July 18

 Ian Stewart

July 18, 1938 – December 12, 1985

The driving piano keys of Ian Stewart helped shape the gritty rhythm and blues sound of the Rolling Stones from their very beginning. Although he was not an official band member after 1963, his rock steady boogie woogie style remained a vital part of their studio records. He acted as their session player on landmark albums like Sticky Fingers and Exile on Main St., contributing distinctive keyboard textures that defined their hits.

His powerful barrelhouse piano technique was highly valued across the British rock scene, leading him to record with Led Zeppelin on tracks like Rock and Roll. He also toured as a keyboardist with the Rolling Stones through 1982 and co founded the blues outfit Rocket 88.

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Cesar Zuiderwijk

July 18, 1948

The driving pulse of Golden Earring found its permanent engine when Cesar Zuiderwijk stepped behind the drums in 1970. His explosive energy and spectacular stage presence, including his famous leap over his drum kit during solos, energized the lineup just as they shifted into a heavier rock direction. He powered the massive global hit Radar Love, where his propulsive beat became the absolute backbone of the track.

He anchored the classic four piece lineup through their most successful international touring years and fueled a steady string of studio albums, including Moontan and Switch. His precise timing and creative percussion arrangements remained a constant force for the group as he continued to record and tour with them all the way through 2020.

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Craig Fuller

July 18, 1949

The country rock scene gained a brilliant songwriter and vocalist when Craig Fuller co-founded Pure Prairie League in 1970. His distinctive rhythm guitar work and warm vocals defined the band's early signature sound. He penned their signature hit Amie, which became a staple of melodic acoustic rock.

He fronted the group through their first two influential albums before departing the lineup in 1973. He later returned to the recording studio to team up with Eric Kaz, releasing a pair of acclaimed duets records in 1978 and 1979. His career arc took a major turn when he fronted a reformed lineup of Little Feat as lead vocalist from 1987 to 1993, and he continued to perform with a revived Pure Prairie League into the 2010s.

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