This week’s birthday celebrants.
Blues singer/harmonica player Sonny Boy Williamson II (born Aleck “Rice” Miller), December 5, 1908
Polish pianist/inspiration of Roman Polanski’s film The Pianist Władysław Szpilman, December 5, 1911
Other December 5 birthdays:
English composer Henry Lawes, 1595
Italian violinist/composer Francesco Geminiani, 1687
Early rocker Richard Wayne “Little Richard” Penniman, 1932
Singer/songwriter/guitarist J.J. Cale, 1938
Spanish operatic tenor Jose Carreras, 1946
Buffalo Springfield/Loggins & Messina bassist Jim Messina, 1947
Argentinean classical composer Osvaldo Golijov, 1950
Goo Goo Dolls leader Johnny Rzeznik, 1965
Jazz pianist/composer Dave Brubeck, December 6, 1920
Other December 6 birthdays:
German composer Johann Christoph Bach, 1642
Ragtime composer Joseph Lamb, 1887
Lyricist Ira Gershwin, 1896
German early music conductor Nikolaus Harnoncourt, 1929
Polish composer , Henryk Mikołaj Górecki , 1933
Weather Report bassist Miroslav Vitous, 1947
Philly soul songwriter Linda Creed, 1949
R.E.M. guitarist Peter Buck, 1956
Ozzy Osbourne/Quiet Riot guitarist Randy Rhoads, 1956
The Sound frontman Adrian Borland, 1957
Gravel-voice raconteur Tom Waits, December 7, 1949
The Fall guitarist Craig Scanlon, December 7, 1960
Other December 7 birthdays:
Singer/trumpeter/bandleader Louis Prima, 1910
Classical organist Daniel Chorzempa, 1944
Psychedelic Furs bassist Tim Butler, 1958
Irish singer/songwriter Damien Rice, 1973
Allman Brothers singer/organist Gregg Allman, December 8, 1947
Other December 8 birthdays:
Finnish composer Jean Sibelius, 1865
Folk singer Jean Ritchie, 1922
The multi-talented Sammy Davis, Jr., 1925
Jazz organist Jimmy Smith, 1925
Soul singer Jerry “The Iceman” Butler, 1939
Irish flautist James Galway, 1939
The Doors’ exhibitionist singer Jim Morrison, 1943
Irish singer/songwriter Sinead O’Connor, 1966
Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band/The Rutles singer/songwriter Neil Innes, December 9, 1944
Other December 9 birthdays:
German soprano Elisabeth Schwarzkopf, 1915
French avant-garde composer Pierre Henry, 1927
Blues singer Junior Wells, 1934
Jamaican ska and reggae singer/songwriter Clancy Eccles, 1940
Weezer guitarist Brian Bell, 1968
Green Day drummer Tre Cool (born Frank Edwin Wright III), 1972
French composer/organist Olivier Messiaen, December 10 , 1908
Other December 10 birthdays:
Belgian organist/composer César Franck, 1822
American composer Morton Gould, 1913
Star Trek theme composer Alexander Courage, 1919
Russian conductor Yuri Temirkanov, 1938
Chad & Jeremy singer Chad Stuart, 1941
White Stripes drummer Meg White, 1974
Jazz pianist/composer McCoy Tyner, December 11, 1938
Bread/solo singer/songwriter David Gates, December 11, 1940
Other December 11 birthdays:
French composer/egomaniac Hector Berlioz, 1803
Tango singer Carlos Gardel, 1890
Avant-garde composer Elliott Carter, 1908
Blues singer/songwriter Willie Mae “Big Mama” Thornton, 1926
Pop singer Brenda Lee, 1944
Jackson 5 singer Jermaine Jackson, 1954
Mötley Crüe bassist/co-founder Nikki Sixx (born Frank Carlton Serafino Ferrana, Jr.), 1958
Power pop producer Jon Brion, 1963
Black Star/solo rapper/actor Mos Def (born Dante Terrell Smith), 1973
