1905 Conductor Mantovani is born Annunzio Paolo Mantovani in Venice, Italy.(1953 UK No.1 single ‘Moulin Rouge’, 1957 US No. 12 single ‘Around The World In Eighty Days’). He died on 30th March 1980.
1928 C.W McCall (William Dale Fries, Jr. ) born in Audubon, Iowa. US Country Artist. 1976 US No.1 & UK No.2 single ‘Convoy’,
1929 Soul singer Joe Hinton is born in Clarksdale, Mississippi. Known for the 1964 hit “Funny How Time Slips Away,” written by Willie Nelson. The track sold over one million copies in America, and was awarded a gold disc. Hinton died of skin cancer on August 13th, 1968 in Boston, Massachusetts, at the age of 38, while still in the prime of his recording career.
1932 Petula Clark born in Ewell, England. English Singer and Actress. (1961 UK No.1 single ‘Sailor’, 1967 UK No.1 single ‘This Is My Song’, plus over 15 other UK Top 40 singles. 1965 US No.1 ‘Downtown’, the first UK female singer to score a No.1 single in the
1933 Clyde McPhatter born in Durham, North Carolina. US Singer with The Drifters, 1960 US No.1 & UK No.2 single ‘Save The Last Dance For Me’). Hopes for a major comeback with a Decca album were crushed on June 13, 1972, when he died in his sleep at the age of 39, of complications of heart, liver, and kidney disease, brought on by alcohol abuse – abuse fueled by a failed career and resentment he harbored towards the fans he felt deserted him.
1937 R&B singer Little Willie John is born William Edward (or Edgar) John in Cullendale, Arkansas, but would be raised in Detroit, Michigan. Known for hits like “Need Your Love So Bad” and “Fever,” famously covered by Fleetwood Mac and Peggy Lee, respectively. He died May 26, 1968 (aged 30)
Walla Walla, Washington,
1941 Rick Kemp born in Little Handford, England. Bass/Vocals with Steeleye Span from 1972. (1975 UK No.5 single ‘All Around My Hat’).
1945 Frida (Anni-Frid Lyngstad-Frederiksson) born in Bjørkåsen, Ballangen, Norway. Dark Haired female vocalist with Swedish group Abba, (first UK hit 1974 No.1 single ‘Waterloo’, followed by 8 other UK No.1 singles and 9 UK No.1 albums, 1977 US No.1 single ‘Dancing Queen’).
1945 “Holiday For Strings” Makes The American Chart by Spike Jones & the City Slickers; will peak at #10
1949 Steve Fossen – US Bassist with the group Heart, from 1967-1982.
1952 Michael Cooper (lead singer, guitarist for Con Funk Shun) is born in Vallejo, California. Known for ’70s R&B hits like “Ffun,” “Shake and Dance with Me,” and “Chase Me,” to name a few.
1953 R&B singer Alexander O’Neal is born in Natchez, Mississippi. Known for ’80s hits like “If You Were Here Tonight,” “Criticize,” and “Fake.”
1954 Tony Thompson (drummer for The Power Station and Chic) is born in Queens, New York City. (1978 US No.1 & UK No.7 single ‘Le Freak’). Died 12th November 2003.
1956 Elvis Presley’s first movie, Love Me Tender, premieres at the Paramount Theater in New York City. The film is a Civil War drama that was going to be called The Reno Brothers, but when Elvis became a major star during the shoot, it was retitled after his hit song, and The King gets top billing.
1957 Joe Leeway born in London England. Percussion/Vocalist with The Thompson Twins, (1984 UK No.2 single ‘You Take Me Up’, 1984 US No.3 single, ‘Hole Me Now’).
1959 Johnny and the Moondogs, (The Beatles) played in the final heat of the ‘TV Star Search’ competition at The Hippodrome Theatre, Manchester, England.
1964 While on tour, Brian Jones of The Rolling Stones is admitted to Chicago’s Passavant Hospital for pneumonia, having reached a temperature of 105. He will miss the last four dates of the Stones’ US tour.
1966 Christian “Flake” Lorenz born in East Berlin, East Germany. Keyboardist with Rammstein.
1967 Obsessive fans looking for “Paul Is Dead” clues on album covers and in songs push two previous Beatles albums, Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band and Magical Mystery Tour, back onto the Billboard album charts.
