Today in Music History for Oct. 20:
In 1828, American lawyer and hymnwriter Horatio Gates Spafford was born. In 1873, upon learning of the drowning of his four daughters following a ship collision in the Atlantic, Spafford penned the lines to the hymn, "It is Well With My Soul."
In 1929, Sir Henry Thornton, the president of the CNR, began North America's first series of transcontinental symphonic broadcasts on the company's network of stations. The "All-Canada Symphony Concerts" featured Luigi von Kunits conducting 55 members of the "Toronto Symphony Orchestra."
In 1948, the "CBC Opera Company" made its debut on the program "CBC Wednesday Night." The production of "La Boheme" won the best music program award in the 1949 Canadian Radio Awards Competition. The company's last regular season was in 1954-55.
In 1950, rock singer Tom Petty was born in Gainesville, Fla. "Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers" debut album sold poorly when it was first released in 1976, but after they established a following in Britain, the LP began selling in North America as well. Just as the band seemed to be gaining popularity, Petty and his record company became involved in a series of legal hassles that forced him to declare bankruptcy in 1979. But he made a dramatic comeback later that year with the album "Damn the Torpedoes," which sold 2.5 million copies. "Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers" also had two top-20 singles -- "Don't Do Me Like That" and "Refugee." Petty undertook a major tour with Bob Dylan in 1986. In 1988, Petty became a founding member of "The Traveling Wilburys," along with Bob Dylan, George Harrison, Roy Orbison, and Jeff Lynne. In 2002, "Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers" were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. He died Oct. 2, 2017.
In 1954, R&B singer LaVern Baker recorded "Tweedle Dee" in New York City. It became the first major success for Baker, a leading R&B star of the '50s. But Georgia Gibbs covered "Tweedle Dee" for the pop market and had the bigger hit.
In 1964, "The Rolling Stones" played Paris for the first time. One hundred and fifty people were arrested.
In 1969, John Lennon's second solo single, "Cold Turkey," was released. "The Beatles" had declined to record the song.
In 1976, "Led Zeppelin's" concert film, "The Song Remains the Same," premiered in London.
In 1977, three members of the southern rock band "Lynyrd Skynyrd" were among six people killed in the crash of a privately-chartered plane near Gillsburg, Miss. The band, best known for its 1974 hit, "Sweet Home Alabama," was travelling between shows at Greenville, S.C. and Baton Rouge, La. when the plane went down. Killed were lead singer, Ronnie Van Zant, guitarist Steve Gaines and his wife Cathy, a backup vocalist. The crash occurred just three days after the band's LP "Street Survivors" was released. The album pictured the group standing in flames and included an order form for a "Lynyrd Skynyrd Survival Kit." The LP was quickly recalled and a new cover substituted. Three of the surviving members of "Lynyrd Skynyrd" formed "The Rossington-Collins Band" in 1980. "Lynyrd Skynyrd" was re-formed in 1991, and the group has since released a number of albums and toured extensively.
In 1980, John Lennon's last single, "(Just Like) Starting Over," was released. It spent 22 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, including five weeks at No. 1. Lennon was shot to death less than two months after its release.
In 1983, country singer, songwriter and guitarist Merle Travis died at age 65. He had major country hits in the late 1940s with "Divorce Me C.O.D.," "So Round, So Firm, So Fully Packed" and "Dark as a Dungeon." His hits as a songwriter included Tennessee Ernie Ford's 1955 million-seller "Sixteen Tons." And as a guitarist, Travis heavily influenced Chet Atkins.
In 1990, "The Righteous Brothers" 25-year-old recording of "Unchained Melody" peaked at No. 13 on the Billboard chart. It had reached No. 4 in 1965. The song's renewed popularity stemmed from its inclusion on the soundtrack of the hit film "Ghost."
In 1991, country singer Clint Black married TV actress Lisa Hartman in a private ceremony at Black's farm near Houston, Texas.
In 1992, Madonna's album "Erotica" was released, one day before her book "Sex" hit the bookshelves.
In 1997, Henry Vestine, rhythm guitarist with the blues-rock band "Canned Heat," died of heart and respiratory failure near Paris. He was 52. "Canned Heat" was formed in 1966 by blues fanatics Al Wilson and Bob Hite. The band's biggest hits were "On the Road Again" in 1968 and "Going Up the Country" in '69. Wilson died of a drug overdose in 1970 and Hite of heart failure in 1981.
In 1997, Stevie Wonder sang "I Won't Complain" at the funeral of his favourite Las Vegas limousine driver. The singer learned Charles Lee Redmond had been shot to death when he called the MGM Grand hotel-casino to request his services.
In 1998, the United Nations announced that former "Spice Girl" Geri Halliwell would become a goodwill ambassador for the UN Population Fund in Britain. Halliwell, better known as Ginger Spice, had quit the British pop group five months earlier.
In 2001, Paul McCartney, David Bowie, Elton John and Billy Joel headlined a Madison Square Garden benefit concert for victims of the previous month's terror attacks in New York and Washington.
In 2005, jazz singer and pianist Shirley Horn died. She was 71.
In 2009, singer Rihanna released her new song "Russian Roulette," the first solo single since she was assaulted by ex-boyfriend Chris Brown in Februray.
In 2009, "Pearl Jam," "R.E.M.," and "Nine Inch Nails" frontman Trent Reznor were among the musicians who joined the National Campaign to Close Guantanamo. The musicians were outraged that music — including theirs — was cranked up to help break uncooperative detainees at the Guantanamo Bay detention faciltiy.
In 2010, Grammy-winning pop singer Rihanna announced she parted ways with manager Marc Jordan and was now being managed by rapper Jay Z's Roc Nation Management. She also announced the launch of her new company Rihanna Entertainment.
In 2011, photographer Barry Feinstein, who captured behind-the-scenes images from rock's golden age and shot iconic album covers for Bob Dylan and George Harrison, died in upstate New York. He was 80.
In 2011, singer-songwriter John Mayer had a growth removed from his vocal cord. (He had a second procedure done in September 2012 and was told to refrain from singing for six months.)
In 2013, Grammy Award-winning singer Kelly Clarkson married music manager Brandon Blackstock in Walland, Tenn.
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(The Canadian Press)
The Canadian Press
