Today in Music History for Nov. 5:
In 1946, singer, songwriter and guitarist Gram Parsons was born in Winter Haven, Fla. Through his involvement with "The Byrds" and "The Flying Burrito Brothers," Parsons achieved his dream of marrying country and rock music. He died Sept. 19, 1973 at a motel in the California desert of a heart attack brought on by drug abuse.
In 1956, Nat King Cole became the first black man to be the host of a TV series when his variety show debuted on NBC.
In 1959, rock star Bryan Adams, the first Canadian artist to sell one million copies of an album in this country, was born in Kingston, Ont. His 1984 LP "Reckless" has sold more than 12 million copies worldwide, including 1.5 million in Canada. It hit No. 1 on the Billboard chart, and was followed by a string of top-10 singles -- "Run to You," "Summer of '69," "Heaven," "Somebody" and "It's Only Love," a duet with Tina Turner. In 1985, Adams and his longtime songwriting partner Jim Vallance and David Foster wrote "Tears Are Not Enough," which raised more than $2.5 million for the Northern Lights Society For African Relief. Adams also appeared during the Philadelphia portion of the Live Aid concert and was part of the Amnesty International series of concerts in 1986. In 1991, he enjoyed his biggest-ever single hit, "(Everything I Do) I Do It For You," which sold more than two million copies. The song was included on the soundtrack of the Kevin Costner hit film, "Robin Hood -- Prince of Thieves."
In 1960, country singer Johnny Horton died in a car crash near Milano, Texas, at age 35. He took "The Battle of New Orleans" to No. 1 in 1959.
In 1970, Brian Wilson, at the time virtually a recluse, made a rare appearance with "The Beach Boys" at the Whisky-a-Go-Go in Los Angeles. He lost his balance several times and had to be helped offstage. Wilson later said his right ear was damaged by the volume onstage.
In 1976, "New Rose" by "The Damned," said to be the first punk rock single, was released.
In 1977, bandleader Guy Lombardo died in Houston at age 75. Lombardo, born in London, Ont., led the "Royal Canadians," easily the most popular dance band in the world, for more than 50 years. Formed in Cleveland in 1923, the band had by the early 1970s sold more than 300 million records. Their recordings of "Winter Wonderland," "Humoresque," "The Third Man Theme" and "Easter Parade" were million-sellers. Beginning in 1929, "Guy Lombardo and His Royal Canadians" began New Year's Eve broadcasts from the Roosevelt Grill in New York. The programs became a holiday tradition.
In 1980, Bianca Jagger was granted an uncontested divorce from Mick Jagger by a court in London on the grounds of Mick's adultery.
In 1986, Bobby Nunn, a founding member of the wisecracking 1950s group "The Coasters," died in Los Angeles at the age of 61. It's Nunn's voice you hear on the 1959 hit "Charlie Brown" booming out, "Why's everybody always pickin' on me?"
In 1986, Elton John began an Australian tour with what promoters called the largest rock show ever assembled. On stage were 101 musicians, including 88 members of the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra.
In 1987, the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences presented lifetime achievement awards to Ray Charles, Roy Acuff, jazz great Benny Carter, Fats Domino, B.B. King and violinist Isaac Stern. Posthumous awards were presented on behalf of bandleader Woody Herman, opera singer Enrico Caruso, composer Igor Stravinsky and country legend Hank Williams.
In 1988, Ringo Starr and his wife, Barbara Bach, announced they were seeking treatment for alcoholism.
In 1988, "The Beach Boys'" set the record for the longest span of number-one hits for any act in the rock era when "Kokomo" sat atop the Billboard Hot 100 chart. That was 24 years and four months after the group first made the top of the chart with "I Get Around."
In 1989, Vladimir Horowitz, the highest-paid classical pianist in the world, died in New York at age 85.
In 1990, jazz pianist and singer Bobby Scott died of lung cancer at age 53. He wrote "Taste of Honey" as a theme for a play in 1960. It was revived in 1965 by Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass and became a top-10 hit. Scott also composed "He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother,' which "The Hollies" took into the top-10 in 1970.
In 1996, jazz tenor saxophonist Eddie Harris died in Los Angeles at age 62. He suffered from bone cancer and liver disease. His version of the theme from the film "Exodus" made the top-40 in 1961.
