded songs before he left to release while he was gone
Roger TaylorRoger Meddows-Taylor)
- b. 1949 in England
- rock singer
- instruments: drums, percussions, guitar, bass, keyboards
- "Let's Get Crazy" (1981), "Strange Frontier" (1984), "Surrender" (1999)
- founding member of Queen (1970- ), "Killer Queen" (#12 1974), "Bohemian Rhapsody" (#9 1975, #2 1991), "You're My Best Friend" (#16 1976), "I'm in Love with My Car" (1976, he wrote), "Somebody to Love" (#13 1976), "We Are the Champions" (#4 1977), "Bicycle Race" (1978), "Crazy Little Thing Called Love" (#1 1979), "Another One Bites the Dust" (#1 1980), "Body Language" (#11 1982), "Cool Cat" (1982), "Radio Ga Ga" (#16 1984, he wrote), "It's a Hard Life" (#27 1984), "A Kind of Magic" (1986, he wrote), "These Are the Days of Our Lives" (1991, he wrote), "The Show Must Go on" (#2 1992)
- founding member of The Cross, "Cowboys and Indians" (1987), "Final Destination" (1990), "Life Changes" (1991)
- session musician with Eric Clapton, Kansas, Roger Daltrey, Elton Johan, and others
- songwriter
- see Queen on Wikipedia
Brenton Wood (Alfred Jesse Smith)
- b. 1941 in Shreveport, LA (grew up in San Pedro, CA)
- pop/soul singer
- instrument: piano
- "That's the Way it is" (1960), "Hide-Away" (1963), "Cross the Bridge" (1966), "Gimme a Little Sign" (#9 1967, he wrote), "I Think You've Got Your Fools Mixed Up" (1967), "Baby, You Got it" (#34 1967), "Lovey-Dovey Kinda Lovin'" (#99 1968), "Sad Little Song" (1971), "Come Softly to Me" (1977)
- founding member of Little Freddie and the Rockets
- songwriter
- works to encourage teens to get a good education
July 27

Duncan Cameron
- b. 1956 in Utica, NY
- country/rock singer
- instrument: lead guitar
- with The Amazing Rhythm Aces (1978- , replaced Barry Burton), "Ashes of Love" (#100c 1978), "Whispering in the Night" (1979), "I Musta Died and Gone to Texas" (#77c 1980), "Waitin' on Sundown" (1997), "Cold, Cold Rain" (1997), "I Feel Forever" (1997), "Out of the Storm" (1997)
- with Sawyer Brown (1991-2004, replaced Bobby Randall), "The Walk" (#2c 1991), "Some Girls Do" (#1c 1991), "Burning Bridges on a Rocky Road" (1991), "Café on the Corner" (#5c 1992), "All These Years" (#3c 1993), "The Dirt Road" (#3c 1992), "Thank God for You" (#1c 1993), "Drive Away" (1993), "The Boys and Me" (#4c 1994), "Hard to Say" (#5c 1994), "This Time" (#2c 1995), "I Don't Believe in Goodbye" (#4c 1995), "Treat Her Right" (#3c 1996), "This Night Won't Last Forever" (#6c 1997), "Drive Me Wild" (#44, #6c 1998), "Circle of Your Arms" (#45c 2002), "Can You Hear Me Now?" (#57c 2002)
- pilot
- see Sawyer Brown
Stacy Dean Campbell
- b. 1967 in Carlsbad, NM
- country singer
- "Lonesome Wins Again" (1992), "That Blue Again" (1992), "Rosalee" (#54c 1992), "A Poor Man's Roses" (#55c 1993, he co-wrote), "I Can Dream" (1995), "Honey, I Do" (61c 1995, he co-wrote), "Rain Just Falls" (1999), "Ashes of Old Love" (1999)
- songwriter
Bill Engvall (William Ray Engvall, Jr.)
- b. 1957 in Galveston, TX
- country/novelty singer
- "I'm a Cowboy" (#60c 1998, he co-wrote), "Here's Your Sign (Christmas)" (#39c 1998, #46c 1999), "I'm a Cheap Drunk" (2002), "After Twenty Years of Marriage" (2002), "Getting Old Sucks" (2003), "Wives and NASCAR" (2007)
- duet with Travis Tritt, "Here's Your Sign (Get the Picture)" (#43, #29c 1997, he co-wrote)
- duet with John Michael Montgomery, "Warning Signs" (#56c 1997, he co-wrote)
- duet with Jeff Foxworthy and Marty Stuart, "The Blue Collar Dollar Song" (#63c 2000, he co-wrote)
- duet with Neal McCoy, Tracy Byrd and T. Graham Brown, "Now That's Awesome" (#59c 2000, he co-wrote)
- duet with Julie Reeves, "Shoulda Shut Up" (#71c 2000, he co-wrote)
- songwriter
- comedian; actor
- see Bill Engvall
Kim Fowley
- b. 1942 in Los Angeles, CA
- pop/rock/novelty singer
- instrument: keyboards
- "Something New and Different" (1966), "Love is Alive and Well" (1967), "Reincarnation" (1967), "Barefoot Country Boy" (1968), "Nightrider" (1968), "Born to Make You Cry" (1970), "International Heroes" (1973), "Dancing All Night" (1973)
- songwriter
- music producer; DJ
- poet
Harvey Fuqua
- b. 1928/29 in Louisville, KY
- R&B/doo-wop singer (baritone)
- "Twelve Months of the Year" (1959), "She Loves Me So" (1962), "(Dance) Any Way You Wanna" (1962)
- founding member and lead singer of The Moonglows (1951-60, 1972), "I Just Can't Tell You No Lie" (1952), "I Knew from the Start" (1957), "Soda Pop" (1958), "I'll Never Stop Wanting You" (1959), "You've Chosen Me" (1972)
- founding member of The Nite-Lighters (1963- ), "Cherish Every Precious Moment" (1972), "I've Got Dreams to Remember" (1972)
- duets with Bobby Lester (as by The Moonlighters), "So All Alone" (1954), "A Hug and a Kiss" (1954)
- duet with Etta James (some as by Betty and Dupree), "I Hope You're Satisfied" (1959)
- songwriter
- music producer
- md. to Gwen Gordy (1963- )
- see The Moonglows on Wikipedia
Bobbie Gentry (Roberta Lee Streeter)
- b. 1944 in Chickasaw County, MS
- country singer
- instrument: guitar, bass, piano, banjo, autoharp
- "Ode to Billy Joe" (#1, #17c 1967, #54 1976, she wrote), "Mississippi Delta" (1967), "Okolona River Bottom Band" (#54 1968), "Fancy" (#31, #26c 1970)
- duets with Glen Campbell, "Mornin' Glory" (#74 1968), "Less of Me" (#44c 1968), "Let it Be Me" (#36, #14c 1969), "Ace Insurance Man" (1969), "Seasons Come, Seasons Go" (1970), "All I Have to Do is Dream" (#27, #6c 1970), "Apartment 21" (1970)
- duet with Jody Reynolds, "Stranger in the Mirror" (1963)
- songwriter
- md. to Bill Harrah (1969), md. to Jim Stafford (1978-79)
Curtis Gordon (Edward Curtis Gordon)
- b. 1928 near Moultrie, GA - d. 2 May 2004 in GA (cancer)
