January 19

 

Music's darkest connection to violence emerged in courtroom today in 1971 when tracks from The Beatles' White Album were played during the Sharon Tate murder trial, Charles Manson's twisted interpretation of "Helter Skelter" revealing how art could be perverted into murderous delusion…

 

We remember rock's most powerful female voice Janis Joplin on her birthday today in 1943, the Port Arthur, Texas singer whose blues-drenched screams and Southern Comfort lifestyle made her the epitome of 1960s excess before her heroin overdose at 27 ended her brief, blazing career…

 

Rockabilly lost one of its founding fathers on this day in 1998 when Carl Perkins died at 65 from throat cancer, ending the life of the "Blue Suede Shoes" songwriter whose influence on the Beatles and every rock guitarist proved more important than his commercial success…

 

Soul music mourned "The Wicked Pickett" today in 2006 when Wilson Pickett died near his Virginia home at 64, ending the career of the explosive vocalist whose "In the Midnight Hour" and "Mustang Sally" defined Memphis soul's raw power…

 

Psychedelic culture's mad scientist Owsley Stanley was born today in 1935, "Bear" the underground chemist who produced millions of LSD doses while sound-engineering for the Grateful Dead, making him essential to both the drug culture and live music innovation before his death in 2011…

 

The Mamas and the Papas lost their tenor voice today in 2007 when Denny Doherty died at 66, ending the life of the Canadian singer whose harmonies were essential to California folk-rock's most sophisticated vocal arrangements…

 

We remember harmony's golden voice Phil Everly on his birthday today in 1939, the younger Everly Brother whose close harmonies with Don influenced everyone from the Beatles to Simon & Garfunkel before his death in 2014…

 

Country music's most beloved icon Dolly Parton was born today in 1946, the Tennessee Smoky Mountain girl whose songwriting genius, business acumen, and generous spirit made her an international treasure transcending genre and generation…

 

We honor smooth sophistication Robert Palmer on his birthday today in 1949, the British singer whose "Addicted to Love" video and Power Station collaboration made him an MTV star before his fatal heart attack in 2003 at 54 ended his stylish career…

 

Soft rock's most mysterious voice Dewey Bunnell of America was born today in 1951, the singer-songwriter whose "A Horse with No Name" confused listeners about whether the band was British or American while becoming one of the early 1970s' biggest hits.