Born on this day ...

[Inna Selez]

Marshall Bruce Mathers III was born October 17 1972, known professionally as Eminem. He is an American rapper, songwriter, record producer, and actor. Eminem is the best-selling artist of the 2000s in the United States. In his career, he has had 10 number-one albums on the Billboard 200 and 5 number-one singles on the Billboard Hot 100. Rolling Stone ranked him 83rd on its list of 100 Greatest Artists of All Time, calling him the King of Hip Hop. Last 8th album was released in 2013.

[video=youtube;gOMhN-hfMtY]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gOMhN-hfMtY[/video]

[Inna Selez]

Shaffer Chimere Smith was born in October 18 1979 better known by his stage name Ne-Yo, is an American singer, songwriter, record producer, dancer, and actor. Ne-Yo's music is generally R&B, while he also incorporates pop and hip-hop occasionally. He has released 6 studio albums and 16 singles.

[video=youtube;Fk1ZO_980DI]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fk1ZO_980DI[/video]

[Ruby]

Mark King was born on this day in 1958 on the Isle of Wight. He is best known as the singer and bass player of Level 42 – he also plays the keys and drums. In fact, he started out in his musical career as a drummer which may account for his seriously funky slap and pop style – he just carried on drumming – on the bass!! Lol!

This is pretty much his signature song, I’d say – and a worthy earworm it is inclined to be, from time to time ….

[video=youtube;Wvq85yKCydg]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wvq85yKCydg[/video]

[Ruby]

Steve Lukather was born on this day in 1957, in the San Fernando Valley, California. He is one of the most prolific session muso’s on the planet, having contributed to around 1,500 albums, which would explain why his name crops up so regularly – he had a lot to do with Michael Jackson’s Thriller, for example (as did Jeff and Steve Porcaro and David Paich) … http://www.allmusic.com/artist/steve-luk...13/credits

He’s a founding member of Toto, the lead guitarist, later vocalist, and only continuous member of the band. They recorded 15 studio albums and he has made seven solo albums. He’s been nominated for twelve Grammy’s and been awarded five - three for his work with Toto.

Whilst playing a part in writing almost all their songs from a certain point on, he seldom wrote songs entirely on his own; this was one exception – from Toto IV – “I Won’t Hold You Back” …. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WUkvLyaBOQ8

And then there’s this – the title track from his solo album, Transition – not quite what one might expect!

[video=youtube;73UKyVilJ9I]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=73UKyVilJ9I[/video]

[Inna Selez]

Aubrey Drake Graham was born October 24, 1986 known simply as Drake, is a Canadian rapper, singer, songwriter, record producer, and actor. He has released 4 studio albums and 36 music videos. Alongside his Grammy Award win, Drake has won three Juno Awards and six BET Awards. He also occupies the highest number of singles to reach number one on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. Drake has developed other ventures, including his OVO Sound record label. He acts as a producer, producing under the pseudonym of Champagne Papi. Using the "OVO" moniker, Drake has his own clothing line and his own channel on Beats 1. He is also currently acting as the global ambassador for NBA franchise, the Toronto Raptors.

[video=youtube;7LnBvuzjpr4]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7LnBvuzjpr4[/video]

[Jerome]

Mark King was born on this day in 1958 on the Isle of Wight. He is best known as the singer and bass player of Level 42 – he also plays the keys and drums. In fact, he started out in his musical career as a drummer which may account for his seriously funky slap and pop style – he just carried on drumming – on the bass!! Lol!

This is pretty much his signature song, I’d say – and a worthy earworm it is inclined to be, from time to time ….

[video=youtube;Wvq85yKCydg]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wvq85yKCydg[/video]

Used to have this album many moons ago. Loved it. Also a great bit of artwork. Very striking.

[Jerome]

Aubrey Drake Graham was born October 24, 1986 known simply as Drake, is a Canadian rapper, singer, songwriter, record producer, and actor. He has released 4 studio albums and 36 music videos. Alongside his Grammy Award win, Drake has won three Juno Awards and six BET Awards. He also occupies the highest number of singles to reach number one on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. Drake has developed other ventures, including his OVO Sound record label. He acts as a producer, producing under the pseudonym of Champagne Papi. Using the "OVO" moniker, Drake has his own clothing line and his own channel on Beats 1. He is also currently acting as the global ambassador for NBA franchise, the Toronto Raptors.

[video=youtube;7LnBvuzjpr4]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7LnBvuzjpr4[/video]

The real OVO - https://youtu.be/HRqtnY2xE_M?list=PLCTFC...c3paJMGv3v

[Inna Selez]

Katheryn Elizabeth Hudson was born October 25, 1984 known professionally as Katy Perry, is an American singer and songwriter. Perry signed with Red Hill Records and released her debut studio album Katy Hudson under her birth name in 2001, which was commercially unsuccessful. After adopting the stage name Katy Perry and being dropped by The Island Def Jam Music Group and Columbia Records, she signed a recording contract with Capitol Records in April 2007. For today she released 4 full albums. Perry has received many awards, including four Guinness World Records, and been included in the Forbes list of "Top-Earning Women In Music" (2011–15). Perry is a LGBT rights activist. She has supported various charitable organizations aimed at improving the lives and welfare of children.

[video=youtube;hdw1uKiTI5c]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hdw1uKiTI5c[/video]

[Inna Selez]

Christopher Francis "Frank" Ocean (originally Christopher Edwin Breaux) was born October 28, 1987. He is an American singer, songwriter and rapper. In 2010 he became a member of hip hop collective Odd Future. His debut studio album "Channel Orange" was released in July 2012. In 2016, Ocean released second studio album "Blonde" following several years of delays. Ocean's music has been characterized by music writers as idiosyncratic in style. Ocean generally plays the electronic keyboard and is backed by a subdued rhythm section in the production. His compositions are often midtempo, feature unconventional melodies and they occasionally have an experimental song structure. Ocean's lyrics deal with themes of love, longing, misgiving and nostalgia.

[video=youtube;TMfPJT4XjAI]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TMfPJT4XjAI[/video]

[Ruby]

David Paton was born on this day in 1949, in Edinburgh, Scotland. He is a bass guitarist and vocalist and apart from his own bands and solo projects, he has had a fairly illustrious career working extensively with Alan Parsons, Camel, Rick Wakeman, Fish, Kate Bush, Elton John and many, many more.

Pilot was formed by David Paton and Billy Lyall who had both been with the Bay City Rollers previously – they were joined by Stuart Tosh and Ian Bairnson. Their debut album was produced by Alan Parsons and they had a hit with “Magic” - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MzlK0OGpIRs – nice happy clip this - sweet!

All the aforementioned members of Pilot went on to work with APP and other bands, interchangeably; rock ‘n roll genealogy continues to fascinate and bemuse, lol! In terms of personnel, there are very close links between the APP, Camel, 10cc and probably others too! Paton, Bairnson, Pete Bardens, Colin Blunstone and Stuart Elliott also got together as Keats and made one eponymous album – again produced by Alan Parsons. From what I can ascertain, it seems Paton and Bairnson (who is a great guitarist) remain close and continue to play together.

These clips all have David Paton on lead vocal and bass –

Keats – “Walking on Ice” …. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JZUNkFxG_x4

A live version of APP’s “Old and Wise” – (which is sung on the album by Colin Blunstone) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BT2U76Fbea0

Another from APP – “What Goes Up” - Pyramid - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-eIx5mqWUKM

And last but not least, from Camel’s Harbour of Tears …

[video=youtube;D17NMSEgrmQ]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D17NMSEgrmQ[/video]