bmusic - Newsletter No. 124

In 1953, Elvis Presley graduated from L.C. Humes High School in Memphis, Tennessee.

In 1958, future rock star Frank Zappa graduated from Antelope Valley High School in Lancaster, California. One of his schoolmates was Don Van Vliet, who later attained stardom as Captain Beefheart.

In 1961, country singer Patsy Cline suffered serious head injuries in an auto accident in Tennessee.

In 1965, on the same day two classic songs were being put to tape. Unbeknownst to each artist, Paul McCartney was recodring "Yesterday" and Bob Dylan his first electric guitar recording, "Like A Rolling Stone".

In 1967, singer and guitarist Peter Green left John Mayall's Bluesbreakers to form Fleetwood Mac with Mick Fleetwood, John McVie and Jeremy Spencer. When Peter Green abruptly left the group in 1970 because of his religious beliefs, Fleetwood Mac abandoned their blues leanings.

In 1967, the Monterrey International Pop Festival opened in California. It was the first major rock festival and attracted 50,000 people over three days. Ticket prices ranged from $3.50 to $6.50 to see more than two dozen top rock acts, including Janis Joplin, Otis Redding, Jimi Hendrix, the Who and the Grateful Dead. The performers played for free.

In 1970, Christine McVie released a solo album and then announced she would be retiring from music. Within a year she joined her husband John in Fleetwood Mac, so that retirement didn't last long.

In 1970, Eric Clapton's Derek and the Dominoes made their live debut in Britain. The group was joined by Dave Mason, who played the guitar parts performed by Duane Allman on Derek and the Dominoes' only studio album, "Layla."

In 1972, keyboardist Ron (Pigpen) McKernan played his final gig with the Grateful Dead at the Hollywood Bowl. He would die the following March of alcohol-induced liver failure and internal bleeding.

In 1975, John Lennon sued several US government officials for selective prosecution in his deportation case. Later in the year, the US Court of Appeals overturned the Immigration Department order to deport Lennon. He was granted permanent residence in the United States in 1976.

In 1977, guitarist Michael Schenker of the British hard-rock band UFO went into hiding for six months rather than tell the band that he wanted to leave. Schenker, a German, later said he didn't speak English well enough to explain how he felt. He eventually did split with UFO, leaving in 1979 to form his own group.

In 1977, Sex Pistol Johnny Rotten was slashed on his face and hands by knife-wielding youths on a London street. They objected to the Pistols' anti-monarchist song "God Save the Queen." The next day, another member of the Pistols, Paul Cook, was beaten by a gang armed with iron pipes.

In 1977, Steve Winwood, formerly with the Spencer Davis Group and Traffic, released his first solo album, a self-titled effort on the Island label.

In 1978, the movie version of "Grease," starring John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John, opened in theatres in the US and Canada.

In 1979, Rolling Stone magazine reported that Little Feat had disbanded after 10 years together. Exactly two weeks after the report Little Feat singer/guitarist Lowell George died of a heart attack.

In 1980, disco queen Donna Summer became the first artist to sign with Geffen Records, the new label started by industry veteran David Geffen.

In 1982, Donny Van Zant of the group .38 Special was arrested for drinking on stage in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Tulsa is a dry city.

In 1982, bassist Pete Farndon quit the Pretenders. One day later, the group's guitarist, James Honeyman-Scott, died of a drug overdose. Farndon, too, would die of drug excess - on April 15th, 1983.

In 1987, Vittoria Holman, a St. Petersburg, Florida real estate agent, sued Motley Crue and a concert promoter for hearing loss allegedly incurred at a concert in December 1985. Holman and her daughter had front row seats less than three metres from a wall of speakers. The case was settled out of court when the band's insurance company forked over $30,000.

In 1988, Jamaican street vendor Dennis Lobban was sentenced to hang after being found guilty for the 1987 murder of reggae star Peter Tosh and two of his friends. Lobban, who had a long police record, was on parole when the murders were committed.

In 1992, police and law enforcement officials called for a ban on Ice T's "Cop Killer" album. The result; sales on the West Coast and in Texas doubled.

In 1994, Latin pop singer Jon Secada fell through the rostrum as he was approaching the stage to perform to an estimated one-billion television viewers during the opening ceremonies of the World Cup soccer tournament in Chicago. Secada was unable to extricate himself from the hole, and since the band had already started playing, he began singing with only his head above the stage level. He was eventually pulled from the hole, and moved to centre stage to finish his performance. Secada was later diagnosed with a dislocated shoulder.