In 1996, rapper Tupac Shakur's final album, completed shortly before he was shot to death in Las Vegas two months earlier, was released. "The Don Killuminati -- The 7-Day Theory" quickly went to the top of the charts. Among the songs was "Me and My Girlfriend," a tribute to Shakur's favourite pistol.
In 1997, an out-of-court settlement was announced between "Metallica" and a former University of Iowa student who claimed the heavy-metal band killed his sense of smell. Todd Miller said he was picked up against his will, passed through the crowd and dropped on his head during a 1993 concert in Iowa City. Terms of the settlement weren't disclosed.
In 1998, rapper ODB was arrested in Carson, Calif., for threatening to kill his ex-girlfriend. It was his third arrest within five months. The rapper was also accused of threatening to kill security guards after being thrown out of the House of Blues nightclub in Los Angeles.
In 1999, singer Gary Cherone left "Van Halen."
In 2002, original "Coaster" Billy Guy died suddenly of heart disease in Las Vegas. He was not buried for 21 days because authorities couldn't find his estranged children and his girlfriend of 30 years was not allowed to claim his body.
In 2003, Bobby Hatfield, of the musical duo "The Righteous Brothers," died of a heart attack at a hotel in Kalamazoo, Mich., 30 minutes before a scheduled show. He was 63. Their 1964 signature single, "You've Lost That Lovin' Feeling," is the most programmed song in radio history with more than eight million plays. "The Righteous Brothers" were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame earlier in 2003.
In 2009, two-time Olympic silver medallist Elvis Stojko released his first single, "Let Me Be The One." The album by the seven-time Canadian figure skating champion, entitled "100 Lifetimes," was released later in the year.
In 2009, Elton John was released from a London hospital after being treated for flu and an E. coli bacterial infection which had forced him to cancel several concerts in Britain, Ireland and the U.S.
In 2009, Beyonce scooped up three wins at the 16th annual MTV Europe Music Awards in Berlin, including trophies for Best Female, Best Song for "Halo" and Best Video for her No. 1 smash, "Single Ladies (Put a Ring On It.)" Other winners: Jay-Z (Best Urban Act), "Green Day" (Best Rock Act), "U2" (Best Live Act), Lady Gaga (Best New Act), "Tokio Hotel" (Best Group), and rapper Eminem (Best Male Act).
In 2009, "U2" played a free mini-concert in front of the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin as part of the MTV Europe Music Awards. The concert was a tribute to the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall, which fell on Nov. 9th, 1989. Ten-thousand fans got free tickets to the show, and everyone else, ironically, was blocked from seeing it by a 3.6-metre high metal barrier erected a considerable distance from the concert.
In 2010, Shirley Verrett, an acclaimed American mezzo-soprano and soprano praised for her blazing intensity during a career that spanned four decades, died after suffering from heart trouble. She was 79.
In 2010, British singer Lily Allen was rushed to a clinic just days after her pregnancy ended in miscarriage. Doctors determined she was suffering from septicaemia, a bacterial blood condition. She responded well to treatment.
In 2010, a federal judge in Miami tossed out a lawsuit filed by rap mogul Marion (Suge) Knight against hip-hop star Kanye West over a 2005 Miami Beach party hosted by West. Knight blamed West for lax security and was seeking more than $1 million in damages.
In 2011, Aretha Franklin was honoured with a star-studded tribute at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland. The Queen of Soul received a key to the city and an honorary doctorate of humane letters from Case Western Reserve University.
In 2012, classical composer Elliott Carter, whose challenging, rhythmically complex works earned him widespread admiration and two Pulitzer Prizes, died at age 103.
In 2014, country music crossover star Taylor Swift's "1989" debuted atop the Billboard 200 album chart, selling 1.287 million copies in its first week. She became the only artist to have three albums push more than one million units in its debut week (2012's "Red" sold 1.208 million and 2010's "Speak Now" sold 1.047 million copies.)
In 2014, Texas firebrand Miranda Lambert won four more Country Music Association awards to boost her career total to 11, the most for a female performer. She picked up a record fifth - all consecutive - Female Vocalist Award as well as Album of the Year ("Platinum"), Single of the Year ("Automatic") and Music Event with Keith Urban. Blake Shelton captured his record-tying fifth consecutive Male Vocalist Award while Luke Bryan took home his first CMA, the coveted Entertainer of the Year.
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(The Canadian Press)
The Canadian Press
