1779 - His name was Francis Scott Key, he wrote the star spangled Banner, and he was born 232 years ago today. Francis was a composer, an attorney, a poet, and a social worker, and In 1814 when the Brits invaded the United States, Francis Key, in his role as attorney, acted on behalf of a Dr. William Beanes, who was arrested by the British and taken aboard one of their ships. Attorney and friend of Dr. Beanes, Key took steps to obtain the doctor's release and, while doing so, was detained by the British aboard one of their ships the night before the attack on Fort McHenry. Key witnessed the bombardment, which began before dawn on Sept. 13 and lasted practically an entire day. The gallant American defence of the fort subsequently inspired Key to write the words of The Star-Spangled Banne. The lyrics were set to the melody of a popular tavern song of the day, To Anacreon in Heaven. The copy of the poem that Key wrote in his hotel the after-noon of Sept. 14, 1814, is now a prized exhibit of the Maryland Historical Society. Though unofficially accepted as such for many years, The Star-Spangled Banner did not officially become the American National Anthem until 1931. And here is the version from Jimi Hendrix, performed by the guitar maistro, at Woodstock in 1969.
1954 - The Moondog Jubilee of Stars Under The Stars took place at Ebbets Field in Brooklyn, today and the bill included Fats Domino, Muddy Waters, the Clovers, the Orioles, and Little Walter. For details of Fats Domino and Muddy Waters, go to our blog archive search engine. Here's a spotlight on Little Walter the night he was inducted into the American Rock'n'Roll Hall of Fame. Although he might not have been the first person to amplify the harmonica, but Little Walter's pioneering use of the microphone helped establish the modern blues harmonica. With a mike clasped to his harp, Little Walter created echoing, moaning, hornlike sounds that redefined the capabilities of the instrument. Walter Jacobs had fourteen top ten hits on the R&B charts in the 1950s including two number #1 songs Juke and My Babe. Little Walter toured and recorded extensively with blues great Muddy Waters in the 1950s. He also recorded with Jimmy Rogers, Memphis Minnie, Otis Rush and Bo Diddley. Little Walter's influence was pervasive, especially in England where the next generation of harp players such as Mick Jagger listened to his records over and over.
1960 - It's now 51 years since Aretha Franklin made her first secular recordings, which included Today I Sing the Blues, recorded today. She is the soul queen, enough said, and here she is, non-secular, same year, here she is with the classic, Mockingbird, with Ray Johnson.
1960 - Chubby Checker rode top of the charts for a couple of years, starting today when he released The Twist. Chubby was cool, but the better version of the song came from blues rocker, Hank Ballad, who scored with many other hits during this period, including Let's Go, Let's. Sadly there are very few - if any - videos of Ballad on youtube.
1960 - This was the day and the year when Elvis Presley was named Public Enemy #1 by the East German newspaper, Young World. Six years later, papers all over the world were calling Mick Jagger public enemy #1, due to his performance in the controversial movie, Performance, reel;eased today. In a nutshell, Chas, a violent and psychotic East London gangster needs a place to lie low after a very grisly hit that should never have been carried out. He finds the perfect cover in the form of guest house run by the mysterious Mr. Turner, a one-time rock superstar, who is looking for the right spark to rekindle his faded talent. One of the best movies of all time, in my opinion. Here's a trailer, see what you think.
1971 - Anyone out there old enough to remember Sonny & Cher, will remember The Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour, debuted today on America's CBS-TV. Does this comedy from exactly 40 years ago today stand the test of time? Check out Ronald Reagan.
1973 - I remember seeing the amazing time-capsule movie, American Graffiti, which opened today, way back then; real cars, real superstars of the future, Wolfman Jack narrating, gorgeous girls, the absolute perfect rock'n'roll soundtrack - what a fucking movie! Here's the promo trailer.
1980 - One of the quiet, successful, and adventurous film companies of the eighties was set up by Beatle George Harrison. Harrison formed the production company called Hand Made Films Productions, a company that made it possible for some of the truly brilliant films of our generation. But rather than me tell you about its formation, how about George, back from the dead, to tell you all about his film company.
