Today in Music History 10/7

1951: John Mellencamp, the American heartland rock singer-songwriter behind timeless hits like “Jack & Diane,” was born in Seymour, Indiana.
1953: Tico Torres, the rhythmic backbone and drummer for the stadium rock band Bon Jovi, was born in New York City.
1955: Yo-Yo Ma, the profoundly influential and multi-Grammy-winning classical cellist, was born in Paris, France.
1967: Toni Braxton, the R&B superstar and one of the best-selling female artists in history with over 70 million records sold, was born in Severn, Maryland.
1968: Thom Yorke, the lead singer, guitarist, and primary songwriter for the critically acclaimed English rock band Radiohead, was born in Wellingborough, England.

1959: Mario Lanza, the highly popular American tenor, actor, and Hollywood star, tragically died at the young age of 38.
1978: The Rolling Stones hosted and performed on the fourth-season premiere of Saturday Night Live, delivering a rough, memorable rendition of “Beast of Burden”.
1989: Paula Abdul’s debut album Forever Your Girl finally reached No. 1 on the US albums chart, completing a record-breaking 64-week climb to the top spot.
1995: Alanis Morissette became the first Canadian female solo artist to top the Billboard 200 when her landmark alternative rock album Jagged Little Pill reached No. 1.
2014: Spotify officially added John Lennon’s solo music catalogue to its worldwide streaming platform, including classic studio albums like Imagine.

Continuing the focus on the venues that sustain the Texas music ecosystem, today we spotlight the undisputed headquarters of the blues.

Antone’s Nightclub: Located at 305 E 5th Street, Antone’s is famously known around the globe as Austin’s “Home of the Blues.” Founded in 1975 by the late Clifford Antone, the venue quickly became a legendary proving ground for Texas blues icons. It helped launch the careers of Stevie Ray Vaughan and The Fabulous Thunderbirds, and hosted absolute titans like Muddy Waters, B.B. King, and Buddy Guy. Today, it remains an essential downtown cornerstone on the MusicWayATX calendar where music lovers can experience authentic, world-class blues, soul, and Sonidos Frescos in an intimate, historic setting.