December 15th

 

Musical birthdays today include former Supreme Cindy Birdsong (86), Dave Clark (83), rock drummer Carmen Appice (79), Fuzztones frontman Rudi Protrudi (73), ex-Clash bassist Paul Simonon (69), ex-Torch Song keyboardist Richard Orbit (69), Dave Matthews Band lead guitarist Tim Reynolds (68), Stryper bassist Tim Gaines (63), heavy metal guitarist Clint Lowery (53), and Falling in Reverse lead singer Ronnie Radke (42). 

Shoutout to the Great Beyond for talent scout and producer John Hammond, born on this day in 1910... for jazz pianist Stan Kenton, born in 1911... for Max Yasgur [owner of the farm where Woodstock took place in 1969], born in 1919... for  Grand Ole Opry star Ernest Ashworth and jazz pianist Barry Harris, both born in 1929... for R&B pianist and songwriter Jesse Belvin, born in 1934... for Fats Waller, who died on this date in 1943... for Glenn Miller, presumed dead after the aircraft in which he and members of his band were flying disappeared over the English Channel on a USO tour on this day in 1944. No trace of the plane or its crew and passengers ever having been found, Miller's official status remains MIA... and for soul singer Rufus Thomas, who left us today in 2001. 

Also on December 15: Hank Williams marries Audrey Sheppard ~ the ceremony takes place at a filling station outside of Nashville and is performed by a passing Justice of the Peace. The union produces Hank Williams, Jr., and a divorce in 1952 (1944)... Elvis gives his final performance on 'Louisiana Hayride', a live radio program broadcast on KWKH in Shreveport, LA. Presley made 50 appearances on the show, which was a springboard to his early stardom (1956)... At Bell Sound Studios in NYC, The Everly Brothers record 'Let It Be Me' (1959)... The Who release The Who Sell out (1967)... John Lennon plays what will prove to be his final gig in the UK when he appears at The Lyceum Ballroom in London with the Plastic Ono Band in a UNICEF 'Peace for Christmas' benefit. George Harrison, Eric Clapton, Delaney and Bonnie, Billy Preston and Keith Moon also take part (1969)... Charlie Rich has his only US № 1 single with 'The Most Beautiful Girl' (1973)... The Sex Pistols are refused a performance visa for the USA two days before a scheduled NBC TV appearance ~ Johnny Rotten because of a drugs conviction, Paul Cook & Sid Vicious for 'moral turpitude' and Steve Jones because of his criminal record (1977)... U2 play the Windsor Castle Pub on Harrow Road in London. Admission is free (1979)... 'Do They Know It's Christmas?' by Band Aid enters the UK chart at № 1, where it will stay for five weeks. It will become the biggest selling UK single of all time with sales over 3 and a half million. Band Aid was masterminded by former Boomtown Rats singer Bob Geldof, who had been moved by a TV news story of famine in Ethiopia. Geldof had the idea of raising funds with a one-off charity single featuring the cream of the then-current pop world. Duran Duran, Spandau Ballet, Paul Young, Culture Club, George Michael, Sting, Bono, Phil Collins, Paul Weller, Francis Rossi, Rick Parfitt of Status Quo and Bananarama all appeared on the recording (1984)... James Brown is sentenced to 6 years in prison for various offences including possession of unregistered firearms and resisting arrest (1988)... Rod Stewart marries New Zealand model Rachel Hunter in Los Angeles. Stewart is quoted as saying "I found the girl that I want, I won't be putting my banana in anybody's fruit bowl from now on". They will split in 1999 (1990)... 'Spice World, The Movie' has its world premiere at the Empire Cinema on Leicester Square (1997)... Boy George is knocked unconscious and receives  minor concussion when a mirror ball falls on his head during a show in Wimborne, Dorset... Former Sex Pistols manager Malcolm McLaren announces that he is running for Mayor of London. He says he will be campaigning for open bars in public libraries, as well as brothels and cannabis shops. "I changed London with the Sex Pistols, I can change London as Mayor" proclaims the candidate... 'Posh Spice' Victoria Beckham punches a crazed fan and knocks him to the ground after he tries to grab her baby son Brooklyn as she is leaving Harrods (1999)... Various  Pink Floyd items are sold at an Entertainment Memorabilia auction by Bonhams of Knightsbridge, London. A demo pressing of the single 'Point Me To The Sky/Careful With That Axe Eugene' sells for £720. Pink Floyd signatures, in various blue marker pens on four separate pieces of paper mounted and framed together with a copy of 'Dark Side Of The Moon' goes for £624, and a demo pressing of the Syd Barrett single, 'Octopus' / 'Golden Hair' from 1969 [with the singer's name misspelt 'Barratt' and corrected in ink on the A-side] fetches £300 (2010