- western swing/honky-tonk/rockabilly singer
- "You Ain't Seen Nothin' Yet" (1952), "Rompin' and Stompin'" (1953), "If You Tell Me One More Lie" (1953), "Caffeine and Nicotine" (1954), "I'd Do it for You" (1954), "Our Secret Rendezvous" (1955), "Draggin'" (1956), "Mobile, Alabama" (1956), "Sittin' on Top of the World" (1957), "For the Last Time" (1962)
- session musician with Chet Atkins, Ernest Tubb, Hank Snow, Hank Garland, and others
- songwriter
- served in the Army
Homer (Henry Doyle 'Junior' Haynes)
- b. 1918/20 in Knoxville, TN – d. 7 Aug 1971 (heart attack)
- country singer
- instrument: guitar
- "Roll Along, Kentucky Moon" (1949)
- with The String Dusters
- with Homer and Jethro (1932-71), "The Girl in Police Gazette" (1949), "Tennessee Border No. 2" (#14c 1949), "Billboard Song" (1952), "Child Psychology" (1952), "How Much is That Hound Dog in the Winder?" (#2c 1953), * "You-ewe-u" (1953), * "Hernando's Hideaway" (#14c 1954), "The Ballad of Davy Crew-Cut" (1955), "The Nutty Lady of Shady Lane" (1955), "Two-Tone Shoes" (1956), "Lullaby of Bird Dog" (1958), "The Battle of Kookamonga" (#14, #26c 1959, One-Hit Wonder), "Middle-Aged Teenager" (1959), "I Want to Hold Your Hand" (#49c 1964), "Charlie Cheated on His Income Tax" (1965), "Hillbilly Hippie" (1968), "Daddy Played First Base" (1970), "We Didn't Make it Through the Night" (1971)
- Homer and Jethro with June Carter, "Baby, it's Cold Outside" (#9c 1949), "The Wedding of Hillbilly Lilli Marlene" (1949), "The Huckle Buck" (1949), "She Loves to Cry" (1951), "Knock-Kneed Suzie" (1951)
- session musician with Chet Atkins, and others
- comedian
- served in the military during WWII
Stan Lark
- b. 1940 in Raton, NM
- pop singer
- instrument: bass
- founding member of The Fireballs (1958- ), "Fireball" (1958), "Torquay" (#39 1959), "Bulldog" (#24 1959), "Long Long Ponytail" (1959), "Sweet Talk" (1960), "Quite a Party" (#27 1961), "Gunshot" (1961), "Callin' the Sheriff" (1961), "My Heart is Free" (1963), "Sugar Shack" (#1 1963), "Daisy Petal Pickin'" (#15 1964), "Daytona Drag" (1964), "Thunder 'n' Lighting" (1964), "Cinnamon Cindy" (1965), "Wild Roses" (1966), "Ain't That Rain?" (1966), "Shy Girl" (1967), "Bottle of Wine" (#9 1968), "Three Minutes' Time" (1968), "Light in the Window" (1969), "Watch Her Walk" (1969)
- see The Fireballs
Maureen McGovern (Maureen Therese McGovern)
- b. 1949 in Youngstown, OH
- "The Morning After" (#1 1973), "I Won't Last a Day Without You" (#89 1973), "Give Me a Reason to Be Gone" (#71 1974), "Even Better Than I Know Myself" (1975), "Can You Read My Mind?" (#52, #93c 1989), "Different Worlds" (#19 1989)
- actress
- see Maureen McGovern
David Muse
- b. 1949
- rock musician, instruments: sax, flute, harmonica, keyboards
- founding member of Firefall (1975-81, 1983-84, 2000-03), "You Are the Woman" (#9 1976), "Just Remember I Love You" (#11 1977), "Strange Way" (#11 1978), "Staying with it" (1981)
- with the Marshall Tucker Band (1996-2000, 2003- ), "I Like Good Music" (1997), "Love I Gave to You" (1998), "Long Goodbye" (1998), "Ways of a Woman" (1998), "Southern Belle" (1998), "Will the Circle Be Unbroken?" (1999), "His Eye is on the Sparrow" (1999), "Down This Road Before" (2004), "Angel (With a Honky-Tonk Heart)" (2004)
- see The Marshall Tucker Band
Heather Myles
- b. 1962/63 in Riverside, CA
- country/honky-tonk singer
- with her band The Cadillac Cowboys, "Rum and Rodeo" (1992, she wrote), "Just Like Old Times" (1992, she co-wrote), "One Good Reason Why" (1992, she co-wrote), "Cadillac Cowboy" (1995, she wrote), "If the Truth Hurts" (1996, she wrote), "Love Me a Little Bit Longer" (#75c 1998, she wrote), "You've Taken Me Places I Wish I'd Never Been" (1998, she wrote), * "You're Gonna Love Me One Day" (1998, she wrote), * "Kiss an Angel Good Morning" (1998), "Sweet Talk and Good Lies" (2002, she wrote), "Big Cars" (2002, she wrote)
- duet with Merle Haggard, "No One is Gonna Love You Better" (1998, she wrote)
- duet with Dwight Yoakam, "Little Chapel" (2002, she wrote)
- songwriter
Al Ramsey
- b. 1943 in Danfield, NJ
- rock musician, instrument: bass
- founding member of Gary Lewis and the Playboys (1964-65), * "Little Miss Go Go" (1965), "This Diamond Ring" (#1 1965), "Count Me in" (#2 1965), "Save Your Heart for Me" (#2 1965), "She's Just My Style" (#3 1965), "Everybody Loves a Clown" (#4 1965), "I Won't Make That Mistake Again" (1965)
- see Gary Lewis and the Playboys
Robert Rappaport
- b. 1943 in NJ
- novelty/pop singer
- instrument: guitar
- founding member and lead singer of The Ran-Dells, "Martian Hop" (#16 1963, One-Hit Wonder, he co-wrote), "Forgive Me Darling (I Have Lied)" (1963), "Sound of the Sun" (1964), "Beyond the Stars" (1964)
- songwriter
- hotel owner
- cousin of Steve Rappaport and John Spirit
Nick Reynolds
- b. 1933 in San Diego, CA (grew up in Coronado Island, CA)
- folk singer
- instruments: guitar, tenor guitar, banjo
- founding member of The Kingston Trio (1957-67), "Tom Dooley" (#1 1958), "The Tijuana Jail" (#12 1959), "Round about the Mountain" (1959), "M.T.A." (#15 1959), "A Worried Man" (#20 1959), "El Matador" (#32 1960), "Where Have All the Flowers Gone?" (#21 1962), * "Ally, Ally, Oxen Free" (1963), "Greenback Dollar" (#21 1963), "Reverend Mr. Black" (#8 1963), "Desert Pete" (#33 1963)
- with The New Kingston Trio (1987-99)
- see The Kingston Trio
Michael Vaughn
- b. 1950 in Sheffield, England
- pop/rock singer
- instrument: guitar
- founding member of Paper Lace (1969- ), "Elsie" (1971), "I've Got You, That's Enough for Me" (1972), "Billy, Don't Be a Hero" (#96 1974), * "The Night Chicago Died" (#1 1974, One-Hit Wonder), * "The Black-Eyed Boys" (#41 1974)
July 28

Todd Anderson
- b. 19??
