This Date In Music History - November 23

Birthdays:

Sandra Stevens - Brotherhood Of Man (1949)

Alan Paul - Manhattan Transfer (1949)

Bruce Hornsby - The Range (1954)

Charlie Grover - Sponge (1966)

Ken Block - Sister Hazel (1966)

Kurupt - The Dogg Pound (1972)

Lucas Stephen Grabeel - actor and singer High School Musical (1984)

Miley Ray Cyrus (1992)


They Are Missed:

Blues artist Big Joe Turner died of a heart attack in 1985 (age 75). Wrote "Shake Rattle and Roll," (a hit for Bill Haley and His Comets) and "Sweet Sixteen."

Country music singer Roy Acuff died in 1992 (age 89). Known as the "King of Country Music," he was the first living artist elected to the Country Music Hall Of Fame. Acuff started his career in 1932 working for Dr. Hauer's medicine show, hired as one of its entertainers to draw a crowd to whom Hauer could sell medicines.

Tommy Boyce, singer/songwriter, committed suicide in 1994. Wrote "Last Train To Clarksville," "I'm Not Your Stepping Stone" and "Scooby- Doo Where Are You." Sold over 40m records. Boyce and his partner Bobby Hart scored a number eight hit of their own with "I Wonder What She's Doing Tonight" in 1967.

Soul singer and saxophonist Junior Walker died of cancer in 1995 (age 64). Walker also played sax on Foreigner's 1981 hit "Urgent."

Singer O.C. Smith died in 2001 (age 65). Famous for his 1968 US #1 single "Little Green Apples." Smith became pastor and founder of The City Of Angels Church in Los Angeles, California.

Born on this day in 1939, Betty Everett, soul singer, (1964 US #6 single "The Shoop Shoop Song, It's In His Kiss." She died on 19th August 2001 (age 61).

Singer/songwriter Chris Whitley died of lung cancer in 2005 (age 45). Whitley earned critical success with his 1991 album 'Living with the Law’ and toured with Bob Dylan and Tom Petty.


History:

The world's first jukebox was installed at San Francisco's' Palais Royal Hotel in 1899. It had been created by simply adding a coin slot to an Edison phonograph. In its first six months of service, the machine earned over $1000.

Agent Bob Neal assumed the manager's role for Elvis Presley in 1954, booking him as Elvis Presley, the Hillbilly Cat.

In 1956, sheet metal worker Louis Balint was arrested after punching Elvis Presley at a Hotel in Toledo. Balint claimed that his wife's love for Elvis had caused his marriage to break up. He was fined $19.60 but ended up being jailed because he was unable to pay the fine.

In 1959, Alan Freed was dismissed from his daily television show, Big Beat, over allegations that he accepted money to play certain records. Freed denied any wrong doing.

The Beatles traveled to St. James' Church Hall, London in 1962, for a ten-minute audition with BBC Television. The audition came about when Beatles fan, David Smith of Preston, Lancashire wrote to the BBC asking for The Beatles to be featured on BBC television. Assuming that Smith was The Beatles' manager, the BBC wrote back to him, offering The Beatles an audition. Smith brought his letter to NEMS Enterprises, and Clive Epstein (Brian's brother) arranged for audition to take place. Four days later, Brian Epstein received a polite "thumbs-down" letter from the BBC.

Dale and Grace went to #1 on the US singles chart in 1963 with "I'm Leaving It Up To You."

In 1964, the Rolling Stones showed up late for the BBC radio shows, "Top Gear" and "Saturday Club" and were banned by the BBC.

'The Beatles Story,' an adoring and glossy look at the group was released by Capitol Records in 1964. The Beatles also released “I Feel Fine” (with the feedback intro) and “She’s A Woman.”

Also in 1964, the High Numbers perform for the first time as The Who.

Elvis Presley’s Speedway premiered in 1966. The critics hated the movie but the fans turned it into a hit. Thanks to performances from Bill Bixby and Nancy Sinatra, the film is watchable. The soundtrack contains “Stop, Look and Listen” and Bob Dylan’s “Tomorrow Is A Long Time.”

Rolling Stone Magazine quoted San Francisco disc jockey Tom Donahue in 1967: "Top Forty radio, as we know it today and have known it for the last ten years, is dead, and its rotting corpse is stinking up the airwaves."

The Who appeared at The New Barn, Lions Delaware County Fairgrounds, Muncie, Indiana in 1967.

During a European tour in 1971, The Mothers Of Invention appeared at The Rheinhalle in Dusseldorf.

Elton John started an 11-week run at #1 on the UK chart in 1974 with his 'Greatest Hits', album. It also enjoyed a 10 week run as the US #1

One hit wonder Billy Swan started a two week run at #1 on the US singles chart in 1974 with "I Can Help."



The band Spooky Tooth split up in 1974 after releasing seven albums since 1968. At various times, the group included Gary Wright (who would have solo success with "Dreamweaver" and "Love Is Alive"), Mick Jones (later with Foreigner), Chris Stainton (who went on to work with Joe Cocker), and Henry McCullough. (recruited by Paul McCartney and Wings) The British band never charted in their home country, but gained modest success in the US.



