March 25

Pop's most flamboyant piano man Elton John celebrates his 79th birthday today, the British singer-songwriter whose five-decade partnership with lyricist Bernie Taupin produced countless hits while his outrageous costumes and honest embrace of his sexuality made him rock's most beloved showman…

 

Country music lost one of its greatest innovators today in 2006 when Buck Owens died at 76 from a heart attack, ending the career of the Bakersfield Sound pioneer whose twangy Telecaster and hits like "Act Naturally" revolutionized Nashville's polished production…

 

Rock mourned a powerhouse timekeeper on this day in 2022 when Foo Fighters drummer Taylor Hawkins died at 50 in Colombia, the sudden death from cardiovascular collapse devastating Dave Grohl and ending the career of the charismatic musician who had been essential to the band's sound…

 

We remember country-folk's gentle giant Hoyt Axton on his birthday today in 1938, the singer-songwriter who wrote "Joy to the World" for Three Dog Night and "The Pusher" for Steppenwolf while his acting career proved his talents extended beyond music before his death in 1999…

 

We honor the Queen of Soul Aretha Franklin on her birthday today in 1942, the Detroit preacher's daughter whose gospel-powered vocals on "Respect" and "Think" made her the most important female voice in popular music before her death in 2018 ended six decades of unmatched brilliance…

 

We remember blind blues virtuoso Jeff Healey on his birthday today in 1966, the Canadian guitarist who played his Stratocaster flat on his lap while his technical mastery proved disability couldn't limit musical expression before cancer claimed him at 41 in 2008…

 

Beatles activism continued today in 2018 when Paul McCartney joined thousands marching to demand gun law reform in the US, the former Beatle honoring John Lennon's murder while proving that rock stars could still use their platforms for political change…

 

Purple reign reached Hollywood today in 1985 when Prince won the Academy Award for Best Original Song for "Purple Rain," proving that the Minneapolis maverick's genre-blending genius could conquer both music charts and film industry recognition…

 

Impressionist music lost its founding voice on this day in 1918 when French composer Claude Debussy died at 55 in Paris during World War I, ending the career of the revolutionary whose "Clair de Lune" and harmonic innovations influenced everyone from jazz to film scores.