February 27

Rock's most notorious outlaw faced his reckoning today in 1977 when Keith Richards was arrested in Canada after police found an ounce of heroin in his hotel room, the Rolling Stones guitarist facing seven years in prison before a lenient judge gave him probation in exchange for a benefit concert…

 

Classical crossover's most successful tenor Josh Groban was born on this day in 1981, the singer whose operatic voice and theatrical performances made him one of the 2000s' biggest-selling artists despite critics dismissing him as middle-of-the-road easy listening…

 

The Godfather of Soul regained his freedom on this day in 1991 when James Brown was paroled after serving two years of a six-year sentence for leading police on a high-speed chase, the hardest working man in show business proving that even prison couldn't stop his comeback…

 

Bebop found one of its greatest voices when tenor saxophonist Dexter Gordon was born on this date in 1923, the tall, laid-back player whose Hollywood acting in 'Round Midnight' late in life brought him recognition beyond jazz circles before his death in 1990…

 

Science fiction lost its most logical icon today in 2015 when Leonard Nimoy died at 83 from COPD complications, ending the life of Star Trek's Mr. Spock who had also released spoken-word albums and photography while embracing his space-eared legacy…

 

Journey's guitar architect Neal Schon celebrates his 72nd birthday today, the virtuoso whose soaring solos on "Don't Stop Believin'" and Steve Perry-era hits made him one of arena rock's most technically gifted players across five decades…

 

Jazz found one of its earliest pioneers when cornetist Freddie Keppard was born on this day in 1890 in New Orleans, the musician who reportedly turned down a chance to make the first jazz recording in 1916, fearing others would steal his style before his death in 1933.