This Date In Music History-December 24

Birthdays:

Lemmy Kilmister (Lemmy) - Hawkwind, Motorhead (1945)

Jan Akkerman - Focus (1946)

Blues-rock guitarist George Thorogood (1950)

Ian Burden - Human League (1957)

Mary Ramsey - 10,000 Maniacs (1963)

Ricky Martin (real name Enrique Martin Morales) - Latin music star and former lead singer of Menudo (1971)


They Are Missed:

The late Lee Dorsey ("Working In The Coal Mine") was born in 1924 (died December 1, 1986)

In 1954, Johnny Ace shot himself dead backstage at the City Auditorium in Houston, Texas. The R&B singer was playing with a revolver during a break between sets, someone in the room said ‘Be careful with that thing…’ and he said ‘It’s OK the gun’s not loaded…see?’ and pointed it at himself with a smile on his face.



Zeke Carey of The Flamingos died in 1999. Had the 1959 #11 single "I Only Have Eyes For You."

Four Seasons bassist Nick Massi died of cancer in 2000. They scored the 1976 UK & US #1 single "December 1963, Oh What A Night," as well as hits with "Sherry," and "Rag Doll," among others.


History:

In 1906, Reginald A. Fessenden became the first person to broadcast a music program over radio, from Brant Rock, MA.

Enrico Caruso gave his last public performance, when he sang in Jacques Halevy's "La Juive" at the Metropolitan Opera in New York in 1920.

In 1951, Gian Carlo Menotti's "Amahl and the Night Visitors," was first broadcast by NBC. It was the first opera written specifically for television.

Bobby Darin recorded "Beyond The Sea" in 1958.

In 1960, the Philadelphia Orphan's Court raises Chubby Checker's (real name Ernest Evans) weekly allowance from $150 to $200. The 19 year old singer has already put three songs, "The Class," "The Twist" and "The Hucklebuck," in the pop Top Forty.

In 1961, "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" becomes the first African song to hit #1 on the US pop chart. The American version, recorded by the Tokens, is a translation of a South African folk song known as "Mbube" and "Wimoweh."

The Beatles earned yet another gold record in 1965 for the album Rubber Soul, just two-and-a-half weeks after its release. The record, which includes, "I've Just Seen A Face," "Norwegian Wood," "Girl," "Michelle," "In My Life" and "You Won't See Me," is seen by critics as a turning point in their career, marking their progression to a more serious brand of pop music.



In 1966, Tommy James & the Shondells recorded "I Think We're Alone Now," which will become a huge "bubble gum" hit. It peaks at #4 in its seventeen weeks on the chart and is one of the group's seven Top Ten hits.

A 1972 concert by Manfred Mann and His Earth Band was cut short by Miami police, sparking a two hour riot by students at the University of Miami. Since residents complained about the group's volume, the power to the P.A. was cut during the encore. As the battle rages, Mann and the band hide in a dressing room.

James Taylor, Carly Simon, Linda Rondstadt and Joni Mitchell were spotted crooning Christmas carols around the streets of Los Angeles in 1974.

The Bee Gees started a three week run at #1 on the US singles chart in 1977 with "How Deep Is Your Love," the group's 4th US #1. It stayed in the top 10 for 17 weeks giving it the longest chart run in history.

Also in 1977, the Sex Pistols played their last ever UK gig, (until 1996), before splitting, at Ivanhoes in Huddersfield. It was a charity performance before an audience of mainly children.

Anita Baker started a four-week run at #1 on the US album chart in 1988 with "Giving You The Best That I Got."

Poison started a three-week run at #1 on the US singles chart in 1988 with "Every Rose Has Its Thorn."



In 1988, Nirvana started recording their first album 'Bleach' using a $600 loan from an old school friend.

Pearl Jam went to #1 on the US album chart in 1994 with "Vitalogy."

The Gin Blossoms called it quits in 1997 although the group reformed a few years later.

In 2003, Jack White of The White Stripes turned himself in to Detroit police to face aggravated assault charges stemming from a bar room altercation in which he allegedly attacked Jason Stollsteimer of The Von Bondies. White was also fingerprinted and formally booked on the charges before he was released on bail.

In 2005, Rapper Foxy Brown was handcuffed and threatened with jail after she stuck her tongue out at a New York judge who asked her to stop chewing gum. Judge Melissa Jackson told the singer, she had showed disrespect to the court. Brown was in court on charges of assaulting two nail salon workers during a row over payment.