August 2

 

Rock met fashion today in 2004 when Eric Clapton purchased a 50% stake in Cordings, the historic London gentleman's outfitters, saving the 150-year-old company from closure and proving musicians can be savvy businessmen too…

 

Jazz history received fitting recognition on this day in 2001 when New Orleans International Airport was renamed Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport, honoring the city's most famous musical son in perpetuity…

 

Music retail history ended today in 2000 when Liverpool's legendary Rushworth and Dreaper closed its doors after 150 years of serving musicians, ending an era that had witnessed the rise of The Beatles and countless other Merseyside acts…

 

Motown's groove machine fell silent on this day in 1983 when Funk Brothers bassist James Jamerson died from complications of cirrhosis at 47, taking with him the man whose bass lines anchored countless classic recordings…

 

We remember The Band's musical wizard Garth Hudson on his birthday today in 1937, the classically trained multi-instrumentalist whose organ, accordion, and synthesizer work provided the group's distinctive sonic textures before his passing earlier this year…

 

Traffic's rhythmic heart Jim Capaldi was born today in 1944, the drummer-songwriter whose percussive power and vocals helped drive the band's jazz-rock fusion before his death in 2005…

 

Pop craftsman Andrew Gold was born today in 1951, the singer-songwriter who gave us "Lonely Boy" and co-wrote the "Golden Girls" theme song before his death in 2011…

 

Opera lost its greatest voice on this day in 1921 when the legendary Enrico Caruso died at just 49, ending the career of the Italian tenor who became the world's first international recording star.