On June 25, 2009, Michael Jackson, one of the most
commercially successful entertainers in history, died
at the age of 50 at his home in Los Angeles, California,
after suffering from cardiac arrest caused by a fatal
combination of drugs given to him by his personal
doctor.

Sir James Paul McCartney

By the spring of 1965, Bob Dylan’s presence in the world of
music was beginning to be felt well outside the boundaries
of his nominal genre. Within the world of folk music, he had
been hailed as a hero for several years already, but now his
music was capturing the attention and influencing the
direction of artists like the Byrds, the Beatles and even a
young Stevie Wonder.

With Dylan as a direct inspiration, popular music was about
to change its direction, but so was Dylan himself. On June
16, 1965, on their second day of recording at Columbia
Records’ Studio A in Manhattan, he and a band featuring
electric guitars and an organ laid down the master take of
the song that would announce that change: “Like A Rolling
Stone.” It would prove to be “folksinger” Bob Dylan’s
magnum opus and, arguably, the greatest rock and roll
record of all time.

Bob Dylan had his 83rd birthday in May.

TIM MAGUIRE

The concept of "Miranda rights" was enshrined in U.S. law following
the 1966 Miranda v. Arizona Supreme Court decision, which found
that the Fifth and Sixth Amendment rights of Ernesto Arturo Miranda
had been violated during his arrest and trial for armed robbery, kidnapping, and rape of a young woman.

Miranda was subsequently retried and convicted.

On January 31, 1976, a fight erupted at the Amapola Bar at 233
South 2nd Street in downtown Phoenix in which Miranda was
stabbed. He was pronounced dead on arrival at Banner Good
Samaritan Medical Center. He was 34.

The grave of Ernesto Arturo Miranda in the City of Mesa Cemetery.

Ray Charles Robinson Sr.
(September 23, 1930 – June 10, 2004)

Ray Charles was an singer, songwriter and pianist. He is regarded
as one of the most iconic and influential musicians in history,
and was often referred to by contemporaries as "The Genius."

Among friends and fellow musicians he preferred being called
"Brother Ray." Charles was blinded during childhood, possibly
due to glaucoma.    
   
Ray Charles died on June 10, 2004, at age 73, of complications
resulting from liver failure at his home in Beverly Hills, California.

Statue in Ray Charles Plaza in Albany, Georgia.