January 10

 

Rock lost one of its greatest innovators on this day in 2016 when David Bowie died at 69, just two days after releasing 'Blackstar,' the Starman's final artistic statement about mortality ending five decades of fearless reinvention from Ziggy Stardust to his last breath…

 

Guitar virtuosity mourned one of its purest voices on this day in 2023 when Jeff Beck passed away at 78, ending the career of the Yardbirds alumnus whose instrumental mastery and refusal to sing allowed his guitar to speak with unmatched eloquence across six decades…

 

Rock's eternal rooster Rod Stewart celebrates his 81st birthday today, the raspy-voiced showman whose career from the Faces through solo superstardom has made him one of Britain's most enduring and commercially successful performers across seven decades…

 

Jazz-rock's most sardonic voice Donald Fagen turns 78 today, the Steely Dan co-founder whose cynical lyrics and meticulous production with Walter Becker created some of popular music's most sophisticated and uncompromising albums…

 

Soul music lost the last surviving half of its greatest duo on this day in 2025 when Sam Moore died at 89, ending the life of the Sam & Dave frontman whose gospel-powered vocals on "Soul Man" and "Hold On, I'm Comin'" defined Southern soul's golden era…

 

Chicago blues lost one of its most primal voices today in 1976 when Howlin' Wolf died of cancer at 66, ending the life of the 300-pound vocalist whose growling delivery and commanding presence influenced everyone from the Rolling Stones to Led Zeppelin…

 

Rockabilly's wildest showman Ronnie Hawkins was born on this day in 1935, "The Hawk" whose band the Hawks would become The Band while his Arkansas charm and Canadian residency made him a legendary figure on both sides of the border until his death in 2022…

 

We remember folk storyteller Jim Croce on his birthday today in 1943, the singer-songwriter whose narrative songs like "Bad, Bad Leroy Brown" were just finding massive success when his plane crash death in 1973 at 30 ended one of music's most promising careers…

 

Rock's most powerful female voice Pat Benatar celebrates her 73rd birthday today, the four-octave soprano whose hits like "Hit Me with Your Best Shot" and "Love Is a Battlefield" proved women could command arena rock with as much force as any man…

 

We honor Atlantic Records' architect Jerry Wexler on his birthday today in 1917, the producer who coined the term "rhythm and blues" and recorded Aretha Franklin, Led Zeppelin, and countless others before his death in 2008 ended a career that shaped modern music.