Happy Birthday to Keith Richards!
A foundational figure in rock and roll history he and Mick Jagger formed the Rolling Stones with and became one of the most successful songwriting partnerships in history, creating the soundtrack for over six decades of music. Richards' distinctive guitar style has been a trademark of the band, while his personal life captured headlines.
Beyond his central role in the Stones, where he occasionally steps into the spotlight as lead vocalist for songs like "Happy," Richards has explored other creative avenues. He launched a side project called The X-Pensive Winos and notably appeared in two Pirates of the Caribbean films as Captain Teague, a character whose look and mannerisms were directly inspired by Richards himself.
Richards' contributions to music have earned him widespread acclaim and numerous accolades. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1989 and the UK Music Hall of Fame in 2004 as a member of the Rolling Stones. His talent as a guitarist is consistently recognized; Rolling Stone magazine ranked him highly on their "100 best guitarists" list, placing him 15th in 2023. Furthermore, his collaborative genius with Jagger is cemented by fourteen of their songs appearing on the magazine's "500 Greatest Songs of All Time" list.