August 27th

Musical birthdays today include Alabama founding member Jeff Cook (71), Rush guitarist Alex Lifeson (67), original Sex Pistols bassist Glen Matlock (64), Yolanda Adams (59), No Doubt bassist Tony Kanal (50), Bloodhound Gang guitarist Jimmy Pop (48) and Arcade Fire violinist Sarah Neufeld (41). 

Shoutout to the Great Beyond for jazz great Lester 'Pres' Young, born on this day in 1909... for Cajun singer Jimmy C. Newman, born in 1927... for Alice Coltrane, who would have been 83... for Daryl Dragon, who would have been 78... for Beatles discoverer and manager Brian Epstein, who died on this date in 1967 at 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)... The final 'Louisiana Hayride' show is broadcast. What started as a radio program and later became a TV show made its debut in 1948, and was transmitted live from Shreveport Municipal Memorial Auditorium, helping to launch the careers of numerous legends in country and early rock and roll (1960)... 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 № 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)... Louis Armstrong's ex-wife Lil, a pianist and bandleader in her own right, dies of a heart attack on stage whist performing 'St. Louis Blues' during a tribute concert in Chicago to her former husband (1971)... At Townhouse Studios in London, Bob Dylan finishes recording the soundtrack to 'Hearts of Fire', the upcoming film in which he plays his first dramatic role since Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid (1986)...  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).