February 13th

Musical birthdays today include original Fairport Convention lead singer Judy Dyble (77), ex-Uriah Heep bassist Bob Daisley (76), Peter Gabriel (76), original Foreigner bassist Ed Gagliardi (74), ex-Joy Division and New Order bassist Peter Hook (70), former Big Country bassist Tony Butler (69), Henry Rollins (65), Annihilator frontman Jeff Waters (60), The National lead singer Matt Berninger (55), Robbie Williams (52), Leslie Feist (50), My Dying Bride guitarist Hamish Glencross (48), and Beirut frontman Zack Condon (40). *** *** Shoutout to the Great Beyond for Russian operatic basso Feodor Chaliapin, born on this day in 1873... for Tennessee Ernie Ford, born in 1919... for songwriter Boudleaux Bryant, born in 1920... for Peter Tork, who would have been 82 today... for Traffic drummer Rebop Kwaku Baah, who would have been 82 ... for Be Bop Deluxe bassist Paul Jeffreys, who would have been 74... for Richard Wagner, who died on this date in 1883... for operatic soprano Lily Pons, who passed away in 1976... for Waylon Jennings, who died on this day in 2002... for French song & dance man Henri Salvador, who died in 2008... and for early rocker Dale Hawkins, who left us today in 2010. *** *** Also on February 13: In NYC, ASCAP (American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers) is founded to protect the copyrighted musical compositions of its members (1914)... Frank Sinatra launches his own record label, Reprise, in order to allow himself more artistic freedom in the studio. It is at this time that he acquires the nickname 'The Chairman of the Board.' The label will later become the home of many influential artists, including Neil Young, Jimi Hendrix, Joni Mitchell, Randy Newman, and the Beach Boys (1961)... The Monkees announce that they, as opposed to studio musicians, will now be playing the instruments on their albums... The Beatles release the Strawberry Fields Forever/Penny Lane double A-sided single in the US (1967)... A lunch party for Mary Hopkin's album Postcard on Apple Records is held at the Post Office Tower in London. Guests attending include Jimi Hendrix, Donovan, and Paul McCartney with his new girlfriend Linda Eastman... Bob Dylan records 'Lay Lady Lay' at Columbia Studios in Nashville (1969)... On this Friday the 13th, Black Sabbath release their self-titled debut album (1970)... After becoming ill during a show in Las Vegas, Elvis gives a Lincoln Continental to Dr. Sydney Bowers, the physician who treated him (1973)... David Bowie turns down an offer from gay rights activists who want to commission him to write 'the world's first gay national anthem' (1974)... Frampton Comes Alive! is released in the UK (1976)... Police raid the home of former Sex Pistol John Lydon who greets them waving a ceremonial sword. The only illegal item they find was a canister of tear gas, claimed to be for defence against intruders (1980)... The Jam become the first band since The Beatles to play two numbers on the same edition of 'Top Of The Pops', when they perform 'A Town Called Malice', and 'Precious', their latest double A sided № 1... The marble slab is stolen from the grave of Lynyrd Skynyrd's lead singer Ronnie Van Zant. Police find it two weeks later in a dried up river bed (1982)... Led Zeppelin are awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award at this year's Grammys. Jimmy Page, John Paul Jones and Jason Bonham all attend, while Robert Plant, who is working on a new album and rehearsing an upcoming tour, does not (2004)... Ray Charles is awarded 8 posthumous Grammys for his final album Genius Loves Company (2005)... Lady Gaga is forced to postpone her world tour after developing a case of synovitis, a form of severe inflammation of the joints (2013).

February 12th

Musical birthdays today include country singer Moe Bandy (82), former Clear Light lead singer Cliff DeYoung (81), Genesis guitarist & founding member Steve Hackett (76), ex-Doobie Brothers lead singer Michael McDonald (74), former Thin Lizzy guitarist Brian Robertson (70), ex-Servants frontman David Westlake (61), Chynna Phillips (58), Barenaked Ladies bassist Jim Creeggan (56), and Irish singer-songwriter Lisa Hannigan (45). 

