March 2: Jon Bon Jovi is 49 today.

Born John Francis Bongiovi, Jr. in Perth Amboy, New Jersey, Jon is best known as the lead singer and founder of Bon Jovi. Both his parents were Marines, and Jon has said he is a blood relative of Frank Sinatra.

Throughout his career, he has released two solo albums and eleven studio albums with his band which have sold over 130 million albums worldwide.

As a solo artist, Bon Jovi has numerous awards for his work, including a Golden Globe and an Academy Award nomination for his solo hit, "Blaze of Glory." He was awarded an honorary Doctorate of Humanities from Monmouth University in 2001. He was ranked 31st in the Hit Parader's top Metal vocalists of All Time.

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In his youth, Bon Jovi spent most of his playing in local bands with friends and his cousin Tony Bongiovi, who owned the then famous New York recording studio, The Power Station. By the time he was 16, Bon Jovi was playing clubs. It was not long before he hooked up with keyboardist David Bryan, who played with him in a ten-piece rhythm and blues band called Atlantic City Expressway. Bon Jovi also performed with bands called The Rest, The Lechers and John Bongiovi and the Wild Ones.

When he was seventeen, Bon Jovi was working sweeping floors at his cousin Tony Bongiovi's recording studio. In 1980, when Meco was there recording Christmas in the Stars: The Star Wars Christmas Album, Bongiovi recommended Bon Jovi for the song "R2-D2 We Wish You A Merry Christmas." This became his first professional recording (credited as John Bongiovi) He left in 1983 when he got a record deal.

Jon Bon Jovi recorded a song, Runaway, one of a few songs John wrote during his bus travels from Sayreville to The Power Station. He went to several record companies, but they all turned him down.

Jon Bon Jovi visited major rock station WAPP 103.5FM "The Apple" in New York City. He spoke directly to the promotion director John Lassman, who accepted the song "Runaway" for inclusion on the station's compilation album of local homegrown talent. Bon Jovi was initially reluctant to have it included but eventually gave them the song on which Bon Jovi had used studio musicians to play on the track.

"Runaway" became a local hit on the charts. Mercury Records offered Bon Jovi a recording contract in 1983, and  Bon Jovi invited Richie Sambora, David Bryan, Tico Torres and Alec John Such to join the band. While trying to decide on a name, (and rejecting "Johnny Lightning"), one of the group suggested "Bon Jovi," slightly changing the spelling of Jon's last name.

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The band's debut album, Bon Jovi, was released on January 21, 1984. The album went gold in the US. In 1985, Bon Jovi's second album 7800°Fahrenheit was released, but did not do well. 

Bon Jovi first started to make it big after when they brought in songwriter Desmond Child for their third album, Slippery When Wet. With Child co-writing many of their hits on this and future albums the band shot to super-stardom around the world with songs such as "You Give Love a Bad Name," "Livin' On A Prayer," and "Wanted Dead or Alive." The album has sold in excess of 28 million copies worldwide since its release in late 1986.

The next album from Bon Jovi, New Jersey was released in 1988. The album was recorded very shortly after the tour for Slippery, was a huge commercial success, with hit songs such as "Bad Medicine," "Lay Your Hands on Me" and "I'll Be There for You."

Despite the band achieving massive success, New Jersey almost led to the end of the band after returning to the road so soon after the heavy touring for their previous album. This constant living on the road almost destroyed the strong bond between the band members. At the end of the tour, each band member went their separate way, even departing in separate jets after the tour ended in Guadalajara, Mexico in early 1990.

The album Keep the Faith was released in November 1992. Produced by Bob Rock, the album introduced a more "rock n roll"-driven sound. In 1994, Bon Jovi released a "greatest hits" album titled Cross Road, which also contained two new tracks: the hit singles "Always" and "Someday I'll Be Saturday Night."

"Always" spent six months on the Top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100 and became one of Bon Jovi's all-time biggest hits. That same year, bassist Alec John Such left the band, the first and only lineup change since Bon Jovi began. Hugh McDonald, who was the bassist on "Runaway," unofficially replaced Such as bassist.

