Timeline of Pop and Rock Music Timeline Pop and Rock Return to homeBest song on day you were born: http://playback.fm/birthday-song 912Â Â Â Â Â Â
Egyptian singer Nehmes Bastet died about this time. In 2012 Egyptian
and Swiss archaeologists reported a roughly 1,100 year-old tomb of a
female singer in the Valley of the Kings. It was the only tomb of a
woman not related to the ancient royal families ever found in the
Valley of the Kings. The singer's name, Nehmes Bastet, means she was
believed to be protected by the feline deity Bastet. At the time of
her death, Egypt was ruled by Libyan kings, but the high priests who
ruled Thebes were independent.
   (AP, 1/15/12)
1497Â Â Â Â Â Â Robert Fayrfax
(1464-1521), English royal composer, wrote one of 2 Magnificats that
survived to modern times. He was considered the most prominent and
influential composer during of the reigns of Kings Henry VII and
Henry VIII of England.
   (SFC, 6/4/10,
p.F4)(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Fayrfax)
1620Â Â Â Â Â Â Thomas Tompkins
(1572-1656), English royal composer, wrote his madrigal “When David
Heard.”
   (SFC, 6/4/10, p.F4)
1873Â Â Â Â Â Â Aug 18, Otto Harbach,
songwriter (Smoke Gets in Your Eyes), was born in, SLC, Utah.
   (MC, 8/18/02)
1878Â Â Â Â Â Â May 25, Bill "Bojangles"
Robinson was born and began his dancing career in childhood. The
young song-and-dance man learned his trade in beer gardens,
traveling companies and later on the vaudeville circuit. Robinson
performed only within the black community until he was 50 years old,
when his unique style of tap-dancing, including his signature "stair
dance," crossed over to white audiences. Robinson, who continued to
perform into his late sixties, made 14 Hollywood motion pictures,
playing both stereotypical black roles and a handful of leads. He
died of a chronic heart condition in 1949.
   (WSJ, 5/19/98, p.A20)(HNPD, 5/26/99)
1878Â Â Â Â Â Â Jul 3, George M. Cohan,
American entertainer, was born. He wrote the songs "Over There,"
"You're a Grand Old Flag" and "I'm a Yankee Doodle Dandy" and the
play "Yankee Doodle-Dandy."
   (HN, 7/3/99)
1893Â Â Â Â Â Â Mildred and Patty Hill
wrote a song called "Good Morning to All" as a welcome song
for schoolchildren. It later became the "Happy Birthday" Song with a
1935 copyright on the lyrics.
   (SSFC, 10/5/03, Par p.24)
1896Â Â Â Â Â Â Apr 6, Edgar "Yip" Harburg
(d.1981), lyricist, was born as Isidore Hochberg. His songs included
"Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?" and "Over the Rainbow."
   (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yip_Harburg)
1898Â Â Â Â Â Â Apr 15, Bessie Smith,
American blues singer, was born.
   (HN, 4/15/01)
1898Â Â Â Â Â Â The Gramophone Company was
founded by William Barry Owen and Trevor Williams in London,
England. Owen was acting as agent for Emile Berliner, inventor of
the gramophone record, whilst Williams provided the finances. Most
of the company's early discs were made in Hanover, Germany at a
plant operated by members of Berliner's family, though it had
operations around the world.
  Â
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gramophone_Company)
1899Â Â Â Â Â Â Cecil Sharp (1859-1924,
English conductor, began collecting lullabies, carols, love and work
songs across the country. He became known as the founding father of
the folk-song revival in England in the early 20th century.
   (Econ, 8/19/17, p.72)
1899Â Â Â Â Â Â The Gramophone Company
bought a painting by Francis Barraud of the dog Nipper listening to
a cylinder phonograph. The painting was titled "His Master's
Voice". The first HMV-branded store was opened by the
Gramophone Company on Oxford Street in 1921.
   (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMV)
1900Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 1, Xavier Cugat
(d.1990), bandleader (married Abbe Lane, Charo), was born in
Barcelona, Spain.
   (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xavier_Cugat)
1901Â Â Â Â Â Â Jul 28, Rudy Vallee,
singer (Vagabond Dreams, My Time Is Your Time), was born in Vermont.
   (SC, 7/28/02)
1901Â Â Â Â Â Â The first disc format
10-inch 78 rpm record were introduced. 78s were recorded and played
back "acoustically", without any electric amplifiers or microphones
until about 1925. They became obsolete by about 1960.
  Â
(http://tinyurl.com/k2fyf)(www.history-of-rock.com/record_formats.htm)Â Â Â
1903Â Â Â Â Â Â May 3, Bing Crosby
(d.1977), singer and actor, was born in Tacoma, Wa. The family soon
moved to Spokane where he grew up.
   (HN, 5/3/98)(SSFC, 1/21/01, BR p.10)
1905Â Â Â Â Â Â Aug 24, Arthur "Big Boy"
Crudup, blues singer, was born. He was a major influence on Elvis
Presley.
   (HN, 8/24/00)
1906Â Â Â Â Â Â Dec 2, Peter Carl Goldmark
(d.1977), engineer, was born in Budapest, Hungary. He developed the
first commercial color television and the long-playing phonograph
record.
   (HN, 12/2/00)(AP, 12/2/06)
1907Â Â Â Â Â Â May 1, Kate Smith
(d.1986), singer, was born in Washington, DC.
   (AP,
5/1/07)(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kate_Smith)
1909Â Â Â Â Â Â Apr 1, Eddie Duchin,
society pianist, bandleader (Eddie Duchin Orch), was born in Mass.
   (MC, 4/1/02)
1909Â Â Â Â Â Â May 10, Maybelle Carter,
country singer (Johnny Cash Show), was born in Nickelsville, Va.
   (MC, 5/10/02)
1909Â Â Â Â Â Â Jun 1, Guido Deiro,
European vaudeville star, introduced the "fizarmonica systema piano"
at the Alaskan Exposition in Seattle, Washington. He was contracted
by the Ranco Antonio Accordion Company of Italy and is credited with
naming the instrument " piano accordion." His brother Pietro Deiro
was the first to play the accordion in San Francisco.
   (www.guidodeiro.com)
1909Â Â Â Â Â Â Aug 10, Leo Fender,
inventor of the first mass-produced electric guitar, was born.
   (HN, 8/10/00)
1910 Â Â Â Â Â Â Aug 7, In San Francisco
the Chutes vaudeville theater on Fillmore St. attracted Sophie
Tucker, who revived her career after being black-balled by Flo
Ziegfeld back in New York. Tucker performed the Grizzly Bear song in
San Francisco. Sophie Tucker at the Chutes theater creates a genuine
furor with her rendition of “The Dance of the Grizzly Bear.” She did
two Sunday through Saturday runs, August 7 - 13, and September 18 -
24. in 1910.
   (AJSF, Vol. 14. No. 2, Winter,
2003)(http://sfpl.org/index.php?pg=2000131701)
1913Â Â Â Â Â Â May 18, Perry Como
(Pierino Roland Como, d. 2001), singer, was born in Canonsburg, Pa.
[maybe 1912]
   (SSFC, 5/13/01, p.A27)(SC, 5/18/02)
1915Â Â Â Â Â Â Apr 7, Billie Holliday,
jazz and blues legend, was born. She sang "God Bless the Child."
   (HN, 4/7/99)
1915Â Â Â Â Â Â Jun 9, Les Paul (d.2009),
American guitarist and electric guitar innovator, was born.
   (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Les_Paul)
1915Â Â Â Â Â Â Hans Leip, in training for
the Prussian Guard, authored the poem “Song of a Young Sentry.” It
reflected his recent meetings with two women named Lili and Marlene.
In 1938 Norbert Schultze of Berlin put it to music. The composition
was recorded in 1939 by cabaret chanteuse Lale Anderson and became
hugely popular as the song “Lili Marlene.” In 2008 Liel Leibovitz
and Matthew Miller authored “Lili Marlene: The Soldier’s Song of
World War II.”
   (WSJ, 11/8/08,
p.W8)(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lili_Marleen)
1916Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 15, Harry James
(d.1983), American band leader and trumpet player, was born, He is
best remembered for his hit "You Made Me Love You." He married Betty
Grable
   (HN,
3/15/99)(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_James)
1916Â Â Â Â Â Â Dec 2, Paolo Tosti,
Italian-born composer and music teacher, died at the Hotel Excelsior
in Rome. In 1894 Tosti joined the British Royal Academy of Music as
a professor. In 1906, he became a British citizen and was knighted
two years later by his friend, King Edward VII. In 1913 he returned
to Italy to spend his last years there. Tosti wrote a total of 360
songs in his lifetime including: “Goodbye,” “Forever,” and “Mother.”
  Â
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paolo_Tosti)(www.bohemianopera.com/tosti.htm)
1917Â Â Â Â Â Â Apr 1, Scott Joplin (48),
ragtime composer (Sting), died.
   (MC, 4/1/02)
1917Â Â Â Â Â Â Jun 17, Dean Martin,
singer and comedian, was born as Dino Crocetti in Steubenville,
Ohio. He worked with Jerry Lewis. His films included "My Friend
Irma," "Hollywood or Bust," "Airport," "Bells are Ringing" and "Rio
Bravo." [see Jun 7]
   (MC, 6/17/02)
1918Â Â Â Â Â Â Jul 11, Enrico Caruso
joined the war effort and recorded "Over There", the patriotic song
written by George M. Cohan.
   (www.enricocaruso.dk/musicdetails.php?mid=78)
1919Â Â Â Â Â Â May 3, Pete Seeger
(d.2014), American folksinger and songwriter, was born in NYC. His
father was a musicologist and his mother a concert violinist. Seeger
helped to lay the foundation for American protest music, singing out
about the plight of everyday working folks and urging listeners to
political and social activism.
  Â
(www.rutherford.org/oldspeak/Articles/Art/oldspeak-Seeger.html)(SFC,
1/29/14, p.A10)
1921Â Â Â Â Â Â Ted Snyder wrote the hit
song "Sheik of Araby."
   (WSJ, 6/3/03, p.D5)
1922Â Â Â Â Â Â Otto Jesperson
(1860-1943), Danish linguist, authored “Language: Its Nature,
Development and Origins.” “Men sang out their feelings long before
they were able to speak their thoughts. But of course we must not
imagine that "singing" means exactly the same thing here as in a
modern concert hall. When we say that speech originated in song,
what we mean is merely that our comparatively monotonous spoken
language and our highly developed vocal music are differentiations
of primitive utterances, which had more in them of the latter than
of the former. These utterances were, at first, like the singing of
birds and the roaring of many animals and the crooning of babies,
exclamative, not communicative--that is, they came forth from an
inner craving of the individual without any thought of any
fellow-creatures. Our remote ancestors had not the slightest notion
that such a thing as communicating ideas and feelings to someone
else was possible.”
  Â
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Otto_Jespersen)(www.lawrence.edu/fast/koopmajo/antiquity.html)
1923Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 16, Bessie Smith
(1898-1937) made her first recording "Down Hearted Blues." Her
recording was included by the National Recording Preservation Board
in the Library of Congress' National Recording Registry in 2002.
  Â
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Downhearted_Blues)(www.youtube.com/watch?v=go6TiLIeVZA)
1923Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 10, Kenneth "Jethro"
Burns, country singer (Homer & Jethro), was born.
   (MC, 3/10/02)
1923Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 23, Frank Silver and
Irving Conn released "Yes, We Have No Bananas."
   (SS, 3/23/02)
1924Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 27, Sarah Vaughan,
'the Divine One,' jazz singer, was born. She was famous for singing
"What a Difference a Day Makes."
   (HN, 3/27/99)
1924Â Â Â Â Â Â Jun 9, "Jelly-Roll Blues,"
was recorded by blues great, Jelly Roll Morton.
   (MC, 6/9/02)
1924Â Â Â Â Â Â Nov 4, Gabriel Faure
(b.1845), French composer, organist, pianist, and teacher, died in
Paris. He was the foremost French composer of his generation. His
musical style influenced many 20th century composers.
   (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gabriel_Faur%C3%A9)
1925Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 28, "Tea For Two" by
Marion Harris hit #1.
   (MC, 2/28/02)
1925Â Â Â Â Â Â Apr 12, Tiny Tim, [Herbert
Khaury], singer (Tiptoe Through the Tulips), was born.
   (MC, 4/12/02)
1925Â Â Â Â Â Â May, Lee Morse
(1897-1954), US jazz and blues singer and songwriter, recorded her
hit song Ukulele Lady. Her most popular years were in the 1920s and
early 1930s, although her career began around 1917 and continued
until her death.
   (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ruYQYwneWyw)
1926Â Â Â Â Â Â Aug 3, Tony Bennett,
singer, was born in Queens, NY.
   (SC, 8/3/02)
1926Â Â Â Â Â Â Irving Berlin wrote his
tune “Blue Skies.”
   (MT, Fall/99, p.24)
1927Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 17, Eartha Kitt
(d.2008), American singer and actress (Catwoman-Batman), was born in
South Carolina.
   (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eartha_Kitt)
1927Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 1, Harry Belafonte,
calypso singer (Buck and the Preacher), was born in Harlem, NYC.
   (SC, 3/1/02)
1927Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
Apr 1, The first automatic record changer was introduced by
His Master's Voice.
   (OTD)
1927Â Â Â Â Â Â Aug 1, The Bristol
Sessions, a series of historic recording sessions, took place in in
Bristol, a small town on the Tennessee-Virginia state line, and
helped spread what was then known as "hillbilly music" to the rest
of the country. The Carter Family (A.P., wife Sara, and cousin
Maybelle) came down from the mountains of Virginia and began
recording their country style "hillbilly" music for Ralph Peel of
the Victor Talking Machine Co. Peel had set up a makeshift studio in
the Taylor-Christian Hat Co. warehouse on State Street, recording 76
songs in 10 days. Jimmy Rogers (1898-1933) came from
Mississippi to record. In 2002 Mark Zwonitzer and Charles Hirshberg
authored "Will You Miss me When I’m Gone: The Carter Family and
Their Legacy in American Music."
   {Tennessee, Virginia, USA, Pop&Rock, Jugband}
   (WSJ, 8/1/02, p.A1)(SSFC, 8/4/02, p.M3)(AP,
9/30/14)
1927Â Â Â Â Â Â Dec, In Nashville, Ten.,
after harmonica wizard DeFord Bailey played his "Pan American
Blues," WSM Announcer Judge Hay got the idea to change the name of
the show from the "Barn Dance" to the "Grand Ole Opry."
   (www.pbs.org/deford/timeline/index.html)
1928Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 1, Paul Whiteman and
his orchestra recorded "Ol' Man River" for Victor Records.
   (SC, 3/1/02)
1928Â Â Â Â Â Â May 3, James Brown, "The
Godfather of Soul," was born in Augusta, Georgia. The singer is best
remembered for the song "I Feel Good."
   (HN, 5/3/99)(MC, 5/3/02)
1928Â Â Â Â Â Â Aug 10, Eddie Fisher
(d.1010), American singer, was born. His hits included "I'm Walking
Behind You" and "Oh, My Pa-Pa."Â
   (SFC, 9/24/10, p.C6)
1928Â Â Â Â Â Â James B. Davis (1916-2007)
organized the Dixie Hummingbirds from members of his church choir in
Greenville, SC. In 1973 the group backed Paul Simon in the hit
“Loves Me Like a Rock.” In 1999 the House of Blues released a Dixie
Hummingbirds album: “Music in the Air.”
   (SFC, 4/30/07, p.B8)
1929Â Â Â Â Â Â Apr 8, Jacques Brel
(d.1978), singer, actor, was born in Belgium.
   (MC, 4/8/02)
1929Â Â Â Â Â Â May 12, Burt Bacharach,
composer, was born in KC, Mo. His songs included "I’ll Never Fall in
Love Again."
   (SC, Internet, 5/12/97)(MC, 5/12/02)
1929Â Â Â Â Â Â Jun 23, Valerie June
Carter (d.2003) was born in Maces Springs, Va., to Mother Maybelle
Carter, a founding member of the Carter Family trio. She married
Johnny Cash in 1968.
   (SFC, 5/16/03, p.A24)
1929Â Â Â Â Â Â Aug 12, Buck Owens,
country singer (Hee Haw), was born in Sherman, Texas.
   (SC, 8/12/02)
1930Â Â Â Â Â Â The German song "Veronika,
der Lenz ist da" (Veronika, the spring is here), written by
Austria-born Walter Jurmann (1903-1971), became a big hit for the
Comedian Harmonists.
   (https://tinyurl.com/ubrazyt)(Economist, 4/4/20,
p.40)
1931Â Â Â Â Â Â Sep 12, George Jones,
country singer, was born.
   (HN, 9/12/00)
1931Â Â Â Â Â Â Dec 3, Danielius Dolskis
(b.1891), Lithuanian-Jewish singer, died. His songs included “Onyte,
einam su manim pašokti” (Dear Anna, Come Dance With Me) (1930).
  Â
(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_2JR_OYmQIc&feature=related)
1931Â Â Â Â Â Â The first electric guitar,
the Rickenbacker "frying pan," was made.
   (NH, 6/97, p.64)(SSFC, 11/9/03, p.C5)
1932Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 26, Johnny Cash
(d.2003) country singer (I Walk The Line, Folsom Prison Blues, Boy
Named Sue), was born in Kingsland, Arkansas.
   (NW, 9/22/03, p.98)
1932Â Â Â Â Â Â Aug 12, Porter Wagoner,
country singer, discovered Dolly Parton (Y'All Come), was born.
   (SC, 8/12/02)
1932Â Â Â Â Â Â The Milton Ager and Jack
Yellen song “Happy Days Are Here Again” was used as the campaign
song for the election of Franklin Delano Roosevelt.
   (SFC, 1/19/09, p.E1)
1933Â Â Â Â Â Â Apr 30, Willie Nelson,
country singer who sang "On the Road Again" and "To All the Girls
I’ve Loved Before," was born.
   (HN, 4/30/98)
1933Â Â Â Â Â Â May 26, Jimmie Rodgers
(b.1897), American country singer known most widely for his rhythmic
yodeling, died of tuberculosis in NYC.
  Â
 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jimmie_Rodgers_%28country_singer%29)(SSFC,
10/7/12, p.C12)
1933Â Â Â Â Â Â Sep 1, Conway Twitty
[Harold Jenkins], country singer (Hello Darlin'), was born in Miss.
   (SC, 9/1/02)
1934Â Â Â Â Â Â The MUZAK Corp. formed to
provide background music using phonograph records for hotels and
restaurants. In 2011 Mood Media Corp. of Toronto said it would pay
$345 million for the privately held Muzak, headquartered since 1999
in Fort Mill, SC.
   (SSFC, 3/27/11, p.A10)
1934Â Â Â Â Â Â Â The Australian song
"Kookaburra" was penned by teacher Marion Sinclair for a contest
sponsored by the Victorian Girl Guides. In 1990 music company
Larrikin acquired the rights to "Kookaburra." In 2010 the Australian
band Men at Work were found guilty of plagiarizing the children's
ditty in their 1980s hit "Down Under" after a court battle involving
two of the nation's most iconic songs.
   (AFP,
2/4/10)(http://cip.law.ucla.edu/cases/inplay_larrikin.doc)
1935Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 16, Salvatore Bono
(d.1998), vocalist (Sonny & Cher), (Rep-R-Ca, 1995-98), was born
in Detroit.
   (SFC, 1/6/98, p.A11)(MC, 2/16/02)
1935Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 31, Herb Alpert,
bandleader, trumpeter (Tijuana Brass), CEO (A & M), was born.
   (MC, 3/31/02)
1935Â Â Â Â Â Â Apr 14, Loretta Lynn,
singer (Coal Miner's Daughter), was born in Butcher's Hollow, Ky. In
1948 she married Doo Lynn (d.1996). She recorded her 1st single in
1960: "I’m a Honky Tonk Girl."
   (MC, 4/14/02)(SSFC, 1/26/03, Par p.8)
1935Â Â Â Â Â Â Jun 24, Carlos Gardel
(B.1890), French-born Argentine tango singer and composer, died with
17 others, including three of his guitarists, when the propeller
plane they were traveling in collided with another on takeoff from
Medellin, Colombia, and burst into flames. Gardel's baritone voice
and the dramatic phrasing of his lyrics made miniature masterpieces
of his hundreds of three-minute tango recordings.
   (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carlos_Gardel)(AP,
6/25/05)(Econ, 1/21/17, p.26)
1935Â Â Â Â Â Â Frances Langford
(1913-2005), singer and entertainer, made a hit with the song “I’m
in the Mood for Love” by Dorothy Fields and Jimmy McHugh.
   (SFC, 7/12/05, p.B5)
1936Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 22, Roger Whittaker,
country singer (Durham Town), was born in Nairobi, Kenya.
   (MC, 3/22/02)
1936Â Â Â Â Â Â Apr 22, Glen Campbell,
American country music singer (By the Time I get to Phoenix,
Galveston), was born in Arkansas.
   (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glen_Campbell)
1936Â Â Â Â Â Â Apr 23, Roy Orbison,
rocker (Pretty Woman), was born in Vernon, Tx.
   (MC, 4/23/02)
1936Â Â Â Â Â Â May 14, Bobby Darin
(d.1973), singer (Mack the Knife), was born in the Bronx as Walden
Robert Cassotto.
   (www.history-of-rock.com/bobby_darin.htm)
1936Â Â Â Â Â Â Sep 7, Rock legend Buddy
Holly was born Charles Hardin Holley in Lubbock, Texas.
   (AP, 9/7/97)
1937Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 1, Don Everly, was
born. (singer: group: The Everly Brothers with brother, Phil: Wake
Up Little Susie, Bye Bye Love, Cathy’s Clown, All I Have To Do Is
Dream)
   (440 Int'l, 2/1/1999)
1937Â Â Â Â Â Â Apr 6, Merle Haggard,
American country musician, was born.
   (HN, 4/6/01)
1937Â Â Â Â Â Â May 15, Trini Lopez,
singer, guitarist (If I Had a Hammer), was born in Trinidad.
   (MC, 5/15/02)
1937Â Â Â Â Â Â Jun 4, Freddy Fender,
singer, was born as Baldemar Huerta. His songs included: Wasted Days
and Wasted Nights and Before the Next Teardrop Falls.
  Â
(www.napster.com/view/artist/index.html?id=11508506)
1937Â Â Â Â Â Â Jul 11, George Gershwin
(b.1898 as Jacob Gershowitz), composer, died of a brain tumor at age
38 in Beverly Hills, Ca. His work included "Cuban Overture."Â
He wrote his first hit, "Swanee," in 1918 for the Broadway show,
"Sinbad," starring Al Jolson. George Gershwin wrote the scores for
such Broadway shows as "Funny Face," "Porgy and Bess" and "Of Thee I
Sing" (his first musical to win a Pulitzer Prize [1932]). Gershwin
played the piano at the premiere of his widely acclaimed "Rhapsody
in Blue" in 1924, accompanied by the Paul Whiteman Orchestra.
Gershwin’s song hits included "The Man I Love," "’S Wonderful,"
"Summertime" and "Love Is Here to Stay." The lyrics for many of his
songs were written by his brother Ira. He was born September 26,
1898, in Brooklyn, NYC, NY. to Russian Jewish immigrants.
   (www.gershwin.com/)(SFC, 12/4/96, p.E1)(WSJ,
9/24/97, p.A20)(SFEC, 8/16/98, DB p.38)
1937Â Â Â Â Â Â Nov 7, Mary Travers, folk
singer (Peter, Paul and Mary), was born in Louisville, Ky.
   (SSFC, 2/15/04, Par p.18)
1937Â Â Â Â Â Â Orestes Lopez (Cuban
pianist) and his brother bassist Israel (Cachao) Lopez (1918-2008)
formalized an improvisation they called danzon mambo.
   (SFEC, 9/19/99, DB p.37)(SSFC, 3/23/08, p.A2)
1938Â Â Â Â Â Â Apr 26, Duane Eddy,
guitarist, was born. His songs included: "Rebel-’rouser," "Forty
Miles of Bad Road," " Because they’re Young," " A Thunder of drums,"
"The Wild Westerners," "The Savage Seven," and "Kona Coast."
   (440 Int’l. Internet, 4/26/97, p.1)
1938Â Â Â Â Â Â May 26, William Bolcom,
American composer, was born in Seattle. Washington. Bolcom won the
Pulitzer Prize for music in 1988 for 12 New Etudes for Piano. In the
fall of 1994, he was named the Ross Lee Finney Distinguished
University Professor of Composition at the University of Michigan.
   (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Bolcom)
1938Â Â Â Â Â Â May 31, Peter Yarrow,
(Peter, Paul & Mary-Puff the Magic Dragon), was born in NYC.
   (MC, 5/31/02)
1938Â Â Â Â Â Â Nov 10, Kate Smith first
sang Irving Berlin's "God Bless America" on her CBS radio program,
which aired Thursdays.
   (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oIi0VUAAlaU)
1939Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 7, Guy Lombardo and
Royal Canadians made the 1st recording of "Auld Lang Syne."
   (MC, 3/7/02)
1939Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 25, Billboard Magazine
introduced the hillbilly (country) music chart.
   (MC, 3/25/02)
1939Â Â Â Â Â Â Apr 2, Marvin P. Gaye Jr,
singer (Sexual Healing), was born in Wash, DC.
   (MC, 4/2/02)
1939Â Â Â Â Â Â May 1, Judy Collins,
singer (Send in the Clowns, Clouds), was born in Seattle, Wash.
   (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judy_Collins)
1939Â Â Â Â Â Â Jun 30, Frank Sinatra made
his first appearance with the Harry James' band.
   (MC, 6/30/02)
1940Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 19, Smokey Robinson,
American singer and songwriter, was born. He was famous for his
songs "Tears of a Clown" and "Tracks of My Tears."
   (HN, 2/19/99)
1940Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 25, Anita Bryant,
homophobe, singer (George Gobel Show), was born in Barnsdall, Okla.
   (MC, 3/25/02)
1940Â Â Â Â Â Â Apr 28, Glenn Miller and
his orchestra recorded "Pennsylvania 6-5000" for RCA Victor.
   (AP, 4/28/97)
1940Â Â Â Â Â Â May 8, Ricky Nelson, rock
star (Hello Mary Lou, It's Late, Garden Party), was born in NJ.
   (MC, 5/8/02)
1940Â Â Â Â Â Â May 23, Tommy Dorsey and
His Orchestra, the Pied Pipers and featured soloist Frank Sinatra
recorded "I'll Never Smile Again" in New York for RCA.
   (AP, 5/23/97)
1940Â Â Â Â Â Â The Spanish song "Bésame
Mucho" was written Mexican Consuelo Velázquez before her sixteenth
birthday. The phrase "besame mucho" can be translated into English
as "kiss me a lot". She wrote this song even though she had never
been kissed yet at the time. She was inspired by the aria "Quejas, o
la Maja y el Ruiseñor" from the Spanish 1916 opera Goyescas by
Enrique Granados. The lyrics were translated into English by Sunny
Skylar.
   (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/B%C3%A9same_Mucho)
1941Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 2, The Andrews Sisters
recorded what became a big hit for them, the Boogie Woogie Bugle
Boy.
  Â
(www.history.com/this-day-in-history.do?action=Article&id=2811)
1941Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 7, Frank Sinatra and
Tommy Dorsey Orch recorded "Everything Happens to Me."
   (MC, 2/7/02)
1941Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 14, Xavier Cugat and
his Orchestra recorded "Babalu."
   (MC, 3/14/02)
1941Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 19, Jimmy Dorsey and
Orchestra recorded "Green Eyes" and "Maria Elena" for Decca Records.
   (AP, 3/19/01)
1941Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 30, Graeme Edge, rock
drummer (Moody Blues-Your Wildest Dreams), was born in England.
   (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Graeme_Edge)
1941Â Â Â Â Â Â May 13, Ritchie Valens,
singer (Donna, La Bamba), was born.
   (MC, 5/13/02)
1941Â Â Â Â Â Â May 24, Bob Dylan (Robert
Allen Zimmerman), singer and songwriter, was born in Minnesota. He
is famous for his songs "Hard Rain's Gonna Fall," and "Blowin' in
the Wind."
   (SFC, 8/26/97, p.E3)(HN, 5/24/99)
1941Â Â Â Â Â Â May 29, Roy Crewsdon,
rocker (Freddie & The Dreamers), was born in Manchester.
   (SC, 5/29/02)
1941Â Â Â Â Â Â Jul 22, George Clinton,
American musician and the principal architect of P-Funk was born in
North Carolina. He was the mastermind of the bands Parliament and
Funkadelic during the 1970s and early 1980s.
   (www.last.fm/music/George+Clinton)
1941Â Â Â Â Â Â Aug 2, Buffy Sainte-Marie,
folksinger and songwriter, was born in Saskatchewan, Canada.
   (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buffy_Sainte-Marie)
1941Â Â Â Â Â Â Aug 31, Alan Lomax,
musicologist for the US Library of Vongress, traveled to
Mississippi, introduced himself to McKinley Morganfield, aka Muddy
Waters, and began recording his Delta Blues songs.
   (ON, 8/20/11, p.4)
1941Â Â Â Â Â Â Russ Solomon (1925-2018)
founded Tower Records inside his father’s Sacramento drugstore and
built it into a worldwide chain of 170 stores. It folded in 2006 in
the wake of the Internet and music streaming.
   (SFC, 3/7/18, p.D2)
1942Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 25, Aretha Franklin,
American singer, the "Queen of Soul," was born in Memphis, Tenn.
   (HN, 3/25/01)(SSFC, 6/30/02, Par p.30)
1942Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
Jan 10, Jim Croce, (d.1973) rock vocalist (Time in a Bottle, Workin'
At The Car Wash Blues), was born in Phila.
   (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Croce)
1942Â Â Â Â Â Â Apr 26, Bobby Rydell
(Ridarelli), singer, was born. His songs included: "Wild One," "We
Got Love," and "Volare."
   (440 Int’l. Internet, 4/26/97, p.1)
1942Â Â Â Â Â Â May 5, Tammy Wynette,
country singer (Stand by your Man), was born in Redbay, Alabama.
   (MC, 5/5/02)
1942Â Â Â Â Â Â May 20, Glenn Miller and
His Orchestra recorded "(I've Got a Gal in) Kalamazoo" at Victor
Studios in Hollywood.
   (AP, 5/20/02)
1942Â Â Â Â Â Â May 29, Bing Crosby, the
Ken Darby Singers and the John Scott Trotter Orchestra recorded
Irving Berlin's "White Christmas" in Los Angeles for Decca Records.
   (AP, 5/29/98)
1942Â Â Â Â Â Â Jun 20, Brian Wilson
(Beach Boys), was born.
   (MC, 6/20/02)
1942Â Â Â Â Â Â Jun 24, Mick Fleetwood
(musician: drums: group: Fleetwood Mac: Dreams, Don't Stop), was
born.
   (MC, 6/24/02)
1942Â Â Â Â Â Â Jul 31, At midnight the
record studios fell silent in a struggle with James Caesar Petrillo,
head of the American Federation of Musicians. Petrillo insisted that
the record industry pay a ¼ to ¾ cent royalty to the musicians
union. Decca signed an agreement in Aug, 1943, and Columbia and
Victor surrendered Nov 11, 1944.
   (WSJ, 7/31/02, p.D10)
1942Â Â Â Â Â Â Aug 1, Jerry Garcia, lead
singer of the Grateful Dead, was born.
   (HN, 8/1/98)
1942Â Â Â Â Â Â Aug 7, B.J. (Billy Joe)
Thomas, singer (Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head, Hooked on a
Feeling), was born.
   (MC, 8/7/02)
1942Â Â Â Â Â Â Aug 20, Isaac Hayes
(d.2008), American singer and composer (Shaft), was born in
Covington, TN.
   (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isaac_Hayes)
1943Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 23, In Mississippi
Muddy Waters received two copies of “Country Blues,” recorded by
Alan Lomax for the Library of Congress, along with a check for $20.
   (ON, 8/20/11, p.5)
1943Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 19, "Mama" Cass
Elliot, actress (Mamas & Papas-Monday Monday), was born.
   (MC, 2/19/02)
1943Â Â Â Â Â Â May 10, Donovan Leitch,
guitarist, folk singer (Mellow Yellow), was born in Scotland.
   (MC, 5/10/02)
1943Â Â Â Â Â Â Jul 25, Jim McCarty,
rocker (The Yardbirds-For Your Love), was born.
   (SC, 7/25/02)
1943Â Â Â Â Â Â Jul 26, In England Mick
[Michael Phillip] Jagger, musician, member of the Rolling Stones,
was born in Dartford, Kent.
   (SFEM,11/9/97, p.9)(HN, 7/26/01)
1943Â Â Â Â Â Â Jul 28, Mike Bloomfield,
blues musician (Analine), was born.
   (SC, 7/28/02)
1943Â Â Â Â Â Â Sep 23, Julio Iglesias De
la Cueva, Spanish singer (To All the Girls I’ve Loved Before…), was
born in Madrid.
   (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julio_Iglesias)
1943Â Â Â Â Â Â Nov 7, Joni Mitchell,
singer, songwriter, was born as Roberta J. Anderson in Alberta,
Canada.  Â
   (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joni_Mitchell)
1944Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 7, Bing Crosby and the
John Scott Trotter Orchestra recorded "Swinging on a Star" for Decca
Records in Los Angeles.
   (AP, 2/7/97)
1944Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 26, Diana Ross
[Earle], (Supremes, Lady Sings the Blues, Mahogany), was born
Detroit, MI.
   (SS, 3/26/02)
1944Â Â Â Â Â Â Apr 3, Tony Orlando,
singer (& Dawn-Tie a Yellow Ribbon), was born in NYC.
   (MC, 4/3/02)
1944Â Â Â Â Â Â Jun 7, Clarence White,
guitarist (The Byrds-Turn! Turn! Turn!), was born.
   (SC, 6/7/02)
1944Â Â Â Â Â Â Jun 8, Boz (William)
Scaggs (musician, singer: Lowdown, Lido Shuffle, Look What You've
Done To Me), was born.
   (MC, 6/8/02)
1945Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 6, Bob Marley
(d.1981), reggae superstar, was born in Jamaica. He is best
remembered for his songs "Buffalo Soldier" and "Fire on the
Mountain."
   (HN, 2/6/99)(SFC, 12/14/04, p.E10)
1945Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 10, "Rum & Coca
Cola" by the Andrews Sisters hit #1.
   (MC, 2/10/02)
1945Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 26, Mitch Ryder,
rocker (Mitch Ryder and the Detroit Wheels-Devil With the Blue
Dress), was born.
   (SC, 2/26/02)
1945Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 27, Ella Fitzgerald
and the Delta Rhythm Boys recorded "It's Only a Paper Moon."
   (MC, 3/27/02)
1945Â Â Â Â Â Â Apr 25, Stu Cook, rock
bassist (Creedence Clearwater Revival-Proud Mary), was born.
   (SS, 4/25/02)
1945Â Â Â Â Â Â May 19, Peter Townshend,
England, rock guitarist, vocalist, composer (Who-Tommy), was born.
   (MC, 5/19/02)
1945Â Â Â Â Â Â Jul 28, Richard Wright,
rocker (Pink Floyd-The Wall), was born.
   (SC, 7/28/02)
1945Â Â Â Â Â Â Aug 31, Van Morrison,
singer (Here Comes the Night), was born in Belfast, Ireland.
   (YN, 8/31/99)
1945Â Â Â Â Â Â Sep 8, Jose Feliciano,
blind singer, was born in Lares, Puerto Rico.
   (www.fact-index.com)
1945Â Â Â Â Â Â Hadda Brooks (d. 2002 at
86) sang the hit "Swingin’ With the Boogie," her 1st record.
   (SFC, 11/23/02, p.A19)
1945Â Â Â Â Â Â Johnny Otis (1921-2012),
band leader and song writer, made his first hit with “Harlem
Nocturne.”
   (SFC, 1/20/12, p.A16)
1945Â Â Â Â Â Â Richard Thomas Goldhahn
(d.2003 at 88), aka Dick Thomas, wrote "Sioux City Sue." Bing Crosby
recorded it in 1946 and made the Lucky Strike Hit Parade for 14
weeks.
   (SFC, 11/29/03, p.A20)
1945Â Â Â Â Â Â Wesley Tuttle (d.2003 at
85), country singer, made a hit with the song "With Tears in My
Eyes."
   (SFC, 10/3/03, p.A20)
1946Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 3, John Paul Jones,
musician, was born as John Baldwin in Kent, England: film score:
Scream for Help; group: Led Zeppelin: Whole Lotta Love, Moby Dick,
Ramble On, Immigrant Song, Since I’ve Been Loving You, Black Dog,
Rock & Roll, The Battle of Evermore, Stairway to Heaven.
  Â
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Paul_Jones_%28musician%29)
1946      Apr 26,  Â
Popular music of the day included: "Oh, What It Seemed to Be" by the
Frankie Carle Orchestra with Marjorie Hughes; "Personality" by
Johnny Mercer; "Day by Day" by Frank Sinatra; and "Guitar Polka" by
Al Dexter.
   (440 Int’l. Internet, 4/26/97, p.1)
1946Â Â Â Â Â Â May 10, Donovan, rocker
(Mellow Yellow), was born as Donovan Leitch in Scotland.
  Â
(http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:0ifqxqe5ldhe~T1)
1946Â Â Â Â Â Â Jun 7, Bill Kreutzman,
drummer (Grateful Dead-Uncle John's Band), was born.
   (SC, 6/7/02)
1946Â Â Â Â Â Â Jun 17, Barry Manilow
Grammy Award-winning singer, was born as Barry Alan Pincus. His
songs included: I Write the Songs [1975], Mandy, Looks Like,
Copacabana.
   (MC, 6/17/02)
1946Â Â Â Â Â Â Jul 15, Linda Ronstadt
(singer: group: The Stone Poneys: Different Drum; solo: Blue Bayou,
You're No Good, When Will I Be Loved, It's So Easy, Ooh Baby Baby,
Hurt So Bad; actress: Pirates of Penzance), was born.
   (MC, 7/15/02)
1946Â Â Â Â Â Â Jul 30, Jeffrey
Hammond-Hammond, rock bassist (Jethro Tull), was born.
   (MC, 7/30/02)
1946Â Â Â Â Â Â Sep 1, Barry Gibb, singer
(BeeGees-Stayin' Alive), was born.
   (SC, 9/1/02)
1946Â Â Â Â Â Â Les Paul (1915-2009) and
the Andrew Sisters recorded the hit song “Rumors Are Flying.”
   (SFC, 8/14/09, p.D6)
1946Â Â Â Â Â Â Bobby Troup (1918-1999)
wrote his song “(Get Your Kicks on) Route 66.” It was first recorded
by Nat King Cole.
   (SSFC, 12/25/11,
p.N6)(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Route_66_%28song%29)
1946Â Â Â Â Â Â Muddy Waters began working
regularly at clubs in Chicago playing an amplified electric guitar
and local studios began recording his songs.
   (ON, 8/20/11, p.6)
1947Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 25, Elton John,
[Reginald Kenneth Dwight], English singer (Rocketman), was born.
   (MC, 3/25/02)
1947Â Â Â Â Â Â Jul 10, Arlo Guthrie,
singer (Alice's Restaurant, City of New Orleans), was born in
Brooklyn.
   (MC, 7/10/02)
1947Â Â Â Â Â Â Jul 19, Bernie Leadon (The
Eagles: Take It Easy, Best of My Love, One of these nights), was
born.
   (MC, 7/19/02)
1947Â Â Â Â Â Â Jul 19, Brian Harold May
(Queen: Crazy Little Thing Called Love, Another One Bites the
Dust), was born.
   (MC, 7/19/02)
1947Â Â Â Â Â Â Jul 20, Carlos Santana,
legendary guitar player, was born in Autlan, Mexico.
   (SSFC, 10/14/07, Par p.18)
1947Â Â Â Â Â Â Jul 21, Cat Stevens, rock
vocalist (Peace Train, Father &Â Son), was born as Steven
Demetre Georgiou. The British singer-songwriter,
multi-instrumentalist, educator, philanthropist, converted to Islam
in Dec 1977. In 1978 he adopted the name of Yusuf Islam.
   (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cat_Stevens)
1947Â Â Â Â Â Â Aug 10, Ian Anderson,
rocker (Jethro Tull-Bungle in the Jungle), was born in Scotland.
   (MC, 8/10/02)
1947Â Â Â Â Â Â Sep, Ahmet Ertegun
(1923-2006) and Herb Abramson formed Atlantic Records in New York
City. The new independent record label concentrated on gospel, jazz
and R&B music. The first recording sessions took place in
November. In 2001 Ertegun authored his memoir "What’d I Say."
  Â
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ahmet_Erteg%C3%BCn)(WSJ, 7/6/01,
p.W10)
1947-1963Â Â Â The Louvin Brothers of Alabama, born Ira
(1924-1965) and Charlie Loudermilk (1927-2011), recorded their
country music, a mix of bluegrass, gospel, blues and antique folk
ballads. A boxed set of their recordings called "Close Harmony" was
put together by Richard Weize of Bear Family Records, Hamburg,
Germany.
  Â
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Louvin_Brothers)(WSJ, 9/11/98,
p.W3)
1948Â Â Â Â Â Â Apr 2, Emmylou Harris,
American singer, was born.
   (HN, 4/2/01)
1948Â Â Â Â Â Â Jun 19, The first
successfully produced microgroove 33 1/3 rpm, long-playing, records
were unveiled by Dr. Peter Goldmark of Columbia Records. Plans to
phase out 78's followed. Unlike the average record which held 8
minutes of music, this new record could hold 45 minutes.
   (Hartford Courant, 6/21/48, p.7)
1948Â Â Â Â Â Â Aug 20, Robert Plant
(Honeydrippers: Rockin' at Midnight; Led Zeppelin: Stairway to
Heaven, etc.), was born.
   (MC, 8/20/02)
1948Â Â Â Â Â Â In Boston, Mass., Bess. L.
Hawes (1921-2009) and Jacqueline Steiner co-wrote the political hit
“Charlie on the MTA.’’ The song became a big hit for the Kingston
Trio in 1959.
  Â
(http://tinyurl.com/ygtrqh8)(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M.T.A.)
1948Â Â Â Â Â Â The Mills Brothers made a
minor hit with the song “You never miss the water till the well runs
dry.” Written by Paul Secon.
   (WSJ, 3/10/07, p.A4)
1948Â Â Â Â Â Â The Les Paul (1915-2009)
song “Lover” topped the record charts. He used a new self-developed
recording technique that combined 2 of his own versions of the song.
It was the first song to be recorded on 8 tracks.
   (Econ, 8/22/09,
p.78)(http://oldies.about.com/od/jazz/p/lespaul.htm)
1948Â Â Â Â Â Â Redd Stewart (d.2003)
co-wrote "Tennessee Waltz" with Pee Wee King to the melody of King's
"No Name Waltz," while on a road trip from Nashville to Texarkana. A
1950 recording by Patti Page sold a reported 3 million copies.
   (SFC, 8/6/03, p.A18)
1948Â Â Â Â Â Â Don Tosti (1923-2004),
jazz musician born as Edmundo Martinez Tostado, made the 1st
million-selling Latin song “Pachuco Boogie.”
   (SFC, 8/4/04, p.B7)
1948Â Â Â Â Â Â Paul Williams (d.2002 at
87) recorded "The Huckelbuck." It was released in 1949 and was later
considered an important precursor of rock ‘n’ roll. It was written
by Andy Gibson and adopted without credit from Charlie Parker’s
"Now’s the Time."
   (SFC, 10/7/02, p.A19)
1948Â Â Â Â Â Â The San Francisco Folk
Music Club (SFFMC) was founded by Dave Rothkop as the legitimate
child of Hiroshima and the Cold War. Believing that music is the one
language capable of transcending national egotism, a small group of
high schoolers began meeting in each others’ homes. In 1959 the Club
was reorganized by Herb Jager on a somewhat more formal level. In
mid-l962 Faith Petric took responsibility for keeping the Club
functioning and in 1964 started publication of the Folknik
newsletter.
   (http://www.sffmc.org/)(SFC, 9/30/02, p.A14)
1948Â Â Â Â Â Â Muddy Waters recorded a
new version of “Country Blues.” It was released under the ttitle “I
Feel Like Going Home.” It reached #11 on the “Most Played Rqace
Records” chart.
   (ON, 8/20/11, p.6)
1948Â Â Â Â Â Â Congolese musician Antoine
Kolosay, aka Papa Wendo, wrote his song "Marie-Louise," a eulogy to
the sister of his guitarist.
   (Econ, 12/20/03, p.66)
1949Â Â Â Â Â Â Apr 25, Michael Brown,
keyboardist (Left Bank-Don't Walk Away Renee), was born.
   (SS, 4/25/02)
1949Â Â Â Â Â Â May 9, Billy Joel, Bronx,
rock vocalist (Piano man, Capt Jack, Bridge), was born.
   (MC, 5/9/02)
1949Â Â Â Â Â Â May 26, Hank Williams Jr.,
country singer (Honky Tonk), was born in Shreveport, La.
   (MC, 5/26/02)
1949Â Â Â Â Â Â May 29, Gary Brooker, rock
keyboardist (Procol Harum), was born in Essex, England.
   (SC, 5/29/02)
1949Â Â Â Â Â Â May 29, Francis Rossi,
guitarist, vocalist (Status Quo-Down Down, Picture of a Matchstick
Man), was born in London, England.
   (SC, 5/29/02)
1949Â Â Â Â Â Â Aug 12, Mark Knopfler,
guitar, vocals (Dire Straits-Sultans of Swing), was born.
   (SC, 8/12/02)
1949Â Â Â Â Â Â Country singer Hank
Lochlin (1918-2009) made a hit with “Send Me the Pillow You Dream
On.”
   (SFC, 3/12/09, p.B6)
1949Â Â Â Â Â Â Margaret Whiting and Jimmy
Wakely had a million selling country music hit with "Slippin'
Around," written by Floyd Tillman (d.2003 at 88).
   (SFC, 8/25/03, p.B4)
1950Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 6, Natalie Cole,
vocalist (Pink Cadillac, Miss You Like Crazy, Mona Lisa), was born
in LA, Calif.
   (MC, 2/6/02)
1950Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 26, Harry Lauder
(b.1870), notable Scottish entertainer, died. He was, at one time,
the highest-paid performer in the world, making the equivalent of
£12,700 a night plus expenses, and was the first British performer
to sell more than a million records.
   (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_Lauder)
1950Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 11, "Rag Mop" by The
Ames Brothers hit #1.
   (MC, 2/11/02)
1950Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 2, Karen Carpenter was
born. (drummer, singer: Grammy Award-winning group: The Carpenters:
Best New Artist, Group w/Vocal: Close to You [1970], We've Only Just
Begun, Top of the World, Please Mr. Postman)
   (HC, Internet, 2/3/98)
1950Â Â Â Â Â Â Apr 25, Steve Ferrone,
drummer (Average White Band), was born.
   (SS, 4/25/02)
1950Â Â Â Â Â Â May 13, Steveland Morris
Hardaway (AKA Stevie Wonder) was born prematurely, in Saginaw, Mi.,
as Steveland Judkins. Too much oxygen in the incubator caused the
baby to become permanently blind. At the age of ten, Little Stevie
Wonder, as he was called by Berry Gordy at Motown, was discovered
singing and playing the harmonica. He had many hits during his teens
including "Fingertips" and as an adult he has earned an Oscar and at
least 16 Grammy Awards. He has stood up for civil rights and
campaigned against cancer, AIDS, drunk driving and the plight of
Ethiopians.
   (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stevie_Wonder)
1950Â Â Â Â Â Â Jun 8, Alex Van Halen,
drummer for the hard rock group Van Halen, was born.
   (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alex_Van_Halen)
1950Â Â Â Â Â Â Dec 31, Charles Koechlin
(b.1867), French composer, teacher and writer on music, died in
France. He visited the USA four times to lecture and teach in
1918-19, 1928, 1929 and 1937. On the second and third visits he
taught at the University of California, Berkeley.
   (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Koechlin)
1950Â Â Â Â Â Â Seymour Solomon (d.2002)
founded Vanguard Records with his brother Maynard. It became the
dominant label for American folk music.
   (SFC, 7/22/02, p.B5)
1950s      Lawrence Payton (d.1997
at 59) began singing with a group called the Four Aims (Payton, Levi
Stubbs, Abdul "Duke" Fakir, and Renaldo "Obie" Benson). They sang
backup for Billy Eckstine and signed with Motown Records, run by
Berry Gordy, in 1963. Their songs included: "Baby I Need Your
Loving," "Reach Out," and I Can’t Help Myself." In 2002 Geral Posner
authored "Motown: Music, Money, Sex, and Power."
   (SFC, 6/21/97, p.A18)(SSFC, 1/12/03, p.M1)
1951Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 10, "John &
Marsha" by Stan Freberg peaked at #21.
   (MC, 2/10/02)
1951Â Â Â Â Â Â Apr 7, Janis Ian, [Janis
Eddy Fink], lesbian, folk rocker, was born in NYC.
   (MC, 4/7/02)
1951Â Â Â Â Â Â Les Paul and his wife Mary
Ford (1924-1977), born as Iris Colleen Summers, made a hit with
their recording of the 1940 song “How High the Moon.”
   (SFC, 8/14/09, p.D6)
1951Â Â Â Â Â Â Ike Turner (1931-2007),
R&B pioneer, presided over the recording of “Rocket 88” by
Jackie Brenston and his Delta Cats, frequently cited as the first
rock ’n’ roll record.
   (SFC, 12/13/07, p.B5)(Econ, 3/25/17, p.76)
1952Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 21, The Moondog
Coronation Ball was held at the Cleveland Arena. It was promoted by
Alan Freed and was later cited as the 1st rock concert. The only
band to perform was one led by Paul Williams, before fire
marshals closed the show.
   (SFC, 10/7/02, p.A19)
1952Â Â Â Â Â Â Jul 16, Stewart Copeland,
drummer (Police: Fall Out, Every Breath You Take, LP: The Equalizer
& Other Cliffhangers), was born.
   (MC, 7/16/02)
1952Â Â Â Â Â Â Oct 7, The 1st "Bandstand"
broadcast in Philadelphia on WFIL-TV. Dick Clark joined in 1955 as a
substitute-host. American Bandstand premiered as a local show in
Philadelphia.
   (SFC, 11/10/99, p.E3)(SFC, 4/15/00, p.D3)
1952Â Â Â Â Â Â Molly Bee (1939-2009),
country singer, made her first hit with “I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa
Claus.” The song, written by Tommy Connors, was also recorded by
child actor Jimmy Boyd (1939-2009).
   (SFC, 2/12/09, p.B4)(SFC, 3/11/09, p.B8)
1952Â Â Â Â Â Â Joni James (21), born as
Joan Babbo, made a hit with her song “Why Don’t You Believe Me.” It
sold over 2 million records. James recorded 42 albums in her career.
   (SSFC, 9/11/05, Par p.2)
1952Â Â Â Â Â Â Britain’s New Musical
Express magazine was founded and became essential reading for fans
and a coveted platform for musicians through the eras of
Beatlemania, prog-rock, punk, indie and more. In 2018 the print
edition of NME stopped with a new focus on its digital audience.
   (AP, 3/7/18)
1952Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Very Lynn's "Auf
Wiederseh'n Sweetheart", backed by a soldiers' chorus, sold more
than 12 million copies worldwide and made her the first British
performer to top the US hit parade.
  Â
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8WsuLH4sulA)(Reuters, 6/18/20)
1953Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 1, Country singer Hank
Williams Sr. (29) died of a drug and alcohol overdose while enroute
to a concert date in Canton, Ohio. In 1998 Mercury Records released
"The Complete Hank Williams," with 225 recordings.
   (AP, 1/1/98)(WSJ, 10/30/98, p.W9A)
1952Â Â Â Â Â Â Aug 1, Jo Stafford
(1917-2008), pop star singer during the 1940s and 1950s, entered the
Billboard charts with the song “You Belong To Me.” It was herÂ
greatest hit, topping the charts in both the United States and the
United Kingdom (the first song by a female singer to top the UK
chart) and remained on the chart for 24 weeks.
   (SFC, 7/19/08,
p.B5)(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/You_Belong_to_Me_(1952_song))
1953Â Â Â Â Â Â Aug 3, Ian Bairnson,
guitarist (Alan Parsons Project, Pilot), was born in Shetland Isles,
Scotland.
   (SC, 8/3/02)
1953Â Â Â Â Â Â Aug 8, The song “Vaya con
Dios” recorded by Les Paul and his wife Mary Ford reached number one
on the Billboard magazine Best Seller Chart and stayed there for 9
weeks.
   (SFC, 8/14/09, p.D6)
1953Â Â Â Â Â Â Eddie Fisher (1928-2010),
American singer, made a hit with the song “Oh, My Pa-Pa.”
   (SFC, 9/24/10,
p.C6)(www.discogs.com/artist/Eddie+Fisher)
1953Â Â Â Â Â Â In Los Angeles The
Hi-Lo’s, a vocal quartet, formed with Gene Puerling (1929-2008)
singing bass-baritone. The group became the most popular jazz-based
vocal group of the period.
   (SFC, 4/3/08, p.B5)
1954Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 26, Michigan
Representative Ruth Thompson (R) introduced legislation to ban
mailing "obscene, lewd, lascivious or filthy" phonograph (rock and
roll records.
   (SC, 2/26/02)
1954Â Â Â Â Â Â Apr 12, Bill Haley &
the Comets recorded "Rock Around the Clock" at NYC's Pythian Temple.
It was written by Max C. Freedman and Jimmy de Knight. Haley's "Rock
Around the Clock," was originally released as the B side of
“Thirteen Women.” Haley died in 1981.
  Â
(www.rockabillyhall.com/RockClockTribute.html)(WSJ, 4/8/04, p.D8)
1954Â Â Â Â Â Â Apr 12, Joe Turner
released "Shake, Rattle & Roll."
   (MC, 4/12/02)
1954Â Â Â Â Â Â Jul 5, Elvis Presley's
first commercial recording session took place at Sun Records in
Memphis, Tenn.; the song he recorded was "That's All Right (Mama)."
   (AP, 7/5/97)
1954Â Â Â Â Â Â Ray Charles (1930-2004)
recorded “I’ve Got a Woman.” It was based on the hymn “My Jesus is
All the World to Me.”
   (USAT, 6/11/04, p.7A)(Econ, 6/19/04, p.84)
1954Â Â Â Â Â Â "Mr Sandman" by the
Chordettes reached No. 1 on the Billboard chart and sold more than
one million records.
   (SSFC, 3/1/20, p.B9)
1954Â Â Â Â Â Â The Collins Kids of
Oklahoma, Lawrencine (1942-2018) and Lawrence (b.1944), began
performing as a musical act on "Town Hall Party," hosted by Tex
Ritter on KTTV, Los Angeles. Lawrence later co-wrote "Delta Dawn," a
1972 country hit for Tanya Tucker and a 1973 No. 1 pop single for
Helen Reddy.
