Chapter 01 — Today in music
On a day like today April 26
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1984
Count Basie dies, swing made institution
Count Basie died, the Kansas City pianist whose orchestra defined swing for half a century: absolute economy at the piano, demolishing power in the brass. From "One O'Clock Jump" to his albums with Sinatra and Ella, his groove taught generations to dance. Rock and roll learned from that engine.
Count Basie
1938
Duane Eddy is born, the king of twang who made the low strings sing
Duane Eddy was born in New York; he built an entire career on his Gretsch's low strings and a water tank as an echo chamber. "Rebel Rouser" and "Peter Gunn" turned twang into a language: the first instrumental guitarist to become a star and an avowed teacher of George Harrison and Springsteen.
Duane Eddy
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