This Date In Music History - November 21

Birthdays:

Dr John, (Malcolm John Rebennack) (1940)

Lonnie Jordan - War (1948)

Livingston Taylor (brother of James Taylor) (1950)

Peter Koppes - The Church (1955)

Brian Ritchie - Violent Femmes (1960)

Bjork Gudmundsdottir - Sugarcubes, Solo (1965)

Margret Ornolfsdottir - Sugarcubes (1967)

Alex James - Blur (1968)

Francis Macdonald - Teenage Fanclub (1970)

Kelsi Osborn - SHeDAISY (1974)



They Are Missed:

In 1965, Bill Black, who backed Elvis Presley on his early hits, died of a brain tumor at the age of 39. After leaving Elvis, he formed Bill Black's Combo and placed 8 hits in the US Top 40, including "White Silver Sands" in 1960.

In 1973, comedian / songwriter, Allan Sherman, who is best remembered for 1963's "Hello Mudduh, Hello Fadduh" died of respiratory ailments, a few days shy of his 49th birthday.



Matthew Ashman, former Adam And The Ants and Bow Wow Wow guitarist died in 1995 (age 35) from complications caused by diabetes. Bow Wow Wow had the 1982 hit "I Want Candy," also worked with Wendy James from Transvision Vamp.

Legendary manager of Led Zeppelin Peter Grant died from a heart attack in 1995 (age 60). Known as being one of the shrewdest and most ruthless managers in rock history, Grant secured 90% of concert gate money and intimidated record store owners who dealt in bootlegs. The former wrestler, also worked as a film extra and bodyguard. During the early 60’s Grant worked as a tour manager for Bo Diddley, The Everly Brothers, Little Richard, Chuck Berry, Eddie Cochran, Gene Vincent and The Animals.

Songwriter Buddy Kaye passed away at the age of 84 in 2002. His 57 year songwriting career produced Barry Manilow's "The Old Songs," Pat Boone's "Speedy Gonzales," Perry Como's "You're Adorable" and the theme for the TV show I Dream of Jeannie.

Teddy Randazzo, a rock icon from the 1950s who composed classic hit songs such as "Goin' Out of My Head" and "Hurt So Bad", passed away at the age of 68 in 2003.



History:

Legendary singer and actress Rosemary Clooney was at #1 on the UK singles chart in 1954 with "This Ole House." This song was also a #1 for Shakin' Stevens in 1981. Her nephew, George Clooney was a pallbearer at her funeral in 2002.

In 1955, RCA Records purchased Elvis Presley's recording contract from Sam Phillips at Sun Records for an unprecedented sum of $35,000.

Also in 1955, Elvis Presley agreed to let Col. Tom Parker be his manager. Not really a colonel, Parker was a flamboyant promoter whose previous experience includes The Great Parker Pony Circus and Tom Parker and His Dancing Turkeys and is a veteran of carnivals, medicine shows and various other entertainment enterprises.

Maurice Williams and The Zodiacs went to #1 on the US singles chart in 1960 with "Stay," the shortest ever US #1 single at one minute 37 seconds.

In 1960, the Beatles played at the Kaiserkeller Club in Hamburg, Germany without George Harrison. Harrison had been deported on this day for being underage (he was 17) and not legally allowed to remain in a nightclub after midnight.

Blue Hawaii, starring Elvis Presley was released in the US in 1961. By the end of the year it will gross $4.7 million.

Elvis Presley's "Love Me Tender' movie was released in 1962.

The Elvis Presley film "Fun in Acapulco" premiered in 1963.

Marvin Gaye's "How Sweet It Is" entered the Hot 100 in 1964, where it will peak at #6 during a 14 week stay. The song would become a hit all over again when James Taylor took it to #5 in 1975.

“The Who Sell Out” was released in 1967. Aside from passing itself off as a “concept album” it also contains “I Can See For Miles,” one of the group’s best ‘60s song.



The Partridge Family started a three week run at #1 on the US singles chart in 1970 with "I Think I Love You." The song was featured in the first episode of the Partridge Family TV series, made by the same company that made The Monkees. The only members of the cast who actually sang on the record were David Cassidy and his real-life step mother, Shirley Jones.

Two months after his death Jimi Hendrix was at #1 on the UK singles chart in 1970 with "Voodoo Chile," the guitarist's only UK #1 single.

The Carpenters were at #2 on the US singles chart in 1970 with "We've Only Just Begun," a song originally written for a TV commercial advertising a bank.

In 1980, Don Henley was arrested after a naked 16-year old girl was found at his home in Los Angeles suffering from a drug over-dose. Henley was charged with unlawful possession of marijuana, cocaine and Quaaludes and contributing to the delinquency of a minor. He received a $2,000 fine with two years probation. Pig.

Olivia Newton John started a ten week run at #1 in the US singles chart in 1981 with "Physical," the singers fourth US #1 went on to sell over 2 million copies.

In 1981, Foreigner's, "Waiting for a Girl Like You" entered the top 5 on the US singles chart, where it would sit for the next 10 weeks, unable to unseat "Physical" by Olivia Newton John and "I Can't Go For That" by Hall and Oates. The band would eventually score a number one hit with "I Want to Know What Love Is" in 1985.

Queen and David Bowie were at #1 in the UK in 1981 with "Under Pressure." They recorded the song together when both acts were working in a German recording studio.

Michael Jackson's 14-minute video for 'Thriller,' was premiered in Los Angeles in 1983.



