Top Ten Celebrities Born in1969
 

If there’s a spiritual descendant of Jimi Hendrix, it just might be Jay-Z. Born Shawn Carter on the mean streets of Brooklyn, this one of our top celebrities born in 1969 founded his own record label, Roc-A-Fella, in 1996 to promote his particular brand of rap. This proved to be a good gamble, and Jay-Z got the attention of Sean “Puff Daddy” Combs, also one of the celebrities born in 1969. From there, his popularity skyrocketed and he is one of the most respected rap artists in the world today.

Another musical sensation, also from New York, born in 1969 was Jennifer Lopez. “J-Lo” has made a name for herself across both cultures and genres, winning fans in both the Hispanic and mainstream communities for her popular music, television work and movie roles.

A defining member of the newly emerging “Gangsta Rap” brand of music, Ice Cube made the scene with N.W.A. back in 1986. His performance with the band, and his unforgettable turn as a doomed inner city gangster in the John Singleton classic, Boyz ‘N the Hood, solidified him as a rap icon.

Like J-Lo, Mariah was a crossover sensation. Her multi-racial beauty, high singing register, and eagerness to perform put her at the top of the music charts year after year after year.

Rounding out our list of musical celebrities born in 1969 is Sean Combs, known variously as Puffy, Puff Daddy or P. Diddy. Combs was powered by ambition from a young age. At only 19, he worked his way up to director of A&R at Uptown Records. Shortly after leaving Uptown in 1993, he started his own label, Bad Boy Entertainment, and his eye for rap talent and continuing pursuit excellence have made him the Godfather of the rap world.

Of course, it wasn’t only musicians who were celebrities born in 1969. This year also saw the birth of Boreanaz, who was a handsome, brooding vampire before handsome brooding vampires were cool, as Angel in Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and later in his own series. Today he has a more mortal role as a crime fighter in the forensic procedural Bones.

The Welsh-born Catherine Zeta-Jones is one of the most beautiful women in the world, and it all started back in 1969. Zeta-Jones has been performing since a child, and really made an unforgettable impression as a laser-beam dodging cat burglar alongside Sean Connery in the 1999 thriller "Entrapment."

Funny girl Jennifer Aniston parlayed natural comedic talent into worldwide fame as the sometimes self-absorbed Rachel Greene in the popular sitcom Friends. She has gone on to star in a number of hit movies, including Office Space and Bruce Almighty.

Some celebrities born in 1969 were athletes, too. One of these was Steffi Graf. Possibly the greatest tennis player of all time, Graf has 22 Grand Slam Titles to her credit, including the unbelievable Golden Slam, winning all four major Grand Slam tournaments and the Olympic Gold Medal, a feat not likely to be repeated.