September 30

 

Glam rock's cosmic poet Marc Bolan was born on this day in 1947, the T. Rex frontman whose glittery boogie and hits like "Bang a Gong (Get It On)" defined the early 1970s glitter movement before his tragic death in a car accident at just 29 in 1977…

 

Hollywood lost its rebel icon today in 1955 when James Dean died in a car accident at just 24, ending the brief but incandescent career of the actor whose three films made him an eternal symbol of youthful angst and rebellion…

 

Music technology mourned a pioneering voice on this day in 1977 when Mary Ford died of cancer at 53, ending the life of the vocalist whose groundbreaking multi-track recordings with husband Les Paul helped revolutionize modern recording techniques…

 

Velvet-voiced romance Johnny Mathis celebrates his 90th birthday today, the smooth crooner whose timeless ballads like "Chances Are" and "Misty" have made him one of the most enduring voices in American popular music across seven decades…

 

Jazz drumming reached its thunderous peak with Buddy Rich, born on this day in 1917, the technically astonishing showman whose speed, power, and showmanship made him arguably the greatest jazz drummer of all time before his death in 1987…

 

Jam band royalty was born today in 1964 when Trey Anastasio entered the world, the Phish guitarist whose improvisational genius and compositional complexity have made him the heir to the Grateful Dead's exploratory musical spirit…

 

We remember Buffalo Springfield's rhythmic foundation Dewey Martin on his birthday today in 1942, the Canadian drummer who anchored the legendary folk-rock band's sound before his death in 2009, never receiving the fame of his more celebrated bandmates…

 

Bob Dylan's creative renaissance was confirmed today in 1997 with the release of 'Time Out of Mind,' the Grammy-winning Album of the Year that proved the aging legend could still create powerful, relevant music while confronting mortality and loss.