June 14

 Rod Argent

June 14, 1945

The distinctive textures of his keyboard arrangements became a cornerstone for the progressive art rock movement as the seventies dawned. Following the initial dissolution of his hit-making sixties group The Zombies, he quickly assembled a namesake progressive outfit, Argent, to explore a heavier, more expansive sonic direction. Rodney Terence Argent was the keyboardist and synthesizer player who drove the intricate instrumental passages behind their material.

His complex organ soloing powered the massive radio success of the 1972 anthem Hold Your Head Up, establishing the new group as a major arena attraction. He guided the band through a prolific run of studio releases like All Together Now and In Deep before the lineup dissolved in 1976. Turning toward studio production and session work for other rock performers, he later revived The Zombies in 1997, recording new collections and anchoring their global concert tours until his retirement from the road in 2024.

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Jim Lea

June 14, 1949

As a foundational force behind the commercial dominance of Slade, Jim Lea provided the melodic engine and driving hooks that defined the glam rock boom. He joined the collective in its early incarnation as The N Betweens in 1966, securing a steady partnership that propelled a remarkable streak of consecutive chart-topping hits, anthemic stomps, and packed arena tours. Jim Lea was the bass guitarist, violinist, keyboardist, and guitarist who stepped forward to shape the sonic character of landmark studio releases like Slayed?, Old New Borrowed and Blue, and Slade in Flame.

His classical training allowed him to craft heavy, memorable hooks on the piano and inject distinctive string parts into their studio arrangements, balancing out the roaring vocal delivery of the frontline. When the ensemble faced shifting commercial tides, his steady writing partnership kept the unit anchored through a triumphant performance at the 1980 Reading Festival, sparking a renewed wave of heavy rock popularity. He maintained his pivotal position as a core member of the lineup from 1966 until 1992, anchoring their studio records and international concert tours for over two decades.

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Steve Hunter

June 14, 1948

Beyond a signature solo career, his collaborative work in the studio reshaped the sound of classic rock throughout a prolific era of guitar-driven music. Steve Hunter was the electric guitar and acoustic guitar player who provided the searing lead lines for some of the biggest names in the industry. He teamed up with producer Bob Ezrin in 1971 to deliver foundational tracks for Mitch Ryder, which quickly led to high-profile session work for Alice Cooper on landmark studio albums like Billion Dollar Babies and Welcome to My Nightmare.

His fluid, lyrical phrasing and soaring intro work on live albums captured the raw energy of international stadium tours, particularly during his tenure anchoring the backing band for Lou Reed on the 1974 live record Rock 'n' Roll Animal. He also stepped into the studio with Peter Gabriel in 1977, laying down the iconic acoustic parts for the hit single Solsbury Hill. While primarily celebrated as an elite session player and touring guitarist, he also launched a solo career with his 1977 debut album Swept Away, and he continued to record solo material and contribute to major rock projects through 2017.

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