Today in Music History for Nov. 22:
In 1899, songwriter, singer and actor Hoagy Carmichael, composer of the standards "Star Dust" and "Georgia on My Mind," was born in Bloomington, Ind. "Star Dust" was Carmichael's first major success. He composed the music in 1927 while he was a law student, and added the lyrics in 1931. "Star Dust" became popular after Isham Jones's New York dance orchestra, recorded it featuring Victor Young's violin. Carmichael was also a recording artist of some note, teaming up with Louis Armstrong in 1929 for "Rocking Chair," one of the first hits by an interracial vocal team. Carmichael died in 1981 at the age of 82.
In 1919, Canadian contralto Jeanne Gordon, a native of Wallaceburg, Ont., made her Metropolitan Opera debut as Azucena in "Il Trovatore." She remained a principal contralto with that company for nine seasons. Gordon suffered a mental breakdown in 1930, and entered a sanatorium in Missouri, where she died 22 years later at the age of 68.
In 1928, "Bolero," a musical work by Maurice Ravel, was first performed publicly, in Paris.
In 1943, lyricist Lorenz Hart, famed for his Broadway collaborations with composer Richard Rodgers, died in New York of pneumonia at the age of 48. Hart led an eccentric and dissipated life which eventually resulted in poor health. The Rodgers and Hart team shaped the style of Broadway musicals, beginning in the late 1920s. Among their hit shows were "Garrick Gaieties," "A Connecticut Yankee," "Babes in Arms" and "Pal Joey." From these and other stage and movie musicals came scores of hit songs, among them "Lover," "Blue Moon," "It's Easy to Remember" and "My Funny Valentine."
In 1949, Steve Van Zandt, guitarist with Bruce Springsteen's "E Street Band," was born. He has also played with and produced albums for "Southside Johnny and the Ashbury Jukes." In 1981, Van Zandt and Springsteen collaborated on Gary (US) Bonds' comeback album, Van Zandt producing and Springsteen providing several songs. Van Zandt was also responsible for gathering 49 artists to perform the 1985 "Sun City" single, with all royalties going to the anti-apartheid movement. In 1999, he branched into acting as Silvio Dante in the acclaimed TV mob drama "The Sopranos."
In 1955, Elvis Presley was signed by RCA Victor after the company purchased Presley's contract from Sam Phillips of Sun Records for the then-unheard of sum of $35,000. Another $5,000 went to Presley as a bonus for signing. Elvis used the money to buy his mother a pink Cadillac. Presley's switch to RCA was prompted by Colonel Tom Parker, who would soon become the singer's manager. Parker guided Presley's career until Elvis' death in 1977.
In 1963, "The Beatles" second album, "With the Beatles," was released in Britain. It was No. 1 on the British chart for 21 weeks. The album, with nine of the same songs on it, was released in the U.S. under the title "Meet the Beatles," and topped the Billboard chart for 11 weeks.
In 1963, the Canadian satirical singing group, "The Brothers-in-Law," gave their first performance at a police banquet in Windsor, Ont. The group's first and most successful LP, "Oh-Oh Canada," released in 1965, sold more than 100,000 copies.
In 1965, Bob Dylan married ex-model Sara Lowndes after his love affair with Joan Baez ended. The marriage was not made public until the following February.
In 1967, "Alice's Restaurant," Arlo Guthrie's 22-minute song classic, was released on Reprise Records soon after Guthrie performed it at the Newport Folk Festival. The song became an underground favourite. In 1970, "Alice's Restaurant" was made into a movie in which Guthrie starred.
In 1968, "The Beatles" self-titled double LP, often referred to as the "White Album" because of its plain white cover, was released in Britain and North America. The album was a return to a more simple and melodic "Beatles," a sharp departure from the electronic style of "Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band." The content of the "White Album," ranging from Paul McCartney's pop melodies to John Lennon's introspective songs, also showed that "The Beatles" musical partnership was beginning to come apart. The "White Album" became "The Beatles" bestselling LP up to that time, with advance orders in the U.S. alone of nearly two million copies. It was the No. 1 album in the U.S. for 14 weeks, and in Britain for eight weeks. Final worldwide sales were about seven million copies.
In 1969, "The Jackson Five" made their first appearance on the Billboard R&B chart with "I Want You Back."
In 1981, "The Rolling Stones" joined their inspiration, blues legend Muddy Waters, for a jam session at a Chicago club.
In 1988, Chuck Berry, accused of punching a woman in the mouth, pleaded guilty in New York to a reduced charge of harassment. He was fined $250. Berry had been charged with assault after a woman accused him of hitting her at a hotel in 1987. She said the blow loosened several of her teeth and caused a cut that required five stitches.
In 1991, Toronto police closed the Scarborough Town Centre shopping mall after an appearance by rappers "Naughty by Nature" got out of hand. Hundreds of people jammed a record store to see the group perform their hit "O.P.P." The store's management shut out about 500 other fans who began pushing and banging on the glass doors. Three people were hurt in the mayhem and several stores reported incidents of looting.
