bmusic - Newsletter No. 219

In 1954, Bill Haley's "Rock Around the Clock" was released. The record was not a hit until after it was included in the soundtrack of "Blackboard Jungle" the following year.

In 1954, Bob Dylan celebrated his bar mitzvah.

In 1958, Bobby Darin's recording of "Splish Splash" was released. It was the first recording made on an eight track recorder at Atlantic Records. Darin is said to have written the song in 12 minutes.

In 1958, singer Jerry Lee Lewis announced his marriage to his 14-year-old cousin, Myra, as he arrived in London. The resulting controversy caused Lewis to be booed off stage and forced the cancellation of all but three of the 37 scheduled concerts on his British tour. It would take years for Lewis's career to recover.

In 1960, disc jockey Alan Freed was charged with accepting payola - money for playing records. Freed, the deejay who did the most to spread rock 'n' roll, was a broken man by the time he came to trial in December 1962. He pleaded guilty to accepting bribes and received a suspended sentence and a $300 fine. Freed, facing new charges of tax evasion, died in January 1965 at the age of 42.

In 1963, Little Stevie Wonder's "Fingertips (Part 2)" was recorded live in Detroit. The single - and the album from which it was taken, "The 12 Year-Old Genius" - topped the Billboard charts simultaneously - a first. "Fingertips" was also the first live recording to reach number one. Despite the album title, Wonder had turned 13 eight days before the concert was recorded.

In 1966, Pete Townshend and Roger Daltrey of the Who started a show in Windsor, England without Keith Moon and John Entwistle. When the pair finally showed up, Townshend wacked Moon over the head with his guitar. Moon promptly quit the band, but was back a week later.

In 1967, Jimi Hendrix signed his first US recording contract with Reprise. A month later he would be a star after his historic performance at the Monterey Pop Festival.

In 1968, Pete Townshend of the Who married dress designer Karen Astley. She was responsible for some of Townshend's outfits worn during early Who concerts.

In 1969, The Chicago Transit Authority released their self-titled debut double album. Later the band was sued by the actual Chicago Transit Authority and forced to change their name, eventually shortening it to Chicago.

In 1971, Pete Cetera, bass player and vocalist with Chicago, was beaten by three men at a Chicago Cubs baseball game, apparently because they didn't like the length of his hair. Cetera lost four teeth and required five hours of surgery.

In 1979, Cheap Trick's "Live at Budokan" LP was certified gold in the US. It eventually sold more than one-million copies, delaying the release of the followup album, "Dream Police."

In 1979, rock singer Tom Petty filed for bankruptcy in an effort to get out of his contract with MCA Records. Nine months later, Petty signed with Backstreet Records, a new MCA affiliate. His comeback LP, "Damn the Defiant," was a critical and financial success, selling 2.5 million copies.

In 1980, singer and drummer Peter Criss left the theatrical rock group Kiss for a solo career. (And what a success that was).

In 1980, Dr. George Nichopoulous was indicated in Memphis, Tennessee on 14 counts of overprescribing drugs to Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis and nine other patients.

In 1980, Joe Strummer of the political rock group the Clash was arrested in Hamburg, West Germany for attacking a fan with his guitar.

In 1987, Rita Marley was ousted as executor of her late husband Bob Marley's will by a Jamaican court. The surviving members of Marley's band, the Wailers, called for an investigation of the reggae star's estate.

In 1989, independent record promoter Ralph Tashjian became the first person ever convicted under the 29 year old US payola law. He pleaded guilty in Los Angeles to distributing cash and cocaine to a radio station in order to get airplay on records by Bruce Springsteen, Elvis Costello and Laura Branigan. The artists did not know of Tashjian's illegal activities.

In 1992, Ringo Starr released "Time Takes Time," his first studio album in nine years. To promote it, Starr toured with an all-star band that included his son Zak on drums, along with Burton Cummings, Dave Edmunds and Todd Rundgren.

In 1993, more than 40,000 fans packed a heavily-secured park along Tel Aviv's beachfront to see Guns N' Roses kick off a 15-country European tour. Tickets were $43 - the highest ever price for a rock concert in Israel.

In 1994, Michael Jackson and Lisa Marie Presley were married in a private ceremony at a judge's home in the Dominican Republic. First word of the marriage came two months later from the judge himself in an interview published in a Dominican newspaper. The Jackson camp denied the story for several weeks. The marriage came after Jackson reached an out-of-court settlement with a teenager who accused the singer of seducing him. Jackson denied the allegations. Presley filed for divorce in January 1996.

In 1995, the manuscript of four Haydn string quartets sold at a London auction for more than one million dollars. The seller, an Australian woman, had kept the manuscript under her bed. One of her ancestors had bought it at a London auction in 1851.

