February 24

Soul lost one of its most elegant voices on this day in 2025 when Roberta Flack died at 88, ending the life of the classically trained pianist whose interpretations of "Killing Me Softly with His Song" and "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" showcased her ability to transform songs through emotional restraint and perfect phrasing…

 

Grunge's most toxic romance was sealed today in 1992 when Kurt Cobain married Courtney Love in Waikiki, Hawaii, the troubled union producing daughter Frances Bean before Cobain's 1994 suicide ended one of rock's most dysfunctional and scrutinized relationships…

 

Orange Juice frontman Edwyn Collins suffered a catastrophic brain hemorrhage today in 2005, the double aneurysm leaving the Scottish singer unable to speak beyond a few words, though his eventual comeback proved that willpower could overcome even devastating neurological damage…

 

Blues-rock's most reliable barroom brawler George Thorogood was born on this day in 1950, the Delaware guitarist whose "Bad to the Bone" and faithful covers of blues classics made him arena rock's most authentic link to Chicago's electric blues tradition…

 

We remember rock's greatest session keyboardist Nicky Hopkins on his birthday today in 1944, the pianist whose work on Rolling Stones, Who, and Beatles recordings made him indispensable despite chronic health problems from childhood illness that led to his death in 1994…

 

Soft rock's most elaborate storyteller Rupert Holmes was born today in 1947, the singer-songwriter whose "Escape (The Piña Colada Song)" became an unexpected phenomenon while his Broadway success proved his theatrical ambitions extended beyond three-minute pop confections…

 

Blues piano lost an expatriate master on this date in 1988 when Memphis Slim died at 72 in Paris, ending the life of John Len Chatman who had moved to France in 1962 where his barrelhouse style found appreciation that had eluded him in America…

 

Led Zeppelin reached their creative peak today in 1975 with the release of 'Physical Graffiti,' the ambitious double album featuring "Kashmir" and spanning acoustic folk to heavy metal, proving the band could stretch beyond blues-rock into unprecedented territory.