Born on this day in 1945, Peter Dennis Blandford Townshend, the English musician, singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist, best known as the lead guitarist, backing vocalist, and principal songwriter for The Who, turns 79. His career spans over 50 years, and in that time Townshend has received the Brit Award for Lifetime Achievement in 1983, was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of The Who in 1990, received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award as a member of the Who in 2001, and received Kennedy Center Honors in 2008. He and Roger Daltrey received The George and Ira Gershwin Award for Lifetime Musical Achievement at UCLA on 21 May 2016.
In his honor, check out Pete talking about "The First Time" he heard The Beatles, watched Jimi Hendrix, and came to America, below.