Today in Music History for Oct. 15:
In 1932, the Winnipeg Auditorium, the city's main concert hall until 1968, was opened by Prime Minister R. B. Bennett. The building was remodeled in 1975 to house the Provincial Archives and Library.
In 1935, folksinger and songwriter Barry McGuire, whose only hit was the million-selling "Eve of Destruction" in 1965, was born in Oklahoma City. McGuire had just left the New Christy Minstrels when he recorded "Eve of Destruction." Even though some radio stations refused to play the anti-war song because of its pessimistic lyrics, "Eve of Destruction" hit No. 1 on the Billboard pop chart. In the 1970s, Barry McGuire became a born-again Christian, and recorded several religious albums.
In 1954, Elvis Presley played Lubbock, Texas, where the opening act was hometown favourite Buddy Holly.
In 1955, "Grand Ole Opry" made its TV debut on ABC.
In 1966, the psychedelic rock group "Pink Floyd" was introduced to a large audience for the first time when they shared the bill with "The Soft Machine" at a launching party for the London underground newspaper, "International Times." They had not yet made their first record. That would come in January, 1967 with "Arnold Layne," which made the British top-20 but wasn't heard much in North America. "Pink Floyd" would become one of the top rock bands in the world six years later with the release of the album "Dark Side of the Moon."
In 1966, "Country Joe and the Fish" gave out copies of their first record during a protest march in Oakland. The group was one of the most political to emerge from the '60s San Francisco scene, recording songs such as "Feel Like I'm Fixin' to Die Rag," about the Vietnam War. "Country Joe and the Fish" were also renowned for their obscene "Fish" cheer.
In 1971, Rick Nelson was booed when he performed new material at an oldies show in New York. It inspired him to write the song "Garden Party."
In 1976, Ike and Tina Turner split up as a musical act.
In 1977, one of the best-selling rock LPs of all time, "Fleetwood Mac's" "Rumours," was released. It has sold over 40 million copies worldwide.
In 1977, Debby Boone's "You Light Up My Life" hit No. 1 on the Billboard chart and went on to become the best-selling single since Elvis Presley's 1956 recording of "Don't Be Cruel." The single was Boone's first and won an Oscar for Best Song and earned Boone a Grammy for Best New Artist. "You Light Up My Life" was a hit again in 1997 for country singer LeAnn Rimes.
In 1980, Bobby Lester, lead singer on "The Moonglows" 1955 hit "Sincerely," died of cancer at age 50.
In 1986, Keith Richards stormed out of rehearsals in St. Louis for the Chuck Berry film biography "Hail, Hail Rock 'n' Roll" after he and Berry argued over who would lead the band. They made up the next day, performing together in concert scenes for the movie.
In 1987, "Grateful Dead" leader Jerry Garcia opened a sold-out two-week run of solo shows on Broadway. The series grossed more than US$600,000.
In 1988, the second Amnesty International Human Rights Now tour ended in Buenos Aires with a concert before 75,000 people. The show, featuring Bruce Springsteen, Sting and Tracy Chapman, was taped for showing as a TV special two months later. The concert was also broadcast live on radio stations in Canada, the U.S., Europe, Africa and Australia.
In 1996, "Motley Crue" drummer Tommy Lee pushed a photographer to the ground outside a Los Angeles club, causing him to fracture his pelvis and a rib. Henry Trappler claimed he was just trying to snap a picture of Lee and his wife, "Baywatch" star Pamela Lee Anderson. Lee was charged with battery causing serious injury, and Trapper sued him for assault and negligence.
In 1999, Irish tenor Josef Locke, whose romantic tenor voice and colourful life inspired the 1992 film "Hear My Song," died at age 82.
In 2001, singer-songwriter Joan Armatrading was made a member of the Order of the British Empire.
In 2002, musician Ryan Adams jumped into the audience at a show in Nashville to find a fan who had yelled out a request for "Summer of '69," a Bryan Adams song. Adams gave the fan $30 as a refund and refused to continue the show until the man left.