Shoutout to the Great Beyond for Elizabethan choral composer Thomas Campion, born on this day in 1567... to saxophonist and bandleader Tex Beneke, born in 1914... for jazz & soul singer Gene McDaniels, born in 1935... for Ray Manzarek, who would have been 87... for Brazilian popular singer José 'Dominguinhos' de Morais, who would have been 84... for former Go-Betweens vocalist and songwriter Grant McLennan, who would have been 68... for German conductor and virtuoso pianist Hans von Bülow, who died on this date in 1894... for Eubie Blake, who passed away in 1983... for former Iron Butterfly bassist Philip Taylor Kramer, who died in 1995... and for Screamin' Jay Hawkins, who left us today in 2000. 

Also on February 12: George M. Cohan's musical George Washington premieres on Broadway (1906)... George Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue receives its premiere in a concert entitled An Experiment in Modern Music at the Aeolian Hall in NYC, with the composer at the piano and Paul Whiteman leading his orchestra (1924)... Dean Martin has the biggest hit of his career as his single 'Memories Are Made of This' tops the charts on both sides of the Atlantic (1956)... The Miracles' 'Shop around' becomes Motown's first million-selling single (1961)... The Beatles return to New York City by train from Washington, D.C. for two performances at Carnegie Hall. There was such a demand for tickets that some extra seating has been arranged surrounding the stage. Tickets ranged from $1.65 to $5.50 (1964)...  Pye Records announce that they have signed 'the British Bob Dylan', when they add Donovan to the label. The Scottish singer-songwriter produces a series of hit albums and singles between 1965 and 1970 and becomes a friend of leading pop musicians including Joan Baez, Brian Jones, and The Beatles. He influenced John Lennon when he taught him a finger-picking guitar style in 1968 (1965)... 15 police officers raid 'Redlands', the West Sussex home of Keith Richards. The officers of the law, armed with a warrant issued under the Dangerous Drugs Act, .take away various substances for chemical analysis. George and Pattie Harrison were at the house, but it is said that the police waited for them to leave in order not to have to bust the holder of an OBE (1967)... John Lennon performs 'Instant Karma' on Top of the Pops, making him the first Beatle in four years to appear on the show (1970)... Al Green has his only US № 1 single with 'Let's Stay Together'... The Allman Brothers Band release Eat a Peach (1972)... The Sex Pistols make their London live debut as the opening act to Eddie and the Hot Rods at the Marquee Club (1976)... The Police record their first single, 'Fall Out', at Pathway Studios in London for £150... Pink Floyd release Animals in the US... and Blondie, Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers and The Ramones all appear on the same bill at the Whisky a Go Go in Los Angeles (1977)... XTC release English Settlement (1982)... U2 hold a press conference in the lingerie department of the Union Square branch of KMart in Manhattan to announce their 'Pop Mart' world tour, scheduled to begin in Las Vegas on April 25... David Bowie receives a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame (1997).. The Class 47 locomotive 47828 operated by Cotswold Railways is renamed 'The Joe Strummer' at a ceremony in Bristol to honour the Clash frontman who died at age 50 in 20o2 (2005)... In a press conference in Los Angeles, Sting confirms that The Police will reunite for a world tour which will begin in Vancouver on May 28th. Their opening act will be Fiction Plane, the band led by Sting's son Joe Sumner (2007)...  A full frontal nude photo of Madonna, taken in 1979 when she was a 20-year-old dancer trying to make ends meet in NYC, sells at auction for $37,500 (2009).

February 11th

 

Musical birthdays today include classical pianist Jerome Lowenthal (94), bandleader Sergio Mendes (85), French chansonnier Serge Lama (83), ex-Gentle Giant lead singer Derek Shulman (79), Bad Brains lead singer Paul 'H.R.' Hudson (70), Sheryl Crow (64), Slipknot keyboardist Craig Jones (54), jazz pianist Ethan Iverson (53), Black Rebel Motorcycle Club guitarist Peter Hayes (50), Linkin Park rapper & songwriter Mike Shinoda (49), Brandy Norwood (47), Kelly Rowland (45), and Danity Kane vocalist Aubrey O'Day (42). 

