The week in music history brought to you by MusicGoldmine.com.
Just a couple of highlights from this week in music history!
JAN 10: Sadly, Bob Weir has passed today away at age 78 after a battle with cancer. Bob Weir was a musician, singer, and songwriter best known as a founding member of the Grateful Dead, one of the most influential bands in rock history. Born on October 16, 1947, in San Francisco, Weir grew up with an early exposure to folk, blues, and rock music. His life changed in 1963 when, as a teenager, he met guitarist Jerry Garcia in Palo Alto. Their friendship led to the formation of the Grateful Dead in 1965.
As the Grateful Dead’s rhythm guitarist and a frequent lead vocalist, Weir developed a highly unconventional playing style. Rather than traditional chord strumming, his approach used fragmented rhythms and jazzy voicings that interlocked with Garcia’s melodic leads. This unique style became essential to the band’s open, fluid sound. As a songwriter, Weir often collaborated with lyricist John Perry Barlow, creating classics such as “Sugar Magnolia,” “Cassidy,” “Estimated Prophet,” “Throwing Stones,” and “Truckin’.” His songs blended rock, folk, country, and blues with thoughtful lyrics rooted in Americana, philosophy, and social awareness.
Beyond the Grateful Dead, Weir pursued a varied solo career and formed side projects including the Bobby Weir Band and RatDog, allowing him to explore reggae, jazz, and world-music influences. Following Jerry Garcia’s death in 1995 and the end of the Grateful Dead, Weir became a central figure in keeping the band’s legacy alive. He had performed with numerous post-Dead projects, most notably Dead & Company, which he co-founded in 2015 with fellow original members and guitarist John Mayer. In 1994, Weir along with his Grateful Dead bandmates was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Across more than six decades, Bob Weir remained a vital creative force, admired for his innovative guitar work, enduring songs, and commitment to musical exploration. RIP
Photo: minds-eye [https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/deed.en]
JAN 15: Happy birthday to Lisa Vélez, best known as Lisa Lisa! The singer who played a key role in bringing Latin freestyle and dance-pop into the mainstream during the 1980s was born on January 15, 1966, in New York City and raised in the Hell’s Kitchen neighborhood. She emerged from the city’s vibrant club scene at a young age. Her powerful yet soulful voice quickly caught attention, leading to a partnership with producers Full Force and the formation of Lisa Lisa and Cult Jam.
The group achieved major success with a string of hits that defined an era, including “I Wonder If I Take You Home,” “Can You Feel the Beat,” and the chart-topping ballads “All Cried Out” and “Head to Toe.” In 1987, Head to Toe reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, making Lisa Lisa one of the first Latina artists to lead the chart. Their blend of freestyle rhythms, R&B melodies, and pop hooks helped shape late-’80s radio and club culture.
Beyond commercial success, Lisa Lisa became a trailblazer for Latina women in pop music, opening doors for future generations of artists. She later pursued a solo career, continued performing, and remains a respected figure whose music still resonates through ’80s nostalgia and dance floors today.
Photo: Kenneth C. Zirkel [https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.en]
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