bmusic - Newsletter No. 230

In 1955, Savoy Records announced that those wanting to record "cover" versions of songs must obtain permission from the U.S. copyright office before doing so. This was in response to the vast amount of pop hits of the day which were remakes, particularly of R&B hits, which were being recorded with no permission at all.

In 1959, the beginning of the end of the Platters' career began when members Tony Williams, David Lynch, Alex Hodge and Paul Rabi were all arrested in a hotel in Cincinnati. Detectives found the four black men in various stages of undress with four nineteen year old women, three of whom were white, after a tip-off from an employee of the hotel.
The men were charged with aiding and abetting prostitution, lewdness and assignation. They were all acquitted in December of the same year but the episode, which many suggest was fueled by racism, took its toll on the Platters' career.

In 1969, the famous cover shot of The Beatles Abbey Road album was taken outside Abbey Road Studios in London.

In 1969, Diana Ross invited 350 guests to a Beverly Hills club to see the newest Motown act, The Jackson 5.

In 1970, Janis Joplin bought a tombstone for blues singer Bessie Smith's unmarked grave in a Philadelphia cemetery. Less than two months later, Joplin herself was dead of a drug overdose. Smith had died following an auto accident in 1942 at the age of 37.

In 1970, Creedence Clearwater Revival's "Looking Out My Back Door" was released.

In 1972, Elvis and Priscilla Presley filed for divorce after just over three years of marriage.

In 1973, after seeing KISS play at a New York hotel, producer Bill Aucion offered to become their manager and promised the glam rockers a record deal.

In 1980, Todd Rundgren's home in Woodstock, New York was invaded by four masked men. Rundgren, his girlfriend and three houseguests were bound and gagged while the masked men stripped the house of valuables. Reportedly, one of the thieves hummed Rundgren's "I Saw the Light" during the heist.

In 1985, Michael Jackson paid US$47.5 million for the ATV music catalogue, which includes 251 Lennon/McCartney songs. Jackson is rumoured to have since signed over half of the catalogue to Sony Music to cover debts he'd incurred with the company.

In 1985, Duran Duran's lead singer Simon LeBon was rescued by the British Royal Navy after spending 40 minutes trapped in an underwater air pocket following the capsizing of his boat during a race off the English coast.

In 1986, after serving his sentence for drug possession and weapons violations David Crosby was released from prison.

In 1989, Bon Jovi's "New Jersey" was the first album to be released legally in the Soviet Union.

In 1990, singer Curtis Mayfield was paralyzed after a tower fell on him before a concert in Brooklyn, New York.

In 1992, fans rioted at a Metallica/Guns 'N' Roses show in Montreal, Canada. Fans were displeased after both bands cut their sets short. Metallica singer/guitarist James Hetfield was injured by a pyrotechnic explosion and Axl W. Rose lost his voice.

In 2002, rock 'n' roll memorabilia sunk to new depths when the tour bus Drowning Pool singer Dave Williams died on was offered for auction by it's owner on auction site eBay. Action was promptly taken and the offensive listing was removed.

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Births In 1909, inventor of Fender guitar and amps, Leo Fender, was born.

In 1940, Righteous Brother Bobby Hadfield.

In 1941, guitarist and vocalist David Crosby.

In 1946, Golden Earring bassist/keyboard player Rinus Gerritsen.

In 1947, Jethro Tull vocalist and flautist Ian Anderson.

In 1947, the Ronettes lead singer Ronnie Spector.

In 1949, Dire Straits Mark Knopfler.

In 1955, The Cars bassist Benjamin Orr. Orr passed away in October, 200 after battling pancreatic cancer, being diagnosed with the disease in April, 2000.

In 1959, singer Suzanne Vega.

In 1961, Dave (the Edge) Evans of U2.

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Deaths In 1958, Elvis Presley's mother, Gladys, died of a heart attack due to liver complications at the age of 42.

In 1971, legendary saxophonist King Curtis was stabbed to death outside his New York home. He was 37. Curtis appeared on many hits in the 50's and 60's, including the Coasters hit, "Yakety Yak."

In 1973, one of the original Temptations, Paul Williams, was found dead by police. His death was ruled a suicide. He was 34.

In 1978, Pete Meaden, the Who's publicist and manager in their High Number days, committed suicide in London by ingesting an overdose of barbituates. He was 35.

In 1988, guitarist Roy Buchanan hanged himself in a jail in Fairfax, Virginia.

In 1992, The Platters' lead singer Tony Williams died from diabetes and emphysema. He was 64.

In 1995, Jerry Garcia, suffered a fatal heart attack. Besides gaining cult status as a Grateful Dead member, Garcia also played for 'Mother McCree's Uptown Jug Champions' and 'The Warlocks'. Garcia was undergoing drug rehabilitation at the time of his death.

In 1996, Mel Taylor, drummer for the Ventures, died of lung cancer at the age of 62.

In 1997, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, a giant of world music, died of sudden cardiac arrest at the age of 48. Pearl Jam fans will remember him as the Sri Lankan guy who sang alongside Eddie Vedder on the song 'Long Road'. Nusrat was on his way from Lahore, Pakistan to Los Angeles to receive a kidney transplant when he fell ill en route in London.

In 2002, Dave Williams, frontman for up and coming heavy rock group 'Drowning Pool' was found dead on the band's tour bus by a crew member. The band were on a day off from the U.S. OzzFest tour when Williams passed away. Rumours were rife as to the cause of Williams death but some weeks later the official cause of death was released. It was concluded that the 30-year-old singer died from cardiomyopathy, a disease of the heart muscle. Williams' condition, concentric left ventricular hypertrophy, prevents blood flow from the left ventricle to the right. Williams was never diagnosed with the disease, the cause of which is unknown.

In 2002, the brother of rapper Snoop Dogg was found dead in Las Vegas after a shoot out with police. It was alleged that Jermaine Fuller, the brother of Snoop's wife Shante, died of a self inflicted gun shot wound caused during the police altercation, or afterwards back at his apartment.

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