Happy 65th birthday to the incredible, the phenomenal, the brilliant Van Morrison.

Van is one of my favorite artists, dating back to his days with the band Them, which produced a number of fantastic songs, including “Baby, Please Don’t Go,” “Here Comes the Night” and, of course, the oft-covered “Gloria.”

After Them disbanded, Morrison embarked on a spectacular solo career marked by his characteristic growl and soulful saxophone. Of his approximately forty albums, several appear on my list of Desert Island Discs. Moondance, Tupelo Honey, Wavelength, Live at the Grand Opera House Belfast and the hauntingly hypnotic Astral Weeks all share a special place in my collection.

Few artists have the ability to touch my soul the way Van does, and I’ll be listening to him regularly for as long as I’m on this planet.