Music Almanac: January 11

Mary J. Blige

Birthdays

• 1895 - Laurens Hammond (inventor of the Hammond organ) (d. 1973)
• 1911 - Tommy Duncan (Bob Wills & the Texas Playboys) (d. 1967)
• 1924 - Don Cherry (89)
• 1924 - Slim Harpo (d. 1970)
• 1933 - Goldie Hill (d. 2005)
• 1935 - Chuck Barksdale (Dells) (78)
• 1936 - Bill Reed (Diamonds) (d. 2004)
• 1938 - Narvel Felts (75)
• 1940 - Phil Walden (founder of Capricorn Records) (d. 2006)
• 1942 - Clarence Clemons (E-Street Band) (d. 2011)
• 1944 - Jannie Pought (Bobbettes) (69)
• 1946 - Tony Kaye (born Anthony Selvidge) (Yes, Badfinger) (67)
• 1946 - Naiomi Judd (Judds) (67)
• 1948 - Terry Williams (Dire Straits, Bob Dylan) (65)
• 1949 - Frederick “Dennis” Greene (Sha Na Na) (64)
• 1949 - Daryl Braithwaite (Sherbet) (64)
• 1952 - Lee Ritenour (61)
• 1956 - Robert Earl Keen (57)
• 1958 - Vicki Peterson (Bangles) (55)
• 1968 - Tom Dumont (No Doubt) (45)
• 1969 - Maxee Maxwell (Brownstone) (44)
• 1971 - Mary J. Blige (42)
• 1971 - Tom Rowlands (Chemical Brothers) (42)
• 1981 - Jamelia (born Jamelia Davis) (32)
• 1981 - Tom Meighan (Kasabian) (32)
• 1985 - Newton Faulkner (28)

Deaths

• 1999 - Barry Pritchard - Fortunes - Heart attack (48)
• 2003 - Mickey Finn (T. Rex) - Liver disease (55)
• 2005 - James Griffin (Bread) - Cancer (61)
• 2005 - Spencer Dryden (Jefferson Airplane) - Colon cancer (66)
• 2010 - Mick Green (Johnny Kidd & the Pirates, Billy J. Kramer & the Dakotas) - Heart failure (66)

On This Day

• 1958 - In the U.K., Elvis Presley's single of Jailhouse Rock was delayed a week when the pressing plants couldn't complete a 250,000 unit preorder.
• 1963 - The Whiskey-a-Go-Go opened in Los Angeles.
• 1964 - Johnny Cash's Ring of Fire became the first country album to top the pop charts.
• 1967 - Jimi Hendrix signed with Track Records.
• 1968 - Jimi Hendrix moved into a townhouse in London formerly owned by Handel.
• 1986 - Mel McDaniel joined the Grand Ole Opry.
• 1987 - Frankie Goes to Hollywood opened their final tour in Manchester, England.
• 1990 - Paul McCartney started an eleven night stand at London's Wembley Arena.
• 1992 - Paul McCartney performed in South Africa, the first western pop star to do so since the United Nations lifted a cultural boycott.
• 1995 - Michael Jackson fought back, issuing the statement “I will no longer stand by and watch reckless members of the media try to destroy my reputation.”
• 1999 - Lena Horne, 91, resigned with Blue Note Records.
• 2000 - Gary Glitter was released from prison after serving two of a four month sentence for downloading child pornography from the internet.
• 2000 - Whitney Houston was detained in a Hawaian airport after trying to smuggle 15.2 grams of marijuana onto the plane.
• 2002 - Rosemary Clooney had successful lung cancer surgery.
• 2003 - Pete Townshend was forced to issue a statement saying he was not a pedophile after a police investigation named him as part of an inquiry. He said he did study the subject for a campaign against it.
• 2003 - Drummer Alan Whyte left Oasis after being diagnosed with tendonitis.
• 2004 - While taping a segment for his show Surviving Nugent: The Ten Commandments (VH1), Ted Nugent injures himself with a chainsaw, requiring 40 stitches.
• 2008 - Ringo Starr was in Liverpool to help the city celebrate the opening of their year as the official
• European Capital of Culture.

Recorded

• 1946 - Tumbling Tumbleweeds - Gene Autrey
• 1956 - Down in Mexico - Coasters (first session since changing name from the Robins)
• 1965 - Do You Wanna Dance - Beach Boys
• 1967 - Purple Haze - Jimi Hendrix
• 1967 - Jackson - Johnny Cash and June Carter

Released

• 1969 - This Was - Jethro Tull (debut album)

Awards

• 1999 - American Music Awards
• Pop/Rock Male - Eric Clapton
• Pop/Rock Female, Adult Contemporary Artist - Celine Dion
• Pop/Rock Band, Duo or Group - Backstreet Boys
• Pop/Rock Album, Soul/R&B Album - Big Willie Style - Will Smith
• Pop/Rock New Artist - N'Sync
• Soul/R&B Male Artist - Will Smith
• Soul/R&B Female Artist - Janet Jackson
• Soul/R&B Band, Duo or Group - K-Ci & JoJo
• Soul/R&B New Artist - Lauryn Hill
• Country Male - Garth Brooks
• Country Female - Shania Twain
• Country Band, Duo or Group - Alabama
• Country Album - Sevens - Garth Brooks
• Country New Artist - Dixie Chicks
• Rap/Hip-Hop Artist - Master P
• Alternative Artist - Pearl Jam
• Latin Artist - Enrique Iglesias
• Award of Merit - Billy Joel
• 2004 - People's Choice Awards
• Female Musical Performer (tie) - Faith Hill, Beyonce
• Male Musical Performer - Tim McGraw
• Musical Group or Band - Matchbox 20

Broadcasts

• 1992 - Saturday Night Live (NBC) - Nirvana

Read more...