- country/rock musician, instrument: drums
- founding member of Heartland, "I Loved Her First" (#34, #1c 2006), "Boys Like Us" (2006), "Freebird in a Firebird" (2006), "Built to Last" (#58c 2007), "Once a Woman Gets a Hold of Your Heart" (#52c 2007)
Mike Bloomfield (Michael Bernard Bloomfield)
- b. 1943 in Chicago, IL – d. 15 Feb 1981 in San Francisco, CA (drug overdose)
- blues/rock singer
- instruments: guitar, piano
- "Analine" (1977), "Kansas City Blues" (1977, he wrote), "City Girl" (1977)
- founding member and lead of the Paul Butterfield Blues Band (1963-66), "Born in Chicago" (1965), "Thank You, Mr. Poobah" (1965, he co-wrote), "Our Love is Drifting" (1965, he co-wrote), "East-West" (1966, he co-wrote), "Mary, Mary" (1966)
- founding member of Electric Flag (1967-68), "Green and Gold" (1967)
- with The Chicago Loop, "(When She Needs Good Lovin') She Comes to Me" (#37 1966, One-Hit Wonder), "This Must Be the Place" (1966), "Cloudy" (1967)
- session musician with Bob Dylan, and others
- songwriter
- see Electric Flag on classicbands.com
- see The Paul Butterfield Blues Band on Wikipedia
- see Mike Bloomfield
Randy Cornor
- b. 1954 in Houston, TX
- country singer
- instrument: guitar
- "Sometimes I Talk in My Sleep" (#9c 1975), "Heart, Don't Fail Me Now" (#33c 1976), "I Guess You Never Loved Me Anyway" (#72c 1976), "Ring, Telephone, Ring" (#95c 1978, he co-wrote), "Hurt as Big as Texas" (1978)
- session musician
- songwriter
George Cummings
- b. 1938 in Meridian, MS
- country/rock musician, instrument: steel guitar
- founding member of Dr. Hook and the Medicine Show (1968-75), Sylvia's Mother" (#1 1972), "The Cover of Rolling Stone" (#6 1972), "Four Years Older Than Me" (1972), "Carry Me, Carrie" (1973)
- with The Flares (1959- , 2004- ), "Loving You" (1960), "Foot Stomping" (#25 1961, One-Hit Wonder), "Truck and Trailer" (1962), "Make it Be Me" (1962), "Write a Song About Me" (1964), "Sock Hop" (1964), "Hummin' in the Wind" (2005), "Goodbye's Too Good for You" (2005)
- The Flares recording as The Peppers, "A Place in My Heart" (1961), "A Little Piece of Paper" (1963), "It Wouldn't Be the Same" (1963)
- with The Chocolate Papers
- session musician with Lonnie Mack, Big Joe Williams, and others
- songwriter
Floyd Domino (Jim Haber)
- b. 1952 in CA
- western swing musician, instruments: keyboards, piano, organ
- founding member of Asleep at the Wheel (1971-78), "I'm the Fool (Who Told You to Go)" (1973), "Choo Choo Ch'Boogie" (#69c 1975), "The Letter That Johnny Walker Read" (#10c 1975), "Bump Bounce Boogie" (#31c 1976), "Nothin' Takes the Place of You" (#35c 1976), "Route 66" (#48c 1976), "Miles and Miles of Texas" (#38c 1977), "One O'Clock Jump" (1978)
- session pianist on George Strait's "Ace in the Hole" (#1c 1989); and with Waylon Jennings, Merle Haggard, and others
- see Asleep at the Wheel
- see Floyd Domino
Peter Doyle (Peter John Doyle)
- b. 1949 in Australia – d. 13 Oct 2001 in Australia (throat cancer)
- folk/pop singer
- "Like I Love You" (1965), "If You Can Put That in a Bottle" (1967), "Plastic Dreams and Toy Balloons" (1967), "Rusty Hands of Time" (1973), "Friday on My Mind" (1976), "One More River" (1977, he wrote), "Sailor Man" (1977, he wrote), "This and That" (1980, he wrote), "Wake up with Me" (1980, he wrote)
- with The New Seekers (1970-73), "Look What They've Done to My Song, Ma" (1970), "When There's No Love Left" (1970), * "I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing" (#7 1971), "The Nickel Song" (1971), "Cincinnati" (1971, he wrote), "The World I Wish for You" (1972), "Unwithered Rose" (1972, he wrote), "I'll Be Your Song" (1972, he wrote), "Ride a Horse" (1973)
- songwriter
Steve Duncan
- b. 1953 in Knoxville, TN
- country/rock singer
- instruments: drums, percussions, guitar
- founding member and drummer with the Desert Rose Band (1985-90), "Once More" (1987), "Ashes of Love" (#26c 1987), "He's Back and I'm Blue" (#1c 1987), "Love Reunited" (#6c 1987), "One Step Forward" (#2c 1987), "I Still Believe in You" (#1c 1988), "Summer Wind" (#2c 1988), "She Don't Love Nobody" (#3c 1989), "Hello, Trouble" (#11c 1989), "Start All Over Again" (#6c 1990), "In Another Lifetime" (#13c 1990), "Story of Love" (#10c 1990)
- with Rick Nelson's Stone Canyon Band (1975-78)
- session musician with Emmylou Harris, Rose Maddox, Freddy Fender, Steve Wariner, and others
Jonathan Edwards
- b. 1946 in Aitkin, MN (grew up in VA)
- country/folk/bluegrass singer
- instruments: guitar, harmonica, piano, bass, drums