December 14th

 Musical birthdays today include Broadway & cabaret singer Abbe Lane (93), Tony Orlando & Dawn vocalist Joyce Vincent Wilson (79), classical guitarist Christopher Parkening (78), AC/DC bassist Cliff Williams (76), John Lurie (73), Waterboys frontman Mike Scott (67) former Pogues lead singer Spider Stacy (67), and Blue October frontman Justin Furstenfeld (50). 

Shoutout to the Great Beyond for Spike Jones, born on this day in 1911... for jazz trumpeter Clark Terry, born in 1920... for Charlie Rich, born in 1933... for Jane Birkin, who would have been 79... for Dinah Washington, who died on this date in 1963... for Guess Who guitarist Kurt Winter, who passed away in 1997... and for Atlantic Records co-founder Ahmet Ertegun, who left us today in 2006. 

Also on December 14: Bill Wyman makes his live debut with The Rolling Stones at the Ricky Tick Club, Star and Garter Hotel in Windsor (1962)... Marvin Gaye scores his first US № 1 single when 'I Heard It Through The Grapevine' starts a five-week run at the top. It is Gaye's 15th solo hit and will also be also his first UK № 1 single in March 1969. Written by Norman Whitfield and Barrett Strong in 1966, the single was previously recorded by Smokey Robinson & the Miracles as well as Gladys Knight & the Pips (1968)... The Jackson Five make their US network television debut with an appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show (1969)... The Ringo Starr directed movie 'Born to Boogie' premieres in London. The film is based around a concert at Wembley Empire Pool, London, and stars Ringo, Marc Bolan and T. Rex ~ it was released on by the Beatles' Apple Films division (1972)... Bruce Springsteen appears at the Pinecrest Country Club in Shelton, CT. Only 200 tickets were sold for the show, and many of the audience walk out before the end (1973)... The Clash release London Calling (1979)... Yoko Ono calls on fans to observe ten minutes of silence in memory of John Lennon. 30,000 gather outside St George's Hall in Liverpool, while nearly 100,000 attend a memorial in New York's Central Park (1980)... After presenting this week's edition of 'Top Of The Pops', legendary DJ John Peel is surprised to find that he is this week's subject of the TV show 'This Is Your Life' (1996)... Billy Preston pleads guilty to insurance fraud in a Los Angeles court and agrees to testify against six other defendants who allegedly participated in acts of arson, theft and rigged car crashes for which a total of 18 fraudulent insurance claims were filed. Preston receives five years probation and one year in jail to run concurrently with a sentence he is already serving for violating probation on a prior conviction for cocaine possession (1998)... Sir Paul McCartney appears at the Cavern Club in Liverpool for the first time since 1963. The show is filmed for TV and also goes out live on the Internet (1999)... Ozzy & Kelly Osbourne go to № 1 on the UK singles chart with 'Changes', a remake of a track first sung by Ozzy on the Black Sabbath album Volume IV in 1972. It is the first father and daughter chart topper since Frank & Nancy Sinatra with 'Something Stupid' in 1967 (2003)... Jimmy Page is invested as an Officer of the Order of the British Empire by Queen Elizabeth II (2005).

December 13th

 

Musical birthdays today composer Alvin Curran (87), guitarist Jeff Baxter (79), Ted Nugent (77), Alabama lead singer Randy Owen (75), country singer John Anderson (70), Morris Day (69), saxophonist Eric Marienthal (68), Iggy & the Stooges drummer Toby Dammit (59), Franz Ferdinand guitarist Nick McCarthy (50), Blink-182 guitarist & singer Tom DeLonge (50), Evanescence lead singer Amy Lee (44), Taylor Swift (36), and Wicca demi-goddess, latter-day flower child & working class heroine Maya Bonhomme (25).

