bmusic - Newsletter No. 266

In 1945, at ten years of age Elvis Presley made his musical stage debut, singing "Ol' Shep" at the Mississippi- Alabama Dairy Show. Presley came second and scored five dollars prize money.

In 1961, Bob Dylan commenced a two week stint as the opening act for the Greenbriar Boys at Gerde's Folk City in New York's Greenwich Village.

In 1961, Bob Dylan's first press review was published. New York Times music critic Robert Shelton reviewed Dylan from his opening act show at Gerde's Folk City. "A cross between a choir boy and a beatnik" and "bursting at the seams with talent" were two notable quotes from the critic.

In 1961, Bob Dylan played harmonica on three cuts recorded for his friend Caroline Hester's first Columbia album. Dylan's work on the session so impressed producer John Hammond that he promptly signed Dylan to a deal. Dylan was signed as a Columbia recording artist and Hammond arranged for Dylan's first solo recording session that October.

In 1961, Bob Dylan made his debut at New York's Carnegie Hall in front of around 50 people, mostly friends and family. He earnt himself twenty dollars for the gig.

In 1963, Eric Clapton was asked to replace Anthony "Top" Topham in the Yardbirds.

In 1963, the Rolling Stones commenced their first English tour with The Everly Brothers and Bo Diddley at the New Victoria in London.

In 1964, the Rolling Stones announced the cancellation of a planned South African tour due to an anti-apartheid embargo by the British Musicians' Union.

In 1965, Queen Elizabeth II decorated The Beatles with the Order of the British Empire.

In 1967, Mickey Hart joined the Grateful Dead.

In 1967, the BBC radio station in the UK aired Radio One for the first time. The show new was modeled on U.S. rock and roll shows and was conceived after the recent British government bans on pirate radio stations.

In 1967, Pink Floyd arrived in New York to commence their first ever US tour.

In 1967, all six members of the Grateful Dead were arrested by California narcotics agents for possession of marijuana. The arrests occurred at the groups' 710 Ashbury Street House in San Francisco. After six hours in custody, all were released on bail.

In 1967, the Beatles rejected an offer of US$1 million to play Shea Stadium from promoter Sid Bernstein. Bernstein had been responsible for bringing the group to the stadium two years earlier for their now famous performance.

In 1969, bluesman Muddy Waters was seriously injured and three other people killed in a car crash near Chicago.

In 1969, for the first time in Beatles history a George Harrison song was released as the A side of a 45. "Something", with Lennon and McCartney's "Come Together" as the B side went to Number 1 in both the UK and the US.

In 1970, Jimi Hendrix was buried in his hometown of Seattle, Washington.

In 1970, former Cream bassist Jack Bruce joined ex-Miles Davis sidemen John McLaughlin, Larry Young and Tony Williams to form Lifetime, one of the first jazz-rock fusion groups.

In 1971, Yes started their first tour with new keyboardist Rick Wakeman in England.

In 1971, Rod Stewart's single 'Maggie May' and the album it was taken off, 'Every Picture Tells A Story, both hit Number 1 on the US charts, firmly establishing Stewart as a solo artist. Rod was still lead vocalist for The Faces at the time and would remain so for another five years.

In 1973, Elvis and Priscilla Presley divorced after six years of marriage. In the settlement Priscilla received a substantial share of the couple's property portfolio; US$725,000 cash and an additional $4,200 a month for the support of their then five-year old daughter, Lisa Marie. Priscilla was also awarded half the proceeds from the planned sale of an L.A. home; and five percent of the total outstanding stock in two publishing companies. The couple emerged from a Santa Monica, California courthouse after the judgement arm in arm, kissed and departed separately.

In 1974, French pop singer Veronique Sanson played her first show in Paris and among those in her back-up band was her husband, Stephen Stills, on bass.

In 1975, Jackie Wilson slipped into the coma from which he never recovered.

In 1975, John Lennon won his lengthy fight to stay in the U.S. when the three judge U.S. Court of Appeals in New York ruled that his 1968 arrest in Britain for possession of marijuana was contrary to U.S. ideas of due process and was, therefore, invalid as a means of banishing the former Beatle from America.

In 1975, Harry Chapin's "Cats In The Cradle" was released.

In 1976, Jerry Lee Lewis, attempting to shoot a soda bottle somewhere in the distance with a .357 magnum, hit his bass player, Norman Owens twice in the chest with the bullets. Lewis is charged with shooting a firearm within the city limits.

