1828 - Speaking of great musical composers, this was the day, in Vienna, a year after Beethoven' death that Austrian composer, Franz Schubert, gave his only public concert. It happened 183 years ago today when Austrian composer Franz performed his first concert in Vienna, Austria. It was also his last. As a young man, Schubert had to compose and play piano secretly because his father condemned the music profession. Regardless, Franz Schubert composed numerous piano compositions that belong to the most beautiful compositions of his time. He differed from most other composers of his time because he didn’t compose for the aristocracy but just for himself and the people. One of the most beautiful of his compositions is this one, Reveries (Traeumereien in German), a tranquil, brilliant piece of music, as performed here by Vladimir Horowitz in April 1986 in Moscow.
1945 - Do they loom much larger than Ella Fitzgerald? Also known as the 'First Lady of Song' and 'Lady Ella', she was an American jazz and song vocalist, almost without peer. With a vocal range spanning three octaves (Db3 to Db6), she was noted for her purity of tone, impeccable diction, phrasing and intonation, and a 'horn-like' improvisational ability, particularly in her scat singing. She is considered to be a notable interpreter of the Great American Songbook, and during a recording career that lasted 59 years, she was the winner of 13 Grammy Awards and was awarded the National Medal of Art by Ronald Reagan and the Presidential Medal of Freedom by George H. W. Bush. To this day she is a strong influence on some of the world's best contemporary singers, such as Amy Winehouse and Joss Stone. This is the very day Ella and the Delta Rhythm Boys recorded It’s Only a Paper Moon, but we couldn't find the video -don't think there is one, so please listen to this, one of my favourites.
1950 - Jazz pianist, Erroll Garner became one of the first jazz instrumentalists to give a solo concert, 61 years ago today in Cleveland, Ohio.He went on to appear as guest soloist with major symphony orchestras throughout the United States. His pioneering efforts have opened doors for many other performers; in concerts, television, colleges, showrooms, theater tents, and hotels. He constantly has fought to improve performing and audience conditions in his field, and consistently has resisted offers to play in segregated situations, in any part of the world. Garner is the only artist from the jazz idiom to tour under the auspices of the late classical impresario, S. Hurok. Garner's honors and acclaim have been international.His work is buried at the French Theater Comedie in a time capsule. French critics call Garner "The man with 40 fingers," and "The Picasso of the Piano." The Republic of Mali has issued a postage stamp honoring Garner, and he has been invited to appear in Command Performances throughout Europe. In 1954, he wrote one of the most beautiful songs, Misty. Stunning, in this original performance of the song - before the lyrics had been written.
1957 - It's more than half a century ago, but this was the day that pop star Ricky Nelson began recording his first songs, and just seven years later, the musical Funny Girl opened on Broadway starring the future super superstar, Barbara Streisand. In the same year, 1964, former Beatles drummer, Pete Best appeared live on the TV show I've Got a Secret.If you'd like to see this footage, just go to our search section and type it in, it's in our archives. Twelve months later, and Eric Clapton was replaced in the Yardbirds by Jeff Beck. Sounds like a cue for a Yardbirds song, but which one? How about Louise? How about Clapton? How about Heart Full Of Soul? How about Beck?
1969 - As John & Yoko began their "bed-in" for peace in Amsterdam, another decade ended, signalling the end of the Beatle hysteria era, and the beginning of rock'n'roll music infiltrating society as a whole, witth movies and stage productions such as the movie version of The Who's rock opera, Tommy, and what a breakthrough movie it was. This was the day in 1975 when the movie premiered in London, and this scene from the movie is a 'must watch'...the gorgeous Anne Margaret rolling around, exotically, in baked beans and chocolate...one of the great scenes from one of the great movies.
1977 - Amongst the front-runners of the post-punk new-wave music genre was Elvis Costello, and this is the day he released his first single, Less Than Zero. Decidedly no punk not heavy metal, was the pure rock'n'roll sounds of AC/DC, who on this day 30 years ago, released the Bon Scott classic, Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap in the U.S. It had been released in Australia in 1976. This is from a TV show in Australia, now defunct, called Countdown.
1984 - She was refreshing, authentic, the real deal, and remains so; it's 27 years since Cyndi Lauper released the classic Time After Time.
1986 - Sammy Hagar played his first show as lead singer of Van Halen, replacing the guy with the huge ego, whose name escapes me at this time. A year later and U2 caused a ruckus in downtown LA when they filmed this video on a rooftop. Great song, great vid. Great wild footage of the grumpy cop at the end when they closed it down.
1991 - Brat-boy Donnie Wahlberg from The New Kids on the Block was arrested in Louisville, Kentucky, USA, for first-degree arson. He allegedly poured vodka on a hotel carpet and set it on fire. As you do. Four years later and Rapper Eazy-E died of AIDS at the age of 31, and in the same year,1995, believe it or not, and opera based on the life of tennis player Martina Navratilova premiered at New York's Carnegie Hall. Same year again, history was made by Tupac Shakur as his song Me Against the World reached number one on the charts, making him the first rap artist to debut at No. 1 on the charts. He was in jail at the time, for sexual assault. Thanks to creative youtuber lovi23 for this brilliant video he'she made.