Music Almanac: January 10

Rod Stewart

Birthdays

• 1917 - Jerry Wexler (d. 2008)
• 1923 - Curly Ray Cline (Lonesome Pine Fiddlers, Ralph Stanley) (d. 1997)
• 1927 - Johnnie Ray (d. 1990)
• 1930 - Byron "Wild Child" Gipson (d. 1994)
• 1935 - Ronnie Hawkins (78)
• 1935 - Eddie “The Chief” Clearwater (born Edward Harrington) (77)
• 1939 - Scott McKenzie (born Phillip Blondheim) (d. 2012)
• 1943 - Jim Croce (d. 1973)
• 1944 - Frank Sinatra, Jr. (69)
• 1945 - Rod Stewart (68)
• 1946 - Bob Lang (Mindbenders) (67)
• 1946 - Aynsley Dunbar (Journey, Whitesnake) (67)
• 1947 - Neil Smith (Alice Cooper) (66)
• 1948 - Donald Fagen (Steely Dan) (65)
• 1948 - Cyril Neville (65)
• 1952 - Scott Thurston (Jackson Browne, Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers) (64)
• 1953 - Pat Benatar (60)
• 1955 - Michael Schenker (UFO, Scorpions) (58)
• 1956 - Shawn Colvin (57)
• 1956 - Don Letts (Big Audio Dynamite) (57)
• 1959 - Curt Kirkwood (Meat Puppets) (54)
• 1964 - Brad Roberts (Crash Test Dummies) (49)
• 1965 - Joey Santiago (Pixies) (48)
• 1965 - Nathan Moore (Brother Beyond) (48)
• 1978 - Matt Roberts (3 Doors Down) (35)
• 1978 - Brent Smith (Shinedown) (35)
• 1979 - Chris Smith (Kris Kross) (34)

Deaths

• 1976 - Howlin' Wolf - Kidney disease (65)
• 1978 - Zeb Turner (62)
• 1997 - Kenny Pickett (Creation) - Heart attack (54)
• 2001 - Bryan Gregory (Cramps) - Heart attack (49)
• 2008 - Rod Allen (born Rod Bainbridge) (Fortunes) - Liver cancer (63)

On This Day

• 1949 - Vinyl records were introduced by RCA (45 RPM) and Columbia (33-1/3 RPM)
• 1969 - George Harrison announced he was leaving the Beatles. He was eventually back.
• 1971 - The trial to dissolve the Beatles started in a London court.
• 1978 - Litigation between the Beatles, Apple, Allen Klein and ABKCO is declared settled.
• 1979 - Richard Carpenter entered a chemical dependency program in Topeka, KS.
• 1981 - The Pirates of Penzance, with Linda Ronstadt, opened on Broadway.
• 1984 - Cyndi Lauper was nominated for five Grammys, the most since Bobby Gentry in 1967.
• 1991 - Clint Black became a member of the Grand Ole Opry.
• 1997 - James Brown received his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
• 2000 - Melissa Etheridge announced that the father of her and Julie Cypher's children was David Crosby.
• 2000 - Marty Friedman announced he was leaving Megadeth. He was replaced by Al Pitrelli.
• 2003 - While cracking a bootleg ring, U.K. police recovered over 500 tapes by the Beatles, known as the Get Back Tapes, which were stolen in the 70's.
• 2003 - Maurice Gibb of the Bee Gees was rushed to a hospital in Florida with a stomach emergency. He had a heart attack during surgery.
• 2003 - Tommy Mottola resigned as head of Sony.
• 2004 - Courtney love won custody of daughter Frances Bean Cobain.
• 2006 - The White Stripes canceled a tour of Japan after doctors told Jack White to rest his voice for two weeks.

Marriages

• 1948 - Loretta (Webb) Lynn and Oliver “Mooney” Lynn
• 1995 - Johnny Rodriguez and Lana Nelson
• 2009 - Fergie and Josh Duhamel

Recorded

• 1956 - Heartbreak Hotel - Elvis Presley (first session for RCA)
• 1964 - Not Fade Away - Rolling Stones

Released

• 1956 - Why Do Fools Fall in Love? - Frankie Lymon & the Teenagers
• 1964 - Introducing...The Beatles - Beatles

Awards

• 2006 - People's Choice Awards
• Female Musical Performer - Kelly Clarkson
• Male Musical Performer - Tim McGraw
• Musical Group or Band - Green Day
• Tour - U2

Broadcasts

• 1965 - Not Only But Also (U.K.) - John Lennon
• 1973 - Cilla Black Show (U.K.) - Cliff Richard
• 1978 - Variety - Sex Pistols (U.S. TV debut)
• 1985 - Miami Vice - Ted Nugent

Read more...

Music Almanac: January 9

Joan Beaz

Birthdays

• 1928 - Domenico Modugno (d. 1994)
• 1935 - Buddy Scott (d. 1994)
• 1939 - Jimmy Boyd (d. 2009)
• 1940 - Al Downing (d. 2005)
• 1941 - Joan Baez (72)
• 1943 - Scott Walker (born Noel Scott Engel) (Walker Brothers) (70)
• 1943 - Roy Head (70)
• 1943 - Dick Yount (Harper's Bizarre) (70)
• 1943 - Kenny “Wally” Kelley (Manhattans) (70)
• 1943 - Curtis Young (Jordanaires) (70)
• 1944 - Jimmy Page (Led Zeppelin) (69)
• 1948 - Paul King (Mungo Jerry) (65)
• 1948 - Tim Hart (Steeleye Span) (d. 2009)
• 1948 - Bill Cowsill (Cowsills) (d. 2006)
• 1950 - David Johansen (New York Dolls) (63)
• 1951 - Crystal Gayle (62)
• 1953 - David Oberle (Gryphon) (60)
• 1954 - Lance Hoppen (Orleans) (d. 2012)
• 1955 - Luci Martin (Chic) (58)
• 1957 - Phil Lewis (L.A. Guns) (56)
• 1963 - Eric Erlandson (Hole) (50)
• 1964 - Phil Hartnoll (Oribital) (49)
• 1965 - Haddaway (born Nestor Haddaway) (48)
• 1967 - Dave Matthews (46)
• 1967 - Steven Harwell (Smash Mouth) (46)
• 1967 - Carl Bell (Fuel) (46)
• 1968 - Al Schnier (moe) (45)
• 1970 - Lara Fabian (43)
• 1971 - MF Doom (born Daniel Dumile) (42)
• 1978 - A.J. McClean (Backstreet Boys) (35)
• 1987 - Paolo Nutini (26)

