Today in Music History for Feb. 12:
In 1915, blind hymnwriter Fanny Crosby died at age 95 in New York City. She wrote more than 9,000 texts, including "Safe in the Arms of Jesus" and "Pass Me Not, O Gentle Saviour."
In 1915, news announcer-turned actor Lorne Greene was born in Ottawa. After studying chemical engineering at Queen's University and drama in New York, Greene became known as "The Voice of Doom" while serving as CBC Radio's chief newscaster from 1939 to '42. After the war, he taught theatre in Toronto and acted on Broadway before beginning a 14-year stint as Ben Cartwright on the TV series "Bonanza" in 1959 that catapulted him to fame throughout the world. His gunfighter narrative "Ringo" was a surprise No. 1 hit in 1964. He died on Sept. 11, 1987.
In 1924, George Gershwin's "Rhapsody in Blue" premiered in New York with Paul Whiteman leading the orchestra and Gershwin himself at the piano.
In 1939, Ray Manzarek, keyboards player with "The Doors," was born in Chicago. Manzarek met lead singer Jim Morrison at the UCLA film department, and together they conceived the group which was to become famous as much for Morrison's exhibitionism as for its music. "The Doors," with Robby Krieger on guitar and John Densmore on drums, had a No. 1 hit with "Light My Fire," a song taken from their debut album in 1967. Several more hit singles and albums followed, until Jim Morrison's death of heart failure in 1971. Ray Manzarek took the band on to record two more albums, but "The Doors" split up in 1973. He died on May 20, 2013.
In 1940, the radio play "The Adventures of Superman" began airing on the Mutual network with Bud Collyer as "The Man of Steel."
In 1956, rock 'n' roll eccentric Screamin' Jay Hawkins recorded "I Put a Spell on You," which became his best known song. He toured with revues organized by disc jockey Alan Freed, and often concluded his act by being carried off in a flaming coffin.
In 1957, "The Coasters" recorded "Young Blood," a tune written by two white songwriters and independent record producers, Jerry Lieber and Mike Stoller. It became the first big hit for the group. The flip side, "Searchin'," was also popular.
In 1961, "Shop Around" by "The Miracles" became the first million-seller for Motown Records.
In 1964, "The Beatles" played Carnegie Hall in New York during their first American tour.
In 1967, 15 policemen raided the English country home of Keith Richards of "The Rolling Stones" in a search for drugs. Among those present were Mick Jagger and Marianne Faithful. The three were not charged until three months later.
In 1968, rock guitarist Jimi Hendrix returned to Seattle, Wash., during his second American tour, and played for the students of Garfield High, the school from which he dropped out. Hendrix was given an honorary high school diploma and the key to the city.
In 1974, Patti LaBelle played the unofficial opening concert for the legendary New York club "The Bottom Line." The headliner for the official opening the next night was Dr. John. Stevie Wonder and Johnny Winter joined him for a jam session.
In 1975, ex-folk trio leader Chad Mitchell was sentenced to five years in prison after being caught driving marijuana across the Texas border two years earlier. "The Chad Mitchell Trio" had several hit albums during the folk music boom in the 1960s. When Mitchell left the group in 1963, his replacement was the then-unknown John Denver.
In 1976, actor Sal Mineo, who starred in "Exodus" and "Rebel Without a Cause," was murdered in Los Angeles. He also enjoyed modest success as a recording artist, scoring a top-10 hit in 1957 with "Start Movin'." Several other minor chart records followed, including one with the intriguing title of "Little Pigeon."
In 1977, "The Police" recorded their first single, "Fall Out."
In 1981, "Blondie" vocalist Deborah Harry announced plans to record a solo album. The group had two No. 1 singles that year: "The Tide is High" and "Rapture."
In 1983, ragtime composer and pianist Eubie Blake died at age 96. He began playing the piano in sporting houses in his hometown of Baltimore while he was still a youngster, and in 1899, at 16, he composed his first rag, "Charleston Rag." Blake played in the same style for more than three quarters of a century. Some of his compositions -- such as "I'm Just Wild About Harry" and "Memories of You" -- are considered classics. In 1979, a musical revue, "Eubie," featuring Blake's songs, delighted Broadway audiences.
In 1990, MC Hammer released "Please Hammer Don't Hurt 'Em," featuring the hit single, "U Can't Touch This."
In 1994, Celine Dion became the first Quebec artist to top the Billboard Hot 100 chart when "The Power of Love" made No. 1.
In 1998, "U2" lead singer Bono urged the commander-in-chief of the Chilean army to explain what happened to people who disappeared during the regime of former dictator General Augusto Pinochet from 1973 to 1990. Bono, surrounded by elderly women who had lost relatives, spoke at a cemetery in Santiago. "U2" was in the Chilean capital for a concert.
In 2001, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled Napster must act to stop the massive trade in copywrited music.
In 2009, Gerry Niewood and Coleman Mellett, members of jazz musician Chuck Mangione's band, were among the 50 dead after a Bombardier Dash 8 commuter plane crashed into a home near Buffalo, N.Y.
In 2009, a full-frontal, nude photo of a 20-year-old Madonna fetched US$37,500 at auction, an apparent record auction price for a photograph of the superstar singer. The photograph was one of six from the shoot that appeared in "Playboy." The other five pictures were sold together in 2003 for $7,170.
In 2011, 102-year-old Canadian-born gospel legend George Beverly Shea was honoured with a lifetime achievement award at a ceremony on the eve of the 53rd Grammy Awards. Also honoured were Dolly Parton, Julie Andrews, Roy Haynes, "The Kingston Trio," "Juilliard String Quartet" and "The Ramones."
In 2012, 23-year-old British neo-soul powerhouse Adele tied a Grammy record one-night haul for a female act in what was a sombre affair devoted largely to Whitney Houston, who died a day earlier. Adele swept all six categories she was nominated in, including the major categories of Best Album for "21" and Best Song and Best Record for "Rolling in the Deep." She became the youngest artist to win the "Big Three" awards.
In 2012, also at the Grammys, Toronto R&B singer Melanie Fiona claimed two awards for her Cee Lo Green collaboration "Fool For You." Montreal's Caroline Robert was also a winner, taking Best Recording Package for designing the deluxe re-release of "Arcade Fire's" album "The Suburbs."
In 2017, British neo soul singer Adele won all five Grammy categories in which she was nominated, including Record and Song of the Year ("Hello") and Album of the Year ("25"). She became the first act to sweep the big three awards twice.
In 2017, Grammy-winning jazz singer Al Jarreau, who transcended genres over a 50-year career, died at a Los Angeles hospital, just days after announcing his retirement from touring because of exhaustion. He was 76. Jarreau is one of the few artists to have won Grammys in three separate categories — jazz, pop and R&B.
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(The Canadian Press)
The Canadian Press
