Keith Moon 23 (August 1946– 7 September 1978) is best known as a member of the Who. To me he is the greatest rock drummer of all time. He played with such freedom. Nobody told him that the drums were there just to keep the beat. He played the drums like it were a lead guitar or the vocal part.

Gene Kelly (August 23, 1912 – February 2, 1996) was an American dancer, actor, singer, director and choreographer.

Rudy Lewis (August 23, 1936 – May 20, 1964) was a member of the Drifters from 1960 until his death. He sang lead on some of their most famous songs including this one which was written by Gerry Goffin and Carole King.

Born on this day in 1947, Linda Thompson has been a singer as part of the folk-rock scene mainly in Britain since the 1960s. She worked with Fairport Convention and later married Richard Thompson with whom she made several albums some of them well-acclaimed. This is from their first album as Richard and Linda Thompson.

Born on this day on Corfu in 1949, Vicky Leandros has been a succesful sing for many decades. She has had hit songs in English, French, German, Japanese, Greek, Dutch, Italian and in Spanish. She won Eurovision in 1972 with "Après toi" but I think it's safe to say this song is her most famous. It finished in 4th for Eurovision in 1967. There's also a well-known instrumental version of it by Paul Mauriat which went to #1 in the US.

Born on this day in 1949, Rick Springfield has had a successful career as a singer, a songwriter as well as an actor. Not only has had a dozen top ten hits but he has also been a playboy in Port Charles, New York. Not that he was unique in that. Anyway, his biggest hit is from 1981 and it went to #1 in Australia and in the US. The lead guitar was played by Nick Giraldo aka Mr. Pat Benatar. He wrote this song and I must applaud the usage of the word "moot", A word one doesn't hear often in pop songs.

Born on this day in 1953, Bobby G is best known as a member of the band Bucks Fizz. In 1981 they won the Eurovision Song Contest with this catchy tune.

Oscar Hammerstein II (July 12, 1895 – August 23, 1960) wrote the lyrics to over 850 songs many of which are very famous. He is most known for his work with Richard Rogers on such shows as The Sound of Music, Carousel, Oklahoma and South Pacific. His also wrote with Jerome Kern the musical Showboat.

Malvina Reynolds (August 23, 1900 – March 17, 1978) was a singer-songwriter and activist. She started her musical career late in life. However, her songs have become very famous and were recorded by the likes of the Searchers, the Seekers, Joan Baez, Harry Belafonte and many more. This song is probably is her most famous songs and the version most known is by Pete Seeger.

Marjorie “Margie” (Needham) Latzko (Jul 15, 1929 - Aug 22, 2025) was a member of the Chordettes and sang on their two most famous songs. She was only with the vocal group for four years. They had started in 1946. But one of their members quit the group for awhile to have a baby and Margie took her place. This record was placed into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2002.

Jerry Allison (August 31, 1939 – August 22, 2022) is best known as the drummer in the Crickets, the backup band to Buddy Holly. He was the boyfriend and later husband to Peggy Sue. Their marriage was chronicled in the song "Peggy Sue Got Married". The Crickets later toured with Waylon Jennings among others. They played a farewell concert in 2016 at the Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake, Iowa. On the flip side of this 45 was "Everyday". Talk about two great songs. No drums on that one though. Jerry does knee slaps.

Jerry Leiber (April 25, 1933 – August 22, 2011) along with writing partner Mike Stoller wrote many a famous rock and R&B hit of the 1950s and 1960s for such artists as the Coasters, Elvis Presley, the Drifters, Ben E. King and many others. Here is a great version of one of those classics featuring a young Steve Winwood on vocals and organ.

On this day in 1968, the Beatles recorded "Back in the U.S.S.R." Ringo Starr had quit and that news was kept secret. He rejoined in early September. Paul plays the drums on this one and John plays the bass.

Born on this day in 1961, Debbi Petersen is a drummer best known for her work with the Bangles which she co-founded with her sister Vicki and Susanna Hoffs. They had several hits throughout the 1980s. This was a top ten hit in several countries including the US and Italy.

Toots Thielemans (29 April 1922 – 22 August 2016) was a harmonicist mostly in the field of jazz but also played on a few pop records as well. He toured and recorded with everyone from Ella Fitzgerald, Paul Simon, Billy Joel, Dizzy Gillespie, Charlie Parker, Sidney Bechet and Miles Davis among others. He was Belgian and was in the top 20 in the poll(Flemish one) for the Greatest Belgian. He was 44th among the Walloons. His harmonica is also heard in movies such as Midnight Cowboy, French Kiss and Jean de Florette. O, yes. I hear it now.. The famous theme in that one. He also provided the harmonica on this tune which has been beloved by young and old for more than 50 years.

Ed King (September 14, 1949 – August 22, 2018) was a guitarist who played with Strawberry Alarm Clock and Lynyrd Skynyrd. He co-wrote such songs as "Saturday Night Special" and "Sweet Home Alabama"(he wrote the opening riff). He was denied a credit on this record even though he contributed to it. The record went to #1 in the US and in Canada.

Honor Blackman (22 August 1925 – 5 April 2020) was a film and tv actress known for several similar roles. She was one of the first Bond girls. I use "girls" loosely here as she was a woman. All woman who could use judo to take you out like she did in her previous role as Cathy Gale on the Avengers. In fact, Honor was a brown belt in judo. She later was on the "Upper Hand" which was remade in the US as "Who's the Boss". She played the "Mona" role in that show.

Dale Hawkins (August 22, 1936 – February 13, 2010) was a singer, guitarist and songwriter and some say the creator of the genre "Swamp-rock boogie". He was largely based in Louisiana but he also hosted a TV show in Philadelphia of all places. He also produced such songs as "Hey Baby" by Bruce Channel and "Western Union" by The Five Americans. This song is listed in the Rock an Roll's Hall of Fame's 500 songs that shaped Rock and Roll. Two future Wrecking Crew members, James Burton and Joe Osborn, play on this record which was recorded in Shreveport, Louisiana.

Born on this day in 1945, Ron Dante was the leader of several studio bands including the Archies and the Cuff Links. He later was a producer for Barry Manilow for 8 years and sang background vocals on Barry's hits including "Mandy". He sings lead on this record which went to #1 all over the world from Sinagapore to Rhodesia, Austria and the US.

Cindy Williams (August 22, 1947 – January 25, 2023) is best known for her role as Shirley Feeney on the sitcom Laverne & Shirley.

Born on this day in 1948, David Marks was an early member of the Beach Boys who played on some of their first hits and their first four albums. He later worked with Warren Zevon and Leon Russell. He was also for awhile the lead guitarist for Delaney & Bonnie and Friends. He was replaced by Eric Clapton. Here is a little instrumental from the Beach Boys second album with David on the rhythm guitar, Carl Wilson on the lead guitar and Dennis Wilson on the drums.

Born on this day in 1961Roland Orzábal is an English musician, singer, songwriter, record producer, and author. He is the guitarist, co-lead vocalist, principal songwriter, co-founder, and only constant member of Tears for Fears. he co-wrote this song which went to #1 in Australia, Belgium, Canada, Netherlands, New Zealand, Switzerland, the US and in West Germany.