Deaths

• 1994 - Silas Hogan - Heart disease (82)
• 2001 - Lynne Nixon (Aquatones)
• 2009 - Dave Dee (Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick and Tisch) - Prostate cancer (65)

On This Day

• 1963 - Charlie Watts joined the Rolling Stones.
• 1965 - Sid Bernstein approached Brian Epstein about the Beatles playing Shay Stadium.
• 1965 - Norma Jean became a member of the Grand Ole Opry.
• 1971 - The U.S. Jaycees named Elvis Presley one of America's ten outstanding young men.
• 1973 - Mick Jagger was denied a Japanese visa forcing the Rolling Stones to cancel their tour of the country.
• 1975 - A London high court dissolved the relationship of the Beatles.
• 1976 - Graham Parker signed his first record contract.
• 1979 - The Music For Unicef Concert was held in New York with Abba, the Bee Gees, Rita Coolidge, John Denver, Earth, Wind & Fire, Andy Gibb, Elton John, Kris Kristofferson, Olivia Newton-John, Rod Stewart and Donna Summer.
• 1981 - The Specials' Terry Hall and Jerry Dammers were fined for using threatening language during a show in Cambridge, England.
• 1997 - David Bowie celebrated (the day after) his 50th birthday at Madison Square Garden in New York with Frank Black, Sonic Youth, Robert Smith of The Cure, The Foo Fighters, Lou Reed, and Billy Corgan and Placebo.
• 2005 - D'Angelo was arrested for drunk driving and drug possession in Richmond, VA.

Marriages

• 1973 - Lou Reed and Betty
• 1977 - Emmylou Harris and Brian Ahern
• 2005 - Vince Neil (Motley Crue) and Lia Gerardini

Released

• 1984 - Nobody Told Me - John Lennon (single)
• 1984 - 1984 - Van Halen

Awards

• 2002 - American Music Awards
• Pop/Rock Male Artist - Lenny Kravitz
• Pop/Rock Female Artist - Janet Jackson
• Pop/Rock Band, Duo or Group - *NSYNC
• Pop/Rock Album - Survivor - Destiny's Child
• Pop/Rock New Artist, Soul/R&B New Artist - Alicia Keys
• Soul/R&B Male Artist - Luther Vandross
• Soul/R&B Female Artist - Aaliyah
• Soul/R&B Band, Duo or Group - Destiny's Child
• Soul/R&B Album - Ailiyah - Ailiyah
• Country Male Artist - Tim McGraw
• Country Female Artist - Faith Hill
• Country Band, Duo or Group - Brooks and Dunn
• Country Album - Set the Circus Down - Tim McGraw
• Country New Artist - Trick Pony
• Adult Contemporary Artist - Sade
• Rap/Hip-Hop Artist - Nelly
• Alternative Artist - Limp Bizkit
• Latin Artist - Enrique Iglesias
• Award of Merit - Garth Brooks

Broadcasts

• 1992 - The Simpsons (ABC) - Sting

Read more...

Music Almanac: January 8

David Bowie

Birthdays

• 1904 - Tampa Red (born Hudson Woodbridge) (d. 1981)
• 1928 - Luther Perkins (Tennessee Three) (d. 1968)
• 1931 - Bill Graham (d. 1991)
• 1935 - Elvis Presley (d. 1977)
• 1937 - Shirley Bassey (76)
• 1940 - Little Anthony (born Jerome Gourdine) (Little Anthony & the Imperials) (73)
• 1940 - Cristy Lane (born Eleanor Johnston) (73)
• 1942 - John Petersen (Beau Brummels, Harpers Bizarre) (d. 2007)
• 1943 - Lee Jackson (Nice) (70)
• 1943 - Marcus Hutson (Whispers) (d. 2000)
• 1946 - Robbie Krieger (Doors) (67)
• 1947 - David Bowie (66)
• 1947 - Terry Sylvester (Hollies) (66)
• 1955 - Mike Reno (Loverboy) (58)
• 1959 - Paul Hester (Split Enz, Crowded House) (d. 2005)
• 1960 - Paul King (53)
• 1962 - Chris Marion (Little River Band) (51)
• 1966 - Andrew Wood (Malfunkshun, Mother Love Bone) (d. 1990)
• 1967 - R. Kelly (46)
• 1969 - Jeff Abercrombie (Fuel) (44)
• 1971 - Karen Poole (songwriter) (42)
• 1973 - Sean Paul (40)
• 1975 - DJ Clue? (born Ernesto Shaw) (38)
• 1976 - Jenny Lewis (Rilo Kiley) (37)
• 1978 - Stove King (born Steven King) (Mansun) (35)
• 1988 - Adam T. Siska (The Academy is...) (25)