  Â
(www.rockabillyhall.com/YouTubeCollinsKids.html)(SFC, 8/10/18, p.D5)
1954Â Â Â Â Â Â Bart Howard (1916-2004),
born in Iowa as Howard Joseph Gustafson, wrote the hit song "Fly Me
To the Moon." His initial title was "In Other Words."
   (SFC, 2/28/04, p.A16)
1954Â Â Â Â Â Â The Robins signed with
Leiber and Stoller and recorded such hits as "Riot in Cell Block 9,"
"Framed" and "Smokey Joe’s Café."
   (SFC, 11/20/02, p.A21)
1955 Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 1, Top hits included:
Melody of Love Billy Vaughn/The Four Aces/David Carroll; Hearts of
Stone The Fontane Sisters; Earth Angel Penguins/Crew-Cuts; Open Up
Your Heart (and Let the Sun Shine In) Cowboy; Church Sunday School.
   (440 Int'l, 2/1/1999)
1955Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 12, The McGuire
Sisters' "Sincerely" single went to #1 for 10 weeks.
   (MC, 2/12/02)
1955Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 5, A truck driver from
Tupelo, Miss., made his first-ever TV appearance on this night.
Elvis Aron Presley was featured on "Louisiana Hayride". This
prompted promoters to send Elvis to New York City to audition for
Arthur Godfrey's immensely popular and career-making "Talent Scouts"
program. Talent coordinators and Godfrey are said to have passed on
Elvis appearing on the show. Not much later, he was tossed out of
the Grand Ole Opry as well, and told to "go back to driving a
truck." In a little over a year, however, the nation was caught up
in Presley-mania which continues even today.
  Â
(www.imdb.com/title/tt1087605/)(www.scottymoore.net/tourdates50s.html)
1955Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 26, "Ballad of Davy
Crockett" by Fess Parker became the #1 record in US.
   (SS, 3/26/02)
1955Â Â Â Â Â Â Apr 26, Popular music of
the day included: "Melody of Love" by Billy Vaughn; "Cherry Pink and
Apple Blossom White" by Perez Prado; and "In the Jailhouse Now" by
Webb Pierce. Jailhouse stayed at No. 1 for 21 weeks. Cherry Pink,
sung by Alan Dale (d.2002 at 73), stayed on the charts for 30 weeks.
   (440 Int’l. Internet, 4/26/97, p.1)(SFC, 4/25/02,
p.A24)(SFC, 11/27/03, p.A24)
1955Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
Jul 5, By this day, a day before Bill Haley’s 30th birthday, "Rock
Around the Clock" topped the US billboards chart and stayed there
for 8 weeks. The film “Blackboard Jungle,” released in March, helped
propel it to the top.
   (www.rockabillyhall.com/RockClockTribute.html)
1955Â Â Â Â Â Â Aug 25, Elvis Costello
(Declan McManus), musician, songwriter (I'm Not Angry, Less than
Zero, Watching the Detectives, Clubland, Oliver's Army, Every
Day I Write the Book, I'm Your Toy, Party, Party, So Young),
was born.
   (MC, 8/25/02)
1955Â Â Â Â Â Â Nov 12, Chuck Berry –
popular for such hits as “Johnny B. Goode” and “Roll Over Beethoven”
– was named by a Billboard poll as the most promising R&B artist
of the year.
  Â
(http://www.thepeoplehistory.com/november12th.html)
1955Â Â Â Â Â Â Nov 12, Leslie Richard
McKeown, Scottish pop singer, was born He was the lead singer of the
Bay City Rollers during their most successful period.
   (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Les_McKeown)
1955Â Â Â Â Â Â Richard Dyer-Bennett
(1913-1991) recorded the first of 15 albums called "Richard
Dyer-Bennett." He was a pioneer guitar player and folk-singer who
recorded himself with a sense of perfection. He was born in England
and grew up in Canada, California and Germany. His work was later
released on CD through Smithsonian Folkways.
   (WSJ, 2/18/98, p.A20)
1955Â Â Â Â Â Â The Coasters evolved from
the group the Robins. Carl Gardner and Bobby Nunn teamed with Billy
Guy (1936-2002) and Leon Hughes to form the group under producers
Leiber and Stoller. Their songs included "Charlie Brown," Yakety
Yak" and "Little Egypt."
   (SFC, 11/20/02, p.A21)
1955Â Â Â Â Â Â Perry Como recorded his
big hit "Hot-Diggety-Dog."
   (SSFC, 5/13/01, p.A27)
1955Â Â Â Â Â Â Dale Evans, singer and
wife of Roy Rogers, wrote the hit song "The Bible Tells Me So."
   (SFC, 2/8/01, p.C2)
1955Â Â Â Â Â Â Thelonius Monk began to
record with Riverside Records.
   (SFEM, 10/5/97, p.29)
1955Â Â Â Â Â Â Charlie and Ira Louvin,
country musicians, joined the Grand Ole Opry.
   (SFEM,10/19/97, DB p.45)
1955Â Â Â Â Â Â Cuban musician Perez Prado
recorded "Cherry Pink and Apple Blossom White." The mambo tune
became a no. 1 hit.
   (SFEC, 9/19/99, DB p.39)
1955Â Â Â Â Â Â Faron Young (1932-1996)
sang his No. 1 country single "Live Fast, Love hard, Die Young."
   (SFC, 12/12/96, p.C8)
1955Â Â Â Â Â Â As Elvis Presley broke
into the national rock ‘n roll scene, he hired Colonel Tom Parker
(1910-1997) as his manager.
   (SFC,1/22/97, p.A20)
1955Â Â Â Â Â Â Roger Williams
(1924-2011), pianist and composer, made a hit with “Autumn Leaves.”
It was the only piano instrumental to reach No.1 on the billboard
pop charts.
   (SSFC, 10/9/11,
p.A20)(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roger_Williams_%28pianist%29)
1955Â Â Â Â Â Â The top hits of the year
were "Rock Around the Clock" by Bill Haley and the Comets [recorded
in 1954], "The Yellow Rose of Texas" by Mitch Miller, "Love Is a
Many Splendored Thing" by the Four Aces, and "16 Tons" by Tennessee
Ernie Ford.
   (WSJ, 4/10/98, p.W11)
1955Â Â Â Â Â Â The three-chord standard
"Louie, Louie" was written as a Jamaican love song. Richard Berry
wrote "Louie, Louie" on a piece of toilet paper in a nightclub
dressing room.
   (SFC, 1/25/97, p.A19,20)
1955Â Â Â Â Â Â Al Hibbler (d.2001), a
blind singer who had worked with the Ellington Orchestra, and Les
Baxter both had hits with their versions of "Unchained Melody."
Hibbler recorded the song for the prison movie "Unchained."
   (SFC, 4/28/01, p.A21)
1956Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 5, Elvis Presley,
truckdriver, began his 1st recording session for RCA. "Heartbreak
Hotel," written by Mae Boren Axton, was the first song recorded. It
became the first of his 45 records to sell over a million copies.
The second was "I Want You, I Need You, I Love You", and "I Was the
One" was the third. In 1971 Jerry Hopkins authored Elvis: A
Biography.
   (SFC,1/22/97, p.A20)(SFEC, 4/6/97, DB p.65)(WSJ,
1/11/99, p.R34)(SFC, 5/10/02, p.A31)
1956Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 27, Elvis Presley's
"Heartbreak Hotel" and "I Was the One" was released by RCA. It sold
over 300,000 copies in its first three weeks on the market.
   (Internet)
1956Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 28, Elvis Presley
recorded his television debut for “Stage Show” hosted by Tommy and
Jimmy Dorsey.”
   (SFC, 12/27/04,
p.C10)(www.elvisconcerts.com/liv1956.htm)
1956Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 30, Elvis Presley
recorded his version of "Blue Suede Shoes."
   (MC, 1/30/02)
1956Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 7, Garth Brooks,
country vocalist (No Fences), was born in Tulsa, Okla.
   (MC, 2/7/02)
1956Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 22, Elvis Presley's
1st hit in Billboard's top 10: "Heartbreak Hotel."
   (MC, 2/22/02)
1956Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 13, Elvis Presley
released his first album: "Elvis Presley."
   (SFC, 8/11/97, p.A1)
1956Â Â Â Â Â Â Apr 10, In Alabama singer
Nat Cole was attacked on stage at the Birmingham Municipal
Auditorium by a small group of white supremacists. Six local men
were arrested for the attack.
  Â
(http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa4113/is_200401/ai_n9350991/)(NYT,
4/11/1956, p.1)
1956Â Â Â Â Â Â Apr 11, Elvis Presley's
"Heartbreak Hotel" went gold.
   (SFC, 8/11/97, p.A1)
1956Â Â Â Â Â Â Apr 21, Elvis Presley's
1st hit record, "Heartbreak Hotel," became #1. [see Apr 25]
   (MC, 4/21/02)
1956Â Â Â Â Â Â Apr 25, Elvis Presley's
"Heartbreak Hotel" goes number one. [see Apr 21]
   (HN, 4/25/98)(SFC, 1/20/98, p.A9)
1956Â Â Â Â Â Â Apr 30, Richard Farina,
folk singer (Reflections in a Crystal Wind), was born.
   (MC, 4/30/02)
1956Â Â Â Â Â Â May 19, R.C., "(You've
Got) The Magic Touch" by The Platters peaked at #4 on the pop
singles chart.
   (DTnet, 5/19/97)
1956Â Â Â Â Â Â Jul 1, Elvis Presley
appeared on Steve Allen Show wearing a tuxedo.
   (MC, 7/1/02)
1956Â Â Â Â Â Â Jul 2, Former truckdriver
Elvis Presley recorded "Hound Dog" by Lieber and Stoller and "Don't
Be Cruel." Presley, began Rock-n-Roll with his song "Don’t Be
Cruel," written by Otis Blackwell (d.2002 at 70).
   (SC, 7/2/02)(WSJ, 1/11/99, p.R34)(SFC, 5/10/02,
p.A31)
1957Â Â Â Â Â Â Jul, Buddy Holly and the
Crickets of Lubbock, Texas, recorded "Peggy Sue" in Clovis, New
Mexico. The song was initially named Cindy Lou after Holly's niece,
but band member Jerry Allison got Buddy to change the name in order
to impress Peggy Sue. In 2008 Peggy Sue Gerron (1940-2018) released
her autobiography "Whatever Happened to Peggy Sue?" A 1986 movie
called "Peggy Sue Got Married" featured Kathleen Turner as a
character named Peggy Sue.
   (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peggy_Sue)(SFC,
10/3/18, p.C5)
1956Â Â Â Â Â Â Aug 3, Kirk Brandon,
rocker (Theatre of Hate, Spear of Destiny-Outland), was born.
   (SC, 8/3/02)
1956Â Â Â Â Â Â Aug 4, Elvis Presley
released "Hound Dog."
   (MC, 8/4/02)
1956Â Â Â Â Â Â Aug 11, Elvis Presley
released "Don't Be Cruel."
   (MC, 8/11/02)
1956Â Â Â Â Â Â Aug 18, Elvis Presley's
"Hound Dog" and "Don't Be Cruel" reached #1.
   (MC, 8/18/02)
1956Â Â Â Â Â Â Sep 9, Elvis Presley made
the first of three appearances on "The Ed Sullivan Show." By his
third and final appearance on the Sullivan show, due to a number of
viewers, who were outraged at his suggestive gyrations, Elvis was
filmed from only the waist-up.
   (AP, 9/9/97)(MC, 9/9/01)
1956Â Â Â Â Â Â Sep 28, RCA Records
reported Elvis Presley sold over 10 million records.
   (MC, 9/28/01)
1956Â Â Â Â Â Â Nov 16, "Love Me Tender,"
the first Elvis Presley film, premiered in NYC.
   (SFC, 8/11/97, p.A1)
1956Â Â Â Â Â Â Johnny Cash (1932-2003)
recorded his hit tunes: "Folsom Prison Blues" and "I Walk the Line."
   (SFC, 9/13/03, p.A12)
1956Â Â Â Â Â Â Liam Clancy (1935-2009)
emigrated to the US from Ireland to join elder brothers Tom and
Patrick in NYC, who were singing on the side as they pursued careers
as Broadway actors. They recorded an album of Irish rebel songs and
grew a NYC following, together with Tommy Makem, as the Clancy
Brothers. Their appearance on the Ed Sullivan show in 1961 turned
them into an Irish-American folk phenomenon.
   (SFC, 12/7/09, p.C4)
1956Â Â Â Â Â Â Fats Domino (1928-2017),
rock’n’roll pioneer, made a hit with his version of “Blueberry
Hill”.
   (SFC, 10/26/17, p.A6)
1956Â Â Â Â Â Â Singer Gogi Grant
(1924-2016) recorded “The Wayward Wind.” The song topped Elvis
Presley’s “Heartbreak Hotel” to top the Billboard singles chart.
   (SFC, 3/17/16, p.D5)
1956Â Â Â Â Â Â Frankie Lymon (1942-1968)
and the Teenagers made a hit with their first single: "Why Do Fools
Fall in Love." The 1998 film "Why Do Fools Fall in Love" was a
musical comedy-drama with Halle Berry, Vivica A. Fox, Lela Rochon
and Little Richard. It was directed by Gregory Nava and set in the
1950s based on the life of Frankie Lymon.
   (SFC, 8/28/98, p.C1)(SFC, 9/2/98,
p.E1)(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frankie_Lymon)
1956Â Â Â Â Â Â Patti Page sang the song
"Mama From The Train." It was written by Irving Gordon (1915-1996).
He wrote the classic comedy routine used by Abbott and Costello
known as "Who’s on First." He also composed "Unforgettable."
   (SFC, 12/4/96,
p.A17)(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mama_From_The_Train)
1956Â Â Â Â Â Â The Eurovision Song
Contest, the brainchild of French music producer Marcel Baison,
began with 7 contestants.
   (Econ, 5/14/05, p.57)
1957Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 25, Buddy Holly and
the Crickets recorded "That'll Be the Day."
   (MC, 2/25/02)
1957Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 3, Corry Brokken won
Eurovision Song festival with "Just as then."
   (SC, 3/3/02)
1957Â Â Â Â Â Â Apr, Ricky Nelson sang his
version of “I’m Walkin” by Fats Domino on “The Adventures of Ozzie
and Harriet” TV show.
   (SSFC, 1/15/06, p.C1)
1957Â Â Â Â Â Â May 10, Sid Vicious, [John
Simon Ritchie], bassist (Sex Pistols), was born in England.
   (MC, 5/10/02)
1957Â Â Â Â Â Â Jun 12, Bandleader Jimmy
Dorsey (53) died in New York.
   (AP, 6/12/07)
1957Â Â Â Â Â Â Aug 5, "American
Bandstand," a teenage dance show hosted by Dick Clark (1929-2012) in
Philadelphia, made its network debut on ABC-TV.
   (WSJ, 3/24/97, p.B1)(SFC, 11/10/99, p.E3)(AP,
8/5/07)(SFC, 4/19/12, p.C5)
1957Â Â Â Â Â Â The Coasters sang "Down in
Mexico" and "Searchin’" with lead by Billy Guy.
   (SFC, 11/20/02, p.A21)
1957Â Â Â Â Â Â In the SF Bay Area Bob
Shane, Nick Reynolds and David Guard formed the Kingston Trio folk
group.
   (SFC, 1/30/20, p.C6)
1957Â Â Â Â Â Â Gene Allison (d.2004) made
a hit with "You Can Make It If You Try." The Rolling Stones used it
on their 1st album in 1964.
   (SFC, 3/16/04, p.B7)
1957Â Â Â Â Â Â Jerry Lee Lewis made a hit
with his recording of “Great Balls of Fire,” written by Earl
Burroughs (1925-2016) and Otis Blackwell.
   (SFC, 4/14/16, p.D5)
1957Â Â Â Â Â Â American film star Tab
Hunter's (1931-2018) recording of "Young Love" topped the Billboard
pop chart.
   (SFC, 7/10/18, p.A6)
1958Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 2, Chart Toppers:
Sweet Little Sixteen, Chuck Berry; At the Hop, Danny & the
Juniors; Oh Julie, Crescendos; Don't, Elvis Presley.
   (HC, Internet, 2/3/98)
1958Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 14, RIAA certified its
1st gold record: Perry Como's Catch A Falling Star.
   (MC, 3/14/02)
1958Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 24, Rock 'n' roll
singer Elvis Presley was inducted into the Army in Memphis, Tenn.
After nearly six months of basic training at Fort Hood, Texas,
Presley was posted to Friedberg, West Germany; he was honorably
discharged in 1960.
   (AP, 3/23/08)
1958Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 27, CBS Labs announced
new stereophonic records.
   (MC, 3/27/02)
1958Â Â Â Â Â Â Aug 4, Billboard, founded
in 1894, premiered its all-genre singles Hot 100 chart.
   (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billboard_Hot_100)
1958Â Â Â Â Â Â Aug 16, Madonna [Ciccone],
entertainer and singer whose biggest record was "Like a Virgin," was
born.
   (HN, 8/16/98)
1958Â Â Â Â Â Â Aug 29, Michael Jackson
(d.2009), pop singer, entertainer, was born in Gary, Ind., the 7th
of nine children.
   (SFC, 6/14/05, p.D6)(SFC, 6/26/09, p.A1)
1958Â Â Â Â Â Â The Chordettes made it to
No. 2 on the Billboard chart with their recording "Lollipop." The
group split up in 1964.
   (SSFC, 3/1/20, p.B9)
1958Â Â Â Â Â Â Bing Crosby and Rosemary
Clooney recorded "Fancy Meeting You Here." It was reissued in 2001.
   (WSJ, 11/28/01, p.A16)
1958Â Â Â Â Â Â Freeman (1940-2017) wrote
and sang “Do You Want to Dance”. It reached No. 5 on the Billboard
singles chart. The song later became known as “Do You Wanna Dance”
and was performed by a number of other musicians including the Beach
Boys.
   (SFC, 2/15/17, p.D4)
1958Â Â Â Â Â Â Don Gibson wrote his songs
"I Can't Stop Loving You," and "Oh, Lonesome Me." Both songs made
No. 1.
   (SFC, 3/13/99, p.E6)
1958Â Â Â Â Â Â Peggy Lee (1920-2002) made
a hit with her rendition of the rhythm-and-blues hit “Fever.”
   (SFC, 5/18/10, p.E5)
1958Â Â Â Â Â Â Jimmy McCracklin
(1921-2012), a SF Bay Area blues pianist, scored a national hit with
“The Walk.” He and his band, the Blues Blasters, recorded it in
Chicago for Checker Records.
   (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mdcW78eaNGY)(SFC,
12/21/12, p.A22)
1958Â Â Â Â Â Â Domenico Modugno made a
hit with "Volare." The Italian song won the 1958 Eurovision contest.
   (SFC, 11/30/02, p.D1)(Econ, 5/14/05, p.57)
1958Â Â Â Â Â Â Johnny Otis, R&B
writer and producer, wrote "Willie and the Hand Jive." In 2000 the
3-CD boxed set:Â The Johnny Otis Rhythm and Blues Caravan: The
Complete Savoy Recordings" was produced.
   (SFC, 4/4/00, p.B2)
1958Â Â Â Â Â Â The song “Endless Sleep,”
by Rockabilly singer and songwriter Ralph Joseph Reynolds, (d.2008
at 75) sold over a million copies and kicked in the melodramatic
teen tragedy genre.
   (SFC, 11/19/08, p.B7)
1958Â Â Â Â Â Â Sharon Sheeley (1950-2002)
wrote the song "Poor Little Fool" and Ricky Nelson turned it into a
hit.
   (SFC, 5/25/02, p.A27)
1958Â Â Â Â Â Â Ed Townsend (1929-2003)
wrote his hit song "For Your Love."
   (SSFC, 8/17/03, p.A27)
1958Â Â Â Â Â Â Sheb Wooley (d.2003 at 82)
recorded the hit song "Purple People Eater." He starred in a movie
of the same name in 1988.
   (SFC, 9/18/03, p.A21)
1958Â Â Â Â Â Â Link Wray recorded
"Rumble," and showed the way for the "power cord," and the
conception of the electric guitar as a weapon.
   (SFC, 7/7/97, p.E1)
1958Â Â Â Â Â Â Jimmy Lyons directed the
first Monterey Jazz Festival and featured Louis Armstrong, Gerry
Mulligan, Turk Murphy, Billie Holiday, Duke Ellington and Dizzie
Gillespie. Radio host Jimmy Lyons and Chronicle jazz critic Ralph
Gleason came up with the idea. In 1997 William Minor and Bill
Wishner wrote: "Monterey Jazz Festival: Forty Legendary Years."
   (SFC, 6/30/96, B9)(SFEM, 9/15/96,
p.6)(SFEC,12/14/97, BR p.7)
1958Â Â Â Â Â Â The first "greatest hits"
album was produced: "Johnny’s Greatest Hits" featured the songs of
Johnny Mathis. It was on Billboard’s Top 100 chart for 9 years.
   (SFC, 7/7/96, DB p.40)
1958Â Â Â Â Â Â Faron Young sang his
country hit "Alone With You."
   (SFC, 12/12/96, p.C8)
1959Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 2, Buddy Holly made
his last performance.
   (MC, 2/2/02)
1959Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 3, A plane crash
near Clear Lake, Iowa, claimed the lives of rock- and-roll stars
Buddy Holly (22), Ritchie Valens (17) and J.P. "The Big Bopper"
Richardson (28). They had just finished performing at the Surf
Ballroom in Clear Lake. Buddy Holley and the Crickets had 2 hit
songs "Oh Boy" and "Maybe Baby," Valens had the 2-sided hit "Donna"
and "La Bamba," Richardson was popular for his song "Chantilly
Lace."
   (AP, 2/3/97)(WSJ, 2/25/99, p.A16)
1959Â Â Â Â Â Â Apr 3, "Charlie Brown" by
The Coasters was banned by the BBC because it contained the word
"spitball."
   (AP, 4/3/03)
1959Â Â Â Â Â Â May 4, The 1st Annual
Grammy Awards were held in Los Angeles. They recognized musical
accomplishments by performers for the year 1958. "Nel Blu Dipinto di
Blu (Volare)" – Domenico Modugno won as record of the year.
  Â
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1st_Annual_Grammy_Awards)
1959Â Â Â Â Â Â May 4, Randy Travis,
country singer (Diggin' Up Bones), was born in Marshville, NC.
   (MC, 5/4/02)
1959Â Â Â Â Â Â Jacques Brel (1929-1978),
French singer and composer, recorded “Ne Me Quitte Pas” (If you go
away).
   (www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sk7_HY9svAw)
1959Â Â Â Â Â Â The Browns recorded their
hit song “The Three Bells,” sometimes known as “Little Jimmy Brown.”
The trio included Jim Ed Brown (1934-2015) and his sisters Maxine
and Bonnie (1938-2016).
   (SSFC, 6/14/15, p.C11)(SSFC, 7/17/16, p.A16)
1959Â Â Â Â Â Â Ray Charles made a hit
with "What’d I Say." His moaning and wailing suggested sexual play
and was banned on radio stations across America.
   (SSFC, 7/28/02, Par p.20)(Econ, 6/19/04, p.84)
1959Â Â Â Â Â Â Babatunde Olatunji
(d.2003), Nigerian drummer, pioneered African music in the US with
his album "Drums of Passion."
   (SFC, 4/9/03, p.A31)
1959Â Â Â Â Â Â Billy Mitchell (d.2002 at
71) and the Clovers made a hit with the Lieber and Stoller song
"Love Potion No. 9."
   (SFC, 11/15/02, p.A25)
1960Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 8, Congress opened
hearings into payola.
   (MC, 2/8/02)
1960Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 5, Elvis Presley ended
his 2-year hitch in US Army.
   (MC, 3/5/02)
1960Â Â Â Â Â Â May 2, House investigating
committee looked into payola questions.
   (MC, 5/2/02)
1960Â Â Â Â Â Â May 19, DJ Alan Freed was
accused of bribery in radio payola scandal.
   (MC, 5/19/02)
1960Â Â Â Â Â Â May 29, Everly Brothers
"Cathy's Clown" hit #1.
   (SC, 5/29/02)
1960Â Â Â Â Â Â Aug 6, Chubby Checker
debuted his version of "The Twist" on the Dick Clark Show. Hank
Ballard did the original in 1958.
  Â
(http://lpintop.tripod.com/oldiesconnection/id41.html)
1960Â Â Â Â Â Â Aug 8, The pop song "Itsy
Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polkadot Bikini", sung by Brian Hyland
(16), hit #1. The song was written by Paul Vance and Lee Pockriss.
  Â
(www.popculturemadness.com/Music/Pop-Modern/1960.html)(SFC, 9/28/06,
p.A2)
1960Â Â Â Â Â Â Aug 12, Morty Black, heavy
metal rocker (TNT-7 Seas), was born.
   (SC, 8/12/02)
1960Â Â Â Â Â Â Aug 18, Beatles gave their
1st public performance at Kaiser Keller in Hamburg.
   (MC, 8/18/02)
1960Â Â Â Â Â Â Sep 13, The US Federal
Communications Commission banned payola. The scandal included Alan
Freed a popular DJ at WABC, he lost his job for allegedly accepting
gifts and money for playing certain records for money. There was
substantial evidence was uncovered to prove that the payola practice
was widespread.
   (MC, 9/13/01)
1960Â Â Â Â Â Â Sep 14, The "Twist" sung
by Chubby Checker (born as Ernest Evans in 1941) hit #1. It reached
#1 a 2nd time in Jan. 1962.
  Â
(http://www.shsu.edu/~mus_rjm/MUS264/Lectures/Notes_Mar20.html)
1960Â Â Â Â Â Â Nov 3, The first Arhoolie
LP (Long Play, 33 1/3 rpm record) arrived from the pressing plant:
250 copies of Mance Lipscomb’s “Texas Sharecropper and Songster.”
Chris Strachwitz founded Arhoolie Records in Berkeley, Ca.
   (www.arhoolie.com/about-us.html)(SFC, 1/25/11,
p.E1)
1960Â Â Â Â Â Â Ray Charles made a hit
with "Georgia on My Mind."
   (SSFC, 7/28/02, Par p.20)
1960Â Â Â Â Â Â Sam Cooke made a hit with
his song: "Wonderful World."
   (SFEC, 1/10/99, BR p.9)
1960Â Â Â Â Â Â Floyd Cramer (d.1997 at
64), studio pianist, had a hit single with the song "Last Date." He
also wrote "San Antonio Rose," "Fancy Pants," and "On the Rebound."
   (SFC, 1/1/98, p.A25)
1960Â Â Â Â Â Â Bob Ferguson (d.2001 at
73) wrote the country song "Wings of a Dove" for Ferlin Husky.
   (SFC, 7/25/01, p.C2)
1960Â Â Â Â Â Â Leonard Kwan (d.2000 at
69) recorded "Slack Key," the world’s first all-instrumental slack
key album.
   (SFC, 8/17/00, p.A27)
1960Â Â Â Â Â Â John Lewis directed the
Monterey Jazz Festival and featured Ornette Coleman, John Coltrane,
and Eric Dolphy. Jimmy Lyons and many others in the crowd wailed
that "that stuff isn’t jazz." "Evolution of the Blues" by Joe
Hendricks, commissioned for the festival was first performed. Lalo
Schifrin’s "Gillespiana" suite was also preformed.
   (SFC, 6/30/96, B9)(SFC, 9/23/96, D1)
1960Â Â Â Â Â Â Country singer Hank
Lochlin (1918-2009) made a hit with his song “Please Help Me, I’m
Falling.” It was Billboard’s No. 1 song for 14 weeks.
   (SFC, 3/12/09, p.B6)
1960Â Â Â Â Â Â Loretta Lynn scored her
first hit with "I’m a Honky Tonk Girl."
   (SFC, 8/24/96, p.A21)
1960Â Â Â Â Â Â Rockin’ Robin Roberts
recorded a version of "Louie, Louie" with the Wailers. It became a
regional hit in the Seattle-Tacoma area.
   (SFC, 1/25/97, p.A19)
1960s      A payola scandal brought
down the empire of popular disk jockey Alan Freed after it was
revealed that he had accepted money from record companies to play
their records.
   (SFC, 2/12/00, p.A21)
1961Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 27, Mitch Miller
(1911-2010) debuted his TV show, “Sing Along With Mitch.” It
continued to 1964.
   (SFC, 8/3/10,
p.C3)(www.imdb.com/title/tt0054564/)
1961Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 9, Supremes released
"I Want A Guy" & "Never Again."
   (MC, 3/9/02)
1961Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 25, Elvis Presley
performed live on the USS Arizona.
   (MC, 3/25/02)
1961Â Â Â Â Â Â Apr 11, Folk singer Bob
Dylan performed in New York City for the first time, opening for
John Lee Hooker. [see Sep 26]
   (HN, 4/11/01)
1961Â Â Â Â Â Â Apr 16, Selena, Latina
singer (Grammy-1994), was born in Texas.
   (MC, 4/16/02)
1961Â Â Â Â Â Â May 29, David Palmer,
heavy metal drummer (ABC, AC/DC), was born.
   (SC, 5/29/02)
1961Â Â Â Â Â Â Aug 12, Pete De Freitas,
rocker (Echo and the Bunnymen-Heaven Up Here), was born.
   (SC, 8/12/02)
1961Â Â Â Â Â Â Aug 12, Roy Hay, guitarist
(Culture Club-Do You Really Want to Hurt Me), was born.
   (SC, 8/12/02)
1961Â Â Â Â Â Â Sep 26, Nineteen-year-old
Bob Dylan made his New York singing debut at Gerde’s Folk City. [see
April 11]
   (HN, 9/26/00)
1961Â Â Â Â Â Â Oct 21, Bob Dylan recorded
his first album in a single day at a cost of $400.
   (HN, 10/21/00)
1961Â Â Â Â Â Â Dec 27, Tony Bennett,
starring in the Venetian Room of the SF Fairmont Hotel, made his 1st
solo public performance of “I Left My Heart in San Francisco.”Â
The song was written by George Cory and Douglass Cross in 1954 and
had languished in obscurity for years.
   (SSFC, 2/4/07, p.F1)(SFC, 1/25/12, p.A11)(SFC,
2/16/12, p.A13)
1961Â Â Â Â Â Â Ray Charles made a hit
with "Unchain My Heart," written by Bobby Sharp and "Hit the Road
Jack."
   (SSFC, 7/28/02, Par p.20)(SFC, 4/19/04, p.E1)
1961Â Â Â Â Â Â Country singer Jimmy Dean
(1928-2010) made a big hit with his song “Big Bad John.”
   (SFC, 6/14/10, p.C4)
1961Â Â Â Â Â Â Aretha Franklin (b.1942)
sang "Rock-a-Bye Your Baby With a Dixie Melody."
   (SSFC, 6/30/02, Par p.30)
1961Â Â Â Â Â Â Dave Fisher (1940-2010)
and the Highwaymen folk group made a hit with “Michael.”
  Â
(www.nytimes.com/2010/05/13/arts/music/13fisher.html)
1961Â Â Â Â Â Â The Marvelettes sang
"Please Mr. Postman."
   (SFC, 11/12/02, p.D1)
1962Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 17, Beach Boys
introduced a new musical style with their hit "Surfin."
   (MC, 2/17/02)
1962Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 2, Jon Bon Jovi (John
Bongiovi) was born. (singer, musician, songwriter: You Give Love a
Bad Name, Living on a Prayer)
   (HC, Internet, 2/3/98)
1962Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 30, M.C. Hammer,
[Stanley Kirk Burrell], rapper (Hammer Time), was born in Oakland,
Ca.
   (MC, 3/30/02)
1962Â Â Â Â Â Â Apr, Bob Dylan gave his
first public performance of “Blowin’ in the Wind” at Gerdy’s Folk
City in the West Village.
   (Econ, 2/18/12, ILp.14)
1962Â Â Â Â Â Â May 5, The West Side Story
soundtrack album went to #1 and stayed #1 for 54 weeks, more than 20
weeks longer than any other album.
   (MC, 5/5/02)
1962Â Â Â Â Â Â May 19, R.C., "Shout!
Shout! (Knock Yourself Out)" by Ernie Maresca peaked at #6 on the
pop singles chart.
   (DTnet, 5/19/97)
1962Â Â Â Â Â Â May 25, Isley Brothers
released "Twist & Shout."
   (SC, 5/25/02)
1962Â Â Â Â Â Â Jul 12, Mick Jagger (18),
Keith Richards (18) and Brian Jones (20) played The Marquee Club
with three others, the first time they performed under the Rolling
Stones band name which later became synonymous worldwide with excess
and musical flair.
   (AFP, 7/7/12)
1962Â Â Â Â Â Â Aug 16, The Beatles
dropped Pete Best as their drummer. They took on Ringo Starr on Aug
17. Best later authored the autobiography "Beatle! The Pete Best
Story."
   (SFC, 7/5/02, p.G5)(MC, 8/16/02)
1962Â Â Â Â Â Â Aug 17, Beatles replaced
Pete Best with Ringo Starr.
   (SC, 8/17/02)
1962Â Â Â Â Â Â Aug 18, Peter, Paul and
Mary released their 1st hit "If I Had a Hammer."
   (MC, 8/18/02)
1962Â Â Â Â Â Â Oct 31, Bobby Pickett
(1938-2007) made a one-time hit with “Monster Mash,” as it reached
No. 1 on Halloween.
   (SFC, 4/27/07, p.B9)
1962Â Â Â Â Â Â Tony Bennett won his first
Grammy Award for “I Left My Heart in San Francisco,” the record of
the year. It was the B side of a record that featured “Once Upon a
Time” on the A side.
   (SFC, 1/25/12, p.A11)
1962Â Â Â Â Â Â Booker T. & the MGs
made a hit with their instrumental “Green Onions.”
   (SFC, 5/14/12, p.C5)
1962Â Â Â Â Â Â Ray Charles made a hit
with "I Can’t Stop Loving You."
   (SSFC, 7/28/02, Par p.20)
1962Â Â Â Â Â Â Bob Dylan (b. Robert
Zimmerman May 24, 1941) released his first album “Bob Dylan.”
Zimmerman legally changed his name to Bob Dylan in this year.
   (SFC, 5/29/97, p.A3)(SFC, 9/26/05, C3)(SSFC,
11/20/05, Par p.4)
1962Â Â Â Â Â Â Dave Fisher (1940-2010)
and the Highwaymen folk group made a hit with “Cotton Fields,”
written by blues musician Huddie Ledbetter, and its reverse side
“The Gypsy Rover.”
  Â
(www.nytimes.com/2010/05/13/arts/music/13fisher.html)
1962Â Â Â Â Â Â The Four Seasons with lead
singer Frankie Valli had No. 1 hits with “Sherry” and “Big Girls
Don’t Cry.”
   (WSJ, 11/2/05, p.D12)
1962Â Â Â Â Â Â John Lee Hooker sang "Boom
Boom."
   (SFC, 11/12/02, p.D1)
1962Â Â Â Â Â Â The Miracles sang "You’ve
Really Got a Hold on Me."
   (SFC, 11/12/02, p.D1)
1962Â Â Â Â Â Â Vinicius de Moraes,
inspired by the stroll of a young woman (18) headed for Copacabana,
wrote a poem that became known as “The Girl of Ipanema.” It was put
to music by Jaoa Gilberto and Stan Getz and sung by Gilberto’s wife,
Astrud. The song won a Grammy for Record of the Year in 1964. The
young woman, Heloisa Eneida Menezes Paes Pinto, never made a dime
off the song but opened a modeling agency and a clothing store near
the site.
   (SSFC, 9/30/07, p.G3)
1962Â Â Â Â Â Â The 4 Osmond brothers,
under the direction of their father, George Osmond (1917-2007),
debuted on the Andy Williams show. Donny Osmond, at age 6, joined
the group a year later. Marie Osmond joined the group in 1973. In
1976 the Donny and Marie show began on ABC.
   (SFC, 11/9/07, p.B7)
1962Â Â Â Â Â Â Malvina Reynolds
(1900-1978) wrote her song: "Little boxes on the hillside, Little
boxes made of ticky tacky..." She came up with the song when she saw
the housing developments around Daly City, California built in the
post-war era by Henry Doelger, particularly the neighborhood of
Westlake. The song became a hit for her friend Pete Seeger in 1963.
   (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Little_Boxes)
1962Â Â Â Â Â Â Mary Wells sang "You Beat
me to the Punch."
   (SFC, 11/12/02, p.D1)
1962Â Â Â Â Â Â Cuban bassist Israel Lopez
(1918-2008), known as “Cachao,” left Cuba for Spain and soon
relocated to NYC, where he performed with leading Latin bands.
   (SSFC, 3/23/08, p.A2)
1962Â Â Â Â Â Â In Ireland the Dubliners
folk band formed in the Dublin pub O'Donoghue's. The founders
included Barney McKenna (1939-2012), Ronnie Drew (d.2008), Ciaran
Bourke (d.1988) and Luke Kelly (d.1984).
   (AP, 4/6/12)
1963Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 5, A private plane
crash near Camden, Tenn., claimed the lives of country music
performers Patsy Cline (30), "Cowboy" Copas and "Hawkshaw" Hawkins,
as well as pilot Randy Hughes, Cline's manager.
   (AP, 3/5/08)
1963Â Â Â Â Â Â Apr 8, Julian Lennon, John
Lennon’s son, singer (Too Late for Goodbyes), was born.
   (MC, 4/8/02)
1963Â Â Â Â Â Â May 11, "Puff The Magic
Dragon" by Peter, Paul and Mary hit #2.
   (MC, 5/11/02)
1963Â Â Â Â Â Â May 15, Peter, Paul &
Mary won their 1st Grammy (If I Had a Hammer).
   (MC, 5/15/02)
1963Â Â Â Â Â Â May 18, "If You Wanna Be
Happy" by Jimmy Soul hit #1.
   (SC, 5/18/02)
1963Â Â Â Â Â Â Jun 7, The Rolling Stones
made their 1st TV appearance.
   (SC, 6/7/02)
1963Â Â Â Â Â Â Aug 3, Allan Sherman
released "Hello Mudda, Hello Fadda."
   (SC, 8/3/02)
1963Â Â Â Â Â Â Aug 3, Beatles made a
final performance the Cavern Club in Liverpool.
   (SC, 8/3/02)
1963Â Â Â Â Â Â Aug 23, Beatles released
"She Loves You" in UK.
   (MC, 8/23/02)
1963Â Â Â Â Â Â Sep 7, The Beatles made
their 1st US TV appearance on ABC’s Big Night Out.
   (MC, 9/7/01)
1963Â Â Â Â Â Â Sep 7, American Bandstand
moved to California and aired once a week on Saturday.
   (MC, 9/7/01)
1963Â Â Â Â Â Â Oct 11, Edith Piaf
(b.1915), French singer (No, I don't regret anything), died of
cancer. In 2007 the biopic film “La Vie en Rose,” with Marion
Cotillard as Piaf, was produced. In 2011 Carolyn Burke authored “No
Regrets: The Life of Edith Piaf.”
  Â
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C3%89dith_Piaf)(SSFC, 4/3/11, p.G5)
1963Â Â Â Â Â Â Dec 10, Walter Cronkite
re-aired a CBS News report from London on the Beatles. It had been
1st filed on Nov 22, the day JFK was assassinated.
   (SSFC, 2/8/04, Par p.18)
1963Â Â Â Â Â Â The Beatles made it big
with the song "She Loves You."
   (TMC, 1994, p.1963)(SFC, 12/14/96, p.E3)
1963Â Â Â Â Â Â The first edition album
"Introducing the Beatles" was produced and sold for $9,600 in 1997.
   (SFC, 7/25/97, p.D5)
1963Â Â Â Â Â Â Sandy Bull (d.2001 at 60)
released his 1st album "Fantasias for Guitar and Banjo." It became
an underground classic.
   (SFC, 4/13/01, p.D6)
1963Â Â Â Â Â Â Johnny Cash recorded his
hit tune: "Ring of Fire."
   (SFC, 9/13/03, p.A12)
1963Â Â Â Â Â Â Keith Colley made a hit
with "Enamorado."
   (SFC, 11/30/02, p.D1)
1963Â Â Â Â Â Â The Crystals made a hit
with their songs “Da Doo Ron Ron” and “Then He Kissed Me” written by
Ellie Greenwich (1940-2009) in collaboration with producer Phil
Spector and her husband Jeff Barry.
   (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Then_He_Kissed_Me)
1963Â Â Â Â Â Â Koerner, Ray & Glover
released their landmark album: "Blues, Rags and Hollers." Dave
"Snaker" Ray, guitarist, died in 2002.
   (SFC, 11/30/02, p.A23)
1963Â Â Â Â Â Â Del McCoury became a
full-time member of the Blue Grass Boys under Bill Monroe.
   (WSJ, 1/8/04, p.D10)
1963Â Â Â Â Â Â Bob Merrill wrote the hit
song "People."
   (WSJ, 2/2/00, p.W8)
1963Â Â Â Â Â Â "Deep Purple" by Nino
Temple & April Stevens won the Grammy best rock-n-roll
recording.
   (SFEC, 2/21/99, DB p.38)
1963Â Â Â Â Â Â John Corigliano composed
his 4-movement Violin Sonata.
   (SFC, 11/18/98, p.E3)
1963Â Â Â Â Â Â Gunship pilot James P.
'Bull' Durham (1927-2004), balladeer of the Vietnam War, recorded 10
songs about SAC in the Vietnam era. In 1971 he recorded 12 songs
collected during his Vietnam tour of duty.
  Â
(www.historynet.com/james-p-bull-durham-true-balladeer-of-the-vietnam-war.htm)
1963Â Â Â Â Â Â Bob Dylan’s 2nd album,
"The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan," was released. Four songs were removed
for the officially released version. Nat Hentoff wrote the liner
notes.
   (SFC, 7/16/97, p.E1)(WSJ, 12/29/04, p.D8)
1963Â Â Â Â Â Â The Herbie Hancock song
"Watermelon Man" became a hit with a version by Mongo Santamaria
(d.2003).
   (SFC, 2/5/03, p.A22)
1963Â Â Â Â Â Â Bob Gibson (1932-1996)
co-wrote "Abilene" with J.D. Laudermilk, Lester Brown and Albert
Stanton.
   (SFC, 10/12/96, p.A21)
1963Â Â Â Â Â Â The Kingston Trio made a
hit with "Greenback Dollar" written by Hoyt Axton (d.1999 at age
61).
   (SFC, 10/27/99, p.C4)
1963Â Â Â Â Â Â The Kingsmen recorded
their hit song "Louie, Louie." It became a major hit in 1964. It was
written in 1955 by Richard Berry and recorded by Berry with the
Pharaohs in 1957. The Kingsmen sold their rights in 1968 for a
percentage of future licensing fees. The fees were not paid and the
band filed suit in 1993. They won a 1995 judgement and a 1998
appeal.
   (SFC, 1/25/97, p.A19)(SFC, 4/11/98, p.C5)
1963Â Â Â Â Â Â Sonny Bono, songwriter,
met Cherilyn (Cher) Sarkasian La Piere, singer, at a Hollywood
coffee shop. The pair went on to record "I Got You Babe," The Beat
Goes On," and "All I Ever Need Is You." Bono wrote the Jackie
DeShannon hit of this year "Needles and Pins."
   (SFC, 1/6/98, p.A11)
1963Â Â Â Â Â Â Marvin Gaye sang "Hitch
Hike."
   (SFC, 11/12/02, p.D1)
1963Â Â Â Â Â Â Al Hirt (1922-1999), New
Orleans trumpet player, made a hit with his instrumental "Java." He
won a 1964 Grammy best nonjazz instrumental for the tune.
   (SFC, 4/27/99, p.C4)
1963Â Â Â Â Â Â Martha and the Vandellas
sang "Heat Wave."
   (SFC, 11/12/02, p.D1)
1963Â Â Â Â Â Â Curtis Mayfield (b.1942)
and the Impressions had a hit with the song "It's All Right."
   (SFC, 12/28/99, p.C1)
1963Â Â Â Â Â Â Wayne Newton (22) made a
hit with “Danke Schoen.”
   (SSFC, 11/16/14, DB p.46)
1963Â Â Â Â Â Â Roy Nichols (d.2001 at 68)
joined Merle Haggard’s band the Strangers. He helped create the
Bakersfield sound.
   (SFC, 7/5/01, p.D2)
1963Â Â Â Â Â Â Jack Nitzsche (d.2000)
made his solo recording "The Lonely Surfer." He went on to compose
over 30 film scores.
   (SFEC, 9/10/00, p.49)
1963Â Â Â Â Â Â The Ronettes singing trio
made a hit with "Be My Baby," written by Ellie Greenwich (1940-2009)
in collaboration with producer Phil Spector and her husband Jeff
Barry. It epitomized the famed "wall of sound" technique of its
producer, Phil Spector.
   (AP,
2/13/09)(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ellie_Greenwich)
1963Â Â Â Â Â Â Ruby and the Romantics had
a hit with “Our Day Will Come,” co-written by Mort Garson
(1924-2008) and Bob Hilliard.
   (SFC, 1/16/08, p.B9)
1963Â Â Â Â Â Â The Singing Nun made a hit
with "Dominique." The song praised the 13th century crusade against
the Cathars. It was written by Noel Regney. His 1962 poem "Do You
Hear What I Hear" was recorded by Bing Crosby.
   (SSFC, 6/17/01, p.T10)(SFC, 11/28/02, p.A30)
1963Â Â Â Â Â Â Dusty Springfield recorded
"I Only Want to Be With You."
   (SFC, 3/4/99, p.C6)
1963Â Â Â Â Â Â Stevie Wonder sang
"Fingertips (Part 2)."
   (SFC, 11/12/02, p.D1)
1963Â Â Â Â Â Â Jazz saxophonist Joe
Henderson began recording for Blue Note.
   (SFEC, 1/5/97, DB p.32)
1963Â Â Â Â Â Â Miles Davis heard Tony
Williams playing drums with saxophonist Jackie McLean and hired him.
Williams stayed with Davis until 1969. Their recording included
"E.S.P.," "Nefertiti and "Filles de Kilamanjaro."
   (SFC, 2/25/97, p.B2)
1963Â Â Â Â Â Â Frank Zappa wrote his rock
opera "I Was a Teenage Maltshop."
   (SSFC, 3/17/02, p.M3)
1963Â Â Â Â Â Â Clement Dodd opened his
record studio at 13 Brentford Road, Kingston, Jamaica, and soon
began recording Bob Marley and the Wailers.
   (Econ, 5/22/04, p.80)
1964Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 18, Beatles 1st
appeared on Billboard Chart at #35 for "I Want to Hold Your Hand."
The song hit No. 1 by the end of the month.
   (MC, 1/18/02)(SSFC, 2/8/04, Par p.18)
1964Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan, The Beatles made
their North America TV debut on the Jack Paar Show. [see Feb 9,
1964]
   (SFC, 1/28/04, p.A1)
1964Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 1, Top hits included:
Anyone Who Had a Heart: Dionne Warwick; Um, Um, Um, Um, Um, Um:
Major Lance; Stop and Think It Over: Dale and Grace.
   (440 Int'l, 2/1/1999)
1964Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 1, Indiana Governor
Mathew Walsh tried to ban "Louie Louie" for obscenity.
   (MC, 2/1/02)
1964Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 3, "Meet the Beatles"
album went Gold.
   (MC, 2/3/02)
1964Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 9, The Beatles made
their first live American television appearance on "The Ed Sullivan
Show." [see Jan, 1964]
   (AP, 2/9/99)
1964Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 11, The Beatles 1st
live appearance in US was in the Washington, DC Coliseum.
   (MC, 2/11/02)
1964Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 16, The Beatles made
their 2nd appearance on the "Ed Sullivan Show."
   (MC, 2/16/02)
1964Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 30, Tracy Chapman, US
singer, songwriter (Freedom Now, I Got a Fast Car), was born.
   (MC, 3/30/02)
1964Â Â Â Â Â Â Apr 26, Popular music of
the day included: "Can’t Buy Me Love" by The Beatles; "Twist and
Shout" by The Beatles; Do You Want to Know a Secret" by The Beatles;
and "Understand Your Man" by Johnny Cash."
   (440 Int’l. Internet, 4/26/97, p.1)(SFC, 9/13/03,
p.A12)
1964Â Â Â Â Â Â Jun 2, Rolling Stones made
their 1st US concert tour debut in Lynn, Mass.
   (SC, 6/2/02)
1964Â Â Â Â Â Â Jun 26, Beatles released
"A Hard Day's Night" album.
   (MC, 6/26/02)
1964Â Â Â Â Â Â Jul 2, Celia Black
recorded Beatle's "Its For You" with McCartney on piano.
   (SC, 7/2/02)
1964 Â Â Â Â Â Â Jul 4, The song "I Get
Around" by the Beach Boys topped the charts and stayed there for 2
weeks. Sales went on to exceed a million records.
   (DataDragon)(Maggio, 98)(SFEC, 2/8/98, p.D8)
1964Â Â Â Â Â Â Jul 10, The Four Tops
released "Baby I Need Your Loving" on the Motown label. In 1967
Johnny Rivers also recorded a hit version.
  Â
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baby_I_Need_Your_Loving)
1964Â Â Â Â Â Â Jul 25, Beatles' "Hard
Day's Night, A," album went #1 and stayed #1 for 14 weeks.
   (SC, 7/25/02)
1964Â Â Â Â Â Â Aug 1, Beatles' "Hard
Day's Night" single went #1.
   (MC, 8/1/02)
1964Â Â Â Â Â Â Aug 11, Beatles' "A Hard
Days Night" opened in NYC.
   (MC, 8/11/02)
1964Â Â Â Â Â Â Aug 19, The Beatles
performed a concert at the Cow Palace in Daly City, Ca. They
returned there for another concert in 1965.
   (www.rarebeatles.com/photopg7/sf81964.htm)
1964Â Â Â Â Â Â Johnny Hathcock (d.2000 at
81) wrote the song "Welcome To My World." It became the theme song
for entertainer Eddy Arnold.
   (SFC, 1/2/01, p.B4)
1964Â Â Â Â Â Â The song "Devil with the
Blue Dress" was composed by W. Stevenson and F. Long and became a
hit for Mitch Rider and the Detroit Wheels.
   (SI-WPC, 1997)
1964Â Â Â Â Â Â The Dixie cups made a hit
with “Chapel of Love” written by Ellie Greenwich (1940-2009) in
collaboration with producer Phil Spector and her husband Jeff Barry.
   (SFC, 8/28/09,
p.D5)(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chapel_of_Love)
1964Â Â Â Â Â Â Bob Dylan released his 3rd
album "The Times They Are A-Changing." In 1996 he sold rights to the
Bank of Montreal for its marketing campaign.
   (SFC, 10/18/96, C12)(SFEC, 9/28/97, p.A3)
1964Â Â Â Â Â Â Bob Dylan released his 4th
album "Another Side of Bob Dylan."
   (SFC, 9/26/05, C3)
1964Â Â Â Â Â Â The Four Seasons with lead
singer Frankie Valli had top hits with “Dawn” and “Rag Doll.”
   (WSJ, 11/2/05, p.D12)
1964Â Â Â Â Â Â Martha and the Vandellas
sang "Dancing in the Streets."
   (SFC, 11/12/02, p.D1)
1964Â Â Â Â Â Â Curtis Mayfield and the
Impressions had a hit with the song "Amen."
   (SFC, 12/28/99, p.C1)
1964Â Â Â Â Â Â The British duo Peter and
Gordon made a hit with the song “A World Without Love,” written by
Paul McCartney. The group broke up in 1968 after 9 top 20 records.
Gordon Waller died in 1964 at age 64.
   (SFC, 7/24/09, p.D6)
1964Â Â Â Â Â Â Roy Orbison came out with
the song "Pretty Woman."
   (SFC, 8/24/96, p.E3)
1964Â Â Â Â Â Â "Walk Don’t Run" by the
Ventures became a hit. The drummer was Mel Tyler (1934-1996).
   (SFC, 8/14/96, p.D2)
1964Â Â Â Â Â Â Beatle singer Paul
McCartney was "turned on to pot" by Bob Dylan.
   (SFC, 9/27/97, p.E3)
1964Â Â Â Â Â Â Kyu Sakamoto made a hit
with "Sukiyaki."
   (SFC, 11/30/02, p.D1)
1964Â Â Â Â Â Â Simon and Garfunkel made
their debut with "Wednesday Morning 3 AM."
   (USAT, 3/24/99, p.5E)
1964Â Â Â Â Â Â The Supremes sang "Where
Did Our Love Go," "Baby Love," and "Come See About Me."
   (SFC, 11/12/02, p.D1)
1964Â Â Â Â Â Â Porter Wagoner recorded
the a country song "Green Green Grass of Home", written by
Claude "Curly" Putman Jr. Bobby Bare recorded a version in 1965 and
by Tom Jones in 1966 when it reached number one in the UK Singles
Chart on 1 December staying there for a total of seven weeks.
  Â
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_Green_Grass_of_Home)
1964Â Â Â Â Â Â Mary Wells sang "My Guy."
   (SFC, 11/12/02, p.D1)
1964Â Â Â Â Â Â The British group Zombies
with guitarist Paul Atkinson (d.2004), made a hit with "She's Not
There."
   (SFC, 4/7/04, p.B6)
1964Â Â Â Â Â Â The Newport Jazz Festival
introduced Hamza El Din, the father of Nubian music, to Western
audiences.
   (SFEC, 6/27/99, DB p.15)
1964Â Â Â Â Â Â Founder Randy Sparks sold
his interest in The New Christy Minstrels singing group for $2.5
million. John Denver and Kenny Rogers were singers in the group.
Songs by the group included "Today," "Green, Green," and "Saturday
Night."
   (SFEC, 9/26/99, DB p.36)
1964Â Â Â Â Â Â Lou Reed and John Cale
co-founded the music group Velvet Underground.
  Â
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Velvet_Underground)(SFEC, 1/26/97
Par, p.2)
1964Â Â Â Â Â Â The Academy of Country
Music was founded in Los Angeles.
   (SFEC,10/19/97, Par p.2)
1964Â Â Â Â Â Â In Nevada the Sahara
casino paid the Beatles $25,000 to play two shows in Las Vegas. The
show was moved to the convention center when the 600-seat Congo Room
was deemed too small.
   (SSFC, 3/12/17, p.F4)
1965Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan, Petula Clark
(b.1932), English singer, actress, and composer, made a #1 US hit
with “Downtown,” a song composed by Tony Hatch.
  Â
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Downtown_%28Petula_Clark_song%29)
1965Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 15, Nat King Cole
(b.1919), singer (Unforgettable, Mona Lisa), died in Santa Monica.
   (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nat_King_Cole)
1965Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 3, Temptations' "My
Girl" reached #1.
   (SC, 3/3/02)
1965Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 22, Columbia Records
released Bob Dylan’s album "Bringing It All Back Home."