Their sixth studio album These Days was released in June 1995 to the most critical acclaim that the band had ever received. The record as a whole was darker and more downbeat than usual. By 1996, Bon Jovi had established themselves as a "force" in the music industry.

Bon Jovi regrouped in 1999 to begin work on their next studio album. Their 2000 release, Crush, enjoyed overwhelming success all around the world, thanks in part to the smash-hit single "It's My Life."

In late 2002, Bounce, the band's next album, did not enjoy the level of success of its predecessor, but did produce hit singles such as "Everyday" and the title track.

Bon Jovi's ninth studio album, Have a Nice Day, was released in September 2005. "Have A Nice Day" was the first single off the new album and the second single from the album "Who Says You Can't Go Home," was released in the U.S. in the spring of 2006.

In the U.S. a duet version of "Who Says You Can't Go Home" with country singer Jennifer Nettles of the band Sugarland was released. In May 2006, Bon Jovi made history by becoming the first Rock & Roll Band to have a #1 hit on Billboard's Hot Country Chart. On February 11, 2007, Bon Jovi also won a Grammy Award, for "Best Country Collaboration with Vocals" for "Who Says You Can't Go Home."

In June 2007, Bon Jovi released their studio album, Lost Highway. The album debuted at number #1 on the Billboard charts, the first time that Bon Jovi have had a number one album on the US charts since the release of New Jersey in 1988.

Jon Bon Jovi recorded a solo album, a soundtrack to the movie Young Guns II (in which he also appeared for less than a second), more commonly known as Blaze of Glory. Released in 1990, the album featured Elton John, Aldo Nova, Little Richard, and Jeff Beck, among others. The album fared well commercially and received very positive reviews and quickly achieved double platinum status.

The title track, "Blaze of Glory," hit number one on the Billboard Hot 100 and earned Jon an Academy Award nomination for Best Song. "Blaze of Glory" was awarded a Golden Globe.

In 1997, Jon wrote what would become his second solo album, Destination Anywhere. The album received very positive reviews and was a success across Europe. That year Jon Bon Jovi earned a BRIT Award for Best International Male and also won a MTV Europe Music Award for Best Male Artist.

The Jon Bon Jovi Soul Foundation (formerly the Philadelphia Soul Charitable Foundation) was founded in 2006 and exists to combat issues that force families and individuals into economic despair. Through the funding and creation of programs and partnerships, they support innovative community efforts to break the cycle of poverty and homelessness.

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March 2: Karen Carpenter "Superstar," Close to You," was born on this date in 1950...

... she died on February 4, 1983. She was 32 years old.

Karen Anne Carpenter and her brother, Richard, formed the 1970s duo named the Carpenters.  Karen was a skillful drummer, but is best remembered for her vocal performances. Unfortunately, she suffered from anorexia nervosa, a little known disease at the time, and died at the age of 32 from heart failure, later attributed to complications related to her illness.

The Carpenters were the biggest-selling group of the 70s. No fewer than ten of their singles went on to become million-sellers, and by 2005 combined worldwide sales of albums and singles well exceeded 100 million units.

 

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While Richard had an interest in music from a very early age Karen initially showed no musical inclinations other than listening to records. She was barely into her teens when in 1963 the whole family moved to the Los Angeles suburb of Downey.

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By late 1964, Karen’s musical talent was awakening. Now a first-year student at Downey High School and playing glockenspiel in the marching band, she was inspired by the drumming ability of fellow band member. She went home and started adding her own rhythm accompaniments to some of her records, using a pair of chopsticks and a set of bar stools as her drum kit. When her parents responded by buying her a proper drum set, she learned to play very quickly. 

Karen was just 15 when the Carpenter Trio was formed. The brother and sister teamed up with a classmate Richard had met in June of 1965, tuba and bass player Wes Jacobs, to play jazz.

