March 17th

Musical Birthday Notes – March 17th

  • Nat King Colejazz-swing-traditional pop singer/piano/TV personality – known for his rich soft baritone voice – hits include – Mona Lisa – Ramblin’ Rose – Those Lazy-Hazy-Crazy Days Of Summer – inducted in numerous Halls of Fame – (3/17/1919 – 2/15/1965)
  • Q T Macon – blues singer/guitar – best known for – Blow Wind – (3/17/1934 – 4/12/1994)
  • Adam Wadesinger/drummer/actor – hits include – Take Good Care Of Her – Ruby – As If I Didn’t Know – (3/17/1935 – 7/7/2022)
  • Vince Martinpop-folk rock singer – best known for 1956 hit – Cindy, Oh Cindy – cited as a major influence by a number of artists including – The Byrds – Grateful Dead – (3/17/1937 – 7/6/2018)
  • Paul Kantner – guitarist/singer/songwriter – Jefferson AirplaneJefferson Starship – 1996 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame – (3/17/1941 – 1/28/2016)
  • Vito Picone – lead singer of – The Elegants – 1941
  • Clarence “Wa-Hoo” Collins – multi-award winning R&B-soul-doo wop singer – founder of – Little Anthony & The Imperials – hits include – Tears On My Pillow – 2009 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame – 1942
  • Jim Weatherly – multi-award winning singer/songwriter – solo artist – but best known for writing songs for pop/R&B/country artists – songs include – Midnight Train To Georgia – Neither One Of Us (Wants To Be The First To Say Goodbye) – Best Thing That Ever Happened To Me – all hits for Gladys Knight and The Pips – associated acts include – Glen CampbellKenny Rogers – Garth Brooks – Kenny Chesney – 2006 Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame – 2011 Mississippi Musicians Hall of Fame – 2014 Songwriters Hall of Fame – (3/17/1943 – 2/3/2021)
  • John Sebastian – pop-rock/singer/songwriter/musician – The Lovin’ Spoonful – group hits include – Do You Believe In Magic – Summer In The City – Did You Ever Have To Make Up Your Mind – solo artist – 2000 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame – 1944
  • Pat McAuley – keyboards/drums – Them – group hits include – Gloria – Here Comes The Night – Mystic Eyes – (3/17/1944 – 8/11/1984)
  • Harold Brown – drummer/singer/songwriter – founding member of – War – group hits include – The Cisco Kid – Spill The Wine – The World Is A Ghetto – Why Can’t We Be Friends – 1946
  • Ian Gommsinger/songwriter/guitar – associated acts include – Dire StraitsNick Lowe – 1947
  • Fran Byrne – Irish drummer – pop-rock band – Ace – group best known for the 1975 hit – How Long – 1948
  • Pat Lloyd – guitar – The Equals – group songs include – Baby, Come Back – Viva Bobby Joe – 1948
  • Scott Gorham – guitarist/songwriter/singer – best known with Irish rock band – Thin Lizzy – group songs include – The Boys Are Back In Town – Jail Break – Cowboy Song – associated acts include – Black Star Riders21 Guns – 1951
  • Paul Overstreet – multi-award winning country singer/songwriter/acoustic guitarist – hits include – Daddy’s Come Around – Heroes – Ball and Chain – associated acts include – S-K-O (Shuyler, Knoblock & Overstreet) – associated artists with Overstreet songs include – Randy TravisBlake SheltonKeith WhitleyThe JuddsKenny Chesney – 2003 Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame – 1955
  • Mike Lindup –  keyboards/singer – jazz/funk/pop-rock band – Level 42 – 1959
  • Janet Gardner – rock singer/guitar – best known as lead vocalist for all-girl group – Vixen – 1962
  • Roxie Petrucci – drummer – best known with – Madam X Vixen – 1962
  • Billy Corgan – singer/songwriter/guitar/piano/bass/wrestling promoter –  Smashing Pumpkins – 1967
  • Van Conner – bass/guitar – best known as bassist for psych-alt-rock band – Screaming Trees – group songs include – Nearly Lost You – All I Know – (3/17/1967 – 1/17/2023)
  • Melissa Auf der Maur – singer/songwriter/musician/actress – Hole – 1972
  • Keifer Thompson – country singer/songwriter – half of the duo – Thompson Square – with wife Shawna – hits include – Are You Gonna Kiss Me Or Not – If I Didn’t Have You – 1976
  • Tamar Braxton – R&B-pop-soul singer/actresss – The Braxtons – group songs include – So Many Ways – The Boss – solo artist – 1977
  • Miles Kane – singer/guitar – alternative rocker – The Rascals – The Last Shadow Puppets – 1986
  • Hozierindie rock-soul-blues singer/songwriter/musician – hits include – Take Me To Church – 1990