Today in Music History for Nov. 21:
In 1877, Thomas Edison announced he invented a "talking machine" -- something that became known as the phonograph.
In 1941, songwriter David Porter was born in Memphis. Porter and Isaac Hayes collaborated on many hits for the Stax label in the late 1960s, including "Hold On, I'm Coming" and "Soul Man" for Sam and Dave. Porter and Hayes also produced records for that duo, as well as writing for Stax artists such as Carla Thomas and Johnnie Taylor.
In 1940, New Orleans pianist-guitarist-singer Dr. John was born Malcolm Rebennack. After working as a session musician, including a stint as guitarist for "Sonny and Cher," Rebennack began his solo career as Dr. John in 1968. His music was a blend of New Orleans rhythm-and-blues, Creole chants and voodoo imagery. At the time, Dr. John appeared on stage in brightly coloured robes and feathered headdresses. His music moved to the R&B mainstream for the 1973 album "In the Right Place," which yielded the top-10 hit "Right Place, Wrong Time." Dr. John later maintained a relatively low profile, working mainly as a session musician and appearing as a guest artist on other people's albums. He died in June 2019.
In 1960, George Harrison was deported from Germany after "The Beatles" had moved to Hamburg to play clubs there. Authorities were tipped off that he was not yet 18 and was therefore not allowed to be in a nightclub after midnight.
In 1960, "Billboard" magazine reported guitarist Duane Eddy and producer Lee Hazelwood had ended their three-year partnership. Hazelwood helped Eddy develop his distinctive "twangy sound," and co-wrote most of the guitarist's hit songs, including "Rebel Rouser," "Forty Miles of Bad Road" and "Because They're Young."
In 1962, the New Brunswick Symphony Orchestra gave its first concert at the Saint John High School. The New Brunswick Symphony was absorbed by the newly-formed Atlantic Symphony Orchestra in 1968.
In 1970, Jimi Hendrix's "Voodoo Child" topped the British chart, two months after he died in London of suffocation from inhaling vomit generated by barbituate intoxication. "Voodoo Child" was not a hit in North America.
In 1974, the KISS Army fan club officially formed in Terre Haute, Ind.
In 1974, vocalist Marty Balin rejoined "Jefferson Starship" for a concert at the Winterland Ballroom in San Francisco. Balin had left the group's previous incarnation, "Jefferson Airplane," in 1971. With Balin aboard, "Jefferson Starship" recorded their first No. 1 album, "Red Octopus." Balin left the group again in 1978.
In 1975, "Queen's" "A Night at the Opera" LP was released in Britain. It was said to have been one of the most expensive albums ever recorded in the U.K., but it proved to be the LP that provided "Queen's" breakthrough to superstar status. "A Night at the Opera" contained the six-minute "Bohemian Rhapsody," which was No. 1 in Britain for nine weeks, breaking the record held by Paul Anka's 1957 hit, "Diana."
In 1980, rock singer Don Henley was charged with possession of marijuana, cocaine and Quaaludes, as well as contributing to the delinquency of a minor. The charges were laid after paramedics were called to Henley's Los Angeles home to treat a naked 16-year-old girl suffering from drug intoxication.
In 1982, Liza Minelli, Willie Nelson, Smokey Robinson and Andrew Lloyd Webber were honoured as the first group of Grammy Living Legends at a gala in Los Angeles.
In 1982, Canadian folksinger Joni Mitchell married her bassist Larry Klein at the Mailbu, Calif., home of her manager, Elliot Roberts.
In 1986, bassist and banjoist Julius (Duke) Nielsen, one of the founding members of "Don Messer and his Islanders," died in Montague, P.E.I. after a lengthy illness. He was 71. Nielsen, born in Woodstock, N.B., was one of the last surviving members of the band that began in 1934 as "The New Brunswick Lumberjacks" with fiddler Messer and singer Charlie Chamberlain.
In 1987, veteran rock stars including James Taylor, Jackson Browne and Grace Slick raised more than US$100,000 during a live radio fundraiser for the world's starving children. The satellite broadcast alternated between bands playing at the United Nations in New York and at the Roxy Theatre in Los Angeles. Graham Nash was host for the show.
In 1989, Liza Minelli, Willie Nelson, Smokey Robinson and composer Andrew Lloyd Webber were honoured as "Grammy Living Legends" at a gala in Los Angeles. The show, including performances by the honorees and such diverse talents as Gene Autry and "New Kids on the Block," was televised by CBS three days later.
In 1990, after a 12-year romance, Mick Jagger and Jerry Hall married in Bali, Indonesia. The ceremony, not attended by any other members of "The Rolling Stones," wasn't revealed until five days later. The couple divorced in 1998.