- "Sunshine" (#4 1971, One-Hit Wonder, he wrote), "Dusty Morning" (1971, he wrote), "Shanty" (1971, he wrote), "Stop and Start it All Over Again" (1972), "Ballad of Upsy Daisy" (1972), "Thirty Miles to Go" (1973), "Places I've Been" (1973), "Favorite Song" (1976, he wrote), "Never Together (But Sometimes Close)" (1977), "Girl from the Canyon" (1977, he wrote), "Back to Where I Don't Belong" (1985), "Don't This Road Look Rough and Rocky" (1985), "Seven Daffodils" (1985), "We Need to Be Locked Away" (#64c 1988), "It's a Natural Thing" (#59c 1989), "Our First Kiss" (1994, he wrote), "Everything Takes Time" (1994, he wrote), "Dime-a-Dance Romance" (1997), "Man in the Moon" (1997, he wrote), "Do You Remember Me?" (1997, he wrote), "Little Hands" (2000, he wrote), "Until Someone Says Goodbye" (2002, he wrote), "Too Many Yesterdays" (2002, he wrote)
- sessionist with Emmylou Harris, Jimmy Buffet, and others
- songwriter
- see Jonathan Edwards
Junior Kimbrough (David Kimbrough)
- b. 1930 in Hudsonville, MS - d. 17 Jan 1998 in Holly Springs, MS (stoke)
- blues/country singer
- instrument: guitar
- "Tramp" (1968)
- founding member of The Soul Blues Boys, "Keep Your Hands Off Her" (1982), "I Feel Good, Little Girl" (1982), "Meet Me in the City" (1992), "You Better Run" (1992), "Slow Lightnin'" (1992), "Sad Days, Lonely Nights" (1993)
- songwriter
- Charlie Feathers once described Junior as 'the beginning and end of all music' and that is inscribed on Junior's tombstone
Simon Kirke
- b. 1949 in Wales
- rock musician, instrument: drums
- founding member of Free (1970-73), "All Right Now" (#4 1970)
- founding member of Bad Company (1973- ), "Can't Get Enough" (#5 1974), "Rock 'n' Roll Fantasy" (#13 1979)
Vinny Narcardo
- b. 1941
- doo-wop/rock singer (baritone)
- founding member of The Capris (1958-59, 1961-65), "My Promise to You" (1959), "There's a Moon Out Tonight" (#3 1961, One-Hit Wonder), "Some People Think" (1961), "Girl in My Dreams" (#92 1961), "Limbo" (#99 1962), "From the Vine Came the Grape" (1963)
- see The Capris
Michael Powers (Michael Murchison)
- blues/rock singer
- instruments: acoustic guitar, electric guitar
- "She's About a Mover" (2004), "Psychotic Reaction" (2004), "Every Grain of Sand" (2006), "Wild Side" (2006), "Prodigal Son" (2006)
- lead singer with The Ad Libs (1966- ), "Every Boy and Girl" (1966), "New York in the Dark" (1968)
- founding member of Moonbeam
- songwriter
Buddy Spicher
- b. 1938 in Dubois, PA
- western swing musician, instrument: fiddle
- with The Texas Playboys (1967)
- with Area Code 615 (1969- ), "Why Ask Why?" (1969), "Southern Comfort" (1969), "Stone Fox Chase" (1970)
- with Bill Monroe's Blue Grass Boys (1961, 1964-65, 1977, 1987-88), "Shenandoah Breakdown" (1964), "Scotland" (#27c 1965), "I Live in the Past" (1965), "My Sweet Blue-Eyed Darling" (1977)
- with J.D. Crowe and the New South (1999), "Come on Down to My World" (1999), "(I'm So) Afraid of Losing You Again" (1999), "You Didn't Say Goodbye" (1999)
- session fiddle player
- see The Blue Grass Boys
- see The Texas Playboys
Rick Wright (Richard William Wright)
- b. 1945 in London, England
- rock singer
- instruments: piano, organ, keyboards, synthesizer
- founding member of Pink Floyd (1964- ), "Arnold Layne" (1967), "See Emily Play" (1967), "It Would Be So Nice" (1968, he wrote), "Julia Dream" (1968), "Remember a Day" (1968), "Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun" (1968), "Pigs on the Wing" (1977), "Another Brick in the Wall" (#1 1980)
- songwriter
- see Pink Floyd
Gene Wyatt (Preston Eugene Wyatt)
- b. 1937 in Lake Village, AR (grew up in Shreveport, LA) - d. 16 Jan 1979 in Shreveport, LA (killed himself)
- rock/rockabilly/country singer
- instrument: guitar
- "Love Fever" (1957), "Lover Boy" (1957), "Prettiest Girl at the Dance" (1959), "Music and Arithmetic" (1959), "I Just Ain't Got (as Much as He's Got Going for Me)" (#69c 1968), "I Stole the Flowers From Your Garden" (#74c 1968), "Chains Around My Heart" (1968), "My Story of Love" (1969), "Back Door of My Mind" (1970), "As Long as I Live" (1970)
- session musician with David Houston, and others
July 29
Charlie Christian (Charles Henry Christian)
- b. 1916 in Bonham, TX (grew up in Oklahoma City, OK) – d. 2 Mar 1942 in New York, NY (tuberculosis and pneumonia)
- jazz/swing/bebop/country musician, instrument: electric guitar
- with the Benny Goodman Sextet (1939-41), "Good Enough to Keep" (1940), "Wholly Cats" (1940), "Airmail Special" (1941)
- session musician with Lionel Hampton, and others
- he contributed to the development of bebop
- see Benny Goodman
Neal Doughty (Neal Allan Doughty)
- b. 1946 in Evansville, IL
- rock musician, instrument: keyboards
