Peak UK Chart Position: #4 in June 1979.

A very happy birthday to the following:

• Lady Sovereign, born Louise Amanda Harman, London-born rapper (“Love Me Or Hate Me” UK #26 in 2007, “Nine2Five” with the Ordinary Boys UK #6 in 2006) is 31 today.
• Mige, born Mikko Henrik Julius Paananen, Finnish bassist and founder member of HIM (“Solitary Man” UK #9 in 2004, “Wings Of A Butterfly” UK #10 in 2005) turns 42 today.
• Limahl, born Christopher Hamill, Wigan-born singer (as leader of Kajagoogoo: “Too Shy” UK #1, “Ooh To Be Ah” UK #7, both 1983; solo: “Never Ending Story” UK #4 in 1984) is 58 today.

Finally, it would have been the birthday of Maurice White, who was born on this day in 1941. Born in Memphis, Tennessee, he was the founder of the band Earth, Wind and Fire, as well as co-lead vocalist (with Philip Bailey), He scored a career total of seven Grammys, and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Vocal Group Hall of Fame as a member of Earth, Wind and Fire, and was also inducted individually into the Songwriters Hall of Fame. The group scored four top five hits in the UK, with the two biggest being “September” in 1978, and “Let’s Groove” in 1981, both reaching number three.

White died earlier this year, on February 4th, from the effects of Parkinson’s disease. He was first diagnosed in the late 1980’s, which had caused him to stop touring with the group by 1994. Here, we go back to 1980, and a cracking live performance of “Boogie Wonderland”.