Friday, February 26, 2010

This Date In Music History-February 26

Birthdays:

Fats Domino (1928)



Paul Cotton - Poco (1943)

Mitch Ryder (1945)

Sandie Shaw - First UK act to win the Eurovision Song Contest with 1967, "Puppet On A String" (1947)

Jonathan Cain - Journey (1950)

Michael Bolton (1953)

Jaz Coleman - Killing Joke (1960)

John Jon - Bronski Beat (1961)

Tim Commerford - Rage Against The Machine (1968)

Timothy Brown - Boo Radleys (1969)

Erykah Badu (1971)


They Are Missed:

Sherman Garnes, from Frankie Lymon And The Teenagers, died during open-heart surgery in 1977.

Born on this day in 1932, Johnny Cash, country singer/songwriter who had a 1969 US #2 single with "A Boy Named Sue" plus 11 other US Top 40 singles. He had a TV Johnny Cash show in the late 60s–early 70s. Cash died of respiratory failure on September 12th 2003 (age 71). In 2010, “American VI: Ain’t No Grave, the sixth and final installment of Johnny Cash’s American Recordings series is issued on what would have been the legend’s 78th birthday. Produced by Rick Rubin, the set list includes covers of Sheryl Crow’s “Redemption Day” and Kris Kristofferson’s “For The Good Times.” There’s also the Cash original “I Corinthians: 15:55.”



Born today in 1945, Bob The Bear Hite, vocalist and harmonica player with Canned Heat. He died on April 5, 1981.

Cornell Gunter of the Coasters was murdered in Las Vegas in 1990 at the age of 53.

In 1997, songwriter Ben Raleigh died in a fire in his kitchen after setting fire to his bath robe while cooking. He co-wrote "Scooby Doo Where Are You" and "Tell Laura I Love Her."

Ex-Jimi Hendrix drummer Buddy Miles died at age 60 at his home in Austin, TX in 2008. Miles played on the legendary "Electric Ladyland" album and co-founded, with Hendrix, the short-lived Band Of Gypsys in ’69. He also performed with Carlos Santana, David Bowie and Stevie Wonder.


History:

In 1954, a US Congresswoman introduced a bill to prohibit the distribution of "obscene, lewd, lascivious or filthy" recordings. Guess that never caught on......

In 1955, LaVern Baker wrote to Congress and asked them to change the copyright laws to ban cover records of R&B tunes by white artists (her efforts are no more successful than the previous year's bill).

Also in 1955 Billboard reported that for the first time since their introduction in 1949, 45rpm singles were outselling the old standard 78's.

In 1964, the Beatles worked on the final mixes for "Can't Buy Me Love" and "You Can't Do That" tracks. The single, which was released the following month, topped the charts all over the world.

Guitarist Jimmy Page released a solo single in 1965 called "She Just Satisfies." It didn't chart.

Nancy Sinatra went to #1 on the singles chart in 1966 with "These Boots Are Made For Walking" (also a UK #1).

The Beatles 'Rubber Soul' was at #1 on the US album chart in 1966, the group's seventh US album chart topper.

The Rolling Stones' "19th Nervous Breakdown" was released in 1966.



The Beatles album "Beatles Again" was released in the US in 1970. It contained the song "Hey Jude."

Alice Cooper and kindred spirit, artist Salvador Dali, posed for a photo session in 1973. The finished result hangs in the Knoedler Gallery in NY.

The epic Eagles' LP "Hotel California" was released in 1977.

The Eagles went to #1 on the US singles chart with "New Kid On Town," the group's third US #1 hit.

After seeing U2 play at Dublin's National Boxing Stadium in front of 2,400 people in 1980; Rob Partridge and Bill Stewart from Island Records in the UK offered the band a recording contract.

Michael Jackson's 'Thriller' went to #1 on the US album chart in 1983. It went on to become the most successful album of all time with sales over 50 million copies.

Chuck Berry received a Lifetime Achievement Grammy in 1985. Additionally, "Dancing In The Dark" earns Bruce Springsteen a Grammy for Best Rock Male Performance. Tina Turner’s "What’s Love Got To Do With It" gets Best Pop Vocal Performance and Record of the Year.

Capitol Records released the first 4 Beatles albums on CD in 1987.

Toni Braxton went to #1 on the US album chart in 1994 with 'Toni Braxton.'

Lonestar started a two week run at #1 on the US singles chart in 2000 with "Amazed."

Alanis Morissette's third album "Under Rug Swept" was released in 2002.

Four Concerts for Artists’ Rights took place in the L.A. area in 2002. The concerts raise funds to repeal or change sections of the California Labor Code that hurt recording artists. The Eagles (drummer Don Henley is a prime mover behind the effort), Stevie Nicks, John Fogerty, No Doubt, Eddie Vedder and Beck perform.

Lou Reed, Kinks frontman Ray Davies and Patti Smith perform at the17th annual Tibet House benefit concert in New York in 2007. The event supports the organization's efforts to promote and preserve Tibet 's cultural heritage.

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