Shoutout to the Great Beyond for flamenco guitarist Carlos Montoya, born on this day in 1903... for Christopher Plummer, born in 1929... for Tom Verlaine, who would have been 76 today... for popular singer Harry Barris, who died on this date in 1962... and for Lovin' Spoonful lead guitarist Zal Yanovsky, who left us today in 2002. 

Also on December 13: Mahler conducts the premiere of his 2nd Symphony (Resurrection) in Berlin (1895)... George Gershwin is at the piano for the Carnegie Hall premiere of his suite An American in Paris with Walter Damrosch conducting (1928)... Dickie Valentine is at № 1 in the UK with 'Christmas Alphabet'. It will still be at the singles chart on the 25th of December, making it the first Yuletide № 1 that is actually about Christmas (1955)... Jimi Hendrix makes his TV debut on ITV's 'Ready Steady Go!' [Marc Bolan is also on the program]. After the show, Hendrix goes into the studio with the Experience to record 'Foxy Lady' (1966)... Diana Ross takes the Latino Casino in Philadelphia to court for $27,500 for damages and emotional distress;  her two pet dogs died after eating cyanide tablets left by an exterminator in her dressing room... Badfinger release the album Straight up (1971)... In Washington DC on a tour stop, George Harrison, Billy Preston and Ravi Shankar meet President Gerald Ford at the White House after the chief executive's son Jack extends an invitation (1974)... During  a solo concert at London's Hammersmith Odeon, Robert Plant is joined on stage by Jimmy Page for a performance of the early rock standard 'Treat Her Right' (1984)... Bruce Hornsby & the Range go to № 1 in America with 'The Way It Is' (1986)... Happy Mondays lead singer Shaun Ryder is ordered to pay £160,000 to his former management team over a dispute in his contract. Ryder told the court he was so high after smoking particularly potent joint that he hadn't bothered to read the fine print (1999)...  It  is announced that after 74 years the UK music weekly Melody Maker is to close down. The Christmas edition will be the last issue before the publication merges with the New Musical Express to create a more sizeable broad-based magazine... Sir Paul McCartney holds his first-ever London book signing at Waterstone's in Piccadilly (2000).

December 12th

 Musical birthdays today include Dionne Warwick (85), former Allman Brothers Band guitarist Dickey Betts (82), Grand Funk Railroad guitarist Bruce Kulick (72), Sheila E. (68), a capella singer & arranger Deke Sharon (58), Hank Williams III (53), The Darkness guitarist Dan Hawkins (48), and country singer Katrina Elam (42). 

Shoutout to the Great Beyond for English composer and pianist Roy Douglas, born on this day in 1908... for Frank Sinatra, born in 1915... for jazz pianist and Schoolhouse Rock! composer Bob Dorough, born in 1923... for Connie Francis, who would have been 88 today... for Grover Washington Jr, and MC5 bassist Rob Tyner, both of whom would have been 81... for swing singer Mildred Bailey, who died on this date in 1951... for Rolling Stones pianist and road manager Ian Stewart, who passed away in 1985... and for Ike Turner, who left us today in 2007. 

