August 24

 Ken Hensley

August 24, 1945 – November 4, 2020

Ken Hensley plays keyboards, guitar, and harmonica. He took over the role of primary songwriter for Uriah Heep in 1970, the same year the group formed. He played on all of their albums throughout the decade, including Demons and Wizards in 1972 and Sweet Freedom in 1973. He left the band in 1980 after the release of the album Conquest.

Before his main band, he played in the group The Gods, releasing the album Genesis in 1968. He also recorded as a solo artist, releasing his first solo album titled Proud Words on a Dusty Shelf in 1973. In 1975, he put out his second solo album called Eager To Please. He later worked as a session player with Blackfoot, playing keyboards on their 1981 album Marauder.

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Jimmy Fox

August 24, 1947

Jimmy Fox played drums as a founding member of the James Gang when the band formed in 1966. He stayed as the one constant member through many lineup shifts, anchoring the group until they broke up in 1977. He played on all of their studio albums, including Yer' Album in 1969, James Gang Rides Again in 1970, and Thirds in 1971. He also played on the 1971 concert recording Live in Concert. He briefly reunited with original bandmates for special live appearances in 1996, 1998, and 2001.

Beyond his main band, he worked as a studio guest. He played drums on the album Barnstorm for guitarist Joe Walsh in 1972. He also played drums on the album The Smoker You Drink, the Player You Get in 1973. In 1973, he played drums on an album for artist B.W. Stevenson titled My Maria.

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John Cipollina

August 24, 1943 – May 29, 1989

John Cipollina became the original lead guitarist for Quicksilver Messenger Service when the group formed in 1965. He played guitar on their self-titled debut album in 1968 and on Happy Trails in 1969. He left the band in 1971 after recording the album What About Me. He returned to play guitar with them during a reunion tour and album called Solid Silver in 1975.

He formed the band Copperhead in 1970 and played guitar on their only studio album in 1973. In 1975, he played guitar as a guest performer on a live album with the band Man called Maximum Darkness. He later formed the band Raven and played guitar with them from 1976 to 1980. He continued to play guitar live and in the studio with several groups until 1989.

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Joe Macre

August 24, 1953

Joe Macre became the original bass guitarist for Crack the Sky in 1975. He played on the group's self-titled debut album in 1975. He also performed on the studio release Animal Notes in 1976 and the concert album Live Sky in 1978. He stayed with the band until 1980, later returning for a second stint from 2004 to 2009. Outside of his work with this main group, he contributed as a session player for Wild Cherry and the B. E. Taylor Group.

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David Freiberg

August 24, 1938

David Freiberg plays bass guitar, keyboards, and guitar. He was a founding member of Quicksilver Messenger Service in 1965. He performed on their 1968 debut album and stayed with the group until 1971.

In 1972, he joined Jefferson Airplane to play on their final studio tour and the album Long John Silver. He then co-founded Jefferson Starship in 1974 when that new band emerged. He remained an official member for a decade, performing on major albums like Red Octopus in 1975 and Freedom at Point Zero in 1979. He left the group in 1984 but returned to the lineup in 2005.

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