January 14th: Born on this day

1936, Born on this day, Clarence Carter, blind US singer, guitarist, (1970 US No.4 & UK No.2 single 'Patches').

1937, Born on this day, Billie Jo Spears, US female singer, who had the 1975 UK No.6 single 'Blanket On The Ground'. One of Spears's first singles was 'Harper Valley PTA', but her single release was beaten off the presses by Jeannie C. Riley's version which became a monster crossover hit, while Spears's failed to chart. Spears died on Dec 14th 2011.

1938, Born on this day, Allen Toussaint, US singer, songwriter, producer, worked with  Paul Simon, Joe Cocker, The Band, Lee Dorsey, Neville Brothers. Toussaint died after appearing in concert in Madrid on 10th Nov 2015. He was 77.

1944, Born on this day, Linda Jones, US soul singer. She died on 14th March 1972 aged 26, after collapsing into a diabetic coma following a performance at Harlem's Apollo Theatre in New York. Jones had the 1967 US No.21 single 'Hypnotized.'

1948, Born on this day, Tim Harris, drums, The Foundations, (1967 UK No.1 single 'Baby Now That I've Found You', 1969 US No.3 single 'Build Me Up A Buttercup').

1956, Born on this day, Bob Bradbury, Hello, (1974 UK No.6 single 'Tell Him').

1959, Born on this day, Chas Smash, horns, Madness, (1982 UK No.1 single 'House Of Fun' plus over 20 other UK Top 40 hits).

1962, Born on this day, Patricia Morrison, Gun Club, Sisters Of Mercy, (1992 UK No.3 single 'Temple Of Love').

1967, Born on this day, Zakk Wylde,  Ozzy Osbourne Band, between the studio albums of 'The Ultimate Sin' and 'No Rest for the Wicked' and NRFTW had the track 'Miracle Man' as a single.

1968, Born on this day, American rapper, actor, author and entrepreneur LL Cool J, (1995 US No.3 single 'Hey Lover', 1997 UK No.1 single 'Ain't Nobody' and 2000 US No.1 album 'G.O.A.T.). LL Cool J is also known as one of the forefathers of pop rap.

1968, Born on this day, James Todd Smith, (L.L. Cool J), 1987 UK No.8 single 'I Need Love'.

1969, Born on this day, American musician, singer, songwriter, record producer Dave Grohl. At the age of seventeen, Grohl joined Scream, he was the longest serving drummer with  Nirvana  and the frontman and founder of the Foo Fighters and is the drummer and co-founder of the rock supergroup Them Crooked Vultures. In 2012, Grohl was estimated to be the third wealthiest drummer in the world, behind Ringo Starr and Phil Collins, with a fortune of $260 million.

1974, Born on this day, Denise Van Outen, actress / singer, (2002 UK No. 23 single with Andy Williams, 'Can't Take My Eyes Off You'). The song set a new record of the biggest age gap of a duo to have a hit: 45 years.

1982, Born on this day, Caleb Followill, lead singer, rhythm guitarist, Kings of Leon, (2007 UK No.1 album ‘Because Of The Times’, 2008 UK No.1 single ‘Sex on Fire’, 2008 UK No.1 album ‘Only By The Night’).

1989, Born on this day, Frankie Sandford, best known for being a member of girl group The Saturdays who scored the 2013 UK No.1 hit single 'What About Us' featuring Sean Paul.