November 4

 

Texas blues found its most soulful white voice when Delbert McClinton was born today in 1940, the harmonica player and singer whose gritty performances and hit "Givin' It Up for Your Love" bridged blues, country, and rock while earning him decades of respect as a musician's musician…

 

Rock cinema reached its peak today in 1977 when Martin Scorsese's 'The Last Waltz' premiered in New York, documenting The Band's farewell concert at San Francisco's Winterland with guest appearances by Bob Dylan, Neil Young, and others in what remains the greatest concert film ever made…

 

Pop songwriting's most enduring partnership received recognition on this day in 2002 when Elton John and Bernie Taupin were awarded the Music Industry Trusts Award, honoring five decades of collaboration that produced some of popular music's most beloved songs…

 

Folk's future voice played to a nearly empty room today in 1961 when Bob Dylan performed his first concert at Carnegie Hall in New York for just 53 fans, a humble beginning for the artist who would soon be crowned the voice of a generation…

 

We remember The Pretenders' guitar hero James Honeyman-Scott on his birthday today in 1956, the founding member whose melodic playing and songwriting helped define the band's sound before his tragic heroin overdose death in 1982 at just 25 devastated rock music…

 

Squeeze's lyrical architect Chris Difford celebrates his 71st birthday today, the songwriter whose partnership with Glenn Tilbrook created some of new wave's most clever and emotionally resonant pop songs like "Tempted" and "Up the Junction."…

 

Punk perfection was achieved today in 1977 with the release of The Ramones' 'Rocket to Russia,' the album featuring "Sheena Is a Punk Rocker" and "Rockaway Beach" that proved the Queens quartet could refine their three-chord formula without losing any of their raw power.