Today in Music History for Jan. 18:
In 1908, composer Henry Herbert Godfrey, who wrote some of Canada's most popular patriotic songs at the turn of the century, died in Montreal at the age of 50. His ``The Land of the Maple'' and its French version, ``Le Pays de l'erable,'' sold over 100,000 copies, ``The Men of the North'' sold more than 60,000. ``Toronto, or the Pride of the North'' won the prize in a University of Toronto Song Book Committee competition. ``Johnny Canuck's the Lad,'' ``Soldiers of Canada,'' and ``When Johnny Canuck Comes Home'' were written during the Boer War in South Africa.
In 1941, David Ruffin, co-lead singer of ``The Temptations'' until 1968, was born in Meridian, Miss. ``The Temptations'' emerged during the mid-1960s as one of the leading vocal groups in soul music, and their sound, as well as their elaborate stage show, became the model for countless groups that followed. Their major breakthrough came in 1965, when they took Smokey Robinson's composition, ``My Girl,'' to the top of the charts. David Ruffin left ``The Temptations'' in 1968, beginning a successful solo career with his 1969 hit ``My Whole World Ended.'' He died of a cocaine overdose in Philadelphia on June 1, 1991.
In 1964, ``The Beatles'' appeared on the Billboard Hot 100 chart for the first time with ``I Want to Hold Your Hand,'' entering at No. 45. Two weeks later, it hit No. 1 and stayed there for another six weeks before being usurped by their ``She Loves You.''
In 1969, former ``Beatles'' drummer Pete Best won his defamation suit against ``The Beatles.'' He had sought $8 million, but was awarded considerably less.
In 1971, CRTC regulations governing Canadian content in radio music programming took effect. The regulations stated that 30 per cent of music broadcast between 6 a.m. and midnight had to be Canadian. Although the rules were part of the AM broadcasting regulations, they applied in principle to FM stations as well.
In 1973, ``Pink Floyd'' began recording ``Dark Side of the Moon,'' which would become the longest-charting record in Billboard magazine's history. It remained on the Billboard 200 album chart for more than 14 years until mid-1988 for a record 741 consecutive weeks. (It has since reappeared on the chart and has now reached a total of 933 weeks.) It resurfaced on March 25, 1991 when Billboard premiered the Top Pop Catalog Albums chart and has been a mainstay ever since, appearing for 1,199 weeks. It has sold over 50 million copies worldwide.
In 1973, ``The Rolling Stones'' held a benefit concert at the Los Angeles Forum in aid of the victims of the Nicaraguan earthquake. Mick Jagger's mother-in-law had crawled from the ruins left by the quake. The concert raised $200,000, and Jagger added $150,000 of his own, presenting the money to the Pan American Development Fund in May.
In 1974, Paul Rodgers and Simon Kirke of ``Free,'' Mick Ralphs from ``Mott the Hoople'' and Boz Burrell from ``King Crimson'' got together to form ``Bad Company.'' Their debut album, recorded in just 10 days, contained the No. 1 hit single ``Can't Get Enough.''
In 1978, Roy Orbison underwent open heart surgery in Nashville. He would die of a heart attack in December 1988.
In 1982, the city of Los Angeles declared it was Bob and Doug McKenzie Day. The ``SCTV'' duo (played by Dave Thomas and Rick Moranis) had a brief fling with stardom in the U.S. via their ``Great White North'' LP and ``Strange Brew'' movie.
In 1987, Steve Winwood married Eugenia Crafton of Nashville at a Presbyterian church in New York.
In 1987, Sir George Thalben-Ball, the first and probably the only man to sell one million copies of a record of church organ music, died in London at age 90.
In 1989, ``The Rolling Stones,'' ``The Temptations,'' Stevie Wonder, Dion and Otis Redding were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Ron Wood and ex-Stone Mick Taylor all attended the ceremony in New York. Jagger and Richards performed together, despite their off-stage disagreements at the time. Another highlight was a Bruce Springsteen tribute to Roy Orbison, who had died the previous month.
In 1990, Eric Clapton kicked off an unprecedented string of 18 concerts at London's Royal Albert Hall in support of his solo album, ``Journeyman.''