1968 Ol’ Dirty Bastard (also known as ODB, Dirty, Dirt McGirt, Dirt Dog, Big Baby Jesus, Osirus, Joe Bannanas), born Russell Tyrone Jones. (1997 US & UK No.1 album ‘Wu-Tang Forever’). Collapsed and died at a Manhattan recording studio in New York on 13th November 2004 aged 35.
1969 Janis Joplin was arrested during a gig in Tampa, Florida, after badmouthing a policeman and refusing to tell the audience to sit down.
1971 In this week’s Disc and Music Echo’s Progressive album chart: No.5, Cat Stevens, ‘Teaser and the Firecat, No.4, Hawkwind, ‘In Search Of Space’, No.3, Santana ‘III’, No.2, Rod Stewart, ‘Every Picture Tell’s A Story’ and No.1 John Lennon, ‘Imagine.’
1972 Harry Chapin’s son Josh is born, which gives him a new appreciation for the poem his wife Sandy wrote (about her ex-husband) called “Cat’s In The Cradle.” Harry puts music to the poem and it becomes his biggest hit.
1974 Chad Kroeger born in Hanna, Alberta, Canada. Lead Vocalist with Nickelback, who had the 2002 US No.1 & UK No. 4 single ‘How To Remind You’, 2001 US No.2 & 2002 UK No.2 album ‘Silver Side Up.’ 2002 UK No.4 single with Josey Scott from Saliva, ‘Hero’.
1974 “Heart Like A Wheel” album by Linda Ronstadt was released. Including You’re No Good, It Doesn’t Matter Anymore and When Will I Be Loved.
1978 Chic’s “Le Freak” is certified Gold.
1978 “A Single Man” album by Elton John was certified Platinum by the RIAA. Including Song For Guy, Part-Time Love and Madness.
1980 Blondie had their fifth UK No.1 single and third No.1 of this year with ‘The Tide Is High’ a song written by John Holt, also a No.1 in the US.
1980 Kenny Rogers started a six week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with ‘Lady’, a song written and produced by Lionel Richie, (it made No.12 in the UK).
1986 Lou Reed and Sam Moore perform their updated version of “Soul Man” on Saturday Night Live. The song is being featured in the movie of the same name.
1986 For the first time in the British charts, the top five slots were held by female vocalists. In ascending order were Corinne Drewery of Swing Out Sister (Breakout), Mel and Kim Appleby (Showing Out (Get Fresh At The Weekend)), Susannah Hoffs leading the Bangles (Walk Like An Egyptian), Kim Wilde (You Keep Me Hanging On), and Terri Nunn (Take My Breath Away).
1987 Sound engineer with UB40 Ray Pablo Falconer died in a car crash aged 26.
1987 Dire Straits became the first act to sell over three million copies of an album in the UK. It contained five, top 40 singles: ‘Money for Nothing,’ ‘So Far Away,’ ‘Walk of Life,’ ‘Brothers in Arms’ and ‘Your Latest Trick.’
1989 Appearing at Edwards No8, Birmingham, England, Cutting Crew.
1990 Milli Vanilli producer Frank Farian held a press conference to confirm the rumours that the two members of the group Rob and Fab had not sung on any of their hit records.
1991 French music producer and songwriter Jacques Morali, died of complications from aids. Formed The Village People and co-produced their film, Can’t Stop the Music. Between 1974 and 1982 Morali produced over 65 albums.
1992 Ozzy Osbourne announced his retirement after a gig in California, saying ‘Who wants to be touring at 46”
1992 The “Rock Of Ages” episode of Married With Children features guest stars Robbie Krieger (The Doors), Mark Lindsay (Paul Revere & the Raiders), Peter Noone (Herman’s Hermits), Spencer Davis, Richie Havens, and John Sebastian (The Lovin’ Spoonful). Along with Al Bundy (who plays the sandwich), they form Old Aid and perform “We Are The Old.” Sample lyrics: We are the old, We’ve got arthritis, Our gums are weak, From gingivitis.
1997 Saul Chaplin, composer and musical director, dies after a bad fall in Los Angeles, California, at age 85. Collaborated for the scores and orchestrations of An American in Paris (1951), Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (1954) and West Side Story (1961).
