- Birthdate: 1930-09-07
- Age: 94
Sonny Rollins, a legendary jazz saxophonist, is known for his improvisational prowess and influential recordings like Saxophone Colossus. At one point in his career, he took a three-year sabbatical to practice honing his craft and to escape his sudden fame. Lacking a dedicated studio in which to practice, he would go up on the Williamsburg Bridge in NYC and practice outside for as many as 15 hours at a time.
- Birthdate: 1944-03-26
- Age: 80
Diana Ross' powerful voice and captivating stage presence help her rise to fame as the lead singer of The Supremes. She once worked as a secretary at Motown Records before becoming a star in her own right. She is known for her timeless hits like "Ain't No Mountain High Enough."
- Birthdate: 1943-12-18
- Age: 81
Keith Richards is the legendary guitarist of The Rolling Stones. He is known for his innovative riffs and raw sound. The drug use by the Rolling Stones is almost as famed as their music, and many stories of their crazy party days exist. He once claimed to have snorted his father's ashes... mixed in with other substances.
- Birthdate: 1933-04-29
- Age: 91
Willie Nelson is renowned for his distinctive voice and pioneering contributions to outlaw country music. He is also an avid advocate for marijuana legalization. Nelson once smoked on the roof of the White House during a visit in the late 1970s.
- Birthdate: 1933-02-18
- Age: 91
Yoko Ono is a pioneering avant-garde artist and musician. While she has released experimental music, she is best know for being married to and artistically collaborating with John Lennon. She once held a "Bed-In for Peace" with Lennon, using their honeymoon to promote world peace.
- Birthdate: 1934-05-03
- Age: 90
Frankie Valli was the lead singer of The Four Seasons. He was known for his powerful falsetto voice. Surprisingly, he once had a role in the TV series The Sopranos. His hits like "Sherry" and "Big Girls Don't Cry" remain timeless classics.
- Birthdate: 1940-06-07
- Age: 84
Tom Jones is known for his powerful voice and charismatic stage presence. He gained fame with hits like "It's Not Unusual." He once insured his chest hair for $7 million! His energetic performances and distinctive style made him a standout in the music industry.
- Birthdate: 1937-02-10
- Age: 87
Roberta Flack is renowned for her soulful voice and emotional depth in her performances. Her biggest hit recording is "Killing Me Softly with His Song." She was a classically trained pianist before transitioning to popular music. This background greatly influenced her unique sound.
- Birthdate: 1941-07-22
- Age: 83
George Clinton is the mastermind behind Parliament-Funkadelic and is known for pioneering the funk music genre. He once worked as a staff songwriter for Motown Records before his venture into music as an artist in his own right. His innovative sound and flamboyant stage presence have left a lasting impact on American popular music.
- Birthdate: 1936-10-24
- Age: 88
Bill Wyman was the bassist for The Rolling Stones until 1993. While with the band, he was known for his innovative bass lines that helped define the band's sound. Outside of music, he designed and built his own metal detector which he used for his hobby of archaeology.
- Birthdate: 1940-12-12
- Age: 84
Dionne Warwick is renowned for her soulful voice and timeless hits like "Walk On By." She also collaborated often with Burt Bacharach. She is a cousin of Whitney Houston. When rapper Doja Cat sampled Dionne Warwick's "Walk On By" for her hit song "Pait the Town Red" in 2023, it was the first time Warwick had returned to the #1 spot on the Billboard Hot 100 since 1986, 37 years apart.
- Birthdate: 1942-06-18
- Age: 82
Paul McCartney is famous around the world for his membership in The Beatles. He is celebrated for his melodic bass playing and songwriting prowess. He is left-handed and plays a custom left-handed bass guitar. Outside of music, his is a passionate advocate for animals and has been a vegetarian since the 1970s.
- Birthdate: 1936-07-30
- Age: 88
Buddy Guy is a legendary blues guitarist known for his electrifying performances and influence on rock music. He once worked as a custodian at Louisiana State University before his music career took off. His passionate playing style has inspired countless musicians.
