March 22

Southern rock faced the law today in 1971 when police arrested all the Allman Brothers Band members for heroin and marijuana possession, the bust highlighting the drug culture that would eventually claim Duane Allman and contribute to the band's ongoing tragedies…

 

Jazz guitar's smoothest voice George Benson celebrates his 83rd birthday today, the Pittsburgh virtuoso whose scatting vocals and crossover hit "Breezin'" made him one of the few jazz artists to achieve mainstream pop success while maintaining credibility…

 

Musical theater's most commercial composer Andrew Lloyd Webber was born today in 1948, the British maestro whose 'Jesus Christ Superstar,' 'Evita,' and 'Phantom of the Opera' dominated Broadway while critics debated whether his melodies represented genius or calculated crowd-pleasing…

 

We remember Broadway's greatest genius Stephen Sondheim on his birthday today in 1930, the composer-lyricist whose sophisticated works like 'Sweeney Todd' and 'Into the Woods' elevated musical theater to unprecedented artistic heights before his death in 2021…

 

Peace took to bed today in 1969 when newlyweds John Lennon and Yoko Ono began their Amsterdam "Bed-In," the couple spending a week in pajamas telling the press to "give peace a chance" in one of the 1960s' most memorable publicity stunts…

 

Disco-rock lost a versatile voice today in 1994 when Dan Hartman died at 43 from a brain tumor in Connecticut, ending the career of the Edgar Winter Group member whose "I Can Dream About You" and production work showcased his ability to bridge genres…

 

Folk went electric today in 1965 with the release of Bob Dylan's 'Bringing It All Back Home,' the half-acoustic, half-electric album that signaled Dylan's controversial move toward rock and roll while "Subterranean Homesick Blues" invented the music video…

 

The Eagles found their harder edge today in 1974 with the release of 'On the Border,' the third album that brought guitarist Don Felder into the fold and moved the band toward the rock sound that would define 'Hotel California' two years later.