In 1994, Geffen Records offered the estimated two million subscribers to the CompuServe computer bulletin board an opportunity to download a previously unreleased Aerosmith song, "Head First." The track was recorded during the band's sessions for the 1993 album "Get a Grip." It was one of the first times that subscribers to a bulletin board service could download an entire song over computer lines.

In 1995, a judge in Los Angeles took ownership of the Kingsmen's recordings away from Scepter-Wand Records and awarded it to the group. The judge said the company breached its contract by not giving the Kingsmen royalties. The band's big hit was the party classic "Louie, Louie," recorded in 1963.

In 1996, the Sex Pistols performed together for the first time in 18 years, beginning their world reunion tour with a show before 15,000 fans in Helsinki. Lead singer Johnny Rotten, feeling the crowd was too subdued, shouted "I can't hear you." The audience responded with a shower of bottles, one of which struck Rotten. The show has halted briefly while the emcee pleaded for calm.

In 1997, Irish singer Sinead O'Connor withdrew from a peace concert in Jerusalem after she received death threats. Her show had been planned as the finale of a four day festival sponsored by Israeli and Palestinian women. The festival - entitled "Sharing Jerusalem: Two Capitals for Two States" - had outraged right-wing Jews, who claimed it undermined Israel's claimed sovereignty over all of the city.

In 1997, Ozzy Osbourne cancelled his solo set and his reunion with Black Sabbath scheduled for an "Ozzfest" tour stop at the Polaris Amphitheatre near Columbus, Ohio. Osbourne claimed he had lost his voice. Other groups on the bill performed as scheduled but disappointed fans set fires and damaged the outdoor facility. Twenty-three people were arrested and three were slightly hurt. Osbourne and Black Sabbath played a make-up date two weeks later.

In 2002, Limp Bizkit's Fred Durst reiterated claims of inadequate security during the hearing looking into the death of a 15-year-old concertgoer at 2001's Sydney Big Day Out. He gave an emotional testimony via video link with the Sydney court; "It was so overwhelming that a young girl came to see her favorite band and left in a coma and died," he said. "I'm very emotional right now talking about it. It's taken me a long time to talk about this."

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Births In 1882, composer Igor Stravinsky, considered by many to be the greatest composer of the 20th century, was born in St. Petersburg, Russia.

In 1917, singer and actor Dean Martin, whose real name was Dino Crocetti, was born in Steubenville, Ohio. He first gained fame as part of a comedy team with Jerry Lewis. When the duo broke up in 1956, Martin's career as both a singer and actor blossomed. His nonchalant, tongue-in-cheek approach proved very popular, as evidenced by his long-running TV show in the 1960's and '70s. Martin's record hits in the 1950's and '60s included "That's Amore," "Memories Are Made of This" and "Everybody Loves Somebody." He died on Christmas Day 1995.

In 1937, Waylon Jennings was born in Littlefield, Texas. Jennings, along with Willie Nelson, pioneered a movement away from country's heavy orchestral backing, opting for a leaner, harder sound which edged close to rock.
Jennings met Buddy Holly in 1958, and ended up touring as Holly's bass player. When Holly's plane crashed in February 1959, killing Holly, Ritchie Valens and the Big Bopper, it was Jennings who had given up his seat to the Bopper.

In 1942, Paul McCartney, the most commercially-successful former member of the Beatles, was born in Liverpool, England.

In 1943, Specer Davis Group bassist Muff Winwood.

In 1945, Argent And The Zombies founder Rod Argent.

In 1945, Anne Murray, one of the most popular female singers in the world, was born in Springhill, Nova Scotia.

In 1945, Chris Britton, lead singer with the British invasion band the Troggs.

In 1946, pop singer and songwriter Barry Manilow.

In 1949, Dennis Locorriere, vocalist and guitarist with Dr. Hook, was born in Union City, New Jersey.

In 1949, Russell Hitchcock of Air Supply.

In 1950, Noddy Holder, lead singer of the British hard rock band Slade.

In 1950, pop singer Lionel Richie.

In 1951, Ann Wilson, lead singer of Seattle group Heart, was born in San Diego, California.

In 1953, Larry Dunn, keyboards player with Earth, Wind and Fire.

In 1954, Garry Roberts of the Boomtown Rats.

In 1959, pop singer Sade.

In 1961, singer Boy George, formerly of Culture Club.

In 1962, singer and choreographer Paula Abdul.

In 1969, rapper and actor Ice Cube, whose real name is O'Shea Jackson.

