bmusic - Newsletter No. 256

bmusic
Newsletter No.256
May 7th - May 20th 2007

Less than a decade ago the world music market was essentially split seven ways, the "big six" major labels and the "independents" in another seventh group. Back then it was fairly evenly spread across Universal, Polygram, AMI, Warner, BMG and Sony with the independents actually sharing a very slightly larger market share as a group against the big six. Soon after Polygram was absorbed by Universal and Sony and BMG merged, leaving a "Big Four". In 2005 Universal had driven itself up to near a quarter of the world market revenue (and actually 40% of the world classical market value when broken down into genres, no doubt helping their profits as physical sales of classical are not as prone to the illegal download phenomenon that pop and rock is). Sony/BMG hold around a fifth of the world market, with EMI and Warner sharing a similar chunk and the independents maintaining a slim lead, helped by the European market where independents are more dominant. In the US independents lag well behind the two majors in Universal and Sony/BMG, the US market second to the European market only slightly in terms of market share, the two markets dominating with over 60% of the world market revenue. The US market, however, holds a slight lead over the European market on album sales, but not on the total music revenue (which would include publishing etc. also).

EMI have easily the lowest market share in the US, and being a UK based operation this is understandable. Universal and Sony/BMG are controlled by French and German companies respectively, but they were certainly not "home grown" by these parent companies, and Sony is only 50% controlled by the German BMG. But back to EMI, it seems they are really hurting with two earnings warnings already this year and a holding back of April dividends. The value of independents on the EU stage may be having an impact on EMI who were ahead of Warner on the world scene at last count but well behind in the US where the independent share is far less. And it's Warner who have been stalking EMI for some time now, EMI rejecting a takeover bid by Warner as recently as February this year. EMI's fortunes remain less than stellar and there was renewed talk of a takeover late last week. No doubt Warner would still be lurking, but private equity firms have also expressed great interest.

So could we be facing a "Big Three" before the year's out? Even if a private equity firm takes the reins, would they keep it as the entity it currently is, or sell off it's various arms resulting in the same thing as if Warner were to takeover EMI anyway? EMI's publishing arm is probably it's strongest and most profitable when looking at the company at a glance. If the scenario played out with Warner getting what they wanted in terms of EMI's record business no matter which way it fell, we would then have a Big Three with essentially around a quarter of the world market each with independents making up the last quarter.

This hypothetical Big Three could have an adverse impact on the ability of independents to promote and prosper, either by outgunning them in terms of marketing even more so, or simply buy out those performing well. The absolute reverse of what the technological revolution should have been able to accomplish. You see, piracy affects all labels, even those for which it's a labour of love. I've always maintained that piracy will affect any new money coming into the market from labels, particularly those at the grassroots level. A labour of love is one thing, but when it costs too much due to no return, it costs too much. The internet is a great tool for getting a band out there, but 99% of the time it still costs money to get a band out there and recognised, just as it always has, internet or not. Just as in the days of mp3.com where small bands could find themselves at the top of the mp3.com charts purely on their music, more and more and more artists joined up, and money ended up buying top spots. Myspace is fast becoming the same. It's owned by a company now that want to make money from the enterprise, and plenty of it to pay off the half a billion USD$ they paid for the service less than two years ago. More than three million bands that, in theory, means great networking opportunities. But software exists for such things as garnishing all the "friends" from one of your "friends" to be invited to be yours, with no work to do. So how many of the three million plus bands have thousands of friends they wouldn't otherwise have had, and how many of these friends have hundreds or thousands of friends? You post a bulletin to your friends, how long will it last in the Bulletin Entries list? Not long, sometimes a matter of seconds. So one needs to get on the front page of Myspace, for instance, to really hit the mark. Won't be long (if it isn't already), and you'll be able to buy a spot there, but imagine the cost! Much of the front page advertising for music that now exists on Myspace is major label backed, so we're back where we have always been with that.