   (SFC, 9/26/05, C3)
1965Â Â Â Â Â Â Apr 13, Beatles recorded
"Help."
   (MC, 4/13/02)
1965Â Â Â Â Â Â May 1, Spike Jones (53),
composer (Spike Jones Show), died.
   (MC, 5/1/02)
1965      May 13, Rolling
Stones recorded "Satisfaction,"
   (SS, Internet, 5/13/97)
1965Â Â Â Â Â Â May 22,
"Super-cali-fragil-istic-expi-ali-docious" hit #66.
   (MC, 5/22/02)
1965Â Â Â Â Â Â May 25, Mark Knight, rock
guitarist (Bang Tango-Dancin' on Coals), was born in California.
   (SC, 5/25/02)
1965Â Â Â Â Â Â Jun 26, "Mr. Tambourine
Man" by The Byrds reached the number one spot on the pop music
charts.
   (SFC, 9/26/06, p.D7)
1965Â Â Â Â Â Â Jul 25, Bob Dylan played a
Fender Stratocaster at the Newport Folk Festival, RI. In 2015 Elijah
Wald authored “Dylan Goes Electric! Newport, Seeger, Dylan, and the
Night that Split the Sixties.”
   (SFC, 7/20/15, p.E2)
1965Â Â Â Â Â Â Jun 29, The Redo Dog
Saloon opened in Virginia City, Ca. A San Francisco band called the
Charlatans opened. Architect George Hunter and keyboardist Michael
Ferguson had created the group and the first psychedelic tock poster
for the occasion. By 2015 a mint copy of the poster was valued at
$18,250. A 1996 film by Mary Works was titled “Rockin’ at the Red
Dog: The Dawn of Psychedelic Rock.”
   (SFC, 6/26/15, p.C4)
1965Â Â Â Â Â Â Jul 29, Beatles movie
"Help" premiered and Queen Elizabeth attended.
   (MC, 7/29/02)
1965Â Â Â Â Â Â Aug 13, In SF the
Jefferson Airplane made its first public performance opening at the
new Matrix club at 3138 Fillmore Street. Band co-founder Marty Balin
(1942-2018) held an ownership interest in the club.
   (SFEC, 5/23/99, Z1 p.4)(SFC, 11/17/08, p.E4)(SFC,
9/29/18, p.A9)
1965Â Â Â Â Â Â Aug 14, The Beatles taped
an appearance for the Ed Sullivan Show.
   (MC, 8/14/02)
1965Â Â Â Â Â Â Aug 14, Sonny and Cher's
"I Got You Babe" hit #1.
   (MC, 8/14/02)
1965Â Â Â Â Â Â Aug 15, Beatles played to
55,000 at Shea Stadium.
   (MC, 8/15/02)
1965Â Â Â Â Â Â Aug 28, Bob Dylan was
scorned at a concert in NY's Forest Hills.
   (www.punkhart.com/dylan/tapes/65-aug28.html)
1965Â Â Â Â Â Â Aug 30, Columbia Records
released Bob Dylan’s album "Highway 61 Revisited."
   (SFC, 9/26/05,
C3)(www.ddg.com/LIS/glenn/DYLANWEB.HTM)
1965Â Â Â Â Â Â Aug 31, The Beatles
returned to the Cow Palace in Daly City, Ca., for another concert.
  Â
(www.geocities.com/bratbear_51/cowpalacebeatles.html)
1965Â Â Â Â Â Â Sep 4, Beatles' "Help!"
single went #1 for 3 weeks.
   (MC, 9/4/01)
1965Â Â Â Â Â Â Oct 16, The world’s first
acid rock dance was held at Longshoreman’s Hall. Top band on the
bill was the Charlatan’s with Dan Hicks, a house band from the Red
Dog Saloon in Virginia City. The Jefferson Airplane also made its
first concert appearance. Alton Kelley (1940-2008) and 3 other
people, under the name Family Dog, staged the dance concert.
  Â
(www.chickenonaunicycle.com/FD%20Shows%20Full%20List.htm)(SFC,
6/3/08, p.B5)
1965Â Â Â Â Â Â Nov 6, Edgar Varese
(b.1883), French-born pioneer of musical modernism, died. He moved
to the US in 1915. Varese was the inventor of the term "organized
sound", a phrase meaning that certain timbres and rhythms can be
grouped together, sublimating into a whole new definition of music.
   (SFC, 4/16/10,
p.F6)(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edgard_Var%C3%A8se)
1965Â Â Â Â Â Â Dec 11, Sam Cooke
(b.1931), pop singer, was shot to death by a motel manager in Los
Angeles after a prostitute stole his clothes and money. His hits
included “You Send Me,” “Cupid,” and “Chain Gang.” In 2005
Peter Guralnick authored “Dream Boogie: The Triumph of Sam Cooke.”
   (SSFC, 10/16/05,
p.M3)(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sam_Cooke)
1965Â Â Â Â Â Â Andy Warhol became the
manager of the Velvet Underground and suggested they feature the
German-born singer Nico on several songs. Warhol's reputation helped
the band gain a higher profile.
  Â
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Velvet_Underground)
1965Â Â Â Â Â Â Louis Armstrong sang
"Hello Dolly." The song was written by Jerry Herman for the remake
of the Thornton Wilder play "Matchmaker." The name of the play was
changed to "Hello, Dolly!" after the song became a hit before the
play opened.
   (SFEC, 12/1/96, BR p.1)
1965Â Â Â Â Â Â The Beatles wrote and
recorded their "Rubber Soul" album over two months late this year.
   (Econ., 8/29/20, p.70)
1965Â Â Â Â Â Â Syd Barrett (1946-2006)
co-founded Pink Floyd with Roger Waters, Nick Mason and Rick Wright,
and wrote many of the band's early songs. Barrett became mentally
unstable from the pressures of drugs and fame and had to leave the
band in 1968, five years before Pink Floyd's most popular album,
"Dark Side of the Moon."
   (AP, 7/11/06)
1965Â Â Â Â Â Â James Brown (1928-2006),
the dynamic "Godfather of Soul," produced his classic song “I Got
You (I Feel Good),” later considered one of the all-time greatest in
rock’s cannon.
   (SFC, 12/26/06, p.A7)
1965Â Â Â Â Â Â The SF-based Beau Brummels
and lead singer Sal Valentino made a hit with “Laugh Laugh.”
   (SFC, 2/22/06, p.E1)
1965Â Â Â Â Â Â Sonny Bono and Cher had a
hit with their song "I Got You Babe."
   (SFC, 1/7/98, p.E1)
1965Â Â Â Â Â Â The Byrds had a No. 1 hit
with a folk-rock of “Turn! Turn! Turn!” by Pete Seeger.
   (SFC, 1/29/14, p.A10)
1965Â Â Â Â Â Â Cannibal & the
Headhunters, a group from East Los Angeles, made a hit with their
doo-wop recording of “Land of 1000 Dances.” Founding member Richard
“Scar” Lopez (b.1945) died in 2010. The song was written and first
recorded by Chris Kenner in 1962.
  Â
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Land_of_a_Thousand_Dances)(SFC,
8/20/10, p.C5)
1965Â Â Â Â Â Â Bob Dylan (23) did a tour
of England that was chronicled in the film "Don’t Look Back" by D.A.
Pennebaker.
   (SFEC, 2/8/98, p.D5)
1965Â Â Â Â Â Â John Fogarty and his band,
the Golliwogs, had a hit with the song "Brown-Eyed Girl. Under
direction from Saul Zaentz of Fantasy Records they soon changed
their name to Creedence Clearwater Revival.
   (SFEM, 3/23/97, p.28)
1965Â Â Â Â Â Â Jerry Garcia and The
Grateful Dead began playing.
   (SFC, 7/5/96, p.E4)
1965Â Â Â Â Â Â Marvin Gaye sang "Ain’t
That Peculiar."
   (SFC, 11/12/02, p.D1)
1965Â Â Â Â Â Â Billy Joe Royal
(1942-2015) made a top ten hit with “Down in the Boondocks,” written
and produced by Joe South.
   (SFC, 10/15/15, p.D4)
1965Â Â Â Â Â Â Bud Shank (1926-2009),
innovative jazz musician, played the 33-second flute solo on the hit
“California Dreamin,” by the Mamas and Papas.
   (SFC, 4/10/09, p.B5)
1965Â Â Â Â Â Â Curtis Mayfield and the
Impressions had a hit with the song "People Get Ready."
   (SFC, 12/28/99, p.C1)
1965Â Â Â Â Â Â The Miracles sang "Tracks
of My Tears."
   (SFC, 11/12/02, p.D1)
1965Â Â Â Â Â Â Frank Sinatra won a Grammy
award for his song, "It Was a Very Good Year."
   (SFC, 5/16/98, p.E7)
1965Â Â Â Â Â Â The Supremes sang "Stop!
In the Name Love," Back in My Arms Again," and "I Hear a Symphony."
   (SFC, 11/12/02, p.D1)
1965Â Â Â Â Â Â The Lynyrd Skynyrd rock
and roll band was formed. Their 1973 debut album included "Free
Bird." Their hit songs included "Sweet Home Alabama."
   (SFEC, 8/17/97, DB p.69)(WSJ, 3/17/05, p.A1)
1965Â Â Â Â Â Â Folk-rock edged in next to
Rock-n-roll.
   (TMC, 1994, p.1965)
1965Â Â Â Â Â Â Ray Repp made his
groundbreaking album: "Mass for Young Americans."
   (WSJ, 9/16/96, p.B8)
1965Â Â Â Â Â Â The Righteous Brothers
released their song: "You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feeling." It was
produced by Phil Spector. Boby Hatfield, half of the team, died in
2003 at age 63.
   (SFEC, 10/20/96, DB, p.65)(SFEC, 10/5/97, DB
p.74)(SSFC, 12/28/03, p.E9)
1965Â Â Â Â Â Â The Sir Douglas Quintet
with Doug Sahm had a hit with the song "She's About a Mover."
   (SFC, 11/20/99, p.A22)
1965Â Â Â Â Â Â Junior Walker & the
All Stars played "Shotgun."
   (SFC, 11/12/02, p.D1)
1965Â Â Â Â Â Â Stevie Wonder sang
"Uptight (Everything’s Alright)."
   (SFC, 11/12/02, p.D1)
1965Â Â Â Â Â Â In Britain The Who made 3
consecutive hits with "I Can’t Explain," "Anyway Anyhow Anywhere,"
and "My Generation." The group included bassist John Entwistle
(d.2002), drummer Keith Moon (d.1978), singer Roger Daltrey, and
guitarist Pete Townshend.
   (SFC, 6/28/02, p.A2)
1966Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 3, Rock group Buffalo
Springfield formed with Steven Stills, Neil Young, et al.
   (SC, 3/3/02)
1966Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 3, "Lightnin' Lou"
Christie was striking gold this day for his hit "Lightnin' Strikes".
Christie was born Lugee Sacco and joined a group called The Classics
before making his first recording in 1960. In 1961, he recorded
under the name Lugee & The Lions until changing to Lou Christie
for a string of hits beginning in 1963. Other notable tunes from
Christie's Top 40 appearances include: "The Gypsy Cried", "Two Faces
Have I", "Rhapsody in the Rain" and "I'm Gonna Make You Mine" – all
displaying his trademark falsetto voice, similar to that of Frankie
Valli of The Four Seasons. "Lightnin' Strikes" was Christie's only
million seller.
   (HC, Internet, 3/3/98)
1966Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 4, John Lennon said:
"We (Beatles) are more popular than Jesus." Radio stations in the
Netherlands and in Spain quickly banned the playing of Beatle
records as did the South African Broadcasting Corporation, stating
that "The Beatles' arrogance has passed the ultimate limit of
decency. It is clowning no longer."
   (www.beatles.ws/1966.htm)
1966Â Â Â Â Â Â Apr 12, Jan Berry
(1942-2004) of the "Jan and Dean" duo was involved in a car crash
that left him in a month-long coma. Their hit songs from 1960-1966
included: "Little Old lady from Pasadena," "Deadman’s Curve," and
"Surf City."
   (SFEC, 7/13/97, DB p.63)(SSFC, 3/28/04, p.B5)
1966Â Â Â Â Â Â May 1, Last British
concert by Beatles was at Empire Pool in Wembley.
   (MC, 5/1/02)
1966      May 13, Rolling
Stones released "Paint it Black."
   (SS, Internet, 5/13/97)
1966Â Â Â Â Â Â Jun 10, Mamas & Papas
won a gold record for "Monday, Monday."
   (MC, 6/10/02)
1966Â Â Â Â Â Â Jul 11, "I Am A Rock" by
Simon & Garfunkel peaked at #3.
   (MC, 7/11/02)
1966Â Â Â Â Â Â Jul 25, Supremes released
"You Can't Hurry Love."
   (SC, 7/25/02)
1966Â Â Â Â Â Â Jul 29, Bob Dylan was hurt
in motorcycle accident near Woodstock, NY.
   (www.wilburys.info/insbob.html)
1966Â Â Â Â Â Â Aug 5, Beatles released
their "Revolver" album in US.
   (MC, 8/5/02)
1966Â Â Â Â Â Â Aug 5, Beatles released
"Yellow Submarine" and "Eleanor Rigby" in UK.
   (MC, 8/5/02)
1966Â Â Â Â Â Â Aug 29, The Beatles
concluded their fourth American tour with their last public concert,
at Candlestick Park in San Francisco. The Park's capacity was
42,500, but only 25,000 tickets were sold, leaving large sections of
unsold seats. Fans paid between $4.50 and $6.50 for tickets, and The
Beatles' fee was around $90,000. The show's promoter was local
company Tempo Productions.
   (AP, 8/29/97)(http://tinyurl.com/p8c8dnr)
1966Â Â Â Â Â Â Sep, In SF the Jefferson
Airplane played the band’s last show at the Matrix, the first night
that Grace Slick sang with the band.
   (SFC, 11/17/08, p.E4)
1966Â Â Â Â Â Â The Beach Boys sang "Good
Vibrations," and sales exceeded a million records.
   (SFEC, 2/8/98, p.D8)
1966Â Â Â Â Â Â The Beatles wrote “Taxman”
to protest at Harold Wilson’s exorbitant “supertax” rates.
   (Econ, 1/28/17, p.55)
1966Â Â Â Â Â Â The Capitols sang "Cool
Jerk."
   (SFC, 11/12/02, p.D8)
1966Â Â Â Â Â Â The song "Winchester
Cathedral" by the New Vaudeville Band won the Grammy best
contemporary recording category.
   (http://tinyurl.com/k8bwa59)
1966Â Â Â Â Â Â Chas Chandler, bass player
for the Animals, spotted Jimi Hendrix playing at the Cafe Wha in New
York and invited him to London. He later produced the first 2
Hendrix albums.
   (SFC, 7/18/96, p.A22)
1966Â Â Â Â Â Â Arlo Guthrie wrote the
song "Alice’s Restaurant," and it became the anti-draft fight song.
   (TMC, 1994, p.1966)
1966Â Â Â Â Â Â The Four Tops sang "Reach
Out I’ll Be There" and "Standing in the Shadows of Love."
   (SFC, 11/12/02, p.D8)
1966Â Â Â Â Â Â Don Ho (1930-2007), a
Vietnamese-American singer, released his most famous song, "Tiny
Bubbles", which charted on both the pop (#8 Billboard) and easy
listening charts and caused the subsequent Tiny Bubbles LP to remain
in the album Top 20 for almost a year.
   (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Don_Ho)
1966Â Â Â Â Â Â Junior Walker and the All
Stars sang "How Sweet It Is."
   (SFC, 11/12/02, p.D8)
1966Â Â Â Â Â Â Arthur Lee (1945-2006)
fronted the band Love and established himself as the 1st black rock
star in the post Beatle’s era. The group’s debut album, “Love,” was
the 1st rock record released by Electra Records.
   (SSFC, 8/6/06, p.B6)
1966Â Â Â Â Â Â The Mamas and Papas
released their debut single "California Dreamin." The group broke up
in 1968.
   (SFC, 3/19/01, p.A19)
1966Â Â Â Â Â Â Sergio Mendes and Brasil
‘66 made a hit with "Mas Que Nada."
   (SFC, 11/30/02, p.D1)
1966Â Â Â Â Â Â Jimmy Ruffin sang "What
Become of the Broken-hearted."
   (SFC, 11/12/02, p.D8)
1966Â Â Â Â Â Â The Sandpipers made a hit
with "Guantanamera."
   (SFC, 11/30/02, p.D1)
1966Â Â Â Â Â Â Simon and Garfunkel sang
"Scarborough Fair."
   (SFEC, 12/22/96, Z1 p.2)
1966Â Â Â Â Â Â Frank Sinatra made a hit
with "Strangers in the Night." The song won a Grammy as record of
the year.
   (SFC, 5/16/98, p.E7)
1966Â Â Â Â Â Â Nancy Sinatra sang "These
Boots Are Made for Walking," written by Lee Hazlewood (1929-2007).
   (SFEC, 12/22/96, Z1 p.2)(SFC, 8/7/07, p.D9)
1966Â Â Â Â Â Â Percy Sledge made a hit
with his song "When a Man Loves a Woman."
   (SFC, 8/14/96, p.E2)
1966Â Â Â Â Â Â Phil Spector produced
“River Deep – Mountain High” with Ike and Tina Turner. The pair
split in 1976.
   (SFC, 12/13/07, p.B5)
1966Â Â Â Â Â Â Dusty Springfield recorded
"You Don't Have to Say You Love Me."
   (SFC, 3/4/99, p.C6)
1966Â Â Â Â Â Â The Standells song “Dirty
Water,” an ode to Boston and its polluted waterways, reached No. 11
on the Billboard’s Top 40 chart. In 2006 the group filed a suit
against Anheuser-Busch for illegal use of the song in commercials.
   (SFC, 6/12/06, p.D11)
1966Â Â Â Â Â Â The Supremes sang "You
Can’t Hurry Love" and "You Keep Me Hanging On."
   (SFC, 11/12/02, p.D8)
1966Â Â Â Â Â Â The Young Rascals had a
No. 1 hit with “Good Lovin’.”
   (SFC, 6/27/06, p.B5)
1966Â Â Â Â Â Â The Blue Note jazz label
of Alfred Lion was sold to Liberty Records. It was later transferred
to EMI.
   (WSJ, 10/3/97, p.A8)
1966Â Â Â Â Â Â Jeff Hanna and Jimmie
Fadden founded their "Nitty Gritty Dirt Band."
   (SFEM,10/19/97, DB p.61)
1966Â Â Â Â Â Â Paul Williams (1948-2013)
founded “Crawdaddy,” a pioneering journal of rock criticism.
Williams went on to author over 25 books including a 3-volume work
on bob Dylan.
   (SFC, 4/2/13, p.A5)
1966Â Â Â Â Â Â The Jimi Hendrix
Experience formed and played together for 3 years. Noel Redding
(d.2003 at 57) was the bass player. The band produced 3 albums of
psychedelic rock: "Are You Experienced," "Axis: Bold as Love," and
"Electric Ladyland."
   (SFC, 5/14/03, p.A17)helle
1967Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 14, Sonny and Cher’s
"The Beat Goes On" peaked at #6 on the pop charts. In 1999 the TV
special “And the Beat Goes On: The Sonny and Cher Story,” written by
Sonny Bono (1935-1998), was produced.
  Â
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Beat_Goes_On)(www.imdb.com/title/tt0185155/)
1967Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 15, The Rolling Stones
appeared on the Ed Sullivan Show.
   (www.crazyabouttv.com/edsullivanshow.html)
1967Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 17, Beatles released
"Penny Lane" & "Strawberry Fields." Strawberry Fields was a
children’s home run by the Salvation Army. It was closed in 2005.
   (http://www.jpgr.co.uk/r5570.html)(SFC, 6/2/05,
p.E8)
1967Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 20, Kurt Cobain,
Nirvana grunge band musician, was born in Aberdeen, Washington. He
was found dead at his Lake Washington home on April 8, 1994, of
suicide committed about April 5.
   (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kurt_Cobain)
1967Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 20, Elvis Presley
released his album "How Great Thou Art." The song “How Great Thou
Art” is a Christian hymn based on a Swedish poem written by Carl
Gustav Boberg (1859-1940) in Sweden in 1885.
  Â
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/How_Great_Thou_Art_(album))
1967Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb, In California the
six-piece jug band Little Princess 109 first performed at the James
Logan High School in Union City. In 1968 they began the first of 205
nights for Bill Graham Presents in San Francisco as six-man lighting
act. The group folded after a Cow Palace gig on New Year’s Eve 1977.
   (SFC, 8/3/17, p.E6)
1967Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 2, At the 9th Grammy
Awards: “Strangers in Night” by Frank Sinatra won Record of the Year
and “Michele” by the Beatles won Song of the Year. The song
"Winchester Cathedral" by the New Vaudeville Band won the Grammy
best contemporary recording category.
  Â
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grammy_Awards_of_1967)
1967Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 7, The Los
Angeles-based Doors made their 2nd trip to SF and performed for a
mid-week engagement at the Matrix ahead of a weekend performance at
the Avalon. Peter Abrams, co-owner of the Matrix, recorded the show
with a recently installed tape recorder.
   (SFC, 11/17/08, p.E1)(http://tinyurl.com/mxky7j)
1967Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 11, British
psychedelic group Pink Floyd released “Arnold Layne,” their 1st
single song.
  Â
(http://pinkfloydhyperbase.dk/albums/arnold.htm)(SFC, 9/26/06, p.D6)
1967Â Â Â Â Â Â May 1, Elvis Presley (32)
married Priscilla Beaulieu (20) in Las Vegas at the Aladdin Hotel.
They divorced in 1973. They had met when she was 14 in West Germany.
   (AP, 5/1/97)(SFEM, 1/25/98, p.66)
1967Â Â Â Â Â Â May 20, BBC disc jockey
Kenny Everett gave the official preview of Sgt Pepper's Lonely
Hearts Club Band on the radio show Where It's At, broadcast on the
BBC Light Program. He was unable to play the final track "A Day in
the Life," which the BBC had banned a day earlier due to drug
references.
  Â
(www.beatlesbible.com/1967/05/20/the-bbc-bans-a-day-in-the-life/)
1967Â Â Â Â Â Â Jun 1, "Sgt. Pepper's
Lonely Hearts Club Band," was released in the U.K. and the following
day in the U.S. and was certified "gold" the same day of release. It
topped the charts all over the world, holding the number one slot in
Britain for 27 weeks and for 19 in America. It received four Grammys
including Best Album.
   (AP, 6/1/97)
1967Â Â Â Â Â Â Jun 7, Three Moby Grape
members were arrested on Mt. Tamalpais, following a concert at the
Avalon Ballroom in SF, for having sex with underage girls.
   (www.rockument.com/scenes_sf1.html)
1967Â Â Â Â Â Â Jun 10, In Marin County,
Ca., the Fantasy Fair and Magic Mountain Music Festival drew some
36,000 Bay Area fans to the Sidney B. Cushing Memorial Amphitheatre
on Mount Tamalpais.
   (SFC, 6/8/17, p.A1)
1967Â Â Â Â Â Â Jun 18, The 3-day Monterey
Pop Festival featured Pete Townshend and The Who on the Sunday
finale. They nearly stopped the show with the destruction of
guitars, drums and microphones on stage. They were immediately
followed by Jerry Garcia and The Grateful Dead. The festival also
featured Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix and Otis Redding.
   (WSJ, 8/11/95,
p.A-7)(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monterey_Pop_Festival)
1967Â Â Â Â Â Â Jun 19, Beatle Paul
McCartney, having admitted in Queen Magazine that he had taken LSD,
repeated the admission on television.
   (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_McCartney)
1967Â Â Â Â Â Â Jun, The theme song from
the film "The Good, The Bad, And The Ugly" by Hugo Montenegro
(1925-1981) reached No. 2 on the US record charts.
   (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0599359/bio)
1967Â Â Â Â Â Â Jul 1, Beatles' "Sgt
Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band," went #1 for 15 weeks.
   (MC, 7/1/02)
1967Â Â Â Â Â Â Jul 7, Beatles' "All You
Need is Love" was released.
   (MC, 7/7/02)
1967Â Â Â Â Â Â Jul, Music promoter Bill
Graham sponsored a free rock concert at the Fillmore Auditorium in
San Francisco to benefit the Haight Ashbury Free Clinic. In 1992 the
facility at 1696 Haight St. was named after Graham (d.1991).
   (SSFC, 10/22/17, DB p.50)
1967Â Â Â Â Â Â Aug 19, Beatles' "All You
Need is Love," single went #1.
   (MC, 8/19/02)
1967Â Â Â Â Â Â Aug 25, Beatles went to
Wales to study TM with Maharishi Mahesh Yogi.
   (MC, 8/25/02)
1967Â Â Â Â Â Â Aug 27, Brian Epstein,
manager of the Beatles, was found dead in his London flat from an
overdose of sleeping pills.
   (AP, 8/27/97)
1967Â Â Â Â Â Â Sep 11, Charles Manson
(b.1934) recorded his album "Lie," which was produced by Dennis
Wilson (b.1944), drummer for the Beach Boys.
  Â
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lie:_The_Love_and_Terror_Cult)
1967Â Â Â Â Â Â Oct 2, In San Francisco
police raided the Grateful Dead’s crash pad at 710 Ashbury and
hauled ten members and associates to a police station on
questionable marijuana charges. The case wrapped up in 1968 with all
felony charges reduced to misdemeanors.
   (SFC, 3/11/17, p.C1)
1967Â Â Â Â Â Â Nov 9, Rolling Stone
Magazine, co-founded by Jann Wenner in SF, published its debut issue
with a press run of 40,000 copies. Ralph J. Gleason, SF jazz critic,
helped Wenner fund the 1st issue. In 1998 "Rolling Stone: The
Complete Covers 1967-1997" was edited by Holly George-Warren. In
1977 the company moved its headquarters to NYC.
   (SFC,10/28/97, p.E1)(SFEC, 6/21/98, BR p.12)(SFC,
12/23/04, p.E16)(SFC, 4/18/09, p.C1)
1967Â Â Â Â Â Â Nov 27, The Beatles'
"Magical Mystery Tour," album was released in Britain.
  Â
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magical_Mystery_Tour_(album))
1967Â Â Â Â Â Â Dec 10, Singer Otis
Redding (26) and 6 others died in the crash of his private plane in
Lake Monona, Wisconsin. He had recently recorded “Sittin’ on the
Dock of the Bay,” which became a big hit in 1968.
   (SFC, 4/25/06, p.B5)(AP, 12/10/07)
1967Â Â Â Â Â Â Dec 26, BBC-1 television
aired "Magical Mystery Tour," the Beatles' critically drubbed
one-hour special.
   (AP, 12/26/07)
1967Â Â Â Â Â Â Dec 27, Singer Bob Dylan
(b.1941 as Robert Allen Zimmerman) released his "John Wesley
Harding" album.
  Â
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Wesley_Harding_(album))
1967Â Â Â Â Â Â Dec 30, Bert Berns
(b.1929), American songwriter and record producer, died in NYC. He
made numerous contributions to popular music, including "Twist and
Shout", "Piece of My Heart", "Brown Eyed Girl" (as a producer),
"Here Comes the Night", "Hang On Sloopy", "Under the Boardwalk" and
"Everybody Needs Somebody to Love". In 2017 the documentary “Bang:
The Bert Berns Story” was produced under the direction of his son,
Brett Berns, and Bob Sarles.
   (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bert_Berns)(SFC,
5/11/17, p.E5)
1967Â Â Â Â Â Â Glen Campbell made a hit
with "Gentle On My Mind," written by John Hartford (d.2001 at 63).
   (SFC, 6/6/01, p.A19)
1967Â Â Â Â Â Â Bob Dylan and The Band
recorded "The Basement Tapes" in West Saugerties, N.Y., in a ranch
house dubbed Big Pink, rented by Rick Danko (d.1999). In 1997 Greil
Marcus, wrote "Invisible Republic," an exploration of the
recordings. Other band members included Garth Hudson, Richard
Manuel, Robbie Robertson and Levon Helm.
   (SFEC, 5/25/97, DB p.52)(SFC, 12/1/97, p.E4)(WSJ,
12/15/99, p.A20)
1967Â Â Â Â Â Â The 5th Dimension released
the Jimmy Webb tune "Up, Up and Away." The group included Ron
Townson (d.2001 ay 68), Florence LaRue, Marilyn McCoo, and Billy
Davis.
   (SFC, 8/4/01,
p.E2)(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Up,_Up_and_Away)
1967Â Â Â Â Â Â The Four Tops sang
"Bernadette."
   (SFC, 11/12/02, p.D8)
1967Â Â Â Â Â Â Aretha Franklin (b.1942)
recorded "Chain of Fools."
  Â
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chain_of_Fools_(song))
1967Â Â Â Â Â Â Aretha Franklin (b.1942)
sang "Respect," "Baby I Love You" and "I Never Love a Man (the Way I
Love You)."
   (SSFC, 6/30/02, Par p.30)
1967Â Â Â Â Â Â Arlo Guthrie recorded the
18.5 minute ballad "Alice’s Restaurant." It was about his arrest for
dumping garbage that had piled up at the former Episcopal Church
where Alice and Ray Brock lived in Great Barrington, Mass. Guthrie
bought the building in 1991 for $300,000 and set up a foundation to
promote understanding among religious traditions. "It’s a bring your
own god church."
   (SFC, 1/5/02, p.A2)
1967Â Â Â Â Â Â The Irish Rovers released
their album “The Unicorn.” They had formed in Canada and released
their album in California.
   (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Unicorn)
1967Â Â Â Â Â Â Miriam Makeba (1932-2008),
South African folk singer and anti-apartheid activist, released her
hit single “Pata Pata.”
   (SFC, 11/11/08, p.B5)
1967Â Â Â Â Â Â Sly & the Family Stone
released the first of their 8 albums. The group was led by Sylvester
Stewart, aka Sly Stone, an African American from Vallejo, Ca. In
2008 Jeff Kaliss authored “I Want To Take You Higher: The Life and
Times of Sly & the Family Stone.”
   (SFC, 11/24/08, p.E2)
1967Â Â Â Â Â Â Zal Yanovsky (d.2002 at
57) left the Lovin’ Spoonful. The group’s hits had included "Do You
Believe in Magic" and "Summer in the City."
   (SFC, 12/17/02, p.A23)
1967Â Â Â Â Â Â The rock group Moby Grape
made its debut album "Moby Grape."
   (SFC, 6/29/96, p.E1)
1967Â Â Â Â Â Â Procol Harum’s "A Whiter
Shade of Pale" became a psychedelic classic. It was later voted one
of the greatest pop songs of all time. In 2006 the High Court in
London awarded organist Matthew Fisher a 40% right to the song.
Singer Gary Brooker had claimed he was the sole writer.
   (AFP, 12/20/06)
1967Â Â Â Â Â Â The rock group Traffic was
founded by drummer Jim Capaldi (1945-2005), keyboardist Winwood,
guitarist Dave Mason and saxophonist-flutist Chris Wood.
   (SFC, 2/1/05, p.B9)
1967Â Â Â Â Â Â Grace Slick and the
Jefferson Airplane (b.1965) burst out of SF with their songs
"Somebody To Love" and "White Rabbit." In 1998 Slick and Andrea
Cagan wrote "Somebody To Love? A Rock-and-Roll Memoir." A 1980
biography of Slick was written by Barbara Rowe of the NY Times. In
2003 Jeff Tamarkin authored "Got a Revolution: The Turbulent Flight
of Jefferson Airplane."
   (SFEC, 9/6/98, BR p.3)(SSFC, 6/22/03, p.M6)
1967Â Â Â Â Â Â "Songs of Granite and Men"
by SF composer Walter Tolleson (d. 1997 at 72) was performed at
Carnegie Hall.
   (SFC,10/31/97, p.A24)
1967Â Â Â Â Â Â Gladys Knight and the
Pips, already an established singing group, joined the Motown record
label. Their hits included "I Heard It Through the Grapevine." In
1997 Gladys Knight wrote "Between Each Line of Pain and Glory: My
Life Story."
   (SFC,11/19/97, p.E4)
1967Â Â Â Â Â Â The Miracles sang "I
Second That Emotion."
   (SFC, 11/12/02, p.D8)
1967Â Â Â Â Â Â In Cuba the Orquesta de
Musica Moderna, a government sponsored group, was formed. It was the
basis for the later jazz group Irakere.
   (SFC, 6/16/96, BR p.42)
1967Â Â Â Â Â Â Rod Stewart emerged as the
vocal sensation in the Jeff Beck Group.
   (USAT, 3/24/99, p.5E)
1967Â Â Â Â Â Â The Supremes sang "Love Is
Here and Now You’re Gone" and "The Happening."
   (SFC, 11/12/02, p.D8)
1967Â Â Â Â Â Â Jackie Wilson sang "Higher
and Higher."
   (SFC, 11/12/02, p.D8)
1968Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 16, Beatles George
Harrison & John Lennon flew to India with their wives for
transcendental meditation with the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi.
   (www.beatles.ws/1968.htm)
1968Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 27, Frankie Lymon
(b.1942), American singer died. He was an African-American rock and
roll/rhythm and blues singer, best known as the boy soprano lead
singer of a New York City-based early rock and roll group called the
Teenagers. Their first single, "Why Do Fools Fall in Love" (1956),
was also their biggest hit. The 1998 film "Why Do Fools Fall in
Love" was a musical comedy-drama with Halle Berry, Vivica A. Fox,
Lela Rochon and Little Richard. It was directed by Gregory Nava and
set in the 1950s based on the life of Frankie Lymon.
   (SFC, 8/28/98, p.C1)(SFC, 9/2/98,
p.E1)(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frankie_Lymon)
1968Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 29, At the Grammy
Awards, the Fifth Dimension's "Up, Up and Away" won record of the
year for 1967, while album of the year honors went to the Beatles
for "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band."
   (HN, 2/29/00)(AP, 2/29/04)
1968Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 1, Singers Johnny Cash
(36) and June Carter (38) wed.
   (SFC, 9/13/03, p.A12)
1968Â Â Â Â Â Â Apr, Simon & Garfunkel
released their song "Mrs. Robinson."
   (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mrs._Robinson)
1968Â Â Â Â Â Â May 14, The Beatles in NYC
announced the formation of their Apple Corp.
   (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apple_Corps)
1968Â Â Â Â Â Â May 24, The Rolling
Stones, an English rock band, released "Jumping Jack Flash" in
England. The US release was on June 1.
  Â
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jumpin%27_Jack_Flash)
1968Â Â Â Â Â Â Jun 13, Johnny Cash
performed a live concert at California’s Folsom Prison. Applause
from the inmates was dubbed into his "At Folsom Prison" album.
   (WSJ, 11/26/97, p.CA4)(Econ, 9/18/04, p.88)
1968Â Â Â Â Â Â Jun 22-1968 Jun 23, In San
Francisco Big Brother & the Holding Company played this weekend
at the Carousel Ballroom, a former big band venue, at the corner of
market and Van Ness. The space was operated by 4 SF bands: Jefferson
Airplane, Grateful Dead, Quicksilver Messenger Service and Big
Brother, whose Cheap Thrills album came out two months later.
   (SFC, 3/14/12, p.E3)
1968Â Â Â Â Â Â Jun 29, "Tip-Toe Thru' The
Tulips With Me" by Tiny Tim (1932-1996), aka Herbert Khaury, peaked
at #17.
   (SFC, 12/2/96,
p.A4)(www.dreamsville.net/index.php?paged=2)
1968Â Â Â Â Â Â Jul 1, The Band released
their "Music From Big Pink" album. It features one of their
best-known songs, "The Weight."
   (WSJ, 12/15/99,
p.A20)(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Music_from_Big_Pink)
1968Â Â Â Â Â Â Jul 31, The Beatle's
recorded Hey Jude.
  Â
(http://oldies.about.com/od/thebeatlessongs/a/heyjude.htm)
1968Â Â Â Â Â Â Jul, The British blues
group Cream, with vocalist and bassist Jack Bruce (1943-2014),
drummer Ginger Baker (b.1939) and guitarist Eric Clapton (b.1945)
released their double album “Wheels of Fire” in the US. It became
the first double album to go platinum.
   (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wheels_of_Fire)
1968Â Â Â Â Â Â Sep 28, Beatles' "Hey
Jude" single went #1 and stayed #1 for 9 weeks.
   (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hey_Jude)
1968Â Â Â Â Â Â Sep, In Czechoslovakia the
Plastic People of the Universe band was founded by Milan Hlavsa
(d.2001 at 49).
   (WSJ, 7/22/98, p.A12)(SFC, 1/8/01, p.A19)
1968Â Â Â Â Â Â Oct 14, The Beatles "White
Album" was completed at the Abbey Road Studios.
  Â
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Beatles_(album))
1968Â Â Â Â Â Â Nov 22, Beatles released
their "Beatles," (White Album) their only double album.
  Â
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Beatles_(album))
1968Â Â Â Â Â Â Nov 28, In London,
England, John Lennon and Yoko Ono appeared at the Marylebone
Magistrates' Court. John pleaded guilty to possession of cannabis
resin and was fined 150 pounds plus 20 guineas costs.
   (http://tinyurl.com/qjbdgb)
1968Â Â Â Â Â Â Nov, The album “Astral
Weeks” by Irish-born singer and song-writer Van Morrison was
released. In 1999 it was given a Grammy Hall of Fame award.
   (WSJ, 4/14/07, p.P14)
1968Â Â Â Â Â Â Dec 7, The Rolling Stones
released their album "Beggar’s Banquet" in the US, one day after it
was released in the UK. They soon filmed a concert performance right
after the Who’s performance of "A Quick One" that the Stones did not
match and the film was shelved. In 1996 it was planned to release
the film where Jethro Tull and Taj Mahal are also featured. The
album included the song "Sympathy for the Devil."
  Â
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beggars_Banquet)(SFC, 8/16/96,
p.D11)(SFC, 10/23/00, p.F3)
1968Â Â Â Â Â Â Dec 28, The Beatles'
"White Album," went #1 in the US, beginning this week, and stayed at
the top for 9 weeks.
  Â
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Beatles_(album))
1968Â Â Â Â Â Â The Delfonics soul singing
group of Philadelphia recorded their hit "La-la Means I Love You."
   (SFEC, 1/25/98, DB
p.45)(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Delfonics)
1968Â Â Â Â Â Â Graham Nash (b.1942) left
the Hollies to join David Crosby (b.1941) and Stephen Stills
(b.1945). The first Crosby, Stills & Nash album was released in
1969.
  Â
(www.rockhall.com/inductee/crosby-stills-and-nash)
1968Â Â Â Â Â Â The song "Just Dropped In
(to See What Condition My Condition Was In) was the 1st charted
single for Kenny Rogers, who was with the First Edition. The song
was written by Texas songwriter Mickey Newbury (d.2002 at 62).
   (SFC, 10/3/02, p.A20)
1968Â Â Â Â Â Â Aretha Franklin (b.1942)
recorded "Since You’ve Been Gone" and “Think.”
  Â
(http://tinyurl.com/oe3cmp)(http://tinyurl.com/obhjaj)
1968Â Â Â Â Â Â Marvin Gaye recorded "I
Heard It Through the Grapevine."
  Â
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I_Heard_It_Through_the_Grapevine)(SFC,
11/12/02, p.D8)
1968Â Â Â Â Â Â Edwin Hawkins recorded his
arrangement of “Oh Happy Day” on a 2-track tape machine for the
Northern California State Youth Choir. An album was made with
Century Records to help finance a trip to a church youth conference
in Washington DC. In 1969 Abe Kesh at KSAN-FM began playing the
song, which featured the voice of Dorothy Morrison. The album was
soon re-issued by Buddah Records.
   (SFC, 10/23/09, p.F1)
1968Â Â Â Â Â Â The Iron Butterfly
recorded their 17-minute classic "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida," with Erik
Braunn (d.2003 at 52) on lead guitar. Doug Ingle, Ron Bushy and Lee
Dorman completed the band.
   (SFC, 7/29/03, p.A17)
1968Â Â Â Â Â Â Janis Joplin and Big
Brother and the Holding Company band recorded their album "Cheap
Thrills" in New York.
   (SFC, 5/19/96, DB,
p.39)(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cheap_Thrills)
1968Â Â Â Â Â Â The Moody Blues released
their album "Days of Future Past” in the US. It had been released in
Britain in November 1967.
  Â
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Days_of_Future_Passed)
1968Â Â Â Â Â Â Laura Nyro (1947-1997)
released her song suite album "Eli and the Thirteenth Confession."
her biggest songs were "When I Die," "Stoned Soul Picnic," "Wedding
Bell Blues," "Sweet Blindness," and "Eli’s Coming."
  Â
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eli_and_the_Thirteenth_Confession)(SFE,
4/10/97, p.A23)
1968Â Â Â Â Â Â The song “Sittin’ on the
Dock of the Bay” by Otis Redding (1941-1967) became a smash hit. It
was the first posthumous single in US chart history.
   (SFC, 4/25/06, p.B5)
1968Â Â Â Â Â Â The "Rolling Stones Rock
and Roll Circus" was shot for home video but not released until
1996. The 62 minute TV special featured the Stones, John Lennon,
Yoko Ono, Eric Clapton, the Who, Marianne Faithfull, Taj Mahal and
Jethro Tull.
   (SFC, 10/15/96, p.B1)
1968Â Â Â Â Â Â The singing group Sha Na
Na began singing together at Columbia Univ. as the Columbia
Kingsmen. Their first gig in Manhattan paid $50 for the 12 members.
They sang "Let’s Go to the Hop" at Woodstock and did a TV show from
1977-1980.
   (SFC, 6/26/98, p.C13)
1968Â Â Â Â Â Â The Supremes released
their album "Love Child."
  Â
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Love_Child_(The_Supremes_album))(SFC,
11/12/02, p.D8)
1968Â Â Â Â Â Â Johnnie Taylor (d.2000 at
62) had his 1st No. 1 R&B hit with "Who’s Making Love."
   (SFC, 6/2/00, p.D5)
1968Â Â Â Â Â Â The rock group Three Dog
Night, formed with Danny Hutton, Cory Wells (1941-2015) and Chuck
Negron, released its debut album “Three Dog Night.”
   (SFC, 10/23/15, p.D8)
1968Â Â Â Â Â Â Stevie Wonder made a hit
with the song "For Once in My Life."
   (SFC, 11/12/02,
p.D8)(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/For_Once_in_My_Life)
1968Â Â Â Â Â Â Tammy Wynette (1942-1998),
country singer, recorded her hit song "Stand by Your Man." In 2003
it was rated the No. 1 top country song.
   (SFC, 6/6/03,
p.D22)(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stand_By_Your_Man)
1968Â Â Â Â Â Â The Jefferson Airplane
rock group and manager Bill Thompson (1944-2015) purchased a mansion
in San Francisco for $70,000. It had been built in 1904 by lumber
baron R.A. Vance. In 1985 the 20-room home at 2400 Fulton was sold
for $700,000.
   (SSFC, 1/30/11, DB p.42)(SFC, 1/15/15, p.D6)
1969Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 3, Police in Newark,
NJ, confiscated 30,000 copies of the John Lennon, Yoko Ono album,
Two Virgins. A nude photo of John and Yoko on the cover violated
pornography laws in Jersey.
   (www.goatview.com/january03.htm)
1969Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 17, Bob Dylan &
Johnny Cash recorded an album that was never released.
   (http://hnn.us/blogs/entries/57340.html)
1969Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 19, Elvis Presley
recorded the Eddie Rabbit song "Kentucky Rain."
   (www.anelvisfan2001.com/KentuckyRain.html)
1969Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 1, Jim Morrison
(d.1971), lead singer for the Doors, exposed himself at Dinner Key
Auditorium in Miami before 10,000 people. An arrest warrant was
issued for Morrison four days after the concert. He turned himself
in, was tried the next year and convicted on two charges. Gov.
Charlie Crist and Florida's Cabinet members pardoned Morrison of
those convictions on Dec 9, 2010.
   (SFC, 12/24/02, p.A13)(AP, 12/10/10)
1969Â Â Â Â Â Â Apr 12, Simon and
Garfunkel released "The Boxer."
  Â
(www.radiowest.ca/forum/viewtopic.php?t=3300&sid=72232d290dfd00e819b5932236c4c632)
1969Â Â Â Â Â Â May 23, The Who released
their rock opera "Tommy."
   (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tommy_(album))
1969Â Â Â Â Â Â May 31, John Lennon and
Yoko Ono recorded "Give Peace a Chance" during their “Bed-In” at the
Queen Elizabeth’s Hotel in Montreal.
  Â
(http://digitaldreamdoor.nutsie.com/pages/lyrics2/givepeace.html)
1969Â Â Â Â Â Â Jun 7, The Johnny Cash
Show premiered on ABC from the Grand Ole Opry with special guest Bob
Dylan and regular cast: Tennessee Three, June Carter and Carter
Family, Statler Brothers, and Carl Perkins, stepping in for Luther
Perkins, who has just died accidentally in tragic fire. The series
ran through 1971.
   (www.johnnycashonline.com/biography)
1969Â Â Â Â Â Â Jun 7, Tommy James &
the Shondells released "Crystal Blue Persuasion."
  Â
(www.cashboxmagazine.com/archives/60s_files/1969.html)
1969Â Â Â Â Â Â Jul 11, David Bowie
(b.1947), British musician, released his single “Space Oddity,"
supposedly in conjunction with the July 20 Apollo 11 moon landing.
   (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_Oddity)
1969Â Â Â Â Â Â Jun 27, The 3-day Denver
Pop Festival opened. The peak attendance was estimated at 50,000.
  Â
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Denver_Pop_Festival)
1969Â Â Â Â Â Â Jul 2, Barbra Streisand
(b.1942) opened for a 4-week engagement at the Las Vegas
International Hotel.
   (www.barbrafile.com/6169.htm)
1969Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
Jul 3, Brian Jones (27), founder of the Rolling Stones (1962), was
found dead at the bottom of Cotchford Farm swimming pool.
  Â
(www.hotshotdigital.com/WellAlwaysRemember.4/BrianJones.html)
1969Â Â Â Â Â Â Jul 4, "Give Peace a
Chance" by Plastic Ono Band was released in UK.
  Â
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Give_Peace_a_Chance)
1969Â Â Â Â Â Â Jul 4, 140,000 attended
Atlanta Pop Festival featuring Led Zeppelin & Janis Joplin.
   (Maggio, 98)
1969Â Â Â Â Â Â Jul 25, Some 70,000
attended the Seattle Pop Festival. The music festival, organized by
Boyd Grafmyrem, was held at the Gold Creek Park, Woodinville,
Washington, from July 25 to July 28, 1969.
  Â
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seattle_Pop_Festival)
1969Â Â Â Â Â Â Jul, The rock group
Mountain with Leslie West and Felix Pappalardi released their album
Windfall 4500.
   (www.mp3.com/albums/17361/reviews.html)
1969Â Â Â Â Â Â Aug 2, Bob Dylan made a
surprise appearance at the Minn. Hibbing High School 10-year
reunion.
  Â
(http://oldies.about.com/od/oldieshistory/a/august2.htm)
1969Â Â Â Â Â Â Aug 15, The Woodstock
Music and Art Fair opened in upstate New York. 400,000 young people
gathered at Max Yasgur's dairy farm in the Bethel hamlet of White
Lake, N.Y. for the Woodstock music festival. Wavy Gravy (Hugh
Romney) and companions from the Hog Farm Commune handled security
and ran a free kitchen and "bad trips tent." The performers included
Joan Baez; Crosby, Stills and Nash; Creedence Clearwater; the
Grateful Dead; Jimi Hendrix; the Jefferson Airplane; Janis Joplin;
Canned Heat and Ravi Shankar.
   (TMC, 1994,
p.1969)(SFC,5/17/96,p.E-1)(WSJ,10/22/96,p.A20)(SFEC,1/26/97,
p.A14)(AP, 8/15/97)(SFC,10/27/97, p.C2)(SFC, 2/3/99, p.E1)
1969Â Â Â Â Â Â Aug 16, Canned Heat
performed "Let's Work Together" live Woodstock.
   (www.chromeoxide.com/canned.htm)
1969Â Â Â Â Â Â Aug 18, Two concert goers
died at the Woodstock Music and Art Fair in Bethel, New York, one
from an overdose of heroin, the other from a burst appendix. The
Woodstock Music and Art Fair ended in Sullivan County, NY, with a
mid-morning set performed by Jimi Hendrix.Â
   (HN, 8/18/99)(AP, 8/18/07)
1969Â Â Â Â Â Â Aug 20, Arlo Guthrie
released "Alice's Restaurant."
   (www.imdb.com/title/tt0064002/)
1969Â Â Â Â Â Â Sep 1, John Lennon
returned his OBE medal. He said it is to protest the British
government’s involvement in Biafra, its support of the US in Vietnam
and the poor chart performance of his latest single, “Cold Turkey.”
   (www.rockhall.com/inductee/john-lennon)
1969Â Â Â Â Â Â Sep 13, John Lennon and
his wife, Yoko Ono, presented the Plastic Ono Band in concert for
the first time at the Toronto Peace Festival (Lennon's first in four
years). The 1st hit by the new group, "Give Peace a Chance," made it
to number 14 on the charts.
   (www.musicdirect.com/product/83704)
1969Â Â Â Â Â Â Sep 26, The Beatles last
album, "Abbey Road," was released in the United Kingdom. The last
hit LP for the "fab four" zoomed quickly to the #1 spot on the
charts and stayed there for 11 weeks.
   (www.johnlennon.com/html/history.aspx)(HN,
9/26/99)(Beat. For., 1995, p. 58)
1969Â Â Â Â Â Â Nov 23, Donnell "Spade"
Cooley (59) American musician known as the "king of Western swing"
prior to his conviction of murder, died of a heart attack following
a performance for a police officers benefit concert in Oakland.
Cooley's career ended in 1961 when he was arrested and convicted for
the brutal murder of his second wife, Ella Mae Evans.
   (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spade_Cooley)
1969Â Â Â Â Â Â Nov 28, The Rolling
Stones, English rock band, released its "Let It Bleed" album.
   (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Let_It_Bleed)
1969Â Â Â Â Â Â Dec 3, Andrew Lloyd Weber
and Tim Rice offered John Lennon the role of Jesus Christ in Jesus
Christ Superstar, but the offer was withdrawn the next day.
  Â
(http://tinyurl.com/7bvup8)(http://oldies.about.com/od/oldieshistory/a/december3.htm)
1969Â Â Â Â Â Â Dec 6, The Rolling Stones
staged a rock concert at the Altamount Speedway in Livermore, Ca.
for some 300,000 fans. The Stones hired the Hells Angels for
security. Fans were beaten and one person, Meredith Hunter, was
stamped and stabbed to death by a Hell's Angel during the show. Alan
Passaro (21) was tried and found not guilty because Hunter was
carrying a gun. One man drowned in a nearby canal and2 people were
crushed to death by a runaway car. The 1970 documentary film “Gimme
Shelter” was about the Rolling Stones concert at Altamount.
   (SFEC, 5/23/99, Z1 p.4)(AP, 12/6/99)(SFC,
6/10/00, p.B5)(SFC, 5/26/05, p.B2)
1969Â Â Â Â Â Â Dec 14, The Jackson 5
appeared on the Ed Sullivan Show. Michael Jackson was 11.
   (SFC, 6/14/05, p.D6)
1969Â Â Â Â Â Â Dec 20, Peter, Paul &
Mary's "Leaving on a Jet Plane" reached #1. It was written by John
Denver in 1967.
  Â
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leaving_on_a_Jet_Plane)
1969Â Â Â Â Â Â Dec 21, Diana Ross and the
Supremes make their final television appearance on The Ed Sullivan
Show, singing "Someday We'll Be Together", which would be the last
of their 12 number one singles.
   (http://forums.w3oc.com/showthread.php?p=1967)
1969Â Â Â Â Â Â The album “Trout Mask
Replica,” was released Captain Beefheart and His Magic Band.” Don
Van Vliet (d.2010 at 69) performed as Captain Beefheart and produced
the album with Frank Zappa, a high school friend from Lancaster, Ca.
   (SFC, 12/18/10, p.A7)
1969Â Â Â Â Â Â Credence Clearwater
Revival put out its "Willy and the Poorboys" LP. The cover featured
a photo of the band in front of the Duck Kee Market in Oakland.
Creedence had a hit this year with "Oh! Lord, I'm stuck in Lodi
again.
   (SFC, 9/12/98, p.A19)(WSJ, 7/21/99, p.CA1)
1969Â Â Â Â Â Â The Flying Burrito
Brothers released their first album. The group included Gram Parsons
(1946-1973) and Chris Hillman (b.1944) of the Byrds, and pedal steel
guitar player Pete Kleinow (1934-2007).
   (SFC, 1/16/07, p.B5)
1969Â Â Â Â Â Â Merle Haggard (b.1937)
made a hit with his song "Okie From Muskogee" and "The Fightin’ Side
of Me."
   (SSFC, 12/10/00, Par
p.7)(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Merle_Haggard)
1969Â Â Â Â Â Â The Iron Butterfly rock
group scored a hit with the 17-minute tune "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida."
   (SFC, 5/31/99, p.A20)
1969Â Â Â Â Â Â The group It's A Beautiful
Day recorded "White Bird."
   (SFEC, 12/19/99, DB p.41)
1969Â Â Â Â Â Â Kenny Rogers (b.1938) made
a hit with his song "Don’t Take Your Love to Town."
   (SSFC, 5/20/01, Par
p.22)(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kenny_Rogers)
1969Â Â Â Â Â Â Oliver, born as William
Oliver Swofford (1945-2000), recorded the hits "Jean" and "Good
Morning Starshine."
   (SFC, 2/16/00,
p.C2)(www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=20124)
1969Â Â Â Â Â Â The album “The Stooges”
spent 11 weeks on the Billboard album chart peaking at No. 106. It
included the song “I Wanna Be Your Dog,” which became the group’s
signature number. The punk band formed in Michigan in 1967 and
included guitarist Ron Asheton (1948-2009), drummer Scott Asheton,
singer Iggy Pop (born as Jim Osterberg) and bassist Dave Alexander.
In 2007 Paul Trynka authored “Iggy Pop: Open Up and Bleed.”
   (SFC, 1/8/09, p.B5)
1969Â Â Â Â Â Â Warner Bros. released the
Bernie Krause album "In a Wild Sanctuary." It was an album of nature
oriented sounds. In 1999 Krause authored "Into a Wild Sanctuary: A
Life in Music and Natural Sound."
   (SFEC, 5/16/99, BR p.4)
1969 Â Â Â Â Â Â San Francisco guitarist
Carlos Santana (b.1947) and his band recorded their first album
featuring such tunes as "Evil Ways." Other members included Jose
Chepito Areas (percussionist), Michael Carrabello (percussionist),
David Brown (bassist), Gregg Rolie (keyboardist) and Michael Shrieve
(drums). The band was inducted in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in
1998.
