December 20

 

Southern rock's most soulful voice Chris Robinson of The Black Crowes celebrates his 59th birthday today, the singer whose Jagger-influenced swagger and love of classic rock traditions helped revive roots-based music in the early 1990s alongside his guitarist brother Rich…

 

Pop lost one of its most versatile voices today in 1973 when Bobby Darin died at 37 following heart surgery, ending the brief career of the teen idol who had successfully reinvented himself as a Vegas crooner and folk singer while battling lifelong heart problems…

 

Studio wizardry found one of its masters when Alan Parsons was born today in 1948, the engineer who worked on Pink Floyd's 'Dark Side of the Moon' and Abbey Road before forming The Alan Parsons Project, creating sophisticated prog-pop that dominated album rock radio…

 

Kiss found its Catman when drummer Peter Criss was born today in 1945, the Brooklyn native whose "Beth" vocal proved the makeup-wearing hard rock band could deliver power ballads while his jazz-influenced drumming added unexpected sophistication to their arena bombast…

 

The Eagles' country-rock foundation shifted today in 1975 when Joe Walsh replaced Bernie Leadon, the band trading Leadon's bluegrass purity for Walsh's harder rock edge and humor, ultimately leading to 'Hotel California' and their most successful period.