Shoutout to the Great Beyond for classical pianist Rudolf Firkusny, born on this day in 1912... for Gene Vincent, born in 1935... for Bobby Pickett, who would have been 88...  for songwriter Gerry Goffin, who would have been 87... for soul singer Al Johnson, who would have been 78... for  jazz violinist Didier Lockwood, who would have been 70... for Ladysmith Black Mambazo vocalist Jockey Shabalala, who died on this date in 2006... for former Ronettes singer Estelle Bennett, who passed away in 2009... for Whitney Houston, who died today in 2014... and for Dave Clark Five bassist Rock Huxley, who left us today in 2015.

Also on February 11th: Donizetti's La Fille du Régiment premieres in Paris (1840)... Elvis performs 'Heartbreak Hotel' and 'Blue Suede Shoes' on the CBS-TV program 'The Stage Show' (1956)... In less than ten hours, The Beatles record ten new songs for their first album, plus four other tracks which will be the next two singles. John Lennon's vocal on The Isley Brothers' 'Twist & Shout' is recorded in one take to complete the album (1963)...  The Beatles make their live concert debut in the US at the Coliseum in Washington DC. Over 350 police surround the stage to keep the 8,000 plus screaming fans in control. One police officer who finds the noise deafening uses two bullets as ear plugs. The Beatles have to stop three times and turn Ringo's drum kit around and re-position their microphones so that they face a different part of the audience (1964)... Ringo marries his longtime girlfriend Maureen at Caxton Hall Registry Office in London (1965)... The Rolling Stones release Between the Buttons (1967)... The Monkees set a new record when their second album, More Of The Monkees, jumps in one week from № 122 to the top of the US chart (1969)... Fleetwood Mac, The Allman Brothers and The Grateful Dead all appear on the same bill at the Fillmore East in NYC (1970)... Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon tour stop at the Manchester Free Trade Hall ends after 25 minutes because of a power failure (1972)...  A local charity raises over £500 selling bedsheets and pillowcases used by the Rolling Stones after a show at Western Springs Stadium in Auckland, New Zealand (1973)... The Smiths release the single 'Shoplifters of the World, Unite' with a photo of the young Elvis on the sleeve (1987)... Mötley Crüe fire Vince Neil when he turns up for rehearsals and announces that he has lost his passion for the band and is now more involved with racing cars (1992)... Sir Paul McCartney and Heather Mills appear at the High Court in London for a hearing to reach a financial settlement for their divorce. The proceedings in the Family Division, which will take place in private, are expected to last five days (2008).

February 10th

 Musical birthdays today include Leontyne Price (99, jazz bassist Rufus Reid (82), French chansonnier Maxime Le Forestier (77), drummer and Elton John sideman Nigel Olsson (77), Glassjaw frontman Daryl Palumbo (47), and Pierce the Veil lead singer Vic Fuentes (43). 

Shoutout to the Great Beyond for big band leader and drummer Chick Webb, born on this day in 1905... for harmonica virtuoso Larry Adler, born today in 1914... for Roberta Flack, who would have been 89 today... for pop & jazz singer Kenny Rankin, who would have been 85... for original Metallica bassist Cliff Burton, who would have been 64... for songwriter Billy Rose [best remembered for 'Me and My Shadow' and 'It's Only a Paper Moon'] who died on this date in 1966... for former Sweet lead singer Brian Connolly, who passed away in 1997... and for folk singer Dave van Ronk, who left us today in 2002. 

