February 7

 

We remember the King of the Tenor Sax Curtis Ousley, known as King Curtis, on his birthday today in 1934, the session saxophonist whose gritty solos on "Yakety Yak" and countless Atlantic soul records made him indispensable before he was stabbed to death outside his apartment in 1971…

 

The Grateful Dead family mourned poet and internet visionary John Perry Barlow on this day in 2018 at 70, ending the life of the lyricist who penned "Cassidy" and "Mexicali Blues" while co-founding the Electronic Frontier Foundation to protect digital freedom…

 

Ragtime found its greatest composer when Eubie Blake was born on this day in 1887, the pianist whose "I'm Just Wild About Harry" and nearly century-long life made him a living link between 19th-century minstrel shows and 20th-century Broadway before his death in 1983…

 

Country music's stadium conqueror Garth Brooks was born on this day in 1962, the Oklahoma singer whose rock-influenced performances and savvy marketing made him the best-selling solo artist in US history while dividing traditionalists over his pop production…

 

British blues-rock lost a boogie master on this day in 2000 when Foghat's Dave Peverett died of cancer at 56, ending the career of "Lonesome Dave" whose slide guitar and vocals on "Slow Ride" kept the band touring arenas through the 1970s…

 

Jazz lost its most delicate voice on this date in 2009 when Blossom Dearie died in her sleep at 84, ending the career of the breathy-voiced pianist whose intimate style and sophisticated song selection made her a cabaret legend across six decades…

 

Psychedelic rock reached commercial liftoff today in 1967 with the release of Jefferson Airplane's 'Surrealistic Pillow,' the album featuring "Somebody to Love" and "White Rabbit" that brought San Francisco's acid-rock to mainstream audiences and defined the Summer of Love sound.