   (SFC, 1/12/98,
p.E1)(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carlos_Santana)
1969Â Â Â Â Â Â Shel Silverstein
(1930-1999) wrote the song "A Boy Named Sue," which became a hit for
Johnny Cash. Silverstein, a playwright and cartoonist, established
himself as a children's writer and published the classic "The Giving
Tree" in 1964.
   (SFC, 5/11/99,
p.A19)(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shel_Silverstein)
1969Â Â Â Â Â Â Skip Spence (1946-1999),
the original drummer for the Jefferson Airplane and founding
guitarist-member of Moby Grape, recorded his folk-psychedelic solo
album, "Oar." He gave the Bay Area band, Pud, a new name - the
Doobie Brothers. He recorded the "Oar" album fresh from involuntary
commitment at New York's Bellevue Hosp. In 1999 the album "More Oar
- A Tribute to the Skip Spence Album" was released.
   (SFC, 4/17/99, p.A19)(WSJ, 9/20/99,
p.A26)(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skip_Spence)
1969Â Â Â Â Â Â Dusty Springfield
(d.1999), English pop singer, recorded her album "Dusty in Memphis."
   (SFC, 3/4/99,
p.D2)(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dusty_Springfield)
1969Â Â Â Â Â Â Rod Stewart (b.1945),
English singer, made his solo debut with "The Rod Stewart Album."
   (USAT, 3/24/99,
p.5E)(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rod_Stewart)
1969Â Â Â Â Â Â Neil Young (b.1945,
Canadian singer and songwriter, produced his solo album with the
title track "Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere."
   (WSJ, 4/28/99,
p.A16)(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neil_Young)
1969Â Â Â Â Â Â Frank Zappa recorded a
song entitled "Electric Aunt Jemima" on his album Uncle Meat.
   (www.tranglos.com/marek/yes/tr_146.html)
1969Â Â Â Â Â Â In Fremont, New Hampshire,
Austin Wiggin led his 3 daughters, named The Shaggs, to record
"Philosophy of the World." The recording became an underground
legend and in 1999 RCA Victor released a CD version. Writer Irwin
Chusid devoted a chapter to the group in his 1999 book "Songs in the
Key of Z."
   (WSJ, 3/2/99, p.A17)
1970Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 7, Woodstock, NY,
farmers sued Max Yasgur (1919-1973) for $35,000 for damages caused
by the "Woodstock" rock festival.
  Â
(www.woodstockpreservation.org/pastpresent/maxtribute.html)
1970Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 17, Joni Mitchell
(b.1943) held a concert at London’s Royal Albert Hall.
   (http://tinyurl.com/3etl9t)
1970Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 26, Beatles released
"Beatles Again," aka the "Hey Jude" album.
   (www.dmbeatles.com/disk.php?disk=54)
1970Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 6, The Beatles
released "Let it Be" in UK.
   (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Let_It_Be_(song))
1970Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 11, Richard L.
Spencer, tenor saxophonist and lead singer for the Winstons, was
awarded a Grammy for “color Him Father.” The DC-based band had
released the song a year earlier. The B-side of the song featured an
instrumental called “Amen, Brother.” This featured a 4-bar solo by
drummer Gregory Coleman that was copied in 1986 for the first volume
of “Ultimate Breaks and Beats.” In 1988 the break was featured on
the “king of Beats,” a 6-minute collage of hip-hop beats and other
samples released by Mantronix.
   (Econ, 12/17/11,
p.145)(www.youtube.com/watch?v=5rIb1-EEWt0)
1970Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 26, Peter Yarrow
(b.1938), of the singing trio Peter, Paul & Mary, pleaded guilty
to taking "immoral liberties" with a minor, referring to an incident
between Mr. Yarrow and a 14-year old. He served 3 months in
jail; 11 years later he was pardoned by President Carter.
   (http://theawarenesscenter.org/yarrow_peter.html)
1970Â Â Â Â Â Â Apr 9, Paul McCartney
announced the official split of the Beatles.
   (HN, 4/9/98)
1970Â Â Â Â Â Â Apr 11, The Beatles' "Let
It Be" single was released in the US and quickly went to #1.
   (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Let_It_Be_(song))
1970Â Â Â Â Â Â Apr 25, Freda Payne
released "Band of Gold."
   (SS, 4/25/02)
1970Â Â Â Â Â Â Apr, Melanie Safka
(b.1947) made a hit with her song "Lay Down.” It became part of her
Candles in the Rain album released in May 1970.
   (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melanie_Safka)
1970Â Â Â Â Â Â May 11, The song "Long
& Winding Road" by the Beatles was released in the US. It was
their last American release.
  Â
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Long_and_Winding_Road)
1970      May 13, Beatles
movie "Let it Be" premiered.
   (SS, Internet, 5/13/97)
1970Â Â Â Â Â Â May 20, The Beatles movie
"Let it Be" premiered in Britain. The documentary film was about a
Beatles’ recording session.
   (SFEC, 3/8/98, DB
p.47)(www.imdb.com/title/tt0065976/)
1970Â Â Â Â Â Â Jun 7, The Who's Tommy was
performed at NY's Lincoln Center.
  Â
(www.bigozine2.com/archive/ARrarities/ARwhoortommy.html)
1970Â Â Â Â Â Â Jun 13, Beatles' "Let It
Be," album went #1 & stayed #1 for 4 weeks.
   (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Let_It_Be)
1970Â Â Â Â Â Â Jul 4, Casey Kasem
(b.1932) debuted his "American Top 40" on LA radio.
   (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Casey_Kasem)
1970Â Â Â Â Â Â Jul 18, Arthur Brown
(b.1942), English rock singer, was arrested for stripping on stage
in Palermo, Sicily.
   (www.godofhellfire.co.uk/60s.htm)
1970Â Â Â Â Â Â Sep 18, Jimi Hendrix (27),
rock star guitarist, died in London of drug overdose. Hendrix had
performed briefly as an opening act for the Monkeys as well as
behind the Isley Brothers and Little Richard. In 1978 David
Henderson authored the biography “Scuse me While I Kiss the Sky.” In
2005 Charles R. Cross authored “Room Full of Mirrors: A Biography of
Jimi Hendrix.”
   (WSJ, 1/9/97, p.A8)(AP, 9/18/97)(WSJ, 4/16/99,
p.W13C)(SSFC, 8/21/05, p.F1)
1970Â Â Â Â Â Â Sep, 19, The 1st
Glastonbury Fair attracted some 1,500 revelers. The first festival
at Worthy Farm was the Pilton Festival, mounted by Michael Eavis,
and attended by 1,500 people. The first act to perform was the group
Stackridge; the headline act was T.Rex. The larger free festival at
the summer solstice in June the next year was the first to attract
nationwide interest, and the event became an important precursor of
the later Glastonbury Festivals. In 2004 some 115,000 were expected
for what had become Britain’s biggest pop festival.
   (Econ, 6/26/04,
p.61)(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glastonbury_Festival#1970s)
1970Â Â Â Â Â Â Sep, The Who, an English
rock band, released "See Me, Feel Me," the finale of its Tommy
album, as a single in the US.
   (www.connollyco.com/discography/who/)
1970Â Â Â Â Â Â Oct 4, Janis Joplin
(b.1943) was found dead in a seedy Hollywood motel of a heroin
overdose at age 27. Her classic songs included: "Down on Me," "Ball
and Chain," and "Piece of My Heart." In 1992 Laura Joplin authored
“Love, Janis.”
   (WSJ, 1/9/97, p.A8)(SFEC, 3/16/97, Z1 p.4)(SSFC,
8/21/05, p.F1)
1970Â Â Â Â Â Â Oct 6, Elvis Presley
recorded "You Don't Have To Say You Love Me."
  Â
(http://oldies.about.com/od/elvispresleyhistory/a/elvis1970.htm)
1970Â Â Â Â Â Â Oct, "Engine Number 9" by
Wilson Pickett (d.2006) peaked at #14 on the pop singles chart.
   (www.superseventies.com/singlesbymonth70.html)
1970Â Â Â Â Â Â Nov 6, Augustin Lara
(b.1897), Mexican composer, died. At the time of his death, Lara had
written more than 700 songs.
   (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agust%C3%ADn_Lara)
1970Â Â Â Â Â Â Nov 11, Stevie Wonder sang
"Heaven Help Us All" on the Johnny Cash show.
   (www.imdb.com/title/tt0063919/episodes)
1970Â Â Â Â Â Â Nov 23, George Harrison
released "My Sweet Lord" in the US.
   (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/My_Sweet_Lord)
1970Â Â Â Â Â Â Nov 27, George Harrison
released his solo album "All Things Must Pass." He became the 1st
Beatle to have a solo No. 1 hit with "My Sweet Lord."
   (SFC, 12/1/01,
p.D1)(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/All_Things_Must_Pass)
1970Â Â Â Â Â Â Nov 28, "I Hear You
Knocking" by Dave Edmunds" peaked at #1 on the U.K. pop singles
chart and stayed there for seven weeks.
  Â
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I_Hear_You_Knocking)
1970Â Â Â Â Â Â Nov 28, "Montego Bay" by
Bobby Bloom peaked at #8 on the pop singles chart.
  Â
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_1970s_one-hit_wonders_in_the_United_States)
1970Â Â Â Â Â Â Dec 21, A meeting took
place between Elvis Presley and President Nixon as Elvis sought to
get the credentials of a Federal Agent to help Nixon fight drugs.
The meeting remained secret until The Washington Post broke the
story on Jan. 27, 1972.
   (AP, 1/8/07)
1970Â Â Â Â Â Â Dec 31, Paul McCartney
filed a lawsuit to dissolve the Beatles’ partnership.
   (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_McCartney)
1970Â Â Â Â Â Â Dec, Derek and the
Dominos, featuring Eric Clapton, released their “Layla” album.
   (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Layla)
1970Â Â Â Â Â Â Johnny and June Carter
Cash won a Grammy for the song "If I Were a Carpenter" written by
Tim Hardin.
   (SFC, 5/16/03, p.A24)
1970Â Â Â Â Â Â Steve Goodman (1948-1984)
wrote City of New Orleans, a song which would eventually be called
by many people "the best train song ever written." Steve pitched the
song to Arlo Guthrie, and in 1972, Arlo included the song on his
album Hobo's Lullaby (1972). It was then released as a single and
became a big-time hit record. Steve always thanked Arlo for
recording the song, and for making it possible for Steve to do what
he loved -- playing music for a living.
  Â
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steve_Goodman)(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AJMVj04lfyo)
1970Â Â Â Â Â Â A Detroit singer named
Sixto Diaz Rodriguez (b.1942 released his album, “Cold Fact.” The
album did not do well in the US but bootleg copies made it to South
Africa and Australia and sold some half million copies. In 2012
Malik Bendjelloul directed the documentary “Searching for Sugar
Man,” about two men’s search for what happened to the singer.Â
   (SFC, 8/16/12,
p.75)(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sixto_Diaz_Rodriguez)
1970Â Â Â Â Â Â Santana made a hit with
"Oye Como Va." It was written and composed by Latin jazz and mambo
musician Tito Puente in 1963 and popularized by Santana's cover of
the song on their album Abraxas.
   (SFC, 11/30/02,
p.D1)(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oye_Como_Va)
1970Â Â Â Â Â Â Edwin Starr (d.2003 at
61), Nashville-born soul singer, hit No. 1 with "War."
  Â
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_(Edwin_Starr_song))(SSFC,
12/28/03, p.E5)
1970Â Â Â Â Â Â The rock band Mountain
released its debut album "Climbing." The group included bassist
Felix Pappalardi (1939-1983), guitarist Leslie West (1945-2020),
keyboardist Steve Knight and drummer N. D. Smart.
  Â
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mountain_(band))(SSFC, 12/27/20,
p.C11)
1971Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 3, At the top of the
record charts: "My Sweet Lord and Isn’t It" a Pity by George
Harrison; "Knock Three Times" by Dawn; "Black Magic Woman" by
Santana; and "Rose Garden" by Lynn Anderson.
  Â
(www.mbgtop40.com/chartreviews/1971/week10of1971.html)
1971Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 15, George Harrison’s
"My Sweet Lord" was released in the UK. The US release was in 1970.
   (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/My_Sweet_Lord)
1971Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 29, "My Sweet Lord" by
George Harrison hit #1 on UK pop chart.
  Â
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UK_No.1_Hits_of_1971)
1971Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 3, South African
Broadcasting Corp lifted its ban on the Beatles.
   (www.southafrica.to/history/history1948.htm)
1971Â Â Â Â Â Â Apr 23, The Rolling Stones
released their Sticky Fingers album. Following the release of Sticky
Fingers, the Stones left England after allegations by the UK Inland
Revenue service of unpaid income tax.
  Â
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sticky_Fingers)(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Rolling_Stones)
1971Â Â Â Â Â Â Apr 29, Bill Graham
announced the close of the Fillmore in SF and the Fillmore East in
NYC along with his retirement from concert promotion. He was angered
by his perceived greed of rock bands and the anger and distrust of
his audience. He soon relented and put on shows with Led Zeppelin,
the Allman Brothers, Pink Floyd, the Who and the Grateful Dead. The
final concert at Fillmore East took place on June 27.
   (SFC,12/13/97,
p.A15)(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fillmore_East)
1971Â Â Â Â Â Â Jun 19, The song "Rainy
Days And Mondays" by the Carpenters peaked at #2 on the pop singles
chart.
   (http://tinyurl.com/5caxet)
1971Â Â Â Â Â Â Jun 19, R.C., "It's Too
Late" by Carole King peaked at #1 on the pop singles chart and
stayed there for five weeks.
  Â
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/It's_Too_Late_(Carole_King_song))
1971Â Â Â Â Â Â Jun 20, A 5-day
Glastonbury Fair opened at Worthy Farm near Glastonbury, England.
Arabella Spencer-Churchill (1949-2007), granddaughter of former PM
Winston Churchill, helped found the fair. It featured Hawkwind,
Traffic, Melanie, David Bowie, Joan Baez and Fairport Convention,
and attracted some 12,000 people. Revived as a three-day festival in
1979, it had grown by 2007 to draw 153,000 people to hear acts
including Coldplay, Brian Wilson, Kaiser Chiefs and Elvis Costello.
   (AP,
12/21/07)(www.efestivals.co.uk/festivals/glastonbury/1971/)
1971Â Â Â Â Â Â Jul 3, James Douglas
Morrison (b.1943), singer for the Doors rock group, died of an
apparent heart attack in Paris, France. Jim Morrison (27) was buried
at the Pere Lachaise cemetery.
   (SFC, 7/4/96, p.D2)(AP, 7/3/97)
1971Â Â Â Â Â Â Jul 6, Louis Armstrong
(b.1900), jazz and blues musician widely known as "Satchmo," died.
His innovations of early day blues and Dixieland music inspired the
swing eras of the 1920s and 1930s. He invented skat, a technique of
singing jazz improvisations. Louis spoke out against the US
government during the 1957 Little Rock, Ark. school troubles. "The
way they are treating my people in the South, the government can go
to hell." A 32 cent memorial stamp was issued by the Post Office in
1995. Armstrong smoked marijuana every day of his adult life, was
unfaithful to each of his four wives, was arrested 4 times and
consorted freely with prostitutes, pimps and mobsters. His
biographies include: "Louis Armstrong: An American Genius" by James
Lincoln Collier (1983); "Satchmo" by Gary Giddins (1988); and "Louis
Armstrong: An Extravagant Life" by Laurence Bergreen (1997). In 1999
Joshua Berrett published "The Louis Armstrong Companion."
   (WSJ, 9/27/95, p.A-16)(WSJ, 6/26/97, p.A16)(WSJ,
3/10/99, p.A20)
1971Â Â Â Â Â Â Aug 1, The Concert For
Bangladesh, two benefit concerts organized by George Harrison and
Ravi Shankar, played to a total of 40,000 people at Madison Square
Garden.
  Â
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Concert_for_Bangladesh)
1971Â Â Â Â Â Â Aug 3, Paul McCartney
announced the formation of his group Wings.
   (www.rockhall.com/inductee/paul-mccartney)
1971Â Â Â Â Â Â Aug 31, John Lennon left
UK for NYC, never to return.
   (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Lennon)
1971Â Â Â Â Â Â Sep 9, John Lennon
released his mega hit "Imagine" album in the US. It was released in
Britain on October 8. A film was made of his recording work and in
April 2000 a version titled "Gimme Some Truth" was released on DVD.
   (www.cduniverse.com/productinfo.asp?pid=1109009)
1971Â Â Â Â Â Â John Denver (1943-1997)
released his album "Poems, Prayers and Promises," that contained the
song "Take me Home, Country Roads."
   (SFC, 10/14/97,
p.A10)(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Denver)
1971Â Â Â Â Â Â John Duffey (1934-1996)
formed his Seldom Scene bluegrass group. He had played with Charlie
Waller and the Country Gentlemen.
   (SFC, 12/12/96,
p.C8)(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Seldom_Scene)
1971Â Â Â Â Â Â Marvin Gay (1939-1984)
released his classic R&B album “What’s Going On.”
   (WSJ, 11/25/06,
p.P16)(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marvin_Gaye)
1971Â Â Â Â Â Â Carole King (b.1942) won 4
Grammys for her album "Tapestry."
   (SFC, 2/25/99,
p.D1)(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carole_King)
1971Â Â Â Â Â Â The rock group Three Dog
Night made a hit with "Joy to the World," written by Hoyt Axton
(1938-1999). It held the #1 slot for 6 weeks.
   (SFC, 10/27/99,
p.C4)(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hoyt_Axton)
1971Â Â Â Â Â Â Faron Young (1932-1996),
American country music singer, made a country hit with "It’s 4 in
the Morning," written by Jerry Chessnut (b.1931).
   (SFC, 12/12/96,
p.C8)(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jerry_Chesnut)
1971Â Â Â Â Â Â Glenn Frey (1948-2016) and
Don Henley co-founded the Eagles rock group in Los Angeles. The
group broke up in 1980 and reformed in 1994. The group was inducted
into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1998.
   (SFC, 1/19/16, p.A5)
1971Â Â Â Â Â Â The Electric Light
Orchestra, commonly abbreviated ELO, a symphonic rock group from
Birmingham, England, released their first of studio album. By 1986
they released 10 more and another album in 2001. The ELO was one of
the most innovative bands of the era.
  Â
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electric_Light_Orchestra)(SFC, 7/7/96,
DB p.50)
1971Â Â Â Â Â Â Paul Revere and the
Raiders scored a hit with “Indian Reservation.“
   (SFC, 10/6/14, p.C3)
1971Â Â Â Â Â Â Chilean folk singer Victor
Jara released an album titled "El dereche de vivir en paz" (The
right to live in peace). The title song was originally
dedicated to the Vietnamese communist leader Ho Chi Minh, as the
United States waged war in Vietnam.
  Â
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/El_derecho_de_vivir_en_paz)
1972Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 27, Mahalia Jackson
(b.1911), Grammy Award winning gospel singer, died.
   (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahalia_Jackson)
1972Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 25, Wings released
"Give Ireland Back to the Irish." Paul and Linda McCartney wrote the
song in response to the events of Bloody Sunday in Northern Ireland
on January 30, 1972. It was soon banned by the BBC.
  Â
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Give_Ireland_Back_to_the_Irish)
1972Â Â Â Â Â Â Jun 2, Dion & the
Belmonts held a reunion concert at Madison Square Garden.
   (www.softshoe-slim.com/lists/d/dion.html)
1972Â Â Â Â Â Â Jun 3, The Rolling Stones
began their US tour and concluded it on July 26. They hired Robert
Frank to film a documentary. The result was the film "C-Blues." In
1999 Dora Loewenstein authored "The Rolling Stones: A Life on the
Road."
  Â
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Rolling_Stones_American_Tour_1972)(SFEC,
4/12/98, DB p.56)(SFEM, 1/17/99, p.6)
1972Â Â Â Â Â Â Jun 6, David Bowie,
English rock musician, released his album "The Rise and Fall of
Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars."
   (SFC, 8/20/98,
p.E3)(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ziggy_Stardust)
1972Â Â Â Â Â Â Jun 24, The song "I Am
Woman," by Helen Reddy, was released by Capitol Records.
   (http://440.com/twtd/archives/jun24.html)
1972Â Â Â Â Â Â Singer Cuba Gooding Sr.
(1944-2017) sang the hit “Everybody Plays the Fool” with the
rhythm-and-blues group Main Ingredient.  Â
   (SSFC, 4/23/17, p.C10)
1972Â Â Â Â Â Â Harold Melvin & the
Blue Notes released its first single, “I Miss You.” The group
included Teddy Pendergrass (1950-2010), who quit the group in 1975
and embarked on a solo career in 1976. Pendergrass went on to record
5 consecutive multiplatinum albums.
   (SFC, 1/14/10, p.A4)
1972Â Â Â Â Â Â Barcelo de Carvalho, aka
"Bongo," recorded the album "Angola 72" in the Netherlands. The
music’s predominant rhythm is semba, described as the origin of
Brazil’s Samba. The album was smuggled into Angola and became very
popular but was banned by the government. It was re-released in the
US in 1997. One of its songs was featured in the 1997 French film
"When the Cat’s Away."
   (SFC,10/24/97, p.E1)
1972 Â Â Â Â Â Â Lou Reed recorded “Walk
on the Wild Side” (1972). The song was about Holly Woodlawn
(1946-2015), a transgender Puerto Rican woman, who had also also
featured in two Andy Warhol films
   (SFC, 12/8/15, p.C3)
1972-1975Â Â Â Soul music peaked in Philadelphia. In
2004 John A. Jackson authored “A House on Fire: The Rise and Fall of
Philadelphia Soul.”
   (SSFC, 11/7/04, p.M3)
1973Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 6, “You’re So Vain”
by Carly Simon peaked in the top 10 singles.
   (http://goodyoldies.com/billboard/1973.htm)
1973Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 2, Crocodile Rock by
Elton John peaked in the top 10 singles.
   (http://goodyoldies.com/billboard/1973.htm)
1973Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 3, In the 15th Grammy
Awards winners included: “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face” sung
by Roberta Flack.
   (www.metrolyrics.com/1973-grammy-awards.html)
1973Â Â Â Â Â Â Apr 21, The song "Tie a
Yellow Ribbon Round the Old Oak Tree" by Dawn featuring Tony Orlando
reached the top of the charts.
  Â
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hot_100_number-one_hits_of_1973_%28USA%29)
1973Â Â Â Â Â Â May 25, George Harrison
released "Give Me Love" in UK.
  Â
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Give_Me_Love_(Give_Me_Peace_on_Earth))
1973Â Â Â Â Â Â May 29, Columbia Records
fired president Clive Davis for misappropriating $100,000 in funds.
Davis went on to start Arista records.
   (http://tinyurl.com/5959o4)
1973Â Â Â Â Â Â Jun 1, Paul McCartney
& Wings released "Live & Let Die"
  Â
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Live_and_Let_Die_(song))
1973Â Â Â Â Â Â Jul 21, "Bad, Bad Leroy
Brown" reached the top spot on the "Billboard" pop-singles chart,
becoming Jim Croce’s first big hit. He died in a plane crash on
September 20.
  Â
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bad,_Bad_Leroy_Brown)
1973Â Â Â Â Â Â Jul 28, Bill Graham
produced a rock festival in Watkins Glen, NY, that featured the
Allman Brothers, the Band, and the Grateful Dead. The concert drew
some 650,000 people, the single largest paying crowd in concert
history.
  Â
(www.superseventies.com/watkinsglen.html)(SFC,12/13/97, p.A15)
1973Â Â Â Â Â Â Sep 16, Victor Jara
(b.1932), one of the best-known members of Latin America's "New
Song" folk movement, died. He had been arrested after the Chilean
military coup that overthrew Allende and taken to a soccer stadium
used as a detention camp. Court papers indicate Jara was tortured,
his hands smashed with rifle butts, and then was shot to death along
with former prison service director Littre Quiroga. In 2008 a court
charged retired Col. Mario Manriquez in the case, saying he was
"responsible" for the death. In 2009 Jara’s body was exhumed for a
proper autopsy. Army draftee, Jose Paredes, later described the
murder and named the officers he said were responsible. Paredes told
interrogators that a lieutenant known as "El Loco," the Crazy One,
held Jara against a dressing room wall and played Russian roulette
until a bullet blasted through the singer's skull. In 2012 eight
retired army officers were charged in Jara’s slaying. On Sep 5,
2013, a civil suit accused Lt. Pedro Barrientos Nunez of ordering
torture and firing the fatal shot that killed Jara. In 2014 three
more people were charged in the murder of Jara.
   (AP,
5/15/08)(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victor_Jara)(AP,
11/26/09)(SFC, 12/29/12, p.A2)(SFC, 9/6/13, p.A5)(SFC, 9/4/14, p.A2)
1973Â Â Â Â Â Â Sep 19, Gram Parsons (26),
rock band leader, died from a drug overdose at the Joshua Tree Inn,
Ca. His bands included the Byrds and the Flying Burrito Brothers
with the young singer Emmylou Harris. Phil Kaufman hijacked Parson’s
body and burned it in Joshua Tree. In 1991 Ben Fong-Torres published
"Hickory Wind," a biography of Parsons. In 1999 the album "Return of
the Grievous Angel - A Tribute to Fram Parson" was released. In 2006
the film documentary “Fallen Angel” was produced.
   (WSJ, 7/18/97, p.A13)(SFC, 9/9/98, p.E1)(WSJ,
9/20/99, p.A26)(SFC, 6/9/06, p.E5)
1973Â Â Â Â Â Â Sep 20, Jim Croce
(b.1943), American singer-songwriter, died in an airplane crash near
Natchitoches, La., just as he was beginning to capitalize on his
success. Maury Muehleisen and four others also died as their plane
crashed into a tree while taking off for a concert in Sherman,
Texas.
   (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Croce)(AP,
9/20/98)
1973Â Â Â Â Â Â Oct 9, Sister Rosetta
Tharpe (b.1915), pioneering gospel singer and recording artist,
died. She became the first great recording star of Gospel music in
the late 1930s and also became known as the "original soul sister"
of recorded music. In 2007 Gayle F. Wald authored “Shout, Sister,
Shout: The Untold story of Rock-and-Roll Trailblazer Sister Rosetta
Tharpe.”
  Â
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sister_Rosetta_Tharpe)(AH, 10/07,
p.68)
1973Â Â Â Â Â Â Oct 19, Peter Townshend
and The Who, an English rock group, released the rock opera album
"Quadrophenia."
   (WSJ, 7/12/96, p.A9)
1973Â Â Â Â Â Â Dec 5, Paul McCartney
released his "Band on the Run" album.
  Â
(www.amazon.com/Band-Run-Paul-McCartney-Wings/dp/B000002UCL)
1973Â Â Â Â Â Â Dec 20, Bobby Darin
(b.1936), American singer born as Walden Robert Cassotto, died
during open heart surgery in LA. He performed in a range of music
genres, including pop, rock, jazz, folk, and country. Darin wrote
“Simple Song of Freedom” in 1969.
  Â
(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UZ1ohsissjE)(www.history-of-rock.com/bobby_darin.htm)
1973Â Â Â Â Â Â Don Kirshner (1934-2011)
began hosting the TV show “Don Kirshner’s Rock Concert” and
continued to 1982.
   (SFC, 1/19/11, p.A8)
1973Â Â Â Â Â Â David Bowie (b.1947),
English rock singer, had a hit with "Life on Mars."
   (SFC, 8/9/96,
p.D8)(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Bowie)
1973Â Â Â Â Â Â Lesbian activist Alix
Dobkin (1940-2021) broke new ground with her album "Lavender Jane
Loves Women." It was the first album recorded and distributed by
women for women.
   (SSFC, 6/6/21, p.F1)
1973Â Â Â Â Â Â French singer Maxime le
Forrestier produced his song “La Maison Bleue” (The Blue House). It
was based on a house at 3841 18th St. in San Francisco, where he
lived in 1971.
   (www.youtube.com/watch?v=q61cFrsB9Gw)(SFC,
9/25/10, p.E1)
1973Â Â Â Â Â Â Dr. Hook and the Medicine
Show had a hit with their song "The Cover of the Rolling Stone."
   (SFEC, 6/21/98, BR p.12)
1973Â Â Â Â Â Â Elton John (b.1947),
English singer and pianist, and lyricist Bernie Taupin wrote the
song "Candle in the Wind" as an ode to Marilyn Monroe on the album
"Goodbye Yellow Brick Road." The song was adopted by Elton John in
1997 for the funeral of Princess Diana.
   (SFC, 9/24/97,
p.E1)(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elton_John)
1973Â Â Â Â Â Â The Grateful Dead hit gold
with their album “The Adventures of Panama Red.”
   (SFC, 1/13/05, p.B6)
1973Â Â Â Â Â Â Maria Muldaur had a hit
with her song "Midnight at the Oasis."
   (SFEC, 2/8/98, DB p.7)
1973Â Â Â Â Â Â Pink Floyd released their
album "Dark Side of the Moon." It spent a record 591 weeks on the
Billboard charts.
   (SFC, 6/5/97, p.E1)
1973Â Â Â Â Â Â The Pointer Sisters of
Oakland, Ca., released their first album. June Pointer died in 2006
at age 52.
   (SFC, 4/13/06, p.B7)
1973Â Â Â Â Â Â The Stealers Wheel had a
hit with "Stuck in the Middle With You."
   (SFC, 7/7/97, p.E3)
1974      Jan 3, Following
eight years of inactivity, Bob Dylan and The Band began his 2-month
concert tour in Chicago, IL. The tour was recorded and later
released as a double-LP set titled, “Before the Flood.”
  Â
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob_Dylan_and_The_Band_1974_Tour)
1974Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 2, Barbra Streisand
made her 1st #1 hit, "The Way We Were."
  Â
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hot_100_number-one_hits_of_1974_(USA))
1974Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 2, In the 16th Grammy
Awards Roberta Flack won for the song “Killing Me Softly” &
Bette Midler won as Best New Artist. Stevie Wonder got five Grammy
Awards for his album, "Innervisions" and his hit songs, "You Are The
Sunshine of My Life" and "Superstition".
  Â
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grammy_Awards_of_1974)
1974Â Â Â Â Â Â May 18, "The Streak" by
Ray Stevens hits #1.
   (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Streak)
1974Â Â Â Â Â Â May 25, Pam Morrison
(b.1946), wife of Door's vocalist Jim, died of drug overdose in Los
Angeles.
   (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pamela_Courson)
1974Â Â Â Â Â Â Jun 1, The song "Midnight
At The Oasis" by Maria Muldaur peaked at #6 on the pop singles
chart.
   (http://goodyoldies.com/billboard/1974.htm)
1974Â Â Â Â Â Â Jun 1, The song "Oh Very
Young" by Cat Stevens peaked at #10 on the pop singles chart.
   (http://goodyoldies.com/billboard/1974.htm)
1974Â Â Â Â Â Â Jul 29, Cass Elliot
(b.1941), singer (Mamas and Papas), was found dead in London from an
apparent heart attack.
   (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cass_Elliot)
1974Â Â Â Â Â Â Aug 9, Trumpeter Bill
Chase (b.1934) and 3 members of the Chase Band died in a plane crash
while enroute to a performance in Minnesota. Lead guitarist Angel
South (aka Lucien Gondron d. 1998 at 55) had struck out on his own
solo career.
  Â
(http://jazzworks.wordpress.com/2007/11/02/bill-chase-1934-1974/)
1974Â Â Â Â Â Â Aug 16, The Ramones 1st
performed at the CBGB in NYC. Dee Dee Ramone (d.2002) had formed the
Ramones punk rock band in the Forest Hills neighborhood of Queens
along with Jeffrey Hyman, John Cummings (aka Johnny Ramone, d.2004)
and Tom Erdelyi.
   (SFC, 6/8/02, p.D4)(Econ, 9/25/04, p.100)
1974Â Â Â Â Â Â Oct 4, The Southern music
festival Volunteer Jam, headlined by the Charlie Daniels Band, was
first held at the War Memorial Auditorium in Nashville, Tenn.
   (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volunteer_Jam)
1974Â Â Â Â Â Â Nov 5, The Eagles hit,
"Best of My Love", was released. It did not reach #1 spot until
March 1, 1975.
  Â
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Best_of_My_Love_(Eagles_song))
1974Â Â Â Â Â Â Nov 8, Singer Connie
Francis (b.1938) was raped in her hotel room after a concert at the
Westbury Music Fair on Long Island, NY.
   (SFC, 9/1/96, Par.
p.2)(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Connie_Francis)
1974Â Â Â Â Â Â Nov 25, Nick Drake
(b.1948), English musician and composer, died from an overdose of
prescription drugs. His albums included "Five Leaves Left" (1969),
"Bryter Layter," and "Pink Moon" (1971). Paul Humphries in 1997
authored the biography "Nick Drake: A Biography."
   (WSJ, 2/10/99,
p.A20)(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nick_Drake)
1974Â Â Â Â Â Â Nov 28, John Lennon
(1940-1980) made what would become his last concert appearance at an
Elton John concert at New York's Madison Square Garden. Lennon
joined Elton John to sing "Whatever Gets You Through the Night",
"Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds", as well as "I Saw Her Standing
There". Backstage, Lennon has a brief reunion with Yoko Ono, from
whom he'd been separated for over a year.
   (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Lennon)
1974Â Â Â Â Â Â The group Abba of Sweden
won the Eurovision song contest with their song “Waterloo.”
   (Econ, 5/14/05, p.57)
1974Â Â Â Â Â Â Bob Dylan released his
album "Blood on the Tracks." In 2004 Andy Gill and Kevin Odegard
authored "A Simple Twist of Fate: Bob Dylan and the Making of "Blood
on the Tracks."
   (SSFC, 3/21/04, p.M4)
1974Â Â Â Â Â Â Stan Getz, tenor sax, and
the Bill Evans Trio with Eddie Gomez on bass and Marty Morell on
drums recorded 2 sessions. A CD was re-issued in 1996 titled "But
Beautiful."
   (SFEM, 7/21/96, p.4)
1974Â Â Â Â Â Â Waylon Jennings
(1937-2002) released his “The Ramblin’ Man” album, which included
his song "Amanda."
  Â
(www.slipcue.com/music/country/countryartists/waylon.html)
1974Â Â Â Â Â Â Billy Joel broke into the
charts with his song "Piano Man."
   (USAT, 3/24/99, p.5E)
1974Â Â Â Â Â Â The vocal trio Labelle
(Patti LaBelle, Sarah Dash (1945-2021) and Nona Hendryx) had a No. 1
hit with "Lady Marmalade."
   (SFC, 9/22/21, p.C4)
1974Â Â Â Â Â Â Joni Mitchell released her
album "Court and Spark."
   (SFEM, 11/1/98, p.6)
1974Â Â Â Â Â Â Mocedades made a hit with
"Eres Tu."
   (SFC, 11/30/02, p.D1)
1974Â Â Â Â Â Â Wayne Shorter recorded his
"Native Dancer" album that featured Herbie Hancock and introduced
the Brazilian singer Milton Nascimento.
   (SFEC, 8/31/97, DB p.35)
1974Â Â Â Â Â Â John Whelan, button
accordionist, recorded his first solo album in England: "Pride of
Wexford."
   (WSJ, 3/17/97, p.A16)
1974Â Â Â Â Â Â The German group Kraftwork
recorded "Autobahn."
   (SFEC, 1/3/99, DB p.28)
1974Â Â Â Â Â Â Greg Shaw (1949-2004),
pioneer of the independent record label, founded Bomp! Records to
release a single by the SF band the Flaming Groovies.
   (SSFC, 10/24/04, p.B7)
1975Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 31, The 1974 song
"Mandy" by Barry Manilow (b.1943 as Barry Alan Pincus) went gold.
  Â
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mandy_%28song%29)(www.barrynet.com/bn22sngl.html)
1975Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 1, 17th Grammy Awards:
I Honestly Love You, Marvin Hamlisch won.
  Â
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grammy_Awards_of_1975)
1975Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 1, Eagles' "Best of My
Love" reached #1.
  Â
(www.joshhosler.biz/NumberOneInHistory/03/0301.htm)
1975Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 26, The film "Tommy"
premiered in London.
   (www.imdb.com/title/tt0073812/combined)
1975Â Â Â Â Â Â Jun 1, The Rolling Stones
opened their North American Tour in Baton Rouge, Louisiana with Ron
Wood (b.1947) replacing Mick Taylor (b.1949) as the lead guitarist.
Other cities they played in included, Kansas City, Milwaukee, St.
Paul, Cleveland, Buffalo, Toronto, New York, Philadelphia, Memphis,
Dallas, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, Chicago, Detroit,
Atlanta, and Jacksonville.
   (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1975_in_music)
1975Â Â Â Â Â Â Apr 26, The top Billboard
song was "(Hey Won’t You Play) Another Somebody Done Somebody Wrong
Song" by B.J. Thomas.
  Â
(www.joshhosler.biz/NumberOneInHistory/04/0426.htm)
1975Â Â Â Â Â Â May 29, Melanie Janine
Brown "Scary Spice", British vocalist (Spice Girls), was born in
Leeds.
   (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melanie_Brown)
1975Â Â Â Â Â Â Nov 28, Wings release
"Venus & Mars/Rock Show" medley.
   (http://beatles.ncf.ca/paul.html)
1975Â Â Â Â Â Â Freddy Fender’s “Before
the next Teardrop Falls” climbed to No. 1 as did his song “Wasted
Days and Wasted Nights.” Fender had recorded Wasted Days in 1960 but
got stuck in prison in Angola, La., for 3 years for marijuana
possession.
   (SFC, 10/16/06, p.B6)
1975Â Â Â Â Â Â Freddie Mercury (d.1991)
and the rock group Queen made a hit with "Bohemian Rhapsody." The
song became a hit a 2nd time when Mercury died. In 2002 a British
poll voted it the greatest hit of the last 50 years.
   (SSFC, 11/10/02, p.A2)
1975Â Â Â Â Â Â Patti Smith’s debut album,
“Horses,” was released.
   (SFC, 2/9/13, p.A5)
1975Â Â Â Â Â Â Gary Stewart (28) had a
No. 1 country hit with his song "She's Actin' Single (I'm Drinkin'
Doubles)." Stewart committed suicide in Ft. Pierce, Fla., in 2003 at
age 59.
   (SSFC, 12/21/03, p.A31)
1976Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 17, "I Write the
Songs" by Barry Manilow (b.1944) hit #1.
   (http://tinyurl.com/36ufh8)
1976Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 29, Jesse Fuller
(b.1896), American one-man band musician, best known for his song
"San Francisco Bay,” died.
  Â
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uBME_J0pf3o#t=33)
1976Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 19, Rick Stevens,
former lead vocalist of the Tower of Power, was arrested in San
Jose, Ca., for his roll in a triple slaying after a drug deal went
awry. Stevens was later convicted of murder and sentenced to
death. In 2012 he was paroled by Gov. Jerry Brown after 36
years in prison.
   (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1976_in_music)(SFC,
1/29/13, p.E1)(SFC, 9/6/17, p.D6)
1976Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 26, Paul McCartney and
Wings released "Wings at the Speed of Sound" album.
  Â
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wings_at_the_Speed_of_Sound)
1976Â Â Â Â Â Â Apr 9, Phil Ochs (b.1940),
American protest singer and musician, committed suicide.
   (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phil_Ochs)
1976Â Â Â Â Â Â Apr 25, Guitarist Peter
Frampton played to a sold-out audience at the Oakland Coliseum just
weeks after the release of his "Frampton Comes Alive" alive recorded
a year earlier in San Francisco. The album turned into the top
seller for this year.
   (SSFC, 9/29/19, p.J2)
1976Â Â Â Â Â Â Jul 4, The Ramones, a US
punk rock group managed by Danny Fields and Linda Stein (1945-2007),
held a concert in England that sparked the young British punk scene.
   (SFC, 11/2/07, p.E2)
1976Â Â Â Â Â Â Aug 31, George Harrison
(1943-2001) was found guilty of plagiarizing "My Sweet Lord."
  Â
(www.imdb.com/name/nm0365600/bio)(http://nfo.net/calendar/aug31.htm)
1976Â Â Â Â Â Â Nov 19, George Harrison
(1943-2001) released his album "Thirty Three & 1/3."
  Â
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thirty_Three_%26_1/3)
1976Â Â Â Â Â Â Nov 28, Bill Graham
presented the Band and guests in "The Last Waltz" at Winterland plus
a turkey dinner for the capacity crowd. The last concert of The Band
took place at Winterland and was made into a film by Martin Scorsese
that included Bob Dylan, Neil Diamond and Muddy Waters.
   (SFC,12/13/97, p.A15) (SFEC, 6/28/98, DB p.52)
1976Â Â Â Â Â Â Nov 28, Elvis Presley
preformed a concert at the Cow Palace in Daly City, Ca.
  Â
(www.elvispresleymusic.com.au/pictures/1976_nov_28.html)
1976Â Â Â Â Â Â The Eagles rock group made
a hit with “Hotel California.”
   (SFC, 1/19/16, p.A5)
1976Â Â Â Â Â Â Gordon Lightfoot’s song
“The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald” went to #2 on the pop charts.
  Â
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Wreck_of_the_Edmund_Fitzgerald)
1976Â Â Â Â Â Â The B-52 band formed in
Athens, Georgia. Cindy Wilson, Keith Strickland, Fred Schneider,
Kate Pierson and Ricky Wilson formed the band following a rum-buzzed
jam session.
   (SSFC, 8/10/03, p.C10)
1976Â Â Â Â Â Â The rock band U2 initially
formed in Dublin when Larry Mullen Jr. posted a message on a high
school bulletin board asking for fellow musicians to form a band.
Paul Hewson, David Evans, Adam Clayton and Dick Evans responded to
the ad and it was at this stage along with Larry Mullen Jr. that the
band 'Feedback' was formed.
   (WSJ, 12/28/04,
p.D8)(http://homepages.ihug.co.nz/~omzig/u2_the_band.htm)
1976Â Â Â Â Â Â In Russia Eduard Khill
(1934-2012), a popular Soviet singing star, was featured in a video
of his performance of Arkady Ostrovsky's 1966 "I Am Glad, 'Cause I'm
Finally Returning Back Home." Khil sang "trololo" instead of
censored lyrics. The original lyrics—about an American cowboy riding
across a prairie—didn't sit well with Soviet censors, so Khil
changed them in the quirky, vocalized version. In 2010 the video an
Internet sensation in 2010.
  Â
(http://tinyurl.com/8aac9aj)(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eduard_Khil)
1977Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 26, Elvis Costello
released his 1st record "Less Than Zero."
  Â
(www.pugetsoundradio.com/forum/b-radiohistory/m-1174918300/)
1977Â Â Â Â Â Â Apr 26, NY's famed disco
Studio 54 opened. It closed in March, 1986.
   (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Studio_54)
1977Â Â Â Â Â Â May 9, Pink Floyd opened a
2-night stand at the Oakland Coliseum.
  Â
(http://concerts.wolfgangsvault.com/dt/pink-floyd-concert/2923-5541.html)
1977Â Â Â Â Â Â Jun 11, ELO’s "Telephone
Line" reached #7 in the US, giving the band its first gold single.
   (http://private.peterlink.ru/vlad/dates70.htm)
1977Â Â Â Â Â Â Aug 16, Elvis Presley
(b.1935), The "King" of rock-n-roll, died in the upstairs bedroom
suite at Graceland Mansion in Memphis, Tenn. of a drug overdose at
42. Elvis died of heart failure after years of substance abuse. In
1994 Peter Guralnick published "Last Train to Memphis," the first of
a 2-part biography on Elvis. In 1998 Guralnick published "Careless
Love." More than 150 books were in print on Elvis in 1997. In 1998
Ernest Jorgensen published "Elvis Presley: A Life in Music. The
Complete Recording sessions."
   (SFEC, 2/9/97, Par p.7)(SFEC, 8/3/97, DB
p.33)(AP, 8/16/97)(SFEC, 8/16/98, p.D7)(WSJ, 1/7/98, p.W1)
1977Â Â Â Â Â Â Aug 20, The song "Best of
My Love", by the Emotions, topped the US pop charts.
  Â
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Best_of_My_Love_(The_Emotions_song))
1977Â Â Â Â Â Â Nov 5, Guy Lombardo
(b.1902), Canada-born orchestra leader, died in Houston, Texas.
   (www.imdb.com/name/nm0518456/)
1977Â Â Â Â Â Â Dec 7, Peter Carl Goldmark
(b.1906), Hungarian-born engineer, died in the US. He developed the
first commercial color television and the long-playing phonograph
record. Goldmark's LP records were introduced by Goddard Lieberson
(1911-977), who later became president of Columbia Records
(1956-1971 and 1973-1975).
  Â
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Carl_Goldmark)
1977Â Â Â Â Â Â The Bee Gees released
their "Saturday Night Fever" album. The group included twins Maurice
(d.2003) and Robin Gibb, older brother Barry and younger brother
Andy.
   (SSFC, 1/12/03, p.A2)
1977Â Â Â Â Â Â The British punk group
Clash released its 1st single "White Riot."
   (SFC, 12/24/02, p.A2)
1978Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 1, US copyright law of
2007 held that the rights to songs written before this date expire
75 years after they were published. US songs written after 1978
would hold their copyright for 50 years after the death of the
songwriter.
   (WSJ, 10/30/97,
p.B1,11)(www.pdinfo.com/copyrt.htm)
1978Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 21, The Bee Gees'
"Saturday Night Fever" album, released in November, 1977, went #1
for 24 weeks following the release of the Saturday Night Fever film
in Dec 1977.
  Â
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Number-one_albums_of_1978_(U.S.))
1978Â Â Â Â Â Â Apr 26, A version of Mark
Twain’s "The Prince and the Pauper" appeared on TV with former
Beatle, Ringo Star.
   (www.guba.com/watch/2000907534)(440 Int’l.,
4/26/97, p.3)
1978Â Â Â Â Â Â Jun 9, The Rolling Stones'
"Some Girls" album was released. Shortly after, some of the girls on
the LP's cover--Lucille Ball, Raquel Welch, Liz Taylor--threatened
to sue. After several months, Atlantic caved in and changed the
cover.
   (www.nolifetilmetal.com/rollingstones.htm)
1978Â Â Â Â Â Â Jul 15, Bob Dylan
performed before some 200,000 fans at Blackbushe Airport, England,
in the largest open-air concert audience at the time (for a single
artist).
   (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blackbushe_Airport)
1978Â Â Â Â Â Â Jul 24, The Beatles’
animated film "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" premiered in
the US.
   (www.imdb.com/title/tt0078239/)
1978Â Â Â Â Â Â Jul 26, In the SF Bay Area
Mick Jagger and the Rolling Stones performed at the Oakland Coliseum
as Jagger celebrated his 34th birthday.
   (SFC, 12/1/18, p.C1)
1978Â Â Â Â Â Â Aug 11, “Le Freak” by Chic
was released. In October it topped the US hot 100 chart.
   (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C'est_Chic)
1978Â Â Â Â Â Â Sep 7, Keith Moon
(b.1946), English drummer for "The Who" rock group, died of drug OD
at 31.
   (SFC, 10/17/96,
E3)(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keith_Moon)
1978Â Â Â Â Â Â Sep 16, The Grateful Dead
performed at the Great Pyramid of Giza. Hanza El Din (1930-2006),
Nubian oud virtuoso, first played with the Grateful Dead.
   (SFC, 5/26/06,
p.B9)(www.archive.org/details/gd78-09-16.sbd.orf.2319.sbeok.shnf)
1978Â Â Â Â Â Â Oct 12, Nancy Spungen
(b.1958), girlfriend of Sex Pistols bassist Sid Vicious, was found
dead on the bathroom floor of their NYC hotel room.
   (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nancy_Spungen)
1978Â Â Â Â Â Â Oct 23, CBS raised long
playing vinyl album prices to $8.98.
   (http://www.440.com/twtd/archives/oct23.html)
1978Â Â Â Â Â Â Oct 23, Maybelle Carter
(b.1909), Virginia-born country singer, died in Nashville, Tenn. She
was a member of the original Carter Family, which was formed in 1927
by her brother-in-law, A. P. Carter, who was married to her cousin,
Sara, also a part of the trio.
   (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maybelle_Carter)
1978Â Â Â Â Â Â Dec 2, Streisand and
Diamond's "You Don't Bring Me Flowers," went #1.
  Â
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/You_Don't_Bring_Me_Flowers)
1978Â Â Â Â Â Â Plastic Bertrand, Belgian
musician, made a hit with "Ca Plane Pour Moi."
   (SFC, 11/30/02,
p.D1)(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plastic_Bertrand)
1978Â Â Â Â Â Â Jello Biafra (b.1958),
born as Eric Reed Boucher in Boulder, Colo., moved to San Francisco,
took on a new name and co-founded the Dead Kennedys, a punk band
that soon played at the Mabuhay Gardens.
   (SFC, 6/14/08, p.E3)
1978Â Â Â Â Â Â Devo, a new wave band from
Akron, Ohio, recorded "Are We Not Men?" The group played on the
theme of de-evolution and was led by Mark Mothersbaugh.
   (SFEC, 9/27/98, DB p.41)
1978Â Â Â Â Â Â Molly Hatchet, a Southern
rock band, went platinum with their self-titled album. Lead singer
Danny Joe Brown died in 2005 at age 53.
   (SFC, 3/15/05, p.B5)
1978Â Â Â Â Â Â Waylon Jennings and Willie
Nelson made a hit with their duet: "Mammas Don’t Let Your Babies
Grow Up to Be Cowboys."
   (SFC, 2/14/02, p.A2)
1978 Â Â Â Â Â Â Billy Joel (b.1949),
American singer, recorded his song “My Life.” It became the theme
song for the TV sitcom “Bosom Buddies,” (1980-1982).
   (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billy_Joel)
1978Â Â Â Â Â Â Nicolette Larson (d.1997
at 45) recorded "Lotta Love" by Neil Simon. She was named best
female singer by Rolling Stone magazine.
   (SFC,12/18/97, p.C16)
1978Â Â Â Â Â Â Los Lobos released their
first album: "Just Another Band from East L.A."
   (SFEM, 5/11/97, p.20)
1978Â Â Â Â Â Â The Plasmatics punk band
made their debut in New York City clubs. Wendy O. Williams (d.1998
at 48), the lead singer, was charged a number of times for simulated
sex acts on stage.
   (SFC, 4/8/98, p.B2)
1978Â Â Â Â Â Â Charles Sawtelle (d.1999
at 52) helped found the Hot Rize bluegrass group, named after an
ingredient in the Martha White Self-Rising Flour. The Hot Rize
product had been promoted for years by bluegrass legends Lester
Flatt and Earl Scruggs.
   (SFC, 3/25/99, p.C3)
1978Â Â Â Â Â Â The Sex Pistols performed
at Winterland in San Francisco and broke up shortly after.
   (SFC, 6/9/96, DB p.34)
1978Â Â Â Â Â Â The Rockets, a Texas blues
band, was founded by guitarist Anson Funderburgh. The group was
joined by Sam Myers in 1986.
   (SFEC,11/2/97, DB p.17)
1978Â Â Â Â Â Â The Cuban jazz band
Irakere performed at the Newport Jazz Festival.
   (SFC, 6/16/96, BR
p.42)(www.apassion4jazz.net/newport.html)
1978-1984Â Â Â The Cars released five albums during
this period and each sold more than a million copies in the US
alone. The group broke up in the late 1980s.
   (SFC, 9/16/19, p.A5)  Â
  Â
1979Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 9, The Bee Gees
performed “Too Much Heaven,” released in late 1978, as their
contribution to the "Music for UNICEF" fund. It became part of their
13th album and topped the record charts.
   (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Too_Much_Heaven)
1979Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 9, ABBA performed
"Chiquitita" at the Music for UNICEF Concert held at the United
Nations General Assembly to celebrate UNICEF's Year of the Child.
ABBA donated the copyright of this worldwide hit to the UNICEF; see
Music for UNICEF Concert. The single was released the following
week, and reached #1 in ten countries.
   (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ABBA)
1979Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 2, John Simon Ritchie
(b.1957), better known as Sid Vicious, the bassist for the British
Sex Pistols rock group, overdosed from heroin in NYC.
   (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sid_Vicious)
1979Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 23, Paul McCartney and
Wings released "Goodnight Tonight."
   (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goodnight_Tonight)
1979Â Â Â Â Â Â Apr 9, The 51st Academy
Awards were held at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in LA. "Deer
Hunter" won as the best film. Jon Voight won as best actor in
“Coming Home.” Jane Fonda won as best actress in “Coming Home.” Lacy
J. Dalton won the Academy of Country Music’s Best New Female
Vocalist Award.
  Â
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/51st_Academy_Awards)(SFC, 7/7/96, DB
p.28)(SFC, 3/20/02, p.D1)
1979Â Â Â Â Â Â Apr 24, The hit song
"Georgia on My Mind," written in 1930 with lyrics by Stuart Gorrell
and music by Hoagy Carmichael, was declared the state song of
Georgia. Georgia-born singer Ray Charles (1930-2004) made the song
famous.
   (www.promotega.org/vsu00011/georgia_book.htm)
1979Â Â Â Â Â Â May 1, Elton John and Ray
Cooper performed the first of 5 concerts in Israel. They performed 3
times in Jerusalem and twice in Tel Aviv ending in Tel Aviv on May
6.
   (www.vex.net/~paulmac/elton/ej1979.html)
1979Â Â Â Â Â Â May 5, The recording "In
The Navy" by The Village People reached #9 on the pop singles chart.
  Â
(www.1050chum.com/index_chumcharts.aspx?chart=1166)
1979Â Â Â Â Â Â May 19, The recording
"Shake Your Body (Down To The Ground)" by The Jacksons peaked at #5
on the pop singles chart.
  Â
(www.1050chum.com/index_chumcharts.aspx?artist=8900)
1979Â Â Â Â Â Â Jun 1, Paul McCartney and
Wings released "Old Siam, Sir” on its Back to the Egg album,
   (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_Siam,_Sir)
1979Â Â Â Â Â Â Jun 7, Rocker Chuck Berry
(b.1926) was charged with tax evasion. He performed at the White
House at the request of President Jimmy Carter on June 1. A month
later he began a five-month sentence for income tax evasion.
  Â
(www.rockhall.com/inductee/chuck-berry)(http://tinyurl.com/3aqzze)
1979Â Â Â Â Â Â Jul 6, The B-52s, a New
Wave band based in Athens, Georgia, released "Planet Claire."
   (SFEC, 1/3/99, DB
p.29)(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_B-52's_(album))
1979Â Â Â Â Â Â Jul 12, Pop singer Minnie
Riperton (b.1947), famed for her three-octave range, died of cancer.
”Lovin’ You,” Riperton’s international blockbuster, topped the
Billboard Hot 100 in 1975. She was a member of Stevie Wonder's
backup group, Wonderlove, in 1973.