At Richard’s urging, Karen would sing an occasional selection but primarily the trio was an instrumental outfit, as Karen’s distinctive singing voice was just developing and she was not very happy with the sound. By early 1966, however, Karen’s voice had matured quite a bit.

Through a classmate, an audition for Karen and Richard had been scheduled with West Coast studio electric bassist Joe Osborn. Osborn and a partner had recently launched a record label, Magic Lamp, and were on a search for new talent.

In May of 1966, Harold and Agnes Carpenter signed a contract for Karen with the fledgling label. From several songs cut, two written by Richard but named as Karen Carpenter solo records, were issued as a single, "Looking For Love" and "I’ll Be Yours." Neither sold well. However, The Richard Carpenter Trio won the prestigious amateur talent contest "The Battle of the Bands" at the Hollywood Bowl on June 24, 1966.

Before long the trio split up and both Carpenters returned to their studies. Their first experience of working together professionally was less successful, however. They both took a job at Coke Corner on Disneyland’s Main Street U.S.A. There, routinely deviating from the selections of turn-of-the-century tunes they were asked to perform, the pair were fired after four months.

During this period the Carpenters formed another musical outfit with Richard and John Bettis writing the bulk of the group’s repertoire and Richard crafting the arrangements. They called themselves Spectrum. The band was short-lived, and Richard and Karen were soon on their own once more.

It was during this time that Karen saw a doctor about her weight. From her early years she had been chubby and went on the Stillman diet. She lost twenty-five pounds in six months in 1967 – and stayed at her new weight of around 120 pounds from then until 1973.

In mid 1968, they returned to Joe Osbourne's studio and recorded three new tracks. Pleased with their sound, they settled on a new name simply the "Carpenters," and looked for the right songs.

in April 1969 A&M Records signed the Carpenters to a recording contract. Karen Carpenter sang most of the songs on the band's first album, Offering (later retitled Ticket to Ride). The first single - which became the title track - became their first single. It reached #54 on the Billboard Hot 100 Charts. Their next album, 1970's Close to You, featured two massive hit singles: "(They Long to Be) Close to You" and "We've Only Just Begun." They peaked at #1 and #2, respectively, on the Hot 100.

Karen Carpenter started out as both the group's drummer and lead singer, and she originally sang all her vocals from behind the drum set. Eventually, she was persuaded to stand at the microphone to sing the band's hits while another musician played the drums, although she still did some drumming. (Former Disney Mouseketeer Cubby O'Brien served as the band's other drummer for many years.

After the release of Now & Then in 1973, the albums tended to have Karen focusing  even more on her singing.   Karen rarely selected the songs she would sing, and often felt she had very little control over her life. She dieted obsessively and developed anorexia nervosa. At the same time, her brother Richard developed an addiction to Quaaludes. The Carpenters frequently canceled tour dates, and they stopped touring altogether after their September 4, 1978 concert at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.



In 1981, after the release of the Made in America album (which turned out to be their last) the Carpenters returned to the stage and did some tour dates, including their final live performance in Brazil.


In 1979, Karen made a solo album with producer Phil Ramone. Her solo work was markedly different, consisting of adult-orientated and disco/dance-tempo material with more sexual lyrics and the use of Karen's higher vocal register. The album was shelved. It wasn't until seven years later, in 1996, the entire album, featuring mixes approved by Karen before her death and one unmixed bonus track, was finally released.

The song "Now," recorded in April 1982, was the last song Karen Carpenter recorded. She recorded it after a two-week intermission in her therapy with a psychotherapist in New York City for her anorexia. The sight of Karen upon her return to California in April shook Richard and his parents.
In September 1982, Karen called her psychotherapist to tell him she felt dizzy and that her heart was beating irregularly. Karen was admitted to Lenox Hill Hospital in New York.

Karen returned to California in November 1982, determined to reinvigorate her career. She had gained 30 pounds over a two-month stay in New York, and the sudden weight gain further strained her heart, which was already weak from years of crash dieting.

