July 5, 1991 ~ Gavin Wigglesworth, commonly known as pop singer, guitarist, songwriter Gavin James, born in Dublin, Ireland ~ Released his full-length Bitter Pill debut album in 2016 and has been recording to commercial success in his native Ireland since. The album would spawn the hit single Nervous (The Ooh Song) which reached top 30 across Europe including top 10 positions in France and the Netherlands
July 5, 1988 ~ Country singer, guitarist Jake Hoot born in Cookeville, Tennessee, USA ~ Winner of 17th season of NBC's talent show The Voice, aired in 2019. Subsequently released a handful of singles, Better Off Without You, Desperado, and Wintersong would reach top 40 on the Billboard Country charts
July 5, 1981 ~ Singer, actress, model Linda Sundblad, full name Linda Caroline Sundblad, born in Sweden ~ Rose to fame as a member of Lambretta, dropping out of school at age 15 to join the band and remaining with them for the first three albums. Released her Oh MY God in 2006, which included the hit single Oh Father. Also known for songs such as Lose You and Let's Dance. Has guested on recordings by Apocalyptica, Rasmus Faber and Kleerup
July 5, 1980 ~ Alternative rock singer, guitarist Jason Wade, full name Jason Michael Wade, born in Camarillo, California, USA ~ Lead singer of Lifehouse, known for songs such as Hanging By A Moment, Breathing, You And Me, Halfway Gone, and others. As a solo artist known his rendition of You Belong To Me for the Shrek soundtrack
July 5, 1979 ~ Bassist, composer, director, producer Derrick Hodge born ~ In-demand collaborator in neo-soul and jazz. Has worked in one capacity or another with artists such as Common, Jill Scott, Maxwell, Floetry, Nas, James Poyser, Musiq Soulchild, Robert Glasper Experiment, Quincy Jones, Don Was, Terence Blanchard, Donald Byrd, Mulgrew Miller, Bootsie Barnes, and others. Noted credits include serving as orchestral arranger and music director in 2014 for the performance of Illmatic by Nas and the National Symphony Orchestra upon its 20th anniversary of the album release
July 5, 1979 ~ Singer, songwriter Shane Filan, full name Shane Steven Filan, born in Sligo, Ireland ~ Member of Irish boy band Westlife, alongside Kian Egan, Nicky Byrne, Shane Filan and Brian McFadden, known for songs such as Swear It Again, Flying Without Wings, Fool Again, What Makes A Man, Queen Of My Heart, Hey Whatever, You Raise Me Up and Amazing, all of which reached top 10 in both the band's native Ireland and the UK. Debuted as a solo artist with the album You And Me in 2013
July 5, 1977 ~ Ryan Daniel Montgomery, commonly known as rapper, songwriter Royce da 5'9", born in Detroit, Michigan, USA ~ Member of hip hop supergroup Slaughterhouse. Formed the duo Bad Meets Evil with Eminem. Formed the duo PRhyme with DJ Premier. Active as a solo artist since the early 2000s. Has collaborated with Willa Ford, Promise, Tech N9ne, Consequence, Big Sean, Bun B, Papa Roach, Gang Starr, and others
July 5, 1976 ~ Rufus Arthur Johnson, commonly known as rapper Bizarre, born in Detroit, Michigan, USA ~ Best known for his work with D12, short for “Dirty Dozen”, which also included Eminem. As a solo artist best known for his 2005 single Rockstar of his Hannicap Circus debut album. The single would reach the top 20 in the UK and the Netherlands
July 5, 1975 ~ Singer, guitarist Maarten van Praag born ~ Discovered by Henk Temming. Lead singer of City To City, known best for their 1999 The Road Ahead hit single
July 5, 1973 ~ Alternative rock drummer Bengt Lagerberg born ~ Member of Swedish pop rock outfit the Cardigans, best known for a number of late 1990s singles including My Favourite Game, Erase-Rewind and the Tom Jones-collaboration Burning Down The House. Also worked with Brothers Of End
