Today in Music History for March 10:
In 1903, legendary jazz cornet player Bix Beiderbecke was born in Davenport, Iowa. The sordid details of his tragically short life have tended to overshadow the remarkable music he produced. His style on B-flat cornet made a lasting impression on such later players as Red Nichols, Bobby Hackett and Rex Stewart. His solo on "Singing the Blues," recorded in 1927 with saxophonist Frankie Trumbauer and guitarist Eddie Lang, was to become one of the most influential and most discussed solos in jazz. Beiderbecke soon joined the Paul Whiteman Orchestra, at the time the most popular and successful band in the U.S. With Whiteman, Beiderbecke gained international exposure, at the same time boosting the jazz content of the orchestra. By this time, Beiderbecke was losing his battle with alcoholism. He was absent from the band on several occasions, and when he left in 1929, Whiteman refused to hire him back. Beiderbecke died in his New York apartment in August, 1931 at the age of 28.
In 1924, "Guy Lombardo and His Royal Canadians" made their first recordings at a session in Richmond, Ind. Two songs were released on the Gennett label.
In 1956, "Heartbreak Hotel" reached No. 1 on the charts, making Elvis Presley a bonafide star.
In 1960, the British trade magazine "Record Retailer," now known as "Music Week," published the first LP chart in the U.K. At No. 1 was "The Explosive Freddy Cannon."
In 1963, 25,000 people attended the funeral for country singer Patsy Cline, killed five days earlier in a plane crash.
In 1973, "Pink Floyd" released its concept album "Dark Side of the Moon" in the U.S. It is the longest-charting album in the history of Billboard magazine. It stayed on the Billboard Hot 200 Album chart for a record 741 straight weeks until April 1988. (It has since reappeared on the chart and as of mid-February 2018, reached a total of 937 weeks.) It resurfaced when Billboard created the Top Pop Catalog Album chart in March 1991, and has been a mainstay at just over 1,200 weeks. Total worldwide sales of "Dark Side of the Moon" are more than 45 million.
In 1977, "Pink Floyd's" album "Animals" was certified platinum -- one million copies sold -- in the U.S.
In 1977, British A&M signed the "Sex Pistols" for 150,000 pounds in a ceremony outside Buckingham Palace. The label fired them nine days later.
In 1979, James Brown played the Grand Ole Opry, prompting complaints from traditional country singer Jean Shepard. Barbara Mandrell, on the other hand, said Brown should have been invited five years earlier.
In 1986, British pop star Gary Glitter was banned from driving for 10 years after admitting to a British court that he had committed his third drunk driving offence in nine years.
In 1988, pop singer Andy Gibb, younger brother of the three "Bee Gees," died of a heart condition in a hospital in Oxfordshire, England. He was 30.
In 1991, Alabama, K.T. Oslin, Ricky Skaggs and Tammy Wynette were among those performing at Ford's Theatre in Washington to help celebrate the end of the Gulf War. The concert, attended by U.S. President George Bush, also raised money for the
In 1992, Prince received a lifetime achievement award at the Soul Train Awards. Winners of other awards included Natalie Cole and "Color Me Badd."
In 1993, songwriters Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis got a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
In 1995, Garth Brooks hosted a "thank you" luncheon for 1,000 employees at an EMI compact disc and cassette manufacturing plant in Jacksonville, Ill. The event celebrated two record-setting achievements by Brooks. Figures from the Recording Industry Association of America showed he was the best-selling country artist of all-time and the fastest-selling artist in music history. In six years, his seven Liberty Records albums had sold more than 50 million copies in the U.S.
In 1997, LaVern Baker, one of the most influential R&B singers of the 1950s, died in New York at age 67. She had suffered from diabetes and had both legs amputated below the knees two years earlier. Baker had 20 R&B hits beginning in 1955, including "Tweedle Dee," "Jim Dandy" and "I Cried a Tear." Like other black artists of the period, Baker saw many of her songs covered by white artists, whose versions out-sold the originals. She was openly scornful of Georgia Gibbs, whose copy of "Tweedle Dee" was a big hit. In 1991, Baker became the second female artist -- after Aretha Franklin -- to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
In 1997, the "Spice Girls" became the first group to top the British charts with their first four singles when the double-sided hit "Mama" and "Who Do You Think You Are?" went to No. 1. The group began their run of hits with their debut single "Wannabe," and followed it up with "Say You'll Be There" and "2 Become 1." "Wannabe" also topped the charts in the U.S. and Canada.
In 2003, "The Police" reunited for their first show together in 18 years, at their induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Also inducted were "Elvis Costello and The Attractions," "The Clash" and "The Righteous Brothers."
In 2003, "Dixie Chicks" singer Natalie Maines told an audience in London, "Just so you know, we're ashamed that the President of the United States is from Texas." They endured a firestorm of criticism that included radio stations banning their music and protests outside their concerts.
In 2004, Dave Schulthise, known as Dave Blood during his career as the bassist for Philadelphia punk icons "The Dead Milkmen," died at age 47 at the home of friends in Westchester, N.Y. His family said he committed suicide. In 1983, Schulthise formed the band with singer Rodney Klingerman, known as Rodney Anonymous; guitarist Joe Genaro, known as Joe Jack Talcum, and drummer Dean Sabatino, known as "Dean Clean." Their releases include "Big Lizard in My Backyard" (1985), "Beelzebubba" (1988) and "Metaphysical Graffiti" (1990). Their hits included "Punk Rock Girl," whose Philadelphia-shot video was in heavy rotation on MTV.
In 2005, singer Danny Joe Brown of "Molly Hatchet" died of renal failure. He was 53.
In 2008, Canadian troubadour Leonard Cohen, Madonna, John Mellencamp, "The Dave Clark Five" and "The Ventures" were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
In 2010, Taio Cruz set the record for the largest jump to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 by an act with its first charting single as "Break Your Heart" featuring Ludacris soared from 53-1.
In 2011, Randy Bachman and Fred Turner (Bachman-Turner Overdrive) were inducted into the Canadian Music and Broadcast Industry Hall of Fame.
In 2015, the CBC selected Juno Award-winning rapper Shad as the new host of its arts and culture radio program "Q," which was helmed by Jian Ghomeshi until he was fired in 2014 over sexual assault allegations. Shad debuted on the newly rebranded "q" on April 20, but his stint lasted only until Aug. 16, 2016. CBC Radio 2 Morning host Tom Powers took the reins in October.
In 2015, a Los Angeles jury determined that Robin Thicke and Pharrell Williams copied elements of Marvin Gaye's "Got to Give it Up" for their 2013 megahit "Blurred Lines." They were ordered to pay nearly $5.2 million to the late singer's three children and 50 per cent of the song's future royalties. (In 2018, a federal appeals court upheld the ruling.)
-----
(The Canadian Press)
The Canadian Press