1997 Ralph “Pee Wee” Middlebrooks (trumpeter/trombonist for The Ohio Players) dies at age 58, from cancer.
1998 U2 went to No.1 on the UK album chart with ‘The Best Of 1980 -1990′, the bands 7th UK No.1 album.
1999 Vanessa Amorosi’s hit Absolutely Everybody was released.
1999 People Magazine’s Sexiest Man Alive issue rates Tim McGraw as the sexiest man in country music. McGraw says as long as his wife, Faith Hill, thinks he’s sexy, that’s all that matters to him.
2000 Michael Abram, the Liverpool man who stabbed George Harrison after breaking into his home, was awarded a not guilty verdict at Oxford’s Crown Court. But the verdict was returned in view of Abrams mental history, and he was taken into care.
2000 Winners at The MTV Europe Awards included All Saints for best pop act, Ricky Martin won best male artist, Madonna won best female artist, Red Hot Chili Peppers won best rock band, Blink 182 won best new act & Jennifer Lopez won best R&B act
2000 Due to the throat troubles of their frontmen, Chino Moreno and Fred Durst, Deftones and Limp Bizkit, respectively, cancel separate shows north of the US border. Deftones were to play to several thousand fans at the Aberdeen Pavilion in Ottawa, while Durst et al were to rock Vancouver with its Anger Management Tour.
2002 The UK music industry made the decision to include computer downloads as part of the pop singles chart in an attempt to restore credibility to the Top 40. OD2 the online music distributor would compile the new chart with the official chart company.
2004 Shania Twain’s album Come On Over is certified double diamond by the RIAA, with over 20 million copies sold in the US. It’s just the seventh album to do so, and the only one by a female artist.
2005 Robbie Williams snubbed a Take That reunion when he decided to stay at his Los Angeles home. A behind the scenes TV documentary had arranged for all five members to reunite to coincide with the release of a greatest hits CD and DVD.
2005 Alabama, Glen Campbell and DeFord Bailey are inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.
2007 Kenneth Donnell, from Glasgow, paid £83,000 for two tickets to see Led Zeppelin rehearse and perform at the O2 arena in London on the 10th December. Donnell bid for the tickets as part of an auction for the BBC’s Children in Need.
2007 Jay-Z went to No.1 on the US album chart with ‘American Gangster’ his 10th No.1 album. This made the rapper joint second with Elvis Presley for the most No.1 albums on the chart; only the Beatles have had more, with 19. Since 1998, all eight of Jay-Z’s solo studio albums hade hit No. 1, in addition to his ‘Collision Course’ project with Linkin Park and his ‘Unfinished Business’ collaboration with R. Kelly.
2011 A cardboard sign reading Bed Peace, created by John Lennon for his 1969 bed-in peace protest in Montreal, was sold by Christie’s auction house to an anonymous telephone bidder for $155,600.
2011 Mark “Moogy” Klingman (keyboardist for Utopia) dies of bladder cancer in New York City, at age 61.
2015 P.F. Sloan died aged 70 at his home in Los Angeles. He had pancreatic cancer for several months and his death was attributed to that disease. Was an American pop-rock singer and songwriter. He was very successful during the mid-1960s, writing, performing, and producing Billboard top 20 hits for artists such as Barry McGuire, The Searchers, Jan and Dean, Herman’s Hermits, Johnny Rivers, The Grass Roots, The Turtles, and The Mamas & the Papas. Many of his songs were written in collaboration with Steve Barri. His most successful songs as a writer were three top ten hits. Barry McGuire’s 1965 “Eve of Destruction”, Johnny Rivers’ 1966 “Secret Agent Man” and Herman’s Hermits’ 1966 “A Must to Avoid”.
2015 Trumpeter Miles Davis was voted the greatest jazz artist of all time by listeners of UK stations BBC Radio and Jazz FM. Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald, Charlie Parker and Billie Holiday also all made the top 10.
2016 Less than a year after being diagnosed with ovarian cancer, country singer Holly Dunn, age 59, dies at a hospice facility in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
2016 American jazz and blues pianist, singer, and songwriter Mose Allison died aged 89. He became notable for playing a unique mix of blues and modern jazz. His music influenced many blues and rock artists, including Jimi Hendrix, the Rolling Stones, Tom Waits, the Yardbirds, John Mayall, J. J. Cale, the Who (who made ‘Young Man Blues’ a staple of their live performances and is featured on their Live At Leeds album).
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November 15 – Today in Music History Events
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