Notable Births 1825: Composer Johann Strauss was born. 1838: Composer Georges Bizet, best known for his opera “Carmen,” was born. 1944: Jon Anderson, the co-founder and frontman of the progressive rock band Yes, was born in Accrington, England. 1961: Chad Smith, the American drummer best known as a member of the rock band Red Hot…
Notable Births 1936: Bill Wyman, the English musician who anchored the rhythm section as the bass guitarist for The Rolling Stones from 1962 to 1993, was born. 1946: Jerry Edmonton, the Canadian drummer from the hard rock band Steppenwolf—who scored the massive 1969 hit “Born To Be Wild”—was born. 1980: Monica (Monica Denise Arnold), the…
Notable Births 1956: Dwight Yoakam, the highly acclaimed American country music singer-songwriter and actor, was born. 1959: Alfred “Weird Al” Yankovic, the iconic American comedy musician, singer, and songwriter famous for his brilliant parodies of pop culture and popular songs, was born. 1964: Roberto Trujillo, the powerhouse bassist known for his work with Suicidal Tendencies,…
Today’s history marks a legendary final studio session for a rock pioneer, a marathon recording session for a folk icon, and a massive solo chart topper. Notable Births 1917: Dizzy Gillespie, the legendary American jazz trumpeter, bandleader, and pioneer of bebop and Afro-Cuban jazz, was born in Cheraw, South Carolina. 1946: Lee Loughnane, founding member,…
Notable Births 1874: Charles Edward Ives, the influential composer, was born. 🎵 Major Events & Releases 1969: The Plastic Ono Band released the song “Cold Turkey”. 1972: Elton John’s hit single “Crocodile Rock” was officially released in the United States. 1973: The Steve Miller Band released their classic track “The Joker”. 1976: Led Zeppelin’s legendary…
Notable Births 1947: Bob Weir, the co-founder, rhythm guitarist, and songwriter for the Grateful Dead, was born in San Francisco, California. 1962: Flea, the energetic bass player and founding member of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, was born in Melbourne, Australia. 1969: Roy Hargrove, the highly acclaimed jazz trumpeter who won Grammy Awards for his…
Today’s history marks the birth of an Afrobeat titan, a historic Texas bill featuring two icons, and a monumental chart breakthrough for experimental rock. Notable Births 1938: Fela Kuti, the legendary Nigerian multi-instrumentalist, composer, bandleader, and political activist who pioneered the Afrobeat genre, was born in Abeokuta, Nigeria. 1948: Chris de Burgh, the British-Irish singer-songwriter…
Today’s history marks the live debut of a defining 1960s psychedelic voice, a controversial number-one hit for a pioneer rock duo, and the release of an iconic 1980s pop debut. Notable Births 1940: Cliff Richard, the British singer who was originally marketed as a rebellious rock and roll artist, was born. 1946: Justin Hayward, the…
Today’s history marks a massive piece of late-night television lore, a Britpop chart battle, and a major legislative victory for the modern music industry. Notable Births 1932: Dottie West, the highly influential and Grammy-winning American country music singer-songwriter, was born. 1941: Lester Bowie, the renowned American jazz trumpet player and composer, was born. 1946: Daryl…
Today’s history marks a monumental birthday for a global peace icon, a television debut for a former Beatle, and a massive chart victory for industrial rock. Notable Births 1940: John Lennon, the legendary musician, singer, and songwriter who co-founded The Beatles, was born in Liverpool, England. 1944: John Entwistle, the virtuosic bass guitarist and founding…
Notable Births 1948: Johnny Ramone (John Cummings), the pioneering, aggressive rhythm guitarist and founding member of the legendary punk rock band The Ramones, was born in Queens, New York. 1965: C.J. Ramone (Christopher Joseph Ward), who later joined The Ramones as their bassist and vocalist, sharing a birthday with his bandmate Johnny, was born. 1967:…
Notable Births 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…
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…
Today’s history marks the release of the very first Beatles single, a monumental double-chart takeover by Guns N’ Roses, and the birthdays of iconic classic rock and heavy metal frontmen. Notable Births 1943: Steve Miller, the American singer, guitarist, and songwriter who formed the Steve Miller Band and became a cornerstone of classic rock radio,…
Today’s history marks the birth of one of rock’s most iconic bassists, the release of a defining 90s Britpop masterpiece, and the tragic passing of an American rock and roll heartland hero. Notable Births 1945: Don McLean, the American singer-songwriter best known for his defining 1971 folk-rock epic “American Pie,” was born in New Rochelle,…
Kicking off a brand new month, today’s history marks the arrival of British psychedelic rock on American shores, the dawn of the digital audio format, and the birthdays of iconic soul and blues legends. Notable Births 1932: Albert Collins, the “Master of the Telecaster” and legendary Texas blues guitarist known for his highly influential, aggressive…
Today’s history brings us the birth of a doo-wop pioneer, a historic chart debut for a pop powerhouse, and the release of an acclaimed folk-rock comeback album. Notable Births 1935: Johnny Mathis, the legendary pop and traditional jazz vocalist whose romantic ballads made him one of the best-selling artists of the 20th century, was born…
Today’s history marks the birth of rock and roll’s wildest piano pounder, a massive cross-media chart domination for Prince, and the debut of the world’s most technologically advanced concert venue. Notable Births 1935: Jerry Lee Lewis, the explosive rock and roll pioneer famously known as “The Killer,” was born in Ferriday, Louisiana. 1948: Mark Farner,…
Today’s history marks the birth of soul and blues royalty, a massive chart run for the Fab Four, and the passing of a jazz titan. Notable Births 1928: Koko Taylor, the legendary American singer affectionately known as the “Queen of the Blues,” was born in Shelby County, Tennessee. 1938: Ben E. King, the defining American…
Today’s history marks the release of the most famous crosswalk photo in music history, the arrival of a young Bob Dylan in New York, and the birth of one of America’s greatest composers. Notable Births 1898: George Gershwin, the legendary composer and pianist behind masterpieces like “Rhapsody in Blue” and “Swanee,” was born in Brooklyn,…
