October 11th

Musical birthdays today include country singer Gene Watson (75), Daryl Hall (72), Jean-Jacques Goldman (67), country singer Paulette Carlson (66), ex-Hanoi Rocks lead guitarist Andy McCoy (56), rock violinist Petra Haden (47), Limp Bizkit guitarist Mike Smith (45), and Mogwait bassist Dominic Aitchison (42). 

Shoutout to the Great Beyond for Art Blakey, born on this day in 1919... for jazzman Curtis Amy, who would have been 89... for country legend Dottie West, who would have been 86... for Marshall Tucker Band guitarist George McCorkle, who would have been 71... for composer Anton Bruckner, who died on this date in 1896... and for Werner von Trapp of the Trapp Family Singers [of The Sound of Music fame], who left us today in 2009. 

Also on October 11: In Warsaw, Chopin gives the first performance of his own Piano Concerto in e minor (1830)... Leopold Stokowski conducts the Philadelphia Symphony for the first time (1912)... Sam Phillips' Sun Records releases its first LP, Johnny Cash's debut album Johnny Cash with His Hot and Blue Guitar (1957)... The Beatles make their first appearance on the UK singles chart, as 'Love Me Do' cracks the top 40. It will eventually rise as high as № 4 (1962)... Marianne Faithfull records a version of 'Yesterday' at Decca Studios in London with Paul McCartney observing in the control booth (1965)... The Doors appear at Danbury High School in Connecticut. Before the group comes on stage, the school principal warns the audience that anyone leaving their seat during the performance will be escorted from the hall (1967)... George Harrison recruits six saxophonists to get the sound he wants on 'Savoy Truffle', as work on the White Album continues (1968)... Elvis and Priscilla Presley's divorce becomes final (1973)... The Police have the № 1 album in the UK today with Zenyatta Mondatta (1980)... Dave Grohl plays his first public show with Nirvana, as the band appear at the North Shore Surf Club in Olympia, WA (1990)... Elton John has the № 1 single in the US with the version of 'Candle in the Wind' re-written to commemorate Princess Diana's death... Across the Atlantic. the Verve go to the top of the UK album chart with Urban Hymns (1997)... Mojo magazine readers vote Elvis Presley's session for 'That's Alright' the most important moment in rock history. Coming in second is Bob Dylan's electric debut at Newport in 1965, and № 3 is the release of the Clash's eponymous debut album in 1977 (2003)... Bruce Springsteen, Dixie Chicks, R.E.M. and Pearl Jam wrap up the Vote for Change Tour at the MCI Center in Washington, D.C. (2004)... Radiohead release their latest album In Rainbows as a download via a pay-what-you-want model (2007).