May 6

Heartland rock's most authentic voice Bob Seger celebrates his 81st birthday today, the Detroit singer whose "Night Moves" and blue-collar anthems proved that Midwestern grit could compete with coastal sophistication while his Silver Bullet Band delivered working-class rock across six decades of honest storytelling…

 

Rock and roll songwriting lost one of its greatest architects today in 2002 when Otis Blackwell died at 70 from a heart attack, ending the career of the songwriter who wrote Elvis Presley's "Don't Be Cruel" and "All Shook Up" while never receiving proper recognition for creating the King's sound…

 

College rock's most reliable guitarist Mark Bryan celebrates his 59th birthday today, the Hootie & the Blowfish member whose playing on "Hold My Hand" helped make the band the mid-1990s' most unlikely multi-platinum success story before their inevitable commercial decline…

 

Jazz guitar lost one of its most elegant voices on this day in 2004 when Barney Kessel died at 80, ending the career of the bebop pioneer whose work with the Oscar Peterson Trio and countless sessions made him one of the instrument's most respected and recorded players…

 

Elton John's most essential sideman Davey Johnstone was born on this day in 1951, the Scottish guitarist whose work on "Tiny Dancer" and five decades with the Rocket Man proved that loyalty and versatility could create a career as enduring as any solo stardom.