November 6

 

We remember the Eagles' driving force Glenn Frey on his birthday today in 1948, the Detroit-born guitarist and vocalist whose songwriting and smooth harmonies helped create the Southern California sound before his death in 2016 ended one of rock's most successful careers…

 

San Francisco's psychedelic scene found its permanent home today in 1965 when The Grateful Dead and Jefferson Airplane played the opening night of the Fillmore West, launching Bill Graham's legendary venue that would become ground zero for the Summer of Love generation…

 

The Monkees transcended their TV origins on this day in 1968 when their feature film 'Head' opened in New York City, a surreal Jack Nicholson-penned experiment that confused fans but proved the manufactured band had genuine artistic ambitions beyond bubblegum pop…

 

Texas songwriting royalty was born on this day in 1941 when Guy Clark entered the world, the craftsman whose literate story-songs like "L.A. Freeway" and "Desperados Waiting for a Train" influenced generations of country and folk artists before his death in 2016…

 

Bad boys from Boston found their destiny today in 1970 when Aerosmith performed their first-ever gig at a high school dance in Mendon, Massachusetts, launching the career of Steven Tyler and Joe Perry's blues-rock juggernaut that would dominate arena rock…

 

Musical innovation was born on this date in 1814 when Adolphe Sax entered the world in Belgium (not 1894), the inventor whose saxophone would revolutionize classical music, jazz, and popular music while giving his name to one of the most expressive instruments ever created.