During her illness, Karen also took thyroid replacement medication (in order to speed up her metabolism) and laxatives. On December 17, 1982, Karen made her final public appearance in the "multi-purpose" room of the Buckley School in Sherman Oaks, California singing for her godchildren and their classmates who attended the school. She sang Christmas carols for friends.

On February 4, 1983, less than a month before her 33rd birthday, Karen suffered heart failure at her parents' home in Downey, California.

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March 2: Lead singer Chris Martin of Cold Play ("Viva La Vida") is 34 today.

Christopher Anthony John "Chris" Martin is a British singer-songwriter and instrumentalist who is a founding member and lead vocalist of the band Coldplay. He was born in Exeter, Devon. His mother is a music teacher.

At the preparatory Exeter Cathedral School formed his first band, The Rocking Honkies. Their debut performance was met with boos from the crowd. He then boarded at Sherborne School, a boys' independent school in Dorset where he met future Coldplay manager Phil Harvey.

At University College London, he majored in Ancient World Studies and graduated with First Class honors in Greek and Latin. He met future band mates Jonny Buckland, Will Champion and Guy Berryman at the school.

In January 1998, they formed the rock band Coldplay. Within two years the band achieved success after the release of their debut album, Parachutes, in 2000. Since then, they have released several further albums/EP's including: A Rush of Blood to the Head, Live 2003, X&Y, Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends and Prospekt's March.

On the side, Martin has written songs for a variety of acts including Embrace ("Gravity") and Jamelia ("See It in a Boy's Eyes"). Martin has also collaborated with Ron Sexsmith, Faultline, The Streets, and Ian McCulloch. He also sang a part of the vocals for the Band Aid 20 single, "Do They Know It's Christmas?" at the end of 2004.

In 2005, Martin collaborated with Nelly Furtado on the track "All Good Things (Come to an End)" for her 2006 album, Loose.

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Martin collaborated with rapper Jay-Z for the rapper's album Kingdom Come after the two met earlier in the year. Martin put some chords together for a song known as "Beach Chair" and sent them to Jay-Z who enlisted the help of hip hop producer Dr. Dre to add the drum line to complete the track. The song was performed on September 27, 2006 by the two during Jay-Z's European tour at Royal Albert Hall.

In 2007, Martin appeared on a track titled "Part of the Plan" for Swizz Beatz' debut solo album One Man Band Man. Martin has also worked on a solo collaboration with Kanye West, with whom he shared an impromptu jam session during a 2006 concert at Abbey Road Studios. He performed the chorus of "Homecoming," from West's album Graduation.

Martin met American actress Gwyneth Paltrow in 2002 backstage at a Coldplay gig after the death of the actress' father, Bruce Paltrow. The couple married a year later on December 5, 2003.

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March 1: Canadian pop & R&B singer-songwriter Justin Bieber is 17 today.

Justin Drew Bieber was born in London, Ontario, and was raised in Stratford, Ontario. Bieber's mother, Patricia Lynn "Pattie" Mallette, was 18 years old when she gave birth. She worked a series of low-paying office jobs, raised Bieber as a single mother in low-income housing. (Justin is in touch  with his father.)

During his childhood, Bieber was interested in hockey, soccer, and chess. As he got older, he taught himself to play the piano, drums, guitar, and trumpet.

In early 2007, when he was twelve, Bieber sang Ne-Yo's "So Sick" for a local singing competition in Stratford and placed second. His mother posted a video of the performance on YouTube for their family and friends to see. She continued to upload videos of Bieber singing covers of various R&B songs, and Bieber's popularity on the site grew.

In 2008, while searching for videos of a different singer, Scooter Braun, a former marketing executive of So So Def, clicked on one of Bieber's 2007 videos by accident.

Impressed, Braun tracked down the theater Bieber was performing in, located Bieber's school, and finally contacted his mother. Reluctant at first, but after praying with her church elders and receiving their encouragement, she permitted Braun to fly Bieber, then 13, to Atlanta, Georgia, to record demo tapes.


