January 15

 

We remember Southern rock's greatest poet Ronnie Van Zant on his birthday today in 1948, the Lynyrd Skynyrd frontman whose working-class anthems and Confederate flag controversies defined the genre before the 1977 plane crash killed him at 29, ending one of rock's most authentic voices…

 

Pop music lost one of its most unique voices today in 1994 when Harry Nilsson died in his sleep from heart failure at 52, ending the life of the singer-songwriter whose "Without You" and "Everybody's Talkin'" showcased his remarkable range and emotional depth…

 

Elton John's rhythm section suffered a tragic loss on this day in 1992 when bassist Dee Murray died after suffering a stroke at 45, the musician's death from complications of skin cancer ending his essential contributions to John's classic 1970s albums…

 

Chicago blues mourned one of its last authentic voices today in 1998 when harmonica player Junior Wells died at 63, ending the career of the musician whose collaborations with Buddy Guy and solo work kept the city's electric blues tradition alive into the 1990s…

 

We remember avant-garde rock's most uncompromising voice Don Van Vliet, better known as Captain Beefheart, on his birthday today in 1941, the artist whose 'Trout Mask Replica' remains one of music's most challenging albums before his death in 2010…

 

Rock's most notorious svengali Kim Fowley died on this day in 2015 from bladder cancer at 75, ending the life of the producer-songwriter who created the Runaways and countless exploitation records while his eccentric personality made him one of music's most colorful characters.