Born on this day in 1952 – Canadian and American musician Neil Peart, known as the drummer, percussionist, and primary lyricist of the rock band Rush. Peart has been voted the greatest rock drummer by music fans, critics and fellow musicians, according to Drummerworld. He was also regarded as one of the finest practitioners of the in-concert drum solo. Peart was made an Officer of the Order of Canada on May 9, 1996. The trio was the first rock band to be so honoured, as a group. Peart died on 7 January 2020, at the age 67, after battling brain cancer for three years.