In 1972, Nathan (Alex Vanderpool) Morris of the R'n'B group Boys II Men.

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Deaths In 1908, the nationalist Russian composer Nicolai Rimsky-Korsakov died at the age of 64. His most important works were his operas, such as "The Snow Maiden" and "Le Coq d'Or." The best known of Rimsky-Korsakov's orchestral works is the exotic and colorful "Scheherezade."

In 1968, Wes Montgomery, one of the most influential jazz guitarists, died of a heart attack at age 43.

In 1970, blues singer and guitarist Lonnie Johnson was found dead in his Toronto apartment at the age of 71. He played on recordings by Eddie Lang, Louis Armstrong and Duke Ellington in the 1920s, and later became a popular urban blues singer.

In 1972, Clyde McPhatter, former lead singer with the Drifters and Billy Ward and the Dominoes, died in New York City of complications from heart, liver and kidney disease. He was 38.

In 1977, Lawrence Payton of the Four Tops died of liver cancer at his home in Southfield, Michigan. He was 59.

In 1980, Bob Nolan, who helped found the Sons of the Pioneers, died in Los Angeles at the age of 72. One of country music's most influential groups, the Sons of the Pioneers was formed by Nolan, Roy Rogers and Tim Spencer in 1934. The Sons recorded for several labels throughout the 1930's and '40s, and appeared in many of Roy Rogers' westerns. Nolan, who was born in New Brunswick, composed the group's two biggest hits, "Tumbling Tumbleweeds" and "Cool Water." He is also credited with inventing the style of western harmony singing, which the Sons of the Pioneers were still performing in the late 1970's, more than 40 years after the group began.

In 1982, Pretenders guitarist James Honeyman-Scott died of a cocaine overdose at the age of 24. Just one day earlier The Pretenders bassist, Pete Farndon had quit the group. He too would die as a result of drug abuse less than a year later.

In 1987, traditional jazz trumpeter Kid Thomas Valentine, longtime leader of the Preservation Hall band, died in New Orleans at the age of 91. Valentine was considered the major figure of the New Orleans jazz revival after the death of clarinetist George Lewis in the late 1960's.

In 1988, Jack Leonard, the star vocalist for the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra from 1935 to 1939, died of cancer in Los Angeles at the age of 73. He was the singer on two of Tommy Dorsey's biggest hits - "Marie" and "All the Things You Are."

In 1992, Australian entertainer Peter Allen died in a hospital near San Diego, California of an AIDS-related illness. He was 48. The singer, dancer, songwriter and pianist was discovered by Judy Garland and for a time was married to her daughter, Liza Minelli. Allen wrote a number of hits for other artists, including "I Honestly Love You" for Olivia Newton-John and "Arthur's Theme" for Christopher Cross. Allen won an Academy Award for "Arthur's Theme."

In 1994, Kristen Pfaff, bassist for Courtney Love's band, Hole, died of a heroin overdose at age 27. Her death came two months after Love's husband, Nirvana lead singer Kurt Cobain, committed suicide. Pfaff's replacement in Hole was Melissa Auf Der Maur.

In 1996, Ella Fitzgerald, the jazz legend who was dubbed America's "First Lady of Song," died at her Beverly Hills, California home at age 78. She had been suffering from complications of diabetes, a condition which had led to the amputation of both her legs below the knees in 1993. Fitzgerald influenced almost every jazz and pop singer who followed her - among them Sarah Vaughan, Carmen McCrae, Frank Sinatra and Tony Bennett.

In 1997, singer Bobby Helms, whose 1957 recording of "Jingle Bell Rock" became a Christmas standard, died at his home in Martinsville, Indiana. He was 63. Besides "Jingle Bell Rock," Helms had two other big hits in the 1950s - "Fraulein" and "My Special Angel."

In 2001, John Lee Hooker (aka John Lee Cooker, John Lee Booker, Delta John, Texas Slim, Birmingham Sam and the Boogie Man) - King of the endless boogie. Died of natural causes in his sleep. Born 8-17-1917 in Clarksdale, MS, U.S. He recorded over 100 albums, sang for The Fairfield Four and The Big Six. Also worked with Quinn Wilson, George Washington, B.B. King, Canned Heat, Van Morrison, Carlos Santana, Keith Richards and many others - Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame Inductee.

In 2002 Paul Furey, a member of Irish folk group The Fureys, died during an operation to treat his cancer. He played accordion, melodeon, concertina, whistles, bones, spoons and sang for The Fureys.

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