R

Radle, Carl

Best known at:  UK session bassist.
Birthday:  June 18, 1945 ?
Place of birth:  England
Death:  May 30, 1980
Cause of death:  Chronic kidney disease.

Rafferty, Gerry

Best known at:  »Baker Street», UK #2 (1978).
Birthday:  Apr. 16, 1947
Place of birth:  Paisley, Strathclyde, Scotland

Rainwater, Marvin

Real name:  Marvin Percy
Best known at:  »Whole Lotta Woman» (1958).
Birthday:  July 2, 1925
Place of birth:  USA

Raitt, Bonnie

Birthday:  Nov. 8, 1949
Place of birth:  Burbank, California, USA

Rakim

Real name:  William Griffin Jr.
Best known at:  Eric B. & Rakim, vocals.
Birthday:  Jan. 28, 1968
Place of birth:  New York, USA
Trivia:  At the age of 16, Griffin converted to Islam and adopted the name Rakim Allah.
More:  Eric B. and Rakim

Ralphs, Mick

Best known at:  Mott the Hoople and Bad Company, guitar.
Birthday:  Mar. 31, 1944
Place of birth:  Hertfordshire, England

Ram, Buck

Real name:  Samuel Ram
Best known at:  Manager and producer of The Platters.
Birthday:  Nov. 21, 1907
Place of birth:  Chicago, Illinois, USA
Death:  Jan. 1, 1991
Cause of death:  Apparently natural causes.

Rambeau, Eddie

Real name:  Edward Cletus Fluri
Best known at:  cover of »Concrete & Clay», US #35 (1965).
Birthday:  June 30, 1943
Place of birth:  Pennsylvania, USA
More:  Ed Rambeau - Official Site

Ramone, C.J.

Real name:  Christopher Joseph Ward
Best known at:  The Ramones, bass. [Replaced Dee Dee Ramone -89.]
Birthday:  Oct. 8, 1965
Place of birth:  Long Island, New York, USA

Ramone, Dee Dee

Real name:  Douglas Glen Colvin
Best known at:  The Ramones, bass.
Birthday:  Sep. 18, 1952
Place of birth:  Fort Lee, Vancouver, Canada
Death:  June 5, 2002
Cause of death:  Heroin overdose.
More:  Ramones: Dee Dee is an angel now

Ramone, Johnny

Real name:  John Cummings
Best known at:  The Ramones, guitar.
Birthday:  Oct. 8, 1951
Place of birth:  Long Island, New York, USA
Death:  Sep. 15, 2004
Cause of death:  Prostate cancer, after battled for five years. Died in his sleep at his Los Angeles home.
Trivia:  According to BBC News Johnny Ramone was surrounded at his death by friends. Along with his wife, Linda Cummings, among those at his bedside were friends Eddie and Jill Vedder and Rob and Sherrie Zombie. Others who gathered at his Los Angeles home included Lisa Marie Presley, musician Pete Yorn, director Vincent Gallo and actress Talia Shire.
More:  Official Ramones

Ramone, Joey

Real name:  Jeffrey Hyman
Best known at:  The Ramones, vocal.
Birthday:  May 19, 1952
Place of birth:  Forest Hills, New York, USA
Death:  Apr. 15, 2001
Cause of death:  Lymphatic cancer.
More:  joyeramone.com

Ramone, Richie

Real name:  Richie Beau
Best known at:  The Ramones, orig. drummer.
Birthday:  Aug. 11, 1957
Place of birth:  England

Ramone, Marky

Real name:  Marc Bell
Best known at:  The Ramones, drums. [Replaced Tommy Ramone -78.]
Birthday:  July 15, 1956
Place of birth:  New York, USA

Ramone, Tommy

Real name:  Thomas Erdelyi
Best known at:  The Ramones, drums.
Birthday:  Jan. 29, 1952
Place of birth:  Budapest, Hungary

Ramos, Jr., Larry

Real name:  Hilario Ramos, Jr.
Best known at:  The Association, guitar, vocal.
Birthday:  Apr. 19, 1942
Place of birth:  Waimea, Kauai, Hawaii, USA

Ranks, Sharba

Real name:  Rexton Fernando Gordon
Best known at:  »Mr. Loverman», UK #3 (1993).
Birthday:  Jan. 17, 1966
Place of birth:  Sturgetown, Jamaica

Rawls, Lou     New!  