Billy Idol knocked Tiffany from the #1 single position on the US singles chart in 1987 with his version of Tommy James "Mony Mony." Tiffany had been at #1 with another Tommy James song "I Think We're Alone Now."

In 1988, Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page set out on his first ever-solo tour at The Hummingbird, Birmingham, appearing with John Miles and the son of Zeppelin drummer John Bonham, Jason Bonham.

'The Delicate Sound Of Thunder,' by Pink Floyd was released in 1988.

In 1990, Madonna was sued by her next door neighbour for having a hedge, which blocked his view. Of her?

Mick Jagger married Jerry Hall in Bali in 1990. The marriage was declared 'null and void' on 13th August 1999 after a judge ruled that the six- hour ceremony in Bali was never registered.

In 1991, Aerosmith made a guest appearance in the Simpson's TV animated comedy.

Michael Bolton went to #1 on the US album chart in 1992 with 'Timeless (The Classics).'

The Beatles Anthology 1 was released in the US in 1995, featuring 60 tracks including the single "Free As A Bird."

An acoustic guitar on which the late Beatle George Harrison learned to play fetched $431,812 at a London auction in 2003. His father originally bought the Egmond guitar for Harrison for around $5. Another item auctioned was a signed invitation to the post-premiere celebrations for The Beatles 'Hard Days Night' film, which went for $27,500.

In 2003 - In Santa Barbara, CA, Michael Jackson was booked on suspicion of child molestation. Jackson immediately posted the $3 million bail and then flew back to Las Vegas where he had been filming a video. He was given an arraignment date of January 9, 2004.

The album "Take A Look In The Mirror" from KoRn was released in 2003.

In 2003, record producer Phil Spector appeared before a California court and was formally charged with murder. B-movie actress Lana Clarkson had been found at his mansion in February of this year with a fatal gunshot wound to her face. Spector pleaded not guilty to her murder during a brief hearing in Alhambra, near Los Angeles and was released on $1m bail.

The newest members of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame were announced in 2003. Those who will join the distinguished list of previous inductees are George Harrison, Prince, ZZ Top, Jackson Browne, The Dells, Bob Seger and Traffic. George Harrison will become the third Beatle to enter the Rock Hall as a solo performer; John Lennon was inducted in 1992 and Paul McCartney in 1999. The group was inducted in 1988.

Eminem was at #1 on the US album chart in 2004 with 'Encore', his third US #1 album.

In 2005, ex-Led Zeppelin singer Robert Plant, Pink Floyd's David Gilmour, the Who's Roger Daltrey and Elton John appear on a tribute single honoring late British radio DJ John Peel. It's a cover of the Buzzcocks' "Ever Fallen In Love." Proceeds benefited Amnesty International.

Ozzy Osbourne sings for Queen Elizabeth II at Britain's Royal Variety Performance in 2005. Ozzy was invited the previous year but had to miss the annual event due to other commitments. He cancels an L.A. appearance just to he make the show. "I cannot turn down this incredible honor twice," says the Prince of Darkness. He performs a cover of The Beatles' "In My Life" backed by Velvet Revolver guitarist Slash.



The soundtrack to the Cirque du Soleil troupe's Beatles-themed Las Vegas production, "Love," was released in 2006. Beatles’ producer George Martin and his son Giles compiled the soundtrack developing mash-ups of several songs. "George and Giles did such a great job combining these tracks," says Ringo Starr. "It's really powerful for me."

In 2006, there are box sets from the Doors (“Perception”), KISS (“KISS Alive! 1975-2000”), Robert Plant (“Nine Lives”) and David Crosby (“Voyage”) plus “U218 Singles,” a limited edition best-of disc with two new U2 tunes and a bonus live CD recorded in Milan, Italy, the previous year. The Doors box set contains remastered versions of the group’s studio albums (with vocalist Jim Morrison), augmented by outtakes, previously unreleased tunes, live recordings, video footage and pictures. The KISS set is a four-CD collection featuring remastered versions of ‘75's “KISS Alive!,” ‘77's “KISS Alive II” and ‘93's “KISS Alive III,” plus the previously unreleased “KISS Alive: The Millennium Concert,” recorded in Vancouver, Canada, on New Year’s Eve ‘99 with the group’s original line-up. A three-CD compilation spans Crosby's five-decade career and includes solo material, his tenure with the Byrds and tracks recorded with Stephen Stills, Graham Nash and Neil Young. One disc contains 16 previously unreleased tracks. Also, a CD/DVD edition of Crosby's '71 aptly titled solo debut, “If I Could Only Remember My Name” is out.

It was announced in 2007 that founding E Street Band member, keyboardist Danny Federici, was undergoing treatment for melanoma and won’t be a part of Bruce Springsteen’s “Magic” tour. "Danny is one of the pillars of our sound and has played beside me as a great friend for more than 40 years," writes Springsteen. "We all eagerly await his healthy and speedy return." Charles Giordano, who had worked with Springsteen, fills in. (Federici died the following year: 4/17/08. The Danny Federici Melanoma Fund was started after his death.)

In 2008, more than 40 years after Christians around the world were infuriated by John Lennon's saying that the Beatles were "more popular than Jesus," the Vatican's official newspaper absolved John of his notorious remark, saying that "after so many years it sounds merely like the boasting of an English, working-class lad struggling to cope with unexpected success."

Also in 2008, Rhino Entertainment and Sprint introduce Rock The Phone, a website offering ringtones by The Doors, Led Zeppelin, Van Halen, ZZ Top and Ramones. During a short introductory period they give away a free ringtone of the Doors' classic "Love Me Two Times." Sad, if you ask me.....