In 1995, the Recording Industry Association of America reported that Bruce Springsteen's 1984 album "Born in the USA" had sold more than 15-million copies. That tied it with Boston's self-titled album as the number-three all-time best-selling album. Only Michael Jackson's "Thriller" - at 24 million - and Fleetwood Mac's "Rumours" - at 17 million - had sold more.

In 1996, Garth Brooks celebrated his 60-millionth album sold with a 1960s theme party in Nashville. The Recording Industry Association of America said Brooks was the best-selling country artist of all-time and the second-highest selling artist ever in the US. Only the Beatles had sold more.

In 1997, a stop on the R.O.A.R. tour, which featured Iggy Pop, Sponge, the Reverend Horton Heat and other bands, attracted less than 100 people to the 16,000 seat Kingswood Music Theatre north of Toronto, Canada.

In 1997, Chuck D, leader of the rap group Public Enemy, made his debut as a commentator for the Fox News Channel in the US.

In 1997, the hit-making Fleetwood Mac lineup of Mick Fleetwood, John McVie, Christine McVie, Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks reunited for their first full-fledged public performance in 15 years. The show, on a soundstage at Warner Brothers studio in Burbank, California, was one of two taped for an MTV special and a live album. Nicks stopped the concert - twice - because she forgot the words to "Dreams," Fleetwood Mac's only number-one single.

In 2002, Courtney Love, the widow of Nirvana singer Kurt Cobain, and her band Hole officially announced they were breaking up.

In 2002, pop diva Mariah Carey, who was paid $US28 million ($52 million) to quit her record label Virgin following an album flop, signed a new 3 album, US$20 million contract with Universal Music Group.

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Births In 1813, German composer Richard Wagner was born in Leipzig. He termed his operas, such as "The Flying Dutchman," "Tannhauser" and the "Ring of the Nibelung" trilogy, music-dramas because he attempted a complete union of the two art forms. Wagner's ideas had a great influence on later composers.

In 1851, Emile Berliner, the inventor of the gramophone, was born in Hanover, Germany.

In 1904, pianist and songwriter Thomas (Fats) Waller, one of jazz's most colorful personalities, was born in New York City. More than 40 years after his death, he remains one of the most popular of all jazz musicians, admired even by those who say they don't like jazz.
Fats Waller died of natural causes on December 15th, 1943 while travelling aboard the Sante Fe Express train.

In 1910, bandleader and clarinetist Artie Shaw, whose real name is Arthur Arshawsky, was born in New York. Shaw formed his first orchestra in 1936, and two years later had a double-sided million-seller with "Begin the Beguine" and "Indian Love Call."

In 1943, Hilton Valentine, lead guitarist with the Animals, was born in North Shields, England. Hilton Valentine left the Animals in 1967 for a solo career.

In 1944, British rock and blues singer Joe Cocker.

In 1945, guitarist and vocalist Pete Townshend, leader of the Who, was born in London.

In 1945, pop singer Cher, whose full name is Cherilyn Sarkasian LaPier, was born in El Centro, California.

In 1947, Jerry Hyman, trombone and recorder player with Blood, Sweat and Tears.

In 1948, British rock singer Leo Sayer.

In 1948, Yes drummer Bill Bruford.

In 1949, Dusty Hill, bassist with ZZ Top.

In 1950, pop lyricist Bernie Taupin was born in Sleaford, England. Taupin has been closely linked throughout his career with rock star Elton John, and for most of the 1970's the two were a virtual hit factory, putting 23 singles in the Billboard Top 40, including five that made number one.

In 1952, Joey Ramone, leader of the punk rock group the Ramones, was born in New York City.

In 1955, Steve George of Mr. Mister.

In 1955, Irish folk-rock singer Luka Bloom.

In 1958, singer Jane Wiedlin, formerly of the Go-Gos.

In 1959, Stephen Patrick Morrissey of the Smiths.

In 1961, British pop singer Nick Heyward, formerly of Haircut 100.

In 1974, singer-songwriter Jewel Kilcher.

In 2002, Australian singer Kasey Chambers gave birth to her first child, Talon.

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Deaths In 1963, crooner and bandleader Eddy Howard died in Palm Desert, California, at age 48. Howard had 10 top-20 hits from 1946 to 1952, beginning with the chart-topping "To Each His Own." He hit number-one again in 1951 with "Sin (It's No Sin)." Howard's single of "Happy Birthday" and "The Anniversary Waltz" was popular on juke boxes for years.

In 1969, Pete Townshend of the Who spent a night in jail in New York City after being charged with assault. The group was performing at the Fillmore East when a fire broke out at a supermarket next door. A plainclothes policeman leapt on to the stage to warn the crowd, and Townshend, thinking the cop was a member of the audience, booted him off. Townshend was bailed out by Bill Graham, owner of the Fillmore.

