Sept. 4: Today, Beyoncé Knowles, "If I was a Boy," is 29.

Born and raised in Houston, Texas Beyoncé Giselle Knowles has reached that rarified level where only one name suffices; like Cher and Madonna, she is instantly recognizable by only her first name - Beyoncé.

And I'm sure others agree; I'm glad she's not a boy.

Besides a highly successful career as a pop recording artist, Beyoncé is also an actress and fashion model. While growing up, Beyoncé attended performing arts schools and was first exposed to singing and dancing competitions as a child. Knowles rose to fame in the late 1990s as the lead singer of the R&B girl group Destiny's Child, one of the world's best-selling girl groups of all time.

Taking a break from Destiny's Child, Knowles released a solo album Dangerously in Love (2003), which spawned the number one hits "Crazy in Love" and "Baby Boy" and became one of the most successful albums of that year, earning her a then record-tying five Grammy Awards. Soon after, Destiny's Child split up, and Beyoncé released B'Day in 2006. It debuted at number one on the Billboard charts and included the hits "Déjà Vu," "Irreplaceable" and "Beautiful Liar."

Her third solo album I Am... Sasha Fierce, released in November 2008, included the anthemic "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)." The album and its singles earned her six Grammy Awards, breaking the record for most Grammy Awards won by a female artist in one night. Still only in her twenties, Beyoncé is third among female artists all time, with 16 Grammy awards—13 as a solo artist and three as a member of Destiny's Child.

Press links below to view You Tube videos:

-- "Say My Name" (Destiny's Child)

-- "Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It)"

-- "Crazy in Love" (With Jay-Z)

 

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Knowles began her acting career in 2001, appearing in the musical film Carmen: A Hip Hopera. In 2006, she starred in the lead role in the film adaptation of the 1981 Broadway musical Dreamgirls, for which she earned two Golden Globe nominations. Knowles launched her family's fashion line, House of Deréon, in 2004.


In 2010, Forbes ranked Knowles at number two on its list of the 100 Most Powerful and Influential Celebrities in the world; and was also listed as the most powerful and influential musician in the world. Time included Knowles on its list of the "100 Most Influential People in the World."

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Sept. 4: Argentine singer and actress, Camila Bordonaba is 26.

Born in Buenos Aires, Camila Bordonaba Roldán is known for her roles in the TV shows, Chiquititas, Rebelde Way, Son de Fierro and Atracción x4, and as a member of music group Erreway.


Erreway was an Argentine band formed during the television series Rebelde Way, consisting of Camila Bordonaba, Felipe Colombo and Benjamín Rojas, and Luisana Lopilato - who left the group in 2005. Releasing three studio albums — Señales, Tiempo and Memoria — Erreway sold more than 5 million records worldwide and achieved several Platinum and Gold album certifications in Argentina.

With the success of their albums and Rebelde Way, Erreway members have become household names in Argentina, as well as international stars.  Luisana Lopilato and Camila Bordonaba, Lopilato especially, were named one of the sexiest women in many countries, Argentina and Spain mostly. All members also became a regular feature of the press.

Press links below to view You Tube videos:

-- "No Estés Seguro"

-- "Me da Igual"

-- "Vamos al Ruedo"

 

 

 

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Sept. 4: British pop singer, Lucie Silvas is 33 today.

Lucie Silvas - born Lucie Joanne Silverman in Kingston-Upon-Thames, London is a British singer and songwriter who has been compared to Delta Goodrem, Alicia Keys and Mariah Carey; quite a league to play in, for sure and probably unfair.

Both her parents are very musical - her mother was an opera singer and wanted to pursue a career in music - and Lucie has stated this inspired her career. Lucie learned the piano at the age of 5, and had written her first song by age 10.

 In 2003, Lucie recorded her album, Breathe In. Most of the songs were co-written with Judie Tzuke, for whom Silvas sang backing vocals for many years.


BBC Radio 2 commissioned a radio show to track Silvas' development in the music industry, supporting her career, and adding her tracks to their playlist. The first single from the album, "What You're Made of," entered the official UK charts at number 7, and a few weeks later the album debuted and peaked at number 11.

Following TV appearances on the Ivor Novello Elton John tribute show, and "All Time Greatest Love Songs" with Ronan Keating, Lucie released her second single from the album, "Breathe In", which debuted at number 6.

Silvas then released "The Game Is Won", "Don't Look Back" and "Forget Me Not." None of them did very well on the charts.


Following the release of the "Breathe In" single in Britain, Lucie performed on the Continent where she was well received. She released a special Europe-only single, "Nothing Else Matters," her cover of the Metallica song.


Lucie's next album The Same Side was recorded in late 2006. It was released in October 2006 in the Netherlands and in March 2007 in the UK and the rest of Europe.

Lucie has spent the last few months working on new music in Nashville, Tennessee and NYC, as well as in studios in the UK.












Press link below to view Another You Tube videos:
-- "What You're Made Of"



Lucie Silvas Official Website

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Sept. 3: Gary Walker (Gary Leeds) of the Walker Brothers is 66.

