happy birthday

Happy 80 To Disco Diva THELMA HOUSTON

Posted on by JL

7 May 2026

THELMA HOUSTON (né Jackson), one of the most famous and succesful
disco soul artists ever, was born in Leland, Mississippi on 7 May 1946.

Happy 80!

Her mother was a cotton picker. She and her three sisters grew up primarily
in Long Beach, California. After marrying and having two children, she joined
he Art Reynolds Singers gospel group and was subsequently signed as
a recording artist.

She released 17 albums with 2007’s A Woman’s Touch as her latest.
The greater part of her work was written and composed by collaborators.

Houston‘s greatest hit is unquestionably DON’T LEAVE ME THIS WAY. A song written by duo Gamble and Huff (credited for developing the Philadelphia soul music genre) and lyricist Cary Gilbert. It was first recorded in 1975 by Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes, who scored Top-10 in the US and the UK.

But it was Houston‘s version that took it all the way to the top of the American charts.

Short Bio – All Albums

Happy 45 To EDITORS Voice/Face TOM SMITH Who Have A New Single Out

Posted on by JL

29 April 2026

Widely lauded British band EDITORS formed in 2002,
delighted their countless fans with 7 LPs, hitherto.

Last December, frontman/songwriter TOM SMITH released his
solo debut album There Is Nothing In The Dark That Isn’t There
In The Light and yesterday, he returned with his Editors for a brand
new single, named Call It In.

And today he’s celebrating his 45th birthday. Happy B.

SOLO


.
EDITORS

Instagram – Spotify

Happy 85 To The Legendary Voice And Songsmith NEIL DIAMOND

Posted on by JL

24 January 2026

Neil Leslie Diamond was born in New York on 24th January 1941. Happy 85 to one
of the greatest pop songwriters ever. With his warm, passionate, and awe-inspiring
voice he charmed/charms millions of devoted fans.

He released 34th studio albums, multiple live LPs, compilations, and music for
movies since he debuted back in 1962. He sold over more than 100 million records.

In January 2018, Diamond told the world that he retired from
touring due to having been diagnosed with Parkinson‘s disease.

He wrote a series of timeless hits (37 top 40 hits). To celebrate the living
legend’s 85th birthday Turn Up The Volume picked these 3 masterstrokes.

– I AM I SAID –

– SWEET CAROLINE –

– CRACKLIN’ ROSIE –

Biography – Discography – Facebook

Happy 80 To Country Shero DOLLY PARTON!

Posted on by JL

19 January 2026

World-famous country shero DOLLY PARTON was born
in Pittman Center, Tennessee, U.S. on 19 January 1946.

Happy 80 to one of the greatest voices ever,
to a tremendously flamboyant artist, and
utterly cool personality.

She’s in the music business since she was only 10-years old.
She wrote most of her songs herself. She has released no less
than 49 LPs and multiple collaborative albums (so far).

One of her biggest and best known hits.
More tha 880 million streams on Spotify.

Short Bio – All Albums

Happy 80 To JOHN PAUL JONES

Posted on by JL

3 January 2026


Promo photo

Bassist and keyboardist JOHN PAUL JONES who formed legendary rock band
Led Zeppelin back in 1968, along with guitarist Jimmy Page, was born named
John Richard Baldwin on 3 January 1946 in Kent, Engeland.

Happy 80 to a musical architect, whose contributions
to Led Zep‘s work and success was instrumental.

When the band called it a day in 1980 following the death of drummer John Bonham started to work with countless other artists such as Queens Of The Stone Age‘s frontman Josh Homme, Peter Gabriel, Foo Fighter Dave Grohl, Lenny Kravitz, Cinderella, The Mission,
La Fura dels Baus, the Harp Consort, Brian Eno, Seasick Steve, and the Butthole Surfers.

Happy 85 FRANK ZAPPA

Posted on by JL

Phenomenal multi-instrumentalist and singer-songwriter FRANK ZAPPA
was born on 21 December 1940 in Baltimore. He would have celebrated his
85th birthday today.

Zappa Magazines.

CIRCUS Magazine – 1967

ROLLING STONE – 1968

CREEM – 1974

CASHBOX – 1982

KEYBOARD Magazine – 1987

Zappa passed away on 4 December 1993 due to cancer. R.I.P.

Biography – All Albums

HAPPY 70 To THE CLASH Bass Hero PAUL SIMONON

Posted on by JL

15 December 2025


The iconic photo taken by Pennie Smith in New York, 1979

Paul Gustave Simonon was born on 15 December 1955.

Happy 70 to the cool-as-hell bass casanova of the last
band in town, The Clash.

To celebrate, here’s the first song Simonon, who grew
up in Brixton, wrote for the band. His pumping reggae
bass money-maker Guns Of Brixton, from the classic
double LP ‘London Calling‘.

When they kick at your front door
How you gonna come?
With your hands on your head
Or on the trigger of your gun

When the law break in
How you gonna go?
Shot down on the pavement
Or waiting on death row

You can crush us
You can bruise us
But you’ll have to answer to
Oh, the guns of Brixton

On top: the iconic photo taken by Pennie Smith in New York, 1979.