bmusic - Newsletter No. 69

In 1919, La La Lucille opened at the Henry Miller Theater in New York, the first musical with an entire score by George Gershwin. The audience loved, "Tee-Oodle-Um-Bum-Bo," but nodded off to, "Nobody But You," the number that became a classic.

In 1955, according to Billboard magazine, with sales of 18 million from 23 different versions, "The Ballad of Davy Crockett" is the most popular song in America. The French too claimed him as their own, offering 20 different versions.

In 1957, The Crickets, featuring Charles Hardin Holly ("Buddy"), released their only record to go to #1 on the pop charts, "That'll Be the Day."

In 1958, Jerry Lee Lewis was booed off the stage in the UK. The negative impact of the press reporting of his marriage to his 13-years-old 2nd cousin, and his failure to divorce his former wife before remarrying, turned his fans against him. So the tour was cancelled.

In 1961, Chuck Berry opened his Berry Park, an outdoor amusement complex in Wentzville, Missouri, near St. Louis. It included a miniature golf course, rides and a children's zoo.

In 1965, Kinks guitar player Dave Davies was knocked unconscious when he crashed into one of drummer Mick Avory's cymbals during a London concert. The group cancelled the remainder of their U.K. tour.

In 1968, The Beatles began recording the White Album.

In 1969, John and Yoko began their "bed-in for peace" on the nineteenth floor of the Queen Elizabeth Hotel in Montreal. They recorded "Give Peace a Chance" with friends in the room.

In 1976, the Who played a concert at the Charlton Athletic Grounds in England that went into the "Guinness Book of World Records" as the loudest show ever - 120 db. The record has since been broken - many times!

In 1977, Bruce Springsteen and his former manager Mike Appel reached an agreement paying Appel approximately US$1 million and giving Springsteen full rights to his songs and control of his career.

In 1982, the Rolling Stones played an unannounced show at the 100 Club in London. It was at the 100 Club that the Sex Pistols started the punk rock movement about six years earlier.

In 1983, the three day US Festival '83 began. Among the performers were David Bowie, the Clash, Van Halen, the Pretenders, U2, the Stray Cats and the Scorpions. Bowie and Van Halen received US$1.5 million, setting a record for money paid for a single performance. Many artists also on the bill publicly complained about the extravagant fees.

In 1998, Oh no! Ginger quit The Spice Girls.

In 2000, Eddie Van Halen underwent cancer tests at Houston's M.D. Anderson Cancer Center to begin an outpatient clinical trial to prevent cancer. The hospital denied reports that Van Halen was suffering from cancer.

In 2002, Twiggy Ramirez, long time bass player for Marilyn Manson who was instrumental in shaping the band's ever-changing line-up, left the band. The reasons behind his departure were unclear.

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Births In 1910, Blues artist Aaron Thibeaux Walker ("T-Bone") was born in Linden, TX. Walker was an early (mid-1930s) and prominent exponent of the electric guitar.

In 1926, trumpeter and jazz legend Miles Davis was born in Alton, Illinois.

In 1938, Peter Yarrow of Peter, Paul and Mary, the most popular of the early 1960's folk groups, was born in New York City.

In 1939, legendary reggae producer and performer Prince Buster, born in Kingston, Jamaica.

In 1944, R&B vocalist Gladys Knight was born in Atlanta, GA. Gladys began as a gospel singer and gained her greatest fame with extended family band, the Pips in the 60s.

In 1944, Mick Ralphs, vocalist and guitarist with Mott the Hoople and Bad Company.

In 1945, Procul Harem founder Gary Brooker born in Hackney, London. The group's name means "beyond these things" in Latin.

In 1945, Creedence Clearwater Revival's John Fogerty was born in Berkeley, California.

In 1948, John Bonham, drummer with Led Zeppelin, was born in Redditch, England. By 1975, their album and concert ticket sales had made Led Zeppelin the most popular rock band in the world. Their final album was in 1979. A year later, John Bonham died at Jimmy Page's home in Windsor, England. After drinking and falling asleep, he choked to death.

In 1955, Nicky "Topper" Headon, drummer for the Clash, was born.

In 1957, Susan Ballion, aka Siouxsie Sioux of Siouxsie and the Banshees, was born in London.

In 1958, Scorpions vocalist Klaus Meine.

In 1962, Canadian rock star Corey Hart was born in Montreal. The first single from his debut LP, "Sunglasses at Night," went top ten in both Canada and the US.

In 1989, Elvis Presley's daughter Lisa Marie gives birth to a baby girl in Santa Monica, CA. Hubby Danny Keough and granny Priscilla were in the delivery room.

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Deaths In 1968, Little Willie John dies of pneumonia in 1968, in the Washington State Pen at Walla Walla serving time for manslaughter.

In 1974, 14-year old fan, Bernadette Whelan, was crushed to death at a London concert of teen idol, David Cassidy.

In 1977, William Powell of the O'Jays died at the age of 35 from cancer.

In 1977, Paul Desmond, the alto saxophonist with the Dave Brubeck Quartet until it broke up in 1967, died in New York City of lung cancer. He was 52. Desmond wrote the group's biggest hit, "Take Five," which made number 25 on the Billboard pop chart in 1961.

In 1980, Carl Radle, bass player with Derek and the Dominoes died at the age of 37 from a chronic kidney ailment.

In 1994, Red Rodney (Robert Chudnick) died. He Played flugelhorn and trumpet, working with Charlie Parker, Jimmy Dorsey, Gene Krupa, Ira Sullivan, Woody Herman, Jerry Wald and others. He was born in 1927 in Philadelphia, U.S.

In 1996, Elsbeary Hobbs, bass singer on some of the Drifters' biggest hits, died in New York of throat and lung cancer. He was 59. Hobbs joined the Five Crowns, a vocal group led by Ben E. King, in 1956. The manager of the Drifters fired the original group in 1958 and recruited the Five Crowns to be the new Drifters. He left the group when he was drafted in 1960, rejoining them nine years later.

In 1996, Sublime lead singer Bradley Nowell was found dead in his San Francisco motel room of a drug overdose. He was 26.

In 1996, former bassist with the Jerry Garcia Band, John Kahn died of a drug overdose. He'd also worked with Elvin Bishop, John Lee Hooker, Michael Bloomfield, Al Kooper and others.

In 1997,Jeff Buckley took a late night swim in the Mississippi River near Memphis. A passing barge created an undercurrent and the up and coming singer drowned. Jeff Buckley was the son of the great American folk rock artist, Tim Buckley.

In 2000, Australian Jazz and Classical trumpeter Don Johnson died in Canberra of cancer. Johnson was born in Chicago in 1939 and his career included working with Judy Garland, Art Mooney, Ray Eberle, Charlie Spivak, The Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and The West Australian Symphony Orchestra.

In 2000, Glenn Miller Orchestra saxophonist Gordon Lee "Tex" Beneke died of respiratory arrest. Beneke led "The Glenn Miller Band with Tex Beneke" after Miller's death.

In 2001, Helen Oakley Dance (Helen Margaret Oakley) died as a result of complications from a heart attack and broken hip. Contributor to Down Beat, Tempo, Swing, and Jazz Hot magazines after having worked with Billie Holiday, Teddy Wilson, Red Norvo, Ella Fitzgerald, The Chick Webb Orchestra, Duke Ellington and many others.

In 2001, Dale Thomson, drummer with the Glenn Miller Air Force Band.

In 2001, African musician Francis Bebey died of a heart attack at the age of 71. He played the ndewhoo (the pygmy one-note flute) and the sanza (the thumb piano) and blended original African rhythms with those of Asia, Latin America and Europe.

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