Birthdays:
Sonny Geraci of the Outsiders ("Time Won't Let Me") and Climax ("Precious And Few") is 62
Jesse Colin Young - Youngbloods (1941)
Floyd Sneed - Three Dog Night (1943)
Aston Barrett - Bob Marley and the Wailers (1946)
Steven Van Zandt (Little Steven or Miami Steve) (Silvio Dante in the 'The Sopranos') - Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band (1949)
Tina Weymouth - Talking Heads (1950)
Jason Ringenberg - Jason & the Scorchers (1959)
Neil Fraser - Tindersticks (1962)
Rasa Don - Arrested Development (1968)
Karen O - Yeah Yeah Yeahs (1978)
They Are Missed:
The late Terry Stafford ("Suspicion") is born in 1941.
Epic Soundtracks (real name Kevin Paul Godfrey) was discovered dead in his flat in 1997, presumably the victim of suicide.
In 1997, INXS lead singer Michael Hutchence was found dead in his hotel room in the Ritz Carlton in Double Bay, Australia, a suburb of Sydney. The death was ruled suicide by hanging, although evidence points to auto-erotic asphixiation as the cause. Hutchence was in Sydney preparing for INXS' 20th anniversary tour which was scheduled to begin in three days. Hutchence was 37.
Born today in 1936, Opal Courtney Jr, singer with 50's doo-wop group The Spaniels. Their 1954 hit "Goodnight, Sweetheart, Goodnight" was featured in such films as Three Men and a Baby, Diner and American Graffiti. Died on Sept 18, 2008.
History:
In 1955, RCA Victor made its best investment ever: A&R man Steve Sholes signed Elvis Presley to the label. The deal was made at New York's Warwick Hotel and involves $40,000. $25,000 goes to Sun Records, $1,500 goes to Hi-Lo Music for Presley's song publishing and the rest is Elvis'.
In 1955, George Clinton formed the Parliaments with fellow classmates at Clinton Place Junior High School in Plainfield, New Jersey.
The Miles Davis Quintet debuted with a jazz concert at Carnegie Hall in New York City in 1957.
Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel appeared as Tom and Jerry on ABC-TV's American Bandstand in 1957.
Elvis Presley's largest-grossing movie, "Blue Hawaii" premiered in 1961.
The Beatles released their second album "With The Beatles" in 1963.
Arlo Guthrie's classic Alice's Restaurant was released in 1967.
Elivis Presley's "Clambake" film was released in 1967.
The Beatles released their long-awaited double album in 1968, simply called The Beatles but better known as The White Album. Among the set's 29 songs is Ringo Starr's first songwriting contribution to the group's repertoire, "Don't Pass Me By," which as a single, makes it to #1 in Scandinavia.
KC and the Sunshine Band started a two week run at #1 on the US singles chart in 1975 with "That's The Way (I Like It)."
In 1976, Jerry Lee Lewis was arrested for drunk driving in Memphis. Later, at 3:00 AM, he appeared at Graceland, Elvis Presley’s residence, brandishing a pistol and demanding to see Elvis. He was handcuffed and taken to jail.
Rolling Stones Mick Jagger, Keith Richards and Ron Wood jammed with blues giant Muddy Water in 1981 (whose "Rollin' Stone" gave the Stones their name) and Buddy Guy at Chicago's Checker Board Lounge.
The Human League went to #1 on the US singles chart in 1986 with "Human," making them the 8th UK act to score a US #1 single in 1986.
In 1991, Alice Cooper came to the rescue of two fans; Patrick and Dee Ann Kelly, whose California home was about to be re-possessed. Patrick had painted Coopers face on the house to help sell the property. Mr Cooper signed autographs to help raise money for the couple.
"The Black Album" was released by Prince in 1994.
Alanis Morissette was at #1 on the US album chart in 1998 with "Supposed Former Infatuation Junkie."
In 2002, the surviving members of The Doors, Ray Manzarek and Robby Krieger, announced they would record and tour again with a new line up including ex- Cult singer Ian Astbury and former Police drummer Stewart Copeland. Original drummer John Densmore was not able to take part because he was suffering from severe tinnitus.
In 2004, Ozzy Osbourne struggled with a burglar who escaped with jewellery worth about £2m from his Buckinghamshire mansion. Osbourne told reporters that he had the masked raider in a headlock as he tried to stop him. The burglar broke free and jumped 30 ft from a first floor window. A large amount of jewellery was stolen in the raid in which two burglars were involved.
U2 shot the video for "All Because Of You" from a moving flat bed truck on the streets of Brooklyn in New York City in 2004. Later in the day, they performed a brief concert under the Brooklyn Bridge, which was taped by MTV for a later showing.
Poems written by Bob Dylan in his college days sold for $78,000 at a New York City auction in 2005. The 16 pages of poems were the first known time Robert Zimmerman used the Dylan name and came from his studies at the University of Minnesota during 1959-60.
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Music News & Notes
Blur to Release Live CD With UK Paper
A special prize will come to readers of the today's Sunday UK newspaper the Sunday Times.
Following in the steps of everybody from Prince to Sigur Rós, Blur is set to release a free CD with a UK newspaper. The November 22 edition of the Sunday Times will come bundled with a 10-track disc featuring songs recorded live during Blur's summer reunion tour.
According to the Times, you'll be able to download five additional free songs on iTunes on November 29, too.
Tracklist for the CD is below:
Blur Live 2009:
01 She's So High
02 Girls & Boys
03 Badhead
04 Beetlebum
05 Parklife
06 Out of Time
07 Song 2
08 Pop Scene
09 Tender
10 The Universal
Interesting comcpet, heck, can we get 'special' Sunday newspapers here in the US?
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SUSAN Boyle's debut album is set to top the charts next week.
Singing sensation Susan Boyle, who is releasing her first record entitled I Dream A Dream, was yesterday celebrating after it became the largest global CD pre-order in the history of internet website Amazon.
Tens of thousands of copies have been sold – even though it is not being released until November 23.
The cover features the 48-year-old Scottish star smiling in a sparkly sequin jacket.
Susan became an overnight reality TV and internet star after her appearance on ITV show Britain's Got Talent on April 11. She was initially dubbed the Hairy Angel because of her unkempt looks, but has since had a full makeover.
“Eight months ago, no one was aware of the talents of Susan Boyle,” said Julian Monaghan, head of music buying at Amazon.co.uk. “Now, she has generated more Amazon pre-order CD sales globally than any other artist. That is an incredible achievement and is testament to the fact that she has captured the hearts of people all over the world.”
Susan, from West Lothian, stunned audiences with her rendition of I Dreamed A Dream, from Les Miserables.
She came second in the show, behind dance troupe Diversity, but won fans worldwide including actress Demi Moore, 47, and singer Elaine Paige, 61.
At first Susan struggled with fame and checked into The Priory for exhaustion. But she has made a recovery and recently told fans: “What I’ve enjoyed the most about my new career is the ability to travel and meet new people.”
Steve Barnett, chairman of Susan’s Columbia Records label, said: “One of the things that is so unique about Susan is her ability to touch people around the world.”
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Jackson moonwalk glove sells for $350K
The shimmering, white glove Michael Jackson wore when he premiered his trademark moonwalk dance in 1983 was auctioned off for $350,000 on Saturday.
Winning bidder Hoffman Ma of Hong Kong will pay $420,000, including taxes and fees, for the rhinestone-studded, modified golf glove Jackson wore on his left hand for his moonwalk on Motown's 25th anniversary TV special.
The glove was the top item in a collection of Jackson memorabilia on the block at the Hard Rock Cafe in Times Square.