Today in Music History for Feb. 7:
In 1944, the first Canadian Kiwanis Music Festival opened at the Eaton Auditorium in Toronto. There were about 7,000 competitors. One of the winners was a 10-year-old pianist -- Glenn Gould.
In 1944, Bing Crosby and the "John Scott Trotter Orchestra" recorded "Swinging on a Star" in Los Angeles for Decca Records.
In 1959, blues singer-guitarist Eddie (Guitar Slim) Jones died in New York City of pneumonia at age 32. His "Things That I Used to Do" was one of the top R&B hits of 1954 and was said to have sold more than a million copies. The soon-to-be-famous Ray Charles played piano on the recording.
In 1962, Garth Brooks, the biggest star to emerge from the "new country" movement of the 1990s, was born in Yukon, Okla. He blended rock and country influences and his highly theatrical stage shows stemmed from his admiration for such groups as "Queen" and "KISS." Since his self-titled debut in 1989, sales of his albums have surpassed 100-million. His 1991 release "Ropin' the Wind" was the first album ever to debut at No. 1 on both Billboard's pop and country album charts, a feat repeated by his 1993 album "In Pieces." He was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2012.
In 1964, "The Beatles" invasion of North America began as thousands of screaming fans welcomed John, Paul, George and Ringo at New York's Kennedy Airport. Only a month before, Capitol Records had been persuaded to release the group's fourth single, "I Want to Hold Your Hand," and an album, "Meet the Beatles." The company also had agreed to spend $50,000 to promote the then-unknown British foursome. By April, "The Beatles" held the top five positions on Billboard's Hot 100 singles chart.
In 1967, the "Bees Gees" returned to Britain after living in Australia for nearly a decade. They began their string of British and North American hits that year with "New York Mining Disaster 1941."
In 1979, Stephen Stills became the first rock artist to record on digital equipment, but the tracks were never released.
In 1980, "Pink Floyd" performed their elaborate stage show, called "The Wall," in New York. Presented in only three cities -- Los Angeles and London were the others -- the show featured the building of an actual brick wall which eventually obscured the band from the audience's view.
In 1981, country singer John Conlee joined the Grand Ole Opry.
In 1985, British pop singer Matt Monro died of liver cancer in Ealing, England. Monro, born Terrence Parsons, was best known in North America for "My Kind of Girl," which made the top-20 in 1961.
In 1986, John Cougar Mellencamp met with officials of the United Food and Commercial Workers' local in Austin, Minn., to show his support of the strike at the Hormel meatpacking plant.
In 1987, "Crosby, Stills and Nash" did not perform as scheduled at a Greenpeace benefit in Vancouver after David Crosby was refused admission into Canada because of his criminal record.
In 1994, Whitney Houston dominated the 21st annual American Music Awards, winning seven honours on the strength of "The Bodyguard" soundtrack and her version of Dolly Parton's "I Will Always Love You."
In 1994, Paul Anka was honoured at the French music industry's annual awards in Paris for his song "My Way." It was in 1968 that Anka wrote new lyrics to the melody of a French pop hit "Comme d'habitude," which means "As Usual." Anka called his version "My Way," and it became Frank Sinatra's signature song.
In 1995, a judge in New York sentenced rapper Tupac Shakur to four-and-a-half years in prison after he was convicted of fondling and groping a woman in a hotel room in November 1993. His road manager, Charles Fuller, was also found guilty. The two were acquitted of sodomy and weapons charges.
In 1999, songwriter and actor Bobby Troup, best known for penning the highway anthem "(Get Your Kicks on) Route 66," died in Sherman Oaks, Calif., of congestive heart failure. He was 80. There are dozens of recordings of "Route 66," including popular versions by Nat King Cole, Bing Crosby and "The Andrews Sisters," and "Asleep at the Wheel." Troup also played Dr. Joe Early on the 1970s TV show "Emergency."
In 2000, singer-guitarist "Lonesome" Dave Peverett, who founded the '70s blues-rock band "Foghat," died in Orlando from cancer complications at age 56. "Foghat" is best known for such classics as "Slow Ride" and "I Just Wanna Make Love to You."
In 2001, singer-actress Dale Evans died at age 88.
In 2009, Blossom Dearie, a classically trained pianist who transformed herself into a jazz singer with a unique baby-doll voice heard in New York and London cabarets for three decades, died at her Manhattan home at age 82.
In 2009, country singer Molly Bee, who shot to fame at 13 with the 1952 novelty hit "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus," died in Oceanside, Calif., at age 69. She made her movie debut in 1954 in "Corral Cuties." She also appeared in the films "Going Steady," "Chartroose Caboose" and "The Young Swingers," and recorded such songs as "Young Romance," "5 Points of a Star" and "Don't Look Back."
In 2015, bassist Joe B. Mauldin of Buddy Holly and The Crickets died of cancer at the age of 74. He was just 16 when he joined The Crickets. He's credited with co-writing the songs "Last Night," ''Well All Right" and "I'm Gonna Love You Too."
In 2021, Canadian superstar The Weeknd headlined the Super Bowl halftime show. The 30-year-old, Toronto-raised R and B singer kicked off his 14-minute set in a signature red blazer and sunglasses, directing his robotic ensemble and singing "Call Out My Name." He also performed hits "The Hills" and "Earned It." The three-time Grammy winner and dozens of his dancers also hit the field to perform "Blinding Lights."
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(The Canadian Press)
The Canadian Press