There still exist phenomenal networking opportunities through Myspace for touring and sharing music with potential bookers and the like, but it's getting harder to get "noticed", so it's now just one site where millions of pages exist under one domain rather than millions of individual domains. And now the site is becoming a haven for "phishing" to promote spam of anything and everything. Something has to give, and no doubt another site will come along in a year or two and it will all start over again.

Something does have to give in terms of the opportunities the internet offers artists versus the piracy the very same medium so easily allows for. The RIAA in the USA is not really going about it the right way, but they're a body funded by and representing the record companies first and, it could be argued, the artists second. If you think of it that way the RIAA are doing the obvious thing by taking legal action against those who infringe against the companies they represent. But it's not good publicity. The Future Music Coalition have the right idea, and continue to work toward the ideology they outline on their website at www.futureofmusic.org/:

The Future of Music Organization is founded on the belief that creation is valuable and should be compensated. Here we are speaking of both musical creation and technological creation. By drawing together advocates for musicians' rights and innovators in Internet technology, we will work to move the discussion away from the narrow privacy vs. piracy discussions that dominate the general media, toward practical solutions leveraging the strengths of digital download technology on behalf of the artists. Our work will encourage the development of innovative Internet music business models to guard the value of musicians' labor and ensure that artists will continue to be paid for their compositions and performances despite drastic changes in methods of distribution. Too often I get the impression many think they're somehow "owed" music for nothing, and the internet and illegal downloads gives them that very thing. The Future Music Coalition's statements "creation is valuable" and "guard the value of musicians' labor and ensure that artists will continue to be paid for their compositions and performances" need to be understood by those who think their own work should earn them a wage but musicians should fund recordings for them and not get paid a brass razoo by them for it.

A new Where Are They Now? this week, a one hit wonder blast from the past who's been keeping busy ever since and has a killer back story.
Regulars including Feature Article, The Weeks Ahead in Music History, Featured Artist and more are all inside Issue 256 of the bmusic Newsletter.
Links in the Table of contents below will launch your browser, so you'll need to be online to view the newsletter. If you are unable to receive html format e-mails then copy and paste the following link into your browser's address bar to view the newsletter:
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Thanks to everyone for reading, we'll see you next issue!

TABLE OF CONTENTS (You will need to be online to use the Table of Contents to jump through sections)

Where Are They Now? - Snow

This week's Music Quote

Featured Guitar - ESP Exclusive SV-BMF Bloodbath

This week's Specials

This week's Feature Article - Songwriting: Infringement Claims

This week's Feature Artist - Frankenbok

Musicians Wanted

Gear Wanted

Band Links

The Weeks Ahead In Music History
           Events
           Births
           Deaths

Give us your suggestions

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See you next time

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 1955, Elvis Presley's performance in Jacksonville, Florida caused a riot, the first reported incident of trouble at an Elvis show.

In 1956, the Sun Record Company in Memphis ran an ad in the music trade papers announcing the first record by what was termed "one of the truly great talent finds." The artist was Johnny Cash, and the record was "I Walk the Line."

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, the Rolling Stones began their first recording session in London with producer Andrew Loog Oldham. Their first single, a cover of Chuck Berry's song "Come On," was released a month later.

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 1963, Bob Dylan walked off the "Ed Sullivan Show" when CBS censors wouldn't let him perform the "Talking John Birch Society Blues."

In 1965, the Rolling Stones began a two-day recording session at Chess Studios in Chicago, laying down the basic tracks for "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction."

In 1966, the Beach Boys album "Pet Sounds" was released. Although it only barely made the top 10, the album has since become regarded as a classic and the Beach Boys' best.

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 1967, the psychedelic sound and light show of Pink Floyd graced the stage of the Queen Elizabeth Hall in London. The concert, called "Games For May," was the first to feature quadraphonic sound.