- founding member of REO Speedwagon (1968- ), "157 Riverside Avenue" (1971), "Take it on the Run" (#5 1981), "In Your Letter" (#20 1981), "Keep on Loving You" (#1 1981), "Keep the Fire Burnin'" (#7 1982), "Can't Fight This Feeling" (#1 1985), "That Ain't Love" (#16 1987), "In My Dreams" (#19 1987), "Here with Me" (#20 1988)
- songwriter
- avid bicyclist
Ed Hunnicutt
- b. 1951 in Troy, NY (grew up in Columbia, SC)
- country/rock/R&B singer
- instrument: guitar
- "Fade to Blue" (#69c 1983, he co-wrote), "My Angel's Got the Devil in Her Eyes" (#59c 1983), "In Real Life" (#41c 1984)
- songwriter
- real estate agent
- md. to Cathy Gaughn
Terry Lauber
- b. 1950
- folk/pop singer (high baritone)
- instrument: 6-string guitar, mandolin, pedal steel guitar, dobro
- "Here for You" (2009), "The Way You Look Tonight" (2009)
- with The Brothers Four (1990- , replaced Dick Foley)
- duets with Dick Foley, "Seven Daffodils" (2006), "Reason to Believe" (2006)
- session musician with Chet Atkins, and others
- see The Brothers Four
Bernie Mackey (Bernard Mackey)
- b. 1909 in Indianapolis, IN - d. 5 Mar 1980
- R&B singer (tenor)
- instrument: guitar
- with The Ink Spots (Oct1943-Mar45, replaced Charlie Fuqua)
- The Ink Spots with Ella Fitzgerald, "I'm Making Believe" (#1 1944), "I'm Beginning to See the Light" (#5 1945)
Martina McBride (Martina Mariea Schiff)
- b. 1966 in Medicine Lodge, KS (grew up on a dairy farm near Sharon, KS)
- country singer
- "The Time Has Come" (#23c 1992), * "Independence Day" (#12c 1993), "My Baby Loves Me" (#2c 1993), "Life Number Nine" (#6c 1994), "All the Things We've Never Done" (1995), "Safe in the Arms of Love" (#4c 1996), "Phones Are Ringing All Over Town" (#28c 1996), * "Born to Give My Love to You" (1995), "Wild Angels" (#1c 1996), "Cry on the Shoulder of the Road" (#26c 1997), "A Broken Wing" (#50, #1c 1997), "Happy Girl" (#2c 1998), "Wrong Again" (#36, #1c 1999), "Whatever You Say" (#37, #2c 1999), "I Love You" (#24, #1c 1999), "Love's the Only House" (#42, #3c 1999), "There You Are" (#60, #10c 2000), * "When God-fearing Women Get the Blues" (#64, #8c 2001), "Blessed" (#31, #1c 2002), * "Concrete Angel" (#47, #5c 2002, she co-wrote), "Where Would You Be?" (#45, #3c 2002), "This One's for the Girls" (#39, #3c 2003), "In My Daughter's Eyes" (#39, #4c 2003), "How Far?" (#68, #12c 2004), "Anyway" (#32, #5c 2006), "How I Feel" (#20c 2007)
- duet with Clint Black, "Still Holding on" (#11c 1997)
- duet with Jim Brickman, "Valentine" (#50, #9c 1998)
- duet with Jimmy Buffett, "Trip Around the Sun" (#20c 2004)
- md. to John McBride (1988- , they got married in Wichita, KS)
- she is left-handed
- see Martina McBride
Frank Miller
- b. 1918 in Brooklyn, NY
- folk/pop singer
- instrument: guitar
- founding member of The Easy Riders (1953-59), "Marianne" (#5 1957, One-Hit Wonder, he co-wrote), "So True Blues" (1959)
- The Easy Riders backing Dean Martin, "Memories Are Made of This" (#1 1956, he co-wrote)
- session musician on Frankie Laine's "Love is a Golden Ring" (#10 1957), and others
- songwriter, co-wrote The Brothers Four's "Greenfields" (#2 1960)
- served in the Navy
James Otto (James Allen Otto)
- b. 1973 in Fort Lewis, WA
- country singer
- instrument: rhythm guitar
- "The Ball" (#45c 2002), "Days of Our Lives" (#33c 2004), "Sunday Morning and Saturday Night" (#58c 2004), "She Knows" (2004), "Just Got Started Lovin' You" (#50, #5c 2007), "Drink and Dial" (2008), "Sunset Man" (2008)
- songwriter
- served in the Navy
Carlo Santanna
- b. 1947 near Rome, Italy (grew up in England)
- pop/rock singer
- instrument: lead guitar
- founding member of Paper Lace (1969-76), "Elsie" (1971), "I've Got You, That's Enough for Me" (1972), "Billy, Don't Be a Hero" (#96 1974), * "The Night Chicago Died" (#1 1974, One-Hit Wonder), * "The Black-Eyed Boys" (#41 1974), "Hitchin' a Ride '74" (1974)
- songwriter
- (not connected with Santana)
Marty Schiff (Martin Schiff)
- b. 1968 in Medicine Lodge, KS (grew up on a dairy farm outside Sharon, KS)
- country musician, instrument: guitar
- guitarist with Martina McBride's band (1997, 2003- ), "Cry on the Shoulder of the Road" (#26c 1997), "A Broken Wing" (#50, #1c 1997), "This One's for the Girls" (#39, #3c 2003), "In My Daughter's Eyes" (#39, #4c 2003), "How Far?" (#68, #12c 2004), "Anyway" (#32, #5c 2006), "How I Feel" (#20c 2007)
- younger brother of Martina McBride
- not sure if he was born on his sister's birthday of someone mixed the days
Randy Sparks
- b. 1933 in Leavenworth, KS
- folk singer
- "I'll Be True" (1957), "The Big Night" (1960)