Best known at:  »You'll Never Find Another Love Like Mine», UK #10, US#2 (1976).
Real name:  Louis Allen Rawls
Birthday:  Dec. 1, 1933
Place of birth:  Chicago, Illinois, USA
Death:  Jan. 6, 2006
Cause of death:  Lung and brain cancer.
More:  Lou Rawls Official Website

Ray, Johnnie

Best known at:  cover »Just Walking in the Rain», UK #1 (1956).
Birthday:  Jan. 10, 1927
Place of birth:  Dallas, Oregon, USA
Death:  Feb. 24, 1990
Cause of death:  Liver failure.
Trivia:  nickname The Prince of Wails.

Rea, Chris

Best known at:  »Fool (If You Think It's Over)», US# 12 (1978).
Birthday:  Mar. 4, 1951
Place of birth:  Middlesbrough, Cleveland, England

Readman, Alice

Best known at:  The Servants, Auteurs, bass.
Birthday:  1967
Place of birth:  Harrow, England
More:  Wikpedia: Auteurs

Redding, Noel

Real name:  David Redding
Best known at:  Jimi Hendrix Experience, bass
Birthday:  Dec. 25, 1945
Place of birth:  Folkestone, Kent, England
Death:  May 11, 2003
Cause of death:  Natural causes.

Redding, Otis

Best known at:  »(Sittin' on) the Dock of the Bay», US #1 (1968).
Birthday:  Sep. 9, 1941
Place of birth:  Dawson, Georgia, USA
Death:  Dec. 10, 1967
Cause of death:  Plane crashed into a lake.

Reddy, Helen

Best known at:  »I Am Woman», US #1 (1972).
Birthday:  Oct. 4, 1942
Place of birth:  Melbourne, Australia

Reed, Herb

Best known at:  The Platters, bass vocal.
Birthday:  1931
Place of birth:  Kansas City, Missouri , USA

Reed, Jimmy

Real name:  Mathias James Reed Leland
Best known at:  US blues man.
Birthday:  Sep. 6, 1925
Place of birth:  Dunleith, Mississippi, USA
Death:  Aug. 29, 1976
Cause of death:  Respiratory failure.
Trivia:  nickname "Big Boss Man".

Reed, Lou

Real name:  Louis Firbank
Best known at:  The Velvet Underground
Birthday:  Mar. 2, 1943
Place of birth:  Long Island, New York, USA

Reeves, Jim

Real name:  James Travis Reeves
Best known at:  »Distant Drums», US C&W #1, UK #1 (1966).
Birthday:  Aug. 20, 1923
Place of birth:  Galloway, Panola County, Texas, USA
Death:  July 31, 1964
Cause of death:  His private plane crashed.

Reeves, Martha

Best known at:  Martha & the Vandellas, vocal. »Dancing in the Street», US #2, UK #28 (1964).
Birthday:  July 18, 1941
Place of birth:  Detroit, USA
More:  The Vandellas

Regan, Julianne

Best known at:  All About Eve, vocal.
Birthday:  June 30, 1962
Place of birth:  Coventry, Warwickshire, England

Reid, Keith

Best known at:  Procol Harum, most of the lyrics.
Birthday:  Oct. 10, 1946
Place of birth:  England

Reinhardt, Larry

Best known at:  Iron Butterfly, guitar 1969-71.
Birthday:  July 7, 1948
Place of birth:  Florida, USA
Trivia:  Nickname "Rhino".

Relf, Keith

Best known at:  The Yardbirds, vocal.
Birthday:  Mar. 22, 1943
Place of birth:  Richmond, Surrey, England
Death:  May 14, 1976
Cause of death:  Died of an electric shock at home while playing guitar in the bath-tub. NO NO! While practicing at home, was electrocuted to death by his guitar. Nice stories, but who knows the Truth?

Revere, Paul

Best known at:  Paul Revere & the Raiders, keyboards.
Birthday:  Jan. 7, 1938
Place of birth:  Harward, Nebraska, USA

Reynolds, Malvina

Best known at:  Mama Folk, heart and soul! Among others, wrote »What Have They Done to the Rain», recorded by Joan Baez and by The Seekers.
Birthday:  Aug. 23, 1900
Place of birth:  San Francisco, California, USA
Death:  Mar. 17, 1978
Cause of death:  ?
More:  Malvina Reynolds

Reynolds, Ricky

Best known at:  Black Oak Arkansas, guitar.
Birthday:  Oct. 28, 1948
Place of birth:  Manilan, Arkansas, USA

Rich, Charlie

Best known at:  »The Most Beautiful Girl» (1973).
Birthday:  Dec. 14, 1932
Place of birth:  Colt, Arizona, USA
Death:  July 24, 1995
Cause of death:  Blood clot in his lungs.

