Today in Music History for Oct. 5:
In 1880, French composer Jacques Offenbach died in Paris.
In 1925, Nashville's WSM radio went on the air. One of its first regular programs was a Saturday night feature called the "WSM Barn Dance." Two years later, the program was retitled the "Grand Ole Opry." It became the world's premiere showcase for country music, and is the longest running radio show in history, having been on the air for more than 70 years.
In 1938, Carlo Mastrangelo, baritone singer with "Dion and the Belmonts," was born in New York. "Dion and the Belmonts" were one of the biggest groups of the late 1950s. Their hits included "A Teenager in Love" and "Where or When." Dion split from "The Belmonts" in 1960, going on to a successful solo career. "The Belmonts" also remained active, but with less success. "Dion and the Belmonts" reunited in 1973 for a Madison Square Garden concert.
In 1943, rock guitarist and singer Steve Miller was born in Milwaukee. He was one of the biggest-selling artists of the late '70s and early '80s with such No. 1 singles as "The Joker" in 1974, "Rock ‘n' Me" in 1976 and "Abracadabra" in 1982. Among the Steve Miller Band's million-selling LPs were "The Joker," "Fly Like an Eagle" and "Book of Dreams."
In 1954, rock singer Bob Geldof, the organizer of the 1985 Live Aid concerts for African famine relief, was born in Ireland. He described his Live Aid effort as the "biggest pop event ever staged over a one-day period." On July 13, 61 of rock's biggest acts performed at two outdoor stadiums -- in London and Philadelphia -- for a global television audience estimated at 1.5 billion. Live Aid had raised more than US$65 million by the end of 1985. Geldof started the charity rock craze in 1984 when he organized the all-star recording session for "Do They Know It's Christmas." With all Geldof's charity efforts, people sometimes forget that he also led the Irish new wave band "The Boomtown Rats." Their 1977 debut single, "Lookin' Out For Number One," was the first new wave record to make the playlist of the BBC.
In 1956, Clyde Gilmour began his famous "Gilmour's Albums" on CBC Radio. The weekly show would run on the network for more than 40 years. Gilmour played an incredible range of music -- classical, folk, jazz and even such offbeat things as recordings of train whistles and rhino mating calls.
In 1962, "The Beatles" first hit, "Love Me Do," with Ringo Starr on drums, and B-Side "P.S. I Love You," was released in Britain. (The U.S versions of the songs were released in 1964 and had session musician Andy White playing drums with Starr playing tambourine on "Love Me Do" and the maracas on "P.S. I Love You.")
In 1968, "Cream" began its farewell tour of the U.S. in Oakland, Calif.
In 1987, Bruce Springsteen released "Tunnel of Love," his first studio album since "Born in the USA" sold 10 million copies in 1984.
In 1992, Eddie Kendricks, the original lead singer of "The Temptations," died in Birmingham, Ala., of lung cancer. He was 52. Kendricks was a founding member of the group, along with Otis Williams, Melvin Franklin, Paul Williams and Eldridge Bryant. David Ruffin replaced Bryant in 1964, and he and Kendricks shared lead vocals on such No. 1 hits as "My Girl" in 1965, "I Can't Get Next to You" in '69 and "Just My Imagination" in '71. Kendricks left "The Temptations" that year for a solo career, scoring a No. 1 hit in 1973 with "Keep on Truckin' (Part One)." He rejoined "The Temptations" in 1982 for a reunion tour and album.
In 1994, Vince Gill won his second straight Entertainer of the Year and fourth consecutive Male Vocalist of the Year trophies at the Country Music Association Awards in Nashville.
In 1995, dance band leader Dick Jurgens died in Sacramento, Calif., at age 85. He composed many of his band's hits in the 1940s, including "Careless" and "Elmer's Tune," which went to No. 1 in 1941 in a version by Glenn Miller.
In 1996, Canadian singer Celine Dion's "Falling Into You" moved into the No. 1 spot on the Billboard album chart.
In 1997, Arthur Tracy, one of the most popular radio singers of the 1920s and '30s died in New York at age 98. He immortalized such songs as "Marta, Rambling Rose of the Wildwood," "When I Grow Too Old to Dream" and "Red Sails in the Sunset." Tracy appeared in several movie musicals in the '30s, including "The Big Broadcast" with Crosby and Kate Smith. His 1937 recording of "Pennies From Heaven" appeared on the soundtrack of the 1981 Steve Martin film of the same name.
In 2010, the Prince of Darkness, Ozzy Osbourne, released a remake of John Lennon's "How" in honour of Lennon's 70th birthday celebration on Oct. 9. The longtime "Beatles" fan said the proceeds from the sale of the song would benefit Amnesty International.
In 2011, Rihanna became the fastest solo artist to have 20 top-10 hits on the Billboard Hot 100 when "We Found Love" featuring Calvin Harris landed at No. 9 in its second week. It took her just six years and four months, besting Madonna by five months.
In 2011, legendary folk guitarist Bert Jansch died in London after a long battle with lung cancer. He was 67. Jansch was a founding member of the British folk group "Pentangle" and had inspired a generation of rock and folk guitarists with his acoustic mastery.
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(The Canadian Press)
The Canadian Press
