Today in Music History for Nov. 6:
In 1814, Adolphe Sax, inventor of the saxophone, was born in Belgium.
In 1854, John Philip Sousa, the king of American march music, was born in Washington, D.C. He composed more than 100 marches, among them "The Stars and Stripes Forever," "Semper Fidelis" and "The Washington Post March."' He led the U.S. Marine Band from 1880-92, then formed his own band which toured the U.S., Canada and Europe. Sousa died in 1932.
In 1893, Russian composer Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky died at age 44 of cholera after drinking contaminated water in St. Petersburg.
In 1916, trombonist, arranger and conductor Ray Conniff was born in Attleboro, Mass. He played with various big bands in the 1940s, including those of Bunny Berigan, Artie Shaw and Harry James. Conniff's choral and orchestral albums were big sellers for the Columbia label in the 1950s and '60s. His single hits included "S Wonderful" in 1957 and "Invisible Tears" in 1962. He died Oct. 12, 2002.
In 1941, Texas rock 'n' roller Doug Sahm, leader of "The Sir Douglas Quintet," was born in San Antonio. Sahm formed his group at the height of the British Invasion, and they hit the top-20 in 1965 with "She's About a Mover." "The Rains Came" also reached the top-20 the following year. "The Sir Douglas Quintet's" last hit was the blues-oriented "Mendocino" in 1969. Doug Sahm continued to record country-rock material until his death on Nov. 18, 1999.
In 1948, singer and guitarist Glenn Frey, a founding member of the "Eagles," was born in Detroit. Frey met drummer Don Henley when both were members of Linda Ronstadt's backing band. With Randy Meisner, formerly of "Poco," and Michael Leadon, from "The Flying Burrito Brothers," they formed the "Eagles" in 1971. The following year, they hit the top-20 with "Take It Easy." By the middle of the decade, the group was one of the most successful American recording acts, on the strength of such hits as "Best of My Love," "One of These Nights," "New Kid in Town" and "Hotel California." Their first "Greatest Hits" album rivals Michael Jackson's "Thriller" as the top-selling album in U.S. history. The group was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1998. Frey died of complications from rheumatoid arthritis, acute ulcerative colitis and pneumonia on Jan. 18, 2016.
In 1965, rock impresario Bill Graham first hired the Fillmore Auditorium, a former roller skating rink in San Francisco, to present a rock concert. His cost - $60. Graham's first show featured "Jefferson Airplane" and the "Grateful Dead." Graham later bought the Fillmore -- and a similar building in New York -- and operated both as concert halls until 1971. The Fillmores were the leading showcases for the San Francisco bands of the psychedelic era.
In 1972, Billy Murcia, drummer of the glitter rock band "The New York Dolls," died of accidental suffocation in London during the group's first British tour. When Murcia apparently began to nod off in the apartment of a female aquaintance, she poured black coffee down his throat, causing him to suffocate. He was 21.
In 1973, Phil Kaufman and Michael Martin were fined $300 each for stealing the body of country-rock singer Gram Parsons from the Los Angeles International Airport. Instead of ending up in Los Angeles for a family funeral, the body was taken to the California desert resort where Parsons had died on Sept. 19 and cremated. Kaufman, Parson's manager, claimed that the action was taken according to Parson's wishes.
In 1975, the "Sex Pistols," soon to become the leaders of the punk rock movement, played their first concert at St. Martin's School of Art in suburban London. The school's social secretary pulled the plug on their show after 10 minutes.
In 1984, Marvin Gay Sr. received five years probation for shooting his son, soul singer Marvin Gaye, at the family home in Los Angeles seven months earlier. The younger Gaye added an 'e' to his name for professional reasons. (Marvin Gay Sr. died of natural causes in 1999.)
In 1989, Dickie Goodman, who with partner Bill Buchanan developed the "break-in" record, shot and killed himself at his son's home in Fayetteville, N.C. He was 55. Buchanan and Goodman conceived the idea of an interview in which the answers came from snippets of popular records in 1956. The result was "The Flying Saucer," a top-10 hit. When Buchanan left the music business in 1959, Goodman struck out on his own with a series of "break-in" records, including "Mr. Jaws," a No. 4 hit in 1975.
