January 5

 

Beatles history suffered a tragic footnote today in 1976 when former roadie Mal Evans was shot dead by Los Angeles police at 40 during a domestic dispute, the gentle giant who had been part of the Fab Four's inner circle dying confused and alone after their breakup…

 

Jazz lost one of its most uncompromising voices on this date in 1979 when Charles Mingus died at 56 from ALS, ending the life of the bassist-composer whose politically charged works and volatile temperament made him one of music's most important and difficult artists…

 

Rock's most quintessentially British songwriter became an unlikely crime victim today in 2004 when Kinks singer Ray Davies was shot in the leg while chasing a purse-snatcher during a New Orleans vacation, the 59-year-old proving his working-class toughness extended beyond lyrics…

 

Entertainment lost one of its most unlikely politicians today in 1997 when Sonny Bono was killed in a skiing accident near Lake Tahoe at 62, the former pop star and Palm Springs mayor's death ending a journey from Cher's partner to US Congressman…

 

We remember Sam Phillips on his birthday today in 1923, the Sun Records founder whose Memphis studio launched Elvis, Jerry Lee Lewis, Johnny Cash, and Carl Perkins, making him arguably the most important figure in rock and roll's creation before his death in 2003…

 

Shock rock's most theatrical provocateur Marilyn Manson was born on this day in 1969 in Canton, Ohio as Brian Warner, the artist whose controversial persona and industrial metal made him the 1990s' most polarizing figure while his intelligent interviews revealed the calculation behind the chaos…

 

The Boss introduced himself to the world today in 1973 with the release of 'Greetings from Asbury Park, N.J.,' Bruce Springsteen's verbose debut that showed promise but gave little hint of the arena-filling legend he would become just two years later…

 

Bob Dylan's gypsy soul found full expression today in 1976 with the release of 'Desire,' the Scarlet Rivera violin-laden album featuring "Hurricane" and proving Dylan could still create vital, politically engaged music after his mid-1970s creative drought.