Pick a Day

Music History Events: Births

March 31, 1934 Actress/singer Shirley Jones is born in Charleroi, Pennsylvania. After staring in various musicals, she plays Shirley, the matriarch of The Partridge Family on their TV show from 1970-1974. She and David Cassidy, who plays Keith Partridge, are the only cast members to actually sing on their songs.

March 31, 1934 John D. Loudermilk is born in Durham, North Carolina. He records as "Johnny Dee," but has his biggest success as a songwriter, composing "Tobacco Road" and "Indian Reservation (The Lament of the Cherokee Reservation Indian)," a #1 hit for the Raiders in 1971.

March 31, 1934 Richard Chamberlain is born in Beverly Hills, California. He finds fame as the star of TV's Dr. Kildare and also has string of '60s hits in the UK.

March 26, 1934 Actor/singer Alan Arkin (of The Tarriers) is born in Brooklyn, New York.

March 25, 1934 Johnny Burnette (of Johnny Burnette and the Rock and Roll Trio) in Memphis, Tennessee.

March 14, 1934 Jazz organist Shirley Scott is born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

March 4, 1934 Singer/actress Barbara McNair is born in Chicago, Illinois. She releases her debut single, "Till There Was You," in 1958 and goes on to tour with Nat King Cole.

February 18, 1934 Rock guitarist Clyde "Skip" Battin (of Skip and Flip) is born in Gallipolis, Ohio.

February 16, 1934 Herbie and Harold Kalin (of the pop duo Kalin Twins) are born in Port Jervis, New York.

February 14, 1934 Keyboard player Merl Saunders is born in San Mateo, California.

February 8, 1934 Novelty singer Larry Verne is born in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

February 7, 1934 Saxophonist King Curtis is born Curtis Montgomery in Fort Worth, Texas. He plays the distinctive solo on The Coasters' hit "Yakety Yak."

February 7, 1934 Earl King is born Earl Silas Johnson IV in New Orleans, Louisiana. Composer of the blues standard "Come On" (aka "Let The Good Times Roll"), among others.

February 1, 1934 Bob Shane (of The Kingston Trio) is born Robert Castle Schoen in Hilo, Hawaii.

January 26, 1934 R&B pianist Huey "Piano" Smith is born in New Orleans, Louisiana.

January 24, 1934 R&B/gospel singer Ann Cole is born Cynthia Coleman in Newark, New Jersey.

January 16, 1934 Bob Bogle (lead guitarist, bassist for The Ventures) is born in Oklahoma.

January 6, 1934 Country musician Bobby Lord is born in Sanford, Florida, but is raised in Tampa. His biggest hit on the country chart is "Without Your Love" (1956) at #10.

December 17, 1933 Country singer Nat Stuckey is born in Cass County, Texas.

December 1, 1933 R&B singer Lou Rawls is born in Chicago, Illinois.

November 29, 1933 John Mayall (founder of The Bluesbreakers) is born in Macclesfield, England.

November 26, 1933 Singer and actor Robert Goulet is born in Lawrence, Massachusetts. Known for '60s hits like "My Love, Forgive Me (Amore, Scusami)" and "Come Back To Me, My Love."

November 21, 1933 Country singer Jean Shepard is born Ollie Imogene Shepard in Pauls Valley, Oklahoma. Her biggest hit was 1953's "A Dear John Letter," a duet with Ferlin Husky, which topped the country chart and peaked at #4 on the pop chart.

November 16, 1933 Garnet Mimms (lead singer of Garnet Mimms & The Enchanters) is born in Ashland, West Virginia. Known for the 1963 hit "Cry Baby," later covered by Janis Joplin.

November 3, 1933 John Barry is born in York, Yorkshire, England. A conductor and composer, he will compose the scores for all the James Bond movies between 1963 and 1987.

October 27, 1933 Pianist Floyd Cramer, a pioneer of the "Nashville Sound," is born in Shreveport, Louisiana, but would grow up in Huttig, Arkansas.

October 17, 1933 Jeanne Deckers, "The Singing Nun," is born in Brussels, Belgium. In 1963, she has a #1 hit in America with "Dominique."

October 2, 1933 David Somerville (original lead singer for The Diamonds) is born in Guelph, Ontario, Canada.

September 30, 1933 Gospel/soul singer Cissy Houston is born Emily Drinkard in Newark, New Jersey. She gives birth to future superstar Whitney Houston in 1963.

September 25, 1933 Erik Darling (of The Weavers, The Tarries, Rooftop Singers) is born in Baltimore, Maryland.