Today in Music History for Oct. 14:
In 1904, the McGill Conservatorium of Music was officially opened at the Montreal university.
In 1911, Emma Albani, the first Canadian-born opera singer to achieve international fame, came out of retirement to give her last performance at the Royal Albert Hall in London.
In 1930, Ethel Merman made her Broadway debut in the musical comedy "Girl Crazy" with songs by George and Ira Gershwin.
In 1954, the Hart House Orchestra, a chamber orchestra formed by English conductor Boyd Neel, gave its first concert in Tillsonburg, Ont. The orchestra gave regular concerts at Hart House at the University of Toronto until 1971.
In 1955, "Bill Haley and the Comets," at the height of their fame with "Rock Around the Clock," played a concert in Lubbock, Texas. The opening act was the then-unknown Buddy Holly.
In 1965, "The Lyric Arts Trio" made its debut before the Brantford, Ont., Music Club. The trio, soprano Mary Morrison, flutist Robert Aitken and his wife, pianist Marion Ross, developed into one of Canada's leading performers of 20th century music.
In 1966, singer Grace Slick made her first appearance as a member of "Jefferson Airplane" at the Fillmore West in San Francisco. Slick replaced Signe Anderson, who left to have a baby.
In 1968, Bobby Darin appeared on the TV show "Laugh-In" to sing "Mack the Knife" in Russian with Arte Johnson's character, Rozmenko. Very interesting!
In 1968, the Atlantic Symphony Orchestra gave its first concert at St. Patrick's High School in Halifax. Formed in June of that year, the Atlantic Symphony was Canada's first full-time regional orchestra.
In 1972, British soul singer Joe Cocker and six members of his band were arrested for marijuana possession in Adelaide, Australia. Cocker could have been fined and jailed for two years, but police instead ordered him to leave the country within four hours.
In 1972, Michael Jackson had his first solo hit, with "Ben."
In 1977, Bing Crosby, one of the most popular singers and actors of the 20th century, died of a heart attack while playing golf in Spain. He was 73. Crosby got his start in the 1920s with a trio known as "The Rhythm Boys," who performed first with Paul Whiteman, then with Gus Arnheim's orchestra. Crosby began his own radio show on CBS in 1931, and in 1934 made the first recordings on the newly-formed Decca label -- "I Love You Truly" and "Just A-Wearyin' For You." Over the years, his hits included "Temptation," "It's Easy to Remember," "Pennies From Heaven" and "White Christmas," which is the best-selling single of all time. Crosby also appeared in numerous movies, winning a Best Actor Oscar for 1944's "Going My Way."
In 1990, it took fans in Los Angeles less than an hour to snap up all 4,500 tickets for Bruce Springsteen's first formal concert in two years. The show was a benefit to raise money for a lawsuit accusing the U.S. government of involvement in the drug trade.
In 1990, flamboyant conductor and "West Side Story" composer Leonard Bernstein died in New York of lung failure. He was 72. His other Broadway successes included "On the Town," "Wonderful Town" and "Candide." He was director of the New York Philharmonic for 11 years -- from 1958-69.
In 1996, Madonna gave birth to a daughter, Lourdes Maria Ciccone Leon. The father, Carlos Leon, was the singer and actress's boyfriend and personal trainer. To celebrate, MTV ran Madonna videos along with congratulatory messages from fans. Madonna later split with Leon and married British film director Guy Ritchie, whom she since has divorced.
In 1998, accordion player Frankie Yankovic, leader of the world's best-known polka band, died at his home in New Port Richey, Fla. He was 83. Yankovic had his two biggest hits -- "Just Because" and "Blue Skirt Waltz" -- at the end of the 1940s.
In 2003, Gary Buck, one of Canadian country music's most renowned and versatile personalities, died of cancer in Didsbury, Alta. He was 63. Born in 1940 in Thessalon, Ont., he was raised in Sault Ste. Marie, and later made his home in Kitchener, where he founded the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame in 1989. He was inducted into the Hall in 2001. Among his many hits were "The Weatherman," "Break the News to Lisa," "Mr. Brown" and "Wayward Woman of the World."
In 2003, rock fans rioted outside Montreal's "Medley" rock club after two bands, "Total Chaos" and "The Exploited," cancelled performances. Forty-two cars were vandalized, windows smashed and goods stolen.
In 2006, Freddy Fender, the "Bebop Kid" of the Texas-Mexico border who later turned his twangy tenor into the 1975 smash country ballad "Before the Next Teardrop Falls," died of lung cancer at age 69. "Wasted Days and Wasted Nights" also rose to No. 1 on the country chart and top-10 on the pop chart in 1975, while "Secret Love" and "You'll Lose a Good Thing" also hit No. 1 in the country charts.
In 2006, impresario Gino Empry died at age 83.
In 2009, Canadian crooner Michael Buble scored his first No. 1 on the Billboard 200 Album Chart with "Crazy Love."
In 2009, Britney Spears' "3" debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, the first artist in three years to do so. The previous four artists to debut at the top had all been "American Idol" related. The last non-"Idol" song to open at No. 1 was Lauryn Hill's "Doo Wop (That Thing)" in November 1998.
In 2009, Captain Lou Albano, who became one of the most recognized professional wrestlers of the 1980s after appearing in Cyndi Lauper’s "Girls Just Want to Have Fun" music video, died at age 76.
In 2009, a man waiting in line for an autograph from singer Leona Lewis in London jumped out of line and punched her in the head.
In 2010, Grammy Award-winning singer Alicia Keys and her husband, music producer/rapper Swizz Beatz (born Kaseem Dean), welcomed the birth of their son, Egypt Dean.
In 2012, award-winning country music duo "Sugarland" and southern rockers ".38 Special" were inducted into the Georgia Music Hall of Fame.
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(The Canadian Press)
The Canadian Press
