Musical Birthday Notes – January 17th

Ertha Kitt – singer/actor/activist – best known for – Santa Baby – 1967 role of Catwoman on Batman TV series – (1/17/1927 – 12/25/2008)
Grady Martin – country-rockabilly session guitarist – was a member of Nashville A-Team – Rockabilly Hall of Fame – Country Music Hall of Fame – (1/17/1929 – 12/3/2001)
Chris Montez – singer/songwriter/guitar – best known for the 1962 hit – Lets Dance – 1943
William “Poogie” Hart – singer/songwriter/arranger/producer – multi-award winning R&B-soul vocal group – The Delfonics – group hits include – La-La (Means I Love You) – Didn’t I (Blow Your Mind This Time) – (1/17/1945 – 7/14/2022)
Robin Lumley – British keyboardist/producer/author – best known with – Brand X – associated acts include – Curved Air – Gary Boyle – Ellen Shipley – Exile – (1/17/1948 – 3/9/2023)
Mick Taylor – English guitarist/singer/songwriter/bass – Rolling Stones – 1989 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame – associated acts include – John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers – Jack Bruce – Bob Dylan – 1949
Ryuichi Sakamoto – multi-award winning Japanese keyboardist/synthesizer/singer/composer/producer/actor/activist – associated acts include – Yellow Magic Orchestra – (1/17/1952 – 3/28/2023)
Carlos Johnson – blues guitarist/singer – associated acts include – Son Seals – Billy Branch & The Sons of Blues – 1953
Sheila Hutchinson-Witt – singer – part of the award winning soul/R&B group – The Emotions – group hits include – Boogie Wonderland – Best Of My Love – 1953
Cheryl Bentyne – singer – best known as member of – The Manhattan Transfer – group hits include – Operator – The Boy From New York City – solo artist – 1954
Steve Earle – edgy alt-country singer/songwriter/multi-instrumentalist – hits include – Guitar Town – Goodbye’s All We’ve Got Left – Copperhead Road – Nowhere Road – Transcendental Blues – The Revolution Starts Now – 1955
Anthony Glise – classical guitarist/composer/author – 1956
Paul Young – English singer/songwriter/guitar/bass – hits include – Come Back And Stay – Every Time You Go Away – I’m Gonna Tear Your Playhouse Down – Oh Girl – What Becomes Of The Brokenhearted – 1956
Jez Strode – drummer – best known with British new wave band – Kajagoogoo – group hits include 1983’s – Too Shy – 1958
Susanna Hoffs – singer/songwriter/guitar/actress – co-founder of – The Bangles – group hits include – Manic Monday – Walk Like An Egyptian – Eternal Flame – Hazy Shade Of Winter – solo artist – 1959
Kai Hansen – metal guitarist/singer – associated acts include – Helloween – Gamma Ray – Iron Savior – Unisonic – 1963
Andy Rourke – English alt-rock indie-pop musician – best known as bassist for – The Smiths – (1/17/1964 – 5/19/2023)
Richard Hawley – English guitarist/singer/songwriter – associated acts include – Pulp – Longpigs – solo artist – 1967
Kid Rock (Bob Ritchie) – rap-rocker/singer/songwriter/musician – hits include – Cowboy – Only God Knows Why – All Summer Long – So Hott – Picture (with Sheryl Crow) – 1971
Ricky Wilson – English singer/songwriter/piano/ukulele/tambourine/TV personality – best known with indie-rock group – Kaiser Chiefs – 1978
Ray J (William Ray Norwood Jr.) – singer/songwriter/actor/TV personality – 1981
Amanda Wilkinson – country singer – along with brother Tyler and father Steve – The Wilkinsons – group hits include – 26 Cents – Fly (The Angel Song) – Jimmy’s Got A Girlfriend – associated acts include – The Small Town Pistols – 1982
Mike Heller – metal drummer – associated acts include – Fear Factory – Malignancy – System Divide – 1982
Jeremiah Fraites – drummer/multi-instrumentalist/songwriter – co-founder of – The Lumineers – group best known for the 2012 hit – Ho Hey – 1986
Dan “Soupy” Campbell – lead vocalist – punk-alt rock group – The Wonder Years – 1986
Awsten Knight – rock singer/rhythm guitar – associated acts include – Waterparks – 1992