His list of production and guest artist credits, alongside his groundbreaking work with Chic, puts him up there with the all-time most influential figures in pop music. I take a sideways dip into that extraordinary songbook and note a sprinkling of other notable birthdays - including the seemingly ageless Morten Harket of Norway superstars A-Ha...
Plus, 2 events of contrasting importance on this day in history, from the opening war cry of rock'n'roll to the sweet debut of an iconic animated series now better remembered for the hit single it spawned...

MADONNA Like a Virgin
>>CYNDI LAUPER Girls Just want to have Fun
>>DAVID BOWIE China Girl
JUNGLE Good Times
>>CHIC Good Times NOTES
>>JIMI HENDRIX EXPERIENCE Come on (Let the Good Times Roll)
JESUS AND MARY CHAIN Just Like Honey
>>PURPLE DISCO MACHINE, NILE RODGERS Honey Boy
>>DANDY WARHOLS All the Money or the Simple Life Honey
NOTORIOUS BIG Mo Money Mo Problems
>>MICHAEL JACKSON Money
>>HEMBADOON New Money
FASTER PUSSYCAT Don’t Change That Song
>>STRAY CATS Let’s Go Faster
>>BUZZCOCKS Fast Cars

ST VINCENT Neutered fruit
>>LITTLE RICHARD Tutti Frutti
FAKE FRUIT Over Ice
SUGARHILL GANG rapper’s delight
>>THE ARCHIES Sugar Sugar
>>CHAKA KHAN Like Sugar
>>WASP The Real Me
>>STING An Englishman in New York
LYNYRD SKYNYRD Sweet Home Alabama
>>FREE The Stealer
A-HA Stay on These Roads
>>PULP Do You Remember the First Time
NAS I Will Survive
>>OLIVER HELDENS, NILE RODGERS I Was Made For Lovin You