Deaths

• 1979 - Sara Carter (Carter Family) (80)
• 1991 - Steve Clark (Def Leppard) - Overdose (30)
• 2001 - Laura Webb Childers (Bobbettes)
• 2008 - Clyde Otis (producer, songwriter (It's Just a Matter of Time, Kiddio) (83)

On This Day

• 1957 - Elvis Presley went through his Army per-induction physical.
• 1958 - The Everly Brothers started a U.S. tour in Charlotte, NC. Also with them were Buddy Holly, the Rays, the Royal Teens, the Shepherd Sisters, Paul Anka, Margie Rayburn and
 Danny & The Juniors.
• 1960 - Dick Clark conducted a phone interview with Elvis Presley while he was stationed in Germany.
• 1961 - Elvis Presley signed with Hal Willis for five films over the next five years.
• 1974 - KISS signed with Casablanca Records.
• 1979 - Rush was named Canada's official “Ambassador's of Music.”
• 1993 - The U.S. Postal Service issued a 29-cent stamp of Elvis with a picture from his early days in music.
• 1996 - Madonna could once again rest easy as stalker Robert Hoskins was found guilty of stalking, assault and terrorist threats.
• 2000 - A $1.7 million kidnap plot was stopped by police to kidnap Victoria Beckham and her infant daughter.
• 2002 - The Black Crowes announced that Chris Robinson and Steve Gorman had left the group.
• 2004 - Mel C of the Spice Girls said she would release music through her own label after being dropped by Virgin.
• 2006 - Harry Belafonte shocked the press when he called then President Bush “the greatest terrorist in the world.”

Marriages

• 1989 - Richard Marx and Cynthia Rhodes
• 1996 - John Michael Montgomery and Crystal White
• 2005 - Nas and Kellis

Divorces

• 1973 - Elvis Presley and Pricilla Presley (Elvis sued to start the process)

Recorded

• 1960 - Eddie Cochran's final recording session.

Released

• 1973 - Approximately Infinite Universe - Yoko Ono

Awards

• 2001 - American Music Awards
• Pop/Rock Male - Kid Rock
• Pop/Rock Female - Faith Hill
• Pop/Rock Band, Duo or Group - Backstreet Boys
• Pop/Rock Album - Human Clay - Creed
• Pop/Rock New Artist - 3 Doors Down
• Soul/R&B Male - Brian McKnight
• Soul/R&B Female - Toni Braxton
• Soul/R&B Band, Duo or Group - Destiny's Child
• Soul/R&B Album - The Heat - Toni Braxton
• Soul/R&B New Artist - Donell Jones
• Country Male Artist - Tim McGraw
• Country Female Artist - Faith Hill
• Country Band, Duo or Group - Dixie Chicks
• Country Album - Breathe - Faith Hill
• Country New Artist - Billy Gilman
• Adult Contemporary Artist - Celine Dion
• Rap/Hip-Hop Artist - Dr. Dre
• Alternative Artist - Creed
• Latin Artist - Enrique Iglesias

Broadcasts

• 1965 - Hullabaloo (premier)
• 1966 - Shindig! (ABC) (final program) - Who, Kinks

Read more...

Music Almanac: January 7

Birthdays

• 1930 - Jack Greene (83)
• 1936 - Eldee Young (Young-Holt Unlimited) (d. 2007)
• 1938 - Paul Revere (& the Raiders) (75)
• 1941 - Robert Hicks (Paul Butterfield Blues Band) (72)
• 1941 - James West (Kathy Young & the Innocents) (72)
• 1943 - Leona Williams (born Leona Helton) (70)
• 1944 - Mike McGear (born Mike McCartney, brother of Paul) (69)
• 1945 - Dave Cousins (Strawbs) (68)
• 1946 - Jann Wenner (publisher of Rolling Stone) (67)
• 1946 - Andy Brown (Fortunes) (67)
• 1948 - Kenny Loggins (65)
• 1949 - Marshall Chapman (64)
• 1953 - Earl Lindo (Wailers) (60)
• 1959 - Kathy Valentine (Go-Go's) (54)
• 1959 - David Lee Murphy (54)
• 1974 - John Rich (39)

Deaths

• 1964 - Cyril Davies - Endocarditis (possible leukemia) (31)
• 1980 - Carl White (Rivingtons)
• 1980 - Larry Williams - Suicide (possible murder) (44)
• 1998 - Owen Bradley (82)
• 2001 - James Carr - Lung cancer (58)
• 2002 - Jon Lee (Feeder) - Suicide (33)

On This Day

• 1933 - The Wheeling Jamboree was first broacast on radio station WWVA.
• 1950 - Hank Snow and Tennessee Ernie Form made their Grand Ole Opry debuts.
• 1953 - Apollo Records filed a $10,000 suit against the Royals, saying they were impersonating their group the Five Royals.
• 1953 - Marty Robbins debuted at the Grand Ole Opry.
• 1963 - Gary U.S. Bonds sued Chubby Checker alleging that his Dancin' Party sounded too much like Quarter to Three.
• 1964 - Long John Baldry formed the Hoochie Coochie Men.
• 1967 - Charley Pride made his first appearance at the Grand Ole Opry.
• 1970 - Max Yasgur, owner of the farm where Woodstock was held, was sued for $35,000 for property damage by surrounding farmers.
• 1974 - Aerosmith opened their Get Your Wings Tour in Detroit, MI.
• 1976 - Record executive Kenneth Moss receives an 120 day prison sentenced for involuntary manslaughter in the death of Average White Band drummer Robbie McIntosh.
• 1980 - Hugh Cornwall of the Stranglers was sentenced to three months in prison for possession of heroin, cocaine and marijuana.
• 1981 - The Police opened their North American tour in Montreal.
• 1994 - Nirvana played their last U.S. show in hometown Seattle.
• 2003 - The Beatles Book Monthly shut down after forty years.
• 2004 - Ozzy Osbourne canceled his U.K. tour to recover from an ATV accident.
• 2006 - Gary Glitter was officially charged with obscene acts with an 11 and a 12 year old girl in Viet Nam.