Also on February 10th: Jacques Offenbach's The Tales of Hoffman premieres in Paris (1893)... 'Chattanooga Choo Choo' by Glenn Miller and his Orchestra becomes the first recording to be awarded a gold record (in fact just a master copy of the disc sprayed with gold lacquer by RCA as a publicity stunt.) The actual award recognized today as a Gold Record would not be initiated for another 16 years, when the Recording Industry Association of America borrowed and trademarked the idea. The first official Gold single was Perry Como's 'Catch a Falling Star', and the first Gold album the soundtrack to the musical Oklahoma (1942)... Frank Sinatra's album Come Fly with Me goes to № 1 in the US (1958)... Presenting Dionne Warwick, the singer's debut album, is released (1963)... Bob Marley marries fellow Jamaican singer Rita Anderson (1966)... The Beatles record the orchestral build-up for the middle and end of 'A Day in the Life.' At the group's request, the orchestra members wear full evening dress along with various novelty items ~ the first violinist wears a red clown's nose, while a cellist wears a fake gorilla's paw on his bow hand. Other musicians wear funny hats and false noses & glasses. The session is filmed for a possible Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band TV special, an idea which is ultimately abandoned. Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Donovan and Mike Nesmith of The Monkees observe from the control booth (1967)... David Bowie kicks off the Ziggy Stardust & the Spiders from Mars tour at the Tolworth Toby Jug club in London (1972)... Elton John has his first UK № 1 album with Don't Shoot Me, I'm Only the Piano Player (1973)... Elvis Presley is sworn in as a deputy in the Memphis, TN police reserves (1976)... The Clash begin recording their debut album at CBS Studios in London. The album is completed in three weekend sessions at Studio 3 for a cost of $4,000, and is delivered to Columbia by the beginning of March (1977)... Van Halen's eponymous debut album is released (1978)... Rod Stewart has both the № 1 single and album in America, with 'Do Ya Think I'm Sexy' and Blondes Have More Fun, respectively (1979)... On a special edition of Oprah, Michael Jackson gives his first televised interview in 14 years, live from his Neverland ranch. The broadcast is watched by an estimated 90 million viewers (1993)... During a gig by Blur at the Astoria in London, Spice Girls Ginger and Sporty join the band for a number, but are forcibly removed from the stage by security, who fail to recognize them (1997)... Police investigate Eminem for suspected drugs offences after he appears to consume Ecstasy on stage at a Manchester show, and encourages audience members to do the same (2001)... Kanye West's debut album College Dropout is released... Roger Daltrey is awarded the CBE by the Queen at Buckingham Palace for services to the British music industry (2005)... Amy Winehouse accepts her 5 awards at this year's Grammys with a speech transmitted by satellite television, her US entry visa having been refused because of her numerous illegal substance abuse convictions. In addition to thanking the Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences, the singer also pays tribute to her husband, 'Blake the Incarcerated', who is currently in custody waiting trial on charges of obstruction of justice and grievous bodily harm (2008). 

February 9th

Musical birthdays today include jazz double bassist Len Skeat (89), Shadows drummer Brian Bennett (86), Carole King (84), R&B singer Barbara Lewis (83), Flatlanders guitarist Joe Ely (79), former Frankie Goes to Hollywood lead singer Holly Johnson (66), country singer Travis Tritt (63), former Dive lead singer Krister Linder (56), and Asia guitarist Sam Coulson (39). 

Shoutout to the Great Beyond for composer Alban Berg, born on this day in 1885... for Carmen Miranda, born in 1909... for Ernest Tubb, born in 1914... for Canadian country singer 'Stompin' Tom' O'Connors, who would have been 90 today... for R&B singer and Delfonics vocalist Major Harris, who would have been 79... for former Avenged Sevenfold drummer James 'The Rev' Sullivan, who would have been 45... for pop orchestra conductor Percy Faith, who died on this date in 1976... for Bill Haley, who passed away in 1981... for Buena Vista Social Club bassist Orlando 'Cachaito' Lopez, who died in 2010... and for Chick Corea, who left us five years ago today.  