July 5, 1973 ~ Joseph Lewis Thomas, mononymously known as singer, songwriter, producer Joe, born in Columbus. Georgia, USA ~ Rose to prominence with his Everyting debut album released in 1993, spawning the Billboard R&B top 10 hit I'm In Luv. Perhaps best known for his 2001 Stutter hit single featuring Mystikal. Has also collaborated with G-Unit, Papoose, Kelly Rowland, Case (Faded Pictures), Prince Markie Dee, Big Pun, 98° (Thank God I Found You), Chico DeBarge, BeBe Winans, Angie Stone (More Than A Woman), Tony Yayo, Keith Sweat, 50 Cent, and others
July 5, 1973 ~ Singer Roisin Murphy born in Arklow, Ireland ~ Rose to fame as member of trip hop duo Moloko alongside Mark Brydon, known for songs such as Sing It Back, The Time Is Now and Familiar Feeling. After the duo disbanded Murphy has recorded as a solo artist, starting with 2005's Ruby Blue, and has collaborated with Crookers, David Byrne, Fatboy Slim, the Feeling, David Morales, Invisble Cities, and others
July 5, 1970 ~ Producer, DJ Kenny Dope Gonzalez born in Brooklyn, New York, USA ~ Formed the house production duo Masters At Work with Little Louie Vega. Also co-wrote and produced the 1994 dance hit The Bomb (These Sounds Fall Into My Mind) under the moniker the Bucketheads which reached top 20 in several countries including the Netherlands and the UK
July 5, 1964 ~ Hard rock singer Gary Hughes born in Manchester, UK ~ Front man of hard rock, melodic rock outfit TEN. Over half a dozen albums to his name as a solo artist, starting with 1989's Big Bad Wolf. Also closely associated with Magnum-singer Bob Catley, producing and co-writing on Catley's first three solo albums. Has also worked in one capacity or another with Hugo, Vinny Burns, Johnny Lima, Ayreon, and with Serpentine
July 5, 1961 ~ Hard rock, blues rock, pop rock keyboardist, guitarist, singer Timothy Drury born in California, USA ~ First gained attention backing Don Henley on The End Of Innocence in 1989. Would go on to work with the Eagles, Whitesnake, Bryan Adams, Melissa Etheridge, Stevie Nicks, the Mob, Yes, Don Felder, and others
July 5, 1959 ~ Folk-rock singer, keyboardist, guitarist, songwriter Marc Cohn, full name Marc Craig Cohn, born in Cleveland, Ohio, USA ~ Best known for his 1991 hit Walking In Memphis of his eponymous Marc Cohn album
July 5, 1956 ~ Guitarist, bandleader, songwriter Billy Jenkins born in Bromley, UK ~ Member of Burlesque. Member of Trimmer & Jenkins. Led the Voice Of God Collective, which also included Iain Ballamy and Django Bates
July 5, 1956 ~ Christian singer, songwriter, evangelist Sheila Walsh born in Glasgow, UK ~ Outside gospel, CCM audiences best known for a number of 1980s duets with Cliff Richard (Drifting) and Alvin Stardust (I Hope And I Pray)
July 5, 1956 ~ Drummer Terry Chimes born in London, UK ~ Original drummer for the Clash, present on the band's eponymous The Clash debut album. Would go on to work with Johnny Thunders punk rock outfit the Heartbreakers, Cowboys International, Generation X, Hanoi Rocks, Billy Idol, and others. Has also notably toured with Black Sabbath in 1987 in support of the band's Eternal Idol album. Chimes retired from music by the mid-1990s to work as a chiropractor in Essex
July 5, 1955 ~ Jazz pianist Eric Watson born in Wellesleys, Massachusetts, USA ~ Has worked with John Lindberg, Ed Thigpen, and with Steve Lacy. Watson has been releasing solo albums since the early 1980s
July 5, 1955 ~ Henry Lee Swartz, commonly known as singer, guitarist, pianist, drummer Henry Lee Summer, born in Brazil, Indiana, USA ~ Best known for late 1980s hits such as I Wish I Had A Girl and Hey Summer Baby
July 5, 1953 ~ Blues slide guitarist Kenny Brown born in Selma, Alabama, USA ~ Mentored by Mississippi Joe Callicott early in his teens, and later by RL Burnside, who would affectionately call Brown his “my white son.” Appeared on the Burnside's Too Bad Jim and A Ass Pocket Of Whiskey albums. Also notably backed Junior Kimbrough on the 1993 Sad Days And Lonely Nights album. As a solo artist best known for his 2003 Stingray album
