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).

February 6th

 

Musical birthdays today include Fabian (83), folk singer Bill Staines (79), Gong multi-instrumentalist Tim Blake (74), session drummer Simon Phillips (69), Axl Rose (64), Tragically Hip lead singer Gordon Downie (62), Rick Astley (60), and country singer Anita Cochran (59). 

Shoutout to the Great Beyond for classical pianist Claudio Arrau, born on this day in 1903... for former Marvelettes vocalist Georgeanna Tillman and New Orleans funk musician and producer Willie Tee, both of whom would have been 82... for Bob Marley, who would have been 81... for former Little Feat drummer Richie Hayward and Kate McGarrigle, both of whom would have been 80... for Natalie Cole, who would have been 75... for former Hawkwind guitarist Huw Lloyd-Langton, who would have been 75... for film score composer Hugo Montenegro, who died on this date in 1981... for Hans Hölzel, AKA Falco, who was killed in a road accident today in 1998 at the age of 40... for Beach Boy Carl Wilson, who passed away on the same day... for Frankie Laine, who died in 2007... and for blues rock guitarist and Thin Lizzy member Gary Moore, who left us today in 2011. 

Also on February 6th: The first minstrel show in the United States, the Virginia Minstrels Review, opens at the Bowery Amphitheatre in NYC (1843)... Frank Sinatra makes his network radio debut, performing on the CBS program 'Your Hit Parade' (1943)... George Harrison joins The Quarrymen (1958)... The Rolling Stones' second album Rolling Stones No. 2 starts a three-week run at № 1 on the UK charts. The album follows its predecessor's tendency to feature primarily R&B covers. It does, however, contain three compositions from the still-developing Mick Jagger/Keith Richards songwriting team (1965)... The Byrds release their fourth studio album, Younger Than Yesterday... Pink Floyd are photographed for the weekly British girls magazine Jackie. The magazine was the best-selling teen publication in Britain for ten years. The best-ever selling issue was the 1972 special edition to coincide with the UK tour of David Cassidy (1967)... Led Zeppelin announce a small UK club tour which will see the group playing universities and small venues, with ticket prices at 12 shillings (60p). Zeppelin manager Peter Grant would later say “We decided to do the clubs and forget about the bread and the big concert halls” (1971)... The J Geils Band score their only № 1 US hit with 'Centerfold' (1982)... The mother and sister of Undertones lead singer Feargal Sharkey are kidnapped at gunpoint by Protestant militiamen in Londonderry, N. Ireland, and held for several hours before being released (1986)... Tiffany goes to № 1 on the US singles chart 'Could've Been' (1988)... Billy Idol is seriously injured when he runs a stop sign on his Harley-Davidson and crashes into a car (1990)... Ex-Jam members Bruce Foxton and Rick Buckler reach an out of court settlement a high court with Paul Weller after suing him for more than £100,000, claiming they were owed royalties and group assets (1996)... Don Felder is fired from The Eagles (2001)... 50 Cent releases his debut album Get Rich or Die Tryin' (2003)... An exhibition of Kylie Minogue's stage costumes, awards and accessories is launched in central London. The display at the Victoria and Albert Museum shows her changing image from 1987 onwards, including the dungarees she wore as Charlene in the Australian soap Neighbours and the gold hot pants she wore in her Spinning Around video (2007).

February 5th

 

Musical birthdays today include songwriter & ex-Atlanta Rhythm Section guitarist J.R. Cobb (82), Al Kooper (82), musical theatre composer & director Elizabeth Swados (75), former Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Cliff Martinez (72), ex-Guns N' Roses bassist Duff McKagan (62), String Cheese Incident bassist Keith Moseley (62), Bobby Brown (57), country singer Sara Evans (55), and AFI drummer Adam Carson (51). 

Shoutout to the Great Beyond for country singer Claude King, born on this day in 1923... for blues rocker Alex Harvey, who would have been 88 today... for Barrett Strong and for Three Dog Night vocalist Cory Wells, both of whom would have been 85... for French chansonnier Daniel Balavoine, who would have been 74... for Bill Haley & His Comets saxophonist Rudy Pompilli, who died on this date in 1976... and for former Glenn Miller Orchestra trombonist Paul Tanner, who left us today in 2014.

Also on February 5th: Verdi's Otello premieres at La Scala (1887)... 5,000 fans are waiting to greet Bill Haley when he disembarks from the ocean liner Queen Elizabeth at Southampton. It is the first tour of Britain by an American rock artist (1957)... Ringo Starr plays his first live show with the Beatles, sitting in for an ailing Pete Best at a gig at the Cavern Club (1962)... Petula Clark has her second № 1 in the USA with 'My Love'... The Rolling Stones release their new single '19th Nervous Breakdown' (1966)... The Beatles film the promotional video for 'Penny Lane' around London's Royal Theatre, and walking up and down Angel Lane (1967)... The Move have their only UK № 1 single with 'Blackberry Way' (1969)... Mick Ronson makes his first appearance with David Bowie for an appearance on the John Peel Sunday Concert show on BBC radio (1970)... Black Sabbath begin recording what will be their third album, Master Of Reality, at Island Studios in London. The record is generally considered to be the first 'sludge metal' album ~ guitarist Tony Iommi, decided to tune his guitar down by three semi-tones, and Geezer Butler also down-tuned his bass to match Iommi. The result is a noticeably 'darker' sound that almost two decades later would prove hugely influential on grunge (1971)... The Bee Gees release Spirits Having Flown. The album will go on to sell more than twenty million copies worldwide (1979)... Toto go to the top of the US singles chart with 'Africa' (1983)... Courtney Love blames her bad language for the alleged air rage incident that led to her arrest at London's Heathrow Airport. As she leaves Heathrow's police station the singer says: "I cussed at a lady ~ my daughter always said I had a potty mouth." When asked what it was like inside the police station, the singer says: "It was fine. They were wonderful in there. It was like being on Prime Suspect” (2003)... Janet Jackson's right breast is now the most searched for image in Internet history (2004)... The Rolling Stones play three songs during the half-time show of the Super Bowl in Detroit. After the event, the Stones express their displeasure over having Mick Jagger's microphone turned down during the song 'Start Me Up'. The line 'You make a dead man come' was cut short, and a barnyard reference to 'cocks' in the new song 'Rough Justice' also disappeared (2006).