May 25

Ska-punk lost its most promising voice on this day in 1996 when Sublime's Bradley Nowell died at 28 from a heroin overdose, ending the career of the Long Beach singer-guitarist whose genre-blending sound had just achieved mainstream success with their self-titled album released two months after his death…

 

Blues harmonica lost one of its greatest voices on this day in 1965 when Sonny Boy Williamson II died in his sleep at 65, born Alex "Rice" Miller, the Mississippi musician whose "Eyesight to the Blind" and European tours influenced the Rolling Stones and Yardbirds while his actual age remained mysterious…

 

We remember pop songwriting's greatest lyricist Hal David on his birthday today in 1921, the wordsmith whose partnership with Burt Bacharach on "Walk On By," "I Say a Little Prayer," and countless other hits elevated popular music to sophisticated art before his death in 2012…

 

Hip-hop's most socially conscious voice Lauryn Hill celebrates her 51st birthday today, the Fugees member whose solo masterpiece 'The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill' proved that conscious rap could dominate commercially before her retreat from music and legal troubles derailed a brilliant career…

 

Jazz guitar lost its smoothest session master on this day in 1994 when Eric Gale died at 55 from lung cancer, ending the career of the Stuff co-founder whose work on countless soul and jazz recordings made him one of the most recorded guitarists despite limited name recognition…

 

We remember Buddy Holly's most controversial manager Norman Petty on his birthday today in 1927, the Clovis, New Mexico studio owner whose production work helped create Holly's sound while his questionable business practices and songwriting credit disputes haunted the Crickets for decades before his death in 1984.