Died on this date:

Steve Marriott

Singer/Guitarist/Songwriter

January 30, 1947-April 20, 1991

(Age 44)

Listening to Steve Marriott sing was like listening to Keith Moon play a drum fill.  They would both start someplace normal then veer so far into the weeds you began thinking "they are never going to get back  from there in one piece."  Then all of a sudden.  Bam!!! They tumbled into the sweet pocket of the song like it was always planned that way.  Fan-fucking-tastic.

Steve Marriott as Mod icon in Small Faces

We in the states first got notice of Steve Marriott's talents in 1967 in the group Small Faces.  Songs like Here Comes The Nice, Itchycoo Park, and Tin Soldier are great examples of early psychedelic pop.  Ogden's Nut Gone Flake was one of the first concept albums of the pop era and definitely deserves a listen if you haven't heard it.

Steve Marriott becomes 70's Bad Ass Rocker.

Steve moved into the 70's with his celebrated rock band, Humble Pie.  They never seemed to be in the same top tier as The Allman Brothers or Cream, but they were a great live band that really fucking rocked.  Performance...Rockin' the Fillmore is one of the best live albums of the 70's, bar none.   (Jerry Shirley of Humble Pie was one of my favorite drummers.)  Also check out Humble Pie and Rock On.  Classic rock at it's best.

Steve died when his house burned to the ground while he was asleep.  Passing out with a lit cigarette after a night of drink and drugs was suspected.

Wikipedia has a detailed summation of the life and times of Steve Marriott.

Ladies and Gentlemen...Humble Pie 
(featuring a kick-ass vocal by Steve Marriott.)