April 15
Punk lost its most enduring heart on this day in 2001 when Joey Ramone died at 49 after battling lymphatic cancer, ending the life of the lanky frontman whose "Gabba Gabba Hey" and three-chord rebellion with the Ramones proved that rock and roll could be stripped to its essence… The Beatles added another accolade today in 1971 when they won the Academy Award for Best Original Song Score for 'Let It Be,' the honor arriving as the band's breakup made collaboration impossible and the documentary captured their disintegration on film… We remember blues' most powerful voice Bessie Smith on her birthday today in 1894, the "Empress of the Blues" whose commanding vocals influenced everyone from Billie Holiday to Janis Joplin before a car accident and racist medical care led to her death in 1937… We honor country's most versatile entertainer Roy Clark on his birthday today in 1932, the 'Hee Haw' co-host whose guitar and banjo vir...
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