This week’s musical birthday celebrants.
Country/gospel singer Tennessee Ernie Ford, February 13, 1919
Genesis and solo singer/songwriter Peter Gabriel, February 13, 1950
Other February 13 birthdays:
Classical pianist Leopold Godowsky, 1870
Russian bass Feodor Chaliapin, 1873
Songwriter (“Bye Bye Love”; “All I Have to Do Is Dream”) Boudleaux Bryant, 1920
Operatic soprano Eileen Farrell, 1920
Monkees multi-instrumentalist Peter Tork, 1942
Traffic percussionist Rebop Kwaku Baah, 1944
Joy Division/New Order bassist Peter Hook, 1956
Black Flag/Rollins Band singer/lyricist Henry Rollins, 1961
Boredoms singer Yamantaka Eye, 1964
Feist singer/songwriter Leslie Feist, 1976
James Brown/Parliament-Funkadelic saxophonist Maceo Parker, February 14, 1943
Other February 14 birthdays:
Chicago blues singer/guitarist “Magic Sam” Maghett, 1937
Folk singer/songwriter Eric Andersen, 1943
Ill-fated singer/songwriter Tim Buckley, 1947
Heart guitarist Roger Fisher, 1950
Finnish soprano Soile Isokoski, 1957
Operatic soprano Renee Fleming, 1959
Songwriter Harold Arlen, February 15, 1905
Other February 15 birthdays:
German composer Michael Praetorius, 1571
French organist/composer Jean Langlais, 1907
Bright Eyes singer/songwriter Conor Oberst, 1980
Jazz/R&B organist Bill Doggett, February 16, 1916
Other February 16 birthdays:
R&B/rock singer/songwriter (“Don’t Be Cruel”; “All Shook Up”) Otis Blackwell, 1932
Sonny & Cher singer/songwriter/producer Salvatore Phillip “Sonny” Bono, 1935
Classical composer John Corigliano, 1938
Rapper Ice-T (born Tracy Marrow), 1958
Def Leppard guitarist Pete Willis, 1960
Duran Duran/Power Station guitarist Andy Taylor, 1961
Slayer drummer Dave Lombardo, 1965
Avant-garde guitarist Fred Frith, February 17, 1949
Other February 17 birthdays:
Italian Baroque composer Arcangelo Corelli, 1653
Belgian composer Henri Vieuxtemps, 1820
Singer/songwriter (“He’s a Rebel”; “Hello Mary Lou”) Gene Pitney, 1940
Green Day frontman Billie Joe Armstrong, 1972
Foo Fighters drummer Taylor Hawkins, 1972
R&B singer Irma Thomas, February 18, 1941
Other February 18 birthdays:
Styx singer/keyboardist/songwriter Dennis DeYoung, 1947
The Fall drummer Paul Hanley, 1964
N.W.A. rapper/producer Dr. Dre (born Andre Romelle Young), 1965
Spirit/Jo Jo Gunne/Firefall/Heart bassist Mark Andes, February 19, 1948
English Beat/General Public singer/guitarist Dave Wakeling, February 19, 1956
Austrian singer Falco (born Johann Hölzel), 1957
Other February 19 birthdays:
Italian composer Luigi Boccherini, 1743
Blues drummer/singer/harmonica player Sam Myers, 1936
Soul singer William “Smokey” Robinson, 1940
Black Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi, 1948
Wishbone Ash guitarist Andy Powell, 1950
R&B singer Seal (Seal Henry Olusegun Olumide Adeola Samuel), 1963
Violinist Gil Shaham, 1971
The Gossip singer/songwriter Beth Ditto (born Mary Beth Patterson), 1981
