1750 - It was 251 years ago today that classical composer Johann Sebastian Bach died after an unsuccessful eye operation. Bach was the original heavy metal riff man before heavy metal - the man who inspired many-a-heavy metal riff for bands like Yes, Deep Purple and many more bands of that genre. Here is one of his best-known pieces, performed in D-minor by German musician Hans-Andre Stamm. Studies in musicology at the University of Bonn led to the construction of the Enharmonic Pipe Organ according to the plans of Prof. Dr. Martin Vogel, an instrument in just intonation with 48 pipes per octave. Since 1983, Stamm composed and published organ - chamber - and orchestral music and recorded several CDs. Currently he is living as a freelance composer and organ virtuoso in Leverkusen, Germany. Stamm does Bach.
1933 - This was the day when the first singing telegram was sent. It was sent to thirties pop star, Rudy Vallee on his 32nd birthday. A singing telegram is a message, transmitted by telegram or otherwise, that is delivered by an artist in a musical form. Singing telegrams are historically linked to normal telegrams, but tend to be humorous. Sometimes the artist delivering the message is in costume, or formal clothing. Singing telegrams are often given as a gift. The first one was sent on this day, July 28, 1933, when a fan sent Hollywood singing star Rudy Vallee a birthday greeting - by singing telegram. Not related in any way, but on the same day, three years later, young Judy Garland sailed into iconic history when she recorded the song, Over the Rainbow. The classic Academy- award-winning song was written by Harold Arlen and E.Y.Harburg. In time it became Garland's signature tune, and in the movie, the MGM orchestra plays the song over the opening credits, and about five minutes into the film, playing the role of Dorothy Gale, Garland sings the song Over the Rainbow after unsuccessfully trying to get her aunt and uncle to listen to her regarding an unpleasant incident involving Dorothy's dog Totot and the nasty spinster Miss Gulch. Garland muses to Toto: "Some place where there isn't any trouble. Do you suppose there is such a place, Toto? There must be. It's not a place you can get to by a boat, or a train. It's far, far away. Behind the moon, beyond the rain…".
1957 - Any regular reader of *MUSICBACKTRACK* will know that I consider Jerry Lee Lewis as one of the main architects of rock'n'roll music, but becoming well-known a little later than Little Richard, Chuck Berry, Fats Domino and Elvis. Jerry put the wild into the new genre as this debut TV performance from him clearly demonstrates. This was his television debut on The Steve Allen Show, 54 years ago tonight…preceded by a commercial of the time.
1970 - Anyone out there old enough to remember when Mick Jagger went to Australia to act in the movie of their hero, Ned Kelly? This was the film in which Jagger had his acting debut. During his visit, Jagger did this hilarious interview with the late Richard Carlton, and ABC reporter, and old work mate of mine. This is an hilarious interview, Jagger demonstrating a wicked sense of humour, needed for Carlton's sometimes-prickly approach. Following that, Jagger singing the Australian song, Wild Colonial Boy. Jagger's band in this concert clip from Australia's Nationakl Tennis Centre in Melbourne, featured Joe Satriani and Jimmy Rip on guitars. This is another bootleg - extremely out of synch.
1973 - It's now 38 years since the trio Grand Funk Railroad released their biggest hit record, We're An American Band. The band was named after the Grand Trunk Western Railroad, a well-known rail line in Michigan. This high energy group first achieved recognition at the 1969 Atlanta Pop Festival, the band soon signed by Capitol Records. Patterned after hard rock power trios such as Cream, Grand Funk Railroad developed its own popular style. In 1970, they sold more albums than any other American band and became a major concert attraction. Check out the strut, dear reader, and the cow bell!!! Great song.
1973 - A rock festival took place today in Watkins Glen, New York. Reports tell us around 600,000 people watched the Grateful Dead, the Allman Brothers and The Band perform. Six years later, same day, and the so-called World Series of Rock was held at Cleveland Stadium, with Journey, Ted Nugent and Thin Lizzy. On the same day in 1987, The Beatles sued Nike and Capitol Records over the use of their song Revolution in shoe commercials, and six years later, the group 10,000 Maniacs played their last show with lead singer Natalie Merchant, who was about to leave the group to pursue a solo career. I totally loved this band and was a little disappointed when Natalie departed. I Love Patti's and Bruce's version of this song, but I also love this version. If you want to see Patti Smith's version, or Bruce Springsteen's version, go to our archive search engine.
