1827 - Austrian composer Josef Strauss was born in Vienna, 184 years ago today, the son of Johann Strauss I and brother of Johann Strauss II and Eduard Strauss. His academic achievements at an early age did not indicate he'd be a composer, as he opted for a career in the Austrian Habsburg military. However, he did study music theory with Franz Dolleschal, and learned to play the violin with Franz Anton. He was trained as an engineer, and worked for the city of Vienna as an engineer and designer, his major creation being the horse-drawn street sweeper, forerunner of today's revolving-brush street-sweeping vehicles. He also published two textbooks on mathematical subjects. Following his attempt at early musical compositions, the waltz-loving Viennese showed their appreciation, so Strauss decided to continue in the family tradition of composing, in his case, specialising in dance music of the day. He was known as Pepi by his family and close friends, and Johann once said of him: "Pepi is the more gifted of us two; I am merely the more popular...". Josef Strauss never enjoyed good health throughout his life, and during a tour to Poland in 1870, he fell unconscious from the conductor's podium while conducting his Musical Potpourri. In memory of Strauss's birth, here is a video of some young kids, ice skating to his music, Eislauf, performed by the Vienna Philharmonic on New Year's Eve, 2004, conducted by Riccardo Muti.
1862 - Speaking of classical composers, howzabout Achille-Claude Debussy, who was born on this day, 148 years ago. Debussy was a French composer, and along with Maurice Ravel, one of the most prominent figures working within the field of impressionist music, the European music de rigeur at the time, though he himself intensely disliked the term when applied to his compositions. Debussy is, arguably, among the most important of all French composers, and a central figure in European music at the turn of the 20th century. He was made Chevalier de la Légion d'honneur in 1903. His music has a deep sensory component and, often as not, his compositions formed around more than one key or pitch. Like many of the great composers of his era, Debussy's work often reflected the activities or turbulence in his own life. His music helped define the transition from late-Romantic music to 20th century modernist music. In French literary circles, the style of this period was known as symbolism, a movement that directly inspired Debussy, both as a composer and as an active cultural participant. Absorb yourself in this piece of music, if you'll allow yourself the time.
1906 - The hand-cranked wind-up, large-horned cabinet Victrola, created by The Victor Talking Machine Company of Camden, New jersey, America, went on sale today, for the first time, with the grand price tag of $200. The new music playing machine completely changed the music industry, and more importantly, the musical artists of the day, including, 32 years later, the great Count Basie, who today recorded his tune, Jumpin' at the Woodside. Basie used to stay at the Woodside Hotel on 142nd Street when he played at the Savoy, and some of the jam sessions there inspired this song. We have dance troupe Hellzapoppin' doing a routine to Basie's Jumpin' At The Woodside - as it was originally intended to be. In the words of the choreographer: "For Hellzapoppin', I started from the beginning of the song, then worked with about sixteen bars at a time, choreographing both the solos and the ensemble section as we went along. So, dear reader...here's The Count, the song, and the dance.
1956 - Elvis began work on his first movie, Love Me Tender, today, and for a video clip and more information on this and other Elvis movies, go to our archive search engine. Just about eight years later, and girl group Martha & The Vandellas' song Dancing In The Streets was released. From 1967 to 1972 the group was known as Martha Reeves and the Vandellas, and were among the most successful groups of the Motown roster during the period 1963-1967. In contrast to other Motown groups such as The Supremes and The Marvelettes, Martha and the Vandellas were known for a more harder R&B sound, typified by Love Is Like a Heat Wave, Nowhere to Run, Jimmy Mack and, their signature song, Dancing in the Street. During their nine-year run on the charts from 1963 to 1972, Martha Reeves and the Vandellas charted with more than 26 hit records, recorded in the styles of doo-wop, R&B, pop, blues, rock and soul. Ten of their songs reached the top ten of the Billboard R&B singles chart, including two R&B number ones. Twelve of the Vandellas' songs charted within the Top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100, with six songs charting within the Top Ten including Dancing in the Street, and the aforementioned three songs. In 2004, Rolling Stone magazine ranked Martha Reeves and the Vandellas #96 on their list of the 100 greatest artists of all time. What do you think?
