Peak UK Chart Position: #3 in April 1989.

Born on this day, January 21st, but no longer with us are Telly Savalas (born 1922, died January 22nd 1994), Edwin Starr (born 1942, died April 2nd 2003), and Jam-Master Jay of Run-D.M.C (born 1965, died October 30th 2002).

The birthdays today include:

• Emma Bunton – born Emma Lee Bunton, in Finchley, London, England – singer/songwriter/actress/radio presenter/television presenter/fashion designer, turns 41 today (with the Spice Girls, nine UK number ones including “Wannabe” in 1996 and “Holler” in 2000; solo: “What Took You So Long” UK #1 in 2001; with Tin Tin Out: “What I Am” UK #2 in 1999)
• Billy Ocean – born Leslie Sebastian Charles, in Fyzabad, Trinidad and Tobago – singer/songwriter/musician, is 67 today (“When The Going Gets Tough, The Tough Get Going” UK #1/US #2 in 1986, “Love Really Hurts Without You” UK #2 in 1976, “Red Light Spells Danger” UK #2 in 1977)
• Placido Domingo KBE – born José Plácido Domingo Embil, in Madrid, Spain – tenor/conductor, is 76 today (as part of Carreras/Domingo/Pavarotti: “Libiamo/La Donna E Mobile” UK #21 in 1994; with Jennifer Rush: “‘Til I Loved You” UK #24 in 1989)
• Chris Kilmore – born in Dillsburg, Pennsylvania, United States – musician/DJ, is 44 today (as member of Incubus: “Megalomaniac” UK #23 in 2004, “Wish You Were Here” UK #27 in 2002)

Lastly, Wendy James – born in London, England – celebrates her 51st birthday today. Aged 20, she formed Transvision Vamp with Nick Christian Sayer, and added friends Dave Parsons, Tex Axile and Pol Burton. Their first minor hit “Revolution Baby” came a year later in 1987, although it was “I Want Your Love” in 1988 that was their first major hit. A number five hit in the UK, number one in Norway, and top ten in a few other countries. “Baby I Don’t Care” became their biggest hit in 1989, the first of a quartet of top thirty hits that year from the number one album “Velveteen”.

Following their disbanding in 1992, James went on to have a sporadic solo career – “The Nameless One” being her only top forty hit, getting to number 34 in 1993. She has since released solo albums in 2011 and 2016. She also presents on Soho Radio London, having only yesterday hosted a two-hour ‘Soho Garage’ show on the station.

Back to a vintage – nay, epic – Top of the Pops performance, this from April 6th 1989, and on a show hosted by Simon Mayo and Anthea Turner, Transvision Vamp appeared alongside Brother Beyond, Holly Johnson, Coldcut introducing Lisa Stansfield, and Simply Red. Madonna’s “Like A Prayer” was number one.