02.06: This day in 1945 saw the birth of the man who would bring Jamaica, its music, and the philosophy of Rastafarianism to the world's attention. We've got mad love for Robert Nesta Marley, or Bob, as you may know him, as we discovered him in our blurry college years, gathered with friends for good times, listening to Legend, the best-selling compilation (though not complete in its inclusions by any stretch) of some of his best songs. From "Three Little Birds" to "Exodus" to "Is This Love," not only did Legend turn us on to the works of Bob Marley, it also expanded our musical horizon significantly, showing us another side of the world, one which we'd never even bothered to think about. From this point, we ventured out to discover the legend of the man himself, his musical beginnings in the ska movement of the '60s with Peter Tosh and Bunny Livingston and his organic movement into, and shepherding of, roots reggae in the '70s. If ever there is a man who epitomizes the word "icon," it is Bob Marley. Not only does his image and music pretty much represent an entire nation in the eyes of the world, but his influence reaches far, far beyond his country's tiny borders, into the worlds of rock, pop, rhythm & blues, house, philosophy, religion, and stoned college kids everywhere. Even if they don't know his history, his survival of an assassination attempt, his death from cancer at age 36 in 1981, his total embrace of the Rastafari religion, or the talented progeny (11 kids by 9 different women!) he left behind, people know his music and understand his message. In the end, this is what Bob wanted. Bob would've been 65 today, and we miss his presence on this planet, but we are just happier than a pig in you-know-what to go home tonight, put on Uprising, sit down with a glass of wine, and bask in simple beauty of "Time Will Tell." Thank you, Bob. 02.06 And on this day in 1962 William Bailey (aka Axl Rose) was born. One of the most vibrant and virile frontmen to emerge from the Sunset Strip scene of the '80s, Axl and his bandmates in Guns N' Roses transcended the poppy hair metal (we're looking at you, Poison!) so popular in their city at the time and blasted out of the gate (no, blew the gate to bits) with Appetite For Destruction, still one of the dirtiest and best rock albums of all time and, arguably, the best hard rock debut album of all time. Now, we won't sit here and ponder the many lives of Guns N' Roses, the many eccentricities of Axl, or his return to the record stores with Chinese Democracy (we say his return because Axl is the only original member of GNR left, so we can't really call Chinese Democracy a GNR album no matter how badly Axl wants us to). What we will do is sit here and listen to "Rocket Queen" and "It's So Easy" and know the greatness of what was. Happy birthday, Axl, and thanks for Appetite.
02.11: Michael Jackson's best backup singer of all time was born on this day in 1962. Know who it is? We'll give you a hint. Her last name is a type of bird. Gloria Eagle? Nope. Janice Dove? Nope. Cynthia Peacock? Not even close. Okay, one more hint. Her first hit song was called "All I Wanna Do." That's right, Sheryl Crow! Anyhoo, Ms."Former-Lance-Amrstrong's-Girlfriend-Now-They're-Just-Friends” Crow started her music career a little later than most, at least in this day and age, but didn't look back once it began to pick up momentum. Yes, she toured with Michael Jackson as a backup singer on his Bad World Tour, and, yes, she was a music teacher, jingle writer, and sang for the best police musical television show ever (Cop Rock, duh!), but once she got going, all of those things became ancient history. We dig on Sheryl because not only does she rock and look hot doing it, but she's worked really hard to get where she is today. And at having fun. But mostly rocking and being hot. Happy birthday, Sheryl!