1882 - This was the day, 129 years ago, that one of Australia's most celebrated musicians and composers, Percy Aldridge Grainger was born. During his lifetime, Grainger became famous in USA and the UK, and across Europe with his piano playing and composing. But just as importantly, he became known for his experimental music, and was certainly a pioneer in electronic music. It was during his long and innovative career that granger also played a prominent role in the revival of interest in British folk music, in the early years of the 20th century. He notably made many adaptations of other composers' works, and although much of his work was experimental and unusual, the piece with which he is most generally associated is his piano arrangement of the folk-dance tune Country Gardens. Grainger's personal life was controversial to say the least, distorted as he appeared to be because of events brought on by his m,other and father. If you like reading controversial biographies of musicians, this one will rock your boat. Meanwhile, this a *MUSICBACK* footage gem of the man himself.
1958 - The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) instigated the award system for record sales, and it was this day that the very first gold record album was presented, and it was for the soundtrack, Oklahoma!, the first musical written by composer Richard Rodgers and librettist Oscar Hammerstein II. The musical is based on Lynn Riggs' 1931 play, Green Grow the Lilacs. Set in Oklahoma Territory outside the town of Claremore in 1906, it tells the story of cowboy Curly McLain and his romance with farm girl Laurey Williams. A secondary romance concerns cowboy Will Parker and his flirtatious fianceé, Ado Annie, a friend of Laurey's. The original Broadway production opened in 1943 and was an outstanding box-office smash hit. It lasted for an unprecedented 2,212 performances, and in later years enjoyed award-winning revivals, national tours, foreign productions and an Academy Award-winning 1955 film adaptation. It has long been a popular choice for school and community productions. They don't make musicals like this anymore!
1969 - When Mick Jagger came to Australia to star in the movie Ned Kelly, that country's famous folk legend bushranger, Jagger's then-girlfriend, Marianne Faithfull, gulped down an overdose of barbiturates on the set of the movie, today, July 8. My good friend, the legendary, late Peter Carrette got dressed as a doctor and took a photograph of Ms. Faithfull in the hospital, the photo making the front page of newspapers all over the world. On the morning Ms. Faithfull was taken to hospital for the drug overdoes, Jagger conducted a press conference, seemingly stoned, a blonde on one arm, a brunette on the other. His sense of humour comes through. The dumb question from journalists comes through. The cover-up of Fauithfull's overdose comes through. Worth watching. Then a mini-doco about Marianne from Channel 4 in London. You can't help but love Faithfull, right?
1970 - It was 41 years ago tonight that one of the Beatles' greatest vocal and rhythm guitar influences, The Everly Brothers, launched their own television show on American ABC-TV, as a summer series. How good were the brothers?
1996 - This is the day, July 8, The Spice Girls released their debut single Wannabe in England. OK…how many readers sang along to this song. Come on, fess up now. I was living in London at the time, and it was all Spice Girls - this is Scary, Sporty, Baby, Ginger, and Posh.
1998 - It is now 13 years to the day that The Roy Orbison Estate filed a $12 million royalty suit against Sony Music Entertainment Inc. Writing on the official Orbison website, Barbara Orbison said: "As a copyright owner, I'm very happy that there is a technology that exists which can identify infringements." From the 17-year-old who met Orbison in 1968 at the height of his fame and married him a year later, Ms Orbison has become a formidable commercial proposition, now controlling the rights to all of his recordings as well as publishing rights through the 10 companies she runs in Nashville. In 1998, she pursued damages of $12m in a wrangle with Sony Music Entertainment over royalties from her late husband's recordings. She alleged that the company misrepresented royalty rates and contracts in determining payments and contracts for his products released in the United States and abroad. She also demanded the return of ownership of his master tapes to the family estate. Following is a very rare colour video of Orbison's '68 recording of his song, Walk On. The video is rare and a bit jumpy towards the end. For more videos, information and timeline pieces on the great Roy Orbison, go to our archive search engine.
