Wednesday, August 25, 2010

This Date In Music History - August 25

Birthdays:

Wayne Shorter - saxophonist, Miles Davis, Weather Report (1933)

Walter Williams - O'Jays (1942)

Henry Paul - Blackhawk (1949)

Gene Simmons - Kiss (1949)

Rob Halford - Judas Priest (1951)

Elvis Costello (Declan McManus) (1955)



Billy Ray Cyrus (1961)

Vivian Campbell - Dio, Whitesnake, Def Leppard (1962)

Candida Doyle - Pulp (1963)

Norman Rogers - Public Enemy (1966)

Luke Scott - Babybird (1969)

Jo Dee Messina (1969)

Amy MacDonald - Scottish singer/songwriter (1987)


They Are Missed:

Hip hop star Scott la Rock was shot dead in New York in 1987, the latest victim in the Brooklyn, Bronx street war.

Born today in 1918, composer, pianist, conductor, Leonard Bernstein. Composed music for 1957 'West Side Story', 'On The Waterfront', conducted the New York Philharmonic at age 25. Died on October 14, 1990.

Bass player Doug Stegmeyer shot himself dead in 1995. He'd worked with many artists including Billy Joel Hall and Oates and The Carpenters.

In 1995, Dwayne Goettel (Skinny Puppy) was found dead of an apparent heroine overdose at the home of his parents in Canada.

Robert Fisher from New Romantic duo Naked Eyes and Climie Fisher died of cancer in 1999 (age 39). Wrote songs for Rod Stewart, Milli Vanilli, Fleetwood Mac and Jermaine Jackson. Fisher also worked as a producer, working with various acts including Eric Clapton.

Academy Award-winning film score composer and record producer Jack Nitzsche died of a heart attack in 2000. Produced The Rolling Stones, Neil Young, Buffalo Springfield and The Walker Brothers. Musical scores including The Exorcist, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, co-wrote ‘Up Where We Belong with Buffy Sainte-Marie' from 1982 film An Officer and a Gentleman.

In 2001, American singer, actress Aaliyah was killed in a plane crash in the Bahamas (age 22). The small Cessna plane crashed a few minutes after take off killing everyone on board with exception to four passengers who were pulled from the wreckage but later died. Aaliyah had been filming a video for her latest release ‘Rock The Boat’ on the island.

Born on this day in 1950, Willy DeVille of Mink DeVille. Died of pancreatic cancer on 7th Aug 2009.


History:

Canadian singer, songwriter Paul Anka was at #1 on the UK singles chart in 1957 with "Diana" (written about his brother's baby-sitter). His only UK #1 as an artist, Anka was the first teenage solo act to reach that plateau.

Staten Island, New York doo wop group The Elegants went to #1 on the US singles chart in 1958 with their re-worked version of the Mozart lullaby, "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star" re-titled "Little Star". The Elegants would be around in one form or another until the 1980s, but never had another hit record.



Little Eva went to #1 on the US singles chart in 1962 with "The Loco-motion." The Carole King and Gerry Goffin song was offered to Dee Dee Sharp ("Mashed Potatoes"), who turned it down. The writers had their babysitter record it who took it to #1.

In 1965, two female Beatles fans hired a helicopter to fly over the house the Beatles were renting in Beverly Hills, California and jumped from the helicopter into the swimming pool. Cool....

Bobbie Gentry started a four week run at #1 on the US singles chart in 1967 with "Ode To Billy Joe."

Brian Wilson returned to performing live with The Beach Boys in Honolulu in 1967 after a 2 year hiatus. The group had just released ‘Heroes and Villains’ in the US.

The Beatles traveled to Bangor, Wales in 1967, to attend the Spiritual Regeneration League conference and to study meditation with Marharishi Mahesh Yogi. So begins the group’s relatively brief flirtation with Eastern mysticism.

Steppenwolf’s landmark single “Born To Be Wild” peaked at #2 on the U.S. pop chart in 1968 (behind the Rascals “People Gotta Be Free”). The song was written by Mars Bonfire (aka Dennis Edmonton, the brother of Steppenwolf drummer Jerry Edmonton).

