RuPaul Andre Charles was born 37 years ago today in San Diego, Calif. Charles would

grow up to drop his middle and last name, become America's most beloved drag queen and

sing the early '90s club-crossover hit "Supermodel (You Better Work)." RuPaul first made

a name for himself in the Atlanta art scene in the early '80s by performing in cabarets and

singing with such rock groups as RuPaul and the U-Hauls. RuPaul heard New York

calling in the later part of the decade and moved to the Big Apple to pursue a wider variety

of career options, not to mention a more tolerant society.

An instant hit on the club and cabaret scene, RuPaul was quickly signed to Tommy Boy

records. In 1993, RuPaul released Supermodel, an album filled with club songs,

the title track from which climbed to #45 on the pop charts. Later that year, RuPaul and

Elton John recorded a version of "Don't Go Breaking My Heart" for John's Duets

album and hosted a cable Christmas special. A flim career soon followed, with

appearances in Crooklyn, The Brady Bunch Movie and A Very Brady

Sequel. Earlier this year, RuPaul released Foxy Lady, landed a talk show on

VH-1 and unleashed Ho, Ho, Ho, probably the only Christmas album to ever have

been released by a, in heels, 6 ft. 7 in. drag queen.

Other birthdays: Gordon Lightfoot, 59; Bob Gaudio (Four Seasons), 55; Martin Barre

(Jethro Tull), 51; Dean Martin, Jr., 45; Peter Cox (Go West), 42; Harry Rushakoff

(Concrete Blonde), 38; and Ronny DeVoe (New Edition/Bell Biv DeVoe), 30.