73 years ago today (12/30/47), pop visionary/composer/guitarist/singer/arranger Jeff Lynne was born. Lynne at the time had the unique ambition to combine modern rock and pop songs with classical overtones and formed Electric Light Orchestra (ELO). As a result ELO became one of the biggest bands in the world with multiple hits including “Evil Woman,” Living Thing,” “Turned to Stone,” “Sweet Talkin’ Woman” and “Strange Magic.” When Lynne dissolved ELO in 1986, he joined up with supergroup The Traveling Wilburys, co-starring Tom Petty, Roy Orbison, Bob Dylan and George Harrison. In 2015, Lynne reformed ELO under the moniker of Jeff Lynne’s ELO and released Alone in the Universe and in 2019 followed that up with ELO’s 14th album From Out of Nowhere. Check out ELO performing “Turned to Stone” live from 1977.
