Today in Music History for Nov. 13:
In 1937, NBC formed the first full-sized symphony orchestra exclusively for radio broadcasting. Network chief David Sarnoff lured Arturo Toscanini out of retirement in Italy to head the orchestra. NBC raided the finest symphonies in the country to gather the 90 musicians for its orchestra. It built a special radio studio for the NBC Symphony at Rockefeller Center in New York.
In 1948, Canadian soprano Louise Edvina died in London at the age of 70. Born in Montreal, she became one of the British capital's favorite artists in the early 1900s. Edvina was particularly admired for her roles in the operas "Louise" and "Tosca."
In 1951, Canadian bass-baritone George London made his debut at the Metropolitan Opera in New York. London, a native of Montreal, spent 17 consecutive seasons at the Met.
In 1958, James Brown's "I Got You (I Feel Good)" entered the U.S. charts. As well as topping the R&B chart, it turned out to be Brown's biggest hit in the pop market, reaching No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100.
In 1965, "The Who's" "My Generation" entered the British chart on its way to No. 2. It was "The Who's" most successful single to date and most controversial. With lyrics such as "Hope I die before I get old," "My Generation" was adopted as an anthem by British youth. But the record never really took off in North America, reaching No. 75 on the Billboard Hot 100.
In 1974, a man impersonating "Deep Purple" guitarist Ritchie Blackmore smashed up a borrowed Porsche in Iowa City, Iowa. He was charged with felony misrepresentation. The real Blackmore was in San Francisco at the time.
In 1976, Gordon Lightfoot's single, "The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald," peaked at No. 1 on the Billboard pop chart. The ship had gone down in Lake Superior a year earlier.
In 1987, Sonny and Cher reunited for the first time in almost 15 years, appearing together on NBC-TV's "Late Night with David Letterman." The former singing -- and marital -- team had more than a dozen hit records and a weekly national television show before going their separate ways in 1973.
In 1991, Canadian rock star Bryan Adams asked radio stations in Louisiana not to play his hit "(Everything I Do) I Do It For You." Adams was upset because former Ku Klux Klan leader David Duke was using the song in his campaign for governor. Duke lost the election.
In 1992, Ronnie Bond, drummer for the 1960s British band "The Troggs," died in Winchester, England, at age 49. The cause of death was not disclosed. Punk groups took great inspiration from "The Troggs'" 1966 No. 1 hit, "Wild Thing." The band also hit the top-10 two years later with "Love is All Around."
In 1992, Elton John performed in Mexico for the first time. An estimated 90,000 people attended the concert at a stadium in Mexico City.
In 1993, "Jumpin'" Bill Carlisle, at age 84, celebrated his 40th anniversary on the Grand Ole Opry. His milestone performance came four months after he underwent quadruple bypass heart surgery.
In 1996, rock 'n' roll organist Bill Doggett died in New York City at age 80. He began his career by playing piano with the likes of "The Ink Spots," Lionel Hampton and Louis Jordan in the 1940s. Early in the next decade, Doggett added the Hammond organ to his repertoire, and just as rock 'n' roll began to take off, he formed a R&B combo. He's best-remembered for his 1956 hit "Honky-Tonk," which made No. 2 on the pop chart and spent 14 weeks in the top-10.
In 1997, the "Spice Girls" were booed off the stage after performing at an awards ceremony in Barcelona, Spain. The British pop group had delayed their performance because they didn't want photographers taking any pictures.
In 1997, two players with the New England Patriots took a stage dive during an "Everclear" concert in Boston. A woman in the crowd later sued, claiming she suffered neck injuries when the players landed on her.
In 1998, jazz pianist Kenny Kirkland was found dead in his home in Queens, N.Y. He was 43. Kirkland's body was found after neighbours complained of a foul odour. Drug paraphernalia was found nearby. Kirkland played with Sting's band and with Branford Marsalis' band on Jay Leno's "The Tonight Show."
In 1999, Donald Mills, the last surviving member of the groundbreaking "Mills Brothers" singing group, known for their hits such "Paper Doll" and "Tiger Rag," died in Los Angeles at 84.
In 2001, drummer Panama Francis died in Orlando after a stroke at age 82. Francis kept the beat on such rock classics as Bobby Darin's "Splish Splash" and hits by "The Four Seasons," "The Platters" and Neil Sedaka. His R&B recordings included "Prisoner of Love" with James Brown.
In 2008, Colombian rocker Juanes ruled the Latin Grammys, sweeping awards in five categories -- including Record of the Year and Album of the Year -- and setting a then-record for total wins with 17, breaking Alejandro Sanz's mark of 14.
In 2008, "Billy Elliott" made its Broadway debut at the Imperial Theatre. Elton John wrote the score for the play, based on the popular 2000 movie about a young boy who longs to dance but lives in the bleak coal-mining area of Northern England.
In 2010, singer Aaron Neville married photographer Sarah Friedman in New York. They met when Friedman was hired to photograph Neville for a People magazine shoot in 2008. Neville’s first wife, Joel, died in 2008. They had been married 48 years.
In 2012, Australian rockers "INXS" released a statement that they were indeed retiring as a touring band after 35 years, confirming what drummer Jon Farriss had announced during a concert in Perth two days earlier. They thanked their fans and honoured their late frontman Michael Hutchence who died in 1997.
In 2012, supergroup "Soundgarden" released "King Animal," their first album of new music in 16 years.
In 2015, Islamic State extremists launched co-ordinated gun-and-suicide bombing attacks across Paris that left 130 people dead and over 350 injured. A majority of the victims were at the Bataclan
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(The Canadian Press)
The Canadian Press