Rich, Tony

Real name:  Anthony Jeffries
Best known at:  »Nobody Knows», US #2 (1996).
Birthday:  Nov. 19, 1971
Place of birth:  Detroit, Michigan, USA

Richard, Cliff

Real name:  Harry Rodger Webb
Birthday:  Oct. 14, 1940
Place of birth:  Lucknow, India

Richards, Keith

Birthday:  Dec. 18, 1943
Place of birth:  Dartford, Kent, England

Richie, Lionel

Best known at:  »Hello», US & UK #1 (1984).
Birthday:  June 20, 1949
Place of birth:  Tuskegee, Alabama, USA

Richman, Jonathan

Best known at:  The Modern Lovers, guitar. »Egyptian Reggae», UK #5 (1977).
Birthday:  May 16, 1951
Place of birth:  Boston, Massachusetts, USA

Ridley, Greg

Best known at:  Dino & the Danubes, the Dakotas, the Ramrods, the VIPS, Art, Spooky Tooth, Humble Pie, bass.
Birthday:  Oct. 23, 1947
Place of birth:  Carlisle, Cumbria, England
Death:  Nov. 19, 2003
Cause of death:  Stroke.
More:  Greg Ridley – Official Website

Riperton, Minnie

Best known at:  »Loving You», US #1 (1975).
Birthday:  Nov. 8, 1947
Place of birth:  Chicago, USA
Death:  July 12, 1979
Cause of death:  Cancer.

Ritter, Tex

Real name:  Woodward Maurice Ritter
Best known at:  US country star.
Birthday:  Jan. 12, 1907
Place of birth:  Murval, Texas, USA
Death:  Jan. 2, 1974 ?
Cause of death:  Heart attack.

Rivers, Johnny

Real name:  John Henry Ramistella
Best known at:  »Poor Side of Town», US #1 (1966).
Birthday:  Nov. 7, 1942
Place of birth:  New York City, New York, USA

Robertson, Robbie

Real name:  Jaime Robbie Robertson
Best known at:  The Band, lead guitar, the Main Songwriter and vocal.
Birthday:  July 5, 1944
Place of birth:  Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Robi, Paul

Best known at:  The Platters, vocals.
Birthday:  1931
Place of birth:  New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
Death:  Feb. 1, 1989
Cause of death:  Cancer.

Robinson, Smokie

Real name:  William Robinson
Best known at:  Smokie Robinson & the Miracles, vocal.
Birthday:  Feb. 19, 1940
Place of birth:  Detroit, Michigan, USA

Rodford, Jim

Best known at:  Argent , bass
Birthday:  July 7, 1945
Place of birth:  St. Albans, Hertfordshire, England

Rodgers, Nile

Best known at:  Chic, guitar.
Birthday:  Sep. 19, 1952
Place of birth:  ?

Rodgers, Paul

Best known at:  Free and Bad Company, Great Vocal.
Birthday:  Dec. 17, 1949
Place of birth:  Middlesbrough, Cleveland, England

Rogers, Kenny

Real name:  Kenneth Donald Rogers
Best known at:  »Lucille», UK #1 (1977).
Birthday:  Aug. 21, 1938
Place of birth:  Houston, Texas, USA

Roe, Tommy

Real name:  Thomas David Roe
Best known at:  »Sheila», US #1 (1962).
Birthday:  May 9, 1942
Place of birth:  Atlanta, Georgia, USA

Rollins, Henry

Real name:  Henry Garfield
Best known at:  The Rollins Band
Birthday:  Feb. 16, 1961
Place of birth:  Washington, DC, USA

Ronson, Mick

Best known at:  Spiders From Mars and Mott the Hoople, guitar.
Birthday:  May 26, 1949 ?
Place of birth:  Hull, Yorkshire, England
Death:  Apr. 29, 1993
Cause of death:  Liver cancer.

