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Today in Music History: Happy Birthday, Liam Gallagher

September 21, 2015

Liam Gallagher
Liam Gallagher performs with Beady Eye on Jan. 17, 2014, in Auckland, New Zealand.
Jason Oxenham/Getty Images

Birthday Highlight

Liam Gallagher is 43 today. Born William John Paul Gallagher in Burnage, a suburb of Manchester in North West England, Liam Gallagher is best known as the lead singer of Oasis. Although his older brother, Noel Gallagher, wrote the majority of Oasis's songs, Liam composed the singles "Songbird" and "I'm Outta Time," along with a number of album tracks and B-sides. When Noel departed Oasis in 2009, Liam continued with the former members of Oasis as the band Beady Eye until that group disbanded in 2014. Liam Gallagher's unique singing style has made him one of the most recognizable figures in modern British music; in a 2010 poll for Q magazine, Liam was voted the greatest frontman of all time. Beyond music, Liam is the founder of the clothing line, Pretty Green (named for a song by The Jam); he's also known for his passionate support of Manchester City F.C.

Also, Today In:

1963 - Bobby Vinton started a three-week run at No. 1 on the U.S. singles chart with "Blue Velvet."

1968 - Jeannie C. Riley went to No. 1 on the U.S. singles chart with "Harper Valley PTA." On March 12, 1969, Jeannie's recording of the song was honored with a Grammy for Best Female Country Vocal Performance.

1974 - Barry White went to No. 1 on the U.S. singles chart with "Can't Get Enough Of Your Love, Babe," his first and only solo chart-topper.

1980 - During a North American tour, Bob Marley collapsed while jogging in New York's Central Park. After hospital tests, Marley was diagnosed as having cancer. Two nights later, he played his final concert at the Stanley Theater in Pittsburgh.

1985 - With the help of heavy MTV exposure, Dire Straits' "Money For Nothing" hit No. 1 in the U.S. singles chart.

1986 - National Enquirer featured a picture of Michael Jackson in an oxygen chamber with a story claiming that Jackson had a bizarre plan to live until he was 150 years old.

2007 - Snoop Dogg was sentenced to three years probation and 160 hours of community service after pleading guilty to carrying a collapsible baton. The rapper was arrested in September 2006 after the baton was found in his bag at John Wayne Airport in Orange County, Calif.

Birthdays:

Leonard Cohen is 81.

Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section bassist David Hood is 72. David is the father of Drive-by Truckers' Patterson Hood.

Barenaked Ladies drummer Tyler Stewart is 48.

The Charlatans drummer Jon Brooks is 47.