Formed in 1964, The Walker Brothers were an American 1960s and 1970s pop group, that recorded a number of top ten albums and singles in the mid-1960s, including the hit songs "Make It Easy on Yourself" and "The Sun Ain't Gonna Shine (Anymore)." When the "British Invasion" hit the US, the Walker Brothers - who had adopted the shaggy hair cuts and mod clothes, went in the opposite direction; they traveled east to the U.K. and the Continent, winning legions of new fans. 


Actually, no one in the group was named Walker. The group, which consisted of John Maus (John Walker), Scott Engel (Scott Walker), and Gary Leeds (Gary Walker) used the Walker Brothers moniker they said "Because we like it."

Born in Glendale, California, Gary played drums and sang with The Walker Brothers and earlier with The Standells.

 

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Sept. 3: Donald Brewer, drummer for Grand Funk Railroad is 62 today.

During the 1970s, Grand Funk Railroad sold more than 25 million records, toured constantly, packed arenas worldwide, and received four RIAA gold albums during 1970. The band's name is a play on words of the Grand Trunk Railroad, a railroad line that ran through the band's home town of Flint, Michigan.

The current Grand Funk Railroad lineup uses the nickname "The American Band," a reference to its 1973 hit "We're an American Band." This song, written by Brewer, was the band's first #1 single.

The group broke up in he mid 1970s and Brewer and former Grand Funk members Mel Schacher and Craig Frost formed a new band named "Flint," releasing one self-titled album before disbanding.

In 1981, Brewer and former Grand Funk guitarist and lead singer Mark Farner resurrected Grand Funk for an album that cracked the Billboard albums chart. Two years later, they split again and Brewer joined Bob Seger's Silver Bullet Band. He also continued in other musical endeavors, including producing for the band The Godz.

 

 

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In 1996 Brewer, Schacher, and Farner reunited as Grand Funk, and were eventually named one of Pollstar's top-grossing acts of 1998.

In 2000, Brewer and Schacher recruited lead vocalist Max Carl, former Kiss lead guitarist Bruce Kulick, and keyboardist Tim Cashion to continue as Grand Funk Railroad. The band has toured steadily since then.

In 2005, Grand Funk Railroad was inducted into the Michigan Rock and Roll Legends Hall of Fame. The band has had three of its recordings voted Legendary Michigan Songs: "We're an American Band" in 2008, and "Closer To Home/I'm Your Captain" and "Some Kind Of Wonderful" in 2009.

On the TV show, The Simpsons, Homer Simpson has said Grand Funk Railroad is his favorite band.

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Sept. 3: George Biondo, bass player for Steppenwolf is 65 today.

George Michael Biondo was a member of the group from 1970-1976.Biondo, born in Brooklyn, New York, joined Steppenwolf for the recording of Steppenwolf 7, contributing lead vocals on "Fat Jack" and co-lead vocals on "Foggy Mental Breakdown" and the chart-hit, "Who Needs Ya'." (He was not a member when they recorded "Magic Carpet Ride" or "Born to be Wild.)


Steppenwolf went on hiatus in 1972, and Biondo helped form the John Kay Band, appearing on both of Kay's solo albums. (Key was the lead singer and frontman with Steppenwolf.) In 1980, Biondo re-united with Steppenwolf co-founder Jerry Edmonton in a band called Steel Rose. A Steel Rose single penned by Biondo, "Good That You're Gone," was released on Dore Records, and featured Biondo on lead vocals. When Steel Rose disbanded in 1984 Biondo returned to writing and freelance club and session work.

Press links below to view You Tube videos:
-- "Foggy Mental Breakdown"
-- "Who Needs Ya'"
-- "Renegade"

Sept. 3: Georgia singer Jennifer Paige is 37 today.

Born in in Marietta, Georgia - a suburb of Atlanta- Jennifer began singing at the age of five at local coffeehouses and restaurants with her older brother Chance Scoggins. She attended a performing arts school and studied voice, dance and drama.

At the age 17, she toured the country with a top 40 covers act, Vivid Image, and eventually relocated to Los Angeles. In August 1996, she performed in her hometown, Atlanta, in front of 50,000 people at the Olympic Games with the 10-piece covers band, "Joe's Band". The same year, Paige recorded a dance version of Aretha Franklin's classic, "Chain of Fools" which resulted in a a record contract.

Her first album Jennifer Paige was released in August 1998. In their review, Billboard magazine stated that "Paige succeeds in the nearly impossible task of oozing smouldering sensuality without resorting to typical groans and moans; instead, she uses her notably flexible vocal range to convey the emotion of the tune..."

The lead single "Crush" was a hit, and was followed by two other singles, "Sober" and "Always You", the latter reaching #6 on the Billboard Dance Chart.

In the summer of 2000, Jennifer Paige recorded a new song for the soundtrack of the film Autumn in New York, called "Beautiful."

Her second album Positively Somewhere, released in September 2001 in the U.S. included the single "These Days." In 2003 she released Flowers: The Jennifer Paige Hits Collection. After parting ways with her record label, Jennifer continued writing for other artists, and compiling songs for a new studio effort.

 

Press links below to view You Tube videos:
-- "Stranded"
-- "Sober"

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In April 2006, "The Calling," co-written by Paige was chosen by Lifetime Television for their made-for-TV movie, "Augusta, Gone", based on the book of the same name. Her next album, Best Kept Secret was first released in April 2008 and re-released as a deluxe edition in November 2009.

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