- founding member and lead of The New Christy Minstrels (1961-64, and reunions), "Everybody Loves Saturday Night" (1963), "Green, Green" (#14 1963, he co-wrote), "Today" (#17 1964, he wrote), "Saturday Night" (1964)
- founding member of The Back Porch Majority (1964- )
- session musician
- songwriter
- rancher
- see The New Christy Minstrels
John Sykes
- b. 1959 in England
- rock musician, instrument: guitar
- "I Don't Believe in Anything" (1995), "Everything I Need" (1997), "Till the Day I Die" (1997), "Nothing Means Nothing" (2000), "Nuclear Cowboy" (2000), "Thunder and Lightning" (2004)
- with Whitesnake (1984-87), "Standing in the Shadows" (1984), "Is This Love?" (#2 1987, he co-wrote), "Still of the Night" (#79 1987, he co-wrote), "Here I Go Again" (#1 1987), "Crying in the Rain" (1987), "Give Me All Your Love" (#48 1988)
- with Thin Lizzy (1983, 2000)
- songwriter
- see Whitesnake
- see John Sykes
July 30
Paul Anka (Paul Albert Anka)
- b. 1941 in Ottawa, Canada
- pop singer
- "Diana" (#1 1957, he wrote), "You Are My Destiny" (#7 1958, he wrote), "Lonely Boy" (#1 1959, he wrote), "Put Your Head on My Shoulder" (#2 1959, he wrote), "Puppy Love" (#2 1960, he wrote), "My Hometown" (#8 1960), "Summer's Gone" (#11 1960), "Dance on, Little Girl" (#10 1961), "Kissin' on the Phone" (#35 1961), "Tonight My Love, Tonight" (#13 1961), "The Story of My Love" (#16 1961), "Eso Beso (That Kiss)" (#19 1962), "A Steel Guitar and a Glass of Wine" (#13 1962), "Love Me Warm and Tender" (#12 1962), "Love (Makes the World Go 'Round)" (#26 1963), "Remember Diana" (#39 1963), "In My Imagination" (1964), "Goodnight, My Love" (#27 1969), "This is Love" (#35 1978), "Hold Me Til the Morning Comes" (#40 1983, he co-wrote)
- duets with Odia Coates, "One-Man Woman, One-Woman Man" (#7 1974), "You're Having My Baby" (#1 1974, he wrote), "I Don't Like to Sleep Alone" (#8 1975), "(I Believe) There's Nothing Stronger Than Our Love" (#15 1975), "Times of Your Life" (#7 1976, he wrote)
- backup singer on Joe Bennett and the Sparkletones' "Black Slacks" (#17 1957)
- songwriter, wrote Tom Jones "She's a Lady" (#2 1971); Buddy Holly's "It Doesn't Matter Anymore" (#13 1959)
- actor
- md. to model, Anne De Zogheb (1963-2000)
- became a U.S. citizen in 1990
- see Paul Anka
Edd Byrnes (Edward Byrne Breitenberger)
- b. 1933 in New York, NY
- rock singer
- instrument: trombone
- duet with Connie Stevens, "Kookie Kookie (Lend Me Your Comb)" (#4 1959, One-Hit Wonder)
- duets with Joanie Sommers "Like I Love You" (#42 1959), "Hot Rod Rock" (1959)
- actor
- md. to Asa Maynor (1962-71)
Chris Darrow
- b. 1944 in Sioux Falls, SD (grew up in CA)
- country/folk/rock/bluegrass singer
- instrument: guitar, fiddle, mandolin
- "Albuquerque Rainbow" (1973, he wrote), "That's What it's Like to Be Alone" (1973, he wrote), "You Can't Outplay the Blues" (1974, he wrote), "A Southern California Drive" (1982)
- with the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band (1968-69)
- with Linda Ronstadt's backup band, The Corvettes, "Back Home Girl" (1969), "Beware of Time" (1969)
- founding member of Kaleidoscope, "Why Try?" (1967), "I Found Out" (1967)
- duets with Robb Strandlund, "Wages of Sin" (2006), "Thou Shalt Not Steal" (2006), "Chains" (2006)
- songwriter
- photographer
- see The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
Buddy Guy (George Guy)
- b. 1936 in Lettsworth, LA
- blues/rock singer
- instruments: acoustic guitar, electric guitar
- "First Time I Met the Blues" (1960), "Skippin'" (1962), "When My Left Eye Jumps" (1962), "I Dig Your Wig" (1964), "Every Girl I See" (1967), "I Had a Dream Last Night" (1968), "Come See about Me" (1972), "Ten Years Ago" (1974), "All Your Love" (1982), "You Called Me in My Dream" (1982), "Feels Like Rain" (1993), "Just to Be with You" (2006), "Stormy Monday" (2006)
- duets with Junior Wells, "High Heal Sneakers" (1991), "Don't Leave Me" (1991, he wrote), "Cut You Loose" (1991)
- session musician with Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf, and others
- songwriter
- see Buddy Guy
Pat McBride (Patrick McBride)
- b. 1946 in Chicago, IL
- pop/rock/soul singer (lead baritone)
- instrument: harmonica
- founding member of The New Colony Six (1964-70), "I Confess" (#71 1965), "At the River's Edge" (1966), "Love You So Much" (#55 1966), "Accept My Ring" (1967), "My Dreams Depend on You" (1967), "I Will Always Think about You" (#22 1968), "Things I'd Like to Say" (#16 1968), "Girl Unsigned" (1968), "Hold Me with Your Eyes" (1968), "You Know Better" (1968), "I Could Never Lie to You" (1969), "Prairie Grey" (1969)
Neal McCoy (Hubert Neal McGaughey, Jr.)