- Birthdate: 1943-07-26
- Age: 81
Mick Jagger is the electrifying frontman of The Rolling Stones. He is known for his energetic stage presence. Jagger once studied at the London School of Economics before fully committing to music. His charisma and showmanship are historic, and even alluded to in other songs such as "Moves Like Jagger" by Maroon 5.
- Birthdate: 1936-05-02
- Age: 88
Engelbert Humperdinck, known for his rich baritone voice and romantic ballads, gained fame with hits like "Release Me." His real name, however, is Arnold George Dorsey. In fact, he performed under the name of "Gerry Dorsey" for a number of years. It was after he took his stage name, from the famous German composer of the Hansel and Gretel opera, that his career really took off. It was said that the name was chosen to be unique, memorable, and to stand out.
- Birthdate: 1937-10-20
- Age: 87
Wanda Jackson is the "Queen of Rockabilly." In her prime, her artistry was defined by her powerful, gritty voice and energetic performances. She toured with Elvis Presley early in her career. It was he who encouraged her to really embrace rock and roll.
- Birthdate: 1938-04-26
- Age: 86
Duane Eddy, known for his distinctive "twangy" guitar sound, revolutionized rock and roll in the late 1950s. His major hits include songs like "Rebel-'Rouser" and "Because They're Young." Eddy's unique sound was achieved by playing his guitar's bass strings through a reverb amplifier.
- Birthdate: 1941-05-24
- Age: 83
Bob Dylan revolutionized folk and rock music with his songwriting and distinctive voice. Dylan's lyrics, often infused with social and political commentary, even earned him a Nobel Prize in Literature. The honor was unique in that it is typically awarded to novelist, essayists, and poets. He was once part of a high school band called The Shadow Blasters.
- Birthdate: 1939-06-03
- Age: 85
Ian Hunter was the lead singer of Mott the Hoople. He is known for his distinctive voice and songwriting prowess. He once worked as a roadie for the band before joining them as their frontman. Before finding fame with Mott the Hoople, Hunter held a variety of jobs, including journalist and engineer. He didn't fully embrace his music career until his late 20s.
- Birthdate: 1941-01-24
- Age: 83
Neil Diamond is known for his deep, resonant voice and timeless hits like "Sweet Caroline." He has sold over 100 million records worldwide. He initially studied to become a doctor before pursuing music. Additionally, while at NYU, Diamond was a skilled fencer. He even competed for the college's championship team.
- Birthdate: 1933-11-10
- Age: 91
Bobby Rush is a legendary blues musician known for his energetic stage performances and humorous storytelling. He holds the record for the most Blues Music Awards, sixteen in total (and climbing). He has also won 3 Grammy Awards.
- Birthdate: 1939-10-30
- Age: 85
Grace Slick ganed a reputation for her powerful vocals and dynamic stage presence. She was a leading figure in the psychedelic rock movement with Jefferson Airplane. She once attempted to spike President Nixon's tea with LSD during a White House tour. Allegedly.
- Birthdate: 1943-06-17
- Age: 81
Barry Manilow is renowned for his iconically smooth voice and timeless hits like "Mandy" and "Copacabana." Manilow is one of the musicians associated with long and successful residencies of live performances in Las Vegas. He also wrote numerous famous jingles, including the catchy "Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there."
- Birthdate: 1940-11-04
- Age: 84
Delbert McClinton is a master of blues and roots music who known for his harmonica skills and soulful voice. In fact, he taught John Lennon to play the harmonica during a tour in the early 1960s. His song "Giving It Up for Your Love" remains a classic.
- Birthdate: 1940-07-07
- Age: 84
Ringo Starr was the drummer for The Beatles. He is known for his steady, reliable drumming style. Outside of music, he narrated the children's TV show "Thomas & Friends" (about Thomas the Tank Engine) for several years. His unique drumming contributed significantly to the band's legendary sound, but he did go on to have a solo career in music. His biggest solo hit in America is a cover version of "You're Sixteen."
