December 17

 

Rock's most soulful British voice Paul Rodgers celebrates his 76th birthday today, the singer whose powerful vocals with Free on "All Right Now" and Bad Company's string of 1970s hits proved that white British blues could rival its American counterparts in emotional authenticity…

 

Smooth jazz lost one of its pioneers today in 1999 when saxophonist Grover Washington Jr. suffered a fatal heart attack on stage during a taping of The Saturday Early Show in New York at 56, the sudden death shocking fans who had embraced his crossover success…

 

Chicago blues found its white champion when Paul Butterfield was born on this day in 1942, the harmonica virtuoso whose integrated blues band brought authentic Chicago sound to rock audiences and helped launch Mike Bloomfield's career before his death from drug-related peritonitis in 1987…

 

Delta blues lost one of its last authentic voices today in 1982 when Big Joe Williams died in Macon, Mississippi at 79, ending the life of the nine-string guitar innovator whose "Baby Please Don't Go" became a blues standard covered by countless rock bands…

 

R.E.M.'s melodic foundation Mike Mills was born on this day in 1958, the bassist whose high harmonies and keyboard contributions were essential to the Athens band's jangly sound, proving that sidemen could be as crucial as frontmen in creating alternative rock's signature style…

 

Avant-garde music lost its most uncompromising voice today in 2010 when Captain Beefheart, born Don Van Vliet, died at 69 from multiple sclerosis complications, ending the career of the artist whose 'Trout Mask Replica' remains one of rock's most challenging and influential albums…

 

Pop culture absurdity reached its peak today in 1969 when ukulele-playing novelty act Tiny Tim married Miss Vicki Budinger on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson before 40 million viewers, creating one of television's most bizarre and memorable moments.