April 26, 1898 - AMERICAN composer and pianist, George Gershwin, was born today, and went on to become one of the most important, popular and esteemed songwriter of the past century. His compositions spanned popular, classical, vocal and theatrical works, including more than a dozen Broadway shows, in collaboration with his elder brother, lyricist Ira Gershwin. Countless singers recorded Gershwin songs, including Fred Astaire, Louis Armstrong, Dean Martin, Al Jolson, Bobby Darin, Janis Joplin, John Coltrane, Frank Sinatra, Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, Sam Cooke, Diana Ross, Miles Davis, Herbie Hancock, Judy Garland, Julie Andrews, Barbra Streisand, Nina Simone, and so many more. He began his career in New York City's Tin Pan Alley, where he earned $15 a week. In 2005, by using 'estimates of earnings accrued in a composer's lifetime, London's The Guardian newspaper determined that George Gershwin was the wealthiest composer of all time, including Paul McCartney and Elton John. Check out the man himself, playing piano PLUS one of his best, as sung by Ella Fitzgerald.
1937 - Known throughout her career as the 'empress of the blues', Bessie Smith died today, aged just 43 years old. Bessie Smith was the most popular female blues singer of the 1920s and 1930s, often regarded as one of the greatest singers of her era, and along with Louis Armstrong, a major influence on subsequent jazz vocalists. Ms. Smith died after being involved in a car accident while traveling along Route 61 outside Memphis, Tennessee. Her 1923 song Downhearted Blues was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2006. Check out this blues classic from Bessie.
1960 - Connie Francis started a two week run at #1 on world charts today, with My Heart Has A Mind Of It's Own, and a year later on the same day Greenbriar Boys started a two-week residency at Gerde's Folk Club in New York with the opening act being Bob Dylan. On the same day four years ago,
Roy Orbison started a three week run at #1 on the US singles chart with Oh Pretty Woman.
1964 - This is the day the Kinks released their song, You Really Got Me. If ever there was a rock band that put down fundamental roots for rock'n'roll today, it was the Kinks. Ray Davies was and remains a brilliant songwriter, able to lyrically capture a moment and a feeling and nuance of a time or social situation. That in itself is monumental, but add to that this absolutely iconic and pivotal rock song, and you have a style-maker socially commentating on the platform of rock'n'roll. That's what Chuck Berry did. So, for me, this is one of the all-time top ten raw rock'n'roll songs, lyrical double entendre and all.
1970 - Tamla-Motown Records announced, today, that the Jackson 5 had sold 10 million singles world wide in nine months. In the same year, the group of brothers sang this version of one of their hits for that year, I Want You Back, on the Andy Williams Show - videotape time code and all. Seriously, though, how brilliant was Michael Jackson?
1975 - Five years after the Jacksons, this is the day the outrageous Rocky Horror Picture Show opened in theatres. We don't really need to say anymore than that, except this movie is still the icon of a generation, and that's that. But, wait a minute…is that Johnny Depp in drag, as a sweet transvestite.
1979 - The Clash released their first single outside of England, and it was their remake of Bobby Fuller Four's I Fought The Law. You can see their version and the original by going to our archive search engine. It was also the day Prince released Purple Rain was released, and the same day 23 years ago that Keith Richards released his first ever solo album, Talk Is Cheap. We go back to 1988 and see Richards & The X-Pensive Winos live @ the Hollywood Paladium.
1937 - Known throughout her career as the 'empress of the blues', Bessie Smith died today, aged just 43 years old. Bessie Smith was the most popular female blues singer of the 1920s and 1930s, often regarded as one of the greatest singers of her era, and along with Louis Armstrong, a major influence on subsequent jazz vocalists. Ms. Smith died after being involved in a car accident while traveling along Route 61 outside Memphis, Tennessee. Her 1923 song Downhearted Blues was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2006. Check out this blues classic from Bessie.
1960 - Connie Francis started a two week run at #1 on world charts today, with My Heart Has A Mind Of It's Own, and a year later on the same day Greenbriar Boys started a two-week residency at Gerde's Folk Club in New York with the opening act being Bob Dylan. On the same day four years ago,
Roy Orbison started a three week run at #1 on the US singles chart with Oh Pretty Woman.
1964 - This is the day the Kinks released their song, You Really Got Me. If ever there was a rock band that put down fundamental roots for rock'n'roll today, it was the Kinks. Ray Davies was and remains a brilliant songwriter, able to lyrically capture a moment and a feeling and nuance of a time or social situation. That in itself is monumental, but add to that this absolutely iconic and pivotal rock song, and you have a style-maker socially commentating on the platform of rock'n'roll. That's what Chuck Berry did. So, for me, this is one of the all-time top ten raw rock'n'roll songs, lyrical double entendre and all.
1970 - Tamla-Motown Records announced, today, that the Jackson 5 had sold 10 million singles world wide in nine months. In the same year, the group of brothers sang this version of one of their hits for that year, I Want You Back, on the Andy Williams Show - videotape time code and all. Seriously, though, how brilliant was Michael Jackson?
1975 - Five years after the Jacksons, this is the day the outrageous Rocky Horror Picture Show opened in theatres. We don't really need to say anymore than that, except this movie is still the icon of a generation, and that's that. But, wait a minute…is that Johnny Depp in drag, as a sweet transvestite.
1979 - The Clash released their first single outside of England, and it was their remake of Bobby Fuller Four's I Fought The Law. You can see their version and the original by going to our archive search engine. It was also the day Prince released Purple Rain was released, and the same day 23 years ago that Keith Richards released his first ever solo album, Talk Is Cheap. We go back to 1988 and see Richards & The X-Pensive Winos live @ the Hollywood Paladium.
