October 3

 

Fleetwood Mac's guitar wizard Lindsey Buckingham celebrates his 76th birthday today, the singer-songwriter whose intricate fingerpicking and production genius helped create some of the band's most enduring hits while his tumultuous relationship with Stevie Nicks fueled their creative fire…

 

We remember Texas blues guitar legend Stevie Ray Vaughan on his birthday today in 1954, the virtuoso who single-handedly revived blues music in the 1980s with his fiery Stratocaster work before his tragic helicopter crash death in 1990 cut short one of guitar's greatest careers…

 

Bluegrass's next generation found its voice when Billy Strings, born William Lee Apostol, entered the world today in 1992, the Michigan picker whose progressive approach and technical mastery have brought traditional acoustic music to younger audiences while honoring its roots…

 

Folk music lost its greatest voice today in 1967 when Woody Guthrie died at 55 after a long battle with Huntington's disease, ending the life of the "This Land Is Your Land" songwriter who had documented America's working class struggles and inspired generations of protest singers…

 

Television controversy exploded on this night in 1992 when Sinéad O'Connor ripped up a photo of Pope John Paul II on Saturday Night Live while saying "Fight the real enemy," creating one of TV's most shocking moments and effectively ending her mainstream American career…

 

We honor the memory of rockabilly pioneer Eddie Cochran on his birthday today in 1938, the guitarist whose hits like "Summertime Blues" and "C'mon Everybody" helped establish rock and roll's rebellious spirit before his death in a car accident at just 21 in 1960…

 

The twist king Chubby Checker was born on this day in 1941, the Philadelphia singer whose dance craze "The Twist" became a cultural phenomenon and made him the only artist to have the same song reach number one twice on different chart runs…

 

New wave lost a melodic voice today in 2000 when The Cars bassist Benjamin Orr passed away from pancreatic cancer at 53, silencing the singer whose lead vocals on "Just What I Needed" and "Drive" showcased his tender side…

 

Mötley Crüe's wild man Tommy Lee was born on this day in 1962, the drummer whose technical prowess and outrageous lifestyle made him heavy metal's most notorious timekeeper and a tabloid fixture throughout the 1980s and beyond…

 

Pop royalty's California girl Gwen Stefani celebrates her 56th birthday today, the No Doubt frontwoman whose transition from ska-punk princess to solo pop star proved her versatility while maintaining her distinctive style and attitude.