March 15, 1968 - JIM HENDRIX was named by Life Magazine, today, as the “most spectacular guitarist in the world.” The meteoric rise of Hendrix, who was unable to read or write music, took place in just four short years. He pioneered the explosive potential of the electric guitar, combining feedback, fuzz and controlled distortion to create an innovative musical form that rocked the '60s. It was 1958, when Jimmy received a five-dollar, second-hand acoustic guitar from one of his father’s friends, after which he joined his first band, The Velvetones. The next summer, he received his first electric guitar, a Supro Ozark 1560S, from his father, and used it when he joined The Rocking Kings. In 1961, Hendrix enlisted in the United States Army and was assigned to the 101st Airborne Division. The next year, he earned the right to wear the Screaming Eagles patch of the paratroop division. While stationed at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, he formed The King Casuals with bassist Billy Cox. After being discharged, Jimmy became a session guitarist and, by 1965, he played with several headline acts, including Little Richard. "I want to do with my guitar what Little Richard does with his voice," Hendrix later said. In 1965-66, he played in New York’s Greenwich Village, meeting The Animals' bassist Chas Chandler during a performance at Cafe Wha? on MacDougal Street. He was impressed with the guitar player and signed him to a contract that included moving to London to form a new band. As manager, Chandler changed Hendrix's first name to Jimi. Featuring drummer Mitch Mitchell and bassist Noel Redding, the newly formed Jimi Hendrix Experience became the toast of London in the autumn of 1966. Their debut single, Hey Joe, spending 10 weeks on the British charts. It was followed by the release of a full-length album, Are You Experienced, a psychedelic compilation that included Purple Haze, The Wind Cries Mary, Foxy Lady and Are You Experienced? This TV clip is hard to beat for vintage Hendrix, and his first hit, not to mention his stylish clothing.
1945 - THE NAT KING COLE TRIO was the debut recipient of Billboard magazine's newly introduced popularity system whereby it listed the top album sales - the very first #1 album was by Nat King Cole and his group. The American musician first came to prominence as a leading jazz pianist, and although an accomplished pianist, he owes most of his popular musical fame to his soft baritone voice, with which he used to perform in big band and jazz genres. He was the first black American to host a television variety show of its kind, and has maintained worldwide popularity since his death. We couldn't find a video from the forties for Cole, but how about this one from the early fifties for starters - more Cole after this video.
For most of his life, Cole fought racism and rarely performed in segregated venues - indeed in the end refused to perform in any venue that would not allow blacks to gain entry. In 1956, he was assaulted on stage during a concert in Birmingham, Alabama, and although local law enforcement quickly ended the invasion of the stage, the ensuing melée toppled Cole from his piano bench and injured his back. He did not finish the concert and never again performed in the South. In 1948, he and his wife purchased a house in the all-white Hancock Park neighborhood of Los Angeles. The Ku Klux Klan, still active in Los Angeles well into the 1950s, responded by placing a burning cross on his front lawn. Members of the property-owners association told Cole they did not want any undesirables moving in to their suburb. Cole retorted, "Neither do I. And if I see anybody undesirable coming in here, I'll be the first to complain." In 1956, he was contracted to perform in Cuba and wanted to stay at the Hotel Nacional de Cuba, Havana, but was not allowed to because it operated a colour bar. Cole honored his contract, and the concert at the Tropicana was a huge success. The following year, he returned to Cuba for another concert, singing many songs in Spanish. There is now a tribute to him in the form of a bust and a jukebox in the Hotel Nacional. This is Cole at that time with two of his classic hits.
1956 - ELVIS PRESLEY would never have made it to be the superstar he became, according to some music critics, citing the management style of Colonel Tom Parker as the main reason Elvis made it to the top. Personally, I think it the other way around. Presley was destined for stardom no matter what the circumstances of management, and had it not been for his success, Colonel Tom Parker would never have been heard of and would never have become a multi-millionaire. Whatever way it goes, today was the day their partnership began, and here's the colonel to tell us all about it.
1956 - THE LERNER AND LOEWE musical MY FAIR LADY, opened on Broadway, today, with Julie Andrews as Eliza Doolittle. Audrey Hepburn played the same lead role in the witty movie of the musical. Even though Julie Andrews originated the role of Eliza on Broadway, Audrey Hepburn is brilliant in the film version. We haven't footage of the Broadway hit, so here's the big screen version, and a wonderful excerpt.
1975 - T. REX was a British rock band fronted by guitarist, singer and songwriter Marc Bolan. Formed as Tyrannosaurus Rex in 1960s London, the folk rock group's debut album My People Were Fair And Had Sky in Their Hair... But Now They're Content to Wear Stars on Their Brows reached number 15 in the UK in 1968. In the 1970s, Bolan achieved mainstream success as a glam rocker with songs such as Get It On, Ride a White Swan, 20th Century Boy, Children of the Revolution, Telegram Sam and Metal Guru. This was the day, though, the group finally disbanded. Here are a couple of classic T. Rex/Marc Bolan songs.
