November 1st

 

Musical birthdays today include saxophonist and former Thelonious Monk sideman Lou Donaldson (95), Kinky Friedman (77), Kool & the Gang saxophonist Ronald Bell (70), Lyle Lovett (64), Manfred Mann's Earth Band lead singer Robert Hart (63), Red Hot Chili Peppers frontman Anthony Kiedis (59), A-ha keyboardist Magne Furuholmen (59), Def Leppard drummer Rick Allen (58), Geto Boys rapper Willie D [né William Dennis] (55),  singer-songwriter Sophie B. Hawkins (53), and ex-Destiny's Child vocalist LaTavia Robertson (39). 

Shoutout to the Great Beyond for Staff Sergeant Barry Sadler [of 'Ballad of the Green Berets' fame] who would have been 81 today... for Family and Blind Faith bassist Ric Grech, who would have been 75... for America multi-instrumentalist Dan Peek, who would have been 71... for Stereolab guitarist Mary Hansen, who would have been 55... for rapper Ma Dre [né Andre Hicks], who was shot to death at age 34 on this day in 2004... and for session drummer Jimmy Carl Black, who left us today in 2008.

Also on November 1: Handel finishes his oratorio Israel in Egypt (1738)... Chopin leaves his native city of Warsaw for the last time, destination Vienna (1830)...R&B group The Famous Flames, led by singer James Brown, cut their first demo ‘Please, Please, Please’ at a radio station in Macon, Georgia. It will lead to their signing with King Records (1955)... Elvis Presley buys a new Harley Davidson, and spends the day riding around Memphis on his acquisition with actress Natalie Wood (1956)... George Harrison releases his first solo album, Wonderwall Music, on the Apple label. The songs, which are mostly Harrison instrumentals, feature Eric Clapton, Ringo Starr and an uncredited banjo contribution by Peter Tork of The Monkees (1968)... Elvis hits № 1 on the US singles chart with 'Suspicious Minds'. On the album rankings, the Beatles score their 13th US  № 1  with Abbey Road (1969)... The Grateful Dead release American Beauty (1970)... Paul McCartney & Wings kick off their first Australian tour with a show at the Entertainment Centre in Perth (1975)... Bruce Springsteen tops the Billboard album chart for the first time with The River (1980)... Whilst shooting the film Hearts of Fire in Canada, Bob Dylan jams with local outfit The Paul James Band in a bar in Markham, Ontario (1986)... Flavor Flav of Public Enemy is arrested and charged with the attempted murder of his neighbour. Flav claims that the man had had sex with his (Flav's) girlfriend (1993)... Danish dance-pop act Aqua are at № 1 on the UK charts with 'Barbie Girl'. The single will sell over 8 million copies worldwide (1997)... Organizers of the MTV Europe Awards recruit 500 'screamers' to attend this year's event. The music lovers are selected at an audition held in Edinburgh's Princes Street Gardens. About 1,500 pop-mad teenagers and adults scream themselves hoarse in a bid to get their hands on a ticket to the exclusive event (2003)... Metal Hammer magazine publishes a list of the 'Top ten rock and heavy metal moustaches…Ever'. The list, which includes moustaches worn by the likes of Frank Zappa, all the members of Black Sabbath, (except Ozzy Osbourne), James Hetfield and Lemmy, places Freddie Mercury at the top (2012).