MC Lyte

Happy birthday to MC Lyte, born this day in 1971! Here's her 1988 video for "Paper Thin."

Petra Hayden

Happy birthday to Petra Haden, born this day in 1971! Here she is singing a pretty memorable version of "Don't Stop Believin'" in 1987.

Thelonious Monk

Happy birthday to the late Thelonious Monk, born this day in 1917! Here he is playing "Blue Monk" in 1966.

Tanya Tucker

Happy birthday to Tanya Tucker, born this day in 1958! Here she is singing "Delta Dawn" in 1972. Yes, she was 13 at the time.

Kirsty MacColl

Happy birthday to the late Kirsty MacColl, born this day in 1959! Here's the video for her mid-'80s version of "A New England."

John Entwistle

Happy birthday to the late John Entwistle, born this day in 1944! Here he is playing his song "Heaven and Hell" with the Who in 1970, back in the days when it was their traditional set-opener...

John Lennon

Happy birthday to the late John Lennon, born this day in 1940! Here's the posthumously assembled video for his "Nobody Told Me."

Nona Hendryx

Happy birthday to Nona Hendryx, born this day in 1944! Here's her 1979 video for "You're the Only One That I Ever Needed."

France Gall

Happy birthday to France Gall, born this day in 1947! Here she is singing "Der Computer No. 3" in 1968. Yes, a song about computer dating. In German. Yes, she's French.

Polly Harvey

Happy birthday to Polly Harvey, born this day in 1969! Here she is playing "O Stella," "Dress" and "Hair" with the original trio version of PJ Harvey, live in 1992.

Gavin Friday

Happy birthday to Gavin Friday, born this day in 1959! Here he is performing "Pagan Lovesong" with the Virgin Prunes in 1982.

Robert "Kool" Bell

Happy birthday to Robert "Kool" Bell, born this day in 1950! Here he is with Kool & the Gang, playing "Hollywood Swingin'" live in 1974.

Tony Wilson

Happy birthday to Tony Wilson, born this day in 1947! Here he is performing "Emma" with Hot Chocolate in 1974.

Judee Sill

Happy birthday to the late Judee Sill, born this day in 1944! Here's a 1973 TV performance of "The Kiss"--one of the most beautiful songs ever written, and an astonishing performance.

Thom Yorke

Happy birthday to Thom Yorke, born this day in 1968! Here he is performing "The Clock" on TV in 2006.

Millie

Happy birthday to Millie, born this day in 1946! Here's a very cleverly edited video for "My Boy Lollipop"--obviously put together long after her recording, but I'll make an exception to my usual rule here...

Bobby Farrell

Happy birthday to Bobby Farrell, born this day in 1949! Here is Boney M's ridiculous circa-1978 video for "Rasputin."

Matthew Sweet

Happy birthday to Matthew Sweet, born this day in 1964! Here's his 1995 video for "Sick of Myself," with a totally kickass Robert Quine guitar solo...

Brian Johnson

Happy birthday to Brian Johnson, born this day in 1947! Here he is with Geordie in 1974, singing "She's a Teaser"--yes, this was the band he was in before AC/DC.

Harold Faltermeyer

Happy birthday to Harold Faltermeyer, born this day in 1952! Here's his 1985 video for "Axel F."

Colin Meloy

Happy birthday to Colin Meloy, born this day in 1974! Here he is earlier this year, playing a solo version of the forthcoming Decemberists single, "Valerie Plame."