bmusic - Newsletter No. 245

In 1955, RCA Victor A&R man Steve Sholes made what is probably the most lucrative signing of all time when, at New York's Warwick Hotel, he signed Elvis Presley to the label for US$40,000. $25,000 went to Sun Records, $15,000 to Hi-Lo Music for Presley's song publishing and the rest was Elvis'. (That's US$5000 to the King).

In 1965, Bob Dylan married former model, mother and divorcee' Sara Lowndes in a Nassau County civil ceremony. Four days later Dylan departed on a world tour with the Band. It was not until February of 1966 that Dylan acknowledged the marriage to the public.

In 1968, the Beatles "White Album" was released.

In 1969, John Lennon returned his MBE to Queen Elizabeth, citing British involvement in the Nigeria-Biafra war, political support of the U.S. position in Vietnam and the poor reception given to the Plastic Ono Band's "Cold Turkey."

In 1971, the three surviving members of the Doors, told Rolling Stone magazine that they would carry on despite the death of singer Jim Morrisson. The band officially disbanded less than two years later.

In 1976, 10cc officially split up.

In 1980, Eagles drummer/vocalist Don Henley was arrested in Los Angeles after paramedics treated a nude sixteen year-old girl suffering from drug intoxication at his home. Henley was charged with unlawful possession of marijuana, cocaine and Quaaludes and for contributing to the delinquency of a minor.

In 1981, the British Phonographic Industry, with the endorsement of rock stars like Elton John, Gary Numan, Cliff Richard, 10cc and the Boomtown Rats, placed advertisements in the British press claiming that "Home taping is wiping out music."

In 1981, a Thanksgiving concert by the Grateful Dead and the Allman Brothers Band scheduled at the Tangerine Bowl in Orlando, Florida was canceled because only 10,000 of 60,000 tickets had been sold. When the two groups played together in New York in 1971 they drew over 600,000.

In 1982, Joni Mitchell married her bass player, Larry Klein, at the Malibu home of her manager, Elliot Roberts.

In 1982, jazz trumpet giant Miles Davis married for the third time, in New York City to actress Cicely Tyson. Comedian Bill Cosby was the best man.

In 1984, the Bob Geldof organised "Band-Aid" came together when British and American artists joined to record the single "Do They Know It's Christmas". Proceeds of the record went to Ethiopian famine relief.

In 1985, Bobby Brown announced he was leaving his band New Edition to pursue a solo career.

In 1990, Mick Jagger married his girlfriend of 10 years, Jerry Hall, in Bali.

In 1991, Cyndi Lauper married actor David Thornton in a ceremony performed by Little Richard.

In 1994, rapper Tupac Shakur was shot five times while being robbed outside a New York City recording studio. He survived that shooting, but was killed in another shooting nearly two years later in Las Vegas.

In 1995, Green Day singer Billie Joe Armstrong was arrested for dropping his pants at a concert in Milwaukee and fined US$141.

In 2002, the Number 1 Single this week was "The Ketchup Song" by Las Ketchup followed by "Born To Try" by Delta Goodrem at Number 2. The Number 1 album was "Up" by Shania Twain with the "Best of 1990-2000" from U2 in second spot.

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Births In 1938, leggy grandma Tina Turner was born.

In 1940, singer of the original classic "When A Man Loves A Woman", Percy Sledge.

In 1941, Donald "Duck" Dunn of Booker T. & the MG's

In 1942, Jimi Hendrix was born.

In 1945, Fleetwood Mac bassist John McVie.

In 1945, Deep Purple bassist Roger Glover.

In 1946, ELO drummer Bev Bevan.

In 1950, E Street guitariist Little Steven.

In 1950, Talking Heads bassist Tina Weymouth.

In 1955, punk rocker Billy Idol.

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Deaths In 1956, legendary swing band leader and trombonist Tommy Dorsey died in an accident at his home in Greenwich, Connecticut.

In 1970, 34-year old saxophonist Albert Ayler, a giant of the jazz avant-garde and a major influence on Frank Zappa, was found drowned in New York's Hudson River. Rumours he was found tied to a jukebox remain unconfirmed.

In 1973, Shadows member John Rostill was electrocuted whilst playing guitar in a recording studio.

In 1975, singer/songwriter Nick Drake overdosed on anti-depressants in an apparent suicide.

In 1985, Big Joe Turner (Joseph Vernon Turner) died of a heart attack at the age of 74. He was a boogie woogie and rock and roll artist and recorded "Corrina Corrina" and the original "Shake Rattle And Roll".

In 1986, actor Cary Grant (Archibald Leach) died from a stroke at the age of 82. Musically Grant charted in the US with his hit "Christmas Lullaby".

In 1991, Freddie Mercury (Farouk Bulsara), (aka Larry Lurex), legendary lead singer from Queen, died of complications from AIDS at his home in London at the age of 45. He had sent out a statement confirming rumors that he had AIDS only two days before his death. Mercury was born in Zanzibar in 1946.

In 1991, KISS drummer Eric Carr (Paul Caravello) died from a cerebral hemorrhage, a complication from cancer of the heart and lungs.

In 1993, Steppenwolf drummer Jerry Edmonton (Jerry McCrohan) died in a car accident.

In 1997, INXS lead singer Michael Hutchence was found dead in his hotel room in the Ritz Carlton in Double Bay, Sydney. The cause of death was suicide by hanging. Hutchence was in Sydney preparing for INXS' 20th anniversary tour which was scheduled to begin three days after his death. He was 37 years old. His grieving widow, Paula Yates, died in September 2000 leaving her child with Hutchence, Heavenly Hiraani Tiger Lily, an orphan.

In 2001, Jazz pianist Tommy Flanagan died after complications of an aneurysm suffered a decade earlier. He was 71. Flanagan played with jazz heavyweights such as Ella Fitzgerald, Tony Bennett, John Coltrane, Sonny Rollin, Miles Davis and Donald Byrd.

In 2001, manager, producer and promoter Norman Granz died of complications from cancer. He represented some of Jazz's greatest names including Ella Fitzgerald, Count Basie, Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong, Dizzy Gillespie, Billie Holiday, Oscar Peterson, and Charlie Parker. He was also the founder of Verve Records. Granz fought against racism while promoting his artists.

In 2002, Taswell Joe Baird Jr. (aka Little Joe) died from injuries recieved while being robbed at the age of 81. Baird was a jazz trombonist who had worked with Dizzy Gillespie, Lena Horne, Ella Fitzgerald, Charlie Parker and Louis Armstrong.

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