1935 - The Hoboken Four, with Frank Sinatra as lead singer, appeared on the syndicated Major Bowes Amateur Hour on WOR radio. The Major Bowes Amateur Hour, was American radio's best-known talent show and one of the most popular programs broadcast in the United States in the 1930s and 1940s. There were similar talent shows held in the UK and across Australia, Canada and many more countries. The American show was created and hosted by Edward Bowes, who, in the 1920s, was the imposing manager of New York's equally imposing Capitol Theatre. More importantly, this is the first and only known recording of Frank Sinatra.
1941 - The great musician and bandleader, Harry James, and his orchestra recorded the classic piece of music, Miserlou. James was an instrumentalist of the swing era, employing a bravura playing style that uniquely stamped his trumpet work. He was one of the most popular bandleaders during the early 1940s, and he continued to lead his band until just before his death, 40 years later. Couldn't find his version of Miserloou, so the second video here is the 1942 Concerto for Trumpet from the movie Private Buckaroo, but first, check out this stinging version of the Booker T and the MGs hit, Green Onions. And, yes, that's Buddy Rich on drums.
1976 - At #1 in many countries around the world today, was one of the most successful pop groups of all time, Abba, with their song, Dancing Queen, released a month earlier, and first performed in June. It was released in August 1976, but was first performed two months earlier, on 18 June 1976, during a Royal Variety Show in Stockholm the evening before the Swedish royal wedding. Dancing Queen was the follow-up single to their hit Fernando, and was one of the most successful single recordings of the 1970s. Written by Benny Andersson, Björn Ulvaeus, and manager, Stig Anderson, Dancing Queen is considered by many to be ABBA's signature song, as it reached #1number 1 on music charts in 13 countries, and stayed at #1 for 14 weeks in their home country, Sweden. This is the official video for the song - just skip the 'bad breath' advertisement at the start.
1977 - Scottish guitar player, Jimmy McCulloch, quit Paul McCartney & Wings today, ostensibly to join a reformed lineup for the Small Faces. James 'Jimmy' McCulloch was a Scottish musician, born in Glasgow, who was best known for playing lead guitar in Paul McCartney's Wings from 1974 to 1977. However, McCulloch had been a member of the Glasgow psychedelic band One in a Million, Stone the Crows from the age of 11, when the band was known as The Jaygars, and Thunderclap Newman. He also made appearances on a number of albums, including John Entwistle's Whistle Rymes in 1972, and as lead guitarist playing alongside Peter Frampton on two tracks. McCulloch first came to everyone's attention with his band, Thunderclap Newman, which was created and produced by Pete Townshend. McCulloch died from a heroin overdose in 1979, in his flat in Maida Vale, North West London, on September 27. In 1971, Australian bassist, Ronnie Peel, joined McCulloch on tour with Thunderclap Newman.
1982 - Peter Gabriel could have an entire *MUSICBACKTRACK* of his own, and on this date, 29 years ago, his album, Security, was released. The British singer, musician, and songwriter rose to fame as the lead vocalist and flautist of the progressive rock group Genesis, and after leaving the band, went on to a successful solo career. He has focused on producing and promoting world music and pioneering digital distribution methods for music. He has also been involved in various humanitarian efforts, and in 2007 was honoured as a BMI Icon at the 57th annual BMI London Awards for his “influence on generations of music makers.” As a member of Genesis, Gabriel was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2010.
1998 - This was the year that Garth brooks was seen as a country music icon, winning Entertainer of the Year at that year's country music awards, the video of which follows. And this was the day that Philadelphia Mayor, Ed Rendell, proclaimed the week of September 8-13 as "Garth Brooks week." So, for the cynics amongst us, why not a Garth Brooks song following the awards?
2003 - This is the day when one of rock music's most adored characters, singer, songwriter, raconteur, Warren Zevon, lost his fight against a rare form of cancer. Zevon had worked as a session musician, was the piano player and band leader for the Everly Brothers, and his 1969 song, She Quit Me, was included in the soundtrack for the film Midnight Cowboy. Warren Zevon could count rock's elite amongst his fans, friends, and admirers, including Jackson Browne, The Eagles, Linda Ronstadt, Bruce Springsteen, Mick Fleetwood, Waddy Wachteland many more. Critic Dave Marsh, in 1979 Rolling Stone Record Guide, called Zevon "one of the toughest rockers ever to come out of Southern California." Zevon was noted for including his unique and sometimes sardonic opinions of life in his musical lyrics, composing songs that were sometimes humorous and often had political or historical themes. Some of his songs included Roland the Headless Thompson Gunner, Lawyers, Guns and Money, and his biggest commercial success, Werewolves of London, which featured Mick Fleetwood and John McVie, and produced by Jackson Browne.
