Monday, December 15, 2008

This Date In Music History-December 15

Birthdays:

Paul Simonon-The Clash (1955)

Carmine Appice-Vanilla Fudge (1946)

Dave Clark-Dave Clark Five (1942)

Cindy Birdsong-Supremes (1939)


They Are Missed:

Jerry Wallace, US singer was born in 1928.

Alan Freed, American DJ was born in 1922. The man credited with giving “Rock 'n' Roll” its name (died 1965).

Soul singer Jesse Belvin was born in 1932 (died-1960). He co-wrote the Penguins' hit "Earth Angel" and was instrumental in developing the West Coast R&B sound.

Jazz musician Fats Waller died in 1943. Wrote (“Ain't Misbehavin”)

Max Yasgur, owner of the Woodstock farm where the 1969 festival was held, was born in 1919. (died 1973)

The co-founder of Atlantic Records Ahmet Ertegun died in 2006, at age 83. Ertegun who founded Atlantic Records with Herb Abramson in 1947, helped make Ray Charles and Aretha Franklin stars and signed the Rolling Stones and Led Zeppelin in the early 70s.

A single-engine plane carrying Glenn Miller disappeared in thick fog over the English Channel while en route to Paris in 1944.

Rockabilly performer Joey Castle died from brain cancer in 1978 (age 36).


History:

In 1957, Sammy Davis Jr. hosted a syndicated radio talk show with a round-table discussion of Rock 'n' Roll. His guests were Columbia Records executive Mitch Miller and MGM Records president Arnold Maxim. When Davis and Miller blasted Rock 'n' Roll as "the comic books of music," Maxim took an opposing viewpoint and says, "I don't see any end to Rock 'n' Roll in the near future."

The Beatles' "Magical Mystery Tour" LP went gold in 1967.

Do They Know It's Christmas?" entered the UK chart at #1 in 1984, where it would stay for five weeks. The Bob Geldof produced song, specifically written to raise money for relief of famine in Ethiopia, was recorded by leading Irish and British musicians, including Phil Collins, Bono, George Michael, Sting, David Bowie, Boy George and Paul McCartney. The record sold more than three million copies in Britain alone and enjoyed similar success around the world.

Soul singer James Brown was sentenced to six years in prison in 1988 for various offenses including possession of weapons and resisting arrest.

While performing with the Jefferson Airplane on the Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour in 1968, Grace Slick appeared in blackface and raised a black-leather glove in a power salute at the conclusion of "Crown of Creation". The incident was one of several which led to the show's cancellation the following season.

Charlie Rich started a two week run at #1 on the US singles chart in 1973 with “The Most Beautiful Girl” (#2 in UK).

In 1969, Eric Clapton joined John Lennon's Plastic Ono Band as part of Peace for Christmas, a benefit concert for UNICEF. George Harrison, Delaney and Bonnie, Billy Preston and The Who's drummer, Keith Moon also took part. The concert was the last live appearance that Lennon ever made in his home country.

Billy Joel had his last number one album in 1989 when, "Stormfront" reached the top of the US charts. The LP also contained his final #1 hit, "We Didn't Start the Fire."

The Sex Pistols were refused entry into the USA in 1977, two days before a scheduled NBC-TV appearance. (Johnny Rotten because of a drug conviction, Paul Cook & Sid Vicious because of 'moral turpitude' and Steve Jones because of his criminal record)

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