December 5
Jazz lost one of its most innovative voices today in 2012 when Dave Brubeck passed away at 91, one day before his 92nd birthday, ending the life of the pianist whose "Take Five" in unconventional time signatures brought intellectual sophistication to mainstream jazz… Blues harmonica found one of its founding fathers when Sonny Boy Williamson was born on this day in 1899 (though the date is disputed), the original Sonny Boy whose influence on Chicago blues was profound before his murder in 1948 led to another musician adopting his name… We remember laid-back blues master JJ Cale on his birthday today in 1938, the Tulsa songwriter whose "After Midnight" and "Cocaine" became bigger hits for Eric Clapton than himself, his understated style influencing the entire Americana movement before his death in 2013… Rock and roll's founding architect Little Richard was born as Richard Wayne Penniman on this day in 1932, the flamboyant shouter w...
