December 19

 

Gospel music lost its patriarch today in 2000 when Roebuck "Pops" Staples died at 85, ending the life of the Staple Singers founder whose guitar work and family harmonies brought spiritual message music to both churches and the civil rights movement for five decades…

 

We remember British blues-rock's fastest guitarist Alvin Lee on his birthday today in 1944, the Ten Years After frontman whose machine-gun speed at Woodstock on "I'm Going Home" made him legendary before his death in 2013 ended a career dedicated to pure guitar virtuosity…

 

 

Rock and roll's king faced Uncle Sam today in 1957 when Elvis Presley received his draft notice for the US Army, the induction that would take him away from music for two years but ultimately enhance his wholesome image and patriotic appeal…

 

Alternative rock mourned a founding member today in 2000 when 10,000 Maniacs guitarist Robert Buck died of liver failure at 42, ending the life of the musician whose jangly guitar work had been essential to the band's folk-rock sound from their beginning…

 

We honor New Orleans piano royalty Professor Longhair on his birthday today in 1918, born Henry Roeland "Roy" Byrd, the pianist whose rumba-boogie style and influence on Dr. John, Fats Domino, and Allen Toussaint made him the cornerstone of Crescent City music before his death in 1980…

 

We remember folk protest's most passionate voice Phil Ochs on his birthday today in 1940, the singer-songwriter whose political songs challenged Dylan's crown before depression and disillusionment led him to take his own life by hanging in 1976 at just 35…

 

Jazz found its first great cornet king when Joseph "King" Oliver was born on this day in 1881, the New Orleans pioneer who mentored Louis Armstrong and helped establish jazz's early vocabulary before dying in poverty in 1938, largely forgotten by the public…

 

The Byrds lost their original timekeeper today in 1993 when drummer Michael Clarke died of liver failure at 47, ending the life of the musician whose steady beats had anchored both the folk-rock pioneers and Flying Burrito Brothers through their most creative periods…

 

Soul-funk's most visionary bandleader Maurice White was born on this day in 1941, the Earth, Wind & Fire founder whose spiritual philosophy and kalimba playing created one of the 1970s' most successful and joyful sounds before Parkinson's disease and his death in 2016.