In 1976, one of the most bizarre novelty songs of all time, Rick Dees and His Cast of Idiots "Disco Duck", was certified gold in the US. By December that same year the song had become only the fourth release in history to be certified platinum in the US.

In 1977, the bodies of Elvis Presley and his grandmother were moved from Forest Hill Cemetery to Graceland after reported attempts to steal Presley's body.

In 1977, a clash occurred between Lynyrd Skynyrd roadies and a sound technician during a Skynyrd/Blue Oyster Cult concert at the Louisville Convention Center. The Skynyrd crew accused Jay Sloatman of Tycobrahe Sound of deliberately turning off the sound during the band's set and then attacking them when he was asked to leave.

In 1977, Genesis guitarist Steve Hackett left the group to pursue solo career.

In 1978, Mick Jagger apologised to the Reverend Jesse Jackson after Jackson denounced the Stones' song, "Some Girls" as racist. Jagger, however, refused to change the lyrics.

In 1979, the Eagles "Heartache Tonight" was released, the same day Fleetwood Mac's "Tusk" was also released.

In 1980, Carly Simon collapsed on stage during a show in Pittsburgh. Nervous exhaustion was the cause and the remainder of Simon's tour was canceled while she recuperated.

In 1980, the Bee Gees filed a suit against their manager, Robert Stigwood, and their record label, Polygram, for US$200 million. The Gibb boys charged misrepresentation, fraud and unfair enrichment at the Bee Gee's expense.

In 1980, Sex Pistols frontman Johnny Lydon (Johnny Rotten) was arrested in Dublin, Ireland after a barroom brawl. He was initially sentenced to a three-month jail term but was later acquitted.

In 1980, reggae legend Bob Marley collapsed onstage during a Wailers concert in Pittsburgh -- the last one he ever performed. Marley was flown directly to Sloan-Kettering Hospital in New York City, where spokesmen denied the rumours circulating that Marley was dying of a brain tumor or cancer. He was then flown to Ethiopia to rest and later turned up at a German disease-treatment centre. Bob Marley died from a brain tumor in May 1981, enroute to Jamaica.

In 1982, Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page received a 12 month conditional discharge after being found guilty of cocaine possession.

In 1987, Pink Floyd's first album without Roger Waters, 'A Momentary Lapse Of Reason', was released.

In 1988, Pink Floyd's "Dark Side Of The Moon" slipped off the US Billboard 200 Album Chart after a record 741 weeks.

In 1988, Ringo Starr and his wife Barbara Bach traveled to Tucson, Arizona for alcohol abuse treatment. The completed the program on November 25, 1988 and returned to England.

In 1989, while taking a motorcycle trip from L.A. to the Grand Canyon, Bruce Springsteen stopped in a small saloon in Prescott, Arizona and jammed with the house band, The Mile High Band. Bruce and the band played "Don't Be Cruel", "I'm On Fire", "Route 66" and others. One of the barmaids Brenda Techanec was talking about her problems paying her hospital bills -- Springsteen overheard her and a week later she received a cheque for US$100,000.

In 1990, a Florida record store owner was found guilty of distributing obscene material. The store owner had been selling the banned 2 Live Crew LP 'As Nasty As They Wanna Be'.

In 1992, Sinead O'Connor tore up a picture of the pope during an appearance on "Saturday Night Live". This did NOT help her career.

In 1993, B-52's singer Kate Pierson was arrested while staging a sit-in in the New York offices of Vogue Magazine. Pierson was protesting the magazine's use of animal fur clothing and ads that featured animal furs.

In 1995, Rapper Tone Loc was arrested in Los Angeles for allegedly taking US$80 from a pizza store. He argued with the owner over a pizza and demanded his money back. Tone Loc pleaded no contest but served no jail time.

In 1996, David Lee Roth was fired from Van Halen - again! After recording a couple of numbers for the Van Halen Greatest Hits album and appearing with them on the MTV video awards, Roth was given his marching orders. Sammy Hagar had parted company with Alex, Eddie and Michael Anthony in June, 1996. Roth faxed an open letter to the press saying his appearance on MTV with the band was a publicity stunt orchestrated by the band and that the other members had no intentions of letting him back in.

In 1996, one day after the David Lee Roth debacle, Van Halen announced former Extreme singer Gary Cherone would be the replacement vocalist for the earlier departed Sammy Hagar.