In 1989, Cathy Yvonne Stone lost a Supreme Court bid for a share of Hank Williams Sr.'s copyright royalties. She claimed to be his daughter.
In 1997, a U.S. Senate panel heard testimony from a North Dakota man who blamed shock rocker Marilyn Manson for his son's suicide. Raymond Kuntz said his 15-year-old son, Richard, was listening to Manson when he shot himself. Legislators said the music industry's labelling system didn't tell parents enough to help their children avoid music and videos with violent messages.
In 1998, singer-songwriter Bruce Cockburn and operatic tenor Jon Vickers received the Governor General's Performing Arts Award at a ceremony in Ottawa. They were honoured for their lifetime achievements.
In 1998, country singer Wynonna filed for divorce from Arch Kelley III after two children and less than three years of marriage.
In 1999, country singer Lee Ann Womack married longtime boyfriend Frank Liddell in a private ceremony.
In 2006, Kenny Chesney won Entertainer of the Year and "Brooks & Dunn's" inspirational song "Believe" won three trophies, including Single and Song of the Year, at the 40th Annual Country Music Association Awards.
In 2007, George Osmond, father of Donny and Marie Osmond and patriarch to the family's singing group "The Osmond Brothers," died in Provo, Utah, at age 90.
In 2007, country singer Hank Thompson died in Keller, Texas, at age 82. His first recording was "Whoa, Sailor" in 1946. That year, he started a band called "The Brazos Valley Boys," which went on to win Billboard magazine's touring band of the year award 14 straight times. Thompson has sold over 60 million records. He was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1989. He had 29 hits reach the top-10 on country music charts between 1948-74.
In 2008, Daryl Hall and John Oates filed a lawsuit saying their music publisher, Warner/Chappell, failed to protect their rights to their 1982 hit "Maneater." The pop duo learned in April 2007 that an unidentified singer-songwriter had used "Maneater" in a 2006 recording. Hall and Oates started working together in the early 1970s and became the most successful duo in rock history, with more than 60 million albums sold.
In 2008, late '80s pop star Rick Astley was voted the Best Act Ever at the MTV Europe Awards. He beat out "U2," "Green Day," Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera. How did Astley win? Blame it on Rickrolling, an Internet phenomenon where users click on headlines or links and are re-directed to Astley's 1987 video for "Never Gonna Give You Up."
In 2009, jazz musician Wynton Marsalis received the Legion of Honour, the highest award bestowed by the French government. The award was presented to him in a ceremony at the Cultural Services of the French Embassy in New York City.
In 2010, country music superstar Garth Brooks sold out his December benefit arena concert in Nashville for continued relief from the May flood -- nine times over -- selling more than 140,000 tickets. He ended up performing nine shows over a six day period and raised $3.5 million.
In 2011, country music stars Alan Jackson and Kix Brooks (formerly of Brooks & Dunn) received their stars on the Nashville Walk of Fame.
In 2011, the MTV Europe Music Awards in Belfast turned into a celebration of Justin Bieber and Lady Gaga as the two picked up a number of top prizes, including Best Male and Best Female Act. Other awards went to Bruno Mars, Eminem and Katy Perry while "Queen" received the "Global Icon" award.
In 2013, Blake Shelton and Miranda Lambert each won their fourth consecutive Country Music Association Male and Female Vocalist of the Year awards. Shelton also picked up Album of the Year. George Strait won Entertainer of the Year, his third overall but first since 1990. Taylor Swift became the second artist (Garth Brooks, 2005) to be presented the Pinnacle Award, going to artists who take country music to a worldwide audience. Kenny Rogers received the Willie Nelson lifetime achievement award.
In 2014, AC/DC drummer Phil Rudd was charged in New Zealand with trying to arrange two killings. Authorities made an embarrassing about-face the next day when prosecutors dropped the murder-for-hire charge saying there was not enough evidence to proceed. But he faced charges of threatening to kill and drug possession. (In April 2015, he pleaded guilty to those charges. He received eight months of home detention.)
In 2015, Billy Gibbons released "Perfectamundo," his first solo album after more than 45 years with ZZ Top, adding some Cuban flare to his Texas guitar. Gibbons studied Latin percussion as a youngster with Tito "King of the Mambo" Puente.
----
(The Canadian Press)
The Canadian Press
