Today is the 41st birthday of pop-rocker Karl Wallinger, who was born in Prestatyn, Wales. Wallinger is the mastermind behind World Party, the name under which he has issued his albums -- on which he plays almost all the instruments -- since the late '80s.

Wallinger was a big Beatles and Motown fan growing up. In 1976, he joined the band Quasimodo (which became the Alarm after Wallinger's departure). Wallinger spent time clerking for ATV/Northern Songs and became musical director of the "Rocky Horror Show" when it played London's West End.

After a stint in the funk band the Out, Wallinger joined the Waterboys (led by singer/songwriter Mike Scott) for their 1984 album A Pagan Place. He stayed for their acclaimed This Is The Sea (1985), which featured the popular single "The Whole of The Moon."

Wallinger's next move was World Party, for which he handled nearly all of the vocals and instrumentation. World Party's 1987 debut, Private Revolution, recorded in Wallinger's home studio, yielded a Top 40 hit, "Ship of Fools."

Wallinger helped Irish chanteuse Sinead O'Connor record her debut, The Lion and the Cobra (1988). He then resurrected World Party for 1990's Goodbye Jumbo. The album featured two hits which received significant FM-radio aiprlay in the U.S.: "Way Down Now" and "Put the Message in the Box." Jumbo included instrumental help from Chris Whitten, Jeff Trott and Guy Chambers. O'Connor sang background on "Sweet Soul Dream."

World Party's 1991 offering was the EP Thank You World, highlighted by a cover of the Beatles' "Happiness Is a Warm Gun." Wallinger added guitarist Dave Caitlin-Birch and drummer Chris Sharrock as official World Party members for Bang! (1993). While the album was not as popular as Jumbo in the U.S., it hit #2 on the U.K. album chart on the strength of the single "Is It Like Today?"

In 1997, World Party issued Egyptology, featuring the single "Beautiful Dream." World Party supported the disc with a worldwide tour. The group has also contributed to the soundtracks of such films as "Clueless" (on which they covered the Mott the Hoople hit "All The Young Dudes"), "Reality Bites" (for which Wallinger served as musical director and featured the band's "When You Come Back to Me") and "The New Age," which included their "World Groove (Do The Mind Guerilla)".

Other birthdays: Jeannie C. Riley, 53; Jennifer Holliday, 38; Daniel "Woody" Woodgate (Madness), 38; and Pras Michel (Fugees), 26.