Kolassa’s songs have more hooks than a bait store, and he has an uncanny ability to find musicians who may not be the best known but the make his arrangements sparkle

Editor’s Note: Today the Rolling Stones’ guitarist turns 77 years young. Not only a guitar paragon, Richards is a singer, songwriter, and best-selling author. He’s also notorious as one of the folks who has lived the rock and roll lifestyle to its extreme, and survived. In his honor, we offer 10 things you may not know about “the man death forgot.”

“Growing up in Chicago the number one thing that inspired me was Gospel. I was always in churches. They say that Gospel is Blues dressed up for Sunday.” – Shawn James