August 20th: Born on this day

August 20th: Born on this day

1924, Born on this day, Jim Reeves, US country singer. The first country singer to crossover into the pop market. (1960 US No.2 single 'He'll Have To Go', 1966 UK No.1 single 'Distant Drums'). Reeves was killed in a plane crash on 31st July 1964 when the single engine aircraft flying from Arkansas to Nashville crashed in thick fog.

1931, Born on this day, Paul Robi, The Platters, (UK & US No.1 single 'Smoke Gets In Your Eyes'). Died of cancer on 1st February 1989.

1934, Born on this day 'Sneaky' Pete Kleinow, US country-rock steel guitar player. Died 6th Jan 2007 aged 72. He was one of the original members of the Flying Burrito Brothers with the Byrds' Chris Hillman and Gram Parsons. Also worked with John Lennon and Joni Mitchell.

1940, Born on this day, John Lantree, The Honeycombs, (1964 UK No.1 single 'Have I The Right').

1941, Born on this day, Dave Brock, Hawkwind, (1972 UK No.3 single 'Silver Machine').

1942, Born on this day, Isaac Hayes, singer, (1971 US No.1 & UK No.4 single, 'Theme From Shaft', 1998 UK No.2 single as Chef 'Chocolate Salty Balls'). Hayes was found dead at his home on 10th Aug 2008, aged 65.

1946, Born on this day, Ralf Hutter, Kraftwerk, (1982 UK No.1 single 'Computer Love / The Model').

1947, Born on this day, James Pankow, Trombone, Chicago, (1976 UK & US No.1 single 'If You Leave Me Now').

1948, Born on this day, Robert Plant, singer with Led Zeppelin who had the 1969 US No.4 single Whole Lotta Love. The bands fourth album released in 1971 featuring the rock classic Stairway To Heaven has sold over 37 million copies. Plant had the 1983 solo hit single Big Log. Also a member of The Honeydrippers, (with Jimmy Page, Jeff Beck & Nile Rodgers), who had the 1984 US No.3 single Sea Of Love. Had the Grammy award winning 2007 album Raising Sand with bluegrass star Alison Krauss.  1949, Born on this day, Phil Lynott Irish singer, songwriter, bass player, Thin Lizzy. (1973 UK No.6 single 'Whisky In The Jar'). Lynott died on 4th Jan 1986 of heart failure and pneumonia after being in a coma for eight days following a drug overdose. A life-size bronze statue of Phil Lynott was unveiled on Harry Street in Dublin in 2005.  1952, Born on this day, Doug Fieger, The Knack, (1979 US No.1 & UK No.6 single 'My Sharona'). Died of cancer on 14th Feb 2010. 1966, Born on this day, Dimebag Darrell, guitarist, Pantera, (1994 UK No.19 single 'I'm Broken'). Darrell was killed on 8th December 2004 after a man stormed the stage during a Damageplan show at the Alrosa Villa Club in Columbus, Ohio and began firing shots at the band and crowd.  1971, Born on this day, Fred Durst, vocals, Limp Bizkit, (2001 UK No.1 single 'Rollin' & 2000 US & UK No.1 album 'Chocolate Starfish and the Hotdog Flavoured Water'). 1979, Born on this day, Jamie Cullum, UK Jazz, singer, songwriter, instrumentalist, (2003 UK No.5 album 'Twentysomething').  1992, Born on this day, Demi Lovato, American actress and singer-songwriter. (Mitchie Torres in the Disney Channel Movie Camp Rock). 2009 US No.1 album ‘Here We Go Again’.