July 5, 1953 ~ Guitarist Paul Hackman, full name Paul Wayne Hackman, born in St Thomas, Canada ~ Member of hard rock outfit Helix from 1976 until his death in 1992. Notably present on the band's Rock You and Deep Cuts The Knife, the latter written by Hackman and Bob Halligan Jr ~ Hackman passed away in 1992
July 5, 1953 ~ Electric blues, blues-rock singer, guitarist, songwriter Ron Thompson born in Oakland, California, USA ~ Accomplished solo artist. Formed the Resisters. Has also worked with Little Joe Blue, John Lee Hooker, Lowell Fulson, Etta James, Big Mama Thornton, Mark Naftalin, and others
July 5, 1953 ~ Alfred Peter Zappacosta, mononymously known as rock, pop, jazz singer, guitarist Zappacosta, born in Sora, Italy ~ Member of Surrender, perhaps best known for their 1979 eponymous Surrender album. Active as a solo artist since the mid-1980s, with some dozen albums to his name. Well-known songs include Passion, We Should Be Lovers, When I Fall In Love Again, and Nothing Can Stand In Your Way. Member of supergroup the Northern Lights, known for the 1985 charity single Tears Are Not Enough raising relief funds for the mid-1980s Ethopian famine. Has also on occasion dabbled in acting on stage and film, notably starring in the 2005 HAlo film
July 5, 1951 ~ Folk singer, guitarist, accordionist, songwriter Dave Moore born in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, USA ~ Best known for his critically acclaimed 1999 Breaking Down To 3 album, featuring musicians such as Bo Ramsey and David Zollo. Has also collaborated with Peter Ostroushko, Radoslav Lorkovic, Greg Brown, and others
July 5, 1951 ~ Junko Abe, commonly known as enka singer, actress Keiko Fuji, born in Ichinososeki, Japan ~ Married to producer Teruzane Utada. The couple married and divorced seven times and have one daughter, singer Hikaru Utada. Debuted in 1970 with the Shiunjuku No Onna Enka (No Hoshi Fuji Keiko No Subete) in 1970 ~ Abe passed away in 2013
July 5, 1950 ~ Hugh Anthony Creg III, commonly known as singer Huey Lewis, born in New York, New York, USA ~ Eponym and frontman of Huey Lewis & the News, known for a string of 1980s radio-friendly hits such as Uf This Is It, The Power Of Love, Stuck With You, Hip To Be Square and Jacob's Ladder. Haas also worked with Clover, American Express, Thin Lizzy (Live & Dangerous), Nick Lowe, Dave Edmunds, Phil Lynott, Bruce Hornsby, Jimmy Barnes, Joe Louis Walker, Dick Dale, Sammy Hagar, Nick Gravenites, and others
July 5, 1950 ~ Guitarist, singer Michael Monarch born in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Original lead guitarist of Steppenwolf, remaining with the band for the first three albums and present on the band's best-known including Magic Carpet Ride, Rock Me and Born To Be Wild. Also worked with Janis Joplin, appearing on the 1969 I Got Dem Ol' Kozmic Blues Again Mama album. Member of 1970s rock band Detective. Member of supergroup World Classic Rockers
July 5, 1949 ~ Keyboardist Tommy Eyre born ~ In-demand session keyboardist. Worked with Joe Cocker (notably on With A Little Help From My Friends), John Martyn, Gary Moore, Alex Harvey, Greg Lake, BB King, John Mayall, Ian Gillan, Gerry Rafferty (Baker Street), Tracy Chapman, Mark Almond, Wham, George Michael, Zzebra, Keb' Mo, Jake Andrews, and others ~ Eyre passed away in 2001
July 5, 1948 ~ Locksley Alphonso Green, commonly known as drummer, singer Jesse Green, born in St James, Jamaica ~ Member of reggae outfit the Pioneers. Drummed with Jimmy Cliff in the late 1970s. Internationally best known for a number of mid-1970s disco hits, namely Nice And Slow, Flip and Come With Me
