Not worried about age or much of anything else, Rolling Stone rhythm guitarist Keith Richards (1943-) was born on this day in Dartford, England. Keef grew up with R&B and a passion for the music of Chuck Berry and Muddy Waters.

"I read everything. It's about the same as what I listen to. I listen to Mozart and I listen to AC/DC," he once said.

"You can never get enough of the blues--or Mozart, or great reggae."

Along with classmate Mick Jagger, Richards created riff-based rock songs of arrogance and rebellion. "Success never came into it," Richards explained. "We just thought, 'wouldn't it be great if we could play one night a week with a few people dancing?'"

The Stone's 1965 breakthrough hit, Satisfaction, began with Richards waking up in a Florida motel bed with the brutal riff and key lyrics "can't get no satisfaction" roaring in his head.

The legendary guitarist of the "World's Greatest Rock and Roll Band" plays a 50s Fender Telecaster with low E string removed. He has a reputation for hard living, outspoken honesty, AND remarkable musical ability.

About his success, he observed modestly, "A lick on a record--it doesn't matter who played it. All that matters is how it fits. The chemistry to work together like that has to be there."

Keep reaching, keep fascinated.