Birthday Celebrations — September 30

Born on this day. These are the birthdays we celebrate on September 30 — the people whose lives added to the story of Black history.

Cissy Houston

Birth name: Emily Drinkard

Born September 30, 1933 — died October 7, 2024

Gospel and soul matriarch.

Founder of the Sweet Inspirations — heard behind Aretha Franklin and Elvis Presley — mother of Whitney Houston, and two-time Grammy winner.

Johnny Mathis

Full name: John Royce Mathis

Born September 30, 1935

Singer.

Mathis chose a Columbia session over the 1956 Olympic trials, launching seven decades of "Chances Are" and "Misty"; he retired from touring in 2025.

Frankie Lymon

Full name: Franklin Joseph Lymon

Born September 30, 1942 — died February 27, 1968

First Black teen pop idol.

At 13, Lymon’s soaring lead on "Why Do Fools Fall in Love" with the Teenagers changed pop music; he died at 25.

Marilyn McCoo

Full name: Marilyn McCoo

Born September 30, 1943

Singer and television host.

The 5th Dimension’s lead voice on "Aquarius" became the first Black woman to host a national musical variety series with Solid Gold.

Miki Howard

Full name: Alicia Michelle Howard

Born September 30, 1960

R&B and jazz singer.

Howard scored No. 1 R&B hits including "Ain’t Nuthin’ in the World" and played Billie Holiday in Malcolm X.

Marley Marl

Full name: Marlon Lu’Ree Williams

Born September 30, 1962

Inventor of modern hip-hop production.

His sampled-drum breakthrough powered the Juice Crew and made him rap’s first superproducer.

Ta-Nehisi Coates

Full name: Ta-Nehisi Paul Coates

Born September 30, 1975

Author and essayist.

"The Case for Reparations" reshaped national debate, and Between the World and Me won the National Book Award.

Adam "Pacman" Jones

Full name: Adam Bernard Jones

Born September 30, 1983

NFL cornerback and return specialist.

The sixth overall pick of 2005 earned All-Pro honors as a returner across 13 seasons.

T-Pain

Birth name: Faheem Rashad Najm

Born September 30, 1985

Singer, rapper, and producer.

T-Pain turned Auto-Tune into an instrument — and his raw Tiny Desk performance completed one of music’s great vindications.