October 19

 

British rock lost a pioneering bandleader on this day in 2020 when Spencer Davis died from pneumonia at 81, ending the life of the Welsh musician who formed the Spencer Davis Group and gave 15-year-old Steve Winwood his first taste of stardom with hits like "Gimme Some Lovin'."…

 

Pop royalty created its own dynasty today in 2012 when Justin Timberlake married actress Jessica Biel at a super-secret ceremony in Italy, uniting the former *NSYNC star with his Hollywood bride in one of entertainment's most closely guarded celebrity weddings…

 

Jazz lost one of its most adventurous spirits today in 1995 when trumpeter Don Cherry died of liver failure at 58, silencing the free jazz pioneer whose world music explorations with Ornette Coleman and beyond helped expand the genre's boundaries…

 

Hard rock mourned an original today in 1997 when Glen Buxton, Alice Cooper band's lead guitarist, died from pneumonia at 49, taking with him the musician whose heavy riffs on songs like "I'm Eighteen" helped establish shock rock's sonic foundation…

 

Reggae's most militant voice Peter Tosh was born on this day in 1944, the Wailers' founding member whose solo career brought radical political consciousness to reggae music with songs like "Legalize It" before his murder in 1987 ended his revolutionary message…

 

Roots reggae reached its burning peak today in 1973 with the release of Bob Marley and the Wailers' 'Burnin',' the album featuring "Get Up, Stand Up" and "I Shot the Sheriff" that solidified the band's status as reggae's most important voice for justice and liberation.