August 31, 1945

Van Morrison was born George Ivan Morrison to working class parents in Belfast on this day in 1945. Morrison spent much of his childhood listening to artists like Ray Charles, Lead Belly, and Solomon Burke. He attributes much of his career and success to these artists. He was heavily influenced by blues, jazz, R&B and folk music. He learned to play the guitar at only the age of eleven and began focusing much of his teenage years on a music career, forming several bands. His solo career took off after he released his hit “Brown Eyed Girl” in 1967.