August 12

 

Dire Straits' guitar virtuoso Mark Knopfler celebrates his 76th birthday today, the fingerpicking master whose distinctive sound and storytelling lyrics on classics like "Sultans of Swing" and "Money for Nothing" made him one of rock's most respected musicians…

 

Beatlemania conquered American cinema today in 1964 when 'A Hard Day's Night' opened in 500 theaters nationwide to rave reviews, proving the Fab Four could captivate audiences on the silver screen as powerfully as they did on vinyl…

 

Rock history was made on this day in 1968 when Jimmy Page, Robert Plant, John Paul Jones, and John Bonham played together for the first time, unknowingly forming what would become Led Zeppelin - one of the most influential bands in rock history…

 

A legendary voice fell silent after this date in 1970 when Janis Joplin performed at Harvard Stadium in what would tragically become her final live performance, just months before her death ended one of rock's most powerful careers…

 

The blues lost a passionate voice on this day in 1997 when Luther Allison died of cancer at 57, taking with him the guitarist whose emotional intensity and modern blues approach had earned him international acclaim late in his career…

 

The avant-garde world mourned today in 1992 when composer John Cage died at 79, ending the life of the experimental artist whose "4'33"" and prepared piano works challenged every assumption about what music could be…

 

The Police found their final formation today in 1977 when guitarist Henri Padovani quit after nine months, leaving Sting, Stewart Copeland, and Andy Summers as the trio that would conquer the world with their reggae-influenced rock…

 

Country music's Thin Man from West Plains, Porter Wagoner, was born today in 1927, the rhinestone-suited showman who discovered Dolly Parton and hosted one of country music's most beloved TV shows before his death in 2007…

 

Bakersfield's king Buck Owens Jr. was born today in 1929, the country revolutionary whose twangy telecaster sound and hits like "Act Naturally" helped create the California country movement before his death in 2006…

 

Jazz fusion's most lyrical voice Pat Metheny was born today in 1954, the guitarist whose warm tone and adventurous compositions have made him one of the most celebrated musicians in contemporary jazz for over four decades.