About John Linnell
John Sidney Linnell ( lih-NEL; born June 12, 1959) is an American musician, multi-instrumentalist, singer-songwriter and a co-founder of alternative rock band They Might Be Giants with John Flansburgh, which was formed in 1982. In addition to singing and songwriting, he plays keyboard, accordion, baritone and bass saxophone, and clarinet for the band. Linnell's lyrics and music art includes strange subject matters and word play, while his music is backed up with generally happy and upbeat melodies. == Early life == John Linnell was born in New York City to Zenos Linnell (1925–2011), a psychiatrist, and Kathleen (née Glenn; 1926–2008). When Linnell was a child, Walt Kelly's Songs of the Pogo album made a strong impression on his musical sensibilities. The album contained lyrics that relied heavily on puns and word play, which Linnell appreciated. In particular, he recalls "Lines Upon a Tranquil Brow", which later became part of They Might Be Giants' live repertoire. === Education === At an early age, Linnell and his family relocated to Lincoln, Massachusetts, where he attended Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School. There, he worked on the school newspaper, the Promethean, and met John Flansburgh. The two occasionally collaborated on home-recording projects.
Biography source: Wikipedia. The profile adds birthday-specific historical context from the Celebs Birthday Today editorial database.