December 10th

Musical birthdays today include singer-songwriter Chad [of Chad & Jeremy] Stuart (78), Wang Chung lead singer Jack Hues (65), former Pepsi & Shirlie vocalist Helen 'Pepsi' Demacque (61), Dinosaur Jr. lead guitarist J Mascis (54), Placebo lead singer Brian Molko (47), Meg White (45), classical violinist Sarah Chang (39), and Raven-Symoné (34). 

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 76 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)... 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).