Marriages

• 2003 - Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne (renewed vows)
• 2006 - Pink and Carey Hart

Recorded

• 1994 - Definitely Maybe - Oasis (first day of recording on their debut album)

Released

• 1971 - Paranoid - Black Sabbath (U.S. release)

Broadcasts

• 1997 - Rosie O'Donnell Show (Syn) - Prince

Read more...

Music Almanac: January 6

Earl Scruggs

Birthdays

• 1924 - Earl Scruggs (d. 2012)
• 1929 - Autry Inman (d. 1988)
• 1934 - Bobby Lord (d. 2008)
• 1935 - Paul Wilson (Flamingos) (78)
• 1935 - Nino Tempo (& April Stevens) (78)
• 1937 - Doris Troy (d. 2004)
• 1940 - Van McCoy (d. 1979)
• 1946 - Syd Barrett (d. 2006)
• 1947 - Shirley Brown (66)
• 1947 - Sandy Denny (d. 1978)
• 1949 - Joey "Cow Polka" Miskulin (Riders in the Sky) (64)
• 1951 - Kim Wilson (Fabulous Thunderbirds) (62)
• 1953 - Jett Williams (60)
• 1953 - Malcolm Young (AC/DC) (60)
• 1959 - Kathy Sledge (Sister Sledge) (54)
• 1960 - Muz Skillings (Living Colour) (53)
• 1961 - Eric Williams (Blackstreet) (52)
• 1962 - Michael Houser (Widespread Panic) (d. 2002)
• 1963 - Paul Brindley (Sundays) (50)
• 1964 - Mark O'Toole (Frankie Goes to Hollywood) (49)
• 1966 - A.R. Rahman (47)
• 1971 - Gary Wiseman (Bowling for Soup) (42)
• 1981 - Mike Jones (32)

Deaths

• 1980 - Georgeanna Tillman (Marvelettes) - Sickle cell anemia & lupus (36)
• 1993 - Dizzy Gillespie - Pancreatic cancer (75)
• 1996 - Chubby Wise (born Robert Wise) (Bill Monroe's Blue Grass Boys) (80)
• 2006 - Lou Rawls - Brain and lung cancer (72)
• 2007 - Sneaky Pete Kleinow (Flying Burrito Brothers) - Alzheimer's disease (72)
• 2008 - Cy Leslie (founder of Pickwick Records) (85)
• 2009 - Ron Asheton (Stooges) - Heart attack (60)

Gibson Flying V

On This Day

• 1958 - Gibson introduced their “Flying V” electric guitar.
• 1958 - In one of his only film roles, Bobby Helms filmed a part as himself in The Case Against Brooklyn.
• 1964 - The Rolling Stones opened their first headlining tour in Harrow, U.K. Along for the ride were the Ronettes, Marty Wild and the Swinging Blue Jeans.
• 1969 - Dottie West's home was destroyed by fire.
• 1970 - Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young made their U.K. debut at London's Royal Albert Hall.
• 1971 - Neil Young performed for the first time in his homeland of Canada in six years.
• 1975 - While waiting for tickets to a February Led Zeppelin show at the Boston Gardens, a thousand fans started to riot doing $30,000 in damages. The mayor of Boston canceled the concert.
• 1977 - EMI released the Sex Pistols after only three months on the label, giving them $68,000.
• 1987 - Eric Clapton played the first of his annual residencies at London's Royal Albert Hall.
• 1987 - Elton John canceled all of his appearances for the year after having throat surgery.
• 1993 - Bill Wyman announced he had officially left the Rolling Stones.
• 2004 - Celine Dion received her star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
• 2004 - Steven Van Zandt became a consultant with Sirius Satellite Radio to develop a show based on his Underground Garage series.
• 2004 - A Belgian consumer group sued all four big music companies charging that their copy protection schemes stopped law abiding music listeners from making legitimate copies of their CDs.
• 2004 - Urge Overkill announced they were reforming for four dates.
• 2005 - Ringo Garza of Los Lonely Boys and his wife are arrested in San Angelo, TX for marijuana possession.
• 2005 - Teen heartthrob Aaron Carter escaped serious injury when his SUV caught on fire while he was driving.
• 2006 - The U.K.'s Ms. Dynamite was arrested for assaulting a police officer.

Recorded

• 1975 - Wish You Were Here - Pink Floyd (first day of recording album)

Released

• 1976 - Frampton Comes Alive - Peter Frampton

Broadcasts

• 1957 - Ed Sullivan Show - Elvis Presley (last appearance on show)
• 1966 - Duke Ellington Concert (CBS)
• 1968 - Happening '68 (premier show)

Read more...

Music Almanac: January 5

Birthdays

• 1895 - Elizabeth Cotton (d. 1987)
• 1923 - Sam Phillips (Sun Records) (d. 2003)
• 1929 - Wilbert Harrison (d. 1994)
• 1932 - Johnny Adams (d. 1998)
• 1940 - Athol Guy (Seekers) (73)
• 1940 - George Malone (Monotones) (d. 2007)
• 1941 - Grady Thomas (Parliament-Funkadelic) (72)
• 1942 - Danny Williams (d. 2005)
• 1944 - Jo Ann Kelly (d. 1990)
• 1948 - Thom Mooney (Nazz) (65)
• 1949 - George Brown (Kool & the Gang) (64)
• 1950 - Chris Stein (Blondie) (63)
• 1954 - Bryan Hitt (REO Speedwagon) (59)
• 1954 - Verlon Thompson (Restless Heart) (59)
• 1960 - Phil Thornley (producer, songwriter (Torn)) (53)
• 1961 - Iris DeMent (52)
• 1963 - Grant Young (Soul Asylum) (50)
• 1966 - Kate Schellenbach (Luscious Jackson, Beastie Boys) (47)
• 1969 - Marilyn Manson (born Brian Warner) (44)
• 1976 - Matt Wachter (30 Seconds to Mars, Angels & Airwaves) (37)

