Pick a Day

Born on December 4

1984 The singer Jelly Roll is born Jason DeFord in Antioch, Tennessee (his mom gives him his nickname because he's a chubby kid). He starts off as a rapper and ends up both selling and using drugs, leading to a series of arrests. He starts turning his life around after getting out of jail in 2008, and as a country singer makes his mark with songs about struggle and redemption based on his own story.

1969 Jay-Z (Shawn Corey Carter) is born in housing projects in Brooklyn - something he will remind us of many times in his early songs. Known for his lyrical dexterity, he becomes one of the top rappers in the game and also one of the most profitable, amassing over $1 billion with interests in liquor, apparel and record labels.

1962 Sponge frontman Vinnie Dombroski is born in Detroit, Michigan.

1959 BoDeans bassist Bob Griffin is born in Waukesha, Wisconsin.

1951 Gary Rossington is born in Jacksonville, Florida. He becomes a founding member and guitarist of both Lynyrd Skynyrd and the Rossington-Collins Band. Rossington is inducted into the Rock and Hall of Fame in 2006 as a member of Lynyrd Skynyrd.

1948 Southside Johnny, of the Jersey Shore rock band Southside Johnny & the Asbury Jukes, is born in Neptune, New Jersey.

1944 Beach Boys drummer Dennis Wilson, the only member who surfs, is born in Inglewood, California.

1942 Chris Hillman (of The Flying Burrito Brothers, The Byrds) is born in Los Angeles, California.

1942 Bob Mosley (bass player for Moby Grape) is born in Paradise Valley, California.

1940 Rock 'n' roll singer Freddy Cannon is born Freddy Picariello in Revere, Massachusetts.

1915 Jazz pianist Eddie Heywood, Jr. is born in Atlanta, Georgia.

1879 The Irish composer Herbert Hamilton Harty is born.