February 5

 

Rock mockumentary royalty the 5th Baron Haden-Guest, better known as Christopher Guest or Nigel Tufnel from Spinal Tap, celebrates his 78th birthday today, the British aristocrat-turned-comedian whose "This one goes to eleven" became rock's most quoted line…

 

The Spin Doctors' smooth frontman Chris Barron turns 58 today, the singer whose "Two Princes" and jam-band grooves made the New York quartet early 1990s MTV staples before they became synonymous with one-hit-wonder status…

 

Session drumming's most recorded timekeeper Hal Blaine was born on this day in 1929, the Wrecking Crew member who played on 40 number-one singles and an estimated 35,000 tracks, making him the most prolific studio musician in history before his death in 2019…

 

Transcendental Meditation's most famous advocate Maharishi Mahesh Yogi died on this day in 2008 at 90, ending the life of the guru who introduced the Beatles to Eastern spirituality in 1968, profoundly influencing their music and Western culture's spiritual awakening…

 

We remember Atlanta Rhythm Section's guitar architect J.R. Cobb on his birthday today in 1944, the session musician and songwriter whose work on "So Into You" and "Imaginary Lover" helped define Southern rock's sophisticated side before his death in 2019…

 

Rock's most versatile session man Al Kooper turns 82 today, the organist who played that iconic riff on Dylan's "Like a Rolling Stone" and co-founded Blood, Sweat & Tears, proving that sidemen could be as important as stars.