Deaths

• 1979 - Charles Mingus - Lou Gehrig's Disease (56)
• 1980 - Carl White (Rivingtons)
• 1998 - Sonny Bono - Skiing accident (62)
• 1998 - Ken Forssi (Love) - Brain tumor (54)
• 2005 - Danny Sugerman (manager (Doors, Iggy Pop)) - Lung cancer (50)
• 2010 - Willie Mitchell - Cardiac arrest (81)

On This Day

• 1954 - Elvis Presley cut a ten-minute demo tape in Memphis, TN.
• 1957 - Pat Boone began shooting the film Bernadine.
• 1963 - Bob Dylan wrote Girl From the North Country and Boots of Spanish Leather while in Rome, Italy.
• 1975 - The musical The Wiz opened on Broadway.
• 1978 - The Sex Pistols played their first U.S. show in Atlanta, GA.
• 1978 - Prince made his solo debut in Minneapolis, MN.
• 1984 - The Police announced that they would play a farewell concert on March 2 in Australia.
• 2000 - Celine Dion was named the best selling Canadian Artist of the Century by the Canadian Record Industry Association.
• 2000 - Rob Halford wrote to his former Judas Priest bandmates in an attempt to reconcile.
• 2003 - Green Day's Billie Joe Armstrong was arrested for drunk driving after failing a breathalyzer test.
• 2004 - B2K announced they were splitting up.
• 2004 - A.J. McLean of the Backstreet Boys chased and caught a man who had just stolen a $40,000 ring for a Las Vegas Jeweler.

Recorded

• 1965 - Stop! In the Name of Love - Supremes
• 1967 - Penny Lane - Beatles (Paul McCartney's vocal track)

Released

• 1959 - It Doesn't Matter Anymore / Raining in My Heart - Buddy Holly (last release before his death)
• 1962 - My Bonnie - Beatles

Read more...

Music Almanac: January 4

Patty Loveless

 Birthdays

• 1936 - John Gorman (Scaffold) (77)
• 1942 - John McLaughlin (71)
• 1945 - Jay Dee Maness (Desert Rose Band) (68)
• 1946 - Arthur Conley (d. 2003)
• 1955 - Clive Gregson (producer, songwriter) (58)
• 1955 - Mark Hollis (Talk Talk) (58)
• 1955 - Kathy Forester (Forester Sisters) (58)
• 1956 - Bernard Sumner (Joy Division, New Order) (57)
• 1956 - Nels Cline (Wilco) (57)
• 1957 - Patty Loveless (56)
• 1958 - Macel King (Sweet Sensations) (55)
• 1960 - Michael Stipe (R.E.M.) (53)
• 1962 - Robin Guthrie (Cocteau Twins) (51)
• 1962 - Martin McAloon (Prefab Sprout) (51)
• 1962 - Peter Steele (born Peter Ratajczyk) (Type O Negative) (d. 2010)
• 1963 - Till Lindemann (Rammstein) (50)
• 1965 - Cait O'Riordan (Pogues) (48)
• 1965 - David Glasper (Breathe) (48)
• 1966 - Deanna Carter (47)
• 1966 - Beth Gibbons (Portishead) (47)
• 1967 - Benjamin Darvill (aka Son of Dave, Crash Test Dummies) (46)
• 1977 - Tim Wheeler (Ash) (36)
• 1979 - Jeph Howard (Used) (34)

Deaths

• 1986 - Phil Lynott (Thin Lizzy) - Pneumonia and sepsis (36)
• 1998 - John Gary (65)
• 2008 - Vernon Derrick (Hank Williams Jr.'s Bama Band) - Heart and renal failure (74)
• 2011 - Mick Karn (born Andonis Michaelides) (Japan) - Cancer (52)
• 2011 - Gerry Rafferty (Stealers Wheel) - Liver failure (63)

On This Day

• 1936 - Billboard Magazine printed its first pop music chart.
• 1950 - RCA announced that they would be producing vinyl LPs.
• 1953 - Hank Williams' funeral was held in Montgomery, AL.
• 1957 - Elvis Presley had his pre-induction physical.
• 1968 - The University of California made study of the music of the Rolling Stones a part of the music department curriculum.
• 1969 - George Jones and Dolly Parton became members of the Grand Ole Opry.
• 1970 - Who drummer Keith Moon ran over chauffer Neil Boland while trying to escape a group of skinheads in Hatfield, England.
• 1971 - The movie Performance with Mick Jagger premiered in London.
• 1973 - It was announced that Lamar Williams would replace the late Barry Oakley in the Allman Brothers.
• 1976 - Mal Evans, former roadie for the Beatles, was killed by Los Angeles police after he pointed a loaded rifle at them.
• 1979 - The Star Club in Hamburg, Germany reopened.
• 1993 - Patty Loveless returned to singing at the Grand Ole Opry after throat surgery.
• 2000 - Oasis announced that their next album would be on their own label.
• 2004 - Ray Davies of the Kinks was shot in the leg while trying to stop two men who had stolen his companion's purse.
• 2005 - Ashlee Simpson was booed offstage while performing at the Orange Bowl.
• 2006 - Barry Gibb of the Bee Gees bought the house where Johnny Cash lived for 35 years in Nashville.
• 2006 - The body of Barry Cowsill of the Cowsills was found in a New Orleans morgue. He was assumed to have perished during Hurricane Katrina the previous year.
• 2008 - Beyonce won a lawsuit where another writer claimed to have written her hit Baby Boy.
• 2008 - Britney Spears was forced to give up her children to ex-husband Kevin Federline after being carried out of her house on a stretcher and taken into custody by police.