In 2002, singer Robbie Williams signed a new four record deal with EMI rumoured to be worth AUD$231 million, thought to be the highest income record deal in history.

In 2002, former Metallica bassist Jason Newstead announced he would be joining metal veterans Voivod in a full-time bass playing capacity.

In 2003, pommy crooner Robbie Williams signed what was thought to be the highest income record deal in history. The four album deal was worth an estimated AUD$231 million.

In 2004, Green Day sold more than a million copies globally of it's new album "American Idiot" in just it's first week of release. Their previous album, "Warning", was yet to reach the million sales mark in the band's domestic U.S. territory.

In 2004, Australian radio network Triple M hammered the holy hell out of U2's new single "Vertigo" and claimed it was an exclusive. The reality was that any station or network subscribed to the MusicPoint release system could have accessed and played the single. It was released earlier than originally scheduled onto MusicPoint after it was leaked without authority and played on some US stations during the night before, our time.

In 2004, Damien Patrick Holland, the 25 year old son of R&B singer Chaka Khan was arrested by Los Angeles police for murder after shooting another man while the pair fought over a gun.

In 2004, legendary "wall of sound" producer Phil Spector was formally charged for the murder of Lana Clarkson. The murder of the 40 year old B movie actress occurred in Spector's LA mansion in 2003.

In 2004, 43-year old singer/songwriter Melissa Etheridge cancelled an upcoming tour to undergo treatment after being diagnosed with breast cancer. She made a full and complete recovery.

In 2004, Elton John got stuck into Madonna and her nomination for a GQ award for "Best Live Act" whilst accepting his own award at the ceremony for these GQ things (whatever they are). To paraphrase Elton, "whoever charges someone 70 quid to watch them lip synch live should be shot". How many of us wouldn't concur with the sentiments Elton let spew forth during his outburst?

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Births In 1935, pianist Jerry Lee Lewis was born.

In 1938, famous for his hit "Stand By Me", Ben E. King.

In 1938, singer/guitarist Eddie Cochrane.

In 1938, Felix Pappalardi, bassist for Mountain producer for Cream.

In 1940, arguably the biggest name in modern music history, John Lennon, was born.

In 1941, singer Chubby Checker.

In 1943, Randy Bachman, guitarist and vocalist for the Guess Who and Bachman-Turner Overdrive.

In 1943, sometimes controversial singer/songwriter/guitarist Steve Miller.

In 1944, The Who bassist John Entwhistle, who passed away earlier this year, was born.

In 1944, reggae legend Peter Tosh.

In 1945, Roxy Music vocalist and solo artist, Brian Ferry.

In 1945, Don McLean, the man who penned such classic songs as 'American Pie' and 'Vincent', was born.

In 1947, singer and actor Meatloaf.

In 1947, Fleetwood Mac guitarist/singer Lindsay Buckingham.

In 1948, Mark Farner, guitarist and vocalist for Grank Funk Railroad.

In 1948, Mark Bolan, vocalist for T-Rex, was born. He died in 1977.

In 1948, singer/songwriter/pianist Jackson Browne.

In 1949, Daryl Hall of Hall & Oates fame was born.

In 1949, AC/DC singer Brian Johnson.

In 1950, Mike Rutherford, guitarist for Mike & the Mechanics and Genesis.

In 1951, bassist and vocalist Sting.

In 1951, REO Speedwagon singer, Kevin Cronin, was born.

In 1951, John Mellencamp, John Cougar, John Cougar Mellencamp, whichever way you remember it.

In 1951, Johnny Ramone of the Ramones was born. Johnny worked with Rob Zombie to produce the 2002 Ramones Tribute album.

In 1954, Texan guitar legend Stevie Ray Vaughan was born. Vaughan died on the 27th of August 1990 in a helicopter crash along with three members of Eric Clapton's band.

In 1954, former Boomtown Rat Sir Bob Geldof.

In 1961, Methods of Mayhem frontman and former Motley Crue drummer, Tommy Lee.

In 1975, Sean Lennon, son of John Lennon, was born.

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Deaths In 1966, early British rocker Johnny Kidd was killed in a car accident in Lancashire, England. He'd led the Pirates, the first truly raunchy band in British rock history. Their big hit was 1960's "Shakin' All Over."

In 1967, folk singer/songwriter Woody Guthrie died in New York at the age of 55. Guthrie had spent the last ten years of his life in hospital, suffering from Huntington's disease.