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 1968, Jimi Hendrix was arrested at the US-Canadian border for possession of heroin and hashish. Hendrix, on his way to a concert in Toronto, claimed the drugs were planted. He was later cleared of the charges.

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 1970, Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young announced their breakup before a performance in Chicago. The band - minus Neil Young - would regroup several times during the next dozen years. And all four would get together again in 1988 for the hit single and album "American Dream."

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 1974, more than 50 people were injured when fans who couldn't get tickets rioted outside a Jackson Five concert in Washington, DC.

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 1981, former Sex Pistol John Lydon, who used to be known as Johnny Rotten, and his band Public Image Limited were booed and pelted by debris during a performance at a New York club. A dozen people were hurt before the band's 50-minute performance ended. A Public Image show set for the following night was cancelled.

In 1981, Andrew Lloyd Webber musical "Cats" opened in London. The composer had to mortgage his house to help finance the half-million pound production which has since grossed billions in productions across the globe.

In 1982, guitarist Fast Eddie Clark departed Motorhead in the middle of the British heavy metal band's US tour. Brian Robertson, formerly of Thin Lizzy, was his replacement.

In 1984, guitarist Nils Lofgren joined Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band, replacing Steve Van Zandt.

In 1985, rock star Bruce Springsteen married actress Julianne Phillips at ten minutes past midnight in a secret ceremony in Oregon. Their marriage fell apart in 1988.

In 1986, Belinda Carlisle, who had just left the Go Gos, made her Los Angeles debut as a solo artist. In the audience were Prince and the Bangles. Andy Taylor of Duran Duran joined Carlisle on stage, as he would at other concerts throughout the summer.

In 1986, country singer Johnny Paycheck was found guilty of shooting and wounding a man after an argument in a bar in Hillsboro, Ohio. Paycheck, best known for his 1978 hit "Take This Job and Shove It," was sentenced to up to 9.5 years in prison.

In 1986, Motley Crue drummer Tommy Lee married actress Heather Locklear. The couple eventually divorced with Locklear marrying Bon Jovi guitarist Richie Sambora some years later. Tommy married another actress, Pamela-Lee Anderson, again that marriage ending in divorce. Locklear and Sambora, however, still remain happily married.

In 1987, Frank Sinatra cancelled a planned tour of Sweden and Denmark after Sweden decided to tax him because he performed in South Africa. Norway had earlier banned Sinatra for the same reason.

In 1987, Prince (or the Artist Formerly Known As, or is it Prince again now?) and his band made an unannounced after-hours appearance at a private club in West Berlin. They performed for an hour at the Quasimodo club following the first of two sold-out shows in a West Berlin concert hall.

In 1987, singer Billy Idol stormed off stage in San Francisco after twice being hit in the face by tennis shoes thrown by fans.

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 1991, Chris De Burgh, M.C. Hammer and Tom Jones were among the stars performing at an international pop concert at Wembley Stadium in London to raise money for Kurdish refugees from Iraq. Other performers were seen by satellite hookup from around the world. Rod Stewart performed from Switzerland, Paul Simon from Manchester, England and Gloria Estefan and New Kids on the Block from Rotterdam, Holland. In the London audience were British Prime Minister John Major and Diana, Princess of Wales. The concert was broadcast to more than 30 countries.

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, 2 Live Crew rapper Luther Campbell was charged in Miami with aggravated assault for allegedly aiming a gun at his wife and threatening to kill her.

In 1994, bad-boy rapper Tupac Shakur began serving a 15-day prison sentence for attacking the director on the set of one of his video clips.

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, R.E.M. resumed its world tour in San Francisco, two months after it was suspended when drummer Bill Berry underwent brain surgery. He fell ill during a show in Lausanne, Switzerland, but made a complete recovery.

