March 27

Rock's most tortured love triangle culminated today in 1979 when Eric Clapton married Patti Boyd, George Harrison's ex-wife, the woman who had inspired both "Something" and "Layla" finally choosing Slowhand after years of pursuit, though their marriage would end in divorce a decade later…

 

The Grateful Dead's chemist-in-chief faced the law today in 1973 when Jerry Garcia was arrested after police found cocaine and LSD in his car, the bust surprising absolutely no one familiar with the band's psychedelic reputation and legendary drug consumption…

 

British new wave lost its most literate street poet on this day in 2000 when Ian Dury died at 57 after battling cancer, ending the career of the Blockheads frontman whose cockney wit and polio-affected body made him punk's most unlikely and beloved working-class hero…

 

We remember jazz's most divine voice Sarah Vaughan on her birthday today in 1934, "Sassy" the vocalist whose four-octave range and impeccable pitch made her one of the greatest singers in any genre before her death in 1990 ended five decades of vocal perfection…

 

Genesis's keyboard architect Tony Banks was born today in 1950, the co-founder whose classical influences and synthesizer work provided the progressive foundation that allowed Phil Collins and Peter Gabriel's vocals to soar across the band's art-rock evolution…

 

Pop's most powerful voice Mariah Carey celebrates her 57th birthday today, the singer whose five-octave range and whistle register made her the 1990s' most commercially successful artist while her diva behavior and troubled personal life kept tabloids equally entertained…

 

The Black Eyed Peas' most versatile voice Fergie turns 51 today, born Stacy Ann Ferguson, the singer whose addition transformed the group from underground hip-hop to pop dominance while her solo career proved she could command attention without Will.i.am.