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Andy Ward was born on this day in 1952, in Epsom, England. Drummer for Camel up until around 1982 – he left the band to recover from a series of unfortunate events and personal trials. On his return to the biz, he briefly joined Marillion and then went on to play with Richard Sinclair (Caravan), Chrys&andthemums and Bevis Frond.
This is the clip chosen by the Official Camel YouTube Chanel to acknowledge him and wish him Many Happy Returns …
"The surest sign that intelligent life exists elsewhere in the universe is that it has never tried to contact us." ~ Bill Watterson
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Mr. Ward was certainly a casualty of the rock n roll lifestyle but he did manage to survive it. And I happen to think he is one of the most creative drummers I have heard. He also has one trait where he stands head and shoulders above the crowd - impeccable timing.
'The purpose of life is a life of purpose' - Athena Orchard.
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^Yes he is/was. Andy Latimer thinks so too- creative drummers, that is. 
Martin Turner was born on this day in 1947, in Torquay, Devon. He was a founding member of Wishbone Ash and is a bass guitarist and vocalist. They were a pretty amazing band in their day, sadly unsung aside from a few diehard fans, and he’s made a very nice solo album too – Written in the Stars – can’t find a good clip on YouTube, unfortunately. As always, with bands whose core members separate, there’s a whole long story about who styles themselves what and who uses which name, blah, blah, blah! From what I can ascertain, he’s most recently known as Martin Turner ex Wishbone Ash.
Anyway – there are obvious examples, such as “Throw Down the Sword” which is very fab - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LByiVlc6czA, but I’m choosing to highlight this lovely track from the same album, Wishbone Ash’s Argus – “Leaf and Stream” … written and sung by the birthday boy …
"The surest sign that intelligent life exists elsewhere in the universe is that it has never tried to contact us." ~ Bill Watterson
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Carsten Dahl was born on this day in 1967, in Copenhagen, Denmark. He is a pianist, although he started out on drums at the age of 9, entering Copenhagen’s Rhythmic conservatory at 19, and being taught by the likes of Ed Thigpen before exchanging his sticks for the keys. He plays jazz, classical and experimental music, both solo and in ensembles/groups. A happy discovery for me – I really like contemporary European jazz and Dahl has a wonderful way with the piano – melodic and calming, yet with an essential creative edge.
He says “For me, music is, in principle, silence. So when I play, it’s actually a demo of silence. It’s as if it’s some unnecessary nonsense, because silence is the most complete music. You might say that music is a comment on the complete, and wonderful to execute, especially when you compose and create it yourself because the contrapuntal emerges on the spot and the fingers get to work on their own. I don’t have any thoughts about what I play, when I play – I focus a lot on being the one playing, not having any thoughts, not having an expectation of a certain result or a certain sound. It’s like entering a crypt beneath a church and making your own prayer or meditation, where you can be childish, outrageous, crazy, and have all the primal feelings that constitute a human being. And express all these primal feelings in a space full of love and eternity. It’s that solo where you don’t have any interaction with someone else who has another rhythm, where you on your own can accompany the silence, accompany what I call God’s whole note triplet, God’s universal massive rhythm that we all actually phrase to. That car moves to it, that man walks to it, the seagull flies to it; it’s interference, particular movement and rhythms. It’s a kind of order and ferocious chaos. Yes.”
Not sure if I’m sold on all of his ensemble stuff - not that I've heard it all, but his solo piano work, and specifically his album Grace, is simply gorgeous. Excellent for restoring equilibrium, IMHO! An audio link http://www.deezer.com/en/album/10994672. There doesn’t seem to be anything on YouTube other than a promo (which is actually quite nice so here it is … https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1p5T9AVkQRM).
“Joy” from Moon Water (Dahl/Andersen/Heral) … https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v-PUSt-PIxQ
“Sophie’s Theme” – no idea where this is from …
"The surest sign that intelligent life exists elsewhere in the universe is that it has never tried to contact us." ~ Bill Watterson
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Dave Hope was born on this day in 1949, in Topeka, Kansas. He was the heavily moustachioed bass player for Kansas who usually also had a cigarette dangling from his lip, earning himself the nickname ‘Smokin’ Dave’. Not exactly the image one would expect a future Anglican priest might project, but darned if that’s not where he ended up!
He was with Kansas from the beginning up to their ninth studio album, Drastic Measures, and returned for 2000’s reunion effort, Somewhere to Elsewhere.
He has also played with Kerry Livgren in the Christian band AD, and since retiring from priestly duties, again occupies the bass position, this time in a praise band. No wayward son this one! 
