January 14

 

Rock's most versatile survivor Dave Grohl celebrates his 57th birthday today, the drummer who kept the beat for Nirvana before transforming into the Foo Fighters' frontman, proving that sidemen could become leaders while maintaining punk credibility and arena success…

 

Motown's most successful era ended tonight in 1970 when Diana Ross made her final appearance with The Supremes at Las Vegas's Frontier Hotel, the diva departing for solo stardom and leaving behind the most commercially successful female group in music history…

 

Soul's most distinctive voice Clarence Carter celebrates his 90th birthday today, the blind Alabama singer whose gritty delivery on "Slip Away" and "Patches" brought raw emotion to Southern soul while influencing generations of R&B performers…

 

We remember New Orleans' greatest musical architect Allen Toussaint on his birthday today in 1938, the songwriter-producer-pianist whose work defined the Crescent City's funky sound through artists from Lee Dorsey to LaBelle before his death in 2015 ended a career of effortless genius…

 

Southern rock's next generation continues with Caleb Followill celebrating his 44th birthday today, the Kings of Leon frontman whose family band brought garage rock authenticity to modern production while maintaining their Tennessee roots…

 

Rock legend met diplomatic recognition on this day in 2010 when Jimmy Page received the United Nations' first ever Pathways To Peace Award, honoring the Led Zeppelin guitarist's humanitarian work through his philanthropy and music's power to unite people across cultures.