July 5, 1948 ~ Rock, psychedelic rock, blues rock singer, guitarist, songwriter Larry Wagner, full name Lawrence Jay Wagner, born ~ Lead singer, guitarist for late-1960s rock outfit the Fraternity Of Man, with whom he recorded the albums Fraternity Of Man and Get It On. The band is remembered for Don't Bogart Me, also known as Don't Bogart That Joint, which was used in the soundtrack of the cult road movie Easy Rider
July 5, 1945 ~ Rock, glam rock singer Andy Ellison born in Finchley, UK ~ Best known as frontman of Jet, Radio Stars and notably of the short-lived John's Children. The latter was a 1960 pop art, mod rock band known for their outrage stage antics, once booted off a tour for upstaging the headline act the Who. The band, seen as a precursor to glam rock and best known for their 1967 Desdemona single, also included Marc Bolan of future T.Rex fame
July 5, 1945 ~ Bassist, guitarist Dick Scoppettone born in Santa Cruz, California, USA ~ Member of Harper's Bizarre, known for a string of sunshine pop covers of standards and contemporary pop hits, noted for their 1967 Billboard Hot 100 top 20 single The 59th Street Bridge Song (Feelin' Groovy) originally recorded by Simon & Garfunkel. All band members actually played in the Tikis but the single and its subsequent debut album were released under the new moniker as not to upset their fanbase
July 5, 1943 ~ Jaime Royal Robertson, commonly known as guitarist, singer, songwriter Robbie Robertson, born in Toronto, Canada ~ Best known as lead guitarist of the Band. Wrote or co-wrote songs such as The Weight, The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down, and Up On Cripple Creek. As a solo artist best known for Broken Arrow and Somewhere Down The Crazy River, both taken of his eponymous 1987 Robbie Robertson solo debut album. The album would feature appearances by his former bandmates as well as Peter Gabriel, and U2's Bono and the Edge ~ Robertson passed away in 2023
July 5, 1942 ~ Drummer, singer Ammon Tharp, full name Ammon Chester Tharp, born in Norfolk, Virginia, USA ~ Longtime member of Bill Deal & the Rhondels, who enjoyed their greatest success in the late 1960s merging blue-eyed soul with beach music. They are best known for the 1969 Billboard Hot 100 top 30 hit What Kind Of Fool Do You Think I Am. Other charting songs included May I, I've Been Hurt, and Nothing Succeeds Like Success. The band disbanded in the mid-1970s but would later reform ~ Tharp passed away in 2017
July 5, 1942 ~ Singer Darron Stankey born ~ Member of harmony vocal group the Innocents, known for a number of late-1950s, early 1960s hits including Honest I Do and Gee Whiz. The group would be paired with singer Kathy Young, providing backing vocals to Young's A Thousand Stars which reached the Billboard Hot 100 in 1960
July 5, 1942 ~ Highland Ralph Dobson, commonly known as reggae, rocksteady singer Dobby Dobson, born in Kingston, Jamaica ~ Dubbed “the Loving Pauper” after one of his best known songs. First gained attention as co-founder, frontman of Dobby Dobson & the Deltas, scoring the 1959 self-penned hit Cry A Little Cry. Would go on to work with acts such as the Virtues and the Sheiks before venturing out on his own, scoring hits such as That Wonderful Sound and Endlessly. Would serve as producer for the Meditations, producing the late 1970s albums Message From The Meditations and Wake Up before semi-retiring from music ~ Dobson passed away in 2020
July 5, 1940 ~ Jazz saxophonist Arthur Blythe, full name Arthur Murray Blythe, born in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Leader and sideman. Worked with Chico Hamilton, Gil Evans, Lester Bowie, Jack DeJohnette, McCoy Tyner, Steve Reid, the Leaders, Synthesis, Santi Debriano, Joey Baron, Jack DeJohnette, Chico Freeman, the Music Revelation Ensemble, the World Saxophone Quartet, and Interface ~ Blythe passed away in 2017
July 5, 1938 ~ Rockabilly singer, songwriter Ronnie Self born in Tin Town, Missouri, USA ~ As a singer known for his sole charting single, Bop A Lula, a modest hit in 1958. Best known as a songwriter, responsible for songs such as I'm Sorry, Sweet Nothin's and Everybody Loves Me But You all of which were hits for Brenda Lee ~ Self passed away in 1981
