February 11th

 

Musical birthdays today include classical pianist Jerome Lowenthal (89), bandleader Sergio Mendes (80), French chansonnier Serge Lama (78), ex-Gentle Giant lead singer Derek Shulman (74), Bad Brains lead singer Paul 'H.R.' Hudson (65), Sheryl Crow (59), Slipknot keyboardist Craig Jones (49), jazz pianist Ethan Iverson (48), Black Rebel Motorcycle Club guitarist Peter Hayes (45), Linkin Park rapper & songwriter Mike Shinoda (44), Brandy Norwood (42), Kelly Rowland (40), and Danity Kane vocalist Aubrey O'Day (37). 

Shoutout to the Great Beyond for classical pianist Rudolf Firkusny, born on this day in 1912... for Gene Vincent, who would have been 86 today... for Bobby Pickett, who would have been 83...  for songwriter Gerry Goffin, who would have been 82... for soul singer Al Johnson, who would have been 73... for  jazz violinist Didier Lockwood, who would have been 65... 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 ex-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).