- Birthdate: 1939-05-01
- Age: 85
Judy Collins, renowned for her sublime soprano voice and eclectic musical repertoire, captivated audiences with hits like "Both Sides, Now." She was a classically trained pianist before turning to folk music. Collins is known for her interpretations of traditional and contemporary songs.
- Birthdate: 1940-04-12
- Age: 84
Herbie Hancock is a pioneering jazz pianist and composer. He is known for his groundbreaking work in the fusion genre. He is also a skilled electrical engineer and brought that knowledge to the music industry through his innovative use of synthesizers in music.
- Birthdate: 1943-11-28
- Age: 81
Randy Newman is known for his particularly distinctive voice and songwriting style. He found younger fans through his memorable scores for numerous Pixar films. He wrote the famous "I Love L.A." anthem, which has become a staple at Los Angeles sports events.
- Birthdate: 1941-01-09
- Age: 83
Joan Baez is renowned for her captivating soprano voice and profound influence on the 1960s folk music scene. She is also celebrated for her activism in civil rights and social justice. She performed at the original historic 1969 Woodstock Festival, cementing her legacy in music history.
- Birthdate: 1942-04-24
- Age: 82
Barbra Streisand is famed for her powerful voice and the emotional performances she gives in both music and on film. Her most famous acting role is in Funny Girl, for which she won an Academy Award. She has a rose named after her, the "Barbra Streisand Rose," which is a lavender hybrid tea rose.
- Birthdate: 1940-02-19
- Age: 84
Smokey Robinson has an iconicly smooth falsetto and poetic songwriting. He was a key figure in the success of Motown Records. However, he originally wanted to be a dentist before pursuing music. He is known for hits like "Tracks of My Tears" and "Tears of a Clown."
- Birthdate: 1941-10-13
- Age: 83
Paul Simon is renowned for his intricate songwriting and harmonious melodies. He gained fame as part of the duo Simon & Garfunkel. His solo career also flourished, particularly with the groundbreaking album Graceland. He once taught a songwriting class at New York University as a guest teacher.
- Birthdate: 1941-05-21
- Age: 83
Ronald Isley is lead singer of The Isley Brothers. He is known for his smooth, soulful voice and timeless hits like "Shout" and "Twist and Shout." He also performed under the alter ego "Mr. Biggs." The Isley Brothers have had one of the longest and most diverse careers in music, with a career that spans over seven decades!
- Birthdate: 1942-06-20
- Age: 82
Brian Wilson, co-founder of The Beach Boys, is known for his innovative harmonies and production techniques. He composed the classic hit "Good Vibrations" using a theremin, an unusual electronic instrument played by moving one's hand near a conductive rod. Wilson has suffered from mental illness diagnoses since the mid 1960s. He has had successive, and successful, treatments though he complains that they have diminished his creative ability for music arrangement and songrwriting.
- Birthdate: 1942-02-02
- Age: 82
Graham Nash, a British-American musician, is known for his work with The Hollies and Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young. Outside of music, he is an avid photographer, with his work exhibited in galleries worldwide. His harmonizing skills and poignant songwriting have lasted long past the 1970s when they were intially crafted.
- Birthdate: 1944-09-13
- Age: 80
Peter Cetera is the former lead vocalist and bassist of Chicago who is known for his powerful tenor voice and heartfelt ballads. Outside of music, he holds a black belt in karat He credits this for helping him maintain discipline in his music career.
- Birthdate: 1944-03-01
- Age: 80
Roger Daltrey is lead singer of The Who. His powerful voice is only matched by his energetic stage presence. His microphone-swinging antics became a signature move in rock performances. Before he found fame on the music stage, he once worked as a sheet metal worker.
- Birthdate: 1944-04-15
- Age: 80
Dave Edmunds is a Welsh rock musician who was known for his masterful guitar work and production skills during his heyday. He once played in a band called Love Sculpture, which gained attention for their high-speed rendition of "Sabre Dance."
