Little Feat's Lowell George came into this world on this day in 1945. His father supplied fur coats, boas and other fur apparel to Hollywood studios and the movie stars of the day. Lowell started on harmonica and guitar but shifted to flute to get into his high school orchestra and marching band. He also picked up saxophone while a student and was classmates with future Little Feat guitarist Paul Barrere.
George's first Rock band was Factory, started in 1965. The following year, drummer Richie Hayward joined the group. When Factory shut down, George was hired by Frank Zappa to be the rhythm guitarist in the Mothers of Invention in 1968, a gig he had for five albums.
After a falling out with Zappa, George and bassist Ray Estrada left the Mothers and formed Little Feat with Hayward and keyboard player Billy Payne.
George lived hard and battled drugs and drink throughout his career and died of a heart attack on June 29, 1979, the morning after doing a Washington DC concert on a solo tour.
Other Noteworthy Classic Rock events on April 13 include...
1940 Chambers Brothers lead singer Lester Chambers is born.
1944 Jefferson Airplane and Hot Tuna bassist Jack Casady is born.
1951 E Street Band drummer Max Weinberg born.
1964 The Beatles announce their debut film title will be A Hard Day's Night.
1965 The Beatles record Help!
1965 The Beatles win Best New Artist Grammy and Best Pop Vocal for A Hard Day's Night.
1966 The Beatles record Paperback Writer.
1966 Black Crowes and Magpie Salute guitarist Marc Ford is born in Long Beach, California.
1967 Rolling Stones fans in Warsaw, Poland riot and are tear gassed by police.
1973 David Bowie releases Aladdin Sane.
1973 Roger Daltrey releases his self-titled solo album, Daltrey.
1979 David Lee Roth collapses from exhaustion during Van Halen's Spokane, Washington concert.
1982 David Crosby gets arrested in his dressing room in Dallas on cocaine and weapons charges. It was his second arrest in two weeks.
1987 Fleetwood Mac releases Tango in the Night.
1993 Warren Zevon releases Learning to Flinch.
1993 Massachusetts proclaims April 13 Aerosmith Day.
1993 Bruce Springsteen's Unplugged album released.
1994 Billy Joel and Christie Brinkley separate.
1999 Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers release Echo.
2000 Metallica files suit against Napster.
2009 Producer Phil Spector is found guilty of murder of a house guest.
2011 Five of Tom Petty's guitars stolen from a rehearsal space.
2006 Bruce Springsteen's mother accepts his induction into the Freehold, NJ High School Hall of Fame honor.