In 1992, Phillip Bury, leader of the rockabilly band "Buck Naked and the Bare Bottom Boys," was shot to death in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park while walking his dog. Police arrested Michael Kagan, who police said was known for confronting people whose dogs might frighten the pigeons in the park.
In 1995, "The Beatles" first album in 25 years, "Anthology I," was released. It was the first of three "Anthology" volumes. The 60-track album included studio and live recordings, TV sessions, private tapes and "Free as a Bird," an original by John Lennon. The three surviving "Beatles" added their own contributions to Lennon's song, recorded in his New York apartment before he was gunned down in 1980.
In 1995, "Green Day" lead singer Billie Joe Armstrong was fined $141.85 for indecent exposure after mooning the audience at a show in Milwaukee.
In 1995, Peter Grant, who managed such rock groups as "Led Zeppelin" and "Bad Company," died in London of a heart attack. He was 60. He was one of the first managers to push the idea of worldwide tours for performers.
In 1995, Bruce Springsteen opened his first solo acoustic tour in his hometown of New Brunswick, N.J. He was accompanied only by his guitar and his harmonica. The tour was to promote his album "The Ghost of Tom Joad."
In 1998, band members of Marilyn Manson destroyed four rooms at a hotel in Poughkeepsie, N.Y., burning carpets and staining sinks with hair dye. Manson offered to pay for the damage. Band members were also reported to have set fire to a T-shirt and carpeting and smashed lighting equipment in their dressing room before a show at the Poughkeepsie Civic Centre.
In 2001, British songwriter and music mogul Jonathan King was jailed for seven years for sexually assaulting five boys he lured to his home. King headed U.K. Records in the 1970s and was instrumental in launching bands like "Genesis," "10cc" and "The Bay City Rollers."
In 2003, songwriter Teddy Randazzo, who wrote hits for "Little Anthony and the Imperials," died at his home in Orlando. Randazzo and co-writer Bobby Weinstein wrote songs like "Goin' Out of My Head" and "Hurt So Bad." Their songs have been recorded by more than 350 artists. Randazzo worked as a producer at Motown for a time, then moved with his wife to Orlando so she could run the Polynesian Luau show at Walt Disney World.
In 2009, Halifax singer-songwriter Joel Plaskett won for Contemporary Album and Producer of the Year at the fifth annual Canadian Folk Music Awards. Charlottetown’s Catherine MacLellan was named Solo Artist of the Year and fellow P.E.I. resident Colette Cheverie won Traditional Singer of the Year.
In 2009, Hoffman Ma of Hong Kong paid US$420,000 at auction, including taxes and fees, for the rhinestone-studded, modified golf glove Michael Jackson wore on his left hand when he premiered his trademark moonwalk on Motown's 25th anniversary TV special in 1983. Ma bought the pop-music treasure on behalf of the Ponte 16 Resort Hotel in Macau. A jacket that Jackson wore on his 1989 "Bad" tour fetched $225,000.
In 2009, country singer Andy Griggs' home was destroyed by a fire. He and his family escaped unharmed.
In 2010, 16-year-old Canadian teen heartthrob Justin Bieber became the youngest ever to win the Artist of the Year category at the American Music Awards. He also won three other trophies: Best Pop/Rock Male Artist, Pop/Rock Album ("My World 2.0") and Breakthrough Artist. Canadian crooner Michael Buble won for Adult Contemporary Artist.
In 2011, Michael Buble, "Hedley," "Nickelback," and rapper Kardinal Offishall were among the SOCAN award winners. Calgary-reared country-pop group "The Stampeders" received a lifetime achievement award.
In 2011, Juno Award-winning folk singer Bruce Cockburn became a new father again at age 66. His longtime girlfriend, 36-year-old M.J. Hannett, gave birth to a baby girl, Iona, in San Francisco. She is Cockurn's second daughter, born more than 35 years after his first, Jenny.
In 2016, for the first time since its 1984 release, Leonard Cohen's version of "Hallelujah" made the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart (dated the week ending Dec. 3). It checked in at No. 59 in the first full week following his death on Nov. 7, but wasn't announced until Nov. 10.
In 2017, David Cassidy, the teen and pre-teen idol who starred in the 1970s sitcom "The Partridge Family" and sold millions of records as the musical group's lead singer, died at age 67. Cassidy, who announced earlier in the year that he had been diagnosed with dementia, was admitted to a Florida hospital days earlier due to organ failure.
In 2021, K-pop superstars BTS took home the big prize at the American Music Awards, beating out Taylor Swift, Ariana Grande, Olivia Rodrigo and Canadian artists Drake and The Weeknd for artist of the year.
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The Canadian Press
