Jim Mankey handled guitars for dark L.A. rockers Concrete Blonde, who were fronted by edgy singer Johnette Napolitano.

He was born May 23, 1955, in Pennsylvania. In the '70s, Mankey played bass for pop-rockers Sparks, also featuring his brother Earle Mankey on guitar.

Mankey met Napolitano while both were working in Leon Russell's L.A. studio. They began writing and performing songs together at Earle's studio as the Dreamers and then Dream 6.

In 1987, they were signed to I.R.S. Records, the same label that began R.E.M.'s career. That band's Michael Stipe named Mankey's group Concrete Blonde.

Concrete Blonde played the L.A. club circuit and issued an eponymous 1987 LP featuring Harry Rushakoff on drums. Free, the group's sophomore effort, included drummer Paul Thompson, formerly of Roxy Music.

Bloodletting (1990) gave the band a top-20 hit with "Joey" (RealAudio excerpt). Walking in London (1992) featured a cover of James Brown's "It's a Man's World." Next year's Mexican Moon contained the modern-rock hit "Heal It Up."

Concrete Blonde then quietly disbanded. In 1996 I.R.S. issued Recollection: The Best of Concrete Blonde.

In 1997 Mankey and Napolitano regrouped as Concrete Blonde to record a collaboration with Latino L.A. band Los Illegals, Concrete Blonde Y Los Illegals.

Other birthdays Tuesday: Rick Fenn (10cc), 47; Luka Bloom, 45; Simon Gilbert (Suede), 35; Phil Selway (Radiohead), 33; Jewel, 26; and Frank Tortorici, 37.