April 2
Jazz lost its most explosive drummer today in 1987 when Buddy Rich died at 69, ending the career of the virtuoso whose technical mastery, speed, and volatile personality made him one of the greatest percussionists in music history across seven decades of big band and bebop… We remember soul's greatest voice Marvin Gaye on his birthday today in 1939, the Motown artist whose "What's Going On" and sensual ballads redefined R&B before his father shot him dead in 1984, ending one of popular music's most important and troubled careers… We honor rock's greatest session man Leon Russell on his birthday today in 1942, the multi-instrumentalist whose work on countless '60s hits and collaborations with Joe Cocker and George Harrison made him one of music's most respected architects before his death in 2016… Soul protest lost its most powerful voice today in 2003 when Edwin Starr died at 61 at his British home in Nottingham, ending the career...