In 1992, Alice Cooper sold T-shirts, posters and albums to help raise money for a fan in Riverside, Calif., who was facing foreclosure on his home. Patrick Kelly had painted his house in a rainbow of colours, including likenesses of Cooper and his lyrics. The fundraiser generated over $11,000, more than enough for Kelly to meet his scheduled $10,000 payment.
In 1993, five former security guards for Michael Jackson sued him, claiming they were fired because they knew of his alleged activities with young boys. A 13-year-old boy had also filed suit against Jackson, claiming the entertainer had sexually molested him.
Also in 1994, Prince's "The Black Album" was officially released in Canada and the U.S., seven years after it was shelved. The album had been widely available as a bootleg.
In 1997, Michael Hutchence, lead singer of the Australian rock band "INXS," hanged himself with a belt in a Sydney hotel room. He was 37. His fellow band members were waiting for him at a rehearsal studio, where the band was preparing for its 20th anniversary tour. The coroner ruled his death a suicide and said there were traces of alcohol, cocaine and Prozac in his blood. "INXS" gained worldwide fame with their 1987 album "Kick," which sold nine million copies. It featured four hit singles, including the chart-topping "Need You Tonight."
In 2001, jazz impresario Norman Granz died in Geneva, Switzerland of cancer complications at age 83. Granz owned four labels -- Clef, Norgran, Verve and Pablo -- and recorded most of the major names in jazz. They included Louis Armstrong, Count Basie, Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holliday, Charlie Parker and Oscar Peterson. Granz was also credited with helping to ensure black performers received equal pay and the same dining and accommodations as whites.
In 2006, singer Seal and model Heidi Klum became parents again. Klum gave birth to a boy they named Johan Rily Fyodor Taiwo Samuel. The couple already had a one-year-old son, Henry Guenther Ademola Dashtu Samuel. Klum's daughter, Leni, is from a previous relationship. Seal and Klum married in May, 2005. Klum gave birth to a daughter, Lou Sulola Samuel, on Oct. 9, 2009. (They have since divorced.)
In 2006, legendary Cape Breton entertainer John Allan Cameron, who helped spread the gospel of Celtic music across Canada and beyond, died in a Toronto hospital after a lengthy struggle with cancer. He was 67. A native of Mabou, N.S., John Allan Cameron was diagnosed five years earlier with bone marrow cancer and leukemia. Known as "Mabou's ministering minstrel," Cameron began his career with "The Don Messer Show" and "Singalong Jubilee," then as the opening act for Anne Murray, and again with his own half-hour show. In 1970, Cameron got a standing ovation at the Grand Ole Opry.
In 2008, country star Tim McGraw hosted "Saturday Night Live."
In 2009, "Jacksoul" frontman Haydain Neale died after a seven-month battle with lung cancer, just a week before the Juno Award-winning group was to launch their new album, "SOULmate." He was 39. Neale was also recovering from serious injuries he sustained after being hit by a car while driving his Vespa motor scooter in Toronto on Aug. 3, 2007.
In 2009, at the American Music Awards, Taylor Swift won five trophies (Favourite: Artist, Female Pop/Rock, Country Artist, Adult-Contemporary Artist, Country Album ("Fearless")). Michael Jackson won four posthumous awards bringing his career AMA total to 23, making him the most honoured artist in AMA history. The night, though, will be remembered for glam rocker Adam Lambert's racy performance of "For Your Entertainment."
In 2010, Sarah McLachlan (9), "The Guess Who" (5), "Chilliwack" (5), Kim Mitchell (3), Edward Bear (1) and Gary and Dave (1) were honoured at the SOCAN Music Awards for having songs pass the 100,000-airplay mark on Canadian radio. "Nickelback's" "Gotta Be Somebody" also won the International Song Award for getting the highest international earnings in 2009.
In 2011, musicians Ashlee Simpson and Pete Wentz finalized their divorce. They were married in 2008 and had one child together, a son, Bronx.
In 2011, longtime jazz drummer and composer Paul Motian, who came to prominence as a member of pianist Bill Evans' trio in the late 1950s and influenced a generation of musicians with his astounding sense of time, died of complications of a bone marrow disorder. He was 80.
In 2012, a concert promoter announced Chris Brown cancelled a Dec. 26 stadium concert in Guyana after protests by women's rights groups and opposition lawmakers. In 2009, Brown pleaded guilty to assaulting his then-girlfriend, Barbadian superstar Rihanna.
In 2012, a Russian court dismissed a lawsuit that sought millions of dollars in damages from Madonna for allegedly traumatizing minors by speaking up for gay rights during a concert in St. Petersburg. In February, the city had made it illegal to promote homosexuality to minors.
In 2015, at the American Music Awards, British boy band One Direction won Artist of the Year and Pop/Rock Band/Duo/Group. Taylor Swift took home three awards - Pop/Rock Album (1989), Adult Contemporary Artist and Song of the Year (Blank Space).
In 2020, Justin Bieber and Shawn Mendes kicked off the 2020 American Music Awards with a performance of their new duet ''Monster.'' The Weeknd won favourite soul/R&B male artist, favourite soul/R&B album for ''After Hours'' and favourite soul/R&B song for ''Heartless."
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The Canadian Press
