Today is the birthday of Average White Band frontman Alan Gorrie, who was born in Perth, Scotland and turns 51 today. This Scottish band's funkdafied sound made waves in America with hits such as "Pick Up The Pieces" before drummer Robbie McIntosh's death splintered the group. The AWB formed in 1972 after many of its members grew tired of working with other bands; Gorrie founded the band and brought in McIntosh from Oblivion Express, and keyboardist Roger Ball and sax player Malcolm Duncan from the Dundee Horns. With Onnie McIntyre and Hamish Stuart on guitars, the lineup was complete. AWB released their debut, Show Your Hand, in 1973 and earned a following after opening for Eric Clapton at his Rainbow Theatre comeback show. Their 1974 release was self-titled and spawned a hit with "Pick Up The Pieces," a disco tune which wound up at #1. But luck took a turn for the worse when McIntosh overdosed on heroin in 1975. The remaining members recorded Cut The Cake in 1975 -- an album that went on to sell 500,000 copies, but soon after they began doing session work with folks such as Chaka Khan. Gorrie formed Easy Pieces, a band that fizzled quickly. However, the Average White Band regrouped in 1989, hiring Alex Ligertwood to do the vocal honors. They released Aftershock that same year and have continued to tour. Other birthdays: Kevin Haskins (Love & Rockets).