In 1991, three people were crushed to death at an ``AC/DC'' concert in Salt Lake City. Two 14-year-old boys and a 19-year-old woman died after they were pinned at the bottom of a pile of fans who rushed the stage during the opening minutes of the show. Witnesses say the band played three more songs before stopping, despite signals from security guards and chants from the crowd of ``stop the concert.'' The group denied it continued to play after being asked to stop. After a 15-minute pause, ``AC/DC'' continued the show for another hour because officials feared a riot if the concert were stopped. Investigators found there was no criminal negligence in the deaths, although the band, the promoter, the arena owner and manager and the firm responsible for security later agreed to pay an undisclosed settlement to the families of the victims.
In 1994, country star Reba McEntire announced that anyone who turned in a gun in each city where she performed that year would get a free ticket to her show. That prompted a Tulsa, Okla., pawnshop owner to offer a 10-per-cent discount on a gun for anyone who brought in one of McEntire's albums or concert tickets.
In 1996, Lisa Marie Presley filed for divorce from Michael Jackson. The marriage lasted 18 months. The two had married in a secret ceremony in the Dominican Republic in May 1994. The marriage was widely viewed as a bid by Jackson to boost his image following allegations of child molestation. No charges were filed and Jackson reached an out-of-court, multi-million-dollar settlement with the 13-year-old boy's parents.
In 1998, Toronto producer Garth Drabinsky's musical ``Ragtime'' opened on Broadway to generally favourable reviews. The adaptation of E.L. Doctorow's novel had premiered in Toronto in 1996.
In 2009, Meaghan Blanchard from Hunter River won four Music P.E.I. Awards, including female vocalist, songwriter, folk recording and new artist recording of the year.
In 2010, internationally acclaimed folk singer Kate McGarrigle died of cancer at her Montreal home. She was 63. She was best known for performing with her sister Anna as ``The McGarrigle Sisters.'' The 1996 album ``Matapedia'' and 1998's ``The McGarrigle Hour'' earned them Juno Awards for best roots and traditional album.
In 2013, Foo Fighter's frontman Dave Grohl's directorial debut, ``Sound City,'' a documentary about the music made at the Los Angeles-based recording studio of the same name, made its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival. It included interviews with some of the key musicians who made music at the studio, including Stevie Nicks, Tom Petty, Paul McCartney and others.
In 2015, hair metal musical ``Rock of Ages'' closed its Broadway run after 2,328 performances. It told the story of a small town girl and an aspiring rocker whose glittery romance is set to a 1980s rock 'n' roll soundtrack.
In 2016, guitarist Glenn Frey, who co-founded the Eagles and formed one of history's most successful songwriting teams with drummer Don Henley with such hits as ``Hotel California'' and ``Life in the Fast Lane,'' died of complications from rheumatoid arthritis, acute ulcerative colitis and pneumonia. He was 67. Frey, Henley, Bernie Leadon and Randy Meisner were hired by Linda Ronstadt to be her backing band. They went on to form the Eagles, whose blend of mellow ballads and macho rockers, and of pop and folk and country, gave them broad appeal. ``Their Greatest Hits (1971_1975)'' and ``Hotel California,'' both released in the mid-1970s, are among the bestselling albums in the U.S. The group was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1998.
In 2016, the late David Bowie's new album, ``Blackstar,'' debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 album chart, his first U.S. chart-topper. He now holds the Billboard record for longest wait for a No. 1 album - 43 years, nine months and 15 days since he released Hunky Dory in 1972. He also occupied 21 of the 50 spots on the Billboard Hot Rock Songs chart, with all seven songs from ``Blackstar'' making it on the chart. He shattered the record of 14 held by Mumford and Sons after the release of their ``Babel'' album in 2012.
In 2017, Paul McCartney filed a lawsuit in federal court in Manhattan against Sony/ATV to reclaim over 260 of his songs, including the many hits he wrote with John Lennon as part of The Beatles. The copyrights were famously bought by Michael Jackson in 1985 and then fully sold over to Sony/ATV following his death. McCartney cited a 1976 federal U.S. copyright law that let composers reclaim songs after a certain period of time elapsed. (The suit was settled in June but terms of the agreement were confidential.)
In 2023, rock legend David Crosby died at age 81. His wife confirmed his death, saying the rock 'n' roll Hall of Famer died after a long illness and that he was surrounded by family. Crosby was a founding member of the Byrds and Crosby, Stills and Nash.
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The Canadian Press
