April 22

Rock's most humble guitar hero Peter Frampton celebrates his 76th birthday today, the British musician whose 'Frampton Comes Alive!' became one of history's best-selling live albums while his talk box became the 1970s' most distinctive guitar effect despite critical backlash against his heartthrob status…

 

Folk lost its most spiritually powerful voice today in 2013 when Richie Havens died at 72 from a heart attack, ending the career of the Woodstock opening act whose three-hour improvisational set and "Freedom" chant became the festival's most transcendent moment…

 

We remember jazz's most volcanic bassist Charles Mingus on his birthday today in 1922, the composer whose politically charged works and explosive personality made him one of music's most uncompromising voices while his technical mastery influenced every jazz bassist who followed before his death in 1979…

 

We honor country-pop's smoothest crossover voice Glen Campbell on his birthday today in 1936, the Arkansas guitarist whose session work and hits like "Rhinestone Cowboy" made him one of the 1960s' biggest stars before Alzheimer's disease and his death in 2017 ended a dignified farewell…

 

Soft rock lost a one-hit wonder today in 2008 when Paul Davis died at 60, just one day after his birthday, ending the career of the blue-eyed soul singer whose "'65 Love Affair" became a yacht rock staple despite his limited commercial success…

 

Jazz piano lost its founding swing master on this day in 1983 when Earl "Fatha" Hines died at 79, ending the career of the musician whose stride style influenced everyone from Art Tatum to modern jazz pianists across seven decades of innovation…

 

We remember rock's greatest arranger Jack Nitzsche on his birthday today in 1937, the producer-songwriter whose work on Phil Spector's Wall of Sound and Rolling Stones recordings made him one of popular music's most essential architects before his death in 2000…

 

Blue-eyed soul's most reliable voice Paul Carrack was born on this day in 1951, the British singer whose "How Long" with Ace and "The Living Years" with Mike + The Mechanics proved that journeyman musicians could create timeless hits across multiple decades and bands…

 

Comedy met authentic blues today in 1978 when the Blues Brothers made their Saturday Night Live debut, John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd's joke band becoming so successful that their reverent covers introduced a generation to R&B while supporting actual blues legends.