Marriages

• 1990 - William Lee Golden (Oak Ridge Boys) and Brenda Kaye Hall

Divorces

• 2000 - Melanie “Mel G.” Gulzar and Jimmy Gulzar
• 2004 - Britney Spears and Jason Alexander (annulled after one day)

Recorded

• 1935 - Swing on the Strings - Mills Brothers (first recording session)
• 1954 - Casual Love Affair, I'll Never Stand in Your Way - Elvis Presley
• 1962 - Point of No Return - Gene McDaniels
• 1970 - Let It Be - Beatles (McCartney, Harrison, Starr) (last Beatles session)
• 1971 - Meddle - Pink Floyd (first day of recording)

Released

• 1967 - The Doors - Doors

Broadcasts

• 1955 - Tennessee Ernie Ford Show (debut)
• 1957 - Steve Allen Show (NBC) - Solomon Burke

Read more...

Music Almanac: January 3

George Martin

Birthdays

• 1909 - Victor Borge (d. 2000)
• 1916 - Maxene Andrews (Andrews Sisters) (d. 1995)
• 1917 - Leon McAuliffe (Bob Wills & His Texas Playboys) (d. 1988)
• 1926 - George Martin (87)
• 1926 - Danny Overbea (d. 1994)
• 1943 - Van Dyke Parks (70)
• 1945 - Stephen Stills (Buffalo Springsfield, Crosby, Stills & Nash) (68)
• 1946 - John Paul Jones (Led Zeppelin, Them Crooked Vultures) (67)
• 1948 - Larry McNeely (Glen Campbell band) (65)
• 1954 - Ross the Boss (born Ross Friedman) (Dictators, Manowar) (59)
• 1955 - Palmolive (born Paloma McLardy) (Slits, Raincoats) (58)
• 1965 - Raymond McGinley (Teenage Fanclub) (48)
• 1969 - Nikki Nelson (Highway 101) (44)
• 1975 - Thomas Bangalter (Daft Punk) (38)
• 1986 - Lloyd (born Lloyd Polite, Jr.) (27)

Deaths

• 1980 - Amos Milburn - Stroke (52)
• 2002 - Zak Foley (EMF) - Drug overdose (31)
• 2002 - Juan Garcia Esquivel (83)

On This Day

• 1959 - Barry Gordy moved the Motown operation into the Hitsville U.S.A. House.
• 1963 - The Beatles started their first headlining tour in Elgin, Scotland.
• 1965 - Fender Guitars was purchased by CBS for $13 million.
• 1967 - Carl Wilson of the Beach Boys refused to be sworn in after he was drafted, saying he was a conscientious objector.
• 1970 - Davy Jones quit the Monkees.
• 1974 - Bob Dylan started his first tour in over seven years. The Band supported him.
• 1981 - David Bowie made his final appearance on Broadway in The Elephant Man.
• 1987 - Aretha Franklin became the first woman inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with the group's second selection. Also going in were the Coaster, Eddie Cochran, Bo Diddley, Marvin Gaye, Bill Haley, B.B. King, Clyde McPhatter, Ricky Nelson, Roy Orbison, Carl Perkins, Smokey Robinson, Big Joe Turner, Muddy Waters and Jackie Wilson.
• 2001 - Vanilla Ice was arrested for fighting with his wife in Broward County, FL.

Marriages

• 1992 - Jim Kerr (Simple Minds) and Patsy Kensit
• 2004 - Britney Spears and Jason Alexander

Recorded

• 1957 - I'm Walkin' - Fats Domino
• 1970 - I Me Mine - Beatles

Broadcasts

• 1960 - Ed Sullivan (CBS) - Bobby Darin, Connie Francis
• 1964 - Jack Parr Show (NBC) - Beatles (clip from The Mersey Sound (BBC), first appearance of Beatles on American TV)
• 1966 - Hullabaloo - Beatles
• 1969 - The Lulu Show (U.K.) - Jimi Hendrix

Read more...

Music Almanac: January 2

Harold Bradley

Birthdays

• 1926 - Harold Bradley (87)
• 1930 - Julius La Rosa (86)
• 1936 - Roger Miller (d. 1992)
• 1946 - Chick Churchill (Ten Years After) (67)
• 1952 - Graeme Strachan (Skyhooks) (d. 2001)
• 1954 - Glen Goins (Parliament-Funkadelic) (d. 1978)
• 1955 - Dawn Silva (Sly & the Family Stone, Parliament-Funkadelic) (58)
• 1962 - Scott Underwood (Train) (51)
• 1964 - Keith Gregory (Wedding Present) (49)
• 1968 - Robert Gregory (Babybird) (45)
• 1975 - Chris Cheney (Living End) (38)
• 1976 - Douglas Robb (Hoobastank) (37)

Deaths

• 1972 - Arthur Lee “Red” Smiley (Reno and Smiley) - Diabetes (46)
• 1974 - Tex Ritter - Heart attack (68)
• 1977 - Errol Garner - Cardiac arrest (53)
• 1981 - David Lynch (Platters) (51)
• 1997 - Randy California (Spirit) - Drowned saving son from rip current (45)
• 1998 - Nick Venet (producer) - Burkitt's lymphoma (61)

