Birthday Celebrations — July 22

Born on this day. These are the birthdays we celebrate on July 22 — the people whose lives added to the story of Black history.

George Clinton

Born July 22, 1941

Funk singer, songwriter, producer, bandleader, and Parliament-Funkadelic founder.

Clinton turned funk into a full musical universe through Parliament, Funkadelic, and the larger P-Funk sound. His work blended soul, rock, psychedelia, humor, Afrofuturism, and deep groove into one of the most influential movements in Black music history.

Danny Glover

Full name: Danny Lebern Glover

Born July 22, 1946

Actor, producer, director, activist, and humanitarian.

Glover built a long career across film, television, and stage, with major roles in The Color Purple, Lethal Weapon, To Sleep with Anger, and many more. Beyond acting, he has been deeply involved in civil rights, labor rights, global justice, and humanitarian causes.

Lonette McKee

Full name: Lonette Rita McKee

Born July 22, 1954

Actress, singer, songwriter, composer, screenwriter, and stage performer.

McKee became widely known for her role as Sister Williams in the original film Sparkle. Her career crossed music, film, theater, and television, with work in The Cotton Club, Jungle Fever, Malcolm X, and Broadway’s Show Boat.

Keith Sweat

Born July 22, 1961

R&B singer, songwriter, producer, and new jack swing pioneer.

Sweat became one of the signature voices of late 1980s and 1990s R&B. His smooth vocals, romantic songwriting, and connection to the new jack swing era helped shape the sound of modern slow jams and contemporary R&B.