December 26
Soul music lost one of its most socially conscious voices on this day in 1999 when Curtis Mayfield died at 57, nine years after being paralyzed by stage equipment, ending the life of the Impressions founder and solo artist whose "Superfly" soundtrack defined 1970s Black cinema… Music's most troubled genius Phil Spector was born on this day in 1940, the revolutionary producer whose "Wall of Sound" changed pop music forever before his 2009 murder conviction for killing actress Lana Clarkson ended his career and revealed the darkness behind his brilliance… Rock's most psychedelic anthem was born on this day in 1966 when Jimi Hendrix wrote the lyrics to "Purple Haze" in his London dressing room before a show, the guitarist capturing his LSD experience in words that would become one of the 1960s' most iconic songs… Heavy metal's most technically precise drummer Lars Ulrich was born on this date in 1963 in Gentofte, Denmark,...