Also on February 9th: Verdi's Falstaff has its world premiere at La Scala in Milan (1893)... The Beatles appear at the Cavern Club for the first time under their new name (1961)... Paul and Paula are at № 1 on the US singles chart with 'Hey Paula' (1963)... The Beatles make their US live debut on CBS-TV's 'The Ed Sullivan Show'. They are seen by approximately 73 million people as they perform 5 songs, including their current № 1 'I Want to Hold Your Hand'. The show received over 50,000 requests for the 728 seats in the studio (1964)... The promotional film for the latest Beatles' single 'Penny Lane/'Strawberry Fields Forever' is shown on BBC-TV's 'Top of the Pops'. It is the first single by the Fab Four to fail to go № 1 in the UK since 1963, stalling at № 2 behind Engelbert Humperdinck's 'Please Release Me' (1967)... Hal Cone, former manager of the Monkees, is found guilty of theft, forgery, receiving stolen property, and conspiracy (1968)... Paul McCartney and his new band Wings play the first night of a UK college and university tour in Nottingham. The group arrive unannounced and ask the university's social secretary if she would like them to perform that evening. The band's intended first stop, Ashby-de-la-Zouch, was refused by local authorities, so they drove on to Nottingham. Pub rockers Brinsley Schwarz are the opening act (1972)... More than 10 years after the Concert for Bangladesh, George Harrison presents UNICEF with a cheque for $9 million (£5.3 million) (1982)... Madonna's Like a Virgin goes to № 1 on the US album chart (1985)... Nirvana set out on a short west coast tour opening for Dinosaur Jr. at the Pine Street Theater in Portland, OR (1990)... C&C Music Factory go to № 1 in the US with 'Gonna Make You Sweat' (1991)... Touring the Antipodes for the first and only time, Nirvana make their New Zealand debut at the Logan Campbell Centre in Auckland (1992)... Eminem reinforces security for his UK concert tour following threats from gay rights groups. Campaigners say the rapper is a homophobe who promotes prejudice through his hate-filled lyrics (2001)... Robert Plant takes home five prizes at this year's Grammys for his collaboration with Alison Krauss, including album of the year for Raising Sand, and record of the year for 'Please Read the Letter' (2009).. The White Stripes take on the US Air Force, complaining that one of the group's songs, 'Fell in Love with a Girl' was used in a recruitment advertisement for TV without their permission. In a statement on their website, the duo say that they are '...insulted, and object strongly to the implication that we licensed one of our songs to encourage recruitment during a war that we do not support' (2010). 

February 8th

 Musical birthdays today include film score composer John Williams (94), Tom Rush (85), former Grass Roots guitarist Creed Bratton (83), industrial music percussionist Stefan Weisser AKA Z'EV (75), Spock's Beard bassist Dave Meros (70), session bassist Stuart Hamm (66), Vince Neil (65), Daft Punk co-member Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo (52), Indian pop singer Sophie Choudry (45), and Paramore bassist Jeremy Davis (41). 

Shoutout to the Great Beyond for producer Terry Melcher, who would have been 83 today... for Dan Seals [formerly half of England Dan & John Ford Coley), who would have been 78... for Max Yasgur, owner of the farm near Bethel, NY where the first Woodstock festival took place, who died on this date in 1973... for Del Shannon, who took his own life today in 1990 at the age of 55... for former Doobie Brothers drummer Keith Knudsen, who died in 2005... for ex-Soft Machine saxophonist Elton Dean, who passed away in 2006... for Argentine singer-songwriter Luis Spinetta, who died in 2012... and for Mary Wilson, who left us five years ago today at the age of 76. 