1933 - This was the day when the first singing telegram was sent. It was sent to thirties pop star, Rudy Vallee on his 32nd birthday. A singing telegram is a message, transmitted by telegram or otherwise, that is delivered by an artist in a musical form. Singing telegrams are historically linked to normal telegrams, but tend to be humorous. Sometimes the artist delivering the message is in costume, or formal clothing. Singing telegrams are often given as a gift. The first one was sent on this day, July 28, 1933, when a fan sent Hollywood singing star Rudy Vallee a birthday greeting - by singing telegram. Not related in any way, but on the same day, three years later, young Judy Garland sailed into iconic history when she recorded the song, Over the Rainbow. The classic Academy- award-winning song was written by Harold Arlen and E.Y.Harburg. In time it became Garland's signature tune, and in the movie, the MGM orchestra plays the song over the opening credits, and about five minutes into the film, playing the role of Dorothy Gale, Garland sings the song Over the Rainbow after unsuccessfully trying to get her aunt and uncle to listen to her regarding an unpleasant incident involving Dorothy's dog Totot and the nasty spinster Miss Gulch. Garland muses to Toto: "Some place where there isn't any trouble. Do you suppose there is such a place, Toto? There must be. It's not a place you can get to by a boat, or a train. It's far, far away. Behind the moon, beyond the rain…".
1957 - Any regular reader of *MUSICBACKTRACK* will know that I consider Jerry Lee Lewis as one of the main architects of rock'n'roll music, but becoming well-known a little later than Little Richard, Chuck Berry, Fats Domino and Elvis. Jerry put the wild into the new genre as this debut TV performance from him clearly demonstrates. This was his television debut on The Steve Allen Show, 54 years ago tonight…preceded by a commercial of the time.
1970 - Anyone out there old enough to remember when Mick Jagger went to Australia to act in the movie of their hero, Ned Kelly? This was the film in which Jagger had his acting debut. During his visit, Jagger did this hilarious interview with the late Richard Carlton, and ABC reporter, and old work mate of mine. This is an hilarious interview, Jagger demonstrating a wicked sense of humour, needed for Carlton's sometimes-prickly approach. Following that, Jagger singing the Australian song, Wild Colonial Boy. Jagger's band in this concert clip from Australia's Nationakl Tennis Centre in Melbourne, featured Joe Satriani and Jimmy Rip on guitars. This is another bootleg - extremely out of synch.
1973 - It's now 38 years since the trio Grand Funk Railroad released their biggest hit record, We're An American Band. The band was named after the Grand Trunk Western Railroad, a well-known rail line in Michigan. This high energy group first achieved recognition at the 1969 Atlanta Pop Festival, the band soon signed by Capitol Records. Patterned after hard rock power trios such as Cream, Grand Funk Railroad developed its own popular style. In 1970, they sold more albums than any other American band and became a major concert attraction. Check out the strut, dear reader, and the cow bell!!! Great song.
1973 - A rock festival took place today in Watkins Glen, New York. Reports tell us around 600,000 people watched the Grateful Dead, the Allman Brothers and The Band perform. Six years later, same day, and the so-called World Series of Rock was held at Cleveland Stadium, with Journey, Ted Nugent and Thin Lizzy. On the same day in 1987, The Beatles sued Nike and Capitol Records over the use of their song Revolution in shoe commercials, and six years later, the group 10,000 Maniacs played their last show with lead singer Natalie Merchant, who was about to leave the group to pursue a solo career. I totally loved this band and was a little disappointed when Natalie departed. I Love Patti's and Bruce's version of this song, but I also love this version. If you want to see Patti Smith's version, or Bruce Springsteen's version, go to our archive search engine.
