January 1

Country music lost its greatest voice today in 1953 when Hank Williams died at 29 in the back seat of his Cadillac from heart failure brought on by alcohol and pills, ending the brief career of the Alabama songwriter whose lonesome sound defined honky-tonk forever…

 

Outlaw country found its defining moment on this date in 1960 when Johnny Cash played a free concert for the inmates of San Quentin Prison in California, the performance captured on his legendary live album that would cement his connection to the downtrodden and imprisoned…

 

Rock's most eligible bachelor finally settled down today in 2002 when 56-year-old Eric Clapton married 25-year-old Melia McEnery at a secret ceremony in Surrey, England, the guitar legend finding lasting partnership after decades of tumultuous relationships and personal tragedy…

 

Studio royalty was born today in 1952 when producer and engineer Andy Johns entered the world, the British technician whose work on Led Zeppelin's 'Led Zeppelin IV,' Rolling Stones' 'Exile on Main St.,' and countless other classics made him one of rock's most important behind-the-scenes figures…

 

British blues lost its founding father today in 1984 when Alexis Korner died of lung cancer in London at 55, ending the life of the musician whose bands and mentorship launched the careers of Mick Jagger, Eric Clapton, and virtually every British blues-rock star…

 

Singer-songwriter purity was lost on this day in 1997 when Townes Van Zandt died from cardiac arrhythmia at 52, ending the life of the Texas poet whose songs like "Pancho and Lefty" influenced everyone from Steve Earle to Emmylou Harris despite his lifelong struggles with addiction…

 

Neil Young mourned his former wife and musical partner today in 2019 when Pegi Young died of cancer at 66, ending the life of the singer-songwriter who had supported his career while raising their children and pursuing her own environmental activism…

 

Folk-pop sophistication reached new heights on this day in 1974 with the release of Joni Mitchell's 'Court and Spark,' the album featuring "Help Me" and jazz-influenced arrangements that became her most commercially successful work while maintaining artistic integrity.