October 21

 

Alternative rock lost a beautiful voice today in 1995 when Blind Melon's Shannon Hoon died of a cocaine overdose at 28 on the band's tour bus in New Orleans, ending the career of the charismatic frontman whose "No Rain" had become an MTV staple just two years earlier…

 

Bebop's most flamboyant innovator Dizzy Gillespie was born on this date in 1917, the trumpeter whose puffed cheeks, bent horn, and harmonic innovations helped revolutionize jazz while his playful personality made him one of the music's greatest ambassadors before his death in 1993…

 

British Invasion keyboardist Manfred Mann was born on this day in 1940, the South African-born bandleader whose group scored hits like "Do Wah Diddy Diddy" and whose later incarnation Manfred Mann's Earth Band found success with Bruce Springsteen's "Blinded by the Light."…

 

Stax Records' guitar architect Steve Cropper celebrates his 84th birthday today, the session legend whose crisp licks defined Memphis soul on Otis Redding recordings and as part of Booker T. & the M.G.'s while co-writing "Sittin' on the Dock of the Bay."…

 

Blues-rock's joyful guitarist Elvin Bishop was born on this day in 1942, the Paul Butterfield Blues Band alumnus whose solo hit "Fooled Around and Fell in Love" proved that blues players could create radio-friendly pop without losing their authenticity…

 

We remember Grateful Dead keyboardist Brent Mydland on his birthday today in 1952, the band's third keyboard player whose soulful voice and songwriting contributions revitalized the Dead in the 1980s before his tragic overdose death in 1990 continued the position's curse…

 

Rock opera reached its bombastic peak today in 1977 with the release of Meat Loaf's 'Bat Out of Hell,' the Jim Steinman-penned theatrical masterpiece that would become one of the best-selling albums of all time despite initial critical dismissal and label skepticism.