- b. 1958 in Jacksonville, TX
- country/honky-tonk singer
- instrument: guitar
- "If I Built You a Fire" (#48c 1991), "Now I Pray for Rain" (#26c 1992), * "No Doubt about it" (#75, #1c 1994), "The City Put the Country Back in Me" (#5c 1994), "Wink" (#91, #1c 1994), "For a Change" (#3c 1995), "They're Playin' Our Song" (#3c 1995), "You Gotta Love That" (#3c 1996), "Then You Can Tell Me Goodbye" (#4c 1996), "If You Can't Be Good (Be Good at it)" (#22c 1997), "The Shake" (#5c 1997), "Love Happens Like That" (#29c 1998), "Forever Works for Me" (#38c 2000), "Billy's Got His Beer Goggles on" (#75, #10c 2005)
- he is part Filipino and part Irish
- md. to Melinda Williams (1980- )
- see Neal McCoy
Christine McGuire
- b. 1926 in Middletown, OH (grew up in Miamisburg, OH)
- pop singer
- founding member of The McGuire sisters (1952-68, and reunions), "Muskrat Ramble" (1954), "Somethings Gotta Give" (#5 1955), "Sincerely" (#1 1955), "It May Sound Silly" (#11 1955), "Sugartime" (#1 1958), "May You Always" (#11 1959), "I Can Dream, Can't I?" (1961), "Just for Old Time's Sake" (#20 1961), "Cordially Invited" (1963), "Candy Heart" (1964), "Truer Than You Are" (1966)
Dwayne O'Brien (Dwayne Keith O'Brien)
- b. 1963 (maybe Jun 30) in Ada, OK
- country singer
- instrument: acoustic guitar
- "High Flight" (2001), "We Remember" (2001), "Crystal Ocean" (2001)
- founding member, singer and rhythm guitarist with Little Texas (1988-97, 2004- ), "Some Guys Have All the Love" (#8c 1991), "What Were You Thinkin'?" (#17c 1992), "You and Forever and Me" (#5c 1992), "I'd Rather Miss You" (#16c 1993), "Stop on a Dime" (#14c 1993), * "God Blessed Texas" (#55, #4c 1993), "What Might Have Been" (#74, #2c 1993), "My Love" (#83, #1c 1993), "Cut-Off Jeans" (1993), "Kick a Little" (#5c 1994), "Amy's Back in Austin" (#4c 1995), "Life Goes on" (#5 1995), "You Gotta Wanna Win" (1996), "Country Crazy" (#44c 1996), "Bad for Us" (#45c 1997), "Kiss the Girl" (#52c 1997)
- aerobatic pilot
- md. to DeLisa (1992- )
- see Little Texas
Danny Roberts
- b. 1963 in Louisville, KY
- country singer (bass)
- instruments: mandolin, guitar
- "Mandolin Orchard" (2004, he wrote), "Old Paths" (2004, he wrote)
- founding member of New Tradition (1982-2000), "The Way, the Truth, the Light" (1991), "No Part of Nothin'" (1992), "Heaven's Highway" (1997), "Daddy on His Knees" (1997), "I'll Take Your Love Anytime" (1997), "Dreams of the Past" (1997)
- with The Grascals (2004- )
- The Grascals and Dolly Parton, "Viva Las Vegas" (#3c 2004)
- session musician
- songwriter
David Sanborn (David William Sanborn)
- b. 1945 in Tampa, FL (grew up in Kirkwood, MO)
- blues/rock/pop/jazz musician, instruments: sax, alto sax, soprano sax, baritone sax
- with Paul Butterfield Blues Band (1967-70), "Droppin' Out" (1967), "Run Out of Time" (1967), "In My Own Dream" (1968), "Walking by Myself" (1969), "Losing Hand" (1969), "Love March" (1969)
- the Paul Butterfield Blues Band performed at Woodstock
- session musician with Eric Clapton, Stevie Wonder, Paul Simon, Elton John, Carly Simon, Billy Joel, and others
- had polio as a child
- see The Paul Butterfield Blues Band on Wikipedia
- see David Sanborn
July 31

Bonnie Brown (Bonnie Jean Brown)
- b. 1937 in Sparkman, AR
- country singer
- instrument: guitar
- with The Browns (1955-66), "Here Today and Gone Tomorrow" (#7c 1955), "Draggin' Main Street" (1956), "I Take the Chance" (#2c 1956), "I Heard the Bluebirds Sing" (#4c 1957), "The Three Bells (The Jimmy Brown Story)" (#1c, #1 1959), "Scarlet Ribbons (for Her Hair)" (#13, #7c 1959), "The Old Lamplighter" (#5, #20c 1960), "Margo (the Ninth of May)" (1960), "Alpha and Omega" (1961), "Dear Teresa" (1963), "Then I'll Stop Loving You" (#12c 1964), "Oh No, Not My Baby" (#24 1965), "Meadowgreen" (1965), "I'd Just Be Fool Enough" (#16c 1966), "Coming Back to You" (#19c 1966)
- songwriter
- md. to Gene Ring
Chad Brock (Harold Chad Brock)
- b. 1963 in Ocala, FL
- country singer
- instrument: guitar
- "Ordinary Life" (#39, #3c 1998), "Lightning Does the Work" (#86, #19c 1999, he co-wrote), "Yes" (#22, #1c 2000), "The Visit" (#21c 2000)
- duet with Hank Williams, Jr. and George Jones, "A Country Boy Can Survive (Y2K version)" (#75, #30c 1999)
- songwriter
- pro wrestler
Morey Carr
- b. 1932 in Waterbury, CT
- pop/novelty singer
- "Meet Me Where We Used to Meet" (1962), "I Was Telling Her About You" (1962)
- founding member of The Playmates (1956-64), "I Have Only Myself to Blame" (1956), "Nickelodeon Rag" (1956), "Barefoot Girl" (1957), "Magic Shoes" (1957), "While the Record Goes Around" (1958), "Jo-Ann" (#9 1958), "Don't Go Home" (#22 1958), "Beep Beep" (#4 1958), "What is Love?" (#15 1959), "Wait for Me" (#37 1960), "Eyes of an Angel" (1960), "Little Miss Stuck-Up" (1961), "Tell Me What She Said" (1961), "What a Funny Way to Show it" (1962), "Petticoats Fly" (1962), "The Cop on the Beat" (1962)
- comedian
Leaveil Degree
- b. 1948 in Los Angeles, CA
- soul/R&B singer
- with The Whispers (1972- , replaced Gordy Harmon), "A Mother for My Children" (#92 1974), "Make it with You" (#94 1977), "And the Beat Goes on" (#19 1980), "Lady" (#28 1980), "It's a Love Thing" (#28 1981), "I Can Make it Better" (1981), "Tonight" (#84 1983), "Rock Steady" (#7 1987), "Innocent" (#55 1990), "My Heart, Your Heart" (1990), "Make Sweet Love to Me" (1995), "For the Cool in You" (1997), "As Soon As I Get Home" (1997)