The Rolling Stones scored their fifth US #1 album in 1974 with 'It's Only Rock 'N Roll.'

Queen started a nine-week run at #1 on the UK singles chart in 1975 with "Bohemian Rhapsody." The promotional video that accompanied the song is generally acknowledged as being the first pop video and only cost £5,000 to produce. When the band wanted to release the single various record executives suggested to them that, at 5 minutes and 55 seconds, it was too long and would never be a hit.

The Scorpions appeared at Accrington Town Hall, England in 1976. The German band were billed as Europe's leading hard rock band.

In 1976, ten hours after his last arrest, Jerry Lee Lewis was arrested again after brandishing a Derringer pistol outside Elvis Presley's Graceland's home in Memphis, demanding to see the 'King'. When police arrived they found Lewis sat in his car with the loaded Derringer pistol resting on his knee.

In 1979, Marianne Faithfull was arrested at Oslo Airport, Norway, for possession of marijuana.

Sly Stone was charged with possession of cocaine in Santa Monica in 1987.

In 1989, during a 104-date world tour, Paul McCartney played the first of five nights at the Los Angeles Forum, California, his first appearances in North America in thirteen years.

MTV banned Madonna's "Justify My Love" video in 1990.

Michael Bolton scored his second US #1 single in 1991 with his version of the Percy Sledge song "When A Man Loves A Woman."

Michael Jackson had his fourth UK #1 single in 1991 with "Black or White" which featured Slash on guitar. Also a #1 hit in the US.

Barbra Streisand was at #1 on the US album chart in 1997 with ‘Higher Ground’, the singer's sixth US #1 album.

Despite objections from The Recording Industry Association of America in 1998, who were worried about the growing problem of internet file swapping, the first portable MP3 playerwent on sale in the US. As of 2007, over 150 million had been sold. Sad....

In 2002, Otis Redding's widow and his former manager filed a lawsuit against the author of a biography written in 2001 about the R&B legend, claiming the book is filled with lies. The lawsuit, filed in Atlanta's Fulton County, sought $15 million in damages and claimed that the book detailed rumors about the singer's drug use, extramarital affairs and divorce, causing "harm to the plaintiffs." It also cites rumors that Otis' manager plotted with the Mafia to kill Otis by causing the plane to crash in order to claim $1 million in life insurance.

Jay-Z started a three week run at #1 on the US album chart in 2003 with ‘The Black Album.’

U2 releases 'How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb' in 2004. Recorded with longtime U2 producer Steve Lillywhite, the first single is "Vertigo."

In 2004, Nirvana’s box set 'With The Lights Out' finally sees the light of day. 81 tracks, including 68 previously unreleased songs, spans Nirvana’s career ranging from an ’87 cover of Led Zeppelin’s “Heartbreaker” to Kurt Cobain solo material recorded in ’94.

In 2005, Dan McTeague a Toronto MP tried to have 50 Cent barred from entering Canada to perform a series of concerts later this year. McTeague had sent a letter to Immigration Minister Joe Volpe claiming that the controversial rapper shouldn't be permitted to cross the border because he promotes gun violence.

Bono and The Edge from U2 made a surprise appearance at a charity gig in 2007, playing four songs before 250 people. The London gig at the Union Chapel was held as part of the Mencap's Little Noise Sessions.

Guns N' Roses finally released their long delayed album 'Chinese Democracy' in 2008, exclusively through Best Buy outlets. When work on the album began Bill Clinton was president. Now, George W. Bush was wrapping up his second term. In other words, it took a hell of a long time (13 years) to come out. "It's a pretty intense musical journey, really," says GN’R keyboardist Dizzy Reed. "Everyone that is in the band, or was in the band at some point — 'cause there, you know, there's been a few guys who have come and gone even since the old band — has contributed, and because of that I think it really takes you to some interesting musical places. When you add Axl and guitars, of course, though, it kinda glues it all together.”

In a related story, soft drink manufacturer Dr Pepper makes good on their offer to send a free can of the beverage to "everyone in America" (excluding ex-GN'R members Slash and Buckethead) when "Chinese Democracy" was released. "We never thought this day would come," says Dr Pepper VP of marketing Tony Jacobs. "But now that it's here all we can say is: The Dr Pepper's on us." Fans had to go to Dr Pepper.com to receive a coupon redeemable for a 20-oz. Dr Pepper.

In 2009, Canadian singer-songwriter Gordon Lightfoot said it's "not likely" he will ever release another album of new material. Lightfoot says his last record, 2004's 'Harmony,' fulfilled his recording contract and he does not foresee another album.

The Rolling Stones re-release "Wild Horses" as a digital package in 2009, following Susan Boyle's performance of the song on the X Factor the night before. Written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, "Wild Horses" is on the Stones' ‘71 album, 'Sticky Fingers.' Boyle's version is the opening track from the middle-aged Scottish singing sensation’s debut album, 'I Dreamed A Dream.' "Wild Horses" has been more notably covered by Neil Young, Guns N' Roses and Sheryl Crow.