Today’s history marks the tragic loss of one of rock’s most revolutionary guitarists, a massive single release for the Fab Four, and the birthdays of influential power-pop and alternative rock icons.

Notable Births

• 1947: Millie Small, the Jamaican singer-songwriter who introduced ska to a global audience with her smash hit “My Boy Lollipop,” was born in Clarendon, Jamaica.
• 1951: Kevin Cronin, the lead vocalist, rhythm guitarist, and primary songwriter for the multi-platinum arena rock titans REO Speedwagon, was born in Evanston, Illinois.
• 1954: David Hidalgo, the acclaimed singer, songwriter, and virtuosic multi-instrumentalist for the pioneering Chicano rock band Los Lobos, was born in Los Angeles, California.
• 1964: Matthew Sweet, the American singer-songwriter and guitarist who helped define the 1990s power-pop revival with albums like Girlfriend, was born in Lincoln, Nebraska.
• 1966: Tommy Stinson, the highly influential bassist and founding member of the legendary Minneapolis alternative rock band The Replacements, was born.

🎵 Major Events & Releases

• 1966: The Jimi Hendrix Experience made their very first official live appearance, with Hendrix joined on stage by bassist Noel Redding and drummer Mitch Mitchell.
• 1969: The Beatles released the George Harrison-penned masterpiece “Something” as a double A-side single alongside John Lennon’s “Come Together” in the United States.
• 1979: Led Zeppelin hit No. 1 on the US Billboard 200 albums chart with their eighth studio album, In Through The Out Door, which famously featured six different cover variations.
• 1991: In one of pop music’s most unique celebrity crossovers, Michael Jackson famously gave away the bride at Elizabeth Taylor’s wedding to Larry Fortensky, held at Jackson’s expansive Neverland Ranch.
• 2020: The music world suffered a monumental loss when Eddie Van Halen, the profoundly influential guitar virtuoso and co-founder of Van Halen who forever changed how the instrument was played, tragically passed away from cancer at age 65.

Bio-Musik Feature: Austin’s Live Music Pioneers

Continuing the focus on the venues that sustain the Texas music ecosystem, today we head to the Red River Cultural District to spotlight a venue where legendary brisket meets legendary acoustics.

• Stubb’s Bar-B-Q: Located at 801 Red River Street, Stubb’s perfectly encapsulates the Austin ethos by combining two of the city’s greatest exports: world-class barbecue and live music. The legacy began in Lubbock in the 1970s when C.B. Stubblefield started feeding and hosting Texas legends like Stevie Ray Vaughan and Johnny Cash. Today, the Austin location stands as a premier concert destination. Its massive Waller Creek outdoor amphitheater hosts the biggest touring acts in the country, while its intimate indoor stage remains a vital proving ground for emerging Sonidos Frescos. Whether you are attending their famous Gospel Sunday Brunch or catching a sold-out rock show under the stars, Stubb’s is an absolute heavyweight on the MusicWayATX calendar.