Tuesday 27 August 2013

August 27

Musical birthdays today include Cajun singer Jimmy C. Newman (86), Daryl Dragon (71), Alabama founding member Jeff Cook (64), Rush guitarist Alex Lifeson (60), original Sex Pistols bassist Glen Matlock (57),  Yolanda Adams (52), No Doubt bassist Tony Kanal (43), Bloodhound Gang guitarist Jimmy Pop (41) and Arcade Fire violinist Sarah Neufeld (34). 

Shoutout to the Great Beyond for jazz great Lester 'Pres' Young, born on this day in 1909... for Alice Coltrane, who would have been 76... for Beatles discoverer and manager Brian Epstein, who died today in 1967 age 32... for Stevie Ray Vaughn, who was killed in a helicopter crash today in 1990 at the age of 45... and for pioneering British rocker Vince Taylor, who left us today in 1991. 

Also on August 27: The 9-year-old Metropolitan Opera House in NYC is gutted by fire. The 1892-93 season will be cancelled while the structure is rebuilt along its original lines (1892)... On the last day of a 5-day break during their current American tour, the Beatles visit a Byrds recording session in L.A., then in the evening meet Elvis for the first time, at his mansion in Beverly Hills. The encounter is an awkward one, leading John Lennon to conclude that the King's personality is "unmagnetic". Asked what it was like meeting Elvis, Lennon replies "It was like meeting Engelbert Humperdinck" (1965)... The Beach Boys' 'God Only Knows' peaks at no. 2 on the UK singles chart. In addition to being one of the first pop hits to use 'God' in its title, producer Brian Wilson used many unorthodox instruments, including the French horns used in the song's introduction. Paul McCartney later calls the tune 'the greatest pop song ever written' (1966)... In response to pressure from the British media, Bob Dylan agrees to a press conference at a hotel on the Isle of Wight in anticipation of his appearance at the festival three days hence. At one point, Dylan claims that his 1966 stage act "...was all for publicity. I don't do that kind of thing anymore. After the Q&A, which Dylan cuts short by standing up and announcing "I think I've answered enough questions", there is a brief photo session on the seafront before the singer is whisked back to his rehearsals with the Band (1969)... Pearl Jam release their debut album 'Ten' (1991)... Singer-songwriter Janis Ian marries her partner Patricia Snyder in Toronto. It is the second marriage for both (2003). 

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