   (http://tinyurl.com/dd5q3)
1979Â Â Â Â Â Â Aug 10, Michael Jackson
(21) launched his solo career with “Off the Wall.”
   (WSJ, 6/8/05,
p.A1)(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Off_the_Wall)
1979Â Â Â Â Â Â Aug 18, In Los Angeles
singer Nick Lowe married singer Carlene Carter, the stepdaughter of
Johnny Cash.
   (http://tinyurl.com/2s4gxj)
1979Â Â Â Â Â Â Aug 20, Bob Dylan
proclaimed his new born-again Christianity with his album "Slow
Train Coming." The album won a Grammy award.
   (SFEC, 9/28/97,
p.A3)(www.bobdylan.com/albums/slowtrain.html)
1979Â Â Â Â Â Â Sep 18, The Who played the
5th of their 5 concerts at Madison Square Garden.
  Â
(www.thewholive.de/konzerte/zeige_konzert.php?GroupID=1&Status=0&Jahr=1979)
1979Â Â Â Â Â Â Oct, The Sugar Hill Gang
released "Rapper's Delight," later claimed as the beginning mark for
the Hip-Hop culture.
   (SFC, 8/18/99,
p.D3)(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rapper's_Delight)
1979Â Â Â Â Â Â Dec 3, In Ohio 11 people
were killed in a crush of fans at Cincinnati's Riverfront Coliseum,
where The Who, a British rock group, was performing.
   (AP, 12/3/97)(HN, 12/3/98)
1979Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Bob Biggs (1946-
2020) founded Slash Records. It became one of the most successful
independent record labels of its era.
   (NY Times, 10/29/20)
1979Â Â Â Â Â Â Doug Fieger (1952-2010),
leader of the power pop band The Knack, sang on the hit "My
Sharona." Fieger, a Detroit-area native, formed The Knack in Los
Angeles in 1978.
   (AP,
2/15/10)(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doug_Fieger)
1979Â Â Â Â Â Â Elmo and Patsy of Sonoma,
Ca., (the Homestead Act) recorded "Grandma Got Run Over by a
Reindeer." The lyrics were written by Randy Brooks of San Francisco
and it was first played on KSFO radio. In 1984 it topped the
yuletide record charts for the 2nd year in a row.
   (SSFC, 12/6/09, DB p.50)
1979Â Â Â Â Â Â The song "We Are Family"
by Sister Sledge became a hit. It was made the theme song for the
1979 Pittsburgh Pirates.
  Â
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/We_Are_Family_%28song%29)
1979Â Â Â Â Â Â The British punk group
Clash released its “London Calling” album.
   (WSJ, 12/21/04, p.D8)
1980Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 16, Paul McCartney was
arrested in Tokyo for marijuana possession. He was released and
deported on Jan 25.
   (www.taima.org/en/hemplib3.htm#mccartney)
1980Â Â Â Â Â Â May 18, Ian Curtis
(b.1956), English rock vocalist (Joy Division), committed suicide.
His death was later ruled as accidental.
   (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ian_Curtis)
1980Â Â Â Â Â Â Jul 2, Grateful Dead's Bob
Weir (b.1947) & Mickey Hart (b.1943) were arrested in San Diego
for suspicion of inciting a riot following their interference in a
drug related arrest.
   (www.eskimo.com/~recall/bleed/0702.htm)
1980Â Â Â Â Â Â Sep 22, John Lennon signed
with Geffen Records. The Lennon LP, "Double Fantasy", was released
on Geffen. Lennon was assassinated on December 8, 1980.
   (www.jpgr.co.uk/k99131.html)
1980Â Â Â Â Â Â Oct 27, Steve Peregrin
Took (b.1949), English musician (T-Rex) born as Stephen Ross Porter,
died when he choked on a cocktail cherry.
  Â
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steve_Peregrin_Took)
1980Â Â Â Â Â Â Dec 8, John Lennon,
musician and one of the Beatles, was shot and killed by Mark David
Chapman outside his New York City apartment building. Chapman was a
schizophrenic with the delusion that he himself was John. In 1984
Prof. Jonathan M. Wiener wrote a book on Lennon and later got the
FBI to surrender its secret files on Lennon.
   (SFC, 9/25/97, p.A2)(AP, 12/8/97)
1980Â Â Â Â Â Â Dec 14, Fans around the
world paid tribute to John Lennon, six days after he was shot to
death in New York City.
   (AP, 12/14/98)
1980Â Â Â Â Â Â The grunge rock group
Alice in Chains produced their debut album "Facelift." One track was
titled "We Die Young." In 2002 Layne Staley (34), lead singer for
Alice in Chains, was found dead in Seattle with obvious signs of
drug use.
   (SSFC, 4/21/02, p.A28)
1980Â Â Â Â Â Â Jim Carrol (1949-2009)
released his first album “Catholic Boy.” The single “People who
Died” became a punk classic.
   (SFC, 9/16/09, p.D5)
1981Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 6, Beatles McCartney,
Starr & Harrison recorded "All Those Years Ago," a tribute to
John Lennon.
   (www.440.com/twtd/archives/feb06.html)
1981Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 9, Bill Haley
(b.1925), vocalist (Rock Around Clock), died of heart attack. Haley
was posthumously inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in
1987.
   (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Haley)
1981Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 19, George Harrison
was ordered to pay ABKCO Music $587,000 for "subconscious
plagiarism" in "My Sweet Lord" with "He's So Fine." The word
plagiarism derives from Latin roots: plagiarius, an abductor; and
plagiare, to steal. An example of plagiarism would be copying
this definition and pasting it straight into a report. Plagiarism is
a very ancient art. Shakespeare stole most of his historical plots
directly from Holinshed. Laurence Sterne and Samuel Taylor Coleridge
were both accused of plagiarism. Oscar Wilde was repeatedly accused
of plagiarism, hence the celebrated exchange with Whistler: "I wish
I'd said that, James." "Don't worry, Oscar, you will."
  Â
(http://digital-law-online.info/cases/221PQ490.htm)(Nature News from
Jake Sigg, 9/10/09)
1981Â Â Â Â Â Â May 11, Bob Marley (36),
Jamaican reggae artist, died of brain cancer in Miami.
   (AP, 5/11/97)(SFEC, 2/14/99, p.T7)
1981Â Â Â Â Â Â May 25, Roy James Brown
(b.1925), RB singer, died of a heart attack. His hits included “Good
Rockin' Tonight” (1947).
  Â
(http://shopping.yahoo.com/p:Roy%20Brown:1927000246:page=biography)
1981Â Â Â Â Â Â Jun 5, George Harrison's
"Somewhere in England" album was released.
  Â
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Somewhere_in_England)
1981Â Â Â Â Â Â Jul 16, Singer Harry
Chapin (38) was killed when his car was struck by a tractor-trailer
on New York’s Long Island Expressway.
   (AP, 7/16/01)
1981Â Â Â Â Â Â Aug 1, The US rock music
video channel MTV, founded by Bob Pittman, made its debut. The first
music video shown on the rock-video cable channel was, "Video Killed
the Radio Star", by the Buggles. In 2007 Saul Austerlitz authored
“Money for Nothing: A History of the Music Video From the Beatles to
the White Stripes.”
   (WSJ, 3/24/97, p.B1)(AP, 8/1/97)(SSFC, 3/18/07,
p.M2)(Econ, 11/22/08, p.78)
1981Â Â Â Â Â Â Aug 24, Mark David Chapman
(b.1955) was sentenced in New York to 20 years to life in prison for
the murder of rock star John Lennon.
   (AP,
8/24/97)(www.jfkmontreal.com/john_lennon/app_c_sentencinghearing.htm)
1981Â Â Â Â Â Â Sep 19, Simon &
Garfunkel reunite for a NYC Central Park concert.
  Â
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simon_and_Garfunkel)
1981Â Â Â Â Â Â Oct 17 - 1981, Oct 18, In
San Francisco over 145,000 attended two concerts by the Rolling
Stones at Candlestick Park.
   (SSFC, 12/22/13, p.A14)
1981Â Â Â Â Â Â Nov 5, Dr. George
Nichopoulas of Tennessee was acquitted of over prescribing addictive
drugs for Elvis Presley.
   (http://tinyurl.com/397gkf)
1981Â Â Â Â Â Â Dec 12, "Waiting For A
Girl Like You" by Foreigner hit #1 on the pop singles chart and
stayed there for 3 weeks.
   (www.rockonthenet.com/artists-f/foreigner.htm)
1981Â Â Â Â Â Â Dec 27, Hoagy Carmichael
(b.1899), US actor, songwriter (Stardust), died in California at age
82. His songs included "Stardust" and over 600 other melodies.
   (WSJ, 9/9/99, p.A24)(SFC, 11/25/99,
p.C22)(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hoagy_Carmichael)
1981Â Â Â Â Â Â Duran Duran released its
self-titled debut, which featured the hits "Planet Earth" and "Girls
on Film." Members included Nick Rhodes, John Taylor, Roger Taylor,
Simon Le Bon and Andy Taylor.
   (SFC, 9/18/03, p.E2)
1981Â Â Â Â Â Â The Electric Light
Orchestra had a major hit with their song “Hold On Tight To Your
Dreams.”
  Â
(www.youtubevideos1.com/electric-light-orchestra-hold-on-tight/)
1981Â Â Â Â Â Â Brett Gurewitz, guitarist,
founded Epitaph Records. Epitaph's breakthrough came with the
phenomenal success of such California-bred, neo-punk bands as the
Offspring and Rancid in the mid-'90s. In 1999 Epitaph's sister label
Anti- signed Tom Waits (b.1949).
   (Reuters, 1/19/07)
1982Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 1, Top hits
included:Â Can’t Go for That (No Can Do) Daryl Hall and John
Oates; Waiting for a Girl Like You Foreigner; Hooked on Classics The
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra; The Sweetest Thing I’ve Ever Known
Juice Newton.
   (440 Int'l, 2/1/1999)
1982Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 21, Murray Kaufman
(b.1922), NYC DJ also known as Murray the K, died. During the early
days of Beatlemania, he was frequently referred to as "the Fifth
Beatle."
   (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murray_the_K)
1982Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 26, Paul McCartney and
Stevie Wonder released "Ebony & Ivory" in the UK.
   (SS, 3/26/02)
1982Â Â Â Â Â Â Apr 26, Popular music of
the day included: "I Love Rock ‘n’ Roll" Joan Jett and the
Blackhearts; "We Got the Beat" by the Go-Go’s" "Chariots of Fire" by
Vangelis; and "Crying My Heart Out over You" by Ricky Scaggs.
   (440 Int’l. Internet, 4/26/97, p.1)
1982Â Â Â Â Â Â Apr 26, Rod Stewart was
mugged. A gunman stole his $50,000 Porsche.
   (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1982_in_music)
1982Â Â Â Â Â Â Jun 1, The Rolling Stones
released their "Still Life" album.
  Â
(www.amazon.com/Still-Life-Rolling-Stones/dp/B0000084AS)
1982Â Â Â Â Â Â Jul 2, DeFord Bailey
(b.1899), harmonica wizard and star of the Grand Ole Opry, died. He
was the first black musician to join the Opry’s regular cast.
   (AH, 10/07,
p.74)(www.pbs.org/deford/timeline/index.html)
1982Â Â Â Â Â Â Aug 28, LeAnn Rimes,
country pop singer, was born in Jackson, Miss.
   (SSFC, 1/23/05, Par p.14)
1982Â Â Â Â Â Â Nov 30, Michael Jackson
(12958-2009) released “Thriller,” his 6th studio album. ItÂ
became the best-selling album of all time.
   (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thriller_(album))
1982Â Â Â Â Â Â Dec 8, Marty Robbins,
American singer, died. His songs included “El Paso” (1959), “Devil
Woman” (1962), and “My Woman, My Woman, My Wife” (1970). He was
inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1975.
   (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marty_Robbins)
1983Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 4, Singer-musician
Karen Carpenter (32) died in Downey, Ca.
   (AP, 2/4/08)
1983Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 26, Michael Jackson's
"Thriller" album went to #1 and stayed #1 for 37 weeks.
   (SC, 2/26/02)
1983Â Â Â Â Â Â Apr 6, Saying rock 'n'
roll bands attracted "the wrong element," Interior Secretary James
Watt declined to invite the Beach Boys to perform at a Washington
Fourth of July celebration -- a stand he later reversed.
   (AP, 4/6/98)
1983Â Â Â Â Â Â Apr 17, Felix Pappalardi
(b.1939), singer and producer for the group Mountain, was fatally
shot by his wife, Gail Collins, in their East Side Manhattan
apartment. She had co-written songs for the group and designed their
famous album covers.
   (SSFC, 12/27/20, p.C11)
1983Â Â Â Â Â Â Apr 30, McKinley
Morganfield (68), better known as Muddy Waters, died at his suburban
home in Westmont, Illinois. The US blues singer and guitarist (Mad
Love) was known as the King of the Blues. The Mississippi-born
guitarist revolutionized the genre in Chicago in the 1940s and 50s
with his electric blues.
   (www.muddywaters.com/bio.html)
1983Â Â Â Â Â Â Jul 5, Harry James
(b.1916), American band leader and trumpet player, died, He is best
remembered for his hit "You Made Me Love You." In 1999 Peter J.
Levinson authored “Trumpet Blues: The Life of Harry James.”
   (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_James)(SFC,
11/18/08, p.B4)
1983Â Â Â Â Â Â Dec 28, Dennis Wilson
(b.1944), a founding member of the Beach Boys, died in a swimming
accident (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dennis_Wilson).
   (SFEC, 2/8/98, p.D8)
1983Â Â Â Â Â Â The Quiet Riot band
produced its Metal Health album. Their song “Cum on Feel the Noize,”
featuring lead singer Kevin DuBrow (1955-2007), was considered to be
the first metal band to reach No. 1 on the Billboard chart.
   (SFC, 11/27/07, p.B5)
1983Â Â Â Â Â Â The Stone Roses, an
English rock band, formed in Manchester. One of the pioneering
groups of the Madchester movement in the late 1980s and early 1990s,
the band's classic and most prominent lineup consisted of vocalist
Ian Brown, guitarist John Squire, bassist Mani and drummer Reni.
Their debut album, The Stone Roses, was released in 1989.
   (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Stone_Roses)
1984Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 15, Police raided the
vacation home of Paul and Linda McCartney (1941-1998) following a
tip. Both were arrested on possession of cannabis.
  Â
(http://leftofcentrist.blogspot.com/2007_01_01_archive.html)
1984Â Â Â Â Â Â May 8, The album "Legend,"
the greatest hits by Bob Marley (1945-1981) and the Wailers, was
released. It became the best-selling reggae record of all time.
   (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legend_(album))
1984Â Â Â Â Â Â Jul 12, Madonna's "Like a
Virgin" video premiered on MTV and became an instant hit.
  Â
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Like_a_Virgin_%28song%29)
1984Â Â Â Â Â Â Aug 11, Percy Mayfield
(b.1920), songwriter and blues artist, died. His songs included "Hit
the Road Jack" and "Please Send Me Someone to Love."
   (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Percy_Mayfield)
1984Â Â Â Â Â Â Ray Charles recorded
“Seven Spanish Angels” as a duet with Willie Nelson.
   (USAT, 6/11/04, p.7A)
1984Â Â Â Â Â Â Prince (1958-2016)
released his “Purple Rain” album.
  Â
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prince_(musician))(Econ, 4/30/15,
p.82)
1984Â Â Â Â Â Â The song "Born In The
USA," released by Bruce Springsteen, peaked at #9 in late 1984.
  Â
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Born_in_the_U.S.A._%28song%29)
1984Â Â Â Â Â Â The Twisted Sisters made a
hit with their anti-authority song “We’re Not Gonna Take It.”
   (Econ, 6/7/14, TQ p.23)
1985Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 28, The song "We are
the World" was recorded in Hollywood, Ca. The collaborative song
recorded by a dizzying array of stars, including Harry Belafonte,
was released in March. Ken Kragen (1936-2021) latched onto Mr.
Belafonte’s vision and became a pivotal behind-the-scenes force in
creating the song. Quincy Jones produced the song with lyrics by
Lionel Richie and Michael Jackson.
  Â
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/We_Are_the_World)(NY Times, 12/16/21)
1985Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 9, Madonna's album
"Like a Virgin," released in 1984, reached #1.
   (http://tinyurl.com/2vfje9)
1985Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 26, In the 27th Grammy
Awards Tina Turner’s "What's Love Got to Do With It" won as record
and song of the year. Cyndi Lauper won as best new artist.
   (www.rockonthenet.com/archive/1985/grammys.htm)
1985Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 2, Country singer,
Gary Morris hit #1 on the country charts for the first time with
"Baby Bye Bye" from his album, "Faded Blue".
   (HC, Internet, 2/3/98)
1985Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 2, Chart Toppers:
Careless Whisper, Wham! featuring George Michael; California Girls,
David Lee Roth; Can't Fight this Feeling, REO Speedwagon; Baby Bye
Bye, Gary Morris.
   (HC, Internet, 2/3/98)
1985Â Â Â Â Â Â Apr, Many Chinese lined up
for hours to buy $1.75 tickets to the groundbreaking concert by
Wham! at the People's Gymnasium, the biggest stadium in Beijing at
the time. Wham! was the first major Western band to play in the
country after the death of Mao Zedong and decades of cultural
isolation. George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley danced in
big-shouldered jackets with bleached and feathered hair. The backing
dancers' strapless costumes and polka-dot miniskirts also stunned
the audience in China at a time when people still dressed in similar
shades of green and gray.
   (AP, 12/26/16)
1985Â Â Â Â Â Â May 18, "One Night In
Bangkok" by Murray Head hit #3.
   (SC, 5/18/02)
1985Â Â Â Â Â Â Jun 1, The song "Axel F"
by Harold Faltermeyer peaked at #3 on the pop singles chart.
   (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Axel_F)
1985Â Â Â Â Â Â Jul 13, Live Aid, an
international rock concert in London, Philadelphia, Moscow and
Sydney, took place to raise money for Ethiopia and Africa's starving
people. It was organized by Bob Geldof of Ireland.
   (TMC, 1994, p.1985)(AP 7/13/97)(Econ, 6/4/05,
p.56)
1985Â Â Â Â Â Â Sep 22, Rock and country
music artists participated in FarmAid, a concert staged in
Champaign, Ill., to help the nation's farmers. The first Farm Aid
concert was held to support problems facing US farmers and their
families.
   (SFEC, 10/13/96, p.A9)(AP, 9/22/05)
1985Â Â Â Â Â Â Oct 6, Nelson Riddle,
American bandleader, died. In 2001 Peter J. Levinson (1934-2008)
authored “September in the Rain: The Life of Nelson Riddle.”
   (SFC, 11/18/08,
p.B4)(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nelson_Riddle)
1985Â Â Â Â Â Â Oct 28, Singer Whitney
Houston (1963-2012) performed before a sellout crowd at Carnegie
Hall.
  Â
(www.nytimes.com/1985/10/29/arts/pop-whitney-houston-in-carnegie-hall-debut.html)
1985Â Â Â Â Â Â Dec 23, James Vance (20)
& Raymond Belknap (18), committed suicide, sparking their
families to sue rock group Judas Priest for subliminal messages. Mr.
Belknap died instantly. Mr. Vance was seriously injured and lived in
pain until his death three years later.
   (http://tinyurl.com/29rwhh)
1985Â Â Â Â Â Â Dec 31, Singer Rick Nelson
(45) and six other people were killed when fire broke out aboard a
DC-3 that was taking the group to a New Year's Eve performance in
Dallas.
   (AP, 12/31/97)
1985Â Â Â Â Â Â The Isley Brothers had a
No. 1 R&B hit with the gospel-inspired “Caravan of Love.”
   (SFC, 6/9/10,
p.C10)(www.youtube.com/watch?v=foFK6q7kF9Y)
1986Â Â Â Â Â Â Jun 7, Madonna's "Live to
Tell," single went #1.
   (SC, 6/7/02)
1986Â Â Â Â Â Â Jul 3, Rudy Vallee
(b.1901), singer (Vagabond Dreams), died.
  Â
(www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=4143)
1986Â Â Â Â Â Â Aug 29, The Beatles
performed their last public concert. The San Francisco event at
Candlestick Park drew some 24,000 people.
   (SSFC, 8/28/11, DB p.42)
1986Â Â Â Â Â Â Sep 1, Paul McCartney
released his "Press to Play" album.
   (SC, 9/1/02)
1986Â Â Â Â Â Â Sep 6, Some 300 invitees
paid $5,000 to hear Barbra Streisand's benefit concert. Streisand
launched her concert One Voice, in part, as a protest against
Reagan-era nuclear arms proliferation in the late Cold War.
   (http://tinyurl.com/y6urea)
1986Â Â Â Â Â Â Oct 22, In NYC Jane
Dornacker (40), comedian, musician and traffic reporter, died after
her helicopter crashed into the Hudson River. She had moved to NYC
in 1985 after established a reputation in the SF Bay Area where her
activities included performing with her band “Leila and the Snakes.”
   (SSFC, 10/23/11, DB p.42)
1986Â Â Â Â Â Â Nov 15, The Beastie Boys
"Licensed to Ill" album was released. The 3-member punk/funk band
from Brooklyn had burst on the scene with their song: "Fight for
Your Right to Party."
   (WSJ, 12/18/98, p.A1)(SFC, 2/15/19, p.C4)
1986Â Â Â Â Â Â Jeannie C. Riley recorded
"Harper Valley P.T.A.," written by singer and songwriter Tom T. Hall
(1936-2022). The song about small town hypocrisy became an int'l
hit.
   (SSFC, 8/22/21, p.F8)
1986Â Â Â Â Â Â Cui Jian, later considered
the father of Chinese rock, recorded “Nothing To My Name.” The song
became the soundtrack for the Tiananmen Square protests of 1989.
  Â
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kYwsPt854Xo)(Econ, 8/16/14, p.36)
1986Â Â Â Â Â Â The Chilean group Los
Prisioneros released "El baile de los que sobran (The dance of those
left over). It written and composed by Jorge González and became one
of the greatest classics of Chilean popular music.
   (https://tinyurl.com/yb79ksot)(Econ, 3/14/20,
p.66)
1987Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 3, At the top of the
record charts included: Walk Like an Egyptian by the Bangles;
Everybody Have Fun Tonight by Wang Chung; Notorious by Duran Duran;
Mind Your Own Business by Hank Williams, Jr.
   (www.440.com/twtd/archives/jan03.html)
1987      Jan 3, The first
woman inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame was ‘Lady Soul’:
Aretha Franklin (b.1942). Bill Haley was among the 14 others
inducted.
  Â
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aretha_Franklin)(http://tinyurl.com/mn5j6)
1987Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 26, British stores
released the 1st Beatles compact discs.
  Â
(www.guardian.co.uk/thebeatles/story/0,,606496,00.html)
1987Â Â Â Â Â Â Jul 4, Bill Graham took
Santana, the Doobie Brothers and Bonny Rait to Moscow for an
American-Soviet peace concert.
   (SFC,12/13/97, p.A15)
1987Â Â Â Â Â Â Aug 15, Thousands of
people marched past the grave of Elvis Presley in Memphis, Tenn., as
they began an all-night vigil marking the 10th anniversary of his
death.
   (AP, 8/15/97)
1987Â Â Â Â Â Â Jun 29, Elizabeth Cotton
(1895-1987), American blues singer, died in Syracuse, NY. She
composed “Freight Train” in the early 1900s when she saw a train
pass by her house on Lloyd Street in Carrboro, North Carolina. The
song was copyrighted in 1957. The first recording of the song was
made by Mike Seeger in 1957–1958, at Elizabeth’s home in Washington,
D.C.
  Â
(www.youtube.com/watch?v=-F6sXL4Jb_s)(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elizabeth_Cotten)
1987Â Â Â Â Â Â English singer Rick Astley
sang "Never Gonna Give You Up," written and produced by Stock,
Aitken & Waterman. The song was released as the first single
from Astley's multi-million selling debut album, Whenever You Need
Somebody. The song was a worldwide number-one hit, initially in the
singer's native United Kingdom in 1987, where it stayed at number
one for five weeks and was the best-selling single of that year. In
2008, Rick Astley won the MTV EMA awards for "Best Act Ever" with
the song "Never Gonna Give You Up", as a result of collective voting
from thousands of people on the internet, due to the popular
phenomenon of rickrolling.
  Â
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Never_Gonna_Give_You_Up)
1987Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 9, Antanas
Sabaniauskas (b.1903), Lithuania's leading pop tenor, died.
  Â
(http://lt.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antanas_%C5%A0abaniauskas)
1988Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 10, Pop singer Andy
Gibb died in Oxford, England, at age 30 of heart inflammation.
   (AP, 3/10/98)
1988Â Â Â Â Â Â Apr, The Traveling
Wilburys, an English-American supergroup, was formed in after the
five members united to record a bonus track for Harrison's next
European single. Members included Bob Dylan, George Harrison, Jeff
Lynne, Roy Orbison and Tom Petty.
  Â
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Traveling_Wilburys)
1988Â Â Â Â Â Â Jun 19, Michael Jackson
led a rock concert in West Berlin.
   (AP, 7/30/09)
1988Â Â Â Â Â Â Dec 16, Sylvester James
(b.1947), disco superstar, died of AIDS-related causes.
   (SFC, 10/10/98,
p.E1)(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sylvester_%28singer%29)
1989Â Â Â Â Â Â May 25, Weird Al Yankovic
recorded "She Drives Like Crazy."
   (SC, 5/25/02)
1989Â Â Â Â Â Â May 29, John Cipollina
(45), lead guitarist with the Quicksilver Messenger Service rock
group, died in Marin, Ca. of complications from respiratory
problems.
   (SSFC, 5/25/14, DB p.42)
1989Â Â Â Â Â Â Jul 2, In West Berlin,
Germany, the Love Parade festival was begun to celebrate techno
music. About 150 people cavorted down Ku’damm to the blare of techno
music from a single Volkswagen bus. It was started by the Berlin
underground at the initiative of Matthias Roeingh (also known as "Dr
Motte") and his then girlfriend Danielle de Picciotto.
   (SFC, 8/18/97,
p.E4)(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Love_Parade)
1989Â Â Â Â Â Â Aug 27, Chuck Berry
performed his tune Johnny B. Goode for NASA staff in celebration of
Voyager II's encounter with the planet Neptune.
   (HN, 8/27/98)
1989Â Â Â Â Â Â Milli Vanilli, a duo
composed of Rob Pilatus (d.1998 at 32) and Fabrice Morvan, won a
Grammy for Best New Artist after their hits "Blame It on the Rain"
and "All or Nothing." It was later learned the duo lip-synched the
songs that were done by uncredited studio musicians and the award
was revoked in 1990. John Davis (1955-2021) and Brad Howell did the
vocals, but did not want to travel. Producer Frank Farian then hired
Pilatus and Morvan.
   (SFC, 4/6/98, p.A26)(BS, 5/3/98, p.6F)(SFC,
6/1/21, p.B4)
1990Â Â Â Â Â Â Apr 12, James Brown moved
to a work-release center after serving 15 months.
   (MC, 4/12/02)
1990Â Â Â Â Â Â Apr 14, The hip-hop group
Salt-N-Pepa hit the top #40 on the pop singles chart with
"Expression."
   (www.rockonthenet.com/archive/1990/04-14.htm)
1990Â Â Â Â Â Â Apr 25, In the 25th
Academy of Country Music Awards Clint Black and Kathy Mattea won.
   (SS, 4/25/02)
1990Â Â Â Â Â Â May 19, The tune "Vogue"
by Madonna peaked at #1 on the pop singles chart.
   (www.onmc.iinet.net.au/top/1990.htm)
1990Â Â Â Â Â Â Jun 23, The tune "That's
The Way Of The World" by D'Mob with Cathy Dennis hit #1 on Billboard
magazine’s Hot Dance Music/Club Play.
  Â
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Number-one_dance_hits_of_1990_(USA))
1990Â Â Â Â Â Â Jul 13, 2 Live Crew
released "Banned in the USA."
   (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banned_in_the_USA)
1990Â Â Â Â Â Â Aug 27, Texan blues
guitarist Stevie Ray Vaughan (35) was killed in a helicopter crash
after performing at a concert in Wisconsin.
   (Reuters, 8/28/01)
1990Â Â Â Â Â Â The grunge rock band Pearl
Jam, initially called Mookie Blaylock, formed in Seattle. Its first
album was titled “Ten.” The documentary film “Pearl Jam Twenty,”
created by Cameron Crowe, aired on PBS in 2011.
   (SFC, 10/19/11, p.E3)
1990Â Â Â Â Â Â In Brazil US pop star
Michael Jackson landed by helicopter at the top of one of Rio de
Janeiro’s most notorious favelas and sang “They Don’t Care About
Us.”
   (Economist, 10/13/12, SR p.18)
1991Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 20, Quincy Jones’
"Back on the Block" was named album of the year at the 33rd Annual
Grammy Awards.
   (AP, 2/20/01)
1991Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 2, Serge Gainsbourg
(b.1928), French singer-songwriter, actor and director, died of a
heart attack. His extremely varied musical style and individuality
make him difficult to categorize. His legacy has been firmly
established, and he is often regarded as one of the world's most
influential popular musicians.
   (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serge_Gainsbourg)
1991Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 14, Doc Pomus
(b.1925), American blues singer and songwriter, died. He
collaborated with pianist Mort Shuman to write the hit songs:
"Teenager in Love"; "Save The Last Dance For Me"; "Hushabye"; "This
Magic Moment"; "Turn Me Loose"; "Sweets For My Sweet"; "Can't Get
Used To Losing You"; "Little Sister"; "Suspicion"; "Surrender";
"Viva Las Vegas"; and "His Latest Flame (Marie's The Name)." In 2007
Alex Halberstadt authored “Lonely Avenue: The Unlikely Life and
Times of Doc Pomus.”
   (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doc_Pomus)
1991Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 16, A plane crash
killed 7 members of Reba McIntire's band.
   (MC, 3/16/02)
1991Â Â Â Â Â Â May 13, The album "Michael
Jackson: The Magic & the Madness" went on sale.
   (SS, Internet, 5/13/97)
1991Â Â Â Â Â Â May 25, "People Are Still
Having Sex" by LaTour hit #35.
   (SC, 5/25/02)
1991Â Â Â Â Â Â Jun 1, "Silent Lucidity"
by Queensryche peaked at #5 on the pop singles chart.
   (www.rockonthenet.com/archive/1991/06-01.htm)
1991Â Â Â Â Â Â Jun 15, The song "Love Is
A Wonderful Thing" by Michael Bolton (b.1953) reached #3 on the pop
singles chart.
   (www.rockonthenet.com/archive/1991/06-15.htm)
1991Â Â Â Â Â Â Aug 10, Metallica staged a
concert in Copenhagen.
   (http://tinyurl.com/y6967efc)
1991Â Â Â Â Â Â Aug 15, Some 750,000
attended Paul Simon's free concert in Central Park. The event was
recorded and became available on video.
   (http://tinyurl.com/rdhv8)
1991Â Â Â Â Â Â Oct 17, Tennessee Ernie
Ford (b.1919), country singer (16 Tons), died in Reston, Va.
   (AP, 10/17/01)(www.ernieford.com/Bio.htm)
1991Â Â Â Â Â Â Oct 25, American
rock-and-roll impresario Bill Graham was killed in a helicopter
crash near Highway 37 outside Vallejo, in Sonoma County, Ca. Also
killed were his girlfriend, Melissa Gold, and pilot, Steve Kahn. A
memorial concert in GG Park drew some 300,000 people with music by
the Grateful Dead; Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young; John Fogerty;
Bobby McFerrin; and Robin Williams.
  Â
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Graham_(promoter))(SFC,12/13/97,
p.A15)(AP, 10/25/01)(SSFC, 5/6/18, DB p.50)
1991Â Â Â Â Â Â Nov 24, Freddie Mercury
(45), Zanzibar-born rock singer, died in London of pneumonia brought
on by AIDS. Mercury and the rock group Queen made the 1975 hit
"Bohemian Rhapsody."
   (AP, 11/24/01)(SSFC, 11/10/02, p.A2)
1991Â Â Â Â Â Â Dec 4, The Judds’ final
concert took place in Nashville.
  Â
(www.wynonna.com/?em653=22855_0__0_~0_-1_3_2006_0_0&content=judds)
1991Â Â Â Â Â Â Jon Savage (b.1953)
authored “England’s Dreaming,” a history of the Sex Pistols.
   (SFC, 4/9/10,
p.C7)(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jon_Savage)
1991Â Â Â Â Â Â Perry Farrell, lead singer
of Jane's Addiction, started the alternative-rock extravaganza
called Lollapalooza.
   (SFC, 8/21/03, p.E1)
1991Â Â Â Â Â Â The American punk group
Nirvana released its “Nevermind” album.
   (WSJ, 12/21/04, p.D8)
1991Â Â Â Â Â Â The rock group Talking
Heads disbanded. The group had formed in 1974 in NYC. The band
comprised David Byrne (b.1952), Chris Frantz, Tina Weymouth and
Jerry Harrison, but auxiliary musicians frequently made appearances
in concert and on the group's albums.
   (WSJ, 1/30/08,
p.D9)(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talking_Heads)
1991Â Â Â Â Â Â In Australia a simple
formula of catchy children's tunes with sing-along lyrics and
entertaining dances was born when Anthony Field, Murray Cook and
Greg Page were studying to become pre-school teachers. They formed a
children's band called The Wiggles went on to become a global
cultural force. They planned to be the subject of an exhibition at
Sydney's Powerhouse Museum to celebrate their 20th year in 2011.
   (AFP, 9/19/10)
1991Â Â Â Â Â Â In Germany theTresor night
club was launched in a former power station in Berlin. It was one of
the first places to play techno music.
   (Econ, 1/9/16, p.46)
1992Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 2, IRS and Willie
Nelson settled on $9M tax bill (of $16.7M).
   (MC, 2/2/02)
1992Â Â Â Â Â Â May 17, Lawrence Welk
(89), conductor and accordionist, died in Santa Monica, Calif.
   (AP, 5/17/97)(SFC, 8/19/99, p.E2)(MC, 5/17/02)
1992Â Â Â Â Â Â Jul 4, The song "Baby Got
Back" by Sir Mix-A-Lot topped the charts and stayed there for 5
weeks.
   (DataDragon)
1992      Jul 26,  Â
Singer Mary Wells died in Los Angeles at age 49.
   (AP, 7/26/97)
1992Â Â Â Â Â Â Oct 3, Sinead O'Connor,
Irish rock singer, ripped up a picture of Pope John Paul II on
Saturday Night Live.
   (www.notbored.org/sinead.html)
1993Â Â Â Â Â Â Apr 23, Peter Townshend's
rock musical "Tommy," premiered in NYC.
   (MC, 4/23/02)
1993Â Â Â Â Â Â Aug 23, Los Angeles police
confirmed that pop star Michael Jackson was the subject of a
criminal investigation. Prosecutors began investigating Michael
Jackson after a 13-year-old boy said Jackson had sex with him. An
out of court settlement was reached for $15-20 mil. The boy’s father
later filed suit against Jackson for violating a promise not to
discuss the settlement.
   (AP, 8/23/98)(SFC, 6/12/96, p.E3)
1993Â Â Â Â Â Â Dec 4, Frank Zappa (52),
rock musician and composer, died in Los Angeles. In 2004 Barry Miles
authored “Frank Zappa: A Biography.”
   (AP, 12/4/98)(SFC, 12/25/04, p.E2)
1993Â Â Â Â Â Â The name "disco polo" was
coined in 1993 by Sławomir Skręta, the owner of a record label Blue
Star in Reguły, near Warsaw. The genre originated from music played
in the 1980s at weddings by bands with a repertoire of Polish folk
music and wedding songs.
   (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disco_polo)(Econ.,
11/28/20, p.46)
1994Â Â Â Â Â Â Apr 5, Kurt Cobain
(b.1967), singer-musician for the grunge band Nirvana, committed
suicide in Seattle. His body was found on April 8 at his Lake
Washington Boulevard home.
   (AP, 4/8/97)(SFEC, 2/2/97, DB.
p.52)(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kurt_Cobain)
1994Â Â Â Â Â Â May 26, Michael Jackson
and Lisa Marie Presley were married in the Dominican Republic. The
marriage ended in 1996.
   (AP, 5/26/99)
1994Â Â Â Â Â Â Aug 12, Woodstock '94
opened in Saugerties, N.Y.
   (AP, 8/12/97)
1994Â Â Â Â Â Â In Venezuela the ska-punk
band Desorden Publico released its album "People's Song of Life and
Death." Some ten years earlier founding member Horacio Blanco wrote
"Paralytic Politicians," which later became an anthem of protest for
Venezuela.
   (AFP, 3/3/19)
1995Â Â Â Â Â Â Apr 14, Actor-singer Burl
Ives died in Anacortes, Wash., at age 85.
   (AP, 4/14/00)
  Â
1995Â Â Â Â Â Â Jul 5, More than 100
Grateful Dead fans were injured when a deck on which they were
gathered collapsed at a campground near Wentzville, Missouri.
   (AP, 7/5/00)
1995Â Â Â Â Â Â Aug 9, Jerry Garcia,
guitarist and lead singer of the Grateful Dead, died in San
Francisco of a heart attack at age 53. In 1999 Blair Jackson
authored "Garcia: An American Life." In 2002 Dennis McNally authored
"A Long Strange Trip: The Inside History of the Grateful Dead."
   (WSJ, 8/11/95, p.A7)(AP, 8/9/97)(SFEC, 8/29/99,
BR p.1)(SSFC, 8/11/02, p.M1)
1995Â Â Â Â Â Â Sep 1, A ribbon-cutting
ceremony was held for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland,
Ohio.
   (AP, 9/1/00)
1995Â Â Â Â Â Â Nov 21-1995 Nov 28, In one
week of sales, `The Beatles Anthology 1' beat sales record in the
US: 855,473 copies. Previous record: Michael Jackson's `History',
391,000 copies.
  Â
(www.4reference.net/encyclopedias/wikipedia/The_Beatles.html)
1996Â Â Â Â Â Â May 20, The song Blue
composed by Bill Mack in 1963 for Patsy Cline was finally recorded
by 14-year-old LeAnn Rimes.
   (WSJ, 8/29/96, p.B1)
1996Â Â Â Â Â Â Jul 21, There was a review
of "Please Kill Me" by Legs McNeil and Gillian McCain, a historical
chronicle of the American punk-rock movement.
   (SFC, 7/21/96, p.B7)
1994 Â Â Â Â Â Â Nov 30, Rapper and actor
Tupac Shakur (1971-1996) was shot five times during a robbery
outside a New York recording studio. Two days later a jury found him
guilty of sexually abusing a woman, but acquitted him of more
serious sex and weapons charges.
  Â
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupac_Shakur#September_1996_shooting)(AP,
11/30/04)
1996Â Â Â Â Â Â Sep 4, The Smashing
Pumpkins rock group won 7 MTV music awards including Best Video for
“Tonight, Tonight,” and Best Alternative Music Video for 1979.
   (SFC, 9/5/96, p.B4)
1996Â Â Â Â Â Â Sep. 7, Rapper Tupac
Shakur was shot on the Las Vegas Strip; he died six days later.
   (AP, 9/7/97)
1996Â Â Â Â Â Â Sep 13, Rap star Tupac
Shakur (b.1971) died of gun shot wounds in Las Vegas after he was
wounded Sep 7 in a drive-by shooting as he was leaving a Mike Tyson
fight in Las Vegas. He had just finished filming "Gang Related"
later retitled "Criminal Intent." He was buried at Stone Mountain,
Georgia.
   (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupac_Shakur)(SFC,
9/14/96, p.A1)(AP, 9/13/97)
1996Â Â Â Â Â Â Oct 14, Pop singer Madonna
gave birth to a daughter, Lourdes Maria Ciccone Leon.
   (AP, 10/14/97)
1996Â Â Â Â Â Â The group Los Del Rio made
a hit with "Macarena."
   (SFC, 11/30/02, p.D1)
1996Â Â Â Â Â Â Dolly Parton, American
country singer, founded her “Imagination Library.” It provided free
books to children in her home county of East Tennessee up to age 5.
In 2000 she announced that she would make the program available for
replication to any community that was willing to partner with her to
support it locally.
   (https://imaginationlibrary.com/)
1997Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 1, Townes Van Zandt
(1944-1997) Texas songwriter, died. His work included the 1983 song
”Pancho and Lefty,” sung by Merle Haggard and Willie Nelson.
   (SFC, 1/3/97, p.A26)(SFC, 1/4/97, p.E1)(WSJ,
6/25/03, p.D8)
1997Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 21, Irwin Levine (58),
composer (Tie a Yellow Ribbon), died in New Jersey.
   (http://tinyurl.com/afxk9)
1997Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 9, In Los Angeles
black Gangsta rapper Christopher G. Wallace (24), The Notorious
B.I.G. or aka Biggie Smalls, was shot and killed in a drive-by
shooting. He had been accused of being involved in a 1994 robbery in
which Tupac Shakur was shot and robbed of $40,000. In 1999 Amir
Muhammad, aka Harry Billups, was named as the suspected gunman.
Muhammad was suspected to have been hired by former LAPD officer
David A. Mack. In 2005 a judge declared a mistrial when large
numbers of LAPD documents were found that hadn’t been turned over to
the court.
   (SFC, 3/10/97, p.A8)(SFC, 12/9/99, p.A11)(SFC,
7/7/05, p.A3)(AP, 3/9/07)
1997Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 10, LaVern Baker (67),
rhythm and blues singer, died. She had been discovered as a teenager
by Fletcher Henderson in Chicago singing as "Little Miss
Sharecropper." Her hits included "Tweedle Dee," "Go Jim Dandy" and
"See See Rider."
   (SFC, 3/12/97, p.A9)
1997Â Â Â Â Â Â Apr 8, Singer and
songwriter Laura Nyro (b.1947) died in Danbury, Conn., at age 49 of
ovarian cancer. In 2012 she was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall
of Fame.
   (SFC, 4/10/97, p.A23)(AP, 4/8/98)(SSFC, 4/15/12,
p.A9)
1998Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 6, Carl Wilson (51), a
founding member of The Beach Boys, had died in Los Angeles from
complications of lung cancer.
   (SFEC, 2/8/98, p.D8)(AP, 2/7/99)
1998Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 7, Falco (40),
Austrian born pop singer, died while on vacation in an auto crash in
the Dominican Republic. His hits included "Der Kommissar," "Rock Me
Amadeus," and "Vienna Calling."
   (SFEC, 2/8/98, p.D8)
1998Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 25, At the Grammy
Awards, Bob Dylan won best album and best contemporary folk album
for "Time Out of Mind" while Shawn Colvin won song and record of the
year for "Sunny Came Home."
   (AP, 2/25/99)
1998Â Â Â Â Â Â Apr 6, Tammy Wynette (55),
country singer, died at her Nashville, Tenn., home. Her songs
included the 1968 hit "Stand by Your Man."
   (SFC, 4/798, p.A7)(AP, 4/6/99)
1998Â Â Â Â Â Â May 12, Singer Ray Charles
and sitar master Ravi Shankar received the Polar Music Prize,
$133,000, from King Carl Gustav XVI in Sweden. The award was
established by Stig Anderson, manager of the Abba pop group.
   (SFC, 5/15/98, p.C5)
1998Â Â Â Â Â Â May 14, Frank Sinatra,
singer and actor, died of a heart attack in LA at age 82. Shortly
thereafter Brian Gunn published "Rat Pack Confidential: Frank, Dean,
Sammy, Peter, Joey & the Last Great Show Biz Party," a biography
of Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr., Peter Lawford and
Joey Bishop. In Dec the FBI released a 1,300 page Sinatra file that
had been put together over a 40-year period. In 2000 Tom and Phil
Kuntz edited "The Sinatra Files." In 2005 Anthony Summers and Robbyn
Swan authored “Sinatra: The Life.”
   (SFC, 5/16/98, p.A1)(SFEC, 7/5/98, BR p.5)(WSJ,
6/13/00, p.B1)(Econ, 7/16/05, p.82)
1998Â Â Â Â Â Â May 31, Singer Geri
Halliwell, also known as "Ginger Spice" of the Spice Girls,
confirmed she was leaving the group.
   (AP, 5/31/99)
1998Â Â Â Â Â Â Aug 20, The German
heavy-metal band Rammstein was reported to be making a hit in the US
with their "Sehnsucht" (yearning) album.
   (WSJ, 8/21/98, p.B1)
1998Â Â Â Â Â Â Nov 20, Rolando Alphonso,
tenor saxophonist for the ska group Skatalites, died in Los Angeles
at age 67. He was an original member of the Jamaican group that was
formed in 1964.
   (SFC, 12/7/98, p.A25)
1999Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 2, In England Dusty
Springfield (59), pop-soul singer, died from breast cancer. Her hits
included ""You Don't Have to Say You Love Me," "I Just Don't Know
What to Do With Myself" and "Son of a Preacher Man."
   (SFC, 3/4/99, p.D2)
1999Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 15, Bruce Springsteen,
Paul McCartney, Billy Joel and Dusty Springfield were inducted into
the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
   (AP, 3/15/00)
1999Â Â Â Â Â Â cApr 12, BoxCar Willie,
country singer, died at age 67. He was born as Lecil Martin in
Starett, Texas, and spent 22 years in the Air Force.
   (SFC, 4/13/99, p.A19)
1999Â Â Â Â Â Â Apr 27, Al Hirt, "The King
of the Trumpet," died in New Orleans at age 76.
   (SFC, 4/28/99, p.C4)
1999Â Â Â Â Â Â Jul 17, The body of
Canadian singer Fatima Kama (28) was found when a member of the
public spotted a black suitcase abandoned on the third floor of a
Heathrow Airport parking lot. Youssef Ahmed Wahid, a former Kuwait
Airways steward, was arrested within days of the discovery at his
hometown of Ramadiyeh in southern Lebanon. He reportedly denied
having anything to do with the killing, and was eventually released
and then went on the run. In 2010 authorities in Bahrain arrested
Wahid as a suspect in the case. On Oct 3, 2011, Wahid was sentenced
to at least 24 years in prison.
   (AP, 8/24/10)(AP, 10/3/11)
1999Â Â Â Â Â Â Jul 23, The 3-day
Woodstock '99 music festival began at the decommissioned Griffiss
Air Force Base in Rome, NY, with some 225,000 people. The $35-38
million production ended in chaos with hundreds of concertgoers
burning fires, looting and vandalizing.
   (USAT, 7/26/99, p.1D,5D)(SFC, 7/26/99, p.E3)(SFC,
7/27/99, p.A3)
1999Â Â Â Â Â Â Oct 6, Amalia Rodrigues
(b.1920), Portuguese actress and fado singer, died at age 79.
   (SFC, 10/11/99,
p.A24)(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Am%C3%A1lia_Rodrigues)
1999Â Â Â Â Â Â Aretha Franklin (b.1942),
the Queen of Soul, authored "Aretha: From These Roots."
   (SSFC, 6/30/02, Par p.30)
2000Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 6, Eric Clapton was
inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame for the third time;
among the newest honorees were James Taylor, Bonnie Raitt and Earth,
Wind and Fire.
   (AP, 3/6/01)
2000Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 7, Country singer
Frank "Pee Wee" King died in Louisville, Kentucky, at age 86.
   (AP, 3/7/01)
2000Â Â Â Â Â Â Jul 26, Napster Inc. was
hit with a preliminary injunction to halt all illegal song swapping
over the Internet. A temporary stay was granted on appeal 2 days
later.
   (SFC, 7/27/00, p.A1)(SFC, 7/29/00, p.A1)
2000Â Â Â Â Â Â Jul, In Serbia’s Vojvodina
province the Exit music festival was started by three University
students from Novi Sad.
   (www.southeast-europe.eu/index.php?id=780)
2001Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 18, John Phillips, who
co-founded the Mamas and the Papas and wrote its biggest hits,
including "California Dreamin" and "Monday," died in Los Angeles at
age 65.
   (SFC, 3/19/01, p.A19)(AP, 3/18/02)
2001Â Â Â Â Â Â Apr 15, Joey Ramone, punk
rock icon, died of cancer in NYC at age 49. The Ramones punk rock
group released their 1st album "Ramones" in 1976. Joey Ramone’s
"Don’t Worry About Me" album was released in 2002. Ramone was born
in 1951 as Jeffrey Hyman.
   (AP, 4/15/02)(SFC, 4/17/01, p.C2)(WSJ, 2/22/02,
p.W7)(NW, 12/31/01, p.111)
2001Â Â Â Â Â Â May 12, Perry Como,
singer, died at age 88 in Jupiter, Fla. His Perry Como Show ran on
TV for 15 years (1948-1963).
   (SSFC, 5/13/01, p.A27)
2001Â Â Â Â Â Â Jul 18, Mimi Farina,
folksinger and founder of the Bread and Roses charity, died at age
56. She was the sister of Joan Baez. She and Richard Farina
(d.1966), her 1st husband, wrote the song "Pack Up Your Sorrows."
   (SFC, 7/19/01, p.A25)
2001Â Â Â Â Â Â Oct 3, Apple introduced
the iPod, a breakthrough MP3 music player that packs up to 1,000
CD-quality songs into an ultra-portable, 6.5 ounce design that fits
in your pocket, at a cost of $399.
  Â
(www.apple.com/pr/library/2001/oct/23ipod.html)(Econ, 10/4/08, p.14)
2001Â Â Â Â Â Â Nov 29, George Harrison
(58), lead guitarist for the Beatles, died of cancer in LA. His
ashes were scattered in the Ganges Dec 4.
   (SFC, 11/30/01, p.A1)(SFC, 12/4/01, p.A2)
2002Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 10, Dave Van Ronk,
folksinger and mentor to Bob Dylan, died in NY at age 65.
   (WSJ, 2/11/02, p.A1)
2002Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 27, Alicia Keys won in
5 categories at the 44th annual Grammy Awards. Train won for best
rock song: "Drops of Jupiter," U2 won for best record of the year:
"Walk On," and Various Artists won the album of the year: "O
Brother, Where Art Thou."
   (SFC, 2/28/02, p.A1)
2002Â Â Â Â Â Â Apr 25, Lisa "Left Eye"
Lopes (30), top female singer in the trio TLC, was killed in a car
crash in Honduras. Her albums included "Crazysexycool" (1994).
   (SFC, 4/26/02, p.A2)(NW, 5/6/02, p.8)
2002Â Â Â Â Â Â Jun 18, Raymond Lubow
(82), creator of the special effects Morley pedals, died. The
"Morley Man" logo was a wailing, long-haired rocker.
   (SFC, 7/4/02, p.A21)
2002Â Â Â Â Â Â Jul 19, Alan Lomax (87),
musicologist and son of folklorist John A. Lomax, died in Safety
Harbor, Fla. His books included the book "The Land Where the Blues
Began." In 2010 John Szwed authored “Alan Lomax: The Man Who
Recorded the World.”
   (SFC, 7/20/02, p.A20)(SSFC, 1/23/11, p.G5)
2002Â Â Â Â Â Â Aug 14, Larry Rivers (78),
pop artist pioneer, died in Southampton, N.Y.
   (AP, 8/14/03)
2002Â Â Â Â Â Â Oct 12, Ray Conniff (85),
band leader of "easy-listening" hits, died in Escondido, Ca.
   (WSJ, 10/15/02, p.A1)
2002Â Â Â Â Â Â Oct 30, DJ Jam Master Jay
(Jason Mizell), a 37-year-old rap artist, was shot to death in a
recording studio in Queens, NYC. The circumstances surrounding his
death remained unanswered for years. In 2020 authorities charged
Ronald Washington (56) and Karl Jordan Jr. (37) in connection with
the murder.
   (SFC, 11/1/02, p.A1)(SFC, 8/18/20, p.A4)
2002Â Â Â Â Â Â Nov 3, Lonnie Donegan
(71), British musician, died. His hits included "Does Your Chewing
Gum Lose its Flavor on the Bed Post Overnight" and "Rock Island
Line" which inspired John Lennon and George Harrison.
   (SFC, 11/6/02, p.A34)
2002Â Â Â Â Â Â Nov, Artisan Pictures
released "Standing in the Shadows of Motown," a tribute to the Funk
Brothers, the studio musicians behind the Motown hits. They included
pianist Earl Van Dyke, bassist James Jamerson, vibes player Jack
Ashford, and pianist Joe Hunter.
   (WSJ, 11/26/02, p.D8)
2002Â Â Â Â Â Â Dec 22, In Britain Joe
Strummer (50), singer-songwriter for Clash, died.
   (SFC, 12/24/02, p.A2)
2002Â Â Â Â Â Â The Spanish pop song
"Asereje" (The Ketchup Song), by the Munoz sisters (Lola, Lucia and
Pilar Munoz) became a hit.
   (SFC, 11/30/02, p.D1)
2002Â Â Â Â Â Â Jun, The Bonnaroo music
festival began in Manchester, Tennessee.
   (Econ, 7/25/09, p.31)
2002Â Â Â Â Â Â Zach Niles, Banker White
and Chris Veland, novice American filmmakers, visited Guinea and
discovered a group of musicians in the Sembakounya Refugee Camp
called the Refugee All Stars. Members had left Sierra Leone in 1999.
Niles and White made a film of the group, which gained int’l
recognition and by 2006 organized a tour for the group in the US.
   (SFC, 7/13/06, p.E1)
2002Â Â Â Â Â Â Bill Sagan, a Minneapolis
entrepreneur, spent over $5 million to buy rock ‘n’ roll memorabilia
from the archives of Bill Graham Presents. The collection was later
found to contain audio and video recordings from 1966-1999.
   (WSJ, 12/13/05, p.B1)
2003Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 12, Maurice Gibb (53),
member of the Bee Gees musical group, died in Miami following
surgery for a blocked intestine. The group’s work included the 1977
"Saturday Night Fever" album.
   (SSFC, 1/12/03, p.A2)
2003Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 13, Rock musician Pete
Townshend was arrested in London on suspicion of possessing indecent
images of children. Townshend acknowledged using an Internet Web
site advertising child pornography, but said he was not a pedophile
and was only doing research for an autobiography dealing with his
own suspected childhood sexual abuse; he was eventually cleared of
possessing pornographic images of children.
   (AP, 1/13/08)
2003Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 3, Phil Spector (62),
rock-n-roll producer, was arrested in LA for murder after Lana
Clarkson (40) was found dead in his mansion.
   (SFC, 2/4/03, p.A1)
2003Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 18, Johnny
Paycheck (64), American country singer, died in Nashville, Tenn. In
1977 he had a big hit with the David Allan Coe song "Take This Job
and Shove It."