July 5, 1938 ~ Thomas Leslie Garrett, commonly known as producer Snuff Garrett, born in Dallas, Texas, USA ~ Became a staff producer at Liberty Records in 1959 eventually rising to head of A&R. Has worked with Johnny Burnette, Bobby Vee, Gene McDaniels, Buddy Knox, Walter Brennan, Gary Lewis & the Playboys, Del Shannon, the Monkees, Phil Spector, Leon Russell, Lenny Waronker, Sonny & Cher, Cher, Tommy Tedesco, Sonny Curtis, Vicki Lawrence, Tanya Tucker, Johnny Mann SIngers, and others ~ Garrett passed away in 2015
July 5, 1938 ~ Marion Brittingham, commonly known as R&B, soul singer Tina Britt, born in Smyrna, Delaware, USA ~ Known for half a dozen singles, her best known being 1965's The Real Thing written by Nickolas Ashford, Valerie Simpson and Jo Armstead and a sole album, Blue All The Way, released in 1969
July 5, 1937 ~ Country banjoist, guitarist Bobby Thompson born in Converse, South Carolina, USA ~ In-demand session musician, mostly active from the 1960s through the 1980s. Member of Area Code 615, alongside Weldon Myrick and Charlie McCoy. Has appeared on albums by the likes of the Monkees, Charley Pride, Dottie West, Willie Nelson (Yesterday's Wine), the Everly Brothers, Donna Fargo, Johnny Cash, Ferlin Husky, Waylon Jennings (The Ramblin' Man), the Pointer Sisters, the Statler Brothers, Ronnie Milsap, Jimmy Buffett, Eddie Rabbitt, Dolly Parton (Jolene), Mickey Newbury, the Oak Ridge Boys, Jerry Lee Lewis (When Two Worlds Collide), Loretta Lynn, Reba McEntire, and Neil Young ~ Thompson passed away in 2005
July 5, 1935 ~ Singer, guitarist, banjoist Shirley Collins, full name Shirley Elizabeth Collins, born in Hastins, UK ~ Sister of pianist, organist Dolly Collins, with whom she regularly collaborated. Active since the late 1950s. Leading figure in the British folk revival of the 1960s and 1970s. Has worked with the Albion Band, the Young Tradition, Davey Graham, the Etchington Steam Band, Current '93, and others
July 5, 1927 ~ Label executive Stan Lewis born in Shreveport, Louisiana, USA ~ Former record shop owner founded Jewel Records. Co-penned Dale Hawkins's Susie Q said to be a tribute to Stan's daughter Susan. As a label owner and producer Lewis has worked with artists such as Fontella Bass, Buster Benton, Brady Blade, the Blind Boys Of Alabama, Charles Brown, the Carter Brothers, Clarence Fountain, Peppermint Harris, Lowell Fulson, Mickey Gilley, John Lee Hooker, Lightnin' Hopkins, Pigmeat Markham, Bobby Rush, the Soul Stirrers, Dorothy Norwood, Little Johnny Taylor, Big Joe Turner, Ike & Tina Turner, Young-Holt Unlimited, and others ~ Lewis passed away in 2018
July 5, 1926 ~ Composer Kenneth Gaburo, full name Kenneth Louis Gaburo, born in Somerville, New Jersey, USA ~ Professor of music at the University Of Illinois, the University Of California, the University Of Iowa. Founded Lingua Press, publishing scores, books, and films. As a composer perhaps best known for his Flow Of U, a minimalist composition for three voices published in 1974 ~ Gaburo passed away in 1993
July 5, 1924 ~ Cellist János Starker born in Budapest, Hungary ~ Child prodigy. Associated with the Budapest Opera, the Budapest Philharmonic Orchestra, the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, the Metropolitan Opera, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, and others ~ Starker passed away in 2013
July 5, 1913 ~ Overton Amos Lewis, commonly known as singer Smiley Lewis, born in DeQuincy, Louisiana, USA ~ Known for about half a dozen 1950s singles, most notably Tee Nah Nah, Blue Monday, I Hear You Knocking and One Night Of Sin. The latter would be covered by Elvis Presley with slightly altered, less risque lyrics as One Night ~ Lewis passed away in 1966