Music History Events: Births
August 21, 1939 Country singer Harold Reid (of The Statler Brothers) is born in Staunton, Virginia. He co-wrote many of the group's hits, including "Bed of Rose's" and "Do You Know You Are My Sunshine."
August 19, 1939 Ginger Baker (drummer for Cream) is born Peter Edward Baker in Lewisham, South London, England.
August 18, 1939 Pop singer Johnny Preston is born in Port Arthur, Texas.
August 11, 1939 Rockabilly guitarist Ronnie Dawson is born in Dallas, Texas. He makes a name on the local scene in the '50s and '60s but becomes much more visible during the rockabilly resurgence of the '90s.
August 9, 1939 Billy Henderson, a founding member of The Spinners, is born in Detroit, Michigan.
August 8, 1939 Baritone singer Phil Balsley (of The Statler Brothers) is born in Staunton, Virginia.
August 7, 1939 Pop singer Ron Holden is born in Seattle, Washington. Known for the 1960 hit "Love You So."
August 4, 1939 R&B singer Frankie Ford is born in Gretna, Louisiana.
August 2, 1939 Edward Patten (of Gladys Knight and the Pips) is born in Atlanta, Georgia.
July 18, 1939 Brian Auger (keyboardist for Steampacket) is born in Hammersmith, London, England.
July 17, 1939 Spencer Davis (of The Spencer Davis Group) is born in Swansea, Wales.
July 16, 1939 Blues/R&B singer Denise LaSalle is born in Mississippi. Her first hit is "Trapped By A Thing Called Love," which tops the R&B chart and lands at #13 on the Hot 100 in 1971.
July 12, 1939 Pop singer Kenny Dino is born in Astoria, Queens, New York. Known for the 1961 hit "Your Ma Said You Cried in Your Sleep Last Night."
July 2, 1939 Paul Williams (original lead singer for The Temptations) is born in Birmingham, Alabama.
July 2, 1939 Leapy Lee, known for the 1968 hit single "Little Arrows," is born Graham Pulleyblank in Eastbourne, England.
July 1, 1939 Delaney Bramlett, who co-fronted the early-'70s rock/soul ensemble Delaney & Bonnie with then-wife Bonnie Bramlett, is born in Pontotoc, Mississippi.
June 24, 1939 Oz Bach (guitarist for Spanky and Our Gang) is born Paul Michael Bach in Paw Paw, West Virginia.
June 22, 1939 Bobby Harrison is born in West Ham, England. The Procol Harum drummer will leave the band, along with guitarist Ray Royer, to form Freedom.
June 19, 1939 Soul singer Al Wilson is born in Meridian, Mississippi.
June 17, 1939 Dave Alldred (drummer for The Rhythm Orchids, Dickie Doo & the Don'ts) is born.
June 16, 1939 Billy "Crash" Craddock, rockabilly/country singer of the '70s known for hits like "Rub It In" and "Broken Down In Tiny Pieces," is born in Greensboro, North Carolina.
June 11, 1939 Country singer Wilma Burgess, known for hit singles like "Misty Blue" throughout the '60s and '70s, is born in Orlando, Florida.
June 6, 1939 Gary U.S. Bonds is born Gary Anderson in Jacksonville, Florida. His stage name, originally just "U.S. Bonds," comes from posters advertising United States savings bonds. His big hit comes in 1961 with the #1 "Quarter To Three."
June 3, 1939 Ian Hunter (lead singer of Mott the Hoople) is born Ian Hunter Patterson in Shropshire, England, to a Scottish father.
May 27, 1939 Don Williams, singer of 11 #1 country hits such as "You're My Best Friend" (1975) and "I'm Just A Country Boy" (1977), is born in Floydada, Texas.
May 14, 1939 One-hit-wonder Troy Shondell, known for his 1961 chart-topper "This Time," is born Gary Wayne Schelton in Fort Wayne, Indiana.
May 7, 1939 Johnny Maestro (original lead singer for The Crests, Brooklyn Bridge) is born John Mastrangelo in New York City.
May 6, 1939 Herbie Cox (lead singer of The Cleftones) is born in Cincinnati, Ohio.
May 1, 1939 Folk singer Judy Collins is born in Seattle, Washington.
April 23, 1939 '60s pop singer Ray Peterson is born in Denton, Texas.
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