January 8

 

We remember "The King" Elvis Aaron Presley on his birthday today in 1935, born in Tupelo, Mississippi, the truck driver who became the most important figure in rock and roll history, transforming American culture with his voice, looks, and hip-swiveling performances before his death in 1977…

 

Rock lost one of its greatest chameleons on this day in 2016 when David Bowie died at 69 just two days after releasing 'Blackstar,' ending the life of the Starman who had reinvented himself across five decades from Ziggy Stardust through his final artistic statement about mortality…

 

Concert promotion's most visionary entrepreneur Bill Graham was born on this date in 1931 in Berlin, the Holocaust survivor who escaped to America and built the Fillmore empire, revolutionizing how rock concerts were presented before his helicopter crash death in 1991…

 

Welsh vocal power Dame Shirley Bassey celebrates her 89th birthday today, the singer whose three James Bond themes including "Goldfinger" and decades of dramatic performances made her one of Britain's most enduring and glamorous entertainers…

 

Def Leppard suffered tragedy today in 1991 when guitarist Steve Clark was found dead at his Chelsea flat at 30, alcohol and drugs claiming the musician just as the band was recovering from drummer Rick Allen's accident, proving success couldn't protect against addiction…

 

The Doors' most melodic guitarist Robby Krieger was born today in 1946, the flamenco-influenced player whose compositions including "Light My Fire" proved that Jim Morrison wasn't the band's only songwriter while his distinctive style set him apart from blues-rock contemporaries.