1966 - This was the day in when Jerry Lee Lewis was signed to play in the short-lived theatre production, Catch My Soul, a rock version of Shakespeare's Othello. Two years later, on the same day, Cynthia Powell Lennon sued John Lennon for divorce on the grounds of adultery, presumably with Yoko Ono, and a year later, again on the say day, The Beatles filmed a film short for The Long and Winding Road, and in 1970 on August 22, Derek and the Dominoes began work on their first and only studio album, Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs. This is the song he wrote for Patti Boyd, George Harrison's wife - so rocklore has it. It certainly helped inspire Patti to leave George and marry Eric. for a while. Here's a live version of that classic rock song.
1979 - This was the day Led Zeppelin released their final album together, In Through The Out Door, but let's backtrack to Knebworth in the same year, and Zep's live performance of the song that took them to the heights of rock exactly a decade earlier. What were you doing when you first heard this song, and the dulcet sounds of Page and Plant?
1998 - One of the saddest days in music history was when John Lennon was assassinated outside his home, in 1980. Mark David Chapman was the man who murdered Lennon, and this was the day he stated he did not want any of the money that would be made from the sale of the signed Double Fantasy album that John Lennon signed for him the same day he was killed. This is the face of Lennon's killer, in a rarely seen video interview.
2001 - Stevie Nicks postponed two concerts today, to undergo treatment for severe bronchitis. Jump forward almost a decade to 2010, and the single from her 2001 solo album, Love Is Trouble In Shangri La.
2003 - The IRS confiscated personal belongings of Peabo Bryson to pay back taxes he owed, something many American artists were accused of doing, owing tax. The American R&B and soul singer-songwriter, born in Greenville, South Carolina, is well known for singing soft-rock ballads, (often as a duo with female singers) and his contribution to several Disney animated feature soundtracks. He won a Grammy Award in 1992 for his performance of the song Beauty and the Beast with Céline Dion and another in 1993 for A Whole New World (Aladdin's Theme) with Regina Belle. Peabo's greatest solo hits include 1978's Feel The Fire, Reaching For The Sky & perhaps his best known, I'm So Into You. In 1985, he appeared on the soap opera One Life to Live to sing a lyrical version of its theme song. Bryson's vocals were added to the regular theme song in 1987 and his voice was heard daily until 1992. Meanwhile, let's check out the soft tones of Peabo Bryson.
1862 - Speaking of classical composers, howzabout Achille-Claude Debussy, who was born on this day, 148 years ago. Debussy was a French composer, and along with Maurice Ravel, one of the most prominent figures working within the field of impressionist music, the European music de rigeur at the time, though he himself intensely disliked the term when applied to his compositions. Debussy is, arguably, among the most important of all French composers, and a central figure in European music at the turn of the 20th century. He was made Chevalier de la Légion d'honneur in 1903. His music has a deep sensory component and, often as not, his compositions formed around more than one key or pitch. Like many of the great composers of his era, Debussy's work often reflected the activities or turbulence in his own life. His music helped define the transition from late-Romantic music to 20th century modernist music. In French literary circles, the style of this period was known as symbolism, a movement that directly inspired Debussy, both as a composer and as an active cultural participant. Absorb yourself in this piece of music, if you'll allow yourself the time.
1906 - The hand-cranked wind-up, large-horned cabinet Victrola, created by The Victor Talking Machine Company of Camden, New jersey, America, went on sale today, for the first time, with the grand price tag of $200. The new music playing machine completely changed the music industry, and more importantly, the musical artists of the day, including, 32 years later, the great Count Basie, who today recorded his tune, Jumpin' at the Woodside. Basie used to stay at the Woodside Hotel on 142nd Street when he played at the Savoy, and some of the jam sessions there inspired this song. We have dance troupe Hellzapoppin' doing a routine to Basie's Jumpin' At The Woodside - as it was originally intended to be. In the words of the choreographer: "For Hellzapoppin', I started from the beginning of the song, then worked with about sixteen bars at a time, choreographing both the solos and the ensemble section as we went along. So, dear reader...here's The Count, the song, and the dance.