Also on December 12: In Vienna, the 21-year-old Ludwig van Beethoven begins lessons in composition with Franz Josef Haydn (1792)... Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins and Elvis Presley appear on the same bill at the National Guard Armory in Vicksburg, MS (1955)... Not yet divorced from his first wife Jane Mitcham, Jerry Lee Lewis secretly marries his 13-year old second cousin Myra Gale Brown (1958)... The Beatles go to № 1 on the UK singles chart with 'I Want to Hold Your Hand' (1963)... Brian Jones is given 3 years probation and a £1,000 fine for drug offences. Three court-appointed psychiatrists agree that Jones is 'an extremely frightened young man with suicidal tendencies' (1967)... Smokey Robinson & the Miracles have the № 1 song in America with 'Tears of a Clown'... The Doors play what will prove to be their last live show with Jim Morrison, at the Warehouse in New Orleans (1970)... The Clash release the 3 LP set Sandinista! (1980)... Mick Jagger becomes a Sir after being knighted by Prince Charles at Buckingham Palace. Jagger's 92-year-old father is at the Palace to see his son receive the distinction (2003)... A copy of John Lennon's book A Spaniard in the Works containing a lock of the author's hair pressed inside it sells at Gorringes Auction House for £24,000. Lennon gave the book and the hair to Betty Glasgow, the Fab Four's hairdresser in 1965. He wrote on the title page, 'To Betty, Lots of Love and Hair, John Lennon xx'. The strands of hair and book had been expected to sell for between £2,000 and £4,000 (2007)... The Rolling Stones, The Who, Michael Stipe, Chris Martin, Bruce Springsteen and Roger Waters play at Madison Square Garden and raised over $30m (£18.6m) at a benefit gig for those affected by superstorm Sandy, which had caused the deaths of 120 people when it hit the Caribbean and US in October of this year. The surviving members of Nirvana, Dave Grohl and Krist Novoselic, also join Sir Paul McCartney on stage to perform (2012). 

December 11th

 

Musical birthdays today include Rita Moreno (94), former Bread lead singer David Gates (85), Jermaine Jackson (71), Mötley Crüe bassist Nikki Sixx (67), Tangerine Dream composer & producer Paul Haslinger (63), film score composer Jon Brion (62), Del Amitri frontman Justin Currie (61), singer-songwriter Cosy Sheridan (61), N.W.A. founding member DJ Yella (58), Mos Def (52), Avenged Sevenfold guitarist Zacky Vengeance (44), and pop singer Tiffany Alvord (33). 

Shoutout to the Great Beyond for composer Hector Berlioz, born on this day in 1803... for tango singer Carlos Gardel, born in 1890... for composer Elliott Carter, born in 1908... for Big Mama Thornton, born in 1926...  For McCoy Tyner, who would have been 87 today... for pop singer J. Frank Wilson, who would have been 83... for Sam Cooke, who was shot to death at the age of 33 on this day in 1964... for jazz singer Lee Wiley, who died in 1975... for Penguin Cafe orchestra founder Simon Jeffes, who passed away in 1997... and for Ravi Shankar, who left us today in 2013.

Also on December 11: In his first recording session for the Sterling label, Hank Williams records 'Wealth Won't Save Your Soul', 'Calling You', 'Never Again', and 'When God Comes and Gathers His Jewels' (1946)... Lucille Ball debuts in her only Broadway musical, Coleman & Leigh's 'Wildcat' (1960)... The Marvelettes go to № 1 on the Billboard singles chart with 'Please Mr. Postman' (1961)...  Filming begins for The Rolling Stones' Rock & Roll Circus. In addition to clowns and acrobats, John Lennon and Yoko Ono perform as part of a supergroup called The Dirty Mac, along with Eric Clapton, Mitch Mitchell, and Keith Richards. The Who, Jethro Tull, Marianne Faithfull and Taj Mahal are also on the bill... The show was originally meant to be aired on the BBC, but the Rolling Stones withheld it because they were unhappy with their performance. The film was eventually released in 1996 (1968)... John Lennon releases the John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band album (1970)...  James Brown is arrested after a show in Memphis, TN for trying to incite a riot. Brown threatens to sue the city for $1 million, and the charges are later dropped (1972)... One-hit wonder Toni Basil has the № 1 single in America with 'Mickey'... In the UK, the Jam play their last gig as a band in Brighton (1982)... Manic Street Preachers bassist Nicky Wire is quoted by the New Musical Express as saying "I hope Michael Stipe goes the same way as Freddie Mercury" (1992)... The character Mr Blobby as featured on UK TV's 'The Noel Edmunds House Party' starts a one-week run as the country's № 1 single with the novelty song 'Mr Blobby'. In 1999, the tune will receive the dubious honour of being voted the most irritating Christmas № 1 single of all time in an HMV poll (1993)... David Soul wins a lawsuit against Matthew Wright, a London music critic who panned Soul's performance at a nightclub without even hearing it. Wright's column in the Times had made reference to a Monday performance, when in fact the club was closed on Mondays (2001)... Bobby Brown is charged with assault & battery after allegedly hitting wife Whitney Houston in the face. Brown turned himself in to the police three days after a reported domestic dispute at the couple's home in Atlanta. Houston, who accompanies her husband to court, says they are trying to work out their problems "privately" (2003).

