January 29

 

British folk lost one of its most innovative voices today in 2009 when John Martyn died in Ireland from double pneumonia at 60, ending the career of the guitarist whose jazzy acoustic explorations and collaborations with Nick Drake influenced generations of singer-songwriters…

 

Chicago blues lost its greatest songwriter today in 1992 when Willie Dixon died of heart failure at 76, ending the life of the bassist whose compositions like "Hoochie Coochie Man" and "I Just Want to Make Love to You" became standards covered by every British blues-rock band…

 

Motown lost one of its pioneering voices on this day in 2023 when Barrett Strong died at 81, ending the life of the singer whose "Money (That's What I Want)" became one of the label's first hits while his songwriting with Norman Whitfield produced Temptations classics…

 

We remember Motown's greatest bassist James Jamerson on his birthday today in 1938, the Funk Brothers' melodic genius whose bass lines on countless Supremes, Four Tops, and Marvin Gaye hits revolutionized the instrument before alcoholism contributed to his death in 1983…

 

We honor Uriah Heep's operatic frontman David Byron on his birthday today in 1947, the British singer whose powerful vocals on "Easy Livin'" helped define early heavy metal before alcohol destroyed his liver and killed him at just 38 in 1985…

 

Sentimental poetry lost its greatest popularizer on this day in 2015 when Rod McKuen died at 81, ending the life of the poet-singer-songwriter whose accessible verse sold millions while critics dismissed him, proving popular appeal didn't require critical approval…

 

French pop met Colorado tragedy when Claudine Longet was born on this day in 1941, the singer-actress who married Andy Williams before her conviction for fatally shooting her boyfriend, Olympic skier Spider Sabich, in 1976 ended her entertainment career.