On This Day

• 1926 - The first issue of Britain's Melody Maker went on sale.
• 1955 - The funeral of Johnny Ace was held in Memphis, TN. 5,000 people attended.
• 1968 - A shipment of John Lennon and Yoko Ono's Two Virgins album was seized by New Jersey authorities because of the nude cover. The albums were eventually wrapped in brown paper and sent to retail.
• 1969 - Filming began on the Beatles' rehearsals for the Let It Be documentary.
• 1975 - A U.S. District Judge allowed John Lennon and his lawyers to view his Department of Immigration files.
• 1979 - The trial of Sid Vicious in the murder of his girlfriend Nancy Spungen began in New York.
• 1996 - Arrested development announced they were breaking up.
• 2001 - Beyonce Knowles and Kelly Rowland of Destiny's Child settled a lawsuit with former members LeToya Luckett and LaTavia Robinson who claimed they were forced out of the group.
• 2003 - 50 Cent was arrested when guns were found in his SUV.
• 2004 - Daniel Bedingfield fractured to vertebrae when he flipped his jeep in New Zealand.

Marriages

• 1985 - Ron Wood and Jo Karslake
• 1994 - Danni Minogue and Julian McMahon

Recorded

• 1941 - Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy - Andrews Sisters
• 1957 - To Each His Own, St. Louis Blues, more - Dominoes (Jackie Wilson's last recording session with the group).
• 1970 - My Woman, My Woman, My Wife - Marty Robbins

Released

• 1978 - Wildmania - Wild Man Fischer (first release by Rhino)

Broadcasts

• 1964 - Top of the Pops (BBC) - Rolling Stones
• 1971 - It's Cliff Richard (BBC) (premier)

Read more...

Music Almanac: January 1

Grandmaster Flash

Birthdays

• 1936 - Benny Barnes (77)
• 1942 - Country Joe McDonald (Country Joe & the Fish) (71)
• 1947 - Gary "BB" Coleman (d. 1994)
• 1950 - Steve Ripley (Tractors) (63)
• 1950 - Morgan Fisher (Mott the Hoople) (63)
• 1958 - Grandmaster Flash (born Joseph Saddler) (55)
• 1967 - John Digweed (46)
• 1968 - Rick J. Jordan (born Hendrik Stedler) (Scooter) (45)

Deaths

• 1953 - Hank Williams - “Acute right ventricular dilation” (29)
• 1967 - Moon Mullican - Heart attack (57)
• 1984 - Alexis Korner - Lung cancer (55)
• 1991 - Buck Ram (producer, songwriter (Only You, The Great Pretender) (84)
• 1995 - Ted Hawkins - Stroke (58)
• 1997 - Townes Van Zandt - Cardiac arrhythmia most likely brought on by detoxification (52)
• 1997 - Hagood Hardy (59)
• 2006 - Bryan Harvey (House of Freaks) - Murdered (49)
• 2007 - Del Reeves - Emphysema (74)

ABBA's Final Performance

 On This Day

• 1939 - Jake Tindall, Lonnie Wilson & Beecher "Pete" Kirby (Bashful Brother Oswald) joined Acuff's Smokey Mountain Boys.
• 1959 - Elvis Presley crashed his BMW in Germany.
• 1960 - Johnny Cash performed at San Quentin Prison
• 1962 - The Beatles had an audition at Decca Records where they were turned down.
• 1967 - Gary Lewis was drafted.
• 1967 - Sonny and Cher were barred from appearing in the Tournament of Roses Parade after they supported rioters on the Sunset Strip.
• 1968 - According to Billboard, 1967 was the first year that albums outsold singles.
• 1968 - The Blue Velvets changed their name to Creedence Cleearwater Revival.
• 1972 - Marc Bolan started his T Rex Wax Co.
• 1976 - Robert Plant walked unassisted for the first time since an August car crash.
• 1977 - The Roxy Club in London opened with a performance by the Clash.
• 1979 - Bruce Springsteen injured his cheek throwing a firecracker into the crowd at a concert.
• 1980 - Cliff Richard was named an OBE by the Queen. Only the Beatles and Elton John had received it before among popular artists.
• 1982 - ABBA played their final show in Stockholm, Sweden.
• 1985 - VH1 began broadcasting.
• 1988 - Rob Pilatus and Fabrice Morvan became Milli Vanilli when they signed with producer Frank Farian.
• 1989 - Nirvana signed with Sub Pop Records.
• 2000 - George Harrison was discharged from the hospital after being treated for stab wounds from an intruder at his house.
• 2002 - Shakin' Stevens was arrested for drunk driving.
• 2002 - Barry, Robin and Maurice Gibb of the Bee Gees were named Commanders of the British Empire (CBE) by the queen.
• 2002 - Nick Carter of the Backstreet Boys was arrested in Tampa, FL for resisting arrest and opposing a law enforcement officer.
• 2004 - Charles Aznavour was named a commander of the French Legion of Honor.
• 2005 - The first rock era records became public domain under current European law including such classics as Rock Around the Clock by Bill Haley & the Comets.
• 2011 - Chuck Berry collapsed onstage while performing in Chicago, IL.

Marriages

• 2002 - Eric Clapton and Melia McEnery
• 2002 - Kenny Latimore and Chante Moore
• 2002 - Gwen Stefani (No Doubt) and Gavin Rossdale (Bush) (engaged)
• 2011 - Shania Twain and Frederic Thiebaud

Recorded

• 1964 - Fun, Fun, Fun - Beach Boys

Broadcasts

• 1957 - Cool For Cats (BBC) (Premier)
• 1964 - Top of the Pops (BBC) (Premier) - Rolling Stones, Dave Clark Five, Hollies, Swinging Blue Jeans
• 1966 - The Adventures of Ozzie & Harriet (final episode) - Rick Nelson
• 1967 - KTLA-TV (Los Angeles) - Doors (first TV appearance)

Read more...