April 27

America's greatest poet received his nation's highest civilian honor today in 2012 when Bob Dylan was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by Barack Obama, the recognition acknowledging six decades of songwriting that had chronicled and shaped American culture like no other artist…

 

Beatles romance found its happiest ending today in 1981 when Ringo Starr married actress Barbara Bach, beginning the marriage that has endured over four decades and proved the most stable of any Beatle union despite the drummer's battles with alcoholism…

 

Progressive rock's most reluctant participant Gordon Haskell was born on this date in 1947, the King Crimson bassist-vocalist whose brief tenure with his school chum Robert Fripp's band preceded a solo career that found unlikely success before his death in 2020…

 

We remember Badfinger's tragic songwriter Peter Ham on his birthday today in 1947, the musician whose "Without You" became a massive hit for others while financial exploitation drove him to suicide at 27 in 1975, making him power pop's most heartbreaking casualty…

 

Jazz lost its most joyful trumpeter today in 1999 when Al Hirt died at 76 from liver failure, ending the career of the New Orleans musician whose "Java" and Dixieland revival made him one of the 1960s' most commercially successful instrumental artists…

 

Radio's most recognizable voice Casey Kasem was born on this day in 1932, the DJ whose 'American Top 40' countdown became the soundtrack to Sunday mornings for generations while his Shaggy voice-work proved his versatility before his death in 2014…

 

Kiss's spaceman guitarist Paul "Ace" Frehley was born today in 1951, the lead guitarist whose "Shock Me" and pyrotechnic solos made him the band's most musical member before his departure and addiction struggles nearly destroyed his legacy though he remained active until his death in October 2025 at 74 from complications of a fall.…

 

Spiritual grift met arena rock today in 2015 when televangelist Paula White married former Journey keyboardist Jonathan Cain, the union between Donald Trump's future spiritual advisor and the "Don't Stop Believin'" co-writer proving that faith and commerce made strange bedfellows.