In 1970, a party was held to celebrate the official opening of 'Electric Ladyland' studios in New York City, New York. Artists who went on to record at the studio include: Jimi Hendrix, John Lennon, AC/DC, David Bowie, Stevie Wonder, Frank Zappa and Guns N' Roses.

Elton John made his US live debut in 1970 when he kicked off a 17-date tour. He opened for David Ackles at "The Troubadour" in Los Angeles, CA. In the audience that night were Don Henley, Quincy Jones and Leon Russell. Elton’s latest single "Border Song" had just debuted at number 92 on the US chart.

Also in 1970, Emerson Lake and Palmer made their live debut at The Guildhall, Plymouth, England.

One hit wonders, Stories started a two week run at #1 on the US singles chart in 1973 with "Brother Louie."



The Allman Brothers' "Ramblin' Man" was released in 1973.

Bobby Darin performed his final concert, at the Las Vegas Hilton in 1973. He died at the age of 37 on December 20, 1973 following open-heart surgery.

Bruce Springsteen's album "Born to Run" was released in 1975.

Boston released its self-titled debut album in 1976. It becomes one of the all-time best selling albums

Gary Numan released "Cars" in 1979.

The Knack started a five week run at #1 on the US singles chart in 1979 with "My Sharona," the group's only US chart topper. Lead singer Doug Fieger said he was inspired to write the tune by Sharrona Alperin, a 17 year old senior at Los Angeles' Fairfax High.



R.E.M. appeared at The Scorpio, Charlotte, North Carolina in 1981. This show was billed as "Charlotte's First Gay New Wave Disco and Costume Party", with the $3 tickets benefitting various gay-lesbian charities.

The Time's second album "What Time Is It?" was released in 1982.

Mick Jagger and Keith Richards signed a contract with Columbia Records in 1983. The deal provides the Rolling Stones $28 million for four albums.

Paul Simon's "Graceland" was released in 1986.



In 1993, Snoop Doggy Dogg was released on $1 million bail after being accused of being involved with the murder of a member of the By Yerself gang during a shooting in Los Angeles. He was acquitted of the charges in 1996.

In 1994, Jimmy Page and Robert plant recorded their MTV unplugged set at London's television centre. The show was called "Unledded."

Jimmy Buffett crashed his Grumman G-44 Widgeon seaplane on take-off in Nantucket, Massachusetts in 1994. Buffett swam away from the wreckage.

A deranged man who had escaped from a mental institution near Helsinki Finland in 1997 was arrested. The man had planned to set fire to the stage that Michael Jackson was performing from was arrested before he was able to light the gasoline he had put on the stage.

Dolly Parton released the album "Hungry Again" in 1998.

During Metallibash 2001 in San Francisco, Metallica cover band Creeping Death is joined onstage (for a half-dozen songs) by Metallica’s Lars Ulrich and Kirk Hammett.

In 2004, Alice Cooper, criticized the near countless number of Rock musicians supporting Democratic presidential nominee, John Kerry. Cooper, a Republican, tells Canadian Press that fans shouldn`t get their political views from musicians. "Why are we Rock stars? Because we`re morons. We sleep all day, we play music at night."

In 2005, the war of words continues between Sharon Osbourne and Iron Maiden following the group's final Ozzfest appearance five days earlier. In the latest missive, Sharon Osbourne admits that she cut Iron Maiden's sound during the band's set, maintaining it was in retaliation for on stage remarks singer Bruce Dickinson made criticizing her husband, Ozzy. The ever charming Dickinson says he doesn't hold a grudge against Ozzy or Black Sabbath over the incident.

Also in 2005, two former members of Guns N' Roses were suing singer Axl Rose for allegedly naming himself sole administrator of the US rock band's copyrights. Slash and Duff - otherwise known as Saul Hudson and Michael McKagan, accused Rose of "arrogance and ego". The legal action claimed the singer "was no longer willing to acknowledge the contributions of his former partners".

In 2007, Arthur Brown accidently set himself on fire while singing his big hit, Ironically called "Fire." Oops....

"Halloween II" soundtrack was released in 2009. The Moody Blues' "Nights In White Satin," Rod Stewart's "(I Know) I'm Losing You" and Foghat's "I Just Want To Make Love to You," are on the soundtrack. The film, in theaters three days later, was written and directed by Rob Zombie.

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