July 29

 Geddy Lee

July 29, 1953

Emerging from the vibrant local club scene, Gary Lee Weinrib adopted his famous stage name after friends copied his mother's accented pronunciation of Gary. He stepped into the power trio Rush in September 1968, anchoring the group with his distinctively high vocals, heavy bass guitar lines, and sweeping synthesizers. The hard rock outfit toured steadily, building a loyal following before shifting toward complex progressive arrangements.

A major turning point arrived when the iconic 1976 concept album 2112 powered the trio to international mainstream success. He continued to fuel the creative direction of the group as they filled arenas throughout the decade, culminating in the radio-friendly sounds of the 1980 release Permanent Waves. He remained a focal point of the band for decades, creating music and touring with them until 2015 before launching a massive anniversary tour in 2026.

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Mike Garson

July 29, 1945

An unexpected phone call transformed Michael David Garson from a local jazz teacher into a vital spark of the seventies glam rock movement. He joined David Bowie as a session player for the 1972 American tour, immediately establishing himself as an indispensable creative partner. His breathtaking, avant-garde piano solo on the title track of the 1973 album Aladdin Sane became legendary, perfectly blending classical training with wild improvisation.

He provided brilliant piano and keyboards on iconic records including Pin Ups, Diamond Dogs, and the soulful Young Americans. His rare ability to shift effortlessly across different styles kept him in high demand throughout the decade. He worked alongside other notable artists as a studio contributor before ultimately rejoining Bowie for numerous albums and tours from 1993 to 2006.

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