   (SFC, 2/20/03, A18)(AP, 2/18/04)
2003Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 20, In Rhode
Island The Station, a West Warwick nightclub, erupted in a raging
fire during a pyrotechnics display at a rock concert, 98 people were
killed and 200 others injured. Flammable soundproofing was later
blamed. In Feb, 2006, Dan Biechele, manager of the band, pleaded
guilty to 100 counts of manslaughter in exchange for up to 10 years
in prison. He was sentenced to 4 years in prison. In 2008
Anheuser-Busch and a Rhode Island beer distributor agreed to pay $21
million to settle lawsuits brought by survivors of the fire.
   (SFC, 2/22/03, A1)(WSJ, 3/3/03, p.A1)(SFC,
2/1/06, p.A3)(SFC, 5/11/06, p.A7)(SFC, 5/24/08, p.A3)
2003Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 23, In the 45th
US Grammy’s in NYC Norah Jones won 3 awards as did Bruce Springsteen
for his 9/11-inspired album "The Rising."
   (SFC, 2/24/03, p.D1)
2003Â Â Â Â Â Â Apr 22, Felice Bryant
(77), bluegrass song writer, died in Gatlinburg, Tenn. She and her
late husband wrote such tunes as "Bye Bye Love" and other Everly
Brothers hits and "Rocky Top" (1968).
   (SFC, 4/23/03, A21)(AP, 4/22/08)
2003Â Â Â Â Â Â May 15, June Carter Cash
(73), the Grammy-winning scion of one of country music's pioneering
families and the wife of Johnny Cash, died of complications from
heart surgery.
   (AP, 5/16/03)
2003Â Â Â Â Â Â May 24, The 48th edition
of the annual Eurovision Song Contest and took place in Riga,
Latvia. Turkey's pop divas Sertab Erener, came first in the contest
and the 2004 edition was then held in Istanbul.
  Â
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eurovision_Song_Contest_2003)(AFP,
8/4/18)
2003Â Â Â Â Â Â Jul 16, Celia Cruz (77),
Cuban-born Latin music singer, died in Fort Lee, NJ.
   (SFC, 7/17/03, p.A21)
2003Â Â Â Â Â Â Sep 7, Warren Zevon (56),
songwriter, died in West Hollywood. His work included the 1970s rock
hit "Werewolves of London."
   (AP, 9/8/03)(WSJ, 9/9/03, p.D6)
2003Â Â Â Â Â Â Sep 8, The Recording
Industry Association of America (RIAA), the music industry's largest
trade group, filed 261 copyright lawsuits across the country against
Internet users for trading songs online.
   (SFC, 9/9/03, p.A1)(AP, 9/8/08)
2003Â Â Â Â Â Â Sep 12, Johnny Cash (71),
singer, died. His rough, unsteady voice championed the downtrodden
and reached across generations with songs like "Ring of Fire," "I
Walk the Line" and "Folsom Prison Blues." In 2013 Robert Hilburn
authored “Johnny Cash: The Life.”
   (AP, 9/12/03)(SFC, 9/13/03, p.A12)(Econ,
11/23/13, p.83)
2003Â Â Â Â Â Â Sep 14, Lt. Gen. Ricardo
Sanchez, the US military commander in Iraq, authorized the use of
loud rock music, "to create fear, disorient ... and prolong capture
shock." The tactic became common in the US war on terror, with
forces systematically using loud music on hundreds of detainees in
Iraq, Afghanistan and Guantanamo Bay.
   (AP, 12/10/08)
2003Â Â Â Â Â Â Nov 5, Bobby Hatfield
(63), the tenor half of The Righteous Brothers, who made "You've
Lost That Lovin' Feeling" a worldwide hit, was found dead in a
Kalamazoo, Mich., hotel. An autopsy revealed that his death was
triggered by acute cocaine intoxication.
   (AP, 11/6/03)(SFC, 1/8/04, p.E5)
2003Â Â Â Â Â Â Nov 20, Michael Jackson
turned himself over to police in Santa Barbara, Ca., on an arrest
warrant alleging multiple counts of child molestation. He posted a
$3 million bail bond. Jackson was later acquitted at trial.
   (AP, 11/20/08)
2003Â Â Â Â Â Â Nov 21, Teddy Randazzo
(68), songwriter, died. His hits included "Goin' Out of My Head,"
"Hurt So Bad," and I'm On the Outside (Looking In)."
   (SSFC, 12/28/03, p.E10)
2003Â Â Â Â Â Â Dec 12, In London,
England, Mick Jagger (b.1943) of the Rolling Stones was knighted.
   (SFC, 12/13/03, p.A2)
2003Â Â Â Â Â Â Dec 18, Michael Jackson
was formally charged with child molesting and administering an
intoxicating agent.
   (WSJ, 12/19/03, p.A1)
2003Â Â Â Â Â Â Dec 21, Dave Dudley (75),
pioneer of truck-driving country songs, died. His hits included "Six
Days on the Road."
   (SSFC, 12/28/03, p.E10)
2003Â Â Â Â Â Â Anthony Bozza authored
"Whatever You Say I Am: The Life and Times of Eminem." Eminem, born
as Marshall Mathers (aka Slim Shady), shopped his 1st demo record in
1997.
   (WSJ, 10/30/03, p.W8)
2003Â Â Â Â Â Â Luke Crampton and Dafydd
Rees authored "Rock & Roll Year by Year."
   (SSFC, 11/16/03, BR p.10)
2003Â Â Â Â Â Â Arthur Kempton authored
"Boogaloo: The Quintessence of American Popular Music."
   (SSFC, 6/8/03, p.M6)
2003Â Â Â Â Â Â Gordon Sumner, better
known as Sting, authored "Broken Music: A Memoir."
   (Econ, 12/13/03, p.83)
2003Â Â Â Â Â Â Amy Winehouse (b.1983),
British pop singer, released her first album, “Frank.” Her 2nd
album, “Back to Black,” came out in 2006.
   (Econ, 7/30/11, p.53)
2004Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 21, The recording
industry sued 532 computer users it said were illegally distributing
songs over the Internet.
   (AP, 1/21/05)
2004Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 1, In Texas a breast
belonging to entertainer Janet Jackson escaped after singer Justin
Timberlake ripped off one of her chest plates during the halftime
Super Bowl performance in Houston. New England Patriots fans turned
rowdy after their team's 32-29 win over the Carolina Panthers.
   (AP, 2/1/04)(SFC, 2/2/04, p.A2)(Econ, 2/7/04,
p.55)
2004Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 15, The Rock and Roll
Hall of Fame inducted Prince, Bob Seger, Jackson Browne and George
Harrison along with ZZ Top, Traffic and the Dells.
   (SFC, 3/16/04, p.A2)
2004Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 26, Jan Berry (62),
pioneering California rock musician, died in LA. He rode the wave of
the surf music trend in the 1960s as one half of the popular duo Jan
& Dean.
   (Reuters, 3/28/04)
2004Â Â Â Â Â Â Jun 10, Ray Charles
(b.1930), rhythm ‘n’ blues piano player and singer best known for
"Hit the Road Jack" and "Georgia on My Mind," died in Beverly Hills.
   (USAT, 6/11/04, p.1A)
2004Â Â Â Â Â Â Aug 6, Rick James (56),
Funk legend born as James A. Johnson, died. He was best known for
the 1981 hit "Super Freak" before his career disintegrated amid drug
use and violence that sent him to prison.
   (AP, 8/6/04)(SFC, 8/7/04, p.B7)
2004Â Â Â Â Â Â Aug 26, Laura Branigan
(b.1952), a Grammy-nominated pop singer best known for her 1982
platinum hit "Gloria," died in East Quogue, N.Y.
   (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laura_Branigan)
2004Â Â Â Â Â Â Sep 15, Johnny Ramone
(55), guitarist and co-founder of the seminal punk band "The
Ramones," died of cancer in Los Angeles.
   (AP, 9/16/04)(Econ, 9/25/04, p.100)
2004Â Â Â Â Â Â Sep 22, The FCC fined CBS
$550,000 for Janet Jackson’s Feb 1 breast exposure.
   (SFC, 9/23/04, p.A7)
2004Â Â Â Â Â Â Nov 13, Russell Jones,
better know as rapper O.D.B. (old dirty bastard) died at age 35
inside a NYC recording studio.
   (SFC, 11/15/04, p.B3)
2004Â Â Â Â Â Â Nov 19, Terry Melcher
(62), record producer and son of Doris Day, died. He co-wrote the
Beach Boy song “Kokomo” and produced his mother’s “The Doris Day
Show” (1968-1972).
   (SSFC, 11/21/04,
p.A25)(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terry_Melcher)
2004Â Â Â Â Â Â Psy, a South Korean rapper
famous for " Gangnam Style," said American soldiers should be killed
"slowly and painfully" at a Seoul concert during the Iraq war. In
2012 he apologized for his words ahead of a holiday concert to be
attended by US President Obama and his family.
   (AP, 12/8/12)
2005Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 11, Spencer Dryden
(66), former drummer for the Jefferson Airplane (1967-1970), died in
Petaluma, Ca. Dryden also played with the Grateful Dead (1971-1978),
whose albums included “The Adventures of Panama Red” (1973).
   (SFC, 1/13/05, p.B6)
2005Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 8, Keith Knudsen (56),
Doobie Brothers drummer who was part of the band during a string of
hits that included "Taking it to the Streets" and "Black Water,"
died of pneumonia.
   (AP, 2/9/05)
2005Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 13, Ray Charles' final
album, "Genius Loves Company," won a leading eight Grammy awards,
including album of the year, record of the year for "Here We Go
Again" with Norah Jones, and pop vocal album.
   (AP, 2/14/05)
2005Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 2, Martin Denny,
creator of the tiki lounge music called “exotica,” died in Honolulu.
His 38 albums reflected a fusion of Asian, South Pacific, American
jazz , Latin American and classical music.
   (SFC, 3/8/05, p.B5)
2005Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 9, Chris LeDoux (56),
rodeo star and country singer, died in Wyoming from complications of
liver cancer.
   (SFC, 3/10/05, p.B7)
2005Â Â Â Â Â Â Apr 13, Johnie Johnson
(b.1924), pianist who worked with Chuck Berry, died in St. Louis.
Johnson had initially hired Berry as a replacement in his
rhythm-and-blues trio.
   (SFC, 4/16/05, p.B4)
2005Â Â Â Â Â Â Jun 22, Consuelo Velazquez
(b.1916), Mexican pianist and composer, died. Her music included
Besame Mucho, first recorded in 1941 by Emilio Tuero. It was the
romantic vision of a chaste, convent-educated teenager growing up in
1930s Mexico, and was inspired by the sight of a smooching couple in
the street.
  Â
(www.guardian.co.uk/news/2005/jan/26/guardianobituaries.artsobituaries1)
2005Â Â Â Â Â Â Jul 25, Sony BMG Music
Entertainment agreed to pay $10 million to non-profit entities and
to stop paying radio stations to feature its artists. A 1960 federal
law barred record companies from offering payola, undisclosed
financial incentives for airplay.
   (SFC, 7/26/05, p.D3)
2005Â Â Â Â Â Â Nov 5, Link Wray (b.1929),
North Carolina-born rock guitar master, died in Denmark. His hits
included the 1958 instrumental “Rumble” and 1959 “Rawhide.” Wray was
three-quarters Shawnee and was said to have inspired many other rock
musicians.
   (SFC, 11/22/05, p.B4)
2005Â Â Â Â Â Â Nov 22, Winners were
announced at the 33rd annual American Music Awards in LA. In the
Pop-Rock category winners included Male artist: Will Smith; Female
artist: Gwen Stefani; Band, duo or group: The Black Eyed Peas;
Album: "American Idiot," Green Day.
   (AP, 11/23/05)
2005Â Â Â Â Â Â Jammie Thomas-Rasset, a
single mother from Minnesota, was accused of sharing 24 songs using
KaZaA, an Internet file sharing program. In 2007 a jury ruled
against her and awarded record companies almost $10,000 per song in
statutory damages. She was found guilty again in a 2nd trial in 2009
in which the jury awarded damages of $80,000 per song.
   (Econ, 9/5/09, TQ p.4)
2006Â Â Â Â Â Â May 19, Freddie Garrity
(69), lead singer of the 1960s British pop band Freddie and the
Dreamers, died in Wales.
   (AP, 5/19/07)
2006Â Â Â Â Â Â Jun 2, Vince Welnick (55),
Grateful Dead pianist, died in California of apparent suicide. He
had taken over as the Grateful Dead's keyboard player in 1990 after
a succession of predecessors met untimely deaths.
   (Reuters, 6/4/06)(SSFC, 6/4/06, p.B6)
2006Â Â Â Â Â Â Jul 7, Syd Barrett (60), a
founding member of the rock group Pink Floyd, died at his home in
Cambridge, England. The band’s first album was “The Piper at the
Gates of Dawn.”
   (Reuters, 7/11/06)(SFC, 7/12/06, p.B7)(Econ,
7/22/06, p.83)
2006Â Â Â Â Â Â Aug 3, Arthur Lee (61),
rock pioneer, died in Memphis. He fronted the band Love and
established himself as the 1st black rock star in the post Beatle’s
era. The group’s debut album, “Love,” was the 1st rock record
released by Electra Records.
   (SSFC, 8/6/06, p.B6)
2006Â Â Â Â Â Â Sep 23, Etta Baker (93),
blues guitarist, died in Fairfax, Va. In 1991 she won a Folk
Heritage Fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts. Her
albums included a 2004 recording with Taj Mahal.
   (SFC, 9/26/06, p.D6)
2006Â Â Â Â Â Â Oct 14, Freddy Fender
(b.1937), Tex-Mex singer born as Baldemar Huerta, died in San
Benito, Texas. His hit songs included “Wasted Days and Wasted
Nights” and “Before the Next Teardrop Falls” (1975).
   (SFC, 10/16/06, p.B6)
2006Â Â Â Â Â Â Nov 20, Dirk Dirksen
(b.1937), the godfather of San Francisco punk rock, died. He moved
to SF in 1974 and soon began presenting late-night events at the
Mabuhay Gardens in North Beach, where punk rock found a home.
   (SFC, 11/22/06, p.B7)
2006Â Â Â Â Â Â Dec 14, Ahmet Ertegun
(83), the founder of Atlantic Records, died. He helped define
American music on the label that popularized the gritty R&B of
Ray Charles, the classic soul of Aretha Franklin and the British
rock of the Rolling Stones. In 2011 Robert Greenfield authored “The
Last Sultan: The Life and Times of Ahmet Ertegun.”
   (AP, 12/15/06)(SSFC, 11/27/11, p.F4)
2006Â Â Â Â Â Â Dec 25, James Brown
(b.1928), the dynamic "Godfather of Soul," died early Christmas day.
His revolutionary rhythms, rough voice and flashing footwork
influenced generations of musicians from rock to rap. His 1965 song
“I Got You (I Feel Good)” is considered one of the all-time greatest
in rock’s cannon. In 2021 his family reached a settlement over his
estate.
   (AP, 12/25/06)(SFC, 12/26/06, p.A7)(SSFC,
7/25/21, p.A6)
2006Â Â Â Â Â Â Dubstep was born out of
drum'n'bass and the 2-step UK garage movement which propelled Craig
David to fame. Pioneering producers Skream and Hatcha helped define
the early dubstep sound while working at the Big Apple Records
record shop in Croydon. In 2011 it dubstep completed its journey
from quirky curiosity to commercial success story earlier when DJ
Fresh's "Louder" hit the top of the UK singles chart.
   (AFP, 7/27/11)
2006Â Â Â Â Â Â British singer Amy
Winehouse (1983-2011) shot to fame with the album "Back to Black,"
whose blend of jazz, soul, rock and classic pop was a global hit. It
won five Grammys and made Winehouse, with her black beehive hairdo
and old-fashioned sailor tattoos, one of music's most recognizable
stars.
   (AP, 7/24/11)
2007Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 6, Pete Kleinow, film
effects artist and guitarist for the Flying Burrito Brothers, died
in Petaluma, Ca.
   (SFC, 1/16/07, p.B5)
2007Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 16 Pookie Hudson (72),
lead singer for the Spaniels doo-wop group, died in Capitol Heights,
Md.
   (AP, 1/16/08)
2007Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 19, Denny Doherty
(66), one-quarter of the 1960s folk-rock group the Mamas and the
Papas, died at his home in Ontario, Canada. The group was known for
their soaring harmony on hits like "California Dreamin’" (1966) and
"Monday, Monday."
   (AP, 1/19/07)
2007Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 2, Joe Hunter (79),
Motown’s first bandleader, died in Detroit, Mich.
   (SSFC, 2/4/07, p.B6)
2007Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 2, Billy Henderson
(67), singer in the band called the Spinners, died in Florida. His
songs included “I’ll Be Around” (1972) and other hits. The 5-member
band had formed in 1954 in Ferndale, Mich.
   (SSFC, 2/4/07, p.B6)
2007Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 2, Eric von Schmidt
(75), guitarist and painter, died in Connecticut. He was a mentor
for Bob Dylan, who wrote the liner notes for Schmidt’s 1969 album:
“Who Knocked the Brains Out of the Sky.”
   (SFC, 2/5/07, p.B4)
2007Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 15, Ray Evans
(b.1915), songwriter and longtime partner with Jay Livingston
(d.2001), died. Their songs included “Whatever Will be, Will Be (Que
Sera, Sera)” and “Mona Lisa,” as well as the themes for the TV
series “Bonanza” and “Mr. Ed.”
   (SSFC, 2/18/07, p.D7)
2007Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 6, In Ghana singer
Stevie Wonder introduced pianist Kofi Vordzorgbe (13) to dignitaries
celebrating 50 years of independence from British rule. Kofi was
later brought to San Francisco, Ca., to continue his music studies.
   (SFC, 6/6/09, p.E1)
2007Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 9, Brad Delp (55),
lead singer of the rock band Boston, died at his home in New
Hampshire. The group’s self-titled debut album in 1976 was one of
the fastest selling I rock history.
   (SSFC, 3/11/07, p.B6)
2007Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 12, R.E.M. and Van
Halen were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
   (AP, 3/12/08)
2007Â Â Â Â Â Â May 15, Kenny Chesney
collected his third consecutive entertainer of the year trophy from
the Academy of Country Music.
   (AP, 5/15/08)
2007Â Â Â Â Â Â Jun 18, Hank Medress (68),
singer, died in Manhattan of lung cancer. His vocals with the doo
wop group the Tokens helped propel their irrepressible single "The
Lion Sleeps Tonight" to the top of the charts in 1961. He also
produced hits with other groups.
   (AP, 6/23/07)
2007Â Â Â Â Â Â Jun 26, A CD of the
Russian National Orchestra performing Dead Symphony No. 6: An
Orchestral Tribute to the Grateful Dead, was released in the US. The
work was directed by composer Lee Johnson.
   (SFC, 6/27/07, p.E3)
2007Â Â Â Â Â Â Jun 29, George McCorkle
(60), a founding member of the Marshall Tucker Band, died.
   (AP, 6/29/08)
2007Â Â Â Â Â Â Jul 4, Bill Pinkney (81),
the last survivor of the original members of the musical group The
Drifters, died.
   (AP, 7/5/07)
2007Â Â Â Â Â Â Jul 6, Australia kicked
off a round-the-world series of Live Earth music concerts designed
to highlight climate change with a traditional Aboriginal welcome
ceremony. Former US vice-president Al Gore appeared on video screens
to launch the worldwide initiative.
   (AFP, 7/6/07)
2007Â Â Â Â Â Â Jul 7, The 24-hour Live
Earth music marathon reached the Western Hemisphere with rappers,
rockers and country stars taking the stage at Live Earth concerts to
fight climate change.
   (SSFC, 7/8/07, p.A4)(AP, 7/7/08)
2007Â Â Â Â Â Â Aug 1, Tommy Maken (74),
Irish-American folk musician who performed for years with the Clancy
Brothers, died in Dover, NH.
   (SFC, 8/4/07, p.B5)
2007Â Â Â Â Â Â Aug 4, Lee Hazlewood
(b.1929), songwriter, died in Henderson, Nev. His songs included
“These Boots Are Made for Walkin’,” sung by Nancy Sinatra in 1966.
   (SFC, 8/7/07,
p.D9)(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lee_Hazlewood)
2007Â Â Â Â Â Â Aug 25, SF held its 2nd
annual Jug Band Festival at the Golden Gate Park band shell.
   (eyewitness)
2007Â Â Â Â Â Â Aug 25, In Germany more
than 1 million revelers, many scantily dressed, danced their way
through the streets of Essen to sound of whistles blowing and techno
music for the Love Parade's debut in its new home, western Germany's
industrial Ruhr region.
   (AP, 8/25/07)
2007Â Â Â Â Â Â Sep 9, In the 2007 MTV
Music Video Awards the winners included: Video of the Year: Rihanna,
"Umbrella," featuring Jay-Z; Male Artist of the Year: Justin
Timberlake; Female Artist of the Year: Fergie. Britney Spears
performed her new single "Gimme More" in a much-criticized comeback
attempt at the event in Las Vegas.
   (AP, 9/10/07)(AP, 9/9/08)
2007Â Â Â Â Â Â Oct 18, Teenage pop star
Belinda (18), who starred in the Disney Channel's "Cheetah Girls 2,"
won the video of the year award at the MTV Video Music Awards Latin
America in Mexico City. The native of Madrid, Spain, who grew up in
Mexico, also won best solo artist.
   (AP, 10/19/07)
2007Â Â Â Â Â Â Oct 18, South African
reggae star Lucky Dube (43) was shot in an apparent carjacking
attempt in Johannesburg's southern Rosettenville suburb. He died as
he tried to drive away and crashed into a car and a tree. On Oct 21
police arrested five men in the killing. His albums included “Rastas
never Die” (1984) and “Slave” (1987). In 2009 three men were
sentenced to life in prison for the botched carjacking and murder.
   (AP, 10/19/07)(AP, 10/21/07)(Econ, 10/27/07,
p.102)(AP, 4/2/09)
2007      Oct 28,  Â
 Porter Wagoner (80), country singer, died. He was known for a
string of country hits in the '60s, perennial appearances at the
Grand Ole Opry in his trademark rhinestone suits, and for launching
the career of Dolly Parton. The Missouri-born Wagoner signed with
RCA Records in 1955 and joined the Opry in 1957. His syndicated TV
show, "The Porter Wagoner Show," ran for 21 years, beginning in
1960.
   (AP, 10/29/07)
2007      Oct 31,  Â
 Physicists at UC Berkeley said they had produced the world’s
smallest radio out of a single carbon nanotube, 10,000 times thinner
than human hair. They had it play “Layla” by Derek and the Dominos
and said it could also function as a transmitter.
   (SFC, 11/1/07, p.C1)
2007Â Â Â Â Â Â Nov 6, Hank Thompson (82),
country singer, died in Texas of lung cancer. Between 1948 and 1975
he had 29 songs in the top ten including “A Six Pack to Go” and “The
Wild Side of Life” (1952). Kitty Wells (b.1919) sang her 1952 Honky
Tonk Angels song, which was written by J.D. Miller in response to
Thompson’s Wild Side of Life.
   (SFC, 11/9/07, p.B7)
2007Â Â Â Â Â Â Nov 7, Kenny Chesney won
as entertainer of the year and Carrie Underwood won as best female
vocalist at the annual Country Music Association Awards in
Nashville.
   (SFC, 11/8/07, p.A2)
2007Â Â Â Â Â Â Nov 8, Dominican
singer-songwriter Juan Luis Guerra swept the Latin Grammy Awards,
taking home five musical honors including album of the year, record
of the year and song of the year.
   (AP, 11/8/08)
2007Â Â Â Â Â Â Nov 18, MTV Arabia, an
Arab version of the pop-culture channel, began broadcasting from
Dubai.
   (AP, 11/18/08)(www.freemuse.org/sw29678.asp)
2007Â Â Â Â Â Â Nov 25, Kevin Dubrow (52),
lead singer for the 1980s heavy metal band Quiet Riot, died in Las
Vegas from an accidental cocaine overdose.
   (AP, 12/11/07)
2007Â Â Â Â Â Â Dec 2, In Mexico Sergio
Gomez, lead performer for the top-selling group K-Paz de la Sierra,
was abducted, tortured and strangled to death. His body was found
the next day. A day earlier Zayda Pena of the group Zayda and the
Guilty Ones was killed execution-style at the hospital where she was
recovering from neck surgery for a shooting on Nov 30, in which 2
other people were killed. Fears rose that singers, whether
they have any links to drug cartels or not, get routinely "adopted"
by drug gangs, which post Internet videos showing their members
torturing and executing rivals to soundtracks of popular tunes.
   (AP, 12/5/07)(SFC, 12/5/07, p.E3)
2007Â Â Â Â Â Â Dec 4, Pimp C (33), born
as Chad Butler, was found dead in an upscale hotel in Los Angeles.
He had spun searing tales of Texas street life into a key role in
the rise of Southern hip-hop.
   (AP, 12/5/07)
2007Â Â Â Â Â Â Dec 10, In London Led
Zeppelin performed their first full concert in nearly three decades.
Three surviving members, singer Robert Plant, guitarist Jimmy Page
and bassist-keyboardist John Paul Jones, were joined by the late
John Bonham's son Jason on drums.
   (AP, 12/11/07)
2007Â Â Â Â Â Â Dec 10, American blues
guitarist "Philadelphia" Jerry Ricks (67), who mastered the sound of
the 1930s' Delta Blues, died in a clinic in Croatia.
   (AP, 12/10/07)
2007Â Â Â Â Â Â Dec 12, Ike Turner
(b.1931), R&B pioneer and former husband of Tina Turner, died
due to a cocaine overdose at his home outside San Diego. He presided
over the 1951 recording of “Rocket 88,” frequently cited as the
first rock ’n’ roll record. In 1966 Phil Spector produced “River
Deep – Mountain High” with Ike and Tina. The pair split in 1976. In
1989 Ike went to prison on drug charges and was still there when he
was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1991.
   (SFC, 12/13/07, p.B5)(Econ, 12/22/07, p.142)(SFC,
1/17/08, p.A7)
2007Â Â Â Â Â Â Dec 16, Dan Fogelberg
(56), the singer and songwriter, died at his home in Maine after
battling prostate cancer. His hits "Leader of the Band" and "Same
Old Lang Syne" helped define the soft-rock era.
   (AP, 12/17/07)
2007Â Â Â Â Â Â Dec 20, Lydia Mendoza
(91), a pioneer of Mexican American music, died in San Antonio,
Texas.
   (SFC, 12/31/07, p.B7)
2007Â Â Â Â Â Â Mick Brown authored
“Tearing Down the Wall of Sound: The Rise and Fall of Phil Spector.
Spector was arrested in 2003 for the murder of actress Lana
Clarkson.
   (SFC, 6/27/07, p.E1)
2007Â Â Â Â Â Â Wilfrid Sheed authored
“The House That George Built: With a Little Help from Irving, Cole,
and a Crew of About Fifty,” a look back at the top tunesmiths of Tin
Pan Alley, Broadway and Hollywood.
   (WSJ, 6/30/07, p.P6)
2007Â Â Â Â Â Â MTV India, launched in
1996, came to America.
   (Econ, 1/2/10,
p.46)(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MTV_India)
2008Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 4, Mort Garson
(b.1983), Canadian-born composer and arranger, died in SF. He
co-wrote the 1963 hit “Our Day Will Come,” performed by Ruby and the
Romantics. He also fused the Moog synthesizer with orchestral music
and composed music that was used by CBS-TV in 1969 in film footage
of NASA spaceflights as Neil Armstrong stepped on the moon.
   (SFC, 1/16/08, p.B9)
2008Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 19, John Stewart (68),
singer and songwriter, died in San Diego. He wrote the Monkees' hit
"Daydream Believer" and became a well-known figure in the 1960s folk
music revival as a member of The Kingston Trio.
   (AP, 1/20/08)
2008Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 19, Andy Palacio (47),
Belize musician, died in Belize City. His 2007 album “Watina” was
acclaimed as one of the best world music releases of the year.
   (SFC, 1/22/08, p.B5)
2008Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 4, Tata Guines
(b.1930), Cuban conga drummer, died. His six decade career helped
popularize Afro-Cuban rhythms worldwide.
   (AP, 2/5/08)
2008Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 9, A stampede at an
Indonesian punk rock concert left 10 people dead and dozens more
injured, most of them teenagers.
   (AP, 2/10/08)
2008Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 10, In the Grammy
Awards Amy Winehouse won five of the six awards for which she was
nominated. Album of the Year went to jazzman Herbie Hancock for his
Joni Mitchell tribute album. Barack Obama won best spoken word album
for the audio version of his book "The Audacity Of Hope: Thoughts On
Reclaiming The American Dream."
   (AP, 2/11/08)
2008Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 26, Buddy Miles (60),
former drummer with Jimi Hendrix, Carlos Santana and other popular
rock musicians, died in Texas. Over his career he appeared in over
70 albums.
   (SFC, 2/29/08, p.A2)
2008Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 15, Vytautas Kernagis
(57), popular Lithuanian singer, died of cancer.
   (www.lzinios.lt/lt/2008-03-17.html)
2008Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 16, Ola Brunkert (62),
a former drummer for 1970s Swedish pop group ABBA, was found dead
after an apparent accident in his house in Mallorca. He first played
with ABBA on the group's first single, "People Need Love," and
toured with the band in 1977, 1979 and 1980.
   (AP, 3/17/08)
2008Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 22, Israel Lopez,
Cuban bassist and composer known as “Cachao,” died in Miami. He is
credited with pioneering the mambo style of music (1937). In 1993
Andy Garcia, a Cuban American actor, made a documentary of Cachao’s
career.
   (SSFC, 3/23/08, p.A2)
2008Â Â Â Â Â Â Apr 17, Danny Federici
(58), the longtime keyboard player for Bruce Springsteen, died. His
stylish work helped define the E Street Band's sound on hits from
"Hungry Heart" through "The Rising."
   (AP, 4/18/08)
2008Â Â Â Â Â Â May 8, Eddy Arnold,
country singer, died, days short of his 90th birthday. His mellow
baritone on songs like "Make the World Go Away" made him one of the
most successful country singers in history.
   (AP, 5/8/08)
2008Â Â Â Â Â Â May 23, Utah Phillips
(b.1935), a seminal figure in American folk music, died of
congestive heart failure in Nevada City, California. Born Bruce
Duncan Phillips in Cleveland, Ohio, he had performed extensively and
tirelessly for audiences on two continents for 38 years.
   (www.utahphillips.org/)
2008Â Â Â Â Â Â May 24, Russia won the
Eurovision song contest in Belgrade with "Believe", sung by Dima
Bilan, giving an eastern European nation victory for the third time
in five years.
   (AFP, 5/25/08)
2008Â Â Â Â Â Â Jun 2, Bo Didley (b.1928),
rhythm and blues pioneer, died in Florida. He had been born as Ellas
Bates in McComb, Mississippi. His 1955 debut recording of “Bo
Didley” landed him a spot on the Ed Sullivan Show.
   (SFC, 6/3/08, p.B5)
2008Â Â Â Â Â Â Jun 29, Britain’s
Glastonbury music festival, begun in 1970, wrapped up with a double
bill of golden oldies following controversy over its first ever
hip-hop headliner, Jay-Z, and troubled star Amy Winehouse.
   (AFP, 6/29/08)
2008Â Â Â Â Â Â Jul 19, In Germany more
than 1.5 million revelers danced through the streets of Dortmund at
the annual Love Parade techno music festival.
   (AP, 7/19/08)
2008Â Â Â Â Â Â Jul 28, Lebanese singer
Suzanne Tamim (30) was found stabbed and her throat slashed in
Dubai. On August 8 Egypt banned news coverage of the brutal slaying
following media reports in other papers that said a wealthy Egyptian
businessman ordered 3 men to carry out the killing. On Sep 2 Hisham
Talaat Moustafa, an Egyptian lawmaker and business tycoon, was
arrested in the death Tamim. He was accused of paying a former
police officer $2 million to kill her. On May 21, 2009, Moustafa was
sentenced to death for ordering Tamim’s death. Former officer,
Mohsen el-Sukkary, was also convicted and sentenced to death.
   (AP,
8/13/08)(www.allaboutjazz.com/php/news.php?id=21342)(AP, 9/2/08)(AP,
5/21/09)
2008Â Â Â Â Â Â Aug 3, Lou Teicher
(b.1924), pianist, died in North Carolina. He was half of the
popular piano duo Ferrante & Teicher whose movie themes and love
songs earned them wide popularity in the 1960s. Together they
recorded some 150 albums.
   (SFC, 8/7/08, p.B5)
2008Â Â Â Â Â Â Aug 10, Isaac Hayes
(b.1942), singer, died in Memphis. The baldheaded, baritone-voiced
soul crooner laid the groundwork for disco. His 1971 "Theme From
Shaft" won both Academy and Grammy awards.
   (AP, 8/11/08)
2008Â Â Â Â Â Â Aug 11, Don Helms (81),
steel guitarist, died in Nashville. Helms had played on over 100
Hank Williams songs.
   (SSFC, 8/17/08, p.B4)
2008Â Â Â Â Â Â Aug 16, Dorival Caymmi
(b.1914), Brazilian composer, died. He had composed over 100 songs
and catapulted to fame when Carmen Miranda performed one of his
songs in 1938.
   (AP, 8/17/08)
2008Â Â Â Â Â Â Aug 19, LeRoi Moore (46),
versatile saxophonist, died of complications from injuries he
suffered in an all-terrain vehicle accident. His signature staccato
fused jazz and funk overtones onto the eclectic sound of the Dave
Matthews Band.
   (AP, 8/20/08)
2008Â Â Â Â Â Â Aug 19, Vietnamese
authorities freed British glam rocker Paul Gadd, aka Gary Glitter,
after nearly three years in prison on child molestation charges,
then moved immediately to deport him.
   (AP, 8/19/08)(Econ, 8/36/08, p.36)
2008Â Â Â Â Â Â Sep 1, Jerry Reed (71), US
singer and actor, died of complications from emphysema. He became a
good ol' boy actor in car chase movies like "Smokey and the Bandit."
   (AP, 9/2/08)
2008Â Â Â Â Â Â Sep 7, At the MTV Video
Music Awards on the show's 25th anniversary, the network threw its
full support behind Britney Spears' comeback. Spears won a leading
three awards, including video of the year for "Piece of Me."
   (AP, 9/8/08)
2008Â Â Â Â Â Â Sep 10, Ruedi Rymann (75),
a farmer and cheesemaker and renowned yodeler, died at his home in
Giswil, Switzerland. In 2007 Viewers of a Swiss television series
devoted to popular national music voted Rymann’s “Dr Schacher
Seppli” as the greatest Swiss hit of all.
   (SFC, 10/9/08,
p.B8)(www.youtube.com/watch?v=fmsy6wA-T0o)
2008Â Â Â Â Â Â Sep 15, Richard Wright
(65), a founding member of the rock group Pink Floyd, died. Pink
Floyd's spokesman, Doug Wright, who is not related to the artist,
said Wright died after a battle with cancer at his home in Britain.
The band released a series of commercially and critically successful
albums including 1973's "Dark Side of the Moon," which has sold more
than 40 million copies.
   (AP, 9/16/08)
2008Â Â Â Â Â Â Sep 19, Former Blink-182
drummer Travis Barker and celebrity DJ AM were critically injured in
a fiery Learjet crash in South Carolina that killed four people just
before midnight.
   (AP, 9/20/08)
2008Â Â Â Â Â Â Sep 22, It was reported
that SanDisk, a maker of flash memory, was teaming with 4 top music
labels to roll out a new music medium based on its microSD cards,
which would feature pre-loaded albums and additional content and
compete with the declining CD market.
   (SFC, 9/22/08, p.D1)
2008Â Â Â Â Â Â Oct 17, Levi Stubbs (72),
Four Tops frontman, died. His dynamic and emotive voice drove such
Motown classics as "Reach Out (I'll Be There)" and "Baby I Need Your
Loving."
   (AP, 10/17/08)
2008Â Â Â Â Â Â Oct 19, Hal Kant (b.1931),
lawyer for the Grateful Dead (1971-2001), died in Reno, Nev. He led
the Grateful Dead to incorporate, making it one of the first rock
bands to offer health benefits and pensions.
   (WSJ, 10/25/08, p.A4)
2008Â Â Â Â Â Â Oct 19, Dee Dee Warwick
(63), a soul singer who won recognition for both her solo work and
her performances with her older sister Dionne Warwick, died in New
Jersey.
   (AP, 10/20/08)
2008Â Â Â Â Â Â Oct 25, Muslim Magomayev
(66), an Azeri-born Soviet-era opera and pop singer, died in Moscow.
His fame was at its peak in the 1960s and 70s.
   (AP, 10/25/08)
2008Â Â Â Â Â Â Nov 10, Miriam Makeba
(b.1932), the South African folk singer and anti-apartheid activist
fondly known as "Mama Africa," died in southern Italy after
performing at a concert against organized crime.
   (AP, 11/10/08)(SFC, 11/11/08, p.B5)
2008Â Â Â Â Â Â Nov 12, Mitch Mitchell
(61), English drummer for the legendary Jimi Hendrix Experience of
the 1960s and the group's last surviving member, was found dead in
his hotel room in Portland, Oregon, the last stop on the West Coast
part of a tour.
   (AP, 11/13/08)(SFC, 11/13/08, p.B4)
2008Â Â Â Â Â Â Nov 17, Guy Peellaert
(b.1934), Belgian painter and collagist, died. His work included the
book “Rock Dreams” (1974), published in collaboration with British
rock journalist Nik Cohn.
   (SSFC, 11/23/08, p.B8)
2008Â Â Â Â Â Â Nov 22, In Abuja, Nigeria,
MTV launched its first-ever music award program for Africa, with
acts from across the world's poorest continent nominated for prizes
in the capital.
   (AP, 11/22/08)
2008Â Â Â Â Â Â Dec 2, Odetta Holmes
(b.1930), African-American folk singer, died. Her fame peaked in
1963 when she marched with martin Luther King and performed for
Pres. Kennedy.
   (SFC, 12/3/08, p.A4)
2008Â Â Â Â Â Â Dec 15, A spokeswoman in
London said Madonna has settled her divorce with ex-husband Guy
Ritchie by parting with at least 50 million pounds ($76 million).
   (AP, 12/16/08)
2008Â Â Â Â Â Â Dec 28, Delaney Bramlett
(b.1939), singer, song writer and producer, died in Los Angeles. His
songs included “Let It Rain” (1969), which he wrote with Bonnie
Bramlett and Eric Clapton.
   (SFC, 1/1/09,
p.B5)(www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=1360)
2009Â Â Â Â Â Â Jun 13, The Detroit-area
band Champagne Saints, comprised of Marius Polikaitis, Saulius
Polteraitis, Jide Mbanefo, Paul Juska and Tadas Kasputis, held a CD
release party for Throwing Hail Marys at the Pike Room at the
Crofoot in Pontiac. Their 2nd album “Sparkle, Darker” came out in
2012.
  Â
(http://voices.yahoo.com/champagne-saints-throw-cd-release-party-3498131.html)
2009Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 28, Billy Powell (56),
Lynyrd Skynyrd keyboard player, died in Florida. He played on such
hits as "Sweet Home Alabama" and survived the Oct 20, 1977, plane
crash that killed three band members.
   (AP, 1/29/09)
2009Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 7, Molly Bee (1939),
country singer and TV and film star, died in San Diego County. Her
recordings included “I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus” (1952). She
worked on TV’s Pinky Lee Show and in the films “Chartroose Caboose”
(1960) and “The Young Swingers” (1963).
   (SFC, 2/12/09, p.B4)
2009Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 8, Coldplay’s “Viva la
Vida” won the Grammy for song of the year. Robert Plant and Alison
Krauss' unorthodox partnership yielded rich rewards on Grammy night,
as the pair nabbed five awards for their haunting "Raising Sand,"
including record and album of the year honors.
   (WSJ, 2/9/09, p.A1)(AP, 2/9/09)
2009Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 9, In Cuba Orlando
"Cachaito" Lopez (b.1933), considered the "heartbeat" of Cuba's
legendary Buena Vista Social Club for his internationally acclaimed
bass playing, died of complications from prostate surgery.
   (AP, 2/9/09)
2009Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 11, Estelle Bennett
(67), one of the Ronettes, was found dead at her home in Englewood,
N.J. She was part of the singing trio whose 1963 hit "Be My Baby"
epitomized the famed "wall of sound" technique of its producer, Phil
Spector.
   (AP, 2/13/09)
2009Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 21, A South Korean
housewife broke a world record in marathon singing after crooning
for more than 76 hours without stopping at a Seoul karaoke bar.
   (AFP, 2/21/09)
2009      Mar 8,  Â
Country singer Hank Lochlin (b.1918) died at his home in Brewston,
Alabama. His 70 charted singles included “Send Me the Pillow You
Dream On” (1949 & 1958) and “Please Help Me, I’m Falling”
(1960).
   (SFC, 3/12/09, p.B6)
2009Â Â Â Â Â Â Apr 13, In California a
jury found Phil Spector (69), former rock-n-roll producer, guilty of
second-degree murder in the 2003 shooting death of actress Lana
Clarkson (40).
   (AP, 4/14/09)
2009Â Â Â Â Â Â May 16, Norway’s
fiddle-wielding Alexander Rybak (23), dubbed 'Alexander the Great'
by Norwegian media, won a landslide victory in the Eurovision Song
Contest in Moscow for his song "Fairytale," gaining the most points
in Eurovision's 53-year history.
   (AP, 5/17/09)
2009Â Â Â Â Â Â May 29, Phil Spector (69),
former music producer, was sentenced in Los Angeles to 10 years to
life in prison for the 2003 murder of actress Lana Clarkson.
   (SFC, 5/30/09, p.A4)
2009Â Â Â Â Â Â May 30, Susan Boyle (48),
Scottish singing sensation, was been beaten in the televised finals
of "Britain's Got Talent," by the street dance group "Diversity,"
who jumped, kicked and shook their way to victory against her.
"Diversity" mesmerized audiences with a frenetic but perfectly
choreographed dance routine.
   (AP, 5/31/09)
2009Â Â Â Â Â Â Jun 15, Virgin Media, the
cable TV operator owned by entrepreneur Richard Branson, launched a
new kind of music download subscription service with Universal, the
world's largest music company.
   (AP, 6/15/09)
2009Â Â Â Â Â Â Jun 18, Ali Akbar Khan
(87), Indian-born master of the 25-string Sarod, died at his home in
San Anselmo, Ca.
   (SFC, 6/20/09, p.B3)
2009Â Â Â Â Â Â Jun 25, Michael Jackson
(b.1958), pop superstar, died at age 50 in Los Angeles. His 1982
album, "Thriller," is the best-selling album of all time, with an
estimated 50 million copies sold worldwide. Jackson was awash in
about $400 million in debt and on the cusp of a final comeback after
well over a decade of scandal. On Aug 28 the office of the LA
coroner confirmed that Jackson’s death was ruled a homicide caused
by a mixture of propofol and lorazepam administered by Dr. Conrad
Murray.
   (AP, 6/26/09)(SFC, 6/26/09, p.A11)(SFC, 8/29/09,
p.A5)
2009Â Â Â Â Â Â Jul 4, Drake Levin
(b.1946), blues guitarist and former lead guitarist for Paul Revere
and the Raiders, died of cancer in SF.
   (SFC, 7/17/09, p.D5)
2009Â Â Â Â Â Â Jul 31, A jury ordered
Joel Tenenbaum (b.1983), a student at Boston Univ., to pay damages
of $675,000 for sharing 30 songs over the Internet.
   (Econ, 9/5/09, TQ
p.4)(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joel_Tenenbaum)
2009Â Â Â Â Â Â Aug 1, In Canada a fierce
thunderstorm caused an outdoor stage to collapse at the Big Valley
Jamboree in Camrose, a country music festival in central Alberta.
One person was killed and up to 40 others injured.
   (AP, 8/2/09)
2009Â Â Â Â Â Â Aug 13, Legendary
guitarist and inventor Les Paul (94), who pioneered the design of
solid body Gibson electric guitars that bore his name, died at a New
York hospital of complications from pneumonia. Paul was born as
Lester William Polsfuss in Waukesha, Wisconsin, on June 9, 1915. He
created one of the first solid-body electric guitars in 1941, but it
took nearly 10 years before he, working with Gibson Guitar Corp.,
perfected it.
   (Reuters, 8/13/09)
2009Â Â Â Â Â Â Aug 26, Ellie Greenwich
(b.1940), songwriter, died. Her string of hits in the 1960s included
“Da Doo Ron Ron” (1963), “Chapel of Love” (1964) and “Be My Baby”
(1963). Many of her songs were done in collaboration with producer
Phil Spector and her husband Jeff Barry.
   (SFC, 8/28/09, p.D5)
2009Â Â Â Â Â Â Aug 26, In Bucharest,
Romania, fans at first politely applauded the Roma performers
sharing a stage with Madonna. Then the pop star condemned widespread
discrimination against Roma, or Gypsies, and the cheers gave way to
jeers. Official Romanian data put the local Roma population at
500,000.
   (AP, 8/27/09)
2009Â Â Â Â Â Â Sep 11, Jim Carrol (60),
poet, addict and author, died in Manhattan following a heart attack.
His books included “Basketball Diaries” (1978), which was turned
into a 1995 movie. His 1980 song “People who Died” became a punk
classic.
   (SFC, 9/16/09, p.D5)
2009Â Â Â Â Â Â Sep 20, Cubans in their
multitudes flocked to sprawling Revolution Plaza for a massive
open-air "peace concert" headlined by Colombian rocker Juanes, an
event criticized by some Cuban-Americans who say the performers are
lending support to the island's communist government simply by
showing up.
   (AP, 9/20/09)
2009Â Â Â Â Â Â Sep 21, Coca Cola chose
the hip-hop song “Wavin’ Flag” by Somali-born singer K’naan (31) as
the anthem for the coming World Cup in South Africa. Born Keynaan
Warsame in Somalia’s seaside capital, Mogadishu, he is now a citizen
of Canada.
  Â
(www.thecoca-colacompany.com/presscenter/nr_20090921_fifa_world_cup.html)
2009Â Â Â Â Â Â Oct 2, In San Francisco
the Hardly Strictly Bluegrass 9 free music festival, financed by
investment banker Warren Hellman. The 3 day event drew some 750,000
people.
   (SSFC, 10/4/09, p.C2)(SFC, 10/6/09, p.C2)
2009Â Â Â Â Â Â Oct 4, Mercedes Sosa (74),
Argentine singer, died. Her music was banned after the generals
seized power in 1976. She had released over 70 albums and turned the
songs of others into great anthems of the left.
   (Econ, 10/10/09, p.42)
2009Â Â Â Â Â Â Oct 10, Stephen Gately
(33), a singer with the Irish boy band Boyzone, died while visiting
Spain’s island of Mallorca. He made headlines a decade ago when he
came out as gay. An autopsy revealed that he died of excess fluid in
his lungs due to acute pulmonary edema.
   (AP, 10/11/09)(AFP, 10/13/09)
2009Â Â Â Â Â Â Oct 27, Four months after
Michael Jackson's death, red carpets were rolled out for 18
simultaneous screenings on five continents for "This Is It," culled
from more than 100 hours of footage taken from rehearsals for the
pop icon's comeback.
   (AFP, 10/28/09)
2009Â Â Â Â Â Â Oct 30, Norton Buffalo
(58), harmonica virtuoso and long time member of the Steve Miller
Band, died of cancer in Paradise, Ca.
   (SFC, 11/2/09, p.C1)
2009Â Â Â Â Â Â Nov 22, Country crossover
star Taylor Swift overshadowed the late Michael Jackson at the
American Music Awards, winning five prizes including artist of the
year.
   (AP, 11/23/09)
2009Â Â Â Â Â Â Nov 27, Bess. L. Hawes
(b.1921), co-writer of the political whimsical hit “Charlie on the
MTA’’ (1948), died in Portland, Ore. The song became a big hit for
the Kingston Trio in 1959.
  Â
(http://tinyurl.com/ygtrqh8)(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bess_Lomax_Hawes)
2009Â Â Â Â Â Â Dec 7, Rick Hendricks
(54), SF-based composer and steel guitar player, passed away of
brain cancer as a huge gathering of the musical cohorts and many
friends assembled at the Amnesia club, San Francisco's home of
bluegrass and roots music, on Valencia Street.
  Â
(www.cbaontheweb.org/read.asp?messageid=39821&search)
2009Â Â Â Â Â Â Dec 25, Vic Chestnutt
(b.1964), singer and songwriter, died in Athens, Georgia, following
an intentional overdose. He had been paralyzed in a 1983 car
accident, but retained limited use of his arms and hands.
   (SSFC, 12/27/09, p.C8)
2009Â Â Â Â Â Â Jack Boulware and Silke
Tudor authored “Gimme Something Better: The Profound, Progressive,
and Occasionally Pointless History of Bay Area Punk From Dead
Kennedys to green Day.”
   (SSFC, 9/27/09, Books p.F1)
2009Â Â Â Â Â Â Barney Hoskyns, British
music writer, authored “Lowside of the Road: A Life of Tom Waits.”
   (SSFC, 5/31/09, p.J4)
2009Â Â Â Â Â Â In Kinshasa, Congo, the
music group Staff Benda Bilili, all victims of polio, released their
first album entitled “Tres, Tres Fort.”
   (Econ, 10/3/09,
p.60)(www.crammed.be/staffbendabilili/)
2010Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 13, R&B singer
Teddy Pendergrass (b.1950) died of colon cancer in suburban
Philadelphia. He was one of the most electric and successful figures
in music until a 1982 car crash left him in a wheelchair.
   (AP, 1/14/10)
2010Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 18, Kate McGarrigle
(63), Canadian folk singer, died of cancer at her home in Montreal.
She performed with her sister Anna as the McGarrigle Sisters. Their
songs included “Heart Like a Wheel.”
   (SFC, 1/20/10, p.C7)
2010Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 31, Beyonce, pop's
reigning diva, earned six Grammys, more than any woman on a single
night of the 52-year-old awards show. Taylor Swift won four Grammys.
   (AP, 2/1/10)
2010Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 14, Doug Fieger (57),
leader of the power pop band The Knack, died in southern California.
He sang on the 1979 hit "My Sharona." Fieger, a Detroit-area native,
formed The Knack in Los Angeles in 1978.
   (AP, 2/15/10)
2010Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 17, Alex Chilton (59),
singer and guitarist, died in New Orleans. His song “The Letter”
(“Gimme a ticket for an airplane…”) reached the top of the charts in
1967.
   (SFC, 3/19/10, p.C5)
2010Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 23, Jim Marshall
(b.1936), legendary rock and roll photographer, died in a NYC hotel.
   (SFC, 3/25/10, p.A1)
2010Â Â Â Â Â Â Apr 8, Malcolm McLaren
(64), the former British manager of the Sex Pistols, died in
Switzerland. McLaren was a seminal figure of the punk rock era.
   (SFC, 4/9/10, p.C7)
2010Â Â Â Â Â Â Apr 13, Somali radio
stations stopped playing music after hardline militants called it
un-Islamic and ordered stations to take songs off the air. Somalis
in Mogadishu could still listen to music on two stations: one that
the government controls and another funded by the UN.
   (AP, 4/13/10)
2010Â Â Â Â Â Â Apr 20, Two Somali radio
stations said the government has ordered them to close for obeying a
week-old order by an Islamic militant group to stop playing music.
Officials at Somaliweyn and Tusmo radio stations said they won't
obey the government order to resume playing music and shut down.
   (AP, 4/20/10)
2010Â Â Â Â Â Â May 7, Dave Fisher
(b.1940), lead singer for the Highwaymen folk group, died at his
home in Rye, NY. In 1958 Fisher connected with Bob Burnett, Steve
Butts, Chan Daniels and Steve Trott, at Wesleyan Univ. in
Connecticut to form the Clansmen, a name they picked for the Irish
and Scottish folk music influences they drew upon. As soon as their
music started to build a following in the Northeast, their manager
came up with the name the Highwaymen, a nod to the early 20th
century poem by Alfred Noyes. Their hit songs included “Michael”
(1961), “Cotton Fields” (1962), written by blues musician Huddie
Ledbetter, and its reverse side “The Gypsy Rover.” The group
disbanded in 1964.
  Â
(www.nytimes.com/2010/05/13/arts/music/13fisher.html)
2010Â Â Â Â Â Â May 29, The 55th annual
Eurovision song competition was expected to be watched by more than
120 million viewers in 39 European countries as well as in Burma,
Australia and New Zealand. Norway's public broadcaster NRK spent 200
million kroner (25 million euros, 30 million dollars) to host the
show.
   (AFP, 5/29/10)
2010Â Â Â Â Â Â Jul 10, In Jamaica Sugar
Minott (b.1956), a smooth-voiced singer and producer who helped to
popularize reggae music, died.
   (AP, 7/11/10)
2010Â Â Â Â Â Â Aug 3, Time magazine
reported on that Haitian-American music star Wyclef Jean (37) will
announce his bid for president of earthquake-ravaged Haiti this
week. A three-time Grammy award-winner, Jean was a founding member
of the hip-hop trio The Fugees and won wider fame for his
collaboration with Colombian pop star Shakira. He released a song
two years ago called "If I Was President". Haiti’s ruling Unity
party nominated ousted ex-Prime Minister Jacques-Edouard Alexis to
lead the earthquake-ravaged nation.
   (Reuters, 8/4/10)(AP, 8/4/10)
2010Â Â Â Â Â Â Aug 20, Charles Haddon,
the lead singer of the British electro-pop group Ou Est Le Swimming
Pool, committed suicide after performing at a rock festival in
Belgium.
   (AFP, 8/21/10)
2010Â Â Â Â Â Â Aug 20, Singer Wyclef
Jean's high-profile bid for Haiti's presidency ended after election
officials on the earthquake-ravaged Caribbean nation disqualified
his candidacy. The singer has not lived in Haiti for the past five
years as required.
   (AP, 8/21/10)
2010Â Â Â Â Â Â Aug 26, In Germany Nadja
Benaissa (28), a member of girl group No Angels, broke down in tears
after a German court handed her a two-year suspended sentence for
infecting a former sex partner with the AIDS HIV virus.
   (AFP, 8/26/10)
2010Â Â Â Â Â Â Sep 3, In southern England
cellist Mike Edwards (62), a founding member of the Electric Light
Orchestra (ELO) band, died after the 600 kg (1,323 lb) bale rolled
down a steep field in Devon, smashed through a hedge and careered on
to the road.
   (Reuters, 9/7/10)
2010Â Â Â Â Â Â Sep 1, Apple CEO Steve
Jobs introduced Ping as the social network of music.
   (SFC, 11/12/10,
p.D1)(http://venturebeat.com/tag/ping/)
2010Â Â Â Â Â Â Sep 1, In Senegal
Television Futurs Medias (TFM), run by pop star Youssou N’dour (50),
began broadcasting but only in Dakar and its immediate suburbs. Its
government license, issued earlier this year, limited it to cultural
programming and forbade the station from doing newscasts. A request
to broadcast to the rest of the country has so far been denied.
