Happy Birthday Don

Eagles founding member, drummer, lead vocalist and co-writer Don Henley turns 62 today. Happy Birthday, Don. Don formed the Eagles in 1972 with Glenn Frey, Bernie Leadon and Randy Meisner after a stint as Linda Rondstat's back-up band. After several line-up changes the Eagles broke up in 1980 and at that time Henley and Frey were supported by Don Felder, Timothy B. Schmidt and Joe Walsh. The same line up reunited 14 years later with their Hell Freezes Over tour and album.

In the years in between Eagles activity, Henley launched the most successful solo career of the core members of the group, releasing 3 albums between 1982-89 before a contract dispute with his record company prevented him from releasing any more. Today he continues to perform as a solo act and with the Eagles. The following song from his solo catalogue is one of my favoutite Henley tunes...

Happy Birthday Roger

One of my favourite 60s bands was the Byrds. They wrote and performed great songs and did amazing covers of Bob Dylan tunes such as Mr. Tambourine Man and My Back Pages. A big part of their distinctive sound was Roger McGuinn's unique voice and Rickenbacker guitar. Roger turns 67 today.

There were many permutations of the group from it's inception in 1964 to its disbandment in 1973, including a reunion album of the original members in 1973. McGuinn preserved the franchise as best he could before finally going solo, and playing and touring with Bob Dylan's Rolling Thunder Review in the mid 70s. Here's a 1973 performance of Eight Miles High, a tune originally recorded in 1966. Gene Clark of the original Byrds penned the lyrics about an experience on an airplane trip to England. At the time, many listeners - and radio executives - thought it was about drug use and several radio stations banned it. Hey, it was the 60s!

The Byrds Over the Years

(Wikipedia)

Roger McGuinn – guitar, vocals (1964–1973)
Gene Clark – tambourine, guitar, vocals, harmonica (1964–1966, 1967, 1973)
David Crosby – guitar, vocals (1964–1967, 1973)
Chris Hillman – bass, vocals (1964–1968, 1972-1973)
Michael Clarke – drums (1964–1968, 1973)
Kevin Kelley - drums (1968)
Gram Parsons – guitar, piano, vocals (1968)
Clarence White - guitar, vocals (1968–1973)
John York – bass, vocals (1968–1969)
Gene Parsons – drums, vocals (1968–1972)
Skip Battin – bass, vocals (1969–1972)
John Guerin – drums (1972–1973)
Joe Lala - drums (1973

Happy Birthday Ringo

We couldn't let this one go by without acknowledgement. Today is Richard Starkey's birthday! Better known as Ringo Starr, the former Beatles drummer turns 68. The key to his success? Act naturally...

Happy Birthday Ray

Ray Davies can ride the bus at reduced fare today. It's his 65th birthday. Ray and his younger brother Dave co-founded the Kinks, one of the few groups associated with the "British invasion" to attain considerable longevity. Ray played guitar, sang and wrote most of the band's hit songs. Their first big hit came in 1964 with You Really Got Me




One of my favoutite Kinks songs is Lola. Here's a performance from 1970.




Happy Birthday Ray.

Happy Birthday Brian

He's been called "one of the few undisputed geniuses in popular music" and today he turns 67. The life of Brian Wilson, his brothers and bandmates reads like a rock and roll soap opera: a domineering father as a manger, alcoholism, narcotics, neuroses, mental illness and death. The Wilsons and their extended family suffered it all.

But there were good times too, at least for their fans, as their complicated harmony-laden hits attest. The Beach Boys were big. But they would have been bigger were it not for the British invasion and the Beatles.

"God Only Knows" has got to be one of my all time favourite Brian Wilson/Beach Boys tunes. It was one of the many highlights from the classic Pet Sounds album. Here's a performance from Brian in 2003.

Happy Birthday Ann

Heart's Ann Wilson ,the older of the dynamic Wilson sisters, is 59 today. Heart burst on the scene in the 70s and many peole thought they were a Canadian group because they lived and worked out of Vancouver. Turns out they were from Seattle, Washington. Ann's younger sister Nancy is an amazing guitarist. Back in the day I had never seen a woman play the guitar quite like that. She was mesmerizing. Here's a live performance of Barracuda from 1977...

Happy Birthday Paul

Sir Paul McCartney is 67 today. It seems not that long ago Paul was singing "When I'm 64". My how time flies. McCartney of course was a founding member of the revered Beatles and knew fellow member and songwriting partner John Lennon since childhood. After the Beatles split up Paul went solo and then formed a new group called Wings, of which his then-wife Linda Eastman was a member. Silly Love Songs was one of their hits...

Paul McCartney's website can be found at http://www.paulmccartney.com/ Happy Birthday Sir Paul.