July 10

 Sandy West

July 10, 1959 – October 21, 2006

The Runaways gained a ferocious sonic anchor when Sandy West co-founded the trailblazing all-female rock group in 1975. She drove the band's powerful rhythm section by playing drums and providing backing vocals. Her thunderous beats fueled their self-titled debut album and massive live concert sets, making songs like Cherry Bomb international rock radio staples. She powered the core lineup through four studio albums and global tours until the outfit fractured in 1979.

She immediately shifted focus to her own musical projects, fronting the Sandy West Band as a singer and lead performer. She continued to perform live and record music with various rock ensembles, keeping her musical career active until 2005.

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Rik Emmett

July 10, 1953

Hard rock took on a sophisticated edge when Rik Emmett co-founded the power trio Triumph in 1975. He gave the group a massive sonic identity by playing guitar and singing lead vocals. His blazing speed and classical guitar influences powered their breakthrough studio albums and energized radio dials with hits like Hold On and Lay It On the Line. He anchored the official lineup as a primary songwriter, driving their arena rock spectacles and massive concert tours.

He remained a central force in the band across nine studio albums before departing the lineup in 1988. He then launched a versatile solo career, releasing a steady stream of rock, jazz, and classical guitar albums from 1990 to 2016.

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Jerry Miller

July 10, 1943 – July 20, 2024

The incendiary guitar parts of Moby Grape gained a magnificent driving edge when Jerry Miller co-founded the band in 1966. He played lead guitar and sang vocals, helping construct their celebrated three-guitar assault. He co-wrote three songs on their acclaimed debut album and powered their psychedelic folk-rock style. His masterful playing energized their historic concert sets until the core lineup fractured in 1969.

He remained committed to the group name, anchoring various brief reunions and recording studio albums through 1979. He also kept busy as a session player and formed his own creative project called the Jerry Miller Band. He continued to perform live gigs and record music on his own terms well into 2010.

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Greg Kihn

July 10, 1949 – August 13, 2024

The San Francisco rock scene gained a charismatic new frontman when Greg Kihn began releasing records in the mid-seventies. He formed the Greg Kihn Band as an official four-piece lineup, playing guitar and singing lead vocals. His accessible songwriting blended catchy pop sensibilities with a straightforward rock edge. He powered the group through regular studio albums, building a loyal following with tracks like Remember. His melodic style and energetic performance approach fueled the core lineup through a busy schedule of club dates and national tours.

The outfit reached massive commercial success when their hits The Breakup Song and Jeopardy climbed the charts in the early eighties. He guided the band through a shifting musical landscape, keeping his name on the radio with regular album releases until 1996. He later focused on writing horror novels and working as a morning radio disc jockey.

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