1941 - The great musician and bandleader, Harry James, and his orchestra recorded the classic piece of music, Miserlou. James was an instrumentalist of the swing era, employing a bravura playing style that uniquely stamped his trumpet work. He was one of the most popular bandleaders during the early 1940s, and he continued to lead his band until just before his death, 40 years later. Couldn't find his version of Miserloou, so the second video here is the 1942 Concerto for Trumpet from the movie Private Buckaroo, but first, check out this stinging version of the Booker T and the MGs hit, Green Onions. And, yes, that's Buddy Rich on drums.
1976 - At #1 in many countries around the world today, was one of the most successful pop groups of all time, Abba, with their song, Dancing Queen, released a month earlier, and first performed in June. It was released in August 1976, but was first performed two months earlier, on 18 June 1976, during a Royal Variety Show in Stockholm the evening before the Swedish royal wedding. Dancing Queen was the follow-up single to their hit Fernando, and was one of the most successful single recordings of the 1970s. Written by Benny Andersson, Björn Ulvaeus, and manager, Stig Anderson, Dancing Queen is considered by many to be ABBA's signature song, as it reached #1number 1 on music charts in 13 countries, and stayed at #1 for 14 weeks in their home country, Sweden. This is the official video for the song - just skip the 'bad breath' advertisement at the start.
1977 - Scottish guitar player, Jimmy McCulloch, quit Paul McCartney & Wings today, ostensibly to join a reformed lineup for the Small Faces. James 'Jimmy' McCulloch was a Scottish musician, born in Glasgow, who was best known for playing lead guitar in Paul McCartney's Wings from 1974 to 1977. However, McCulloch had been a member of the Glasgow psychedelic band One in a Million, Stone the Crows from the age of 11, when the band was known as The Jaygars, and Thunderclap Newman. He also made appearances on a number of albums, including John Entwistle's Whistle Rymes in 1972, and as lead guitarist playing alongside Peter Frampton on two tracks. McCulloch first came to everyone's attention with his band, Thunderclap Newman, which was created and produced by Pete Townshend. McCulloch died from a heroin overdose in 1979, in his flat in Maida Vale, North West London, on September 27. In 1971, Australian bassist, Ronnie Peel, joined McCulloch on tour with Thunderclap Newman.
1982 - Peter Gabriel could have an entire *MUSICBACKTRACK* of his own, and on this date, 29 years ago, his album, Security, was released. The British singer, musician, and songwriter rose to fame as the lead vocalist and flautist of the progressive rock group Genesis, and after leaving the band, went on to a successful solo career. He has focused on producing and promoting world music and pioneering digital distribution methods for music. He has also been involved in various humanitarian efforts, and in 2007 was honoured as a BMI Icon at the 57th annual BMI London Awards for his “influence on generations of music makers.” As a member of Genesis, Gabriel was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2010.
1998 - This was the year that Garth brooks was seen as a country music icon, winning Entertainer of the Year at that year's country music awards, the video of which follows. And this was the day that Philadelphia Mayor, Ed Rendell, proclaimed the week of September 8-13 as "Garth Brooks week." So, for the cynics amongst us, why not a Garth Brooks song following the awards?
2003 - This is the day when one of rock music's most adored characters, singer, songwriter, raconteur, Warren Zevon, lost his fight against a rare form of cancer. Zevon had worked as a session musician, was the piano player and band leader for the Everly Brothers, and his 1969 song, She Quit Me, was included in the soundtrack for the film Midnight Cowboy. Warren Zevon could count rock's elite amongst his fans, friends, and admirers, including Jackson Browne, The Eagles, Linda Ronstadt, Bruce Springsteen, Mick Fleetwood, Waddy Wachteland many more. Critic Dave Marsh, in 1979 Rolling Stone Record Guide, called Zevon "one of the toughest rockers ever to come out of Southern California." Zevon was noted for including his unique and sometimes sardonic opinions of life in his musical lyrics, composing songs that were sometimes humorous and often had political or historical themes. Some of his songs included Roland the Headless Thompson Gunner, Lawyers, Guns and Money, and his biggest commercial success, Werewolves of London, which featured Mick Fleetwood and John McVie, and produced by Jackson Browne.