Also on February 8: Mussorgsky's Boris Godunov premieres at the Mavrinsky Theatre in St. Petersburg (1874)... On their first full day in New York, The Beatles (minus George, who has a sore throat), go for a photo-opportunity walk around Central Park. Over 400 fans, mostly female, follow them and extra police are called in to control them. Later in the day, The Ronettes interview The Beatles for radio (1964)... The Band Of Joy, featuring John Bonham and Robert Plant, make their first London appearance, opening for Edwin Starr at the Marquee Club in London (1968)... Bob Dylan goes to № 1 on the US album charts with Blood on the Tracks. The Ohio Players are atop the singles chart with 'Fire' (1975)... David and Angie Bowie's divorce becomes final, with the singer retaining custody of their son Zowie (1980)... REM go into Bombay Studios in Smyrna, GA for their first ever recording session. Tracks completed included 'Gardening At Night', 'Radio Free Europe' and '(Don't Go Back To) Rockville' (1981)... Right Said Fred have the № 1 single in America with 'I'm Too Sexy' (1989)... Oasis are forced to cancel their first foreign tour after they are deported from Holland. The band were involved in a drunken brawl on a cross-channel ferry, resulting in members of the band being arrested and locked in the brig on the craft (1994)... Eminem makes his live debut in the UK with a concert at the Manchester Arena (2001)... The magazine Good Housekeeping publishes the results of its annual poll of the world's sexiest women. Musical finishers include Kylie Minogue, in first place among women in their 30s. Sade was voted No. 4 in the over 40s, with Madonna coming in at No. 7 and Jerry Hall at No. 8.  Sharon Osbourne was voted into 3rd place in the over 50's section (2004).

February 7th

 

Musical birthdays today include ex-Three Dog Night keyboardist Jimmy Greenspoon (78), former Wings drummer Joe English (77), ex-Status Quo bassist Alan Lancaster (77), Garth Brooks (64), Bon Jovi keyboardist David Bryan (64), Godsmack frontman Sully Erna (58), electronic musician Amon Tobin (54), Babyshambles drummer Danny Goffey (52), Limp Bizkit guitarist Wes Borland (51), and Blue Öyster Cult bassist Richie Castellano (46). 

Shoutout to the Great Beyond for Dock Boggs, born on this day in 1898... for folk musician & NYC radio personality Oscar Brand, born in 1920... for Juliette Gréco, born in 1927... for jazz clarinetist Dave Shepherd, born in 1929... for saxophonist King Curtis, born in 1935... for former Kiss guitarist Mark St. John, who would have been 70.. for rapper James 'J Dilla' Yancey, who would have been 52... for piano company founder Henry E. Steinway, who died on this date in 1871... for Eddie 'Guitar Slim' Jones, who passed away in 1959... for original Foghat frontman Dave Peverett, who died in 2000... and for jazz singer Blossom Dearie, who left us today in 2009. 

Also on February 7th: Buddy Holly is buried in Lubbock, TX (1959)... Beatlemania arrives in America, as Pan Am flight 101 from London touches down at JFK carrying the Beatles (1964)... Robin, Maurice and Barry Gibb return to the UK after 9 years of living in Australia (1967)... John Lennon is named by Rolling Stone as Man of the Year, and appears on the magazine's cover along with Yoko... The Who record 'Pinball Wizard' at Morgan Studios in London (1969)... Led Zeppelin II becomes the group's first UK № 1 album... In the US, one-hit wonders Shocking Blue top the singles chart with 'Venus' (1970)... Paul Simon has first solo № 1 single in the USA with '50 Ways to Leave Your Lover' (1976)... Steven Stills becomes the first musician at the Record Plant in Los Angeles to record on digital equipment (1979)... Pink Floyd play the first of seven sold out nights at the L.A. Coliseum (1980)... Rush release the album Moving Pictures (1981)... State representative Billy Randall introduces a bill to make Little Richard's 'Tutti Frutti' Georgia's official rock song (1989)... At the age of 54, Debbie Harry becomes the oldest woman to sing on a UK № 1 single, as Blondie's 'Maria' goes to the top of the charts in Britain (1999)... Courtney Love arrives for a benefit concert at London's Old Vic Theatre dressed as Donald Duck. So attired, she joins Elton John on stage for a version of 'The Bitch Is Back' (2003)... Amy Winehouse is told that she cannot perform at this year's Grammy awards ceremony because her US visa application has been rejected by the embassy in London (2008).