December 10

 

Soul music lost its greatest voice today in 1967 when Otis Redding was killed in a plane crash at 26, just days after recording "(Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay," the posthumous hit that would become his signature song and prove what the world had lost…

 

The Monkees lost their last surviving guitarist today in 2021 when Mike Nesmith died of natural causes at 78, ending the life of the musician who fought to make the manufactured TV band legitimate while maintaining a successful solo career and pioneering music videos…

 

Punk rock found its birthplace on this date in 1973 when the CBGB Club opened in New York City's Lower East Side, the venue that would launch the Ramones, Talking Heads, Blondie, and countless others who would define American punk's raw aesthetic…

 

Literature's highest honor met rock's greatest poet on this day in 2016 when Bob Dylan accepted the Nobel Prize for Literature, though he skipped the Stockholm ceremony, acknowledging the award that recognized his lyrics as genuine poetry worthy of canonical status…

 

The Band mourned another loss today in 1999 when bassist Rick Danko died in his sleep at his Woodstock home at 56, taking with him the soulful voice that had graced "The Weight" and proving the curse that followed Robbie Robertson's former bandmates…

 

Minimalist rock found its timekeeper when Meg White was born on this day in 1974, The White Stripes drummer whose primitive style proved that technical prowess mattered less than feel and chemistry with her then-husband Jack in creating garage rock magic…

 

Comedy lost its most fearless truth-teller on this day in 2005 when Richard Pryor died at 65 after years battling multiple sclerosis, ending the life of the groundbreaking comedian whose honest exploration of race and personal demons influenced generations of performers…

 

Rock history witnessed its most anticipated reunion on this day in 2007 when Led Zeppelin performed one show at London's O2 Arena with Jason Bonham on drums, honoring his late father John while proving the surviving members could still summon their legendary power.