October 18th: Born on this day

October 18th: Born on this day

1926, Born on this day, Chuck Berry, singer, songwriter and guitarist, who wrote the 1963 UK No. 6 single 'Let It Rock' plus many other classic songs. He also had surprise hit in 1972 with the UK and US No.1 single 'My Ding A Ling'. A major influence on The Beatles and Rolling Stones, Berry's 'Johnny B. Goode' was one of the examples of music from Earth sent out to space. Berry was one of the pioneers of rock and roll music, who helped developed rhythm and blues into the major elements that made rock and roll distinctive; his lyrics focusing on teen life and consumerism plus his own brand of showmanship became a major influence on subsequent rock music.

1938, Born on this day, Ronnie Bright, The Coasters, (1958 US No.1 single 'Yakety Yak', 1959 US No.2 and UK No.6 single 'Charlie Brown').

1949, Born on this day, Gary Richrath, REO Speedwagon, (1981 US No.1 & UK No.7 single 'Keep On Loving You').

1949, Born on this day, Joe Egan, Stealers Wheel, (1973 UK No.8 single 'Stuck In The Middle With You'). The song was used in Quentin Tarantino's 1992 movie Reservoir Dogs, during the famous "ear" scene.

1952, Born on this day, Keith Knudson, drummer, The Doobie Brothers, (1979 US No.1 single 'What A Fool Believes', 1993 UK No.7 single 'Long Train Runnin'). Died of pneumonia on 8th Feb 2005 aged 56.

1956, Born on this day, Dick Crippen, Tenpole Tudor, (1981 UK No.6 single 'Swords Of A Thousand Men').

1971, Born on this day, Mark Morriss, singer, songwriter, guitarist, The Bluetones, (1996 UK No.2 single 'Slight Return') and solo 2008 album 'Memory Muscle.'.

1974, Born on this day, Peter Svensson, guitar, The Cardigans, (1997 UK No.2 single 'Lovefool').

1977, Born on this day, Simon Rix, bass, Kaiser Chiefs, (2005 UK No.3 album ‘Employment’, 2005 UK No.6 single 'Oh My God', 2007 UK No.1 single 'Ruby').

1982, Born on this day, Ne-Yo, (born Shaffer Chimere Smith), American R&B singer-songwriter, (2006 US No.1 & UK No.4 album ‘In My Own Words’, 2006 US & UK No.1 single ‘So Sick’).

1987, Born on this day, Zachary Efron, American actor and singer from High School Musical. As part of the cast had the 2006 US No.1 ‘High School Musical’ album and 2007, US No.1 ‘High School Musical 2’ album. Over 17 million viewers in the United States watched the TV premier of High School Musical; making it the highest rated basic cable broadcast in U.S. history.