Today in Music History for Jan. 31:
In 1797, composer Franz Schubert was born in Vienna. He died in 1828 at the age of 31. Schubert's reputation grew after his death, to the point where is now considered one of the greatest composers of his era. He left a large body of work despite his short life that continues to be played and celebrated today. Among his most significant works is "Winterreise," which he kept working on mere days before dying.
In 1921, tenor Mario Lanza, billed as the successor to Enrico Caruso, was born in Philadelphia. There were predictions that he would become the greatest tenor of his time, perhaps even of the century. But his unreliability, destructive temper tantrums and a penchant for overeating, then going on frantic diets, destroyed his career. He died of a heart embolism in 1959. His 1951 film "The Great Caruso" is reported to have grossed more than $5 million. And two of his '50s recordings, "Be My Love" and "The Loveliest Night of the Year," sold more than a million copies each.
In 1951, rock vocalist Phil Collins was born in London. He joined the art-rock group "Genesis" in 1970 as drummer, replacing John Mayhew. Collins became the group's lead vocalist after Peter Gabriel left in 1974. With Collins fronting the band, "Genesis" began to score hit singles, starting with "Follow You, Follow Me" in 1978. Collins, while remaining with "Genesis," started a solo career in 1982. His first album, "Face Value," sold two million copies. He's had numerous single hits as well, including such chart-toppers as "Against All Odds," "One More Night," "Sussudio" and "Separate Lives," a 1986 duet with Marilyn Martin.
In 1951, Phil Manzanera, guitarist with "Roxy Music," was born in London. "Roxy Music" was a product of the glitter-rock boom of the early 1970s, and was the brainchild of Bryan Ferry and Brian Eno. Eno, however, left the group in 1973 in a disagreement with Ferry over the direction it should take. Phil Manzanera joined the group in 1972, replacing David O'List. The band's 1979 album "Manifesto" was their most popular in North America.
In 1956, 11-year-old Brenda Lee made her TV debut on ABC's "Junior Ozark Jubilee."
In 1969, "Iron Butterfly" refused to perform at a concert in New York after being upstaged by the opening act, "Led Zeppelin."
In 1970, blues singer and songwriter Slim Harpo died of a heart attack in Baton Rouge, La. He was 46. Harpo is best known for his 1961 hit "Rainin' in My Heart." He also composed "I'm a King Bee," a tune favoured by "The Rolling Stones" early in their career.
In 1978, saxophonist Greg Herbert of "Blood, Sweat and Tears" died of an accidental drug overdose in Amsterdam during the band's European tour. He was 30.
In 1981, big band drummer Cozy Cole died in Columbus, Ohio, at age 71. Cole had performed with the likes of Cab Calloway, Benny Goodman and Louis Armstrong, but his greatest claim to fame came after the big band era had ended. In 1958, he had a top-10 hit with "Topsy," a tune which both Goodman and Count Basie had recorded in the late 1930s.
In 1989, "Playboy" hit newsstands with nude photos of La Toya Jackson.
In 1993, Michael Jackson and 3,500 children performed during halftime at the Super Bowl. He sang a variety of his hits, including "Heal the World." The game began with country star Garth Brooks singing "The Star-Spangled Banner."
In 2009, "Buffalo Springfield" drummer Dewey Martin died at age 68. According to a "Rolling Stone" report, Martin not only sang backup on the "Buffalo Springfield" hit "For What It's Worth," he also provided the LSD to Stephen Stills that inspired him to write the song. After the band fell apart in 1968, Martin tried to carry on as "The New Buffalo Springfield," which led to legal battles. Martin later became a mechanic. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with the rest of the band in 1997.
In 2010, Canada’s leading jazz authority, British-born John Norris, died in Toronto at age 76.
In 2010, Beyonce set a record for a woman by winning six Grammys in one night, including Song of the Year for "Single Ladies (Put a Ring On It"). Canadians Neil Young (Best Boxed or Special Limited Edition Package) and Michael J. Fox (Best Spoken Word Album), both won their first-ever Grammy prizes, while Vancouver's Michael Buble (Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album) took his second career award. Country star Taylor Swift picked up four awards, including the prestigious Album of the Year for "Fearless."
In 2010, Taylor Swift's "Fearless" became the first album in history to win the Academy of Country Music Award (ACM), Country Music Association Award (CMA), American Music Award (AMA), and Grammy Award for Album of the Year in the same awards season.
In 2013, pop diva Beyonce faced the music at her Super Bowl news conference, admitting she lip-synched the U.S. national anthem at the presidential inauguration, citing lack of preparation time with the orchestra.
In 2017, singer and bassist John Wetton of the rock group Asia died from colon cancer. He was 67. He rose to fame as part of English rock band King Crimson in the 1970s.
In 2021, Hilton Valentine, the founding guitarist of the English rock band The Animals, who is credited with coming up with one of the most famous opening riffs of the 1960s, died. The band's label ABKCO Music confirmed that Valentine died on Friday, saying it was told of his death by his wife, Germaine Valentine. He was 77. Valentine, from North Shields in northeast England, formed The Animals in 1963 alongside singer Eric Burdon, bassist Chas Chandler, organist Alan Price and drummer John Steel. The band's biggest hit was 1964's "The House of the Rising Sun.''
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(The Canadian Press)
The Canadian Press