- with Friends of Distinction
- see The Whispers
Barry DeVorzon
- b. 1934 in NY
- pop singer
- "Barbara Jean" (1957), "Cora Lee" (1959)
- founding member and lead singer of Barry and the Tamerlanes (1961-64), "I Wonder What She's Doing Tonight" (#21 1963, One-Hit Wonder, he co-wrote), "Roberta" (1964), "Lucky Guy" (1964), "A Date with Judy" (1964), "Don't Cry, Cindy" (1964)
- duet with Perry Botkin, Jr., "Nadia's Theme" (#8 1976, he co-wrote)
- songwriter, wrote Marty Robbins' "Just Married" (#26, #1c 1958), Johnny Burnettes' "Dreamin'" (#11 1960)
- music producer, arranger
Steve Gibson
- b. 1952 in Peoria, IL
- country musician, instruments: acoustic guitar, electric guitar, mandolin
- with George Stait's band (1992- ), "I Cross My Heart" (#1c 1992), "Heartland" (#1c 1993), "Easy Come, Easy Go" (#71, #1c 1993), "I'd Like to Have That One Back" (#3c 1994), "The Big One" (#1c 1994), "You Can't Make a Heart Love Somebody" (#1c 1994), "Adalida" (#3c 1995), "Check Yes or No" (#1c 1995, CMA single of the year 1996), "Blue Clear Sky" (#1c 1996), "Carried Away" (#1c 1996), "I Can Still Make Cheyenne" (#4c 1996), "One Night at a Time" (#59, #1c 1997), "Carrying Your Love with Me" (#1c 1997), "Today My World Slipped away" (#3c 1997), "Round about Way" (#1c 1998), "I Just Want to Dance with You" (#61, #1c 1998), "True" (#2c 1998), "We Really Shouldn't Be Doing This" (#44, #4c 1998), "Write This Down" (#27, #1c 1999), "What Do You Say to That?" (#45, #4c 1999), "Meanwhile" (#38, #4c 1999), "The Best Day" (#31, #1c 2000), "Go on" (#40, #2c 2000) "Run" (#34, #2c 2001), "If You Can Do Anything Else" (#51, #5c 2001), "She'll Leave You with a Smile" (#23, #1c 2002), "Living and Living Well" (#27, #1c 2002), "Cowboys Like Us" (#38, #2c 2003), "I Hate Everything" (#35, #1c 2004), "You'll Be There" (#27, #1c 2005), "She Let Herself Go" (#54, #1c 2005), "Give it Away" (#58, #1c 2006), "It Just Comes Natural" (#58, #1c 2007), "Wrapped" (#76, #2c 2007), and others
- session musician with Dave Loggins, B.J. Thomas, Dolly Parton, Neil Young, Eddie Rabbitt, George Strait, Randy Travis, Michael Martin Murphy, Clay Walker, and others
- music producer
Gary Lewis (Gary Harold Lee Levitch)
- b. 1946 in Los Angeles, CA
- rock singer
- instruments: drums, guitar
- founding member of Gary Lewis and the Playboys (1964- ), * "Little Miss Go Go" (1965), "This Diamond Ring" (#1 1965), * "Count Me in" (#2 1965), "Save Your Heart for Me" (#2 1965), "She's Just My Style" (#3 1965), "Everybody Loves a Clown" (#4 1965), "I Won't Make That Mistake Again" (1965, he wrote), "Green Grass" (#8 1966), "My Heart's Symphony" (#13 1966), "Sure Gonna Miss Her" (#9 1966), "(You Don't Have to) Paint Me a Picture" (#15 1966), "I Can Read Between the Lines" (1966), "Tina" (1966), "Jill" (1967), "Has She Got the Nicest Eyes?" (1967), "Sealed with a Kiss" (#19 1968), * "Sara Jane" (1968), * "I Wonder What She's Doing Tonight" (1968), * "Judy in Disguise (with Glasses)" (1968), * "Young Girl" (#2 1968)
- with The Ramsey Lewis Trio, "Egg Nog" (1965), "The 'In' Crowd" (1965)
- served in the Army (1967-68)
- son of comedian, Jerry Lewis
- see Gary Lewis and the Playboys
Lobo (Roland Kent Lavoie)
- b. 1943 in Tallahassee, FL (grew up in Winter Haven, FL)
- pop singer
- instruments: piano, guitar
- * "Me and You and a Dog Named Boo" (#5 1971), "Walk Away From it All" (1971), "She Didn't Do Magic" (#46 1971), "A Little Different" (1971), "I'd Love You to Want Me" (#2 1972), "Don't Expect Me to Be Your Friend" (#8 1973), "It Sure Took a Long Time" (#27 1973), "How Can I Tell Her?" (#22 1973), "Don't Tell Me Goodnight" (#27 1975), "Where Were You When I Was Falling in Love?" (#23 1979), "I Don't Want to Want You" (#40c 1982), "Am I Going Crazy (or Just Out of My Mind)" (#57c 1985)
- founding member of The Wolfpack, "Bull Smith Can't Dance the Cotton-Eyed Joe (#88c 1982, he wrote)
- duet with Robin Lee, "Paint the Town Blue" (#49c 1985)
- songwriter
- see The Fans of Lobo
Blaire Stroud (Ashley Blaire Stroud)
- b. 1983 in Fort Worth, TX
- country singer
- founding member of 3 of Hearts, "6, 8, 12" (2001), "Arizona Rain" (#59c 2001), "Love is Enough" (#43c 2001), "Sugar and Daisies" (2001), "The Hard Way" (2001), "The Christmas Shoes" (#39c 2002)
- actress
Mary Sue Wells
- b. 1946
- R&B singer
- with The Jaynetts, * "Sally Go 'Round the Roses" (#2 1963), "Keep an Eye on Her" (1963), "There's No Love at All" (1964), "Cry Behind the Daisies" (1964), "Who Stole the Cookie?" (1965)
- The Jaynetts recorded as The Hearts, "Dear Abby" (1963)
John West
- b. 1939
- rock musician, instrument: keyboards, guitar
- founding member of Gary Lewis and the Playboys (1964- ), * "Little Miss Go Go" (1965), "This Diamond Ring" (#1 1965), "Count Me in" (#2 1965), "Save Your Heart for Me" (#2 1965), "She's Just My Style" (#3 1965), "Everybody Loves a Clown" (#4 1965), "I Won't Make That Mistake Again" (1965), "Green Grass" (#8 1966), "My Heart's Symphony" (#13 1966), "Sure Gonna Miss Her" (#9 1966), "(You Don't Have to) Paint Me a Picture" (#15 1966), "Jill" (1967), "I Can Read Between the Lines" (1966), "Tina" (1966), "Has She Got the Nicest Eyes?" (1967), "Sealed with a Kiss" (#19 1968), * "Sara Jane" (1968), * "I Wonder What She's Doing Tonight" (1968), * "Judy in Disguise (with Glasses)" (1968), * "Young Girl" (#2 1968)
- see Gary Lewis and the Playboys
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