   (AP, 9/9/10)(http://tinyurl.com/2eh5yhm)
2010Â Â Â Â Â Â Sep 12, The 2010 MTV Video
Music Awards were presented in Los Angeles.
   (AP, 9/13/10)
2010Â Â Â Â Â Â Oct 8, Albertina Walker
(81), Grammy-winning gospel vocalist, died in Chicago.
   (SSFC, 10/10/10, p.C9)
2010Â Â Â Â Â Â Oct 10, Solomon Burke
(b.1940), the larger-than-life "King of Rock and Soul," died at
Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport. The Philadelphia-born singer was
revered as one of music's greatest vocalists but never reached the
level of fame of those he influenced. He joined Atlantic in 1960 and
went on to record a string of hits in a decade with the label. He
wrote "Everybody Needs Somebody to Love" in 1964 and it was later
featured in the Dan Aykroyd and John Belushi movie "The Blues
Brothers."
   (AP, 10/10/10)
2010Â Â Â Â Â Â Oct 24, Lady Gaga became
the first singer to reach 1 billion hits on YouTube.
   (SSFC, 12/12/10, Par p.9)
2010Â Â Â Â Â Â Nov 10, Miranda Lambert
won three CMA awards, including the coveted album of the year,
celebrating her 27th birthday by leading a sea change in country
music that also included two wins for her fiance, Blake Shelton, and
entertainer of the year for long-suffering Brad Paisley.
   (AP, 11/11/10)
2010Â Â Â Â Â Â Dec 17, Don Van Vliet
(69), American musician and artist, died in California. He had
performed as Captain Beefheart and was best known for his 1969 album
“Trout Mask Replica” released by Captain Beefheart and His Magic
Band.”
   (SFC, 12/18/10, p.A7)
2010Â Â Â Â Â Â Dec 26, Teena Marie
(b.1956 as Mary Christine Brockert), Motown’s “Ivory Queen of soul”
died. Her hits included “Lovergirl,” and “Fire and Desire” with
mentor Rick James.
   (SFC, 12/27/10,
p.C4)(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teena_Marie)
2010Â Â Â Â Â Â Philip Ball authored “The
Music Instinct: How Music works and Why We Can’t Do Without It.”
   (Econ, 2/6/10, p.90)
2010Â Â Â Â Â Â Alice Echols authored “Hot
Stuff: Disco and the Remaking of Popular Culture.”
   (SSFC, 4/4/10, p.G1)
2010Â Â Â Â Â Â Patti Smith, rock musician
and writer, received the US National Book Award for her memoir “Just
Kids.”
   (SFC, 2/9/13, p.A5)
2010Â Â Â Â Â Â Keith Richards, guitarist
with the Rolling Stones, authored “Life.”
   (Econ, 11/13/10, p.80)
2011Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 4, Mick Karn (52),
bass player in the 1980s group Japan, died in London. Karn, born in
Cyprus as Andonis Michaelides, was co-founder of Japan along with
David Sylvian and Steve Jansen. The group's 1982 album, "Tin Drum,"
included a hit song, "Ghosts."
   (AP, 1/5/11)
2011Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 17, Don Kirshner
(b.1934), veteran music mogul, died in Boca Raton, Fla. His TV show
“Don Kirshner’s Rock Concert” ran from 1973-1982.
   (SFC, 1/19/11, p.A8)
2011Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 24, Bhimsen Joshi
(88), singer of India, died.Â
  Â
(http://wn.com/Pandit_Bhimsen_Joshi__AIR_Films_Division_Documentary_Part_1)(Econ,
1/29/11, p.100)
2011Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 31, In Indonesia
popstar Nazril “Ariel” Irham was sentenced to 3½Â years in
prison after sex tapes with his celebrity girlfriends found their
way to the Internet.
   (SFC, 2/1/11, p.A2)
2011Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 6, Rock guitarist Gary
Moore (58), a former member of influential Irish band Thin Lizzy,
was found dead at a hotel on Spain's Costa del Sol. Thin Lizzy had
global hits in the 1970s with songs like "The Boys are Back in Town"
and "Whiskey in the Jar." Frontman Phil Lynott died in 1986, but
with a different lineup the band continues to tour today.
   (AP, 2/6/11)
2011Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 13, The annual Grammy
Awards were presented in Los Angeles. The band “Lady Antebellum” won
5 trophies including Album of the Year and Song of the Year (Need
You Now).
   (SFC, 2/14/11, p.D1)
2011Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 9, Robert Phillip
"Bob" Marcucci (b.1930), Philadelphia talent manager, died. The
former personal manager at Chancellor Records and Robert P. Marcucci
Productions discovered and managed the careers of Fabian and Frankie
Avalon, amongst others. The 1980 movie, The Idolmaker, is loosely
based on his life in the record industry.
   (SFC, 3/16/11,
p.A6)(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob_Marcucci)
2011Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 13, In Australia
Owsley Stanley (b.1935), counterculture maker of LSD and Grateful
Dead associate, died in a car crash. His Bear Research Group
reputedly made over 1.25 million doses of LSD from 1965-1967.
   (SFC, 3/14/11, p.A1)
2011Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 21, Pinetop Perkins
(b.1913), boogie-woogie piano player, died in Texas. Perkins worked
with Muddy Waters and was among the last surviving members of the
first generation of Mississippi Delta bluesmen.
   (SFC, 3/23/11, p.C6)
2011Â Â Â Â Â Â Apr 26, Phoebe Snow
(b.1950), pop singer, died in New York. Her songs included “Poetry
Man” (1975).
   (SFC, 4/27/11, p.C3)
2011Â Â Â Â Â Â May 11, Snooky Young (92),
big band trumpeter, died in Newport Beach, Ca.
   (SFC, 5/19/11, p.A6)
2011Â Â Â Â Â Â May 22, Joseph Brooks
(73), the Academy Award-winning songwriter of "You Light Up My Life"
(1977), was found dead in NYC of an apparent suicide while awaiting
trial on charges of sexually assaulting more than a dozen women and
just months after his son was accused of murdering a swimsuit
designer.
   (AP, 5/23/11)
2011Â Â Â Â Â Â May 27, Musician Gil
Scott-Heron (62), died in NYC. He helped lay the groundwork for rap
by fusing minimalistic percussion, political expression and
spoken-word poetry on songs such as "The Revolution Will Not Be
Televised," but saw his brilliance undermined by a years-long drug
addiction. In 2012 his memoir “The Last Holiday: A Memoir” was
published.
   (AP, 5/28/11)(SSFC, 1/22/12, p.G5)
2011Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
Jun 3, Singer-songwriter Andrew Gold (“Lonely Boy,” “Thank You For
Being A Friend”) died of cancer, at age 59.
           Â
(LAT, 6/6/11, Obit)(http://tinyurl.com/3ve3y46)
2011Â Â Â Â Â Â Jun 8, Rap music star Ja
Rule (real name Jeffrey Atkins) left a NYC courthouse to begin
serving a two-year prison sentence for criminal gun possession. He
may also face additional jail time as a result of pleading guilty to
failure to pay taxes on more than $3 million in income.
          Â
(AP, 6/8/11)
2011Â Â Â Â Â Â Jun 11, Pop star Lady Gaga
performed at a large gay pride rally at Rome’s Circus Maximus. She
also used the appearance to speak out in favor of full equality for
gay men and lesbians, and to denounce countries that show
intolerance to those who are different.
          Â
(AP, 6/11/11)(AFP, 6/11/11)
2011Â Â Â Â Â Â Jun 12, Carl Gardner (83),
the original lead singer of 1950s pop group the Coasters, died in
Port St. Lucie, Florida. Among the hits he sang with the Coasters
were “Yakety-Yak,” “Charlie Brown,” and “Poison Ivy.”
          Â
(AP, 6/13/11)
2011Â Â Â Â Â Â Jun 18, Clarence Clemons
(69), the larger-than-life saxophone player for the E Street Band,
died following a stroke at his home in Singer Island, Fla. He was
one of the key influences in Bruce Springsteen's life and music
through four decades.
   (AP, 6/19/11)
2011Â Â Â Â Â Â Jun 23, The Wild Goose
Festival, a music fest for theological liberals, kicked off in North
Carolina with some 1500 people attending.
   (Econ, 7/2/11, p.26)
2011Â Â Â Â Â Â Jul 9, Argentine singer
Facundo Cabral (b.1937), one of Latin America's most admired folk
singers, was killed in Guatemala when three carloads of gunmen
ambushed the vehicle in which he was riding. By 1970 became
internationally known through his song "No soy de aqui ni alla" (I'm
Not From Here Nor There). Authorities later said the target of the
attack was Nicaraguan businessman Henry Farinas, who was driving the
singer to the airport when they were ambushed.
   (AP, 7/9/11)(AP, 7/31/11)
2011Â Â Â Â Â Â Jul 23, Amy Winehouse
(b.1983), the beehived soul-jazz diva whose self-destructive habits
overshadowed a distinctive musical talent, was found dead in her
London home.
   (AP,
7/24/11)(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amy_Winehouse)
2011Â Â Â Â Â Â Jul 24, Dan Peek (60), a
founding member of the 1970s soft rock trio America, died. The
group’s hits included “A Horse With No Name.”
   (SFC, 7/25/11, p.A6)
2011Â Â Â Â Â Â Aug 7, Marshall Grant,
bassist in the original Johnny Cash trio, died in Jonesboro, Ark.
   (SFC, 8/10/11, p.C8)
2011Â Â Â Â Â Â Aug 12, In San Francisco
the 4th annual Outside Lands Music and Arts Festival opened in
golden Gate Park for a 3-day run.
   (SFC, 8/13/11, p.C2)
2011Â Â Â Â Â Â Aug 18, In Belgium a storm
swept through the Pukkelpop music festival killing at least 3
people. Some 60,000 people had gathered for the 3-day festival.
   (SFC, 8/19/11, p.A2)
2011Â Â Â Â Â Â Aug 19, China banned 100
songs from being featured on websites, barring artists ranging from
Lady Gaga to the Backstreet Boys apparently for being out of tune
with the country's cultural authorities.
   (AFP, 8/25/11)
2011Â Â Â Â Â Â Aug 22, Motown composer
Nick Ashford (69) died in NYC. He and wife Valerie Simpson had
written some of Motown’s biggest hits including “Ain’t No Mountain
High Enough” and “Reach Out and Touch Somebody’s Hand.”
   (SFC, 8/23/11, p.A8)
2011Â Â Â Â Â Â Aug 22, Jerry Lieber
(b.1933), songwriting partner of Mike Stoller, died in Los Angeles.
His lyrics included such songs as “Hound Dog,” “Love Potion No. 9,”
“Charlie Brown,” “Down in Mexico,” and “Kansas City.”
   (SFC, 8/24/11, p.C4)
2011Â Â Â Â Â Â Sep 30, Massachusetts
police arrested Steven Bernard Hill, a singer known for his 1990
chart-topping love song, on charges of owing $420,000 in unpaid
child support. Hill, who performs as Stevie B, is best known
for the song "Because I Love You (The Postman Song)." It reached No.
1 on the Billboard charts in late 1990.
   (AP, 10/3/11)
2011Â Â Â Â Â Â Oct 8, Roger Williams
(87), pianist and composer, died in Los Angeles. His 1955 hit
“Autumn Leaves” was the only piano instrumental to reach No.1 on the
billboard pop charts. His hits also included “Born Free,” “the
Impossible Dream” and “Lara’s Theme.”
   (SSFC, 10/9/11, p.A20)
2011Â Â Â Â Â Â Oct 24, Ireland's U2 were
named as the greatest rock band of the past quarter of a century by
readers of music magazine Q. Chart-topping act Adele was a double
winner at the event, landing the prizes for best female and best
track for her hit Rolling In The Deep.
   (AFP, 10/24/11)
2011Â Â Â Â Â Â Nov 13, In Mexico norteno
singer Diego Rivas was shot dead in Culiacan, Sinaloa state,
joining a list of murdered musicians famous for chronicling the
cartel lifestyle in folk songs.
   (AP, 11/13/11)
2011Â Â Â Â Â Â Nov 16, Google launched
its new online music service.
   (Econ, 11/19/11, p.68)
2011Â Â Â Â Â Â Nov 23, Legendary musician
Jimi Hendrix was named the greatest guitar player in history by
Rolling Stone magazine in a list compiled by a panel of music
experts and top guitar players.
   (Reuters, 11/23/11)
2011Â Â Â Â Â Â Nov 29, Dr. Conrad Murray
(58), convicted in the 2009 overdose of pop singer Michael Jackson
(1958-2009), was sentenced to 4 years behind bars.
   (SFC, 11/30/11, p.A12)
2011Â Â Â Â Â Â Dec 16, In Atlanta,
Georgia, rapper Slim Dunkin was gunned down in a music studio as he
was preparing to record a video.
   (AP, 12/16/11)
2011Â Â Â Â Â Â Dec 16, Jennifer Anderson
(54), former keyboardist and singer for the Nuns, died of
complications from breast and liver cancer in NYC. She performed
under the name Jennifer Miro with the pioneering SF punk band.
   (SFC, 1/11/12, p.C5)
2011Â Â Â Â Â Â Dec 17, Cape Verdean
singer Cesaria Evora (70), nicknamed the "barefoot diva", died in a
hospital in her native country. Her 1992 album, “Miss Perfumado,”
earned her 5 gold records.
   (AFP, 12/17/11)(Econ, 1/7/12, p.86)
2012Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 17, Johnny Otis
(b.1921), band leader and song writer, died in Altadena, Ca. His
first hit was “Harlem Nocturne” (1945).
   (SFC, 1/20/12, p.A16)
2012Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 20, Etta James
(b.1938), the powerhouse singer who combined blues, gospel and
R&B and emerged as a major star in the '50s and '60s, died after
a long battle with leukemia in a Riverside, Ca., hospital. James
placed No. 62 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the greatest
artists of all time. Her 1995 autobiography was titled ”Rage to
Survive.”
   (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Etta_James)(SFC,
1/21/12, p.A6)
2012Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 1, Don Cornelius (75),
the man who created Soul Train (1971-1993), was reportedly found
dead at his Los Angeles home.
   (ABCNews, 2/1/12)
2012Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 11, Whitney Houston
(b.1963), singer and actress, died at the Beverly Hilton hotel on
the eve of the Grammy Awards in Los Angeles. Her soaring voice
lifted her to the top of the pop music world but a personal decline
was fueled by years of drug use. She crossed over from music success
to TV and movies, appearing in "The Bodyguard" (1992), as well as
"Waiting to Exhale" (1995) and "The Preacher's Wife" (1996).
   (Reuters, 2/12/12)
2012Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 12, The 54th Grammy
Awards were held in Los Angeles. British singer Adele won every
award she was up for including Album of the year for “21” and Record
of the year for “Rolling in the Deep.”
   (SFC, 2/13/12, p.D1)
2012Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 18, Mohammed Wardi
(b.1932, Sudan's lead singer, died.
   (AFP,
2/19/12)(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mohammed_Wardi)
2012Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 21, The Brit Awards
cut off singer Adele's speech as she accepted the main prize of the
ceremony, a move which prompted the singer to raise her middle
finger at the crowd. The organizers apologized in a statement after
the event.
   (AFP, 2/22/12)
2012Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 29, Davy Jones (66),
the lead singer of The Monkees, died after suffering a heart attack
in Indiantown, Fla.
   (SFC, 3/1/12,
p.C6)(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Davy_Jones_%28actor%29)
2012Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 5, Disney songwriter
Robert Sherman (b.1925), part of a team with brother Richard
responsible for numerous film scores and children's songs, died in
London. He composed the popular tune featured in Disney theme parks,
"It's a Small World (After All)," as well as the score to "Mary
Poppins," featuring songs such as "A Spoonful of Sugar," "Chim Chim
Cher-ee," and "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious."
   (Reuters, 3/6/12)
2012Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 29, Spain’s National
Court handed fines of about $1,170 to each of three members of the
Ardor de Estomago (Heartburn) rock band for insulting King Juan
Carlos.
   (SFC, 3/30/12, p.A2)
2012Â Â Â Â Â Â Apr 18, Dick Clark (1929)
died at St. John's Hospital in Los Angeles after suffering a heart
attack. He had hosted American Bandstand for four decades and
literally introduced rock ’n’ roll to much of the nation.
   (SFC, 4/19/12, p.C5)
2012Â Â Â Â Â Â Apr 19, Levon Helm (71),
drummer and singer for the Band, died in Albany, NY. The group,
which also backed Bob Dylan, was known for such songs as “Up on
Cripple Creek” (1969), “The Weight” (1968), and “The Night They
Drove Old Dixie Down” (1969).
   (SFC, 4/20/12, p.C5)
2012Â Â Â Â Â Â Apr 20, British guitarist
Bert Weedon (91) died. He inspired a generation to pick up the
string instrument. The Beatles' George Harrison, John Lennon as well
as Paul McCartney, Eric Clapton, Queen guitarist Brian May and Pete
Townshend of The Who were all among those who started out with
Weedon's books. His first "Play In A Day" book was published in
1957.
   (AFP, 4/20/12)
2012Â Â Â Â Â Â Apr 27, Tens of thousands
of South Koreans flocked to the opening show of Lady Gaga's global
tour, amid colorful scenes as female and male fans donned outrageous
outfits in honor of the US pop diva.
   (AFP, 4/27/12)
2012Â Â Â Â Â Â May 4, Adam Yauch (47),
the gravelly voiced rapper, aka MCA), who helped make the Beastie
Boys one of the seminal groups in hip-hop, died of cancer.
   (AP, 5/4/12)
2012Â Â Â Â Â Â May 13, Bass player and
songwriter Donald "Duck" Dunn (b.1941), a member of the Rock 'n'
Roll Hall of Fame band Booker T. and the MGs and the Blues Brothers
band, died in his sleep while on tour in Tokyo.
   (AP, 5/13/12)
2012Â Â Â Â Â Â May 15, Indonesian police
said they would not issue a permit for a Lady Gaga concert scheduled
for June 3 in the capital.
   (AFP, 5/15/12)
2012Â Â Â Â Â Â May 17, Donna Summer (63)
died following a battle with cancer. The disco legend away in
Florida. She released her first single, "Sally Go 'Round the Roses,"
under her birth name (Donna Gaines) in 1971.
   (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donna_Summer)
2012Â Â Â Â Â Â May 17, Algerian singer
Warda al-Jazairia (72), the Algerian Rose, died in Cairo. She was a
regional icon whose powerful patriotic tunes were matched in
popularity by her romantic ballads. She performed for presidents and
popular audiences, reinventing herself over the decades to appeal to
old and young alike.
   (AFP, 5/18/12)
2012Â Â Â Â Â Â May 20, Robin Gibb
(b.1949), one of the 3 Bee Gees’ brothers, died in London of cancer.
He sang lead vocals on the Bee Gees' first British number one,
"Massachusetts", in 1967, before they switched styles to disco in
the 1970s.
   (AFP, 5/21/12)
2012Â Â Â Â Â Â May 24, In Japan Nicola
Furlong (21), an Irish fan of Rapper Nicki Minaj, was found dead in
a Tokyo hotel after attending a concert. Police arrested two
American men, dancer James Blackston (23) and a musician, 19, as
part of an investigation into her death. On June 14 police arrested
a 19-year-old American musician on suspicion of murdering Furlong.
   (AFP, 6/1/12)(AFP, 6/14/12)
2012Â Â Â Â Â Â May 26, In Azerbaijan
Loreen of Sweden piled up 372 points with her uplifting dance track
"Euphoria" at the Eurovision Song Contest in Baku.
   (AFP, 5/27/12)
2012Â Â Â Â Â Â May 27, Lady Gaga canceled
her sold-out June 3 show in Indonesia after Islamist hard-liners
threatened violence, claiming her sexy clothes and provocative dance
moves would corrupt the youth.
   (AP, 5/27/12)
2012Â Â Â Â Â Â May 29, Doc Watson
(b.1923), blind guitar picker and fold singer, died in North
Carolina. His work included 60 albums, 7 of which won Grammy awards.
   (SFC, 5/30/12, p.C8)
2012Â Â Â Â Â Â Jun 7, Bob Welch (65), a
former member of Fleetwood Mac who also had a solo career, died of a
self-inflicted gunshot wound in Tennessee.
   (SFC, 6/8/12, p.A8)
2012Â Â Â Â Â Â Jul 16, Jon Lord (b.1941),
keyboardist for the British Deep Purple rock band, died in London.
His work included “Concerto for Group and Orchestra” (1969).
   (SFC, 7/18/12, p.C4)
2012Â Â Â Â Â Â Jul 16, Kitty Wells,
American country singer, died in Madison, Tenn. Her songs included
“It Wasn’t God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels” (1952).
   (SFC, 7/18/12, p.C4)
2012Â Â Â Â Â Â Aug 5, Mexican singer
Chavela Vargas (b.1919) died in Cuernavaca. She defied gender
stereotypes to become one of the most legendary singers in Mexico.
   (AP, 8/5/12)
2012Â Â Â Â Â Â Aug 10, In San Francisco
the 5th Outside Lands music festival opened in Golden Gate Park with
some 65,000 people attending.
   (SFC, 8/11/12, p.A1)
2012Â Â Â Â Â Â Aug 17, A Russian judge
found three members of the provocative punk band Pussy Riot guilty
of hooliganism. They faced a maximum seven years in prison.
   (AP, 8/17/12)
2012Â Â Â Â Â Â Aug 18, Scott McKenzie
(73), pop singer born as Philip Blondheim, died at his home in LA.
In 1967 he sang “San Francisco (Be Sure to Wear Flowers in Your
Hair)” with the Mamas and Papas, a song written by John Phillips,
leader of the Mamas and the Papas. McKenzie also co-wrote “Kokomo”
(1988), a No. 1 hit for the Beach Boys.
   (SFC, 8/21/12, p.C3)
2012Â Â Â Â Â Â Aug 26, In Russia members
of the punk band Pussy Riot said two members have fled the country
to avoid prosecution for a protest that sent 3 bandmates to prison.
   (SFC, 8/27/12, p.A2)
2012Â Â Â Â Â Â Sep 1, American lyricist
Hal David (91) died in Los Angeles. He worked with composer Burt
Bacharach on numerous top 40 hits.
   (SSFC, 9/2/12, p.D11)
2012Â Â Â Â Â Â Sep 5, Singer and
songwriter Joe Smith (72), born as Joseph Souter, died at his home
in Buford, Georgia. He penned hits like “Games People Play” and
“Down in the Boondocks,” as well as “(I Never Promised You a) Rose
Garden.”
   (SFC, 9/6/12, p.A5)
2012Â Â Â Â Â Â Sep 25, Andy Williams
(b.1927), popular American singer, died at his Branson, Missouri,
home. He had 18 gold records, 3 platinum and 5 Grammy nominations.
Williams hosted the “The Andy Williams Show” from 1962-1971.
   (SFC, 9/27/12, p.A10)
2012Â Â Â Â Â Â Oct 10, In Russia a Moscow
court freed Yekaterina Samutsevich, one of the 3 jailed Pussy Riot
band members, because she had been thrown out of the cathedral by
guards before she could remove her guitar from its case.
   (SFC, 10/11/12, p.A3)
2012Â Â Â Â Â Â Nov 25, In London the
Rolling Stones held the first of 5 concerts to mark the 50th
anniversary of their debut.
   (SFC, 11/26/12, p.A2)
2012Â Â Â Â Â Â Dec 13, James Billington,
the Librarian of Congress, announced that Carole King (70) will
receive the 2013 Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular
Song.
   (SFC, 12/15/12, p.E2)
2012Â Â Â Â Â Â Harry Belafonte authored
his autobiography “My Song: A Memoir of Art, Race and Defiance.”
   (Econ, 7/14/12, p.76)
2012Â Â Â Â Â Â David Byrne, front man of
the Talking Heads rock band, authored “How Music Works.”
   (Economist, 10/6/12, p.99)
2012Â Â Â Â Â Â Peter Doggett authored
“The Man Who Sold the World: David Bowie and the 1970s.”
   (SSFC, 8/5/12, p.F5)
2012Â Â Â Â Â Â Carly Rae Jepsen, a
Canadian vocalist, recorded “Call me maybe.” It became the
best-selling song of the year.
   (Econ, 3/2/13, p.63)
2013Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 1, Patti Page (85), a
top singer of the 1950s, died in Encinitas, Ca. Her hits included
“Tennessee Waltz” (1950) and “How Much Is That Doggie in the
Window.”
   (SFC, 1/3/13, p.D2)
2013Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 4, Reg Presley (71),
the lead singer of 1960s British rock band The Troggs, died at his
home after a battle with cancer. He had scored a hit with the love
anthem "Wild Thing" (1966).
   (Reuters, 2/4/13)
2013Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 6, From Kashmir it was
reported that the all-girl rock band Pragaash (First Light) has
decided to disband following but one concert last December. The
teenage members had received threats on social media and a top
Muslim cleric.
   (SFC, 2/6/13, p.A3)
2013Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 17, Country music
singer Mindy McCready (37) was found dead of an apparent
self-inflicted gunshot wound at her home in Heber Springs, Ark. Her
songs included “Guys Do It All the Time” (1996) and “Ten Thousand
Angels” (1996).
   (SFC, 2/18/13, p.A6)
2013Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 20, Scottish singer
Emeli Sande won the coveted best album honour at the BRIT Awards for
"Our Version of Events", confirming her status as favourite going
into British pop's big night of the year.
   (Reuters, 2/20/13)
2013Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 6, In Spain Alvin Lee
(b.1944), British virtuoso rock guitarist, died following
complications from routine surgery. He as a member of the band Ten
Years After, which burst onto the US music scene following their
1969 Woodstock performance.
   (SFC, 2/8/13, p.D5)
2013Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 30, Phil Ramone
(1934), Grammy-award winning producer, died. He was a pioneer of
digital recording and produced what is regarded as the first major
commercial release on compact disc, “52nd Street,” which came out in
1982.
   (SSFC, 3/31/13, p.A12)
2013Â Â Â Â Â Â Apr 1, Pop diva Modanna
arrived in Malawi to tour the 10 school wings she has helped to
build.
   (AP, 4/3/13)
2013Â Â Â Â Â Â Apr 22, Richie Havens
(72), American folk singer and guitarist, died at his home in New
Jersey. He was the first performer at the 1969 Woodstock festival
and over his career released over 25 albums.
   (SFC, 4/23/13, p.C4)
2013Â Â Â Â Â Â Apr 26, George Jones
(b.1931), American country singer, died in Nashville. His first big
hit was “Why Baby Why” (1955).
   (SFC, 4/27/13, p.A4)
2013Â Â Â Â Â Â Apr 27, In northern Mexico
10 members of the musical group La Reyna de Monterrey were killed
and five injured in a road accident.
   (AP, 4/27/13)
2013Â Â Â Â Â Â May 20, In Germany Ray
Manzarek (74), keyboard player and founding member of the Doors,
died in Rosenheim. The group was formed in 1965 when Manzarek met
Jim Morrison at Venice Beach, Ca.
   (SFC, 5/21/13, p.A6)
2013Â Â Â Â Â Â Jul 26, US songwriter JJ
Cale (74) died of a heart attack in la Jolla, San Diego County. His
songs included “After Midnight,” “Cocaine” and “Call Me the Breeze.”
   (SSFC, 7/28/13, p.A10)
2013Â Â Â Â Â Â Aug 10, Eydie Gorme
(b.1928), pop singer, died at Sunrise Hospital in Las Vegas. Her
hits included “Blame It on the Bossa Nova” (1963) and “Amor” (1964).
She also sang in a duet act with her husband Steve Lawrence and they
appeared together on TV in “The Steve Lawrence and Eydie Gorme Show”
(1958).
   (SSFC, 8/11/13, p.A15)
2013Â Â Â Â Â Â Sep 26, Tunisian rapper
Klay BBJ was jailed for six months for songs judged insulting by the
authorities, a verdict his supporters slammed as a sign of the
Islamist-led government's growing intolerance. On Oct 17 Klay BBJ
was acquitted by an appeals court.
   (AFP, 9/26/13)(AFP, 10/17/13)
2013Â Â Â Â Â Â Oct 11, Lebanese singer
and composer Wadih Safi (92) died. His strong, clear voice propelled
him to fame throughout the Arab world.
   (AP, 10/12/13)
2013Â Â Â Â Â Â Oct 24, In San Francisco
Faith Petric (b.1915), folk singer, died at a hospice house. In 1962
she became the headd of the San Francisco Folk Club and began
hosting live jam sessions at her Clayton Street home.
   (SFC, 11/12/13, p.C2)
2013Â Â Â Â Â Â Oct 27, Lou Reed (b.1942),
rock guitarist and singer, died in Southampton, NY. He formed and
led the Velvet Underground from 1965-1970. His songs included “Walk
on the Wild Side.” He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of
Fame in 1996.
   (SFC, 10/28/13, p.A10)(Econ, 11/2/13, p.98)
2013Â Â Â Â Â Â Oct 30, Electronica
singer-songwriter James Blake (25) won Britain's prestigious Mercury
Prize for his second album, "Overgrown."
   (AFP, 10/30/13)
2013Â Â Â Â Â Â Nov 12, British composer
John Tavener (69) died. His spiritually inspired music was performed
at the funeral of Princess Diana. He was best known for works
including "The Whale", which was released in the late 1960s by the
Beatles' record label Apple.
   (AFP, 11/13/13)
2013Â Â Â Â Â Â Dec 16, Ray Price
(b.1926), American country singer, died in Texas. His more than 100
hits included his 1970 version of “For the Good Times,” written by
Kris Kristofferson.
   (SFC, 12/18/13, p.A11)
2013Â Â Â Â Â Â Dec 18, A British judge
sentenced the former lead singer of the rock band Lostprophets to 29
years in jail, saying that Ian Watkins had "plumbed new depths of
depravity" in committing a string of sexual offenses against very
young children.
   (AP, 12/18/13)
2014Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 3, Rock & Roll
singer Phil Everly (74), the younger brother of Don Everly, died.
He helped make the Everly Brothers one of the biggest rock and
country acts of the 1950s and early 1960s.
   (Reuters, 1/3/14)
2014Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 26, Daft Punk's
infectiously catchy song "Get Lucky" won the Grammy Awards' record
of the year.
   (AP, 1/26/14)
2014Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 27, Pete Seeger
(b.1919), legendary American banjo player and folksinger, died in
NYC. His song “Turn! Turn! Turn!” was made famous by the Byrds in
1965. He also wrote “Where Have All the Flowers Gone.”
   (SFC, 1/29/14, p.A10)
2014Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 14, Googoosh, an
Iranian pop star living in Amsterdam, released a music video
promoting gay rights. It was clicked on half a million times in the
first 24 hours. Navid Akhavan, an Iranian-born Germany, wrote and
directed the video for the song “Behesht” (Heaven).
   (SFC, 3/5/14, p.A4)
2014Â Â Â Â Â Â Apr 17, Puerto Rican salsa
legend Cheo Feliciano (78) died in a car accident early today,
prompting the governor of the US territory to declare three days of
mourning.
   (AP, 4/17/14)
2014Â Â Â Â Â Â May 10, The finals of the
59th edition of the Eurovision Song Contest took place in
Copenhagen, Denmark. Austrian bearded drag queen Conchita Wurst, the
alter ego of 25-year-old Thomas Neuwirth (25), won the contest.
  Â
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eurovision_Song_Contest_2014)(AP,
5/11/14)
2014Â Â Â Â Â Â May 20, Prince Rupert
Loewenstein (80), former business manager of the Rolling Stones
(1968-2007), died in a London hospital after suffering from
Parkinson's disease. He was the prince who helped make the Rolling
Stones as rich as kings.
   (AP, 5/22/14)
2014Â Â Â Â Â Â May 20, Police in Iran
confirmed the arrest of six young people for posting a video online
of them dancing to Pharrell Williams' hit song "Happy," showing them
on state television as a public warning to youth in the Islamic
Republic. On Sep 17 the six were given suspended sentences of 91
lashes and six months in prison for obscene behavior.
   (AP, 5/21/14)(Reuters, 9/18/14)
2014Â Â Â Â Â Â May 30, South Korean pop
star Psy and his irrepressible "Gangnam Style" became the first
YouTube video to surpass 2 billion views, crossing the mark around
shortly before midnight EDT.
   (AP, 5/31/14)
2014Â Â Â Â Â Â May 31, The Queen musical
"We Will Rock You" closed in its London home after 12 straight
years. It had played to more than 6.5 million people at the Dominion
Theatre with over 4,600 performances.
   (AFP, 3/11/14)
2014Â Â Â Â Â Â Jun 6, In Italy Sister
Cristina Scuccia (25) clinched the top prize with five songs in the
country’s musical competition “The Voice.”
  Â
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dCi_LgPgaQo)(SFC, 6/7/14, p.a2)
2014Â Â Â Â Â Â Jun 19, Gerry Goffin
(b.1939), pop lyricist, died at his home in Los Angeles. During the
1960s he and his then wife Carole King wrote such songs “A Natural
Woman,” “Take Good Care of My Baby,” Up on the Roof,” “The
Loco-Motion,” and “Will You Love Me Tomorrow” (1960).
   (SSFC, 6/22/14, p.C5)
2014Â Â Â Â Â Â Jun 27, Bobby Womack
(b.1944), soul songwriter and musician aka the Preacher, died. In
1964 he recorded “It’s All Over Now” with the Valentinos that
included four of his brothers. A version by the Rolling Stones
became that group’s first No. 1 hit single in Britain.
   (SFC, 6/28/14, p.A7)
2014Â Â Â Â Â Â Jul 11, Tom Erdelyi
(b.1949), aka Tommy Ramone, founding drummer and last surviving
member of the Ramones, a NY punk rock band, died in New York.
   (SSFC, 7/13/14, p.A10)
2014Â Â Â Â Â Â Jul 16, Texas blues legend
Johnny Winter (b.1944), died while on tour in Geneva. He was known
for his lightning-fast blues guitar riffs, his striking long white
hair and his collaborations with the likes of Jimi Hendrix and
childhood hero Muddy Waters.
   (AP, 7/17/14)
2014Â Â Â Â Â Â Sep 4, In Argentina
Gustavo Cerati (55), one of Latin America's most influential
musicians, died, four years after a stroke put him in a coma.
   (AP, 9/6/14)
2014Â Â Â Â Â Â Sep 5, Girl group singer
Simone Battle (25) was found dead in her West Hollywood home. Her
death was later ruled a suicide by hanging.
   (AP, 9/6/14)(AP, 9/7/14)
2014Â Â Â Â Â Â Sep 7, In South Korea Kwon
Ri-sae (23) died at a hospital in Suwon, just south of Seoul. She
was the 2nd Ladies' Code band member to die following a car accident
on Sep 3.
   (AP, 9/7/14)
2014Â Â Â Â Â Â Sep 11, Bob Crewe
(b.1930), songwriter and producer, died in Scarborough, Maine. His
first hit was the 1957 song “Silhouttes,” a top ten tune for the
Rays written with Frank Slay. In 1962 he produced the hit “Sherry”
by Frankie Valli and went on to help write and produce “Walk Like a
Man,” “Rag Doll,” and “Can’t Take My Eyes Off of You.”
   (SFC, 9/15/14, p.C4)
2014Â Â Â Â Â Â Oct 4, Paul Revere (76),
organist and leader of the Raiders rock band, died at his home in
Garden Valley, Idaho. The group’s hits included their rendition of
“Louie, Louie” (1963) and Indian Reservation“ (1971).
   (SFC, 10/6/14, p.C3)
2014Â Â Â Â Â Â Oct 23, Alvin Stardust
(b.1942), British singer and former glam rock star, died after a
short battle with cancer, just weeks before he was due to release a
new album. His real name was Bernard Jewry.
   (AFP, 10/23/14)
2014Â Â Â Â Â Â Oct 25, Jack Bruce (71),
British vocalist and bassist for the blues trio Cream, died at his
home in Suffolk. The group also included drummer Ginger Baker and
guitarist Eric Clapton. Cream the world’s first platinum disc for
the double album “Wheels of Fire” (1968).
   (SSFC, 10/26/14, p.D8)
2014Â Â Â Â Â Â Nov 5, In southern France
flamenco guitarist Manitas de Plata (93) died. His “Gypsy
Flamenco” album was released in 1963. He had sold nearly 100 million
records worldwide and broke boundaries for Gypsy musicians.
   (AP, 11/6/14)(Econ, 11/15/14, p.94)
2014Â Â Â Â Â Â Nov 6, In New Zealand
drummer Phil Rudd (60) of Australian rock band AC/DC, whose hits
include "Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap," was accused of trying to
arrange two killings as well as possession of drugs.
   (AP, 11/6/14)
2014Â Â Â Â Â Â Nov 7, New Zealand
authorities made an embarrassing about-face when prosecutors dropped
a murder-for-hire charge against AC/DC drummer Phil Rudd (60),
saying there was not enough evidence to proceed. Rudd still faced
serious charges of threatening to kill as well as possession of
amphetamine and marijuana.Â
   (AP, 11/7/14)(SFC, 12/6/14, p.A2)
2014Â Â Â Â Â Â Nov 23, Britain’s One
Direction band won artist of the year at the American Music Awards,
taking home three honors and was the night's big winner next to Katy
Perry, who didn't attend the show.
   (AP, 11/24/14)
2014Â Â Â Â Â Â Nov 23, In Chakwal,
Pakistan, Muhammad Gullistan (30) shot dead his teenage niece
because she was listening to loud music.
   (Reuters, 11/25/14)
2014Â Â Â Â Â Â Nov 26, Dutch researchers
sought to add a new, largely untapped renewable energy source to the
world's energy mix with the opening of a "Blue Energy" test
facility. Blue energy takes advantage of the difference in salt
concentration between sea water and fresh water to produce
electricity.
   (AP, 11/26/14)
2014Â Â Â Â Â Â Dec 2, Saxophonist Bobby
Keys (70) died at his home in Franklin, Tenn. He had toured with
Buddy Holly, played on recordings by John Lennon, and laid down the
blowout a solo on the the Rolling Stones’ Brown Sugar” album.
   (SFC, 12/3/14, p.E4)
2014Â Â Â Â Â Â Dec 13, Hazem Sherif, a
Syrian from war-torn Aleppo, was declared the winner of this year's
"Arab Idol" singing contest at the grand finale of the grueling
four-month television competition in Beirut.
   (AFP, 12/14/14)
2014Â Â Â Â Â Â Dec 16, Rock Scully
(b.1941), the fist manager of the Grateful Dead, died in Monterey,
Ca.
   (SFC, 12/20/14, p.C1)
2014Â Â Â Â Â Â Dec 22, Legendary British
singer Joe Cocker (70) died at his home in Crawford, Colorado. His
intense, gritty voice won him wide acclaim that spanned both rock
and blues.
   (AFP, 12/22/14)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 26, Greek singer Demis
Roussos (b.1946) died in Athens. His often high-pitched pop
serenades won him household recognition in the 1970s and 1980s
across Europe and beyond and who sold more than 60 million records.
   (AP, 1/26/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 30, In southern
California Marion “Suge” Knight, founder of Death Row Records, was
booked on suspicion of murder after hitting and killing Terry Carter
(55) with his pickup truck and fleeing the scene a day earlier. On
Feb 2 Knight was charged with murder.
   (SFC, 1/31/15, p.A10)(SFC, 2/3/15, p.A6)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 12, Steve Strange
(55), a singer with the British band Visage and one of the founders
of the 1980s' New Romantic style, died in a hospital in the Egyptian
Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheik.
   (AP, 2/13/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 12, Sam Andrew
(b.1941), a founding member of rock band Big Brother and the Holding
Company, died in San Rafael, Ca. In the mid 1960s the band shot
Janis Joplin to fame.
   (SFC, 2/17/15, p.C3)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 16, Leslie Gore (68),
singer and songwriter, died of lung cancer in NYC. Her hits included
“It’s My Party” (1963) and “You Don’t Own Me” (1963).
   (SFC, 2/18/15, p.D4)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 27, Former British pop
star Gary Glitter (70), aka Paul Gadd, received a 16-year prison
sentence after being convicted of sexually abusing three young girls
in the 1970s.
   (AP, 2/27/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 10, A Los Angeles jury
awarded Marvin Gaye’s children $7.3 million after determinging that
singers Robin Thicke and Pharrell and Williams copied their father’s
music to create “Blurred Lines,” the biggest hit song of 2013.
   (SFC, 3/11/15, p.A6)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Apr 10, An Argentine judge
issued an arrest warrant for Justin Bieber, saying the singer failed
to respond to summons related to allegations he ordered bodyguards
to attack a photographer in 2013.
   (AP, 4/10/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Apr 14, Percy Sledge (74),
soul singer, died in Louisiana. His 1996 debut single “When A Man
Loves a Woman” became a No. 1 hit.
   (SFC, 4/15/15, p.E4)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Apr 21, In New Zealand
AC/DC drummer Phil Rudd (60) pleaded guilty in court to a charge of
threatening in 2014 to kill a man who used to work for him. He also
pleaded guilty to possessing methamphetamine and marijuana.
   (AP, 4/21/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Apr 30, Ben E. King
(b.1934), lead singer for the Drifters, died in Teaneck, NY. His
classics included “Stand By Me” (1961) and “Spanish Harlem.” (1960).
   (SFC, 5/2/15, p.E4)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â May 14, B.B. King (89),
Mississippi-born blues guitarist and 15-time Grammy winner, died in
Las Vegas.
   (SFC, 5/16/15, p.E1)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â May 17, In NYC Lionel
Pickens, aka Chinx, a rapper who won a growing following by turning
his bleak experiences as a drug-dealer into verse, was shot dead.
   (Reuters, 5/18/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â May 23, In Vienna,
Austria, Sweden beat Russia to win the 60th Eurovision Song Contest,
in an event described by organizers as beyond politics but marred by
boos for the Russian that were apparently prompted by the Ukraine
conflict and the Kremlin's anti-gay policies.
   (AP, 5/24/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jun 6, Ronnie Gilbert
(b.1926), a member of the Weavers folk singing group, died in Mill
Valley, Ca. Other members of the Weavers included Pete Seeger, Lee
Hays and Fred Hellerman.
   (SFC, 6/8/15, p.D1)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jun 26, SiriusXM, a
satellite radio provider, announced that it would pay $210 million
to the major record companies over its broadcasting of songs made
before 1972.
   (SFC, 6/29/15, p.D1)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jun 27, Chris Squire
(b.1948), rock bassist for the British band Yes, died in Phoenix.
The band formed in 1968 as one of the first progressive rock groups.
   (SFC, 6/29/15, p.C3)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jul 9, A New Zealand judge
sentenced AC/DC drummer Phil Rudd (61) to eight months of home
detention after the musician pleaded guilty to threatening to kill a
man who used to work for him, along with possession of
methamphetamine and marijuana.
   (AP, 7/9/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Aug 19, In North Korea the
Slovenian rock band Laibach played to a full house in Pyongyang as
part of the “Liberation Day Tour,” coinciding with the Korean
Peninsula’s 70th year anniversary of liberation from Japanese
colonization.
   (SFC, 8/20/15, p.A4)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Sep 3, An Egyptian court
said that female singers Bardis and Shakira promoted indecency in
their music videos and sentenced both to six months in prison.
   (SFC, 9/4/15, p.A2)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Oct 8, In the Philippines
Elizabeth Ramsey (84), a popular Filipino singer, comedian and
actress who entertained crowds with racy gags and a raspy voice,
died.
   (AP, 10/9/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Oct 6, Billy Joe Royal
(b.1942), popular county singer, died at his home in North Carolina.
He is best known for his 1965 hit “Down in the Boondocks” written
and produced by Joe South.
   (SFC, 10/15/15, p.D4)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Oct 20, Cory Wells
(b.1941), a founding member of the vocal trio behind the rock group
Three Dog Night, died in Dunkirk, NY. Some two dozen top hits by the
group included “Joy to the World” (1971).
   (SFC, 10/23/15, p.D8)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Nov 10, Legendary New
Orleans musician and composer Allen Toussaint (b.1938) died after
suffering a heart attack following a concert in Spain. He penned
such classics as "Working in a Coal Mine" (1966) and "Lady
Marmalade" (1974).
   (AP, 11/10/15)(SFC, 11/11/15, p.A14)(SFC,
9/22/21, p.C4)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Nov 18, Musician Willie
Nelson was honored as the new recipient of the Library of Congress
Gershwin Prize for Popular song.
   (SFC, 11/18/15, p.A7)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Nov 15, P.F. Sloan
(b.1945), singer and songwriter, died at his home in Los Angeles.
His songs included “Eve of Destruction” (1965).
   (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/P._F._Sloan)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Dec 3, In Minnesota Scott
Weiland (b.1967) former frontman for rock bands Stone Temple Pilots
and Velvet Revolver, was found dead on his tour bus while on tour
with his band the Wildabouts. A medical examiner later said he died
of a toxic mix of drugs that included cocaine.
   (SFC, 12/4/15, p.A16)(SFC, 12/19/15, p.E2)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Dec 28, Ian "Lemmy"
Kilmister (70), the hell-raising frontman of pioneering British
heavy metal band Motorhead, died of cancer in Los Angeles, bringing
to an end the story of a band dubbed the loudest in the world.
   (AFP, 12/29/15)(Econ, 1/9/16, p.78)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Dec 31, Natalie Cole
(b.1950), Grammy-winning daughter of Nat King Cole, died in Los
Angeles of complications from health issues.
   (SFC, 1/2/16, p.A7)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Willie Nelson with David
Ritz authored “It’s a Long Story: My Life.”
   (SSFC, 5/24/15, p.N4)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â John Seabrook authored
“The Song Machine,” a history of the past 20 years of pop music.
   (Econ, 11/14/15, p.81)
2016Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 10, British singer
David Bowie (b.1947) died in NYC. He had received little attention
until his 5th album: “The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust” (1972).
   (AP, 1/11/16)(Econ, 1/16/16, p.97)
2016Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 6, Dan Hicks (b.1941),
singer and songwriter, died at his home in Marin, Ca. From 1965-1968
he wasthe drummer and occasional vocalist for the charlatans, widely
regarded as the first San Francisco psychedelic band.
   (Boston Globe, 2/8/16, p.B6)
2016Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 15, The English
singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran won Song of the Year for "Thinking Out
Loud," a bare guitar ballad that made history as a viral hit.
Sheeran shared the rammy award with his co-writer Amy Wadge, a
British folk artist.
   (AFP, 2/16/16)
2016Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 24, Astronaut Tim
Peake presented Adele with a Brit Award from space, as the singer
swept the board at the annual British music awards rendered sober
this year by the death of David Bowie.
   (AFP, 2/24/16)
2016Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 8, Sir George Martin
(b.1926), British producer for the Beatles, died. Martin also worked
with Jeff Beck, Elton John, Celine Dion and on several solo albums
by Paul McCartney.
   (AP, 3/9/16)
2016Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 11, Keith Emerson
(71), flamboyant yet accomplished British keyboardist, was found
dead from an apparent self-inflicted bullet wound to his head at his
condominium in the Los Angeles area. He had pioneered the use of
synthesizers in rock music.
   (AP, 3/12/16)
2016Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 10, Singer Gogi Grant
(b.1924) died at her home in Los Angeles.Her 1956 rendition of “The
Wayward Wind” topped the Billboard singles chart.
   (SFC, 3/17/16, p.D5)
2016Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 25, In Cuba Mick
Jagger and the Rolling Stones performed a free concert for hundreds
of thousands in Havana.
   (AFP, 3/26/16)
2016Â Â Â Â Â Â Apr 6, Merle Haggard
(b.1937), American country music star, died at his home in Redding,
Ca.
   (SFC, 4/7/16, p.A1)
2016Â Â Â Â Â Â Apr 21, Prince Rogers
Nelson (57), singer, songwriter, arranger and instrumentalist, died
at his home in Minnesota. His records sold more than 100
million copies and earned him Grammys and an Academy Award.
   (AP, 4/22/16)
2016Â Â Â Â Â Â Apr 23, Ivory Coast
musician Papa Wemba (66), known around the world as the king of
Congolese rumba, died following a collapse on stage during a
concert. Jules Shungu Wembadio Pene Kikumba, rose to fame in the
Congolese capital of Kinshasa during the 1970s with the band Zaiko
Langa Langa, whose guitar-based fusion of Latin and African dance
styles inspired a generation of African musicians.
   (AP, 4/24/16)
2016Â Â Â Â Â Â Apr 27, Jordan banned a
performance by popular Lebanese rock band Mashrou’ Leila ("Leila's
Project") on religious grounds, spurring criticism of the
Western-allied kingdom, which portrays itself as an island of
tolerance in a turbulent region.
   (AP, 4/27/16)
2016Â Â Â Â Â Â May 15, Australians
cheered contestant and juries' favorite Dami Im for placing second
at the annual Eurovision song contest in Sweden.
   (AFP, 5/15/16)
2016Â Â Â Â Â Â May 15, Jubilant
Ukrainians erupted in celebration after Jamala won the Eurovision
Song Contest with a powerful tribute to her Tatar people's
deportation from Russian-annexed Crimea in 1944.
   (AFP, 5/15/16)
2016Â Â Â Â Â Â May 24, British media
reported that singer-songwriter Adele has signed a contract with
Sony worth up to £90 million (117 million euros, $131 million), in
one of the biggest ever record deals. Adele has been at London-based
independent label XL Recordings since she was a teenager.
   (AFP, 5/24/16)
2016Â Â Â Â Â Â May 28, Iran said eight
people producing obscene music videos, whose clips were broadcast on
a famous anti-revolutionary television channel, were arrested in
Tehran last week.
   (AFP, 5/28/16)
2016Â Â Â Â Â Â Jun 21, US trumpet player
Wayne Jackson (74) died. He and Memphis Horns partner Andrew Love
(d.2012) had reportedly played on 52 No. 1 records and 83 gold and
platinum records.
   (SFC, 6/23/16, p.D3)
2016Â Â Â Â Â Â Jun 24, P-Fund keyboardist
Bernie Worrell, aka “Wizard of Woo,” died at his home in Everson,
Wa. His keyboard sounds helped shape the Parliament-Funkadelic
musical empire of the 1970s and 1980s.
   (SSFC, 6/26/16, p.C10)
2016Â Â Â Â Â Â Jun 28, Guitarist Scotty
Moore (84) died at his home in Nashville. He virtually created the
rockabilly style and helped launch the career of Elvis Presley.
   (SFC, 7/1/16, p.D3)
2016Â Â Â Â Â Â Jul 16, In Arkansas Bonnie
Brown (b.1938), one of the three siblings that formed the Browns
singing group, died in Little Rock. Their songs included “I Take the
Chance” (1957) and “The Three Bells” (1959).
   (SSFC, 7/17/16, p.A16)
2016Â Â Â Â Â Â Jul 26, Sandy Pearlman,
producer and lyricist for Blue Öyster Cult, died in Novato, Ca. He
produced and co-produced albums for the band from 1972-1988. In 1975
he and Murray Krugman produced one of the earliest albums considered
to be punk rock: “The Dictators Go Girl Crazy!”
   (SFC, 7/29/16, p.D4)
2016Â Â Â Â Â Â Aug 20, In Canada
Tragically Hip, a group known as Canada's Band, held its final
performance in Kingston. Lead singer and songwriter Gord Downie,
dubbed Canada's unofficial poet laureate and diagnosed with
glioblastoma, was in fine form as he and his bandmates played an
epic 30-song set, punctuated by three encores.
   (AP, 8/21/16)
2016Â Â Â Â Â Â Aug 28, In NYC Beyonce
dominated the MTV Video Music Awards as she won eight awards and
awed the audience with a fiery dance medley with an unstated
political message.
   (AFP, 8/29/16)
2016Â Â Â Â Â Â Aug 28, Juan Gabriel (66),
Mexico’s greatest modern pop singer, died. He was born as Alberto
Aguilera Valadez and had his first hit in 1971 with “No tengo
dinero” (I have no money).
   (Econ, 9/10/16, p.78)
2016Â Â Â Â Â Â Oct 13, Bob Dylan was
awarded the Nobel Prize in literature for "having created new poetic
expressions within the great American song tradition."
   (AP, 10/13/16)
2016Â Â Â Â Â Â Oct 24, Robert Thomas
Velline b.1943, known professionally as Bobby Vee, died from
complications of Alzheimer's disease in Rogers, Minnesota. HeÂ
was an American pop singer who was a teen idol in the early 1960s.
He had thirty-eight Hot 100 chart hits, ten of which reached the Top
20 and six gold singles in his career.
   (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bobby_Vee)
2016Â Â Â Â Â Â Oct 28, Lebanese singer
and composer Melham Barakat (71) died at a Beirut hospital. He was
highly esteemed and popular across the region. His most popular
songs included "Two Moons at my Door," and "Habibi Inta (You are my
Love)".
   (AP, 10/28/16)
2016Â Â Â Â Â Â Nov 7, Leonard Cohen
(b.1934), Canadian singer, poet and novelist, died in Los Angeles.
His song "Suzanne" (1966) became a hit for Judy Collins, and was for
many years his most covered song.
  Â
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leonard_Cohen)(Econ, 11/19/16, p.80)
2016Â Â Â Â Â Â Nov 13, Leon Russell
(b.1942), rock ‘n’ roll producer, songwriter and performer, died in
Nashville, Tenn.
   (SFC, 11/14/16, p.A7)
2016Â Â Â Â Â Â Nov 16, The Swedish
Academy said music icon Bob Dylan will not attend the Nobel ceremony
in December to accept his literature prize because he has other
commitments.
   (AFP, 11/16/16)
2016Â Â Â Â Â Â Nov 18, Sharon Jones (60),
a fiery Grammy-nominated soul and funk singer sometimes called the
"female James Brown," died in Cooperstown, NY, after losing a battle
to pancreatic cancer.
   (AP, 11/19/16)
2016Â Â Â Â Â Â Dec 7, British musician
Greg Lake (b.1947) died. He had co-founded both King Crimson and
Emerson, Lake and Palmer. ELP broke up in 1979, reunited in 1991,
later disbanded again and reunited for a 2010 tour.
   (AP, 12/8/16)
2016Â Â Â Â Â Â Dec 25, British gay pop
star George Michael (53) died of apparent heart failure. He had
rocketed to stardom with WHAM! and went on to enjoy a long and
celebrated solo career lined with controversies.
   (AP, 12/26/16)
2016Â Â Â Â Â Â Dec 30, Former British pub
owner Allan Williams (86), the first manager of The Beatles, died.
He drove the band on their formative trip to Hamburg in 1960.
   (AP, 12/31/16)
2016Â Â Â Â Â Â Bruce Springsteen authored
his biography “Born to Run.”
   (Econ, 10/1/16, p.78)
2017Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 12, British
singer-songwriter Adele won five Grammys at the 59th annual Grammy
Awards ceremony in Los Angeles.
   (SFC, 2/13/17, p.C1)
2017Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 12, Singer Al Jarreau
(b.1940), winner of seven Grammy Awards, died in Los Angeles.
