August 1

 

The Grateful Dead's spiritual leader Jerry "Captain Trips" Garcia was born on this day in 1942, the guitarist whose psychedelic explorations and gentle wisdom guided one of America's most beloved counterculture bands until his death in 1995…

 

Guitar blazer Tommy Bolin entered the world today in 1951, the virtuoso who brought funk and fusion fire to the James Gang and Deep Purple before his tragic overdose death at just 25 cut short a brilliant career…

 

Beatlemania found its printed voice today in 1963 with the first issue of 'Beatles Monthly,' the devoted fan magazine that would run for 77 editions until 1969, peaking at over 350,000 copies sold monthly…

 

Music history's greatest benefit concert took place on this day in 1971 when George Harrison organized The Concert For Bangladesh at Madison Square Garden, setting the template for rock stars using their platform for humanitarian causes…

 

New wave romance bloomed today in 1987 when Eurythmics' Dave Stewart married Bananarama's Siobhan Fahey, uniting two of the 1980s' most innovative pop acts in matrimony…

 

Television and music merged forever on this day in 1981 when MTV launched in the US with its revolutionary 24-hour music video format, beginning with The Buggles' prophetic "Video Killed the Radio Star."…

 

We remember the versatile Boz Burrell on his birthday today in 1946, the bassist who anchored both King Crimson's progressive complexities and Bad Company's straightforward rock before his death in 2006…

 

Blues master Robert Cray celebrates his 72nd birthday today, the guitarist whose soulful voice and stinging guitar work have kept contemporary blues alive and thriving for decades…

 

Counting Crows' introspective frontman Adam Duritz turns 61 today, the songwriter whose poetic lyrics and distinctive dreadlocks helped define alternative rock's more thoughtful side in the 1990s…

 

We honor 10,000 Maniacs' guitar architect Robert Buck on his birthday today in 1958, the musician whose jangly guitar work provided the foundation for Natalie Merchant's folk-rock visions before his death in 2000…

 

The next generation of rock royalty continues with Dhani Harrison, born today in 1978, George Harrison's son who has carried on the family musical legacy with his own distinctive artistic vision.