September 24

 

Liverpool's second most famous export Gerry Marsden was born today in 1942, the Gerry and the Pacemakers frontman whose Merseyside anthems like "Ferry Cross the Mersey" and "You'll Never Walk Alone" became as beloved as his Beatles contemporaries before his death in 2021…

 

British rock's most adventurous supergroup Traffic made their live debut today in 1967 at London's Saville Theatre, launching the career of Steve Winwood, Dave Mason, and Jim Capaldi's genre-blending collective that would help define progressive rock…

 

Multi-talented entertainer Anthony Newley was born on this day in 1931, the singer-songwriter and actor whose theatrical flair and hits like "Candy Man" made him a show business Renaissance man, famously married to actress Joan Collins during his Hollywood heyday before his death in 1999…

 

We remember Linda Eastman McCartney on her birthday today in 1942, the photographer who became Paul's beloved wife and Wings bandmate, bringing her artistic eye and vegetarian advocacy to the rock world before her tragic death from breast cancer in 1998…

 

Blues guitar's first master Blind Lemon Jefferson was born on this day in 1893 in Freestone County, Texas, the street singer whose intricate fingerpicking style and haunting vocals on songs like "Matchbox Blues" established the template for country blues before his mysterious death in 1929…

 

Glam rock reached its sparkling peak today in 1971 with the release of T. Rex's 'Electric Warrior,' featuring Marc Bolan's cosmic boogie anthems like "Bang a Gong (Get It On)" and "Jeepster" that defined the glitter movement's sound and style…

 

The Eagles soared to their commercial peak today in 1979 with the release of 'The Long Run,' the album featuring "Heartache Tonight" and the title track that would become their final studio effort before their 14-year hiatus…

 

Alternative rock's funk revolution exploded today in 1991 with the Red Hot Chili Peppers' 'BloodSugarSexMagik,' the Rick Rubin-produced masterpiece featuring "Under the Bridge" and "Give It Away" that transformed the band from underground punks into stadium-filling superstars…

 

Music history pivoted today in 1991 with the release of Nirvana's 'Nevermind,' the album that brought grunge to mainstream America and made Kurt Cobain the reluctant voice of Generation X, forever changing the landscape of popular music.