Today in Music History for Dec. 6:
(Editors: Some reference books give Dec. 6th or 7th, 1877, as the date Thomas Edison made the first recording on his newly-invented phonograph. Others say the historic recording was made Aug. 12th, but that date is highly questionable since it was first used many years after the event on the occasion of an anniversary celebration. Still other researchers say the first working phonograph was made in the late fall of 1877, without specifying a date. An outline of Edison’s invention of the phonograph moved as the highlight of the Today in History script for Aug. 12th, with an explanation of the discrepancy in dates.)
In 1920, jazz pioneer Dave Brubeck was born in Concord, Calif. He actually had planned to become a rancher like his father. He attended the College of the Pacific (now the University of the Pacific) in 1938, intending to major in veterinary medicine and return to the family's 45,000-acre spread. But within a year Brubeck was drawn to music. He graduated in 1942 and was drafted by the Army, where he served - mostly as a musician - under Gen. George S. Patton in Europe. At the time, his Wolfpack Band was the only racially integrated unit in the military. He formed The Dave Brubeck Quartet in 1951 and was the first modern jazz musician to be pictured on the cover of Time magazine - on Nov. 8, 1954 - and he helped define the swinging, smoky rhythms of 1950s and '60s club jazz. The seminal album "Time Out," released by the quartet in 1959, was the first ever million-selling jazz LP, and is still among the
In 1941, Canadian violinist Arthur Leblanc, a native of St. Anselme, N.B., performed at the White House.
In 1949, blues and folk singer Leadbelly, who billed himself as "King of the 12-String Guitar," died of Lou Gehrig’s disease in New York City. He was 60. Leadbelly, whose real name was Huddie Ledbetter, helped inspire the blues and folk revivals of the 1950s and ’60s with such songs as "Midnight Special," "Rock Island Line" and "Goodnight Irene." Leadbelly spent several lengthy stretches in prison for murder, attempted murder and assault. Legend has it that he was once pardoned by the governor of Texas after charming him with a song.
In 1969, a notorious free concert by "The Rolling Stones" took place at the Altamont Speedway in Livermore, Calif. During their performance, members of the Hell’s Angels motorcycle gang stabbed to death 18-year-old Meredith Hunter, just in front of the stage. A suspect was identified from film shot for "The Rolling Stones’" documentary "Gimme Shelter," but he was acquitted for justifiable homicide.
In 1970, “Gimme Shelter,” the documentary of the 1969 "Rolling Stones" tour, including the sordid events at the Altamont Speedway in California, premiered in New York City. Performances by Ike and Tina Turner and the "Jefferson Airplane" were also included in the film.
In 1976, the "Sex Pistols" played their first national tour date at Leeds, England, on a bill with "The Damned," "The Clash" and "Johnny Thunder and the Heartbreakers." All but five of the 15 dates on the tour were cancelled because a member of the "Sex Pistols" had used a four-letter word during a British television interview.
In 1985, the sound system at Madison Square Garden malfunctioned during a concert by rocker John Cougar Mellencamp. He offered the audience a refund -- about half the people took up his offer -- and then played for two more hours.
In 1988, rock balladeer Roy Orbison died in Hendersonville, Tenn., of a heart attack at age 52. His death came at a time of renewed popularity. Orbison’s collaboration with George Harrison, Tom Petty and Bob Dylan as "The Traveling Wilburys" was on its way up the album charts. And their “Handle With Care” was a hit single. Orbison had first become popular two decades earlier with a string of hits, including "Only the Lonely," "I’m Hurtin’" and "Oh, Pretty Woman." During his heyday in the early 1960s he had 27 straight records make the charts. Orbison once estimated he had sold 30 million records. His career plummeted in the late ’60s after two personal tragedies. His wife died in a motorcycle accident and two of his three sons perished in a fire that destroyed his Nashville-area home.
In 1989, composer Sammy Fain, who wrote some of the most enduring hits of the century, died in Los Angeles at age 87. Fain wrote "Love is a Many-Splendored Thing," "I’ll Be Seeing You," "That Old Feeling," "Let a Smile Be Your Umbrella" and "Tender is the Night."
In 1994, Montreal police dispersed about 400 "Beatles" fans who had lined up outside an HMV store to be the first to buy copies of "Live at the BBC" when the store opened at midnight. Police said it was illegal for the store to open before 8 a.m. Music stores across the country reported brisk first-day sales for "Live at the BBC," the first new "Beatles" album since 1970.
In 1995, Michael Jackson collapsed while rehearsing for a much-hyped HBO special that was expected to draw a worldwide TV audience of 250 million. He spent a week in hospital recovering from what his doctors said was severe dehydration caused by a viral infection. The TV show was cancelled.
In 2003, musician Elvis Costello married Canadian jazz singer Diana Krall.
In 2008, Kennedy Centre Honours were bestowed on actress-singer Barbra Streisand, actor Morgan Freeman, country singer George Jones, dancer and choreographer Twyla Tharp and musicians Pete Townshend and Roger Daltrey of "The Who." It recognizes individuals who have had an impact on American culture through the performing arts, part of the living memorial to President John F. Kennedy.
In 2009, musician Bruce Springsteen, actor Robert De Niro, comedian Mel Brooks, jazz pianist and composer Dave Brubeck and opera singer Grace Bumbry received Kennedy Center Honors.
In 2009, "Weezer" lead singer Rivers Cuomo suffered three cracked ribs and internal injuries after the band's tour bus skidded on ice across the New York State Thruway and struck a guide rail and slid into a ditch west of Albany. The band's assistant, Sarah Kim also suffered minor injuries. Cuomo's wife and two-year-old daughter also were on the bus but the two were unhurt. "Weezer" cancelled the rest of the tour while Cuomo recovered.
In 2010, Carrie Underwood was the big winner at the inaugural fan-voted American Country Awards held at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. She took home a total of six Fender Stratocaster guitars given out as trophies, including Artist of the Year. "Lady Antebellum" won four and Easton Corbin finished with three.
In 2011, balladeer Dobie Gray, who recorded the timeless hit "Drift Away" in 1973, died in his sleep at his Nashville home after a long battle with cancer. He was 71. He wrote songs for an array of country and pop performers and was a trailblazing entertainer in South Africa and, in death, a philanthropist, willing much of his property and future earnings to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis, Tenn.
In 2012, "Sugarland" singer Jennifer Nettles gave birth to son Magnus Hamilton Miller. It's the first child for the award-winning country singer and husband Justin Miller.
In 2012, "Spirit" drummer Ed Cassidy died of cancer in San Jose, Calif. He was 89. "Spirit" are probably best known for the 1969 hit “I Got a Line on You.” Cassidy was an unusual rock star. He shaved his head during a time when nobody did that, earning the nickname "Mr. Skin."
In 2013, the Fender Stratocaster that Bob Dylan played at the 1965 Newport Folk Festival when he famously went electric was sold at a New York City auction for US$965,000. It had been in the possession of a New Jersey family for nearly 50 years. Dylan left it on a private plane piloted by the owner's late father.
In 2016, Toronto rapper Drake's album "Views" was the year's bestseller on iTunes in the U.S., while his hit "One Dance" was the most popular single.
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(The Canadian Press)
The Canadian Press