Braun arranged for him to meet with Usher in Atlanta, Georgia, and Bieber was soon signed to Raymond Braun Media Group (RBMG), a joint venture between Braun and Usher, and then to a recording contract with Island Records offered by L.A. Reid.

His debut single, "One Time," released worldwide in 2009, peaked in the top ten in Canada and charted in the top thirty in several international markets. His debut album, My World, followed in November 2009, and was eventually certified platinum in the United States. He became the first artist to have seven songs from a debut album chart on the Billboard Hot 100.

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His first full studio release, My World 2.0, was released on March 23, 2010 and has since received similar success; it debuted at number one and within the top ten of several countries, and was certified platinum in the United States. It was preceded by the worldwide top-ten single, "Baby," in January 2010. The music video of "Baby" is currently ranked as the most viewed, most discussed, and most disliked YouTube video.

Bieber followed-up the release of his debut album with his first headlining tour, the My World Tour, the remix albums My Worlds Acoustic and Never Say Never – The Remixes, and the 3D biopic-concert film Justin Bieber: Never Say Never - which had an opening weekend gross that nearly matched the record for the biggest opening weekend for a concert-film.

The singer has been nominated and awarded numerous accolades over the past few years, winning Artist of the Year at the 2010 American Music Awards, and being nominated for Best New Artist and Best Pop Vocal Album at the 53rd Grammy Awards, among others.

He is dating singer and actress Selena Gomez. His hit song "Latin Girl" is believed to be a love song to Selena.





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March 1: Pop singer and rapper, Ke$ha is 24 today.

Born Kesha Rose Sebert in Los Angeles, CA. Her single mom, Pebe Sebert is a singer and songwriter. Ke$ha has said the dollar sign in her stage name is meant to be ironic, and she "actually stood for the opposite of putting a lot of emphasis on money."

Pebe moved the family to Nashville, Tennessee, in 1991, after securing a publishing deal for her songwriting. Pebe frequently brought Ke$ha and her brothers along to recording studios and encouraged Ke$ha to sing. She also taught Ke$ha how to write songs and they would often write together when she returned home from school.

 The Seberts were featured in an episode of The Simple Life, as the host family to Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie in 2005.

When she was 18, Ke$ha signed with Dr. Luke's record label and publishing company. An active musician since then, she sang background vocals and wrote songs for other artists. She appeared in the video for Katy Perry's single, "I Kissed a Girl" and sang background vocals for the Dr. Luke produced song, "Lace and Leather" by Britney Spears in 2008.

Her breakthrough came in early 2009 after appearing on Flo Rida's number one single, "Right Round." It was a case of being in the right pace, at the right time, and being ready. Ke$ha had walked into a recording session with Flo Rida and Dr. Luke. Flo Rida wanted a female voice for the song, and Dr. Luke then suggested Ke$ha for the part. Flo Rida liked the end result so much that they did two more tracks.

Soon after, Ke$ha signed a multi-album deal with RCA Records.

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Her debut single, "Tik Tok," released in late 2009, reached number one in eleven countries; in the US, the song topped the chart for nine consecutive weeks, becoming the longest chart topping single of the decade to date.

Her debut album, Animal, was released in January 2010 and debuted at number one in the U.S., Canada and Greece. By September 2010, Ke$ha had sold two million albums worldwide and released three more top ten singles from Animal. The album was re-released with a companion extended play, Cannibal, in November, preceded by the chart-topping lead single, "We R Who We R."

Her music incorporates elements of dance-pop, and she uses a spoken word rapping style on many songs. Ke$ha has cited artists such as Madonna, Debbie Harry, Queen, Johnny Cash, Aaron Neville, Bob Dylan and Beastie Boys as musical influences.

Her music and her party-girl image has often been criticized with emphasis being on her usage of autotune voice enhancement. The release of Cannibal however, has received positive reviews for her use of these techniques.

She has already been nominated for a slew of awards including Artist of the Year and Favorite Female Artist by American Music Awards. She won Best New Act at the MTV Europe Music Awards.

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