Harry Nilsson birthday tribute w/ Nick Diaz, Matt Hubbard, Jeff Olson, Mike St. Clair, more

“Imagine all the people/ Livin’ life in peace/ You.” Now imagine the bigger-than-Jesus freak who wrote that (“Imagine there’s no heaven…”) and who HE venerated. Brooklyn-born Harry Nilsson maybe never hoped to turn 83 this Sunday, but his bona fides as an American great extend light years beyond vocal ecstasy (“Without You”), Oscar brushes (“Everybody’s Talkin’”) and lime (“Coconut”). 2013’s The RCA Albums Collections box set remains an undersung great American songbook. ATX greats the Greyhounds, Cactus Lee, and a clutch of local muses including Dustin Welch, Sarah Lee Guthrie (note both those surnames for provenance), Sahara Smith, Alice Spencer, and more tip one for Harry. – Raoul Hernandez