March 15

 Dee Snider

March 15, 1955. Joining Twisted Sister in 1976, Daniel Dee Snider transitioned the group from a local bar act into a formidable glam metal force. He served as the primary songwriter and lead vocalist throughout his tenure from 1976 to 1988, then again from 2003 to 2016. His theatrical stage presence and gravelly delivery defined the band’s identity during their rise through the late seventies club circuit.

While refining their aggressive sound, Snider penned the rebellious anthems that eventually secured their global prominence. He also briefly contributed as a backing guitarist during early recording sessions. Despite numerous lineup shifts before 1980, his leadership remained the central constant for the quintet.

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Hughie Flint

March 15, 1940. Following his departure from the Bluesbreakers, Hughie Flint co-founded the group McGuinness Flint in 1970. He occupied the role of the primary drummer for this ensemble from 1970 until 1975, contributing to several folk-influenced albums. During the early seventies, he also provided the rhythm on drums and bodhran for various recording sessions with the Bonzo Dog Band.

The supergroup The Blues Band welcomed Flint as their drummer in 1979, a position he held through 1982. This final venture of the seventies reunited him with former colleagues to produce high-energy blues records. His professional tenure across these various groups and sessions remained centered on his precision behind the kit throughout the decade. Flint eventually retired from his musical career in 1982 to become a university porter.

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Phil Lesh

March 15, 1940 – October 25, 2024. As the innovative four string electric bassist and high harmony vocalist for the Grateful Dead, Phil Lesh redefined the rhythmic foundations of psychedelic rock from 1965 to 1995. His avant-garde background influenced the group's improvisational journeys, particularly during their legendary touring years throughout the seventies. 

While contributing to the experimental textures of the New Riders of the Purple Sage in 1970, he remained anchored to his primary collective. This classically trained creator utilized complex counterpoint melodies to drive the band's extensive live performances.

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Mike Love

March 15, 1941. Michael Edward Love remained the primary lyrical collaborator and signature lead singer for the Beach Boys from 1961 to the present. While delivering the nasal baritone leads on hits like Do It Again, he often served as the saxophonist and high-energy frontman for the California collective. During the early seventies, he expanded his artistic output by co-writing deep cuts for the albums Sunflower and Surf's Up.

In 1978, he branched out to form the short-lived group Celebration, where he acted as the lead vocalist and occasional percussionist. Despite this secondary venture, he maintained his central role with his cousins, continuing to tour globally. He frequently utilized the electro-theremin during live performances of their psychedelic masterpieces.

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Ry Cooder

March 15, 1947. Ryland Peter Cooder established himself as a premier slide guitarist and mandolinist throughout the seventies. Following his early contributions to Captain Beefheart and His Magic Band, he launched a prolific solo career that blended blues, gospel, and Hawaiian folk. His distinctive fingerstyle technique appeared on numerous soundtracks and studio sessions, including his work as the bottleneck guitarist for Performance.

This versatile artist also served as the lead vocalist and banjoist on a series of acclaimed albums like Into the Purple Valley and Paradise and Lunch. He briefly joined the sessions for the Rolling Stones and formed the band Little Village. These collaborations cemented his reputation as a master of American roots music.

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