"The surest sign that intelligent life exists elsewhere in the universe is that it has never tried to contact us." ~ Bill Watterson
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Happy 59th birthday to who I think is one of our best in country music.
Tanya Tucker
God bless you and her always!!!
Holly (a fan of Miss T since 1991)
Listen to my most favorite singer here sometime, James Otto that is!
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Petra, Tanya and Rachel Haden were born on this day in 1971. They are the triplet daughters of the late great bassist Charlie Haden and all are accomplished singers and musicians. They have, in their individual capacities, performed and recorded with various bands and made one album together - The Haden Triplets. Tanya is a respected cellist, Rachel plays bass guitar, drums and keyboards and Petra is a violinist. Petra has carved out a little niche for herself recording a cappella versions of famous songs, and in one case, most notably an entire album - Petra Haden Sings: The Who Sell Out. She did the whole thing using only multiple layers of her voice, and this, courtesy of Wiki, is what Pete Townshend had to say about it …
“I was a little embarrassed to realize I was enjoying my own music so much, for in a way it was like hearing it for the first time. What Petra does with her voice, which is not so easy to do, is challenge the entire rock framework ... When she does depart from the original music she does it purely to bring a little piece of herself -- and when she appears she is so very welcome. I felt like I'd received something better than a Grammy.”
“Odorono” - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HDdU_26YMyg and "I Can See For Miles" from said album ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oc6IqwM0Z_U
Her rendition of Bowie’s “Life on Mars” – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KL3gbEUFNws
And here's her “Goodbye Blue Sky” …
"The surest sign that intelligent life exists elsewhere in the universe is that it has never tried to contact us." ~ Bill Watterson
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Daniel ‘Dan’ Woodgate, aka Woody Woodgate was born on this day in 1960, in Kensignton, London, England. He is the longtime drummer for UK Ska band, Madness, the not so longtime drummer for Voice of the Beehive, one half of the Magic Brothers with his brother Nick, and has released one solo album with a vocalist named Dan Shears.
Woodgate has a couple of co-writing credits with Madness, but only one or two for which he was solely responsible … this for example – “Small World” - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=383FPA52DeI
The title track from his solo album, In Your Mind – the album started out life as a Magic Brothers release but when his brother Nick (who is also credited for co-writing some Madness songs although not a member of the band) was diagnosed with schizophrenia early in the process, Woody continued on his own. He has since become an ambassador for a charity named Rethink Mental Illness … https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pxGDsd6XVDg
Co-written with Cathal Smyth, Madness’ "(My Name Is) Michael Caine" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j-5yn3v3N8A
And from the Magic Brothers only album, The Magic Line …
"The surest sign that intelligent life exists elsewhere in the universe is that it has never tried to contact us." ~ Bill Watterson
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Ric Lee was born on this day in 1945, in Nottinghamshire, England. He was the drummer for Ten Years After and was with the band from its inception to their disbandment in 1976. He went on to music publishing and later formed The Breakers who made one album. He also released an album under the name, Ric Lee's Natural Born Swingers.
From Ten Years After’s 1971 album A Space in Time, saying it exactly as they please … “I’d Love to Change the World” …
"The surest sign that intelligent life exists elsewhere in the universe is that it has never tried to contact us." ~ Bill Watterson
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Josh Ritter was born on this day in 1976, in Moscow, Idaho, USA. He is a singer/songwriter and plays guitar, piano, violin and lute. After graduating from high school, he embarked on studying a degree in neuroscience, however, that didn’t last too long and he eventually majored in American History Through Narrative Folk Music – a subject he himself created. He went on to live in Scotland for a while, studying the folk music there, and also spent some time in Ireland. In 2006 Paste magazine named him in their ‘100 Greatest Living Songwriters’ list.
I’m really not sure why he’s escaped my notice up to now – other than that there is so much to listen to, and so little time! AND he’s just released a really nice album, his ninth, The Gathering. I very much like the sounds on “Dreams” from this album, but it’s not available yet on YouTube, at least not in the album format – live only, so some of what makes it so interesting is lost. Just going to have to settle for an assortment of other clips for now. There is no pigeonholing possible although he’s definitely rooted deep in his own personal brand of Americana/rock; he makes diverse music.
“Lighthouse Fire”, from Sermon on the Rocks … https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xYO1k7EIti8
“The Curse”, from So Runs the World Away … https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KXBI2_zH9Js
And “Showboat”, from The Gathering …
"The surest sign that intelligent life exists elsewhere in the universe is that it has never tried to contact us." ~ Bill Watterson
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