1956 - Elvis began work on his first movie, Love Me Tender, today, and for a video clip and more information on this and other Elvis movies, go to our archive search engine. Just about eight years later, and girl group Martha & The Vandellas' song Dancing In The Streets was released. From 1967 to 1972 the group was known as Martha Reeves and the Vandellas, and were among the most successful groups of the Motown roster during the period 1963-1967. In contrast to other Motown groups such as The Supremes and The Marvelettes, Martha and the Vandellas were known for a more harder R&B sound, typified by Love Is Like a Heat Wave, Nowhere to Run, Jimmy Mack and, their signature song, Dancing in the Street. During their nine-year run on the charts from 1963 to 1972, Martha Reeves and the Vandellas charted with more than 26 hit records, recorded in the styles of doo-wop, R&B, pop, blues, rock and soul. Ten of their songs reached the top ten of the Billboard R&B singles chart, including two R&B number ones. Twelve of the Vandellas' songs charted within the Top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100, with six songs charting within the Top Ten including Dancing in the Street, and the aforementioned three songs. In 2004, Rolling Stone magazine ranked Martha Reeves and the Vandellas #96 on their list of the 100 greatest artists of all time. What do you think?
1966 - This was the day in when Jerry Lee Lewis was signed to play in the short-lived theatre production, Catch My Soul, a rock version of Shakespeare's Othello. Two years later, on the same day, Cynthia Powell Lennon sued John Lennon for divorce on the grounds of adultery, presumably with Yoko Ono, and a year later, again on the say day, The Beatles filmed a film short for The Long and Winding Road, and in 1970 on August 22, Derek and the Dominoes began work on their first and only studio album, Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs. This is the song he wrote for Patti Boyd, George Harrison's wife - so rocklore has it. It certainly helped inspire Patti to leave George and marry Eric. for a while. Here's a live version of that classic rock song.
1979 - This was the day Led Zeppelin released their final album together, In Through The Out Door, but let's backtrack to Knebworth in the same year, and Zep's live performance of the song that took them to the heights of rock exactly a decade earlier. What were you doing when you first heard this song, and the dulcet sounds of Page and Plant?
1998 - One of the saddest days in music history was when John Lennon was assassinated outside his home, in 1980. Mark David Chapman was the man who murdered Lennon, and this was the day he stated he did not want any of the money that would be made from the sale of the signed Double Fantasy album that John Lennon signed for him the same day he was killed. This is the face of Lennon's killer, in a rarely seen video interview.
2001 - Stevie Nicks postponed two concerts today, to undergo treatment for severe bronchitis. Jump forward almost a decade to 2010, and the single from her 2001 solo album, Love Is Trouble In Shangri La.
2003 - The IRS confiscated personal belongings of Peabo Bryson to pay back taxes he owed, something many American artists were accused of doing, owing tax. The American R&B and soul singer-songwriter, born in Greenville, South Carolina, is well known for singing soft-rock ballads, (often as a duo with female singers) and his contribution to several Disney animated feature soundtracks. He won a Grammy Award in 1992 for his performance of the song Beauty and the Beast with Céline Dion and another in 1993 for A Whole New World (Aladdin's Theme) with Regina Belle. Peabo's greatest solo hits include 1978's Feel The Fire, Reaching For The Sky & perhaps his best known, I'm So Into You. In 1985, he appeared on the soap opera One Life to Live to sing a lyrical version of its theme song. Bryson's vocals were added to the regular theme song in 1987 and his voice was heard daily until 1992. Meanwhile, let's check out the soft tones of Peabo Bryson.
