Today in Music History for Oct. 22:
In 1883, the original Metropolitan Opera House in New York opened with a production of Gounod's "Faust." The building was heavily damaged by fire in 1892, but was rebuilt. The current Metropolitan Opera House opened in 1966.
In 1942, Bobby Fuller, leader of "The Bobby Fuller Four," was born in Baytown, Texas. He had hits in 1966 with "I Fought the Law" and "Love's Made a Fool of You," but died within months of his success under mysterious circumstances. He was found in his parked car, and Los Angeles police ruled his death a suicide. But it was later revealed that Fuller had been beaten and had ingested gasoline.
In 1946, Eddie Brigati, lead singer of "The Rascals," was born in New York City. The term "blue-eyed soul" was coined to describe their style of emulating black pop groups in the mid-1960s. Brigati and two other band members, Felix Cavaliere and Gene Cornish, had played with "Joey Dee and the Starlighters." With the addition of Dino Danelli, the three formed "The Young Rascals" in 1965. Their second single, "Good Lovin'," became one of the biggest hits of 1966. That was followed by such hits as "Groovin'," "A Beautiful Morning" and "People Got to Be Free." They dropped the "Young" from their name in 1967, as the group moved to more serious themes. Eddie Brigati departed "The Rascals" in 1971, and the group itself broke up within a couple of years.
In 1947, the "Montreal Women's Symphony Orchestra" became the first Canadian orchestra to perform at Carnegie Hall in New York.
In 1964, "The Who" were rejected by EMI, "The Beatles" record label, after they submitted some test recordings. "The Who" later became one of rock music's most successful groups.
In 1965, Ernest Tubb was elected to the Country Music Hall of Fame.
In 1966, "The Beach Boys" classic single, "Good Vibrations," was released. It took six months and $40,000 to make, the most expensive single ever recorded up to that time. "Good Vibrations" was the only "Beach Boys" single to sell a million copies in North America.
In 1966, "Weird Al" Yankovic took his first accordion lesson.
In 1969, singer Tommy Edwards, who topped the charts in 1958 with "It's All in the Game," died in Richmond, Va., at the age of 47. Edwards had first had a hit with the song in 1951, but when he re-recorded it seven years later in a rock 'n' roll ballad arrangement, it turned into a million seller. Note for trivia buffs: the music for "It's All in the Game" was written in 1912 by U.S. General Charles G. Dawes, who became vice-president in 1925 under Calvin Coolidge. At that time, the tune was called simply, "Melody in A Major." The lyrics, by Carl Sigman, were added in 1951.
In 1970, Canadian soprano Pauline Donalda died in Montreal at the age of 72. A leading international opera star in the early years of the 20th century, she performed with such renowned singers as Enrico Caruso. In 1937, she returned to Montreal, where she formed the Opera Guild five years later. Under Donalda's direction, the guild presented 29 operas in 28 seasons.
In 1976, drummer Keith Moon played his last North American concert with "The Who" at Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto. Moon died two years later of a sedative overdose.
In 1990, "Pearl Jam" performed live for the first time, under the name "Mookie Blaylock," as the opening act for "Alice In Chains" in Seattle.
In 1992, former "Motley Crue" lead singer Vince Neil filed suit in Los Angeles seeking reinstatement with the band and at least $5 million in damages. Neil accused "Motley Crue" members Mick Mars, Nikki Sixx and Tommy Lee of libelling him by announcing he had quit the band. Neil said he was fired. They reunited in 1997 and following a hiatus, announced a reunion tour in 2004. They released their ninth studio album "Saints of Los Angeles" in 2008. They concluded a farewell tour on Dec. 31, 2015.
In 1994, Jimmy Miller, who produced about 100 gold and platinum records, died in Denver of liver failure. He was 52. Miller produced hundreds of albums from the 1960s to the '90s, including some of "The Rolling Stones" biggest successes -- "Beggar's Banquet," "Sticky Fingers," "Exile on Main Street," "Let It Bleed" and "Goat's Head Soup." He also produced hit singles like "Gimme Some Lovin'" for "The Spencer Davis Group" and "Dear Mr. Fantasy" for "Traffic." (Note for trivia buffs: It's Miller who strikes the cowbell at the beginning of "The Rolling Stones" "Honky Tonk Women.")
In 1996, Death Row Records founder Suge Knight was jailed after violating his probation for a 1992 assault.
In 2004, Bill Reed, who sang the bass part in the Canadian doo-wop group "The Diamonds," died in Port St. Lucie, Fla. He was 68. The vocal quartet rose to prominence in the mid-1950s and early '60s performing mostly cover versions. Their first hit was "Frankie Lymon and The Teenagers'" "Why Do Fools Fall in Love." In 1957, their version of "The Gladiolas'" "Little Darlin'" reached No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 and "The Stroll," an original written by Brook Benton, reached No. 4.
In 2008, country singer Kenny Chesney's "Lucky Old Sun" album was No. 1 on the all-genre Billboard 200 albums chart, his fifth album to do so and his eighth top country album.
In 2008, the title track to the long-awaited "Guns N' Roses" CD -- "Chinese Democracy" -- was released. The CD wasn't released until Nov. 23.
In 2009, Grammy-winning rapper Lil Wayne pleaded guilty to attempted weapon possession. He later was sentenced to a one-year jail term and began serving it in March 2009.
In 2010, actor and singer Denis Simpson, one of the hosts of the long-running Ontario children's show "Polka Dot Door," died following a brain hemorrhage. He was 59. He was also the original bass singer for a cappella group, "The Nylons."
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(The Canadian Press)
The Canadian Press