1981 - At precisely one second past midnight, August 1, exactly 30 years ago, music promotion changed forever, when new cable channel, MTV made its debut across America, and later around the world. The first video to be shown was Video Killed the Radio Star by the Buggles. And this is it, the first video on MTV.
2011 - RIP Gene McDaniels, who died last Friday, July 29. McDaniels was one of the great soul singers of the sixties, scoring several top ten hits around the world, including Hundred Pounds of Clay, Tower of Strength, Chip Chip, and Another Tear Falls later recorded by The Walker Brothers.
1954 - The Moondog Jubilee of Stars Under The Stars took place at Ebbets Field in Brooklyn, today and the bill included Fats Domino, Muddy Waters, the Clovers, the Orioles, and Little Walter. For details of Fats Domino and Muddy Waters, go to our blog archive search engine. Here's a spotlight on Little Walter the night he was inducted into the American Rock'n'Roll Hall of Fame. Although he might not have been the first person to amplify the harmonica, but Little Walter's pioneering use of the microphone helped establish the modern blues harmonica. With a mike clasped to his harp, Little Walter created echoing, moaning, hornlike sounds that redefined the capabilities of the instrument. Walter Jacobs had fourteen top ten hits on the R&B charts in the 1950s including two number #1 songs Juke and My Babe. Little Walter toured and recorded extensively with blues great Muddy Waters in the 1950s. He also recorded with Jimmy Rogers, Memphis Minnie, Otis Rush and Bo Diddley. Little Walter's influence was pervasive, especially in England where the next generation of harp players such as Mick Jagger listened to his records over and over.
1960 - It's now 51 years since Aretha Franklin made her first secular recordings, which included Today I Sing the Blues, recorded today. She is the soul queen, enough said, and here she is, non-secular, same year, here she is with the classic, Mockingbird, with Ray Johnson.
1960 - Chubby Checker rode top of the charts for a couple of years, starting today when he released The Twist. Chubby was cool, but the better version of the song came from blues rocker, Hank Ballad, who scored with many other hits during this period, including Let's Go, Let's. Sadly there are very few - if any - videos of Ballad on youtube.
1960 - This was the day and the year when Elvis Presley was named Public Enemy #1 by the East German newspaper, Young World. Six years later, papers all over the world were calling Mick Jagger public enemy #1, due to his performance in the controversial movie, Performance, reel;eased today. In a nutshell, Chas, a violent and psychotic East London gangster needs a place to lie low after a very grisly hit that should never have been carried out. He finds the perfect cover in the form of guest house run by the mysterious Mr. Turner, a one-time rock superstar, who is looking for the right spark to rekindle his faded talent. One of the best movies of all time, in my opinion. Here's a trailer, see what you think.
1971 - Anyone out there old enough to remember Sonny & Cher, will remember The Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour, debuted today on America's CBS-TV. Does this comedy from exactly 40 years ago today stand the test of time? Check out Ronald Reagan.
1973 - I remember seeing the amazing time-capsule movie, American Graffiti, which opened today, way back then; real cars, real superstars of the future, Wolfman Jack narrating, gorgeous girls, the absolute perfect rock'n'roll soundtrack - what a fucking movie! Here's the promo trailer.
1980 - One of the quiet, successful, and adventurous film companies of the eighties was set up by Beatle George Harrison. Harrison formed the production company called Hand Made Films Productions, a company that made it possible for some of the truly brilliant films of our generation. But rather than me tell you about its formation, how about George, back from the dead, to tell you all about his film company.
1981 - At precisely one second past midnight, August 1, exactly 30 years ago, music promotion changed forever, when new cable channel, MTV made its debut across America, and later around the world. The first video to be shown was Video Killed the Radio Star by the Buggles. And this is it, the first video on MTV.
2011 - RIP Gene McDaniels, who died last Friday, July 29. McDaniels was one of the great soul singers of the sixties, scoring several top ten hits around the world, including Hundred Pounds of Clay, Tower of Strength, Chip Chip, and Another Tear Falls later recorded by The Walker Brothers.
