January 12th is the birthday

… of Ray Price. Still for the good times at 81.

When Ray Noble Price was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1996, many noted that the honor was long overdue. Such feelings weren’t based so much on the longevity of his career or on the number of major hits he has recorded, for in those regards Price was no different from many other deserving artists awaiting induction. More importantly, Price has been one of country’s great innovators. He changed the sound of country music from the late 1950s forward by developing a rhythmic brand of honky-tonk that has been hugely influential ever since. As steel guitarist Don Helms, a veteran of Hank Williams’s Drifting Cowboys once put it, “Ray Price created an era.” (Country Music Hall of Fame)

… of William Lee Golden. The bearded member, but not the bass voice, of the Oak Ridge Boys is 68.

… of Smokin’ Joe Frazier. The champ is 63.

… of Cynthia Robinson. She’s dancing to the music at 61.

You might like to hear the horns blowin’,
Cynthia on the throne, yeah!
Cynthia & Jerry got a message they’re sayin’:
[Cynthia:] All the squares, go home!

… of Kirstie Alley. She’s 56.

… of the most dangerous man in America, Rush Limbaugh. The audio-terrorist is 56.

… of Howard Stern. He’s 53.

… of broadcast journalist Christiane Amanpour. She’s 49.

… of Amazon.com founder Jeff Bezos. The billionaire is 43.