1685 - Today, it is 326 years ago today since composer Johann Sebastian Bach was born. Bach was a German composer, organist, harpsichordist, violist, and violinist whose sacred and secular works for choir, orchestra, and solo instruments drew together the strands of the Baroque period and brought it to its ultimate maturity. Although he did not introduce new forms, he enriched the prevailing German style with a robust contrapuntal technique, an unrivalled control of harmonic and motivic organisation, and the adaptation of rhythms, forms and textures from abroad, particularly from Italy and France. You will know this piece once you have heard it - you would have heard it before, it is Toccata und Fuge and played on this occasion by Hans-Andre Stamm.
1826 - This was the day that Beethoven's Quartet #13 in B flat major (Op 130) was premiered in Vienna, although it was completed in November. The number traditionally assigned to it is based on the order of its publication; it is actually the fourteenth quartet in order of composition, and was premieredtoday by the Schuppanzigh Quartet and dedicated to Nikolai Galitzin on its publication in 1827. Its original form consisted of six movements totalling approximately 50 minutes. This is just a few moments of that marathon, accompanied by pristine pictures of the planet, in line with the passive beauty of the piece.
1939 - It was at the start of World War Two, and this is how the USA introduced the song God Bless America, in a movie, of course, a classic piece of propaganda, with the song recorded by Kate Smith...today. If you look closely, you will see former American president Ronald Reagan - when he was an professional actor.
1952 - The Moondog Coronation Ball was a concert held at the Cleveland Arena in Cleveland, Ohio on March 21, 1952. It is generally accepted as the first major rock and roll concert. It truly was one of the most important events in rock'n'roll history. The concert was organized by Alan Freed, a disc jockey considered to have coined the term Rock and Roll at WJW-Radio, although in truth he stole it from the lingo of African Americans who used the phrase to describe fucking. More tickets were printed than the arena's actual capacity, in part due to counterfeiting. With an estimated 20,000 individuals trying to crowd into an arena that held slightly more than half that - and worries that a riot might break out as people tried to crowd in - the fire authorities shut down the concert after the first song by opening act Paul Hucklebuck Williams ended. OK dear reader, this is the story about the first rock'n'roll show, and how difficult it was to bring the new music intro mainstream society, something that most of today's youth take for granted. Alan Freed was a real hero for rock'n'roll. Freed did more than air rock'n'roll music - he also helped with the fight against segregation. He was, without question, a victim of the establishment. He was ahead of his time by decades, he died young and penniless, aged just 43.
1963 - This was the day for the odd coupling of Elliott Gould and Barbra Streisand as they were married. A year later, Judy Collins made her debut in New York City's Carnegie Hall.
1970 - The Faces, the next phase of the Small Faces, introduced their first album, First Step, with new lead singer Rod Stewart, and here they are, in full tilt glory, for the BBC in London, performing Three Button Hand Me Down. Classic.
1970 - Hard to believe, isn't it, that it's now 41 years since ABC by the Jackson Five was released. here they are, same year, but May 10, performing the hit record on the Ed Sullivan Show. 1984 - In a quiet section of New York's Central Park, diagonally opposite The Dakota Building where he was shot dead, John Lennon's memory is alive and well in the shape of a mosaic tribute entitled Strawberry Fields, officially opened today. A year later and Boy George said in Women's World magazine that he would never marry, settle down, or become a father. And a year after that, Prince released Parade, the soundtrack for Under the Cherry Moon. The same day, March 21 in 1987, Dean Martin's son, Dean Martin, Jr. died in a plane crash while in the Air National Guard. 1987 - We go forward to 1987, same day, and watch ZZ Top play the last show on the 14 month Afterburner tour in Honolulu. Couldn't find any vids for this, but how about a good old fashioned 30 second commercial for the album? 1987 - You can find out all about the U2 album The Joshua Tree, released today, by going to our search section. We have full details and a video. 1989 - You can find out all about Madonna's album Like A Prayer, released today, by going to our search section. We have full details and a video. 1989 - Dick Clark announced that he would no longer be hosting the show "American Bandstand." He had been the host for 33 years. This is a poignant and surprising clip, made by the Bandstand people, looking back at the sixties.
1976 - It's 1976 and singer Claudine Longet, formerly the wife of Andy Williams, shot her boyfriend, world skiing champion Spider Sabich, after he had tried to throw her and her three children out of his house. Longet was arrested for manslaughter.
