The Rock and Roll of Fame Class of 2016 has been announced, and, as expected with the annual induction of music luminaries to the triangular glass pyramid in Cleveland, Ohio, also comes a list that is no less polarizing and possibly even semi-controversial, just as it has been in years past.

This year’s roster includes Cheap Trick, Chicago, Steve Miller, incendiary rappers N.W.A, and finally getting a nod in the hall, Deep Purple. Official induction ceremonies will take place on Friday April 8th, 2016 at The Barclay’s Center in Brooklyn, New York, marking the second time the ceremonies will be taking place at the Center. HBO will then as it is wont to do, broadcast the ceremonies sometime that spring.

Today is the birthday of the late Terry Kath, who was a founding member the jazzy pop-rock group Chicago, and whose guitar style and penchant for songwriting and arrangements helped propel that band into becoming one of the biggest acts of the 1970s. Kath died in tragic circumstances when he fired a pistol into his head which had one bullet in the chamber, thinking it was unloaded and just simply fooling around in front of a roadie/band technician who worked for Chicago, on January 23, 1978.

All but pretty much forgotten about in today’s climate by name, the sounds and songs and distinctive vocals of Terry Kath live on. Fans of the band may remember hearing the man’s strong presence, albeit in snippets and quick flashes, like his vocal on “Make Me Smile,” or the high school prom staple ballad of the early 1970s, “Colour My World.” They may remember his tightly played, colorfully and highly memorable solo on “25 or 6 to 4″ or a myriad of songs showcased on Chicago’s first self-titled album, (released in 1969 and when they had the stretched out band moniker as “Chicago Transit Authority”) like “Introduction” and his well known jangly acoustic guitar on the track “Beginnings.”

Continue reading for much more and to check out some of Kath’s work.

A regular musical cornucopia of number one songs from the 1970s is available right now in MP3 format for only $5.00 on Amazon through the end of this month. Billboard #1s: The ’70s comprises 30 songs from one of the most colorful, controversial, loose, campy, and free decades in history.

The collection covers all bases and genres for the most part, and is an absolute trip down memory lane for most: “What A Fool Believes” by The Doobie Brothers, “You’re So Vain” by Carly Simon, “Let’s Get It On” by Marvin Gaye, “Good Times” by Chic, “Bad Girls” by Donna Summer, “Make it With You” by Bread, “If You Leave Me Now” by Chicago, “Without You” by Nilsson, “Let’s Stay Together” by Al Green. There’s 30 tracks in all – view the track listing here below. For a mere $5, it’s just pure pop confection, fun tracks that we all remember, regardless of our musical tastes. This collection remains essential for those who want to shake their groove things, get mellow, and relive a classic, original, and memorable era that we will never see the likes of again.

Browse all 100 albums on sale this month for only $5 each, as well as several albums on sale this week for only $2.99.

Chicago IX: Chicago’s Greatest Hits, by the jazz-rock/light rock/pop/easy listening/brass heavy ensemble Chicago, is on sale for only $5 in MP3 format on Amazon right now.

Originally released in 1975, this greatest hits package covers the band’s biggest singles and radio hits from the period of 1969-1975. Featuring the original lineup consisting of the triad of vocalists Robert Lamm (who also plays piano), Peter Cetera (who also plays bass), and the late, great Terry Kath (who played some pretty mean guitar and remains mercifully underrated to this day), this is a selection of 11 tracks that have stood the test of time as first stalwart AM radio hits and top 10 singles, which have firmly found a place as some of the all-time classic pop rock songs. The oddly named “25 or 6 to 4,” “Saturday in the Park,” “Beginnings,” “Call on Me,” “Make Me Smile,” and the sappy yet played in probably every high school prom at some point in the early 1970s, “Colour My World,” there isn’t a clunker in the bunch for sure. It remains an excellent musical primer for those wanting to be introduced to this band who is still releasing albums and touring (in a slightly different incarnation currently) to this very day.

Browse all 100 albums on sale this month for only $5 each, as well as several albums on sale this week for only $2.99.

In one of those very interesting and very unexpected announcements, it appears as though Rob Marshall will be the man to replace Gore Verbinski for the fourth installment in the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise. Reports state that Disney had been looking at many different directors, but for the moment, unless the bottom completely falls out on this deal, Rob Marshall is the guy.

For those of you who aren’t so familiar with Mr. Marshall, the announcement comes as a shock because the director is best known for his musical work. He’s only got a few jobs on his resume, but the big one is the 2002 Best Picture winner Chicago, which starred Catherine Zeta-Jones, Richard Gere, and Renee Zellweger. After that, he moved on to a less-musical period drama in Memoirs of a Geisha — which also pulled in some Oscar gold. His next due film is another musical based on an earlier screenplay written by the legendary Federico Fellini. The film is called Nine and it has a juggernaut cast including Daniel Day-Lewis, Nicole Kidman, Penelope Cruz, Marion Cotillard, Kate Hudson, Dame Judi Dench, and Sophia Loren.