In 1969, jazz saxophonist Coleman Hawkins died in New York City of bronchial pneumonia at the age of 69. A master of the tenor saxophone during his 40-year career, he is credited with bringing the saxophone into prominence as a solo instrument in jazz in the late 1920's. Hawkins will always be associated with the tune "Body and Soul," which he first recorded in 1939.

In 1969, Jack Casady, bassist with Jefferson Airplane, was arrested for narcotics possession in New Orleans. He received a 2.5 year suspended sentence.

In 1970, Marty Balin, vocalist of the Jefferson Airplane, and two others were arrested for possession of marijuana and contributing to the delinquency of minors in Bloomington, Minnesota. They were taken into custody after a party involving teenage girls. Balin was sentenced to a year's hard labor, but on appeal the sentence was reduced to a $100 fine.

In 1974, jazz legend Duke Ellington. Born 4-29-1899 in Washington DC, U.S. - Leader, composer, arranger and piano player (He did,"Satin Doll" and "Take The "A" Train") He was the leader of The Duke’s Serenaders, The Washingtonians, Duke Ellington's Hot Five and Duke Ellington & His Cotton Club Orchestra worked with Louis Armstrong, Barney Bigard, Ella Fitzgerald, Dizzy Gillespie, Billie Holiday, The Mills Brothers and many others.

In 1977, Blues musician Lafayette Thomas died of a heart attack.

In 1980, Ian Curtis, the lead singer of the British new wave band Joy Division, hanged himself. The group was named after Nazi military prostitutes. After Curtis's death, the band's remaining members called themselves New Order.

In 1984, pop guitarist Jack Vaughn who'd previously worked with Buddy Holly.

In 1988, Dick Jacobs, the producer of Buddy Holly's New York sessions, died in New York at the age of 70.

In 1989, Surfaris drummer Ron Wilson died of a brain aneurysm.

In 1990, singer, dancer and actor Sammy Davis Junior died in Los Angeles after a long battle with throat cancer. He was 64.

In 1991, singer Odia Coates died of breast cancer at age 49. She's best known for duetting with Paul Anka on four of his hits in 1974 and '75, including the chart-topping "(You're) Having My Baby."

In 1992, Khalil Rountree, tour manager for Boyz II Men, was shot and killed.

In 1992, champagne music maker Lawrence Welk died at his home in Santa Monica, California at age 89.

In 1993, Joe Pass, considered the finest mainstream jazz guitarist since Wes Montgomery, died in Los Angeles of liver cancer. He was 65.

In 1999, producer Bruce Fairburn at the age of 49. Before producing classic albums by hard rockers such as Van Halen, Aerosmith, KISS and AC/DC, Fairburn was a member of funk, pop and rock bands The Spectres, Sunshyne, Under Construction and Prism.

In 2000, Mike Farrell of a heart attack. Session guitarist.

In 2000, Yusef Afloat Muhammad. Found dead alongside a freeway in Los Angeles. Was 1/2 of hip-hop group The Nonce.

In 2000, Joe Massimino from complications of stomach cancer. Born 1936 in Providence, RI, U.S. - Pianist - Bandleader for The Mike Douglas Show. Worked with Tommy Dorsey, Doc Severinsen, Joe Williams, Louis Bellson and Buddy Rich.

In 2001, Susannah McCorkle. New York Jazz, Blues & Cabaret singer who jumped from her Manhattan apartment

In 2001, Blues musician Wille Foster died of a heart attack. Harmonica player - Worked with Willie Dixon, Jimmy Reed and Muddy Waters ("I'm Ready") - Known to admirers as "The Godfather of the Blues".

In 2001, rap singer Tonnie Sheppard. Cousin of rapper Haf-A-Mil. Stabbed at a recording studio where he was cutting an album, during a fight with studio executives.

In 2003, influential Melbourne disc jockey Stan "The Man" Rofe passed away after a battle with cancer. Rofe helped popularize rock and roll in Melbourne and supported Australian rockers. He also wrote for the rock music weekly paper "Go-Set".

In 2003, and clarinet player Freddy Guerra died aged 79. Guerra led his own band, The Freddy Guerra Orchestra, backing artists like Tony Bennett, Judy Garland and Peggy Lee after playing in the famous Glenn Miller's Army Air Force Band.

In 2003, blues and jazz bass and harmonica player Vic (Victor) Hunt died after being thrown from a raft whilst whitewater rafting in Northern Tasmania. Hunt, who had played with Malleeroots and Momma Don't Allow It, was 55.

In 2004, jazz drummer Elvin Jones died aged 76. Jones had worked with such jazz greats as John Coltrane, Duke Ellington, Charlie Parker, J.J. Johnson, Donald Byrd, Miles Davis, Allen Ginsberg, Tony Bennett, and also with his brothers Hank Jones and Thad Jones.

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