Today in Music History for Feb. 26:
In 1923, the Winnipeg Male Voice Choir performed at Carnegie Hall in New York City. The New York Post said the performance placed the choir in "the very front rank."
In 1928, Antoine "Fats" Domino, the R&B pianist who has sold more than 65 million records, was born in New Orleans. After Elvis Presley, he is the biggest-selling 1950s rock 'n' roll artist. By the time he joined trumpeter Dave Bartholomew's band in the 1940s, he had already mastered the classic New Orleans piano style of such performers as Professor Longhair and Amos Milburn. In 1949, Fats Domino had his first million-seller, "The Fat Man." But it wasn't until 1955, with "Ain't That a Shame," that he attracted the white record-buying public. He eventually collected 23 gold singles, for such hits as "I'm In Love Again," "Blueberry Hill" and "I'm Walkin'." The Rock and Roll Hall-of-Famer died on Oct. 24, 2017.
In 1932, singer Johnny Cash, one of the most influential American musicians of the 20th century, was born in Kingsdale, Ark. In 1954, Cash met guitar player Luther Perkins and bass player Marshall Grant. As "Johnny Cash and the Tennessee Two," they sold a million copies of "I Walk the Line" on the Sun label in 1956. Cash signed with Columbia in 1958, and two years later drummer W.S. Holland was added to make the "Tennessee Three." Cash's string of hits for Columbia have included "Ring of Fire," "A Boy Named Sue" and "Folsom Prison Blues." Known as "The Man in Black," his records were always on the border of rock, and often crossed over to the pop charts. The marching bass lines which characterized many of Cash's songs influenced the work of Waylon Jennings and others in the outlaw country movement of the 1970s. In 1994, Cash's career was revived with the release of "American Recordings," an album of just the singer and his guitar. It was embraced by everyone from traditional country fans to alternative rockers. He sold over 90 million albums in a 50-year career. Cash died of complications from diabetes that resulted in respiratory failure on Sept. 12, 2003.
In 1966, "The Rolling Stones" released the single "19th Nervous Breakdown."
In 1970, "The Beatles" album "Hey Jude" was released in North America. It was made up of singles that were previously unavailable on LP.
In 1977, bluesman Bukka White, also known as Booker T. Washington, died in Memphis, Tenn. He was 70. His guitar-playing influenced B.B. King and many others.
In 1979, the "Sex Pistols" and their manager, Malcolm McLaren, went to court to divide the band's earnings. It was revealed that only $60,000 of the group's $1.5-million gross was left. Three weeks before the court action began, a member of the "Sex Pistols," Sid Vicious, died of a heroin overdose while awaiting trial on a charge of murdering his girlfriend.
In 1987, the first four "Beatles" albums, in their original British formats, were released on compact disc in North America.
In 1989, Roy Eldridge, one of the great innovators of the jazz trumpet, died in New York at the age of 78. His death came only three weeks after that of his wife of 53 years.
In 1989, Bruce Cockburn was forced to cancel a show in Ottawa after falling and injuring his nose while taking the stage.
In 1990, Cornelius Gunter, lead singer for "The Coasters," was shot to death in Las Vegas. He was found slumped over the steering wheel of his car after being shot twice in the head.
In 1993, police in Augusta, Ga., fined singer Bobby Brown $580 for pretending to have sex with one of his backup singers during a concert. She also was fined $580.
In 1995, "Led Zeppelin" bandmates Robert Plant and Jimmy Page began their reunion tour in Pensacola, Fla.
In 1997, Celine Dion won two Grammy Awards for "Falling Into You" -- Best Album and Best Pop Album. At the time, "Falling Into You" had sold more than 21 million copies worldwide. LeAnn Rimes became the youngest, at 14, to win a Grammy - for Best New Artist and Best Female Country Vocal Performance for "Blue."
In 1997, Geddy Lee, Neil Peart and Alex Lifeson of "Rush" became the first rock musicians to be inducted into the Order of Canada. The Canadian government created the honour in 1967 to recognize "significant achievement in important fields of human endeavour."
In 2004, big band leader and jazz saxophonist Jimmy Coe died in Indianapolis following a lengthy illness. He was 82.
In 2008, drummer Buddy Miles died in Austin, Texas. He was 60. He co-founded "Band of Gypsys" with Jimi Hendrix and sang in claymation commercials featuring "The California Raisins" in the 1980s.
In 2010, singer Christina Milian gave birth to a daughter, Violet. It was the first child for Milian, and the fourth for music producer The-Dream, who was married previously.
In 2011, Grammy Award-winning singer and philanthropist Shakira was honoured by Harvard University with its Artist of the Year award for her artistic and humanitarian work.
In 2013, legendary rock band "The Who" closed out their tour in Providence, R.I., where their 1979 show was cancelled by then-Mayor Buddy Cianci. He cited safety concerns after a stampede before a show in Cincinnati killed 11 people. The band never returned to the city. The venue honoured 32 tickets from the cancelled show.
In 2017, musical "La La Land" won six of its record-tying 14 Academy Awards nominations, including Best Actress for Emma Stone and Best Director for Damien Chazelle, who at 32 became the youngest to win the award. "Moonlight" eventually won Best Picture but not before "La La Land" was mistakenly announced the winner and its producers were nearly finished their acceptance speeches.
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The Canadian Press
