Today in Music History for Nov. 8:
In 1887, the gramaphone was patented by American Thomas Edison.
In 1910, "The Dubois String Quartet" gave its first performance at Windsor Hall in Montreal. The quartet performed for 28 seasons until the death of its founder, cellist Jean-Baptiste Dubois, in 1938.
In 1927, singer Patti Page was born Clara Ann Fowler in Claremore, Okla. She took her stage name from the Page Milk Company, a sponsor of one of her early radio programs. Page sold more records than any other female vocalist in the 1950s. Among her hits was "The Tennessee Waltz," which topped the chart for 13 weeks in 1950. It is one of the biggest hits of all time, with more than six million copies sold. Her other No. 1 records included "All My Love," "I Went to Your Wedding" and "(How Much Is That) Doggie in the Window." Page's recordings were among the first to use the device of multi-tracking, in which she appeared to be singing duets with herself. She died Jan. 1, 2013, five weeks before she was going to be
In 1927, Chris Connor, a smoky-voiced jazz vocalist who had numerous hits during a career that spanned more than 50 years, was born Mary Loutsenhizer in Kansas City, Mo. She performed with several big bands and also had an extensive solo career. She was known for altering rhythms on ballads, using little vibrato and a husky, lush sound heard on hits such as "All About Ronnie," which she performed with the Stan Kenton Orchestra, as well as "Trust in Me" and "About the Blues." She died of cancer on Aug. 29, 2009.
In 1935, Canadian classical pianist Antonin Kubalek was born in Czechoslovakia. After a teaching and performing career in his native country, Kubalek moved to Canada in 1968. He has since given frequent solo recitals and has often appeared on the CBC. Kubalek is noted for his interest in 20th century Czech and Canadian music.
In 1944, Bonnie Bramlett, of the husband and wife rock duo "Delaney and Bonnie," was born in Acton, Ill. The couple met and married in Los Angeles in 1967. Their albums, which fused rock, country and soul music, were largely ignored until guitarist Eric Clapton began touring with them. In 1969, Clapton took them to Britain, where George Harrison, Dave Mason and others made guest appearances at their shows. The visit resulted in the duo's best selling album, "On Tour (with Eric Clapton)." "Delaney and Bonnie's" biggest hit single was 1971's "Never Ending Song of Love." Their marriage, and musical partnership, fell apart a year later.
In 1950, singer-guitarist Bonnie Raitt was born in Los Angeles, the daughter of Broadway actor-singer John Raitt. Her albums incorporate a wide range of styles -- blues, R&B, jazz, folk and country. Most of her early repertoire consisted of cover versions, such as her 1977 hit with Del Shannon's "Runaway." Raitt was a founder of the anti-nuclear coalition Musicians United For Safe Energy, which held a benefit concert at Madison Square Garden in 1979. She appeared on the soundtrack of the 1980 movie "Urban Cowboy," and on Don Johnson's 1986 album "Heartbeat." Raitt won four Grammy awards for her 1989 album "Nick of Time." She was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2000.
In 1968, John Lennon and his first wife, Cynthia, were divorced.
Also in 1968, Jean Terrell was named to replace Diana Ross in "The Supremes." Ross had left for a solo career.
In 1971, "Led Zeppelin's" untitled fourth album, which came to be known as "Led Zeppelin IV," was released. It contained the soon-to-be rock anthem "Stairway to Heaven" and sold more than 16 million copies in the U.S. alone and spent nearly five years on the Billboard 200 album chart.
In 1974, blues singer and pianist Ivory Joe Hunter died in Memphis of cancer at the age of 60. His 1950 recording of "I Almost Lost My Mind" topped the R&B chart and sold a million copies. Pat Boone covered the song for the pop market. Other top hits for Hunter included "I Need You So" and "Since I Met You Baby," which made the Billboard pop chart in 1956. In the years before his death, Hunter was trying a comeback as a country performer.
In 1974, singer Connie Francis was raped in her motel room following an appearance at the Westbury Theatre in a New York City suburb. She later sued the motel for negligence and was awarded more than $3 million in damages. Francis stopped performing for several years and underwent psychiatric treatment.
In 1976, Burton Cummings, former lead singer of "The Guess Who," began his solo career with a concert at the Manitoba Centennial. The original "Guess Who" had broken up the previous year, although several reconstituted versions of the group would surface later. The original group reunited for an appearance at the closing ceremonies of the 1999 Pan American Games in Winnipeg, then followed up with highly-successful national tours.
In 1980, Craig Marsh and Martyn Ware split from the British electro-pop band "The Human League" to form "Heaven 17."
In 1981, singer Rick Nelson was featured in a dramatic role on a CBS daytime special, "Tale of Four Wishes."
In 1984, Tasha Thomas, star of the movie musical "The Wiz," died at the age of 34. Thomas also had a minor disco hit with "Shoot Me With Your Love."
In 1985, Sting's concert film, "Bring on the Night," opened in the U.S. and Canada.
In 1990, "The Who" guitarist Pete Townshend publicly revealed he was bisexual. He said his song "Rough Boys," released a decade earlier, was a "coming out, an acknowledgement of the fact that I'd had a gay life."
In 1995, Country Dick Montana, the lead singer of "The Beat Farmers," collapsed and died of a heart attack during a concert in Whistler, B.C. Montana, born Daniel Monty McLain, was 40. The San Diego-based band had been together for a dozen years, releasing six albums of their blend of rock, country and blues.
Also in 1995, Paul McCartney became the first rock star to be honoured with a Fellowship of the Royal College of Music. He was cited for his "distinguished services to music," and was presented with the award by the college president, Prince Charles.
Still in 1995, rap star Tupac Shakur's record company agreed to pay between $300,000-$500,000 to the parents of a six-year-old boy. They had filed a wrongful death suit against Shakur after the boy was killed by a stray bullet that allegedly came from Shakur's gun. The boy was shot at an outdoor festival in the San Francisco area in 1992. No criminal charges were filed.
In 1996, Bruce Springsteen played his first concert in his hometown of Freehold, N.J., in 29 years. It was a solo benefit performance at his old parochial school. Springsteen stipulated that only local residents could buy tickets.
In 1996, French singer Charles Aznavour was booed and heckled at a Montreal concert when he sang some of his songs in English. He received a similar reception at an Ottawa show three days later. Prime Minister Jean Chretien went backstage to "apologize on behalf of the Canadian people," as the concert promoter put it.
In 1997, thousands of fans jammed into a Calgary shopping mall in the hopes of getting an autograph from country music star Shania Twain. Those who were first in line had arrived at 2:30 a.m., more than four hours before the mall opened.
In 2002, Jerry Goodis, a founding member of the Canadian folk music group "The Travellers," died of cancer at age 73 at his home in Chilliwack, B.C. He is perhaps best known for co-authoring the Canadian version of "This Land is Your Land" in 1955.
In 2007, Dominican singer-songwriter Juan Luis Guerra swept the Latin Grammy Awards, taking home five musical honours including Album, Record and Song of the Year.
In 2009, Dolly Parton, Charlie Daniels, Kid Rock and the late Ernest Tubb were added to Nashville's Music City Walk of Fame.
In 2011, Grammy-winning Colombian singer Shakira unvieled her star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in front of the W Hollywood Hotel.
In 2011, rap legend Heavy D (born Dwight Myers), who became one of rap's top hitmakers in the late 1980s and early 1990s with his charming combination of humour and positivity, died in Beverly Hills, Calif. He was 44. A coroner's report later revealed he died of natural causes.
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(The Canadian Press)
The Canadian Press