 

December 10th

 Musical birthdays today include singer-songwriter Chad [of Chad & Jeremy] Stuart (84), Wang Chung lead singer Jack Hues (71), former Pepsi & Shirlie vocalist Helen 'Pepsi' Demacque (67), Dinosaur Jr. lead guitarist J Mascis (60), Placebo lead singer Brian Molko (53), Meg White (51), classical violinist Sarah Chang (45), and Raven-Symoné (40). 

Shoutout to the Great Beyond for composer César Franck, born on this day in 1822... for composer Olivier Messiaen, born in 1908... for Ewanya 'Puff' Johnson, who would have been 82 today... for Otis Redding, who died in a plane crash today in 1967 along with four members of his band the Bar-Kays: Jimmy King, Carl Cunningham, Ronnie Caldwell and Phalon Jones... for singer-songwriter Kate Wolf, who died in 1986... for Ladysmith Black Mambazo vocalist Headman Shabalala, who passed away in 1991... for singer and philanthropist Alice Tully, who died in 1993... and Rick Danko, who left us today in 1999. 

Also on December 10: Berlioz's only oratorio L'Enfance du Christ receives its premiere performance at Notre Dame cathedral in Paris (1854)... Prokofiev makes his American debut at the keyboard for his own 2nd Piano Concerto at Carnegie Hall (1918)... Antoine Domino records his first tracks for Imperial Records. One of the songs is called ‘The Fat Man’, which later results in the nickname 'Fats' that will stick with him (1949)... Four male members of The Platters are found not guilty of charges of aiding and abetting prostitution, lewdness and assignation after an incident on August 10th in Cincinnati. Despite the acquittal, the scandal effectively finishes the group as a commercial force... The Beatles appear at Hambleton Hall, Huyton, Liverpool after returning to their hometown from their first live performances in the south of England and London. The group arrive so late for their appearance that they only have time to play for 15 minutes. The promoters, who had to pay the Beatles their full £15 fee, are very unhappy (1961)... The Beach Boys hit № 1  on the US singles chart with 'Good Vibrations' (1966)... The Byrds open an 8-night residency at the Whisky-a-go-go in West Hollywood (1967)... King Crimson release the album Lizard (1970)... Playing the first of two nights at London's Rainbow Theatre, Frank Zappa is pushed off stage by a disturbed audience member named Trevor Howell. Zappa falls onto the concrete-floored orchestra pit ~ in the immediate aftermath, the band think that Zappa has been killed. He suffers serious fractures, head trauma and injuries to his back, leg, and neck, as well as a crushed larynx, which ultimately causes his voice to drop a third after healing. The incident accident will require Zappa to use a wheelchair for an extended period, forcing him off the road for over half a year (1971)... CBGB opens (1973)... Deep Purple release Stormbringer, the band's last album with Ritchie Blackmore for ten years (1974)... The Jam release their final album, Dig the New Breed (1982)... Fine Young Cannibals release their eponymous debut album (1985)... A war of words breaks out between Cliff Richard and George Michael after the latter describes Richard's hit 'Millennium Prayer' as 'vile'. Cliff responds that his single is a Christian celebration (1999)... Coldplay lead singer Chris Martin marries Gwyneth Paltrow in Santa Barbara, CA (2003)...  Led  Zeppelin play their first show in 19 years, at London's 02 Arena as part of the Ahmet Ertegun Tribute Concert. Original band members Jimmy Page, Robert Plant and John Paul Jones are joined on stage by Jason Bonham, the son of their late drummer. More than one million people had taken part in a ballot for the 20,000 tickets available for the show with all proceeds going to Ahmet's own charity. Zeppelin perform 16 songs including two encores. Among those attending the gig are Dave Grohl, Paul McCartney, Jeff Beck, Brian May, David Gilmour, The Edge, Peter Gabriel, Mick Jagger, Kate Moss, Naomi Campbell, Jerry Hall, Priscilla Presley and Paris Hilton (2007)... The Associated Press reports that the US military has been using loud music to 'create fear and disorientation, and to prolong capture shock' for prisoners at military detention centers at Guantanamo Bay. Among the songs blasted 24 hours a day were 'Born In The USA' by Bruce Springsteen, 'Hell's Bells' by AC/DC, 'White America' by Eminem, 'The Theme From Sesame Street' and 'I Love You' from the Barney and Friends children's TV show (2008)... The original hand-written lyrics to Bob Dylan's 'The Times They Are A-Changin' sell at a New York auction for $422,500. Hedge fund manager and art collector Adam Sender outbids five others placing telephone bids (2010)... A copy of The Beatles ‘Love Me Do’ 1962 demo record sells for $17,339.31 after a 10-day eBay auction (2011).

