March 28
Jazz's most tragic voice made another doomed choice today in 1952 when Billie Holiday married Louis McKay, a mafia enforcer who would control and exploit her during her final decline, the abusive relationship adding another chapter to Lady Day's life of heartbreak and exploitation… Delta blues lost one of its founding fathers on this day in 1974 when Arthur "Big Boy" Crudup died at 69 from a stroke, ending the career of the Mississippi guitarist whose "That's All Right" became Elvis Presley's first single, though Crudup never received proper royalties or recognition… Blues history mourned its greatest chronicler on this day in 1958 when W.C. Handy died at 84, ending the life of the "Father of the Blues" whose compositions like "St. Louis Blues" and "Memphis Blues" preserved African-American musical traditions for future generations… Pop's most theatrical provocateur Lady Gaga celebrates her 40th bir...
