Friday, February 20, 2009

Back to Normal- I Hope

As you may have read, I have had major computer issues during the past week. Thankfully, my tech guy (thank you Homer!) was able to save most of my data, wound up having to install a new hard drive and learn a very important lesson about backing up your files. Dave over at www.collectingvinylrecords.musicstack.com told me about a place to do just that. www.mozy.com So check it out, it is certainly worth the time and effort.

I will be resuming my regular posts asap, I still have to re-install some programs that were lost (and get my printer back up and running). I thank my regular readers for their patience and to the old & new readers, please bear with me, the blog will be better than ever, so come back often!

This Date In music History- February 20

Birthdays:

Brian Littrell-The Backstreet Boys (1975)

Barbara Ellis- Fleetwoods (1940)

Buffy Sainte-Marie (1941)

Jerome Geils- J. Geils Band (1946)

Ian Brown- Stone Roses (1963)

Walter Becker- Steely Dan is 59.

Rihanna (Robyn Rihanna Fenty) R&B singer (1988)

Nancy Wilson (1937)


They Are Missed:

Born on this day in 1945, Alan Hull, guitarist, singer, songwriter, Lindisfarne. Hull died of a heart attack on 17th November 1996.

Kurt Cobain- Nirvana (1967)

Randy California (Spirit) was born in 1951. He died on January 2, 1997 when rescuing his 12 year-old son after he was sucked into a riptide in surf off Hawaii.

In 1980, Bon Scott, singer from AC/DC was pronounced dead on arrival at a London hospital after a heavy night's drinking. Scott was found in the passenger seat of a friend's parked car. The official coroner's report stated that he had "Drunk himself to death." after suffocating on his own vomit.


History:

Bon Jovi began recording their third album, “Slippery When Wet” in Vancouver in 1986. With “You Give Love A Bad Name” and “Livin’ On A Prayer,” the album has sold more than 10 million copies.

At the 19th annual Grammy Awards in 1977, statues were presented to Stevie Wonder for Best Album for "Songs In The Key Of Life", and Best Vocal Performance for "I Wish". Best Album went to Chicago for "Chicago X", Best New Artist went to The Starland Vocal Band. Chicago is also cited for Best Pop Vocal Performance for "If You Leave Me Now".

In 2007, Electric Light Orchestra issue an expanded and remastered version of their '77 album, "Out Of The Blue," to mark the disc's 30th anniversary. There are three previously unreleased tracks and notes co-written by ELO frontman Jeff Lynne.

The Beach Boys recorded "Don't Worry Baby" in 1964.

The soundtrack to 'Jesus Christ Superstar' went to #1 on the US album chart in 1971. The album peaked at #6 on the UK chart.

Gary Lewis and the Playboys started a two week run at #1 on the US singles chart in 1965 with 'This Diamond Ring.' Session musicians were used on the track instead of the band and Gary's voice was heavily over dubbed with other singers. Lewis is the son of actor Jerry Lewis.

The single 'Instant Karma' by The Plastic Ono Band was released in the US in 1970. John Lennon had written, recorded and mixed the track all in one day on the 22nd January 1970.

Appearing on the first date of a six day tour of Florida in 1958 were Bill Haley and his Comets, The Everly Brothers, Buddy Holly & The Crickets, Jerry Lee Lewis and Jimmie Rodgers, under the title 'The Big Gold Record Stars.'

Ben and Jerry's introduced a their ice cream Phish Food in 1997. It was named after the rock group Phish.

In West Warwick, RI, in 2003, 99 people were killed when fire destroyed the nightclub The Station. The fire started with sparks from a pyrotechnic display being used by Great White. Ty Longley, guitarist for Great White, was one of the victims in the fire. Two brothers who owned the club were charged, along with the former tour manager with involuntary manslaughter. Foam soundproofing material at the edge of the stage set alight and the blaze spread quickly in the one-storey wooden building as fans all tried to escape through the same exit. Great White began a tour in July 2003 to raise money for the survivors and families of victims.

In 2004, Brian Wilson kicked off an 11-date UK tour at London's Royal Festival Hall. The shows saw Wilson performing the full suite of songs from his unreleased masterpiece 'Smile' Wilson's teenage symphony to God.

In 1974, Cher filed for separation from husband Sonny Bono. She filed for divorce not long afterwards. They had been married for 10 years.

Music News & Notes

Crimson and Cl- Oooops

Tommy James has had a wonder pop-rock career but there is one thing he regrets; that he and the Shondells didn't accept an invitation to play at Woodstock.

"I was in Hawaii at the time and we got asked to do the festival. Artie Kornfeld was one of the principals of the festival and a friend of mine, and we got asked to go.

"I said, 'Wait a minute, you're asking me to leave paradise and fly 6,000 miles to a pig farm? Did I just hear you right?' I said, 'If we're not there, start without us,' and they did and they called it Woodstock.

"By Thursday of that week, we knew we screwed up really bad."

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ELO Bass Player Dies

Kelly Groucutt, who was bassist for the Electric Light Orchestra, from 1974 to 1983, has passed away at the age of 63. The official announcement from the website:

"It is with great sadness that I have to inform the fans that Kelly Groucutt died on the afternoon of 19th February 2009 of a heart attack.

"Our hearts and thoughts go out to Anna and Kelly's family. He touched all of our lives with his love, kindness and generosity as well as his talent for music and song.

"He was a true and wonderful friend who loved every second of life and he will be greatly missed by us all".

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B.B. On The Radio

Sirius XM Radio has announced the February 20 premier of You and Me with B.B. King. The weekly hour long show will be heard on Channel 74 on both the Sirius and XM service, also known as B.B. King's Bluesville.

Each week, B.B. King will personally select a broad range of blues music featuring his favorite songs by peers from the past and today's artists. The blues legend will also share personal anecdotes and stories about the artists who inspire him as well as offer commentary on music that has made him a musical inspiration for generations of musicians. Sirius XM listeners will also hear from special guests including Johnny Winter, Buddy Guy, Albert Cummings and Keb' Mo who have worked with and have been influenced by King. King will also answer email questions from fans in a weekly "B.B. King's Mailbag" feature.

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Simon & Garfunkel To Tour

According to Art Garfunkel, he and Paul Simon will be going out on the road again, although a date and locations have not been set. He told the BBC news “Our plan to work together coming together but it doesn’t go through England this time.”

Classical Music Expert Dies

Gerald J. Canter, 1933-2009, NU professor, avid collector of classical music records Northwestern speech pathology expert started a mail-order business for classical music buyers


By Trevor Jensen | Tribune reporter


Gerald J. Canter started a mail-order classical music record business after his retirement from Northwestern University, where he had been a professor of speech pathology, and for many years had organized an annual records show for fellow collectors.

Dr. Canter, 76, died of esophageal cancer on Saturday, Feb. 7, in his Evanston home, said his wife, Susan.

Rows of metal shelves in Dr. Canter's basement held perhaps 40,000 vinyl records, and he also owned an untold number of compact discs, his wife said. All were neatly cataloged by record label, and most were in pristine condition.

In 1992, Dr. Canter started The Classical Collector. At first a mail-order business, later moving to the Internet, the home business allowed Dr. Canter to make a living out of his hobby. With the help of his wife, he distributed catalogs to a couple of thousand customers around the world, and packed and shipped records to order.

Dr. Canter started the Midwest Classical Record Show in the mid-1980s. The show attracted dealers from around the Midwest to sell, buy and trade classical recordings, CDs and reel-to-reel tapes.

Read the rest of the article here: http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-hed-gcanter-20-feb20,0,4994384.story