Monday, February 25, 2008

This Day In Music History- Feb 25

The late George Harrison was born in 1943.

In 1957, Buddy Holly recorded "That'll Be the Day" at Norman Petty's studio in Clovis, New Mexico. The single is released on the Brunswick label (a Decca subsidiary) and credited to the Crickets.

Van Halen hits their first #1 with "Jump" in 1984.

The Beatles first U.S. single ("Please Please Me"/"Ask Me Why" on Chicago's Vee-Jay Records) was released (and Dick Biondi of WLS radio in Chicago plays the "A" side-- the first U.S. DJ to play a Beatles tune) in 1963.

Elvis Presley performed his first post-Army concert (and first since 1957), a charity benefit in Memphis in 1961.

Today in 1995 the song "Take a Bow," by Madonna topped the charts and stayed there for 7 weeks.

In 2004, Chicago-based blues saxophonist, vocalist, songwriter and bandleader A.C. Reed dies from cancer complications. He was 77. Reed played with the likes of Albert Collins, Buddy Guy, Bonnie Raitt, and Stevie Ray Vaughan.

A wig reported to cost $10,000 is stolen from Cher's dressing room during the Richmond, Va., stop of her Living Proof tour in 2003. The wig is returned two weeks later. (She does have hair, doesn’t she?)

Also in 2003, Paul McCartney and his band performed at the 50th birthday of fan Wendy Whitworth in San Diego. Whitworth's husband paid $1 million to McCartney, who donated his fee to the Adopt-a-Minefield charity.

In 1998, Bob Dylan won three Grammys, including Best Album for his career renaissance Time out of Mind. While performing a song from the album, he is interrupted by a rogue performance artist with the words "soy bomb" painted on his chest. (Soy Bomb? How about “Hi Mom?”)

In 1990, Johnnie Ray, the Sultan of Sob, dies of liver failure at age 63. Despite having to wear a hearing aid since he was 14, Ray was one of the '50s' most popular vocalists, recording the No. 2 hit "Just Walking in the Rain."

In 1965, The Rolling Stones performed their just-released single "The Last Time" on the British rock show Ready! Steady! Go!.

Bluegrass titan Ralph Stanley was born in Stratton, Va. in 1927.

Toy Caldwell, lead singer for The Marshall Tucker band on their 1977 million seller, "Heard It In A Love Song", died in his sleep on February 25th at the age of 45 in 1993.

The first musical choreography score was copyrighted in 1952. It was Cole Porter's "Kiss Me Kate".

It was announced that Britney Spears would be releasing her own brand of bubble gum, "Britney Spears CD Bubble Gum", in March of 2000. (So that’s how she has made her money!)

Drummer Dennis Diken (The Smithereens) started his life in 1957.

"The Grand Illusion" peaks at #6 in 1978. It’s the first platinum album for Styx.

U2 began their first full U.S. tour in 1985.

In 2005, Shinedown and Tesla headline a benefit concert in Providence, RI, for survivors of the February 2003 fire at the Station nightclub.

The Alarm’s vocalist/guitarist Mike Peters was born 1959.

Nancy Sinatra received her first gold record in 1966 for "These Boots Are made for Walkin'". Her second was shared with her father Frank in 1967 for "Something Stupid".

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