BIRTHDAYS
1925: Hugo Montenegro
1946: Billy Preston (Keyboard player for Little Richard, Sam Cooke, The Beatles, Sly & the Family Stone, King Curtis, The Rolling Stones, Ray Charles, Eric Clapton, etc.)
1951: Mik Kaminski (Electric Light Orchestra)
1952: Chris Knox (The Enemy / Toy Love / Tall Dwarfs)
1952: Ernie Chataway (Judas Priest)
1957: Steve Porcaro (Toto)
1958: Jerry Augustyniak (10,000 Maniacs)
EVENTS
1978: George Harrison married Olivia Arias at Henley-on-Thames register office.
1988: The Amnesty International ‘Human Rights Now!’ six week world tour kicked off at Wembley Stadium, London with Peter Gabriel, Bruce Springsteen, Tracy Chapman, Sting, Youssu n’Dour and many other artists performing.
2001: Death of session saxophonist, Jay Migliori [aged 70].
2016: Death of music businessman / manager, Jerry Heller [aged 75].
2018: Death of Conway Savage, keyboard player for Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds [aged 58].
Happy Birthday to Chris Knox ~ a man who has made a huge contribution to the New Zealand music scene over the last 40+ years! From postman to punk rocker, Chris tore up stages in Dunedin in The Enemy, became a NZ sensation with Toy Love and a lo-fi hero as one half of Tall Dwarfs. He even had a big hit with a love song (see below). His music and animation are a big part of kiwi culture and he has underground global recognition, with original pressings of his records selling for big bucks. I encountered Chris a few times in the Dunedin days (at Enemy & Toy Love gigs and in record shops) and there are many amusing stories about the man. Happy days, Chris!
Photo of Chris Knox captured live at Mainstreet, Auckland ~ courtesy of Murray Cammick.
Billy Preston was born on this day in 1946, but passed away at 59. Billy was not only a brilliant keyboard playing soul man, but a superb songwriter and a great dancer ~ check out his moves with Jagger!