Ronstadt, Linda

Birthday:  July 15, 1946
Place of birth:  Tucson, Arizona, USA

Rose, Tim

Best known at:  wrote »Come Away Melinda» (1963) and »Morning Dew» (1967).
Birthday:  Sep. 23, 1940
Place of birth:  Washington, D.C. (??), USA
Death:  Sep. 24, 2002
Cause of death:  Heart complications after an operation for stomach cancer.
More:  The Official Tim Rose Website

Ross, Diana

Real name:  Diane Ernestine Ross
Best known at:  The Supremes
Birthday:  Mar. 26, 1944
Place of birth:  Detroit, Michigan, USA

Rossi, Francis

Best known at:  Status Quo, guitar, vocal.
Birthday:  May 29, 1949
Place of birth:  London, England

Rostill, John

Best known at:  The Shadows, bass.
Birthday:  June 16, 1942
Place of birth:  Birmingham, England
Death:  Nov. 26, 1973
Cause of death:  Accidentally electrocuted himself while playing bass guitar in his home studio.

Rotten, Johnny

Real name:  John Lydon
Best known at:  The Sex Pistols, 'vocal' and F-words.
Birthday:  Jan. 31, 1956
Place of birth:  Finsbury Park, London, England

Roussos, Demis

Best known at:  Aphrodite's Child, vocal. »Rain and Tears» (1968).
Birthday:  June 15, 1947
Place of birth:  Alexandria, Egypt

Roth, David Lee

Best known at:  Van Halen, vocal.
Birthday:  Oct. 10, 1955
Place of birth:  Bloomington, Indiana, USA

Rotheray, David

Best known at:  Beautiful South, guitar.
Birthday:  Feb. 9, 1961
Place of birth:  Hull, Humberside, England

Rourke, Andy

Best known at:  The Smiths, bass.
Birthday: [Jan. 17?] 1963   [some sources: 1964]
Place of birth:  Manchester, England
More:  Shoplifters Union - "Your guide to Morrissey and The Smiths on the Internet"

Rowberry, Dave

Best known at:  The Animals, keyboards.
Birthday:  July 7, 1940   [some sources: July 4 or Dec. 27 or 1943!]
Place of birth:  Nottingham, England   [some sources: Newcastle]
Death:  June 6, 2003
Cause of death:  Apparently heart attack.

Rowntree, Dave

Best known at:  Blur, drums.
Birthday:  May 8, 1964
Place of birth:  Colchester, England
More:  Dave Rowntree

Rudd, Philip

Best known at:  AC/DC, drums.
Birthday:  May 19, 1954
Place of birth:  Melbourne, Australia

Ruffin, David

Best known at:  The Temptations, lead vocal 1964-68.
Birthday:  Jan. 18, 1941
Place of birth:  Meridian, MissisMississippibr> Death:  June 1, 1991
Cause of death:  Cocaine overdose.

Ruffin, Jimmy

Best known at:  »Hold Onto My Love», UK #7 (1980).
Birthday:  May 7, 1939
Place of birth:  Collinsville, Mississippi, USA
Trivia:  brother of David Ruffin (see above).

Rundgren, Todd

Birthday:  June 22, 1948
Place of birth:  Upper Darby, Pennsylvania, USA

Rush, Jennifer

Real name:  Heidi Stern
Best known at:  »The Power of Love», UK #1 (1985).
Birthday:  Sep. 28, 1960
Place of birth:  Queens, New York, USA
Trivia:  Rush's father was an opera singer (can you hear it, perhaps?), and her mother was a pianist. She released his first album already in 1979, self-titled »Heidi Stern». No name, no game.
More:  jennifer-rush.com

Russell, Bobby

Best known at:  wrote Bobby Goldsboro's #1 hit »Honey» (1968).
Birthday:  Apr. 19, 1941
Place of birth:  USA ?

Russell, Graham

Best known at:  Air Supply, guitar, vocals.
Birthday:  June 1, 1950
Place of birth:  Sherwood, Nottingham, Notts., England

Russell, Leon

Real name:  Hank Wilson
Best known at:  Famous session musician.
Birthday:  Apr. 2, 1941
Place of birth:  Lawton, Oklahoma, USA

Ryan, Barry

Real name:  Barry Sapherson
Best known at:  »Eloise», UK #2 (1968).
Birthday:  Oct. 24, 1948
Place of birth:  England

Rydell, Bobby

Real name:  Robert Louis Ridarelli
Best known at:  »Wild One», US #2 (1960).
Birthday:  Apr. 26, 1942
Place of birth:  Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA