Pick a Day

Music History Events: Births

June 29, 1938 Billy Storm (of The Valiants, The Alley Cats) is born in Dayton, Ohio. With The Valiants, he released the first version of "Good Golly Miss Molly."

June 26, 1938 R&B singer Billy Davis, Jr. (of The 5th Dimension) is born in St. Louis, Missouri.

May 31, 1938 '60s pop singer Lenny Welch is born in New York.

May 31, 1938 Peter Yarrow (of Peter, Paul and Mary) is born in Manhattan, New York.

May 31, 1938 Johnny Paycheck is born Donald Eugene Lytle in Greenfield, Ohio. His stage name comes from a boxer who was knocked out by Joe Louis.

May 24, 1938 Ska pioneer Prince Buster is born Cecil Bustamente Campbell in Orange Street, Jamaica. He earns his nickname for his boxing prowess.

May 24, 1938 Comedian Tommy Chong (of Cheech & Chong) is born in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.

May 17, 1938 Pervis Jackson, bass vocalist of The Spinners, is born in New Orleans, Louisiana.

May 10, 1938 Henry Fambrough, a founding member of The Spinners, is born in Detroit. He keeps the group going into the 2020s with various lineups.

May 4, 1938 Tyrone Davis is born Tyrone Fettson in Greenville, Mississippi, but is raised by his father in Saginaw, Michigan. Known for his #1 R&B hits, "Can I Change My Mind" (1968), "Turn Back The Hands Of Time" (1970), and "Turning Point" (1975).

April 26, 1938 Maurice Williams of Maurice Williams & the Zodiacs is born in Lancaster, South Carolina. He writes their #1 hit "Stay" as well as another doo-wop classic: "Little Darlin'" by The Diamonds.

April 26, 1938 Twang guitar pioneer Duane Eddy is born in Corning, New York. His signature staccato riff powers hits like "Rebel Rouser" and "Because They're Young," and influences acts like The Ventures and The Shadows.

April 18, 1938 Jazz pianist Hal Galper - known for his work with Chet Baker, Stan Getz, Anita O'Day, and Joe Williams - is born in Salem, Massachusetts.

April 7, 1938 Rock drummer Spencer Dryden (of Jefferson Airplane, New Riders of the Purple Sage) is born in New York City.

April 4, 1938 Actor and singer Michael Parks is born Harry Samuel Parks in Corona, California.

April 4, 1938 Country singer-songwriter Norris "Norro" Wilson is born in Scottsville, Kentucky.

April 3, 1938 Songwriter Jeff Barry is born Joel Adelberg in Brooklyn, New York. In 1964, 17 songs he co-wrote make the Hot 100, including three chart-toppers: "Do Wah Diddy Diddy," "Chapel Of Love" and "Leader of the Pack."

April 2, 1938 Country singer Warner Mack, known for a string of chart-toppers including "Is It Wrong (For Loving You)," is born Warner Hensley McPherson Jr. in Nashville, Tennessee.

March 25, 1938 Singer-songwriter Hoyt Axton is born in Duncan, Oklahoma. As a solo artist, he's known for songs like "Boney Fingers" and "A Rusty Old Halo"; as a songwriter he's best known for "Joy To The World," a huge hit for Three Dog Night in 1970.

March 17, 1938 Zola Taylor (of The Platters) is born in Los Angeles, California.

March 12, 1938 Lew DeWitt (of The Statler Brothers) is born in Roanoke, Virginia.

March 5, 1938 Paul Evans is born in Queens, New York.

February 22, 1938 R&B singer Bobby Hendricks (of The Drifters) is born in Columbus, Ohio.

February 21, 1938 Bobby Charles, composer of the Bill Haley hit "See You Later Alligator," is born in Abbeville, Louisiana.

February 11, 1938 Bobby "Boris" Pickett (of The Crypt-Kickers) is born in Somerville, Massachusetts.

February 8, 1938 R&B singer Ray Sharpe is born in Fort Worth, Texas.

February 1, 1938 Jimmy Carl Black (drummer, vocalist for Mothers of Invention) is born James Carl Inkanish, Jr. in El Paso, Texas.

January 30, 1938 Country singer Norma Jean is born in Wellston, Oklahoma. She is a regular singer on The Porter Wagoner Show from 1961-1967. Her replacement: Dolly Parton.

January 23, 1938 Eugene Church (lead singer of the Fellows) is born in St. Louis, Missouri. Known for the 1958 R&B hit "Pretty Girls Everywhere."

January 14, 1938 Country singer Billie Jo Spears is born in Beaumont, Texas. Her first hit is "Mr. Walker It's All Over" in 1969.