   (SFC, 2/13/17, p.D4)
2017Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 23, Bobby Freeman
(b.1940), San Francisco’s first rock ’n’ roll teen star, died at his
home in Daly City. His 1958 song “Do You Want to Dance” reached No.
5 on the Billboard singles chart. The song became known as “Do You
Wanna Dance” and was performed by a number of other musicians
including the Beach Boys.
   (SFC, 2/15/17, p.D4)
2017Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 18, Clyde Stubblefield
(73), a former drummer for James Brown, died in Madison, Wis. His
short solo on Brown’s 1970 single “Funky Drummer” was sampled on
more than 1,000 songs and served as the backbeat on for countless
hip-hop tracks.
   (SFC, 2/20/17, p.C4)
2017Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 18, Rock 'n' roll
legend Chuck Berry (b.1926) died at his home in the St. Louis area.
His 1958 hit "Johnny B. Goode" was so influential and recognizable
that the US space program chose it to represent rock music for
potential extraterrestrial listeners on the Voyager spacecraft.
   (AFP, 3/18/17)(SSFC, 3/19/17, p.A9)
2017Â Â Â Â Â Â Apr 1, In Sweden Bob Dylan
(75) received his Nobel literature diploma in a small afternoon
ceremony in Stockholm before performing a concert in the evening.
   (SSFC, 4/2/17, p.A4)
2017Â Â Â Â Â Â Apr 11, Musician John
Warren Geils Jr. (71), founder of the J. Geils Band, died at his
home in Massachusetts. The band’s biggest hits included “Must of Got
Lost” (1975), “Love Stinks” (1980) and “Centerfold” (1981).
   (SFC, 4/12/17, p.A7)
2017Â Â Â Â Â Â Apr 20, Singer Cuba
Gooding Sr. was found dead in a car in the Woodland Hills section of
Los Angeles. He sang the 1972 hit “Everybody Plays the Fool” with
the rhythm-and-blues group Main Ingredient.  Â
   (SSFC, 4/23/17, p.C10)
2017Â Â Â Â Â Â May 13, Portugal's
Salvador Sobral sang his Amar Pelos Dois (Love For Both) accompanied
by quiet strings and a piano in the 62nd Eurovision extravaganza.
His romantic ballad challenged the decades-long reputation for
cheesy, glittery, unbridled excess and won easily.
   (AP, 5/14/17)
2017Â Â Â Â Â Â May 17, Chris Cornell
(b.1964), the front man for the Soundgarden rock group, committed
suicide at the MGM Grand Hotel in Las Vegas.
   (SFC, 5/19/17, p.E1)
2017Â Â Â Â Â Â May 27, Gregg Allman,
Southern Rock singer and organist of the Allman Brothers Band, died
at his home in Savannah, Ga.
   (SSFC, 5/28/17, p.C9)
2017Â Â Â Â Â Â Jun 13, Anita Pallenberg
(b.1944), model and actress, died in Chichester, England. Sometimes
called the muse of the Rolling Stones, she had affairs with three of
band’s key members.
   (SSFC, 6/18/17, p.C11)
2017Â Â Â Â Â Â Jul 1, In southern Sweden
the Bravalla festival in Norrkoping was called off for next year
after a rape was reported a day earlier. Swedish police say they so
far have 11 cases of sexual abuse and one rape at the July 28-July 1
festival.
   (AP, 7/1/17)
2017Â Â Â Â Â Â Jul 10, After four and a
half years as YouTube's most seen video, "Gangnam Style" slipped
late today to number two, replaced by "See You Again" by Wiz Khalifa
and Charlie Puth. The song was a tribute to Paul Walker, an actor in
"The Fast and Furious" film franchise who died in a car wreck.
   (AP, 7/11/17)
2017Â Â Â Â Â Â Jul 25, In Australia
aboriginal blind singer Dr. Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu (b.1970),
the most beautiful voice in the country, died.
  Â
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MKC-Jd7KN64)(Econ, 8/5/17, p.70)
2017Â Â Â Â Â Â Aug 8, Glen Campbell (81),
American country music legend, died in Nashville. His songs included
“Rhinestone Cowboy” (1975) and “Wichita Lineman” (1968). The
TV show “Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour” ran from 1969 to 1972 on CBS.
   (SFC, 8/9/17, p.A6)
2017Â Â Â Â Â Â Sep 3, Walter Becker
(b.1950), guitarist, bassist and co-founder of Steely Dan, died in
Hawaii.
  Â
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walter_Becker)(SFC, 9/5/17, p.E6)
2017Â Â Â Â Â Â Sep 8, Country singer Don
Williams (b.1939) died in Mobile, Ala. His seventeen No. 1 hits
included “Till the Rivers All Run Dry” (1975).
   (http://tinyurl.com/yb9mp6zk)(SSFC, 9/10/17 p.C9)
2017Â Â Â Â Â Â Sep 8, Country singer Troy
Gentry (b.1967) of the Montgomery Gentry duo, died in a helicopter
crash in Medford, NJ.
   (SSFC, 9/10/17 p.C10)
2017Â Â Â Â Â Â Sep 9, In southern
California the members of the Polish band Decapitated were arrested
early today in Santa Ana, on suspicion of kidnapping a woman after
their Aug. 31 concert in Spokane. The band, founded in Poland in
1996, has won critical acclaim for its albums among fans of death
metal.
   (AP, 9/9/17)
2017Â Â Â Â Â Â Oct 2, American rock icon
Tom Petty (b.1950) died in Santa Monica, Ca., after suffering
cardiac arrest.
   (SFC, 10/3/17, p.A1)
2017Â Â Â Â Â Â Oct 17, Gord Downie (53),
who made himself part of Canada's national identity with songs about
hockey and small towns as lead singer and songwriter of iconic rock
band The Tragically Hip, died after a battle with brain cancer.
   (AP, 10/18/17)
2017Â Â Â Â Â Â Oct 24, Fats Domino
(b.1928), rock’n’roll pioneer, died in New Orleans. His hits
included “Blueberry Hill” (1956).
   (SFC, 10/26/17, p.A6)
2017Â Â Â Â Â Â Nov 12, MTV Europe Music
Awards returned to London for the first time since 1996. Canadian
teen singer Shawn Mendes (19) won best artist and best song at the
MTV Europe Music Awards (EMA).
   (AFP, 11/13/17)
2017Â Â Â Â Â Â Nov 18, Rock band AC/DC
announced that Australia-based Malcolm Young (64), guitarist and
co-founder of the band, has died after suffering from dementia for
several years.
   (AFP, 11/19/17)(SSFC, 11/19/17, p.C10)
2017Â Â Â Â Â Â Nov 19, American country
singer Mel Tillis (85), died in Ocala, Florida. He recorded more
than 60 albums and wrote hit songs for other country singers.
   (SFC, 11/20/17, p.C4)
2017Â Â Â Â Â Â Nov 21, David Cassidy
(b.1950), lead singer on the TV sitcom “The Partridge Family,” died
in Fort Lauderdale, Fl.
   (SFC, 11/22/17, p.A8)
2017Â Â Â Â Â Â Nov 21, Wayne Cochran
(b.1939), American rhythm-and blues singer, died at his home in
Miramar, Fl. His song “Last Kiss” became hit in 1964 for J. Frank
Wilson and the Cavaliers and again in 199 for Pearl Jam. The 1970
B-movie “C.C. and Company with Joe Namath contained a glimpse of his
live act. At age 40 Cochran largely abandoned his music career and
turned to preaching.
   (SFC, 11/27/17, p.C3)
2017Â Â Â Â Â Â Dec 6, French rock star
Johnny Hallyday (b.1943) died in Paris. His power ballads and
colorful personal life made him a national treasure, loved by
everyone from rebellious teens in the 1960s to modern-day
presidents.
   (AP, 12/6/17)
2017Â Â Â Â Â Â Dec 16, Keely Smith
(b.1928), torch singer and former wife of bandleader Louis Prima,
died in Palm Springs. Her marriage to Prima in 1953 lasted to 1961.
   (SFC, 12/20/17, p.D5)
2017Â Â Â Â Â Â Dec 18, In South Korea boy
band SHINee singer Kim Jong-hyun, better known by the stage name
Jonghyun, was found unconscious at a residence hotel in Seoul and
was later pronounced dead at a nearby hospital. Police called it a
possible suicide.
   (AP, 12/18/17)
2018Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 15, Edwin Hawkins
(b.1943), pianist, choir leader and composer, died at his home in
Pleasanton, Ca. In 1968 his Northern California Youth Choir recorded
“Oh Happy Day,” a gospel tune that sold 7 million copies in 1969 and
earned him a Grammy.
   (SFC, 1/14/18, p.A7)
2018Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 15, The Cranberries
lead Irish singer Dolores O'Riordan (b.1971) was found dead in the
bath in her room at London's Park Lane Hilton hotel. On September 6
Coroner Shirley Radcliffe in London ruled that the cause of death
was accidental drowning due to intoxication.
   (AP, 1/16/18)(AFP, 9/6/18)
2018Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 28, The 60th Grammy
Awards returned to New York City for the first time in more than a
decade with a nod to the city's rich history of musical theater.
Bruno Mars picked up the night’s top prizes, including album of the
year and record of the year for “24K Magic.”
   (AP, 1/29/18)(SFC, 1/29/18, p.E1)
2018Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 7, John Perry Barlow
(b.1947), Grateful Dead lyricist and founder of the Electronic
Frontier Foundation, died in San Francisco.  Â
   (SFC, 2/8/18, p.A8)
2018Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 11, American singer
Vic Damone (b.1928) died in Miami Beach. He had recorded some 2,500
songs over 54 years.
   (SFC, 2/13/18, p.C3)
2018Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 1, Turkey’s state
broadcaster faced accusations of imposing censorship reminiscent of
a military coup after admitting it had banned over 200 songs from
being played on air.
   (AFP, 3/1/18)
2018Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 20, Ringo Starr
received his long-awaited knighthood from Prince William. He used
his real name Richard Starkey for the big event.
   (AP, 3/20/18)
2018Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 31, Some of South
Korea's biggest pop stars flew to North Korea for rare performances
that highlight the sudden thaw in inter-Korean ties after years of
tensions over the North's nuclear ambitions.
   (AP, 3/31/18)
2018Â Â Â Â Â Â Apr 14, Bon Jovi, the
Moody Blues, Dire Straits, the Cars, Nina Simone (d.2003) and Sister
Rosetta Tharpe (d.1973 joined music royalty as they were inducted
into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio.
   (AFP, 4/15/18)
2018Â Â Â Â Â Â Apr 27, Sweden's legendary
disco group ABBA announced that they have reunited to record two new
songs, 35 years after their last single, sparking joy and surprise
among fans.
   (AFP, 4/27/18)
2018Â Â Â Â Â Â May 9, In Scotland
Frightened Rabbit singer Scott Hutchison (36) was reported missing
after leaving a hotel in South Queensferry, near Edinburgh. On May
11 police confirmed that a body discovered at a Scottish marina is
that of Scott Hutchison.
   (AP, 5/11/18)
2018Â Â Â Â Â Â May 12, Portugal hosted
the final night of the Eurovision Song Contest. Israel's Netta
Barzilai (25) was announced the winner of the Eurovision Song
Contest in Portugal with her techno dance tune "Toy".
   (AP, 5/12/18)(AP, 5/13/18)
2018Â Â Â Â Â Â May 13, American composer
Glenn Branca died in Manhattan. He blended classical, rock and
avant-garde elements in his compositions that included Symphony No.
16 (Orgasm) in 2016.
   (SFC, 5/18/18, p.D8)
2018Â Â Â Â Â Â May 22, Japan-based Sony
Corp. said it plans to spend $2.3 billion acquiring an additional 60
percent stake in EMI Music Publishing, home to the Motown catalog
and contemporary artists like Kanye West, Alicia Keys and Pharrell
Williams.
   (AP, 5/22/18)
2018Â Â Â Â Â Â May 24, Authorities in
Spain issued arrest warrants for Jose Miguel Arenas Beltran (24), a
rap singer (aka Valtonyc) and composer from Palma de Mallorca,
sentenced to prison for lyrics that praised terror groups and
insulted the royal family.
   (AP, 5/24/18)
2018Â Â Â Â Â Â May 24, In Turkey rapper
Sercan Ipekcigolu (27), better-known as rapper "Ezhel," was detained
by narcotics police in Istanbul late today and was later charged
with encouraging the use of drugs.
   (AP, 5/25/18)
2018Â Â Â Â Â Â May 27, South Korean
7-member boyband phenomenon BTS became the first K-Pop group to rise
to the top of the US album charts, a vivid illustration of the
genre's growing global appeal.
   (AFP, 5/28/18)
2018Â Â Â Â Â Â Jun 3, Jerry Hopkins
(b.1935), American music writer, died in Bangkok. His work included
biographies of Jim Morrison, Elvis Presley and Jimi Hendrix.
   (SSFC, 6/10/18, p.C2)
2018Â Â Â Â Â Â Jun 24, In the SF Bay Area
aspiring rapper Richard Doss (21), aka Lil Buzz, was shot and killed
in his car on the 500 block of 23rd Street in Richmond.
   {SF Bay Area, USA, Murder, Pop&Rock}
   (SFC, 6/27/18, p.D4)
2018Â Â Â Â Â Â Jul 18, British rock star
Cliff Richard (77) was awarded $273,000 in damages after winning a
privacy lawsuit against the BBC fir its coverage of a 2014 police
raid over alleged sex offenses.
   (SFC, 7/18/18, p.A2)
2018Â Â Â Â Â Â Jul 20, German astronaut
Alexander Gerst played a duet of Kraftwerk's 1978 song "Spacelab"
with the band to cheers from an audience in Stuttgart.
   (AP, 7/21/18)
2018Â Â Â Â Â Â Aug 16, Aretha Franklin
(76), the music legend, icon and Grammy-winning singer celebrated as
the "Queen of Soul," died at her home in Detroit. She influenced
generations of female singers with unforgettable hits including
"Respect" (1967), "Natural Woman" (1968) and "I Say a Little Prayer"
(1968).
   (AFP, 8/16/18)
2018Â Â Â Â Â Â Sep 5, A Ugandan music
festival was reinstated following a public outcry after the
country's ethics minister banned the Nyege Nyege music festival a
day earlier as an orgy of homosexuality, nudity and drugs akin to
"devil worship".
   (AFP, 9/5/18)
2018Â Â Â Â Â Â Sep 7, Rapper Mac Miller
(26) was found dead at his Los Angeles home. An autopsey later
showed his death was due to an accidental overdose of drugs and
alcohol.
   (SFC, 11/6/18, p.A6)
2018Â Â Â Â Â Â Sep 12, France-based
Algerian singer Rachid Taha (59) died overnight after suffering a
heart attack at his home in the Paris suburbs.
   (AP, 9/13/18)
2018Â Â Â Â Â Â Sep 14, Uzbekistan's first
electronic music festival ever, an event, called Stihia or Element
in Russian, was staged at Muynak, an area of desert caused by one of
the world's largest man-made environmental catastrophes, the
shrinking of the Aral Sea.
   (AP, 9/16/18)
2018Â Â Â Â Â Â Sep 15, In Australia a man
(23) and a woman (21) died after collapsing at the Defqon.1 music
festival in Sydney. A dozen more were hospitalized and hundreds
others sought medical assistance after suspected drug overdoses.
   (Reuters, 9/16/18)
2018Â Â Â Â Â Â Sep 27, Marty Balin
(b.1942), co-founder of the San Francisco-based Jefferson Airplane
rock group (1965), died in Florida.
   (SFC, 9/29/18, p.A1)
2018Â Â Â Â Â Â Oct 1, Legendary French
singer Charles Aznavour (b.1924) died at his home in Alpilles.
Aznavour was named "Entertainer of the Century" by CNN in 1998
because of his immense global popularity. His leading role in
Francois Truffaut's film "Shoot the Piano Player" in 1960 catapulted
Aznavour to international fame.
   (AFP, 10/1/18)
2018Â Â Â Â Â Â Oct 2, Geoff Emerick (72),
who worked as recording engineer for the Beatles for many years and
played an important role in the creation of "Revolver," ''Sgt.
Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" and other albums, died.
   (AP, 10/3/18)
2018Â Â Â Â Â Â Oct 22, Thai rappers
uploaded the song "Prathet Ku Mee" (Which is My Country), to
YouTube. It soon racked up more than 6.4 million views and tens of
thousands of comments since it went live on the platform, prompting
authorities to take notice. The video features rappers from the Rap
Against Dictatorship collective dishing out barbs about the military
and blasting corruption, censorship and the lack of elections.
   (AFP, 10/27/18)
2018Â Â Â Â Â Â Nov 15, Roy Clark, US
country music star, died in Oklahoma. He headlined the TV show "Hee
Haw" for nearly a quarter century.
   (SFC, 11/16/18, p.A7)
2018Â Â Â Â Â Â Nov 21, Russian police
detained rapper Dmitry Kuznetsov (25), aka Husky, for performing on
a car in Krasnodar after prosecutors banned his gig. Husky is known
for his songs mocking authorities and police brutality.
   (AP, 11/22/18)
2018Â Â Â Â Â Â Dec 7, Pete Shelley (63),
the lead singer and songwriter with influential British pop punk
band the "Buzzcocks", died at his home in Estonia. The band helped
create the New Wave genre, fusing punk's energy with a more melodic
sound.
   (AP, 12/7/18)
2018Â Â Â Â Â Â Dec 13, Cleveland-based
Rock & Roll Hall of Fame organizers announced that pop icon
Janet Jackson, angst rockers Radiohead and post-punk innovators The
Cure earned spots in its Class of 2019. Stevie Nicks, already an
inductee with her band Fleetwood Mac, was now also honored as a solo
artist. British heavy metal group Def Leppard, pop experimentalists
Roxy Music and English psychedelic rock harmonists The Zombies round
out the list of artists.
   (AFP, 12/13/18)
2018Â Â Â Â Â Â Dec 13, Nancy Wilson (81),
a Grammy-winning singer who performed everything from jazz ballads
to pop songs during a career spanning decades, died in California.
   (AFP, 12/14/18)
2018Â Â Â Â Â Â Dec 14, Spanish
prosecutors charged pop music star Shakira with tax evasion,
alleging she failed to pay more than 14.5 million euros ($16.3
million) between 2012 and 2014. Shakira listed the Bahamas as her
official residence for tax purposes while living in Spain.
   (AP, 12/14/18)
2018Â Â Â Â Â Â Dec 16, In southern
Romania Anca Pop (34), a Romanian-Canadian singer-songwriter, died
after her car plunged into the Danube River.
   (AP, 12/18/18)
2018Â Â Â Â Â Â Dec, Venezuelan migrant
singer Reymar Perdomo (30) was invited to Colombia by a popular
satirist and Youtuber who had her sing on a bus in Peru, surprising
her by bringing along Latin Grammy winner Carlos Vives and Andres
Cepeda. She had written the heartfelt reggae song "Me Fui" about
leaving her homeland that went viral on the internet and has brought
tears to hundreds in the Venezuelan diaspora that has spread around
the globe.
   (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PMtbPQWPlsk)(AP,
1/16/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 22, French officials
said US singer Chris Brown (29) and two other people are in custody
in Paris after a woman filed a rape complaint.
   (AP, 1/22/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 23, Zimbabwe music
star Oliver Mtukudzi (66) died in Harare.
   (AP, 1/23/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 9, UK rising rapper
Cadet (28), aka Blaine Cameron Johnson, was killed in a car crash
early today on the way to a performance in central England.
   (AP, 2/9/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 22, In Chicago R&B
star R. Kelly was arrested on multiple charges of aggravated sexual
abuse invloving four victims, including at least three between the
ages of 13 and 17.
   (SFC, 2/23/19, p.A6)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 26, It was reported
that Ukraine's national broadcaster has dropped singer Anna Korsun
(27), who was meant to represent the country at the Eurovision Song
Contest, due to apparent political differences over Russia.
   (Reuters, 2/26/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 4, Keith Flint (49),
the fiery frontman of British dance-electronic band The Prodigy, was
found dead at his home near London. Keith reportedly took his own
life over the weekend. The band's 1990s "Firestarter" (1996) and
"Breathe" (1996) were an incendiary fusion of techno, breakbeat and
acid house music.
   (AP, 3/4/19)(AFP, 3/4/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 7, Singapore axed a
gig by Watain, a Swedish metal band with Satanic beliefs, whose
performances have involved throwing pig's blood onto revelers, just
hours before it was due to go ahead.
   (AFP, 3/7/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 16, American rock
guitarist Dick Dale (b.1937) died in Los Angeles. His loud chord
instrumentals on songs like "Miserlou" and "Let's Go Trippin'"
earned him the title King of the Surf Guitar.
   (SFC, 3/19/19, p.A9)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 21, In South Korea
K-pop singer and television celebrity, Jung Joon-young, was arrested
over accusations he shared his secret sex videos.
   (Reuters, 3/21/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 22, Scott Walker (76),
the influential singer, songwriter and producer whose hits with the
Walker Brothers in the 1960s included "The Sun Ain't Gonna Shine
Anymore," died in London.
   (AP, 3/25/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 29, In New York City
genre-bending acts Radiohead and The Cure led a British invasion
into Brooklyn to take their spots in the Rock & Roll Hall of
Fame, while pop icon Janet Jackson entered the shrine in an
induction many industry insiders consider long overdue. American
folk rock legend Stevie Nicks became the first woman inducted twice.
Heavy metal group Def Leppard, pop experimentalists Roxy Music and
English psychedelic rock harmonists The Zombies rounded out the
five-strong class of British inductees.
   (AFP, 3/29/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 30, Billy Adams (79),
Hall of Fame pioneer of rockabilly music, died in Westmoreland,
Tenn. His hits included "Rock, Pretty Mama" (1957).
   (SFC, 4/4/19, p.C4)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Apr 6, Bosnia's capital
city made Iron Maiden lead singer Bruce Dickinson an honorary
citizen for a concert he performed while Sarajevo was under siege
during the 1992-95 war. This came on Sarajevo Day, which marks the
city's 1945 liberation during World War II and the start in 1992 of
the Bosnian Serb siege that killed more than 11,000 people,
including 1,600 children.
   (AP, 4/6/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Apr 10, Earl Thomas Conley
(b.1941), popular country singer of the 1980s, died in Nashville.
His 24 Top 10 country singles in the 1980s included "Holding Her and
Loving You" and "Don't Make It Easy for Me".
   (SSFC, 4/14/19, p.C10)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â May 14, In Israel hackers
succeeded in flashing a fake rocket attack warning during a webcast
of a Eurovision song contest semi-final. Israel's public broadcaster
blamed the incident on Islamist group Hamas.
   (AFP, 5/15/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â May 18, In Israel singer
Duncan Laurence (25) brought the Netherlands victory with a doleful
piano ballad, "Arcade," its first win in the Eurovision song contest
since the 1970s. His victory means the Netherlands will host next
year's edition.
   (AP, 5/19/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â May 30, In Chicago
prosecutors charged R&B singer R. Kelly with 11 new sex-related
counts, including some that carry a maximum sentence of 30 years in
prison.
   (SFC, 5/31/19, p.A4)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â May 30, Leon Redbone
(b.1949), Cyprus-born American guitar playing singer, died in
Pennsylvania. His albums included “On the Track” (1975), “Double
Time” (1977) and “Up a Lazy River” (1992).
   (SSFC, 6/2/19, p.C1)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jun 6, Mac Rebennack
(b.1940), aka Dr. John, pianist, singer and songwriter who ermbodied
the New Orleans sound for generations, died of a heart attack. He
recorded more than 30 albums and in 1994 authored an autobiography
with Jack Rummel titled "Under Hoodoo Moon".
   (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dr._John)(SSFC,
6/9/19, p.C10)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jun 9, In Colorado
Bushwick Bill (52), the diminutive, one-eyed rapper (aka Robert
Shaw) who with the Geto Boys helped put the South's stamp on rap
with hits like "Mind Playing Tricks On Me" and "Six Feet Deep," died
of pancreatic cancer.
   (AP, 6/9/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jun 14, In South Korea
Yang Hyun Suk, the founder of one of the most successful K-Pop music
agencies, stepped down amid accusations that he tried to cover up
alleged drug use by one of the company's artists.
   (AP, 6/14/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jun 19, In France Electro
star Philippe Zdar (52), one half of the cult French house duo
Cassius, died late today after falling from a window in Paris -- two
days before the release of his latest album.
   (AFP, 6/20/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jun 29, Gary Duncan
(b.1946), co-lead guitarist for the Quicksilver Messenger Service
band, died ten days after suffering a fall at his home in Woodland,
Ca.
   (SFC, 7/5/19, p.C1)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jul 2, In South Korea Park
Yoo-chun, a former member of the boy band JYJ, received a 10-month
suspended sentence for illegal drug use. The Suwon District Court
also ordered the 33-year-old star to undergo probation and
treatment.
   (AP, 7/2/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jul 3, American rapper
A$AP Rocky (30), a performer, producer and model, whose real name is
Rakim Mayers, was detained in Sweden along with his bodyguard and
two other members of his entourage in connection with a fight in a
Stockholm city-center street in the early hours of June 30.
   (Reuters, 7/20/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jul 6, In Brazil Joao
Gilberto (b.1931), singer and composer who helped bossa nova gain
global popularity, died in Rio de Janeiro.
  Â
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jo%C3%A3o_Gilberto)(SFC, 7/8/19,
p.C3)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jul 12, Singer R. Kelly
was arrested in Chicago under charges that included racketeering,
kidnapping, forced labor and the sexual exploitation of a child.
   (SFC, 7/13/19, p.A6)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Aug 14, A Swedish court
convicted American rapper A$AP Rocky (30), aka Rakim Mayers, of
assaulting a man and handed him suspended prison sentence. The
Swedish court also convicted two members of A$AP Rocky's entourage
of the same crime.
   (Reuters, 8/14/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Aug 30, US
singer-songwriter Taylor Swift's album "Lover" broke a new record
for an international artist in China as it surpassed one million
combined total streams, downloads and sales within a week of its
release.
   (Reuters, 8/30/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Sep 10, Daniel Dale
Johnston (b.1961), American singer-songwriter and visual artist,
died in Waller, Texas. He was regarded as a significant figure in
outsider, lo-fi, and alternative music scenes. Most of his work
consisted of cassettes recorded alone in his home, and his music was
frequently cited for its "pure" and "childlike" qualities. Johnston
spent extended periods in psychiatric institutions and was diagnosed
with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. He gathered a local
following in the 1980s by passing out tapes of his music while
working at a McDonald's in Austin, Texas. His cult status was
propelled when Nirvana's Kurt Cobain was seen wearing a T-shirt that
featured artwork from Johnston's 1983 album Hi, How Are You. In
2005, Johnston was the subject of the documentary The Devil and
Daniel Johnston.
   (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daniel_Johnston)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Sep 13, American musician
Eddie Money (b.1949) died in Los Angeles. His hits, including "Two
Tickets to Paradise" and "Baby Hold On," formed part of the rock and
power pop soundtrack of the late 1970s and early 1980s.
   (Reuters, 9/13/19)(SFC, 9/14/19, p.C1)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Sep 15, Ric Ocasek
(b.1944), songwriter and lead singer for the Cars, died at his
townhouse in Manhattan.
   (SFC, 9/16/19, p.A5)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Sep 23, Robert Hunter
(78), singer and songwriter for the Grateful Dead, died at his home
in San Rafael, Ca. His songs included "Touch of Grey" (1987).
   (SFC, 9/25/19, p.C1)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Oct 2, The US Library of
Congress said country music superstar Garth Brooks, whose hits
include "Friends in Low Places," ''The Thunder Rolls" and "The
Dance," will receive the Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for
Popular Song in March 2020.
   (AP, 10/2/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Oct 6, British rock music
drummer Ginger Baker (b.1939), a co-founder of the 1960's supergroup
Cream with bass player Jack Bruce and guitarist Eric Clapton, died.
Cream was founded in 1966 and disbanded in 1968.
   (Reuters, 10/6/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Oct 18, British rapper
Ervine Kimpalu (20), who goes by the artist name Rico Racks, was
issued with a special five year Criminal Behavior Order when he
appeared at Blackfriars Crown Court preventing him from referring to
several drug-related words in his online rap videos.
   (The Telegraph, 10/20/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Nov 24, In South Korea Koo
Hara (28), a former member of a top K-pop girl group, was found dead
at her home in southern Seoul.
   (Reuters, 11/24/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Dec 8, Jarad Anthony
Higgins (b.1998), a rapper known professionally as Juice Wrld, died
following a drug-related seizure at Midway International Airport.
Higgins had taken "several unknown pills", including allegedly
swallowing multiple Percocet pills in an attempt to hide them while
police were on board the plane searching the luggage. In 2020 his
third album, "Legends Never Die," reached the top of America's
Billboard 200 charts.
   (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Juice_Wrld)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Dec 18, Kenny Lynch (81),
whose pop hits including "Up on the Roof," died in London. The song
made him one of the best-known black British entertainers of the
1960s.
   (Reuters, 12/18/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Lil Nas X, born as Montero
Lamar Hill, found major fame in 2019 with his viral hit “Old Town
Road. In 2021 Nike sued MSCHF, a small Brooklyn-based company, over
its sale of 666 pairs of altered Nike Air Max 97s as “Satan Shoes”
in collaboration with the rapper Lil Nas X, following the release of
a devil-themed music video for his song “Montero (Call Me by Your
Name)” in which he gyrates on Satan’s lap.
   (NY Times, 3/31/21)
2020Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 7, Neil Peart (67),
drummer for the Canadian band Rush, died in Santa Monica, Ca.
   (SFC, 1/13/20, p.C3)
2020Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 26, The biggest names
in the US music industry were honored at the 62nd Annual Grammy
Awards. Billie Eilish took home all four of the night’s biggest
awards: best new artist, album of the year for "When We All Fall
Asleep, Where Do We Go?" and both song of the year and record of the
year for her hit "Bad Guy.”
   (Good Morning America, 1/27/20)
2020Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 26, Bob Shane (85),
the last original member of the Kingston Trio, died near his home in
Phoenix. Shane, Nick Reynolds and David Guard had formed the SF Bay
Area folk group in 1957.
   (SFC, 1/30/20, p.C6)
2020Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 6, Lynn Evands Mand
(95), lead singer of the Chordettes, died in Ohio. The group became
popular for their recording of "Mr Sandman" (1954) and "Lollipop"
(1958) among other songs.
   (SSFC, 3/1/20, p.B9)
2020Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 11, In South Africa
Joseph Shabalala (78), the founder of the South African
multi-Grammy-Award-winning music group Ladysmith Black Mambazo, died
in Pretoria. the choral group, founded in 1964, shot to world
acclaim collaborating with Paul Simon on the “Graceland” album and
many other artists.
   (AP, 2/11/20)
2020Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 9, Led Zeppelin
persuaded a US appeals court to reinstate a jury verdict that it did
not steal the opening guitar riff for "Stairway to Heaven" from an
obscure song written four years earlier.
   (Reuters, 3/9/20)
2020Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 13, US federal
prosecutors hit R&B singer R. Kelly with more criminal charges
in a revised indictment filed in NYC. Charges included the singer of
having unprotected sex with a girl in 2015 without disclosing he had
herpes.
   (SSFC, 3/15/20, p.A5)
2020Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 17, Jerry Slick
(b.1939), drummer and founder of the San Francisco-based Great
Society rock band, died in his Mill Valley, Ca., home. He founded
the band with his wife Grace Slick in 1965. Grace Slick joined the
Jefferson Airplane in 1966 and Jerry moved on as a cinematographer
and filmmaker.
   (SSFC, 3/29/20, p.B8)
2020Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 18, In the Netherlands
organizers of the Eurovision song contest said it will not take
place this year due to the global coronavirus outbreak. The
Netherlands was to host the 2020 contest after Dutch
singer-songwriter Duncan Laurence won in 2019 with a song called
"Arcade".
   (AP, 3/18/20)
2020Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 20, American country
singer Kenny Rogers (81) died in Sandy Springs, Georgia. During his
six-decade, genre-hopping career, Rogers released 65 albums and sold
more than 165 million records.
   (Reuters,
3/21/20)(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kenny_Rogers)
2020Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 24, In France Manu
Dibango (86), a Cameroonian-born saxophonist, died with the
coronavirus. He had gained international fame with his 1972 song
"Soul Makossa".
   (SFC, 3/25/20, p.A2)
2020Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 29, Alan Merrill
(b.1951), writer of the hit song "I Love Rock and Roll," died in New
York of complications from the coronavirus. He wrote the song for
his band the Arrows in 1975 and it became a hit for Joan Jett in
1982.
   (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alan_Merrill)(SFC,
3/30/20, p.A7)
2020Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 30, American
singer-songwriter Bill Withers (81) died in Los Angeles of heart
complications. His soulful hits such as "Lean on Me" and "Ain't No
Sunshine" earned him induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
   (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Withers)
2020Â Â Â Â Â Â Apr 7, John Prine (73),
the country-folk singer and songwriter whose lyrics made him a
favorite of Bob Dylan, Kris Kristofferson and others, died in
Nashville of complications due to the coronavirus.
   (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Prine)(NY
Times, 4/8/20)
2020Â Â Â Â Â Â Apr 7, Hal Willner,
American music producer, died with symptoms consistent with COVID-19
at his home in Manhattan.
   (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hal_Willner)(Econ,
4/18/20, p.74)
2020Â Â Â Â Â Â Apr 21, Florian Schneider
(b.1947), co-founder of the German electronic music group Kraftwork,
died in Dusseldorf. The avant-garde music group emerged from
Dusseldorf in 1970.
   (Econ., 5/16/20, p.43)
2020Â Â Â Â Â Â May 9, Little Richard
(87), the flashy wild man of rock ’n’ roll who drew deeply from
gospel and the blues to create a thrilling new sound, died in
Tennessee of bone cancer. His hits included "Tutti Frutti" (1956),
"Lucille," "Keep a Knockin'," "Long Tall Sally" and "Good Golly Miss
Molly."
   (NY Times, 5/10/20)(SSFC, 5/10/20, p.C9)(Econ.,
5/23/20, p.78)
2020Â Â Â Â Â Â May 24, French singer
Liliane Lebon (b.1917), known professionally as Lily Lian, died
Ivry-sur-Seine on the outskirts of Paris.
   (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lily_Lian)(Econ.,
6/20/20, p.78)
2020Â Â Â Â Â Â Jun 4, Rupert Hine, a
prolific English producer and songwriter, died at his home in
Wiltshire, England. He thrived in the synth-pop heyday of the 1980s
making hits with Tina Turner, the Fixx and Howard Jones.
   {Britain, Pop&Rock}
   (NY Times, 6/16/20)
2020Â Â Â Â Â Â Jun 8, Grammy winner
Bonnie Pointer (69) died of cardiac arrest in Los Angeles. In 1969
she convinced three of her church-singing siblings to form the
Pointer Sisters, which would become one of the biggest acts of the
next two decades.
   (AP, 6/8/20)
2020Â Â Â Â Â Â Jun 18, Vera Lynn (103),
British singer, died. She became a symbol of hope in Britain during
World War Two and again during the coronavirus pandemic with her
song "We'll Meet Again".
   (Reuters, 6/18/20)
2020Â Â Â Â Â Â Jun 25, In Missouri Rapper
Huey (32), best known known for the 2007 hit song "Pop, Lock &
Drop It," was fatally shot and another man wounded during a
late-night shooting outside St. Louis.
   (AP, 6/26/20)
2020Â Â Â Â Â Â Jul 6, Charlie Daniels
(83), country singer, songwriter and blazing fiddler, died in
Nashville.
   (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charlie_Daniels)
2020Â Â Â Â Â Â Jul 22, Kim Kardashian
said that her rapper husband Kanye West suffers from bipolar
disorder and asked for compassion and empathy as he and his family
try to manage his illness.
   (Reuters, 7/22/20)
2020Â Â Â Â Â Â Jul 25, It was reported
that British rap artist Wiley (41) is facing a police investigation
after a string of anti-Semitic comments appeared on his social media
accounts, prompting his management to drop him. Wiley, whose real
name is Richard Cowie, released a number one single in Britain in
2012 and had several other top 10 hits. He received a UK government
honor for his contribution to music in 2018.
   (Reuters, 7/25/20)
2020Â Â Â Â Â Â Jul 25, Peter Green (73),
British blues guitarist, died on Canvey Island, England. He helped
form Fleetwood Mac, which made its debut at the British Blues and
Jazz Festival in 1967.
  Â
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Green_(musician))
2020Â Â Â Â Â Â Aug 4, Chicago rapper
Carlton Weekly (26) was killed in a triple shooting in the city's
upscale community of Gold Coast. Weekly had performed as FBG Duck
and rapped about gun violence. His last video, "Dead Bitches," was
released in July.
   (AP, 8/5/20)(Econ., 9/5/20, p.71)
2020Â Â Â Â Â Â Aug 11, American singer
and actor Trini Lopez (83), known for his cover of "If I Had a
Hammer," died in Palm Springs, Ca.
   (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trini_Lopez)
2020Â Â Â Â Â Â Sep 9, Kool & the Gang
co-founder Ronald "Khalis" Bell (68) died at his home in the US
Virgin Islands.
   (The Week, 9/10/20)
2020Â Â Â Â Â Â Sep 29, Australian-born
singer Helen Reddy (78) died in Los Angeles. Her 1972 hit song “I Am
Woman” became a feminist anthem.
   (NY Times, 9/30/20)
2020Â Â Â Â Â Â Oct 6, Guitar player Eddie
Van Halen (65) died of cancer. In 2012, Guitar World Magazine ranked
him No. 1 on its list of the “100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time.”
   (NY Times, 10/7/20)
2020Â Â Â Â Â Â Oct 16, In California
rapper Fontrell Antonio Baines (31), aka known as Nuke Bizzle, was
arrested for an alleged unemployment benefits fraud scheme — after
he had boasted about that type of fraud in a YouTube music video.
Bizzle allegedly applied for $1.2 million in jobless benefits and
used stolen identities.
   (NBC News, 10/18/20)
2020Â Â Â Â Â Â Oct 17, Bob Biggs (74)
founder of Slash Records (1979), one of the most successful
independent record labels of its era, died of Lewy body dementia at
his ranch in Tehachapi, Ca.
   (NY Times, 10/29/20)
2020Â Â Â Â Â Â Oct 19, WHO
Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said that Kim Sledge of
the band Sister Sledge will donate proceeds from a cover of the
band's classic song "We Are Family" to the World Health Organization
Foundation.
   (Reuters, 10/19/20)
2020Â Â Â Â Â Â Oct 19, Spencer Davis
(81), the leader of a rock group under his name that had some of the
most propulsive and enduring hits of the 1960s, including “Gimme
Some Lovin’,” “I’m a Man” and “Keep On Running” — all sung not by
him but by a teenage Steve Winwood — died in Los Angeles.
   (NY Times, 10/20/20)
2020Â Â Â Â Â Â Nov 6, In Georgia Rapper
King Von (26), aka Dayvon Bennett, and another man were fatally shot
after gunfire erupted outside an Atlanta hookah bar early today.
Timothy Leeks (22) was soon charged with murder in Bennett's death.
   (NBC News, 11/7/20)(SFC, 11/9/20, p.A4)
2020Â Â Â Â Â Â Nov 11, Dallas rapper Mo3
(28), born as Melvin Noble, was reportedly gunned down in broad
daylight in a drive-by shooting and died from his injuries. In
December police arrested Kewon Dontrell White (21) in connection
with the killing.
   (AP, 11/12/20)(AP, 12/10/20)
2020Â Â Â Â Â Â Nov 22, Taylor Swift was
named artist of the year at the American Music Awards and won two
other trophies in a ceremony held live in Los Angeles amid tight
coronavirus curbs.
   (Reuters, 11/22/20)
2020Â Â Â Â Â Â Nov 24, Beyonce dominated
nominations for the 2021 Grammy Awards in a field that favored
alternative artists over mainstream musicians, topped by a stunning
snub for Canadian singer The Weeknd, who called the process
"corrupt".
   (AP, 11/25/20)
2020Â Â Â Â Â Â Nov 24, South Korean boy
band BTS snagged the first ever Grammy nomination for a K-pop band,
taking the worldwide sensation a step closer to winning the music
award.
   (Reuters, 11/24/20)
2020Â Â Â Â Â Â Dec 12, Charley Pride,
described as "the first Black superstar in country music," died due
to complications from COVID-19 in Dallas, Texas.
   (The Week, 12/13/20)
2020Â Â Â Â Â Â Dec 17, The organizers of
the Grammy awards launched an initiative to elevate Black voices at
all levels of the music industry and ensure that Black artists are
fairly compensated for their work.
   (AP, 12/17/20)
2020Â Â Â Â Â Â Dec 20, Chad Stuart (79),
half of the musical duo Chad and Jeremy, died at his home in Idaho.
The British duo's songs included "Yesterday's Gone" (1963) and "A
Summer Song" (1964).
  Â
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chad_%26_Jeremy)(SFC, 12/26/20, p.B3)
2020Â Â Â Â Â Â Dec 23, Leslie West (75),
guitarist for the 1970s band Mountain, died in Palm Coast, Fl.
   (SSFC, 12/27/20, p.C11)
2020Â Â Â Â Â Â Dec 28, In Mexico
Yucatan-born ballad singer and composer Armando Manzanero (85) died
in Mexico City.
  Â
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Armando_Manzanero)(AP, 12/28/20)
2020Â Â Â Â Â Â Dec 29, Phyllis McGuire
(89), the last surviving member of the three singing McGuire
Sisters, died in Las Vegas. The McGuire Sisters earned six gold
records for hits including 1954's "Sincerely" and 1957's
"Sugartime."
   (AP, 1/1/21)
2021Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 1, Portuguese singer
Carlos do Carmo (81) died. He was one of the country's most beloved
artists, known as the "Sinatra" of the soulful, melancholic fado
music.
   (Reuters, 1/1/21)
2021Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 4, Elias Rahbani (82),
a Lebanese composer and lyricist, died after battling COVID-19. He
wrote the music for some of the Arab world’s top performers,
including Lebanon’s diva Fairouz.
   (AP, 1/4/21)
2021Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 6, London-listed
specialist investment firm Hipgnosis Songs Fund said
singer-songwriter Neil Young has sold it a half share of the rights
to his entire catalogue of 1,180 songs.
   (Reuters, 1/6/21)
2021Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 13, It was reported
that Colombian pop superstar Shakira has become the latest artist to
sell the rights to her catalogue of 145 songs to London-listed
Hipgnosis Songs Fund, as the coronavirus crisis crushes concert
earnings.
   (Reuters, 1/13/20)
2021Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 14, Mick Fleetwood
(73) has become the latest in a series of rock musicians to cash in
on their work by agreeing to sell his back catalogue to music major
BMG.
   (Reuters, 1/14/20)
2021Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 16, Rock producer Phil
Spector (81), who changed the sound of pop music in the 1960s with
his "Wall of Sound" recordings, died of COVID-19 in Stockton Ca. He
was serving a 19 years-to-life sentence of murder for the 2003
murder of Hollywood actress Lana Clarkson.
   (Reuters, 1/17/21)(SFC, 1/18/21, p.A5)
2021Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 29, In South Korea an
AI system performed a new song cover by folk rock singer Kim
Kwang-seok, who died in 1996. Singing Voice Synthesis (SVS) learned
20 songs of Kim based on training tool with over 700 Korean songs to
improve accuracy, so that the system can mimic a new song in Kim's
own style. the AI company Supertone recreated the dead singer's
voice.
   (Reuters, 1/29/21)
2021Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 4, It was reported
that Bosnia's most popular rock band, Dubioza Kolektiv, has a new
recruit who sings and plays musical instruments - a humanoid robot
called Robby Megabyte.
   (Reuters, 2/4/21)
2021Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 8, Mary Wilson (76), a
founding member of the Supremes, died at her home in Henderson, Nev.
The trailblazing group from the 1960s, formed in Detroit as the
Primettes in 1959, was known for hits like “Where Did Our Love Go?”
and “Baby Love.” Members included Florence Ballard and Diana Ross
and helped develop Motown’s legendary sound.
   (NY Times, 2/9/21)
2021Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 13, French
conglomerate Vivendi said it planned to distribute 60% of Universal
Music's capital to investors, subject to shareholder approval, and
aimed to list its most-prized asset, home to singers such as Lady
Gaga and Taylor Swift, by the end of the year.
   (Reuters, 2/13/21)
2021Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 18, Prince Markie Dee
(52), a member of the trio Fat Boys, died in Miami. The group
released some of hip-hop’s most commercially successful albums of
the 1980s and helped speed the genre’s absorption into pop culture.
   (NY Times, 2/19/21)
2021Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 3, It was reported
that the Cypriot church has gone into battle against "The Devil",
denouncing the country's pick for this year's Eurovision Song
Contest as glorifying Satan. Dance number "El Diablo" - Spanish for
the Devil - is the island nation's offering to the annual music
contest for 2021.
   (Reuters, 3/3/21)
2021Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 3, Bunny Wailer (73),
the co-founder of the groundbreaking Jamaican reggae group the
Wailers, died after frequent hospitalizations for a stroke he
suffered last year.
   (The Guardian, 3/3/21)
2021Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 11, The music industry
body IFPI said South Korea's K-pop sensation BTS dominated world
music sales in 2020 by putting out the year's best-, and second-best
selling albums.
   (Reuters, 3/11/21)
2021Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 11, It was reported
that a rumbling political crisis in Belarus has spilled over into
the Eurovision Song Contest this week, as the country's state
broadcaster nominated a band that has released songs mocking
protests against President Alexander Lukashenko. The entry, by
Galasy ZMesta, has received 5,800 likes and 40,000 dislikes on the
competition's official YouTube page since March 9, with more than
half a million views.
  Â
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XohDxCXOsdI)(Reuters, 3/11/21)
2021Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 27, It was reported
that organizers of this year's Eurovision Song Contest have
disqualified Belarus, ruling that its entry song - by a band whose
lyrics have been deemed in the past to mock anti-government protests
- is in breach of competition guidelines.
   (Reuters, 3/27/21)
2021Â Â Â Â Â Â Apr 9, Grammy-nominated
rapper DMX (50), born as Earl Simmons, died of cardiac arrest at his
home in White Plains, NY. His first five albums all debuted at No. 1
on Billboard charts. DMX starred in the 1998 film "Belly" and
appeared in 2000's "Romeo Must Die" with Jet Li and Aaliyah. He also
starred in 2001's "Exit Wounds" with Steven Seagal and 2003's
"Cradle 2 the Grave" with Li.
   (AP, 4/9/21)
2021Â Â Â Â Â Â Apr 22, Gregory Edward
Jacobs (57), known as Shock G, the frontman for the influential
hip-hop group Digital Underground, was found dead at a hotel in
Tampa, Fla. Digital Underground had a string of hits in the early
1990s and introduced its audience to a little-known rapper named
Tupac Shakur.
   (NY Times, 4/23/21)
2021Â Â Â Â Â Â May 22, Twenty six nations
competed in the final of the Eurovision song contest in the
Netherlands, vying for votes in the world's most popular live music
event, which returns after being cancelled last year due to the
pandemic. Maneskin won the Eurovision Song Contest. Their song
“Zitti E Buoni” beat 25 other acts from across Europe to bring the
title home for Italy. France came in second, and Switzerland came in
third.
   (NY Times, 5/22/21)(Reuters, 5/22/21)
2021Â Â Â Â Â Â May 29, Grammy-winning
singer B.J. Thomas (78) died at his hiome in Arlington, Texas. His
songs included "Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head" (1969) and "Hey
Won't You Play" (1975). The Raindrops song was written by Burt
Bacharach and Hal David for the film "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance
Kid" (1969).
   (SFC, 5/31/21, p.B5)
2021Â Â Â Â Â Â May 31, Texas rapper Lil
Loaded (20), born as Dashawn Robertson, died by suicide. He won
viral success with a 2019 single and was facing a manslaughter
charge in a fatal shooting last year. Robertson's 2019 song "6locc
6a6y" was awarded a gold certification last week by the Recording
Industry Association of America.
   (AP, 6/1/21)
2021Â Â Â Â Â Â Jul 4, Rick Laird (80), a
bassist and founding member of the Mahavishnu Orchestra (1971), died
of lung cancer in NYC.
   (SFC, 7/22/21, p.B4)
2021Â Â Â Â Â Â Jul 14, A Los Angeles
judge ruled that Britney Spears can choose her own lawyer in her
fight to end a controversial conservatorship controlled by her
father.
   (BBC, 7/15/21)
2021Â Â Â Â Â Â Jul 17, Britney Spears
(39) said she would not perform again while her father retains
control over her career. The pop star's father, Jamie Spears, has
sole control of his daughter's $60 million estate under the
court-appointed conservatorship that he set up in 2008.
   (Reuters, 7/17/21)
2021Â Â Â Â Â Â Jul 27, Dusty Hill, the
bearded bass player who made up one third of ZZ Top, died at his
home in Houston. ZZ Top was among the best-selling rock bands of the
1980s.
   (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dusty_Hill)(NY
Times, 7/28/21)
2021Â Â Â Â Â Â Aug 7, Dennis “Dee Tee”
Thomas (70), a founding member of the long-running soul-funk band
Kool & the Gang known for such hits as “Celebration” and “Get
Down On It,” died in New Jersey.
   (AP, 8/8/21)
2021Â Â Â Â Â Â Aug 12, A South Korean
military court sentenced disgraced K-pop star Seungri to three years
in prison for crimes including providing prostitutes to foreign
businessmen.
   (AP, 8/12/21)
2021Â Â Â Â Â Â Aug 13, Grammy-winning
singer and songwriter Nanci Griffith (68) died in Nashville. Her
song "Love at the Five and Dime," sung by Kathy Mattea, became a
country hit in 1986.
  Â
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nanci_Griffith)(SSFC, 8/15/21, p.F9)
2021Â Â Â Â Â Â Aug 20, American singer
and songwriter Tom T. Hall (85) died at his home in Franklin, Tenn.
His songs included "Harper Valley P.T.A. (1968).
   (SSFC, 8/22/21, p.F8)
2021Â Â Â Â Â Â Aug 21, Don Everly (84),
one-half of the pioneering Everly Brothers, died at his home in
Nashville. His brother Phil died in 2014. Ths songs included ""By
Bye Love," "Let It Be Me," "All I Hve to Do Is Dream" amd "Wake Up
Little Suzie".  Â
   (SFC, 8/23/21, p.C4)
2021Â Â Â Â Â Â Aug 24, Rolling Stones
drummer Charlie Watts (80) died in a London hospital surrounded by
his family.
   (Reuters, 8/24/21)
2021Â Â Â Â Â Â Aug 29, Lee (Scratch)
Perry (85), the innovative Jamaican producer who mentored Bob Marley
and pushed reggae into the sonic avant-garde with his dub
productions, died in Lucea, Jamaica.
   (NY Times, 8/30/21)
2021Â Â Â Â Â Â Sep 6, Sunil Perera (68),
who had entertained generations of Sri Lankans on the radio and on
the dance floor with his distinctive, Latin-fused tunes, died in
Colombo.
   (AP, 9/10/21)
2021Â Â Â Â Â Â Sep 9, Soulful British
singer-songwriter Arlo Parks (21) won the prestigious Mercury Prize
for her debut album “Collapsed in Sunbeams”.
   (AP, 9/10/21)
2021Â Â Â Â Â Â Sep 20, Sarah Dash, a
member of the vocal Labelle trio, died. The group, which included
Patti LaBelle and Nona Hendryx, had a No. 1 hit in 1974 with "Lady
Marmalade."
   (SFC, 9/22/21, p.C4)
2021Â Â Â Â Â Â Sep 26, George Frayne
(77), front man for the band Commander Cody and His Lost Planer
Airmen, died in Sarasota Springs, NY. The band released its first
album "Lost in the Ozone" in 1971, which included a cover of "Hot
Rod Lincoln,"Â Charlie Ryan's 1955 rockabilly song.
   (SSFC, 10/3/21, p.F9)
2021Â Â Â Â Â Â Oct 4, Spanish court
officials and lawyers said an administrative court has ordered tax
authorities to reimburse Colombian singer Shakira, while a separate
criminal lawsuit she faces over a 14.5 million euros ($16.8 million)
tax dispute continues.
   (Reuters, 10/4/21)
2021Â Â Â Â Â Â Oct 11, Paddy Maloney
(83), frontman and bagpiper for the Chieftain's, died in Dublin. The
group's 1992 album "Another Country" won the Grammy for best
contemporary folk album. Maloney on his own branched into writing
and arranged music for such films as "Barry Lyndon" (1975), and
"Gangs of New York" (2002).
   (SSFC, 10/17/21, p.F8)
2021Â Â Â Â Â Â Nov 10, In an investiture
ceremony at Windsor Castle, Prince Charles anointed rock star and
charity patron Elton John as a member of the Order of the Companions
of Honor.
   (AP, 11/10/21)
2021Â Â Â Â Â Â Nov 11, Graeme Edge (80),
drummer and co-founder of the British Moody Blues band, died at his
home in Bradenton, Florida.
   (SFC, 11/14/21, p.F7)
2021Â Â Â Â Â Â Nov 17, Dave Frishberg
(88), the jazz songwriter whose sardonic wit as a lyricist and
melodic cleverness as a composer placed him in the top echelon of
his craft, died in Portland, Ore. His songs included "My Attorney
Bernie" (1983) and "Peel Me a Grape" (1967), sung by Blossom Dearie.
   (NY Times, 11/18/21)
2021Â Â Â Â Â Â Nov 18, The Latin Grammy
Awards named the Cuban protest anthem “Patria y Vida!” (or “Homeland
and Life!”) song of the year.
   (NY Times, 11/18/21)
2021Â Â Â Â Â Â Dec 4, Stonewall Jackson
(89), the honky-tonk singer who overcame an abusive, hardscrabble
childhood and went on to enjoy a long, successful career in country
music, including more than 60 years as a member of the cast of the
Grand Ole Opry, died in Nashville.
   (NY Times, 12/5/21)
2021Â Â Â Â Â Â Dec 12, Legendary Mexican
singer Vicente Fernandez (81), an emblematic figure of ranchera
music, died. The singer of classic hits like "Mujeres Divinas" and
"Por Tu Maldito Amor" performed to packed houses on stages in
Europe, the United States and Latin America.
   (Reuters, 12/12/21)
2021Â Â Â Â Â Â Dec 19, Carlos Marín (53),
a Spanish baritone, died Manchester, England. He rocketed to
international fame after the impresario Simon Cowell chose him to be
a member of Il Divo, the multinational quartet whose slick pop music
delivered in operatic style sold millions of records and filled
arenas.
   (NY Times, 12/20/21)
2021Â Â Â Â Â Â Dec, Sony, which now owns
Columbia, announced that it has acquired Bruce Springsteen’s entire
body of work, his recordings and his songwriting catalog, for what
two people briefed on the deal said was about $550 million.
   (NY Times, 12/20/21)