December 9th

 

Musical birthdays today include ex-Charlatans drummer Mike Hicks (84), Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band frontman Neil Innes (81), Joan Armatrading (75), Donny Osmond (68), former Christian Death guitarist Rikk Agnew (67), ex-Crowded House bassist Rick Seymour (67), Rammstein guitarist Paul Landers (60), Weezer guitarist Brian Bell (57), Jakob Dylan (56), songwriter & producer Kara DioGuardi (55), Green Day drummer Tré Cool (53), and Imogen Heap (48). 

Shoutout to the Great Beyond for operatic soprano Elisabeth Schwarzkopf, born on this day in 1915... for jazz trumpeter Donald Byrd and country singer=singwriter Billy Edd Wheeler, born in 1932... for blues harmonica virtuoso Junior Wells, born in 1934.. for ska and reggae singer Clancy Eccles, who would have been 85... for Hanoi Rocks drummer Nick 'Razzle' Dingley, killed in a road accident at the age of 24 today in 1984... for former Waitresses lead singer Patty Donahue, who died in 1996... and for classical pianist György Sándor, who left us in 2005. 

Also on December 9th: Richard Strauss' opera Salome premieres in Dresden (1905)... John Coltrane's quartet goes into the Van Gelder Studio in Englewood Cliffs, NJ to record A Love Supreme (1964)... Cream release their debut studio album Fresh Cream. The trio of Eric Clapton, Jack Bruce and Ginger Baker also release their second single 'I Feel Free' today (1966)... The Doors appear at the New Haven Arena, New Haven, CT. Before the show a policeman finds Jim Morrison making out with an 18 year-old girl in a backstage shower, and after an argument, the policeman sprays mace in Morrison’s face. Once on stage Morrison tells the story of the backstage episode and starts taunting the police, who drag him off the stage and arrest him. The crowd riots, leaving the venue in disarray, and many arrests are made. Later, over 100 protesters gather outside the police station to stage a demonstration and more are taken into custody (1967)... Chic start a seven week run at № 1 on the US singles chart with 'Le Freak.' Nile Rodgers later recounts that the song was devised on New Years Eve, 1977, as a result of him and bassist Bernard Edwards being refused entrance to NYC's Studio 54, where they had been invited by Grace Jones, who had neglected to notify the nightclub's staff. He says the lyrics of the refrain were originally 'Fuck off!' rather than 'Freak out!' (1978)... According to a poll published in the US tabloid The National Enquirer, the music of Neil Diamond was favoured as the best background music for sex; Beethoven was the second choice, and Luther Vandross was voted third (1988)... Billy Joel hits № 1 on the US singles chart with 'We Didn't Start the Fire' (1989)... U2 make their first ever appearance on Saturday Night Live, performing 'Beautiful Day' and 'Elevation' (2000)... Channel 4 apologises to viewers after Madonna says 'motherfucker' during live UK TV coverage at the Tate Gallery, London. Madonna was presenting a prize to artist Martin Creed. A TV spokesman says they do have a bleeper system but that they missed the offending word (2001)... Joss Stone, Lemar and Ms. Dynamite backed by the African Children's Choir and 1,200 school children set a new world record for the most children singing simultaneously. The ‘Big Sing’ is held at the Royal Albert Hall, as the singers lead a performance of ‘Lean On Me’ which is broadcast to more than half a million people (2005).