September 5

 

Rock's greatest showman Freddie Mercury was born on this day in 1946, the flamboyant Queen frontman whose four-octave range and theatrical performances made him one of music's most captivating performers before AIDS claimed his life in 1991…

 

Folk storyteller Al Stewart celebrates his 80th birthday today, the Scottish singer-songwriter whose historical narratives and hits like "Year of the Cat" and "Time Passages" brought literary sophistication to popular music…

 

Funk and rock powerhouse Buddy Miles was born today in 1947, the drummer who played with Jimi Hendrix's Band of Gypsys and later found success with his own group before his death in 2008…

 

Southern songwriting lost a masterful voice today in 2012 when Joe South died of a heart attack at his Georgia home at 72, taking with him the writer behind classics like "Games People Play" and "Rose Garden."…

 

Experimental music's most radical voice John Cage was born on this day in 1912, the composer whose "4'33"" and prepared piano works challenged every assumption about what music could be before his death in 1992…

 

Chicago blues found its piano foundation when Sunnyland Slim was born on this date in 1906, the boogie-woogie master who mentored countless musicians and helped shape the Windy City's electric blues sound before his death in 1995…

 

Rock and roll generosity sparkled today in 1956 when Elvis Presley surprised his beloved mother Gladys with a pink Cadillac, showing that even the King of Rock and Roll never forgot who raised him…

 

Folk music's sardonic wit Loudon Wainwright III celebrates his 79th birthday today, the singer-songwriter whose darkly humorous observations and confessional style influenced generations of acoustic performers…

 

Guitar heroics continued today with Dave "Clem" Clempson turning 76, the British guitarist who stepped into the impossible task of replacing Peter Frampton in Humble Pie and carved out his own respected place in rock history…

 

Musical royalty's next generation continues with Dweezil Zappa celebrating his 56th birthday today, Frank Zappa's son who has carried on his father's complex musical legacy while establishing his own guitar virtuosity.