1978 - AMERICAN HOT WAX remains one of the great rock'n'roll movies 34 years down the track. The movie is based on the life and times of DJ Alan Freed, who borrowed the term rock'n'roll from American African street language (a term used for fucking) and dubbed it onto the exploding new music genre in the fifties. The fun movie looks at the beginning of rock'n'roll.
1986 - THE BANGLES were on their way to fame and fortune today as their big hit Manic Monday was climbing up charts around the world. The song was written by Prince under the pseudonym Christopher. The song, ironically, was held from the top spot by Prince's own hit song, Kiss. The all-female American band originated in the early 1980s, scoring several hit singles during the decade. Their second hit song Walk Like An Egyptian cemented the group's popularity, but they soon split due to internal friction. Great song.
1945 - THE NAT KING COLE TRIO was the debut recipient of Billboard magazine's newly introduced popularity system whereby it listed the top album sales - the very first #1 album was by Nat King Cole and his group. The American musician first came to prominence as a leading jazz pianist, and although an accomplished pianist, he owes most of his popular musical fame to his soft baritone voice, with which he used to perform in big band and jazz genres. He was the first black American to host a television variety show of its kind, and has maintained worldwide popularity since his death. We couldn't find a video from the forties for Cole, but how about this one from the early fifties for starters - more Cole after this video.
For most of his life, Cole fought racism and rarely performed in segregated venues - indeed in the end refused to perform in any venue that would not allow blacks to gain entry. In 1956, he was assaulted on stage during a concert in Birmingham, Alabama, and although local law enforcement quickly ended the invasion of the stage, the ensuing melée toppled Cole from his piano bench and injured his back. He did not finish the concert and never again performed in the South. In 1948, he and his wife purchased a house in the all-white Hancock Park neighborhood of Los Angeles. The Ku Klux Klan, still active in Los Angeles well into the 1950s, responded by placing a burning cross on his front lawn. Members of the property-owners association told Cole they did not want any undesirables moving in to their suburb. Cole retorted, "Neither do I. And if I see anybody undesirable coming in here, I'll be the first to complain." In 1956, he was contracted to perform in Cuba and wanted to stay at the Hotel Nacional de Cuba, Havana, but was not allowed to because it operated a colour bar. Cole honored his contract, and the concert at the Tropicana was a huge success. The following year, he returned to Cuba for another concert, singing many songs in Spanish. There is now a tribute to him in the form of a bust and a jukebox in the Hotel Nacional. This is Cole at that time with two of his classic hits.
1956 - ELVIS PRESLEY would never have made it to be the superstar he became, according to some music critics, citing the management style of Colonel Tom Parker as the main reason Elvis made it to the top. Personally, I think it the other way around. Presley was destined for stardom no matter what the circumstances of management, and had it not been for his success, Colonel Tom Parker would never have been heard of and would never have become a multi-millionaire. Whatever way it goes, today was the day their partnership began, and here's the colonel to tell us all about it.
1956 - THE LERNER AND LOEWE musical MY FAIR LADY, opened on Broadway, today, with Julie Andrews as Eliza Doolittle. Audrey Hepburn played the same lead role in the witty movie of the musical. Even though Julie Andrews originated the role of Eliza on Broadway, Audrey Hepburn is brilliant in the film version. We haven't footage of the Broadway hit, so here's the big screen version, and a wonderful excerpt.
1975 - T. REX was a British rock band fronted by guitarist, singer and songwriter Marc Bolan. Formed as Tyrannosaurus Rex in 1960s London, the folk rock group's debut album My People Were Fair And Had Sky in Their Hair... But Now They're Content to Wear Stars on Their Brows reached number 15 in the UK in 1968. In the 1970s, Bolan achieved mainstream success as a glam rocker with songs such as Get It On, Ride a White Swan, 20th Century Boy, Children of the Revolution, Telegram Sam and Metal Guru. This was the day, though, the group finally disbanded. Here are a couple of classic T. Rex/Marc Bolan songs.
1978 - AMERICAN HOT WAX remains one of the great rock'n'roll movies 34 years down the track. The movie is based on the life and times of DJ Alan Freed, who borrowed the term rock'n'roll from American African street language (a term used for fucking) and dubbed it onto the exploding new music genre in the fifties. The fun movie looks at the beginning of rock'n'roll.
1986 - THE BANGLES were on their way to fame and fortune today as their big hit Manic Monday was climbing up charts around the world. The song was written by Prince under the pseudonym Christopher. The song, ironically, was held from the top spot by Prince's own hit song, Kiss. The all-female American band originated in the early 1980s, scoring several hit singles during the decade. Their second hit song Walk Like An Egyptian cemented the group's popularity, but they soon split due to internal friction. Great song.