In 1969, David Crosby's girlfriend Christine Gail Hinton was killed in a head-on auto accident north of San Francisco. That same day the "Crosby, Stills & Nash" album was certified gold in the US.

In 1970, Janis Joplin was found dead of an apparent heroin overdose in her room at the Landmark Hotel in Hollywood. The 27 year old had just finished recording her second solo album, "Pearl."

In 1971, Gene Vincent, singer of the smash hit "Be-Bop-a-Lula", died of a bleeding ulcer at age 36.

In 1972, Rory Storme, the leader of one of Liverpool's earlier beat groups, took his own life in an apparent suicide pact with his mother. Rory Storme and the Hurricanes are best remembered as the group Ringo Starr departed in 1962 to join the Beatles.

In 1975, 39-year old Al Jackson was shot to death in his Memphis home by an intruder. Jackson was the drummer for the MGs, the legendary Stax Records house band which backed Otis Redding, Sam & Dave and Wilson Pickett. Al Jackson's wife, who had been arrested only months earlier for shooting her husband in the chest, was questioned about the killing.

In 1991, J. Frank Wilson (John Frank Wilson) died at the age of 49 of complications from diabetes. He was the leader of J. Frank Wilson and the Cavaliers, the group responsible for the 2000 Pearl Jam hit 'Last Kiss'.

In 1992, former Temptations singer Eddie Kendricks died of lung cancer. He was 52.

In 1992, former Temptations singer Eddie Kendricks died of lung cancer. He was 52.

In 1995, Big Sugar drummer, Walter (Crash) Morgan, suffered a fatal aneurysm whilst on stage.

In 1997, Jonas Asher Bruce, son of legendary Cream co-founder Jack Bruce, died of asthma at the age of 29. Jonas was an accomplished musician himself and was a member of The Afro Celt Sound System. He'd worked with Peter Gabriel, Michael Brook and Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, among others.

In 1997, Brown Meggs, the record executive responsible for signing the Beatles to Capitol Records, died of a brain hemorrhage.

In 1998, the 'Singing Cowboy' Gene Autry died at the age of 91 from cancer. Famous Autry hits included 'Ghost Riders in the Sky' and 'Back in the Saddle Again'.

In 1998, respected Gospel performer Raymond Myles was shot dead during a car jacking in New Orleans. He was 40 years old.

In 1999, Milt (Bags) Jackson, vibraphonist with the Modern Jazz Quartet, died from liver cancer at age 76. Jackson had worked with Dizzy Gillespie, John Coltrane and Thelonious Monk, to name a few.

In 2000, Ben Orr (Benjamin Orzechowski) died of pancreatic cancer. Orr was a bassist and guitarist and a member of many bands, the most popular of these being The Cars.

In 2000, The Cars bassist/singer Benjamin Orr passed away after a long pancreatic cancer. Orr was a prolific member of the emerging US New Wave movement, not only as a member of The Cars, but also in groups such as The Grasshoppers, Milkwood, and Cap'n Swing.

In 2001, Consuelo Araujo (Consuelo Araujo Noguera) was kidnapped and shot by left wing guerrilla group FARC in Colombia. As well a being a folklorist and politician, she was a promoter of the folk music vallenato and co-founder of an annual event, the Festival de la Leyenda Vallenata which attracts folk music enthusiasts to Colombia from around the world.

In 2001, Irmgard Keali'iwahinealohanohokahaopuamana Farden (aka Irmgard Farden Aluli, Aunty Irmgard). An inductee into the Hawaiian Music Hall Of Fame she was very important within her genre, but she appears here more for her cool name than anything else. Check it out, how many syllables are in that thing???!!!

In 2002, the original singer for Iron Butterfly, Darryl DeLoach, passed away from liver cancer aged 54.

In 2003, former Power Station singer and successful solo artist Robert Palmer died in Paris, France of a heart attack. Power Station had a hit with their remake of "Bang A Gong" and Palmer's solo hits "Addicted To Love" and "Simply Irresitible" were worldwide smash hits.

In 2003, jazz trombonist Carl Fontana died after long suffering Alzheimer's Disease. Fontana pioneered the technique of "doodle tonguing", a multiple tongue technique used to facilitate smooth, fast legato playing on the slide trombone.

In 2003, former Power Station singer and successful solo artist Robert Palmer died in Paris, France of a heart attack. Power Station had a hit with their remake of "Bang A Gong" and Palmer's solo hits "Addicted To Love" and "Simply Irresitible" were worldwide smash hits.

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