February 23

New wave history was made today in 1978 when The Police signed with A&M Records, the label deal launching the trio's journey from punk-influenced beginners to one of the biggest bands of the 1980s through Sting's songwriting and their reggae-rock fusion…

 

Synth-pop's most earnest philosopher Howard Jones celebrates his 71st birthday today, the British keyboardist whose optimistic lyrics and solo performances on "No One Is to Blame" and "Things Can Only Get Better" made him MTV's most technologically hopeful artist…

 

We remember blues-rock's albino tornado Johnny Winter on his birthday today in 1944, the Texas guitarist whose blistering speed and blues traditionalism made him a festival favorite and slide guitar master before health problems and his death in 2014 ended six decades of scorching performances…

 

We honor country-rock's steel guitar pioneer Rusty Young on his birthday today in 1946, the Poco co-founder whose pedal steel work helped define the Southern California sound that influenced the Eagles before his death in 2021 ended five decades of melodic contributions…

 

The Heartbreakers suffered a tragic loss today in 2003 when bassist Howie Epstein died at 47 from a suspected drug overdose, ending the career of the musician whose backing vocals and melodic bass work had been essential to Tom Petty's sound since 1982…

 

Soul's greatest voice received his final studio statement today in 1968 with the posthumous release of Otis Redding's 'The Dock of the Bay,' the album featuring the title track recorded just days before his December plane crash, proving what the world had lost at 26.