December 25th: Born on this day

December 25th: Born on this day          Annie Lennox

1929, Born on this day, Chris Kenner, US singer, (1961 US No.2 single 'I Like It Like That'). Also a hit for Dave Clarke Five.

1937, Born on this day, O'Kelly Isley, The Isley Brothers, (1968 UK No.3 single 'This Old Heart Of Mine'). Died on 31st March 1986.

1940, Born on this day, Phil Spector, producer, 'The Spector Wall Of Sound’. Spector was a member of Teddy Bears, who had the 1958 US No.1 single 'To Know Him Is To Love Him'. He went on to produce many classic songs including; Ben E King, 'Spanish Harlem', The Crystals, 'Da Doo Ron Ron', The Ronettes, 'Baby I Love You', The Righteous Brothers, 'You've Lost That Lovin' Feeling', Ike and Tina Turner, 'River Deep, Mountain High'. Also produced albums for The Ramones, John Lennon, George Harrison, The Beatles, Cher and Harry Nilsson. The 2003 shooting of actress Lana Clarkson in his Alhambra, California home led to his 2009 conviction of murder in the second degree. He is serving a prison sentence of 19 years to life.

1940, Born on this day, Pete Brown, lyricist, poet, singer, producer, Cream, (1967 UK No.11 single 'I Feel Free'). Also worked with Jack Bruce, Graham Bond, Mick Jagger and Peter Green.

1943, Born on this day, Trevor Lucas, Fairport Convention, UK folk group, (1969 UK No.21 single 'Si Tu Dois Partie'). Also worked with Al Stewart and The Strawbs. Lucas died 4th February 1989.

1944, Born on this day, Henry Vestine, guitar, Canned Heat, (1970 UK No.2 & US No.26 single 'Let's Work Together'). Died on 20th October 1997.

1944, Born on this day, Kenny Everett, UK radio and TV presenter, (1983 UK No.9 single 'Snot Rap'). Died 4th April 1995.

1945, Born on this day, Noel Redding, bassist with the Jimi Hendrix Experience who had the 1967 UK No.3 single 'Purple Haze', and the 1970 UK No.1 single 'Voodoo Chile'. Redding was the first person to join the Jimi Hendrix Experience, and the first to leave, his final concert with them was in June 1969. Redding died on 11th May 2003 aged 57.

1946, Born on this day, Jimmy Buffett, American singer songwriter, (1977 US No.8 single 'Margaritaville', 2004 US No.1 album 'License to Chill').

1948, Born on this day, Country singer Barbara Mandrell, named Country Music Association entertainer of the year in 1979, 1980 & 1981, (1977 US No.1 Country single 'Sleeping Single In A Double Bed').

1954, Born on this day, Annie Lennox, singer, The Tourists, (1979 UK No.4 single 'I Only Want To Be With You'). Eurythmics, (1983 US No.1 single 'Sweet Dreams', 1985 UK No.1 single 'There Must Be An Angel'). Solo, (1995 UK No.2 single 'No More I Love You's').

1954, Born on this day, Robin Campbell, guitar, vocals, with UB40, who had the 1983 UK No.1 & 1988 US No.1 single 'Red Red Wine' and over 30 other top 40 hits.

1957, Born on this day, Shane MacGowan, guitar, vocals, The Pogues, (1987 UK No.8 single 'The Irish Rover', 1987 UK No.2 single with Kirsty MacColl, 'Fairytale Of New York').

1958, Born on this day, Alannah Myles, Canadian singer, 1990 US No.1 and UK No.2 single 'Black Velvet.'

1964, Born on this day, Bob Stanley, Saint Etienne, (1993 UK No.12 single 'You're In A Bad Way')

1971, Born on this day, Dido, singer, songwriter, (2001 UK No.1 & US No.4 album 'No Angel', 2001 UK No.4 single 'Here With Me').

1971, Born on this day, Noel Hogan, guitar, The Cranberries, (1994 UK No.14 single 'Linger'). The bands 1993 album 'Everybody Else Is Doing It So Why Can’t We' spent 86 weeks on the UK chart.

1972, Born on this day, Josh Freese, drummer, Nine Inch Nails, (2005 US No.1 album ‘White Teeth’). Also worked with The Vandals, Devo, Viva Death and A Perfect Circle.