February 6

 

We remember reggae's greatest prophet Bob Marley on his birthday today in 1945, the Jamaican singer-songwriter whose Rastafarian spirituality and songs of liberation made him the Third World's most important musical voice before melanoma claimed him at 36 in 1981…

 

The Beach Boys lost their most underrated member today in 1998 when Carl Wilson died at 51 from lung cancer, ending the life of the youngest Wilson brother whose angelic lead vocals on "God Only Knows" and steady guitar work held the band together through Brian's troubles…

 

Hard rock's most notorious frontman Axl Rose celebrates his 64th birthday today, the Guns N' Roses vocalist whose five-octave range and volatile personality made him the 1980s' most dangerous star while his perfectionism kept 'Chinese Democracy' in production for 15 years…

 

We honor soul royalty Natalie Cole on her birthday today in 1950, Nat King Cole's daughter who emerged from addiction and her father's shadow to achieve her own Grammy success before hepatitis C and health problems led to her death in 2015…

 

Jazz lost its most beloved children's composer today in 1976 when Vince Guaraldi died of a heart attack at 47, ending the life of the pianist whose scores for Peanuts specials made "Linus and Lucy" one of the most recognizable melodies in American culture…

 

British pop's most earnest baritone Rick Astley was born on this date in 1966, the Stock Aitken Waterman discovery whose "Never Gonna Give You Up" became an unlikely internet phenomenon through "rickrolling," giving him unexpected 21st-century relevance decades after his 1980s success.