March 26

Rock's most dangerous frontman Steven Tyler celebrates his 78th birthday today, the Aerosmith vocalist whose screaming vocals and scarves-and-spandex image made the Boston band America's answer to the Rolling Stones while his drug abuse nearly destroyed the group multiple times…

 

Classical music lost its greatest titan on this day in 1827 when Ludwig van Beethoven died at 56 in Vienna, possibly from liver disease caused by lead poisoning or hepatitis B, ending the life of the composer who had continued creating masterpieces despite his deafness…

 

Motown royalty Diana Ross was born on this day in 1944, the Supremes' lead singer whose career as Berry Gordy's protégée made her the label's biggest star before her solo success and film roles proved she could transcend girl group origins…

 

Surf rock mourned half its greatest duo today in 2004 when Jan Berry died at 62, ending the troubled life of the Jan and Dean singer whose 1966 car crash had left him partially paralyzed, though he eventually returned to performing before his death…

 

British blues lost a one-man-band pioneer on this date in 1976 when Duster Bennett was killed at 30 in a car crash, ending the career of the harmonica player-guitarist whose stripped-down sound influenced countless blues revivalists despite his brief recording career…

 

We remember soul's most passionate voice Teddy Pendergrass on his birthday today in 1950, the Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes frontman whose solo career made him R&B's sexiest star before a 1982 car accident left him paralyzed, though he continued recording until his death in 2010…

 

Counterculture entered the mainstream today in 1970 when the Woodstock documentary premiered in Hollywood, Michael Wadleigh's film bringing the 1969 festival's mud, music, and mayhem to audiences who couldn't make it to Max Yasgur's farm.