Bear with me, but I do tend to get a little sentimental towards the end of the long and lonesome whyski evenings. Still have a couple of soothing mouthfuls left 
Judy Garland - Somewhere Over the Rainbow (1939)
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Happy Birthday to Steve Kilbey, who is turning 72 today. Although he has written several books and held a few art exhibitions, he is best known as a musician. He’s got almost three dozens albums to his name, that hardly anybody’s heard of, including yours truly. So what’s gotten into me here?
Well, Steve Kilby is best known as the singer and bass player in the Australian band The Church, one of the internationally best known bands to come from this country. This fine band was founded in 1980 and a still going today, with Steve Kilbey as the only constant member.
The Church plays catchy guitar driven pop-rock, with hints of psychedelia. The band has never had any big commercial success, but there has been several minor hits, mostly in their homeland, but also in other countries, including the US. Besides Australia, The Church was probably best known in Europe. Many of my friends had albums by them back in the 1980’s.
I still have The Church’s two first LP’s, and I like this band. After all I have a soft spot for this style of music. I did see the band live once back in the late 1980’s. So to celebrate Steve Kilbey’s birthday, here’s a couple of old favourites from back in the day. Good memories
The Church - The Unguarded Moment (1981)
The Church - Myrrh (1985)
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One of the finest singers…
Sierra Ferrell - Hey Me, Hey Mama (2025)
…and saw players in recent years.
Sierra Ferrell - The Sea (2021)
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Happy Birthday to Pete Agnew, bass player in Nazareth, who is turning 80 today, He is the only constant member in the band since its formation in 1968. Nazareth is still going and is scheduled with a concert in Oslo Thursday this week. It could be fun, but I will not be going. I’m a little to worn out for that 
As singer Dan McCafferty, guitarist Manny Charlton and drummer Darrell Sweet has all passed away, Pete Agnew is also the only surviving member of Nazareth’s original line-up. Here’s an old favourite to celebrate his birthday 
Nazareth - Not Faking It (1973)
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The American musician Steve Gaines was born 77 years ago today. He is known as guitarist in Lynyrd Skyntrd from early 1976 until the tragic plane crash in October 1977, in which he was killed along with Skynyrd singer Ronnie Van Zandt, and his sister Cassie Gaines, who was one of the band’s back-up singers back then.
To Steve Gaines’ memory, here is what may be (?) Lynyrd Skynyrds’ signature song. Steve Gaines is the one doing the guitar solo that starts around 4:45. Let there be guitar
Lynyrd Skynyrd - Sweet Home Alabama (live 1977)
There is some coincidences worth noting here. Steve Gaines’ sister Cassie was the one who introduced him to the band. So the siblings died together in the plane crash, following their dream about being members of a famous rock ‘n’ roll band.
If that wasn’t enough, Steve Gaines replaced Ed King (1949-2018) as guitarist in Lynyrd Skynyrd. He was the man behind the iconic guitar riff on Sweet Home Alabama, and he would also have turned 77 today!
I have posted a little more comprehensively about Ed King before, if you want check out.
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As it happens, there is a third guitarist who would have turned 77 today, namely Fred “Sonic” Smith (1949-1994). He played guitar in the semi-legendary American band MC5. He is also known as Patti Smith’s husband from 1980 until his death. Frederick in the Patti Smith song of the same name is Fred Smith.
MC5’s fast, loud and energetic sound is often considered to be one of the most important inspirations for the original punk rock scene around 1975-76. So to the memory of Fred Smith. let there be more guitar (with Fred Smith to the right on the stage) 
MC5 - Kick Out the Jams (live 1970)
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Sarah Vaughan - September in the Rain (live in Sweden 1958)
Because it’s September and because it’s been raing most of the day
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I posted this when Buddy Guy turned 90 around seven weeks ago, and it’s alredy turning out to be a false assumtion. Because today it is William Arnold’s birthday. Better known as Billy Boy Arnold, this Chicago born singer and harmonica player is turning 91 today!
Billy Boy Arnold is not among the greatest names in blues. Still, a musician who has worked with among others Bo Diddley, Otis Rush, Howlin’ Wolf and Muddy Waters deserves the utmost respect. He also has a discography under his own name. After his debut LP in 1965, he’s done 11 studio albums, the last one in 2014, and a small handful of live albums.
Billy Boy Arnold played some solid rockin’ blues, and here’s a couple of examples.
Billy Boy Arnold - Don’t Stay Out All Night (1995)
Billy Boy Arnold - Shake Your Hips (1993)
From what I can find, Billy Boy Arnold has retired. He’s paid his dues! Happy Birthday 
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Sesame Street - Mahna Mahna (1969)
for some inexplicable reason 
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to continue a bit of Nederbeat.. this band was very famous over here
Cuby & The Blizzards - Another day, another road
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and one from Earth & Fire whos singer Jerney Kaagman passed away earlier this year on July 31
Earth & Fire - Ruby Is The One
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