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 1995, singer Scott Weiland of the grunge rock group Stone Temple Pilots was arrested in Pasadena, California, for possessing cocaine and heroin. Police pulled over Weiland's car after he made a quick midnight stop at a motel. He was ordered to spend four to six months in a drug treatment centre, forcing cancellation of the group's tour in the summer of 1996. The charges were dropped after Weiland completed his treatment. Unfortunately this was destined to be one of many such arrests Scott Weiland would face in the years to follow, the latest in early 2002.

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 1946, singer Donovan was born Donovan Philip Leitch.

In 1949, Billy Joel was born in Long Island, New York.

In 1949, Traffic singer/guitarist Dave Mason.

In 1960, U2 vocalist Bono, whose real name is Paul Hewson, was born. U2 was formed in Dublin, Ireland in 1976, and by 1987 was acknowledged as the top rock band in the world.

In 1888, American songwriter Irving Berlin was born in Russia.
He wrote nearly 1,000 songs, and had his first hit in 1911 with "Alexander's Ragtime Band." Many of his best songs came from such Broadway musicals as "Call Me Madam" and "Annie Get Your Gun." Berlin also composed film scores, and many of his stage musicals were adapted for the screen.
Among the best known of his songs are "White Christmas," "God Bless America" and "There's No Business Like Show Business".

In 1919, pianist Liberace, whose full name was Wladziu Valentino Liberace, was born in West Milwaukee, Wisconsin. His overly sentimental pop tunes and frilly, condensed versions of the classics built him into one of the hottest show business personalities in the 1950's. Liberace died on February 4th, 1987 from conditions related to AIDS.

In 1928, pop composer Burt Bacharach.

In 1941, '50s rock 'n' roll singer Ritchie Valens was born in Pacoima, California. He was signed by Del-Fi Records in 1958, and had three big hits that year with "Come On, Let's Go," "Donna" and "La Bamba." Valens was killed in a plane crash with Buddy Holly and the Big Bopper in February 1959.

In 1941, rock singer Eric Burdon, who first came to fame with the Animals during the 1960's British invasion, was born in Newcastle-on-Tyne, England.

In 1942, British rock vocalist Ian Dury.

In 1942, blues singer Taj Mahal.

In 1943, Jack Bruce, one of the most influential bass guitarists in rock, was born in Lanarkshire, Scotland.
Bruce's bass playing and vocals with the group Cream in the 1960's were a great influence on the heavy metal groups that followed. He began developing his style with the British rhythm-and-blues pioneers Graham Bond and Alexis Korner.
Bruce later played with John Mayall's Bluesbreakers and Manfred Mann before forming Cream with Eric Clapton and Ginger Baker in 1966.
Bruce later played in a variety of styles with several groups such as West, Bruce and Laing, Jack Bruce and Friends, and BLT.

In 1943, Les Chadwick, bass player with the '60s British group Gerry and the Pacemakers, was born in Liverpool, England.

In 1944, Graham Goble of the Little River Band.

In 1945, Ian McLagan, keyboard player with the Faces, was born in Hownslown, England. McLagan joined the group, originally called the Small Faces, when Jimmy Winston left after the band's first hit in 1965. When lead vocalist Steve Marriot departed in 1969, the group reorganized and became known simply as the Faces. The new members were Ron Wood and Rod Stewart. The group fell apart in 1976, and Ian McLagan began touring with the Rolling Stones. He also recorded a couple of solo albums.

In 1945, (Magic) Dick Salwitz, harmonica player with the J. Geils Band.

In 1946, Danny Klein, bassist with the J. Geils Band.

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

In 1948, British rock singer Leo Sayer.

In 1948, rock guitarist and keyboard player Steve Winwood was born in Birmingham, England.
He was only 16 when he burst on the British pop music scene as the lead vocalist and organist with the Spencer Davis Group. They had hits with "I'm a Man" and "Gimme Some Lovin'."

