Jonathan Richman is a rock veteran, but many younger music fans might know him best from his onscreen singing in the 1998 smash movie comedy "There's Something About Mary."

Richman was born May 16, 1951 in Boston. He first became known on the music scene in the early '70s as the leader of the Modern Lovers, an adventurous, loud rock group influenced by the Velvet Underground. The Lovers had a UK hit with "Roadrunner" and also were known for cuts such as "Hospital" and "Pablo Picasso."

The original version of the band broke up in 1972. Richman then formed an acoustic Modern Lovers, who issued such LPs as Jonathan Richman & the Modern Lovers (1977). They had a European hit with the instrumental "Egyptian Reggae" from Rock 'n' Roll With the Modern Lovers (1977).

Richman then concentrated on a solo career that focused on quirky, nursery rhyme-like songs such as "Everyday Clothes," from his eponymous 1989 album. His '90s LPs included the Spanish-language Jonathan, Te Vas a Emocionar (1993) and Surrender to Jonathan (1996), his first on Neil Young's Vapor Records. Tracks on the latter included "I Was Dancing in the Lesbian Bar" (RealAudio excerpt).

In 1998 Richman was a singing narrator in "There's Something About Mary" and issued I'm So Confused (RealAudio excerptoftitletrack).

He is reportedly readying a new album.

Other birthdays Tuesday: Robert Fripp, 54; Roger Earl (Foghat), 51; Hazel O'Connor, 45; Glenn Gregory (Heaven 17), 42; Janet Jackson, 34; Corinthian "Kripp" Johnson (Del-Vikings), 1933–1990; and Darrel Sweet (Nazareth), 1947–1999.