Thursday, May 20, 2010

This Date In Music History - May 20

Birthdays:

Jill Jackson - Paul and Paula (1942)

Joe Cocker (1944)

Cherilyn Sarkasian (Cher) - Sonny & Cher, Solo (1946)


Warren Cann - Ultravox (1952)

Jimmy Henderson - Black Oak Arkansas (1954)

Steve George - Mr Mister (1955)

Jane Wieldin - Go-Go's and solo (1958)

Sue Cowsill - Cowsills (1960)

Nick Heyward - Haircut 100 (1961)

Dan Wilson - Semisonic (1961)

Brian Nash - Frankie Goes To Hollywood (1963)

Patti Russo - best known as the female lead vocalist with Meat Loaf (1964)

Thomas Gorman - Belly (1966)

Busta Rhymes (1972)


They Are Missed:

In 1964, Rudy Lewis of The Drifters died (age 28) under mysterious circumstances the night before the group was set to record "Under the Boardwalk." Former Drifters backup singer Johnny Moore was brought back to perform lead vocals for the recording session.

Born on this day in 1947 - Steve Currie, T Rex. Currie died on April 28, 1981.


History:

Bill Haley and the Comets' "Rock Around the Clock" was released in 1954. Interestingly it was not successful until it was released in 1955 on the soundtrack to 'Blackboard Jungle.'

In 1960, the Silver Beetles (John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, Stu Sutcliffe, and Tommy Moore) played the first night of a short tour of Scotland backing singer Johnny Gentle, at Alloa Town Hall in Clackmannanshire. Three of the Silver Beetles adopted stage names: Paul McCartney became Paul Ramon, George Harrison was Carl Harrison, and Stuart Sutcliffe became Stuart de Stael.

Also in 1960 - Disc jockey Alan Freed was indicted for income tax evasion stemming from payola.

Here's a great story: In 1966, Pete Townshend and Roger Daltrey of the Who grew tired of waiting for John Entwistle and Keith Moon to arrive for their gig at the Ricky Tick Club in Windsor, England so they took to the stage with the bass player and drummer of the local band that opened the show. When Moon and Entwistle finally arrived in the middle of the set, a fight broke out, with Townshend hitting Moon on the head with his guitar. Moon and Entwistle quit the band, (and rejoined a week later).

In 1967, the Beatles new album 'Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band' had a special preview on the Kenny Everett BBC Light program, 'Where It's At,' playing every track from the album, (except "A Day In The Life," which the BBC had banned saying it could promote drug taking).

George Harrison visited the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi for the first time in 1967.

Jimi Hendrix signed his first American record contract with Reprise Records in 1967.

The Young Rascals started a two week run at #1 on the US singles chart in 1967 with "Groovin."



In 1968, the Beatles, armed with a bunch of new songs after their visit to India, met at George Harrison's home in Esher, Surrey. They taped 23 new songs on George's 4-track recorder, many of which would end up on The Beatles' next two albums, (the White Album) and Abbey Road. The demos include: "Cry Baby Cry," "Revolution," "While My Guitar Gently Weeps," "Blackbird" and "Child of Nature" (a Lennon song that became "Jealous Guy").

In 1969, while watching a baseball game in Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles, Peter Cetera of Chicago was set upon by four Marines (because they didn't like the length of his hair). They broke his jaw, resulting in the singer spending two days in intensive care.

The final feature film involving The Beatles 'Let It Be' was premiered in 1970, simultaneously in London and in Liverpool, a week after the film's US release.

Paul McCartney went to #1 on the US singles chart in 1978 with "With A Little Luck," his sixth solo US #1.

Elton John performed in Leningrad, Soviet Union in 1979.

Priscilla Presley held a press conference in 1988 to deny that Elvis was still alive. Umm, we all knew that.....

Paula Abdul started a two week run at #1 on the US singles chart in 1989 with "Forever Your Girl," her second US #1 hit.

The Metallica single "Until It Sleeps" was released world-wide in 1996, excluding North America, where it was released the next day.



U2 caused traffic chaos in Kansas City, Missouri in 1997, after they paid for traffic control to close down five lanes so they could shoot the video for "Last Night On Earth," Apart form major traffic jams a passing Cadillac crashed into a plate glass window trying to avoid a cameraman.

The funeral of Frank Sinatra was held at the Church of the Good Shepherd in Beverly Hills in 1998. Mourners in attendance included, Tony Bennett, Faye Dunaway, Tony Curtis, Liza Minnelli, Kirk Douglas, Angie Dickinson, Sophia Loren, Bob Newhart, Mia Farrow and Jack Nicholson.

In 1998, Black Sabbath drummer Bill Ward was taken to hospital in London after suffering a heart attack during a band rehearsal.

The Beach Boys got a monument in their home town of Hawthorne, CA in 2005. It’s California Historical Landmark No. 1041 in case you are interested.

Ozzy Osbourne appeared at the Prince’s Trust 30th Birthday concert at the Tower of London in 2006. Prince Charles and other members of the British royal family attended the benefit event. "I have met lots of young people helped by the Prince's Trust and been inspired by all of them," Osbourne says of the charity, which provides financial aid and mentor programs for young people.

It’s Levon Helm Day in Woodstock, NY in 2006. Helm, best known as the drummer/singer for The Band, is a long time Woodstock resident.

The Steve Miller Band's first-ever DVD package, Live From Chicago, hit the stores in 2008. The three-disc set includes footage from two ‘07 concerts, a behind-the-scenes documentary and live renditions of 12 of the group's hits. 2008

Green Day's '21st Century Breakdown' makes its debut at #1 on the Billboard 200 album chart in 2009. The disc claims the top spot after moving 215,000 copies in only three days. It’s the group's second chart topper, 'American Idiot' was the first.

KISS, Carlos Santana and Queen’s Brian May were guest performers on the season finale of FOX's American Idol in 2009. Kris Allen gets the nod in a surprising victory over the heavily favored Adam Lambert.

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