In 2008, the stage version of "The Sound of Music" opened at the Princess of Wales Theatre in Toronto. Elicia MacKenzie, who snagged the role of Maria by winning the most fan votes on CBC's "How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria?", charmed audiences with a soaring voice and tomboy grin, proving she was more than capable of leaping to the limelight from practical obscurity.
In 2008, Frank Kerr, lead singer of the iconic Hamilton punk band "Teenage Head," died of throat cancer at the age of 52. To his fans, Kerr was known as "Frankie Venom," a wildly unpredictable stage persona seemingly capable of anything when standing in front of a microphone. His death came on the same day it was announced that "Teenage Head" would be recognized with a lifetime achievement award at the Hamilton Music Awards.
In 2008, after countless denials of domestic trouble, Madonna and Guy Ritchie finally announced they were divorcing after nearly eight years of marriage. The couple had two children: Rocco, 8, and David Banda, 3, who was adopted from Malawi in 2006. Madonna's 12-year-old daughter, Lourdes, was from her relationship with personal trainer Carlos Leon.
In 2008, Janet Jackson took the stage for her first concert since she was sidelined for two weeks by a bout of migraine-associated vertigo. It forced her to cancel a string of shows including one in Montreal.
In 2008, Tim McGraw's "Greatest Hits 3" album reached No. 1 on the Billboard Country Albums chart. He released a statement apologizing to fans for the CD, saying he was saddened and disappointed that his label chose to put out another hits album instead of new music. He said he had no involvement in the creation or presentation of the album.
In 2009, country music star Brad Paisley surprised a couple attending his Jacksonville, Fla., concert. Tim and Amber Brown of Orange Park had purchased the one-millionth ticket to his "American Saturday Night" tour. They were given front row seats and taken backstage after the show to meet Paisley and that's when he surprised them by handing them the keys to a pickup truck.
In 2009, Apl.de.ap of "The Black Eyed Peas" staged a benefit concert in Manila to help rebuild the Phillipines after back-to-back storms the previous month caused the worst flooding in 40 years. He grew up in the Philippines and moved to the U.S. when he was 14.
In 2009, a new book about Bob Seger, "Travelin' Man: On The Road and Behind The Scenes With Bob Seger," was released. John Mellencamp contributed the foreword and Kid Rock wrote the afterword.
In 2009, country music superstar Garth Brooks announced that he was coming out of retirement to perform intimate acoustic weekend shows at the Wynn Las Vegas hotel, starting in December. The top-selling solo-artist in U.S. history retired in 2000 to spend more time with his three children. He occasionally popped up in special appearances at awards shows and charity events, but mostly stayed out of the limelight.
In 2010, singer-songwriter-musician Bob Dylan was added to the Minnesota Walk of Fame in Minneapolis.
In 2010, rockers "Bon Jovi" drew 35,000 people to Gulf Shores, Ala., in an effort to help boost the Gulf Coast economy after the BP oil spill. Most of the tickets were given away with vacation property rentals. Country singer Brad Paisley brought in another 30,000 two days later.
In 2010, "Aerosmith" frontman Steven Tyler voiced The Mad Hatter for an episode of Nickelodeon’s animated kid show "Wonder Pets." Ziggy Marley voiced the Cheshire Cat and Idina Menzel voiced the Queen of Hearts.
In 2010, a federal judge revoked rapper T.I.'s probation and ordered him back to prison for 11 months following his arrest on Sept. 1 in California on suspicion of drug possession. The Atlanta native, whose real name is Clifford Harris Jr., was on probation after serving 10 months behind bars on federal weapons charges. (He was released from a halfway house on Sept. 29, 2011.)
In 2011, the Environmental Media Association honoured Emmy and Grammy Award-winning singer-actor Justin Timberlake with its Futures Award, citing his attempts to reduce his carbon footprint during his tours, his advocacy for environmental issues and his eco-friendly golf course outside of Memphis, Tenn.
In 2013, Matt Redman won six trophies, including Songwriter of the Year and Song of the Year for "10,000 Reasons (Bless the Lord)", at the Gospel Music Association's Dove Awards. Hip-hop artist tobyMac was named Artist of the Year.
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(The Canadian Press)
The Canadian Press
