Today in Music History for Nov. 19:
In 1954, entertainer Sammy Davis Jr. was seriously injured in a car crash while en route to a Los Angeles recording session from Las Vegas. His left eye was removed but he was back performing within several weeks. During his hospital stay, he converted to Judaism.
In 1964, "The Beefeaters" changed their name to "The Byrds."
In 1965, "The Who" lead singer Roger Daltrey stormed off stage after repeated audio problems during a set at the Glad Rags Ball in London. His action led to rumours of a "Who" breakup.
In 1968, Diana Ross interrupted a set by "The Supremes" at the Royal Command Variety Performance in London to make a plea for racial harmony. The crowd applauded for two minutes.
In 1971, the Rebecca Cohn Auditorium, Halifax's major concert hall, was officially opened with a concert by "The Festival Singers," "The Dalhousie Singers," members of the Atlantic Symphony Orchestra and musicians from Dalhousie University. The auditorium is part of the Dalhousie Arts Centre complex.
In 1976, the first "Sex Pistols" single,"‘Anarchy in the U.K.," was released. A few days later, members of the band were goaded into profanities during a British television interview. The incident made the "Sex Pistols" front page news in British papers, and marked the start of the punk movement. Most of the group's concerts on their first British tour were cancelled, and their record company, EMI, dropped them two months later.
In 1977, punk rocker Joey Ramone suffered burns when a teapot exploded backstage before a show in New Jersey.
In 1979, Chuck Berry was released from a prison farm in Lompoc, Calif., after serving two months for tax evasion.
In 1986, surf guitar king Dick Dale was the host for a tribute to Los Angeles radio station KRLA. A jam session featured Jan Berry of "Jan and Dean," Hank Ballard, and members of "The Turtles," "The Standells," "The Lettermen" and "Spirit."
In 1987, Nick (Topper) Headon, former drummer for the punk rock band "The Clash," was jailed by a London court for 15 months for supplying heroin to a man who died from an overdose.
In 1990, the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences stripped "Milli Vanilli" of its Grammy for Best New Artist. The award was revoked because other singers substituted for the duo on their "Girl, You Know It's True" album. It was the first time in the history of the Grammys that an award had been taken away. "Milli Vanilli" members Rob Pilatus and Fab Morvan claimed they had been seduced by money and fame -- and that their record company, Arista, knew of the deception. Arista denied it.
In 1991, rocker Billy Idol was charged in Los Angeles with misdemeanor assault and battery for allegedly punching a woman in the face in the back seat of a car. Idol admitted to police that he'd had several drinks and later pleaded guilty. He was fined $2,000 and ordered to campaign against drug and alcohol abuse.
In 1992, songwriter Bobby Russell, the composer of "Little Green Apples," "Honey" and "The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia," died in Nicholasville, Ky., of heart disease. He was 52. "Little Green Apples," with hit versions by Roger Miller and O.C. Smith, won Grammy awards in 1968 for Song of the Year and Best Country Song. The same year, the Country Music Association voted "Honey," recorded by Bobby Goldsboro, as Song of the Year.
In 1995, a six-hour "Beatles Anthology" TV special began airing in the U.S. and Canada. The first segment included the debut of the first new "Beatles" song in 25 years, "Free as a Bird." The tune used vocal tracks that John Lennon recorded just before his death in 1980. The first of three "Beatles Anthology" CD sets was issued two days after the TV special began. ABC estimated 47 million people in the U.S. watched the first segment. In contrast, "The Beatles'" first appearance on the "Ed Sullivan Show" in 1964 drew 73 million viewers.
In 1995, Tony Bennett, Ray Charles, Little Richard, Bob Dylan and Bruce Springsteen were among those who turned out in Los Angeles for an 80th birthday tribute to Frank Sinatra. Sinatra himself did not perform -- except to join in the final chorus of the show's finale, "New York, New York." The tribute was televised a month later.
In 2001, "Stone Temple Pilots" singer Scott Weiland was arrested in Las Vegas for domestic battery after getting into a fight with his wife. He later pleaded guilty and was ordered to undergo counselling.
In 2002, singer Michael Jackson briefly held his youngest child, Prince Michael II, over a fourth-floor balcony rail at a Berlin hotel in front of dozens of fans waiting below. (Jackson later said he'd made a "terrible mistake.")
In 2003, police in California issued an arrest warrant for singer Michael Jackson on multiple charges of child molestation. Jackson surrendered to police the next day. He was acquitted of all charges on June 13, 2005.
In 2005, Gary Glitter was arrested while trying to board a flight from Vietnam to Thailand. He was later convicted of child molestation.
In 2005, Grammy Award winning singer Christina Aguilera married music executive Jordan Bratman in California's Napa Valley. They separated in October 2010.
In 2005, "KISS" frontman Paul Stanley married Erin Sutton in Pasadena, Calif.
In 2008, Taylor Swift debuted six new songs on the Billboard Hot 100, led by "White Horse" at No. 13. It was her sixth top-20 debut of the year, more than any artist in the history of the chart. Also, her six debuts and seven total songs on the chart both tied her with Hannah Montana (Miley Cyrus' title character on the hit Disney TV show) for the most by a female artist in a single week. (On Nov. 3, 2010, she debuted 10 more tracks onto the Hot 100 from her recently released CD "Speak Now. With holdover "Mine" it gave her a grand total of 11 in a single week.)
In 2009, a free tribute concert for guitar legend Les Paul took place at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville. Among the stars to perform were Charlie Daniels, John Rich, Steve Wariner, J.D. Souther, Canadian country band "Emerson Drive," Steve Miller (Paul's godson), Joan Jett, Josh Kelley, and Ace Frehley of "