Co-founding older brother Ray Davies of the Kinks was born on this day in 1944 in North London. He and his brother Dave were the youngest of eight children and the only boys born to a slaughterhouse working father and a domineering mother that kept the kids in line. After meeting UK Rock pioneer Alexis Korner while he was studying to become an artist in 1962 at Hornsley College, Ray's interest shifted to becoming a musician. That connection led to Davies hooking up with the promoter/manager of the Yardbirds who was impressed enough by Ray's developing talent to get him added to a Dave Hunt Rhythm & Blues gig at the Piccadilly Club. Davies briefly became lead guitarist for the group, but made a jump to another band before forming the Ramrods, the fore-runner to what would become the Kinks. Ray's dominant role as the chief songwriter, singer and lead guitarist would both propel the popularity of the Kinks but also sow discord with other members, particularly his younger brother. The two often sparred verbally and occasionally physically on and off stage. The dissolution of the band was followed by a decades long estrangement between the battling brothers that has only recently seemed to subside.
Other Noteworthy Classic Rock events on June 21 include...
1947 Joey Molland of Badfinger born.
1950 Joey Kramer of Aerosmith born.
1951 Nils Lofgren of the E Street Band born.
1966 Rolling Stones sue New York City hotels for banning the group.
1966 Jimmy Page debuts as Yardbirds guitarist in London.
1969 Deep Purple releases self-titled album.
1970 Jim Morrison marries Patricia Kennealy.
1972 Led Zeppelin opens 8th US tour.
1975 Ritchie Blackmore leaves Deep Purple to form Rainbow.
1975 The Eagles, Elton John, Joe Walsh the Beach Boys and Rufus draw 120,000 to Wembley Stadium.
1977 Sex Pistols' Johnny Rotten is assaulted outside a London nightclub.
1979 Rolling Stones (ex) Mick Taylor releases "Mick Taylor" four years after leaving band.
1980 Sammy Hagar releases Danger Zone.
1981 Walter Becker and Donald Fagen announce the end for Steely Dan.
1982 Crosby, Stills & Nash release Daylight Again.
1985 Motley Crue releases Theatre of Pain.
1987 Judas Priest releases Priest... Live!
1988 Pink Floyd performs at Versailles, recording the set for the Delicate Sound of Thunder album.
1988 The Rascals open a reunion tour.
1990 Bono joins David Bowie on stage in Cleveland on a version of Gloria.
1993 US Supreme Court announces it will hear John Fogergty's case stemming from a royalties dispute.
1994 John Mellencamp releases Dance Naked.
1995 Dan Rather of CBS News sings What’s The Frequency Kenneth with R.E.M. during soundcheck for New York concert.
The Sex Pistols open a reunion tour in Finland.
2009 Joey Kramer of Aerosmith invites 20 wounded veterans to his birthday party when Aerosmith plays Washington.
2011 Bruce Springsteen eulogizes Clarence Clemons and does a solo version of Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out at a memorial service in South Florida.
2020 Tom Petty's estate issues a cease and desist order against the Trump campaign's use future use of any of his music the day after I Won't Back Down was played at his rally in Tulsa, saying they will not allow his songs to be used in "a campaign of hate".
