Happy birthday to one of the greatest and most influential guitarists of all time

Happy birthday to a living legend, a guitar god, a man who probably bleeds rock and roll: Jimmy Freaking Page.

Today, the maestro himself celebrates another trip around the sun, and we’re here to celebrate the man, the myth, and the music that made him an icon.

Let’s be honest, Led Zeppelin wouldn’t be Led Zeppelin without Jimmy Page. He wasn’t just the guitarist, he was the architect. The riff-master. The sonic visionary. From “Whole Lotta Love” to “Stairway to Heaven” (yeah, he wrote that), Page’s guitar work is the stuff of legend. He’s a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, for crying out loud.

Led Zeppelin At The Forum LOS ANGELES - JUNE 03: Rock band 'Led Zeppelin' performs onstage at the Forum on June 3, 1973 in Los Angeles, California. (L-R) Robert Plant, John Paul Jones, Jimmy Page, John Bonham. (Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images) (Michael Ochs Archives)

Led Zeppelin Portrait 1968: Rock band "Led Zeppelin" poses for a portrait in 1968. (L-R) John Bonham, Robert Plant, Jimmy Page, John Paul Jones. (P0hoto by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images) (Michael Ochs Archives)

Led Zeppelin File Photos Led Zeppelin 1969 Bath Festival (John Paul Jones, Robert Plant, John Bonham, Jimmy Page) (Photo by Chris Walter/WireImage) (Chris Walter/WireImage)

Led Zeppelin File Photos Led Zeppelin Bath Festival (Robert Plant, John Bonham, Jimmy Page, John Paul Jones) (Photo by Chris Walter/WireImage) (Chris Walter/WireImage)

Led Zeppelin Bassist John Paul Jones of British rock band Led Zeppelin performs on stage playing a triple-necked mandolin at Madison Square Garden in New York City in June 1977. (Photo by Michael Putland/Getty Images) (Michael Putland/Getty Images)

Led Zeppelin Rhythm Section Bassist John Paul Jones and drummer John Bonham (1948 - 1980), of British rock group Led Zeppelin, performing at the Bath Festival, Shepton Mallet, 28th June 1970. (Photo by Michael Putland/Getty Images) (Michael Putland/Getty Images)

Led Zeppelin At Earl's Court British heavy rock group Led Zeppelin perform live on stage at Earl's Court in London in May 1975. Members of the group are, from left, John Paul Jones, Jimmy Page, John Bonham (1948-1980) and Robert Plant. The band were initially booked to play three nights at the venue, from 23rd to 25th May, but due to public demand, two more concerts were later added, for 17th and 18th May. Total ticket sales were 85,000. (Photo by Michael Putland/Getty Images) (Michael Putland/Hulton Archive)

Led Zeppelin In SF SAN FRANCISCO - JUNE 2: Singer Robert Plant, bassist John Paul Jones and guitarist Jimmy Page of the "Led Zeppelin" perform at Kezar Stadium on June 2, 1973 in San Francisco, California. Jimmy Page plays his Gibson Les Paul electric guitar with a bow. (Photo by Larry Hulst/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images) (Larry Hulst/Getty Images)

Led Zeppelin INGLEWOOD, CA - JUNE 25: (L-R) English lead singer Robert Plant, English bassist John Paul Jones, English guitarist Jimmy Page and English drummer John Bonham (1948-1980) of the rock group Led Zeppelin perform on stage during their 1972 North American Tour on June 25, 1972 at the Forum in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Jeff Hochberg/Getty Images) (Icon and Image/Getty Images)

Led Zeppelin On Stage Bassist John Paul Jones, singer Robert Plant and guitarist Jimmy Page of British rock band Led Zeppelin performing on stage at Madison Square Garden in New York City in June 1977. (Photo by Michael Putland/Getty Images) (Michael Putland/Getty Images)

Led Zeppelin Live SAN DIEGO, CA - MARCH 14: John Paul Jones, Robert Plant and Jimmy Page playing with 'Led Zeppelin' performing at San Diego Sports Arena in San Diego, California on March 14, 1975. (Photo by Larry Hulst/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images) (Larry Hulst/Getty Images)

Led Zeppelin Group Portrait Group portrait of British rock band Led Zeppelin on June 05, 1973. Left to right are singer Robert Plant, guitarist Jimmy Page, drummer John Bonham (1948 - 1980) and bassist John Paul Jones. (Photo by Michael Putland/Getty Images (Michael Putland/Getty Images)

Led Zeppelin File Photos Led Zeppelin (John Paul Jones, Jimmy Page, Robert Plant, John Bonham) (Photo by Chris Walter/WireImage) (Chris Walter/WireImage)

Led Zeppelin Portrait 1971: Rock band 'Led Zeppelin' poses for a publicity portrait in 1971 in England. (L-R) John Paul Jones, Robert Plant, John Bonham, Jimmy Page. (Photo by Jim Cummins/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images) (Michael Ochs Archives)

Led Zeppelin British rock group Led Zeppelin performing at the Bath Festival, Shepton Mallet, 28th June 1970. (Photo by Michael Putland/Getty Images) (Michael Putland/Getty Images)

Led Zeppelin At Knebworth KNEBWORTH, UNITED KINGDOM - AUGUST 11: John Bonham plays with Led Zeppelin at Knebworth. This was the last time Led Zeppelin appeared in England. The audience was estimated at 187,000. on August 11, 1979 in Knebworth, United Kingdom. (Photo by FG/Bauer-Griffin/Getty Images) 170612F1 (FG/Bauer-Griffin/Getty Images)

Robert Plant & The Sensational Space Shifters Performs At Salle Pleyel In Paris PARIS, FRANCE - JULY 23: Robert Plant from Robert Plant & The Sensational Space Shifters performs at Salle Pleyel on July 23, 2018 in Paris, France. (Photo by David Wolff - Patrick/Getty Images) (David Wolff - Patrick/Getty Images)

Dave Rawlings Machine In Concert ATHENS, GA - NOVEMBER 26: John Paul Jones of Led Zeppelin performs with Dave Rawlings Machine at the Georgia Theatre on November 26, 2013 in Athens, Georgia. (Photo by Chris McKay/WireImage) (Chris McKay/WireImage)

"Led Zeppelin" By Led Zeppelin - Book Launch LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 24: Jimmy Page attends the launch of "Led Zeppelin" by Led Zeppelin, the official illustrated book marking the 50th anniversary of their formation, at The National Portrait Gallery on September 24, 2018 in London, England. (Photo by David M. Benett/Dave Benett/Getty Images) (David M. Benett/Dave Benett/Getty Images)

Led Zeppelin - Press Conference LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 21: (L-R) John Paul Jones, Robert Plant and Jimmy Page of Led Zeppelin attend a press conference to announce Led Zeppelin's new live DVD Celebration day at 8 Northumberland Avenue on September 21, 2012 in London, England. (Photo by Danny Martindale/Getty Images) (Danny E. Martindale/Getty Images)

But this man is more than just Zep. He was a highly sought-after session musician before he ever formed the New Yardbirds, which morphed into the mighty Led Zeppelin. He played for The Who, The Kinks...the man’s got a resume longer than “Dazed and Confused” (another masterpiece, by the way).

Here’s some other trivia I learned about Jimmy along the way:

he was a choir boy
he started playing guitar at 12 after hearing “Baby, Let’s Play House” by Elvis Presley
he took a painting class at 13 and was inspired to become a musician because of his art teacher
his first guitar was a gift from his parents
he had his 1960 Black Beauty stolen in 1970, and it was not recovered until 2015