In 1948, new wave producer Brian Eno was born in Woodbridge, England. A founding member of Roxy Music in 1971, he played synthesizer and electronically altered the other instruments in the group, before leaving in a dispute with songwriter Bryan Ferry. Eno went on to work as a solo artist and a producer-collaborator with Talking Heads, David Bowie and Devo, among others.

In 1948, Yes drummer Bill Bruford.

In 1949, Dusty Hill, bassist with ZZ Top.

In 1950, rock singer Billy Squier.

In 1950, Stevie Wonder, whose real name is Steveland Morris Hardaway, was born in Saginaw, Michigan.
He sang and played the harmonica so well that Ronnie White of the Miracles brought him to Motown records, where Berry Gordy signed him on the spot. Wonder's third single, "Fingertips-Part Two," shot to the top of the Billboard Hot 100 in the summer of 1963.

In 1950, Peter Gabriel, the original lead vocalist of the art-rock group Genesis, was born in London. Genesis relied on complex story songs and elaborate costumes when Gabriel fronted the group, and never developed beyond cult status. He left in 1974 for a solo career, and was replaced by Phil Collins. Genesis became much more popular. "And Then There Were Three" became their first gold album in 1978. Gabriel also found success as a solo artist, hitting number one in 1986 with "Sledgehammer."

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 1951, singer Fergie Frederiksen of Toto.

In 1952, David Byrne, lead vocalist for the new wave band Talking Heads, was born in Dunbartin, Scotland. Byrne formed the Talking Heads as a trio in 1975 in New York with Chris Frantz and Tina Weymouth. Jerry Harrison completed the band in 1977.

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

In 1953, rock singer and songwriter Tom Cochrane was born in Lynn Lake, Manitoba.

In 1953, multi-instrumentalist and composer Mike Oldfield was born in Reading, England. His 1973 LP, "Tubular Bells," went to number three on the Billboard chart, staying there more than a year and selling over a million copies. In 1974, the album won a Grammy Award as Best Pop Instrumental LP after excerpts were used in the soundtrack of the film "The Exorcist."

In 1955, country singer Kix Brooks of Brooks and Dunn.

In 1955, Mark Herndon, drummer with the country band Alabama.

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, Billy Duffy, guitarist with the British hard-rock band, The Cult.

In 1961, Irish singer Enya. (Don't ask me what her last name is!)

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

In 1962, Ian Astbury, ex-vocalist with the British hard-rock band the Cult.

In 1969, Danny Wood of New Kids on the Block.

In 1970, Jordan Knight of New Kids on the Block.

In 1974, singer-songwriter Jewel Kilcher.

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

In 2005, my son, Layne :D

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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, Johnny Hodges, long-time alto saxophonist with the Duke Ellington orchestra, died in New York City at age 64. Hodges joined Ellington in 1928, and with the exception of four years of leading his own small combo in the 1950's, was with the orchestra for the rest of his life.

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 1975, Bob Wills, originator of the western swing style of country music, died at age 70 after suffering a stroke in December 1973. He never regained consciousness. Wills and his Texas Playboys, a swing band with country overtones, played country ballads, blues and jazz tunes. When the band and vocalist Tommy Duncan recorded Wills's composition "San Antonio Rose" in 1940, the disc became a million-seller. A version by Bing Crosby also passed the million mark.

In 1976, former Yardbirds vocalist Keith Relf was electrocuted while tuning a guitar at his home in London. He was 33.

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

In 1979, bluegrass singer, guitarist and composer Lester Flatt died in Nashville at the age of 64. Flat, Earl Scruggs, and their band, the Foggy Mountain Boys, were one of the most widely acclaimed country music acts of the 1950's and '60s.

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 1981, Bob Marley died in Miami of brain and lung cancer. He was 36. Seven months earlier, he had collapsed on stage during a concert in the US.

In 1981, pianist, arranger and producer Ernie Freeman died of a heart attack at age 58. His 1957 recording of "Raunchy" was a close second to Bill Justis's version in popularity, reaching number four on the Billboard chart. Freeman also produced records for Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and Connie Francis. And he masqueraded as pianist "B. Bumble" on "Bumble Boogie," a 1961 hit by B. Bumble and the Stingers.

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

In 1988, jazz trumpeter Chet Baker, famed for his 1950's appearances with baritone saxophonist Gerry Mulligan, died in a fall from the third storey of an Amsterdam hotel. He was 58. Police said Baker had been using heroin shortly before his fatal plunge. Baker set the standard for the cool school of jazz with his trumpet playing, but his career suffered from a series of narcotics arrests.

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

In 1989, five-time Academy Award-winning composer Johnny Green died in Beverly Hills, California at age 80. He won Oscars for scoring "Easter Parade," "An American in Paris," "West Side Story" and "Oliver!," and for producing the short subject "The Merry Wives of Windsor Overture." Green was also a member of the Songwriters Hall of Fame, and composed such standards as "Body and Soul," "Out of Nowhere" and "I Cover the Waterfront."

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 1996, a 17 year-old was crushed to death at a Smashing Pumpkins concert at the Point Theatre in Dublin. Fans listening to the concert on the Internet heard lead singer Billy Corgan try to calm the rampaging crowd.

In 1996, rhythm-and-blues guitarist and singer Johnny (Guitar) Watson died of a heart attack on stage in Yokohama, Japan. He was 61. Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton and Frank Zappa were among those who said they were influenced by Watson's playing. Samples of his guitar riffs turned up in rap recordings by Snoop Doggy Dog and Ice Cube. Watson's best-selling album was "A Real Mother For Ya," which made the top 20 in 1977.

In 1997, Mel Bay, whose music instruction books were said to have sold more than 20 million copies, died in St. Louis at age 84. Bay's most famous book, "Modern Guitar Method," was published in 1948 and was a best-seller for decades.

In 1997, r'n'b bandleader Ernie Fields died at the age of 91. His rocked-up version of Glenn Miller's 1939 chart-topper "In the Mood" was a U.S. Top-10 hit in 1959.

In 1998, Ol' Blue Eyes Frank Sinatra died at the age of 82.

In 1999, dairy farmer Jean Davis died of cancer at the age of 60. Davis and her husband have been staging the U.K.'s legendary Glastonbury Rock Festival on their farm in Somerset since 1970.

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, Stan "Doc" Penridge, member of Chelsea and The Criss-Penridge Alliance. He also co-wrote songs for Peter Criss and KISS including "Beth".

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 2002, African choral singer Nellie Shabalala was shot in the KwaZulu/Natal region of South Africa. Nellie was a memebr of Women of Mambazo and the wife of Ladysmith Black Mambazo member Joseph Shabalala.

In 2003, former Jimi Hendrix Experience bass player Noel Redding passed away at the age of 57. His body was found at his home in Clonakitty, Ireland. An autopsy revealed his death was due to natural causes.
After the Experience dissolved in 1969 Redding formed Fat Mattress, a group which released two albums, one in 1969 and the other a year later. In the Seventies he formed the Noel Redding Band and released studio albums in 1975 and 1976 as well as two live albums more recently. Redding played most Friday nights for the last 20 years at De Barra, a pub in Clonakitty, often with his friends John Coughlin from Status Quo and Eric Bell of Thin Lizzy.

In 2003, Johnny Cash's wife June Carter Cash from complications after heart surgery. She was 73. June was a composer (she co-wrote Cash's hit "Ring Of Fire"),singer, and played autoharp and guitar. During her career she worked with her husband, Flatt & Scruggs, Bob Dylan, Hank Williams Jr., Homer & Jethro, The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band and The Carter Family.

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.

In 2006, Grant McLennan, singer-songwriter with legendary Australian group the Go-Betweens, died in his sleep at his home in Brisbane, Australia. He was 48. It was thought that he suffered a heart attack.

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