Rod Stewart is 76 years old today.
A British singer-songwriter — born and raised in North London, England — Stewart is of Scottish and English ancestry. With his distinctive raspy singing voice, he came to prominence in the late 1960s and early 1970s with The Jeff Beck Group and then, Faces.
He launched his solo career in 1969 with his debut album, An Old Raincoat Won't Ever Let You Down (US: The Rod Stewart Album). His work with The Jeff Beck Group and Faces influenced heavy metal genres.
Stewart has sold over 100 million records worldwide, making him one of the best selling artists of all time.
In the UK, he has had six consecutive #1 albums, and his tally of 62 hit singles include 31 that reached the Top 10, six of which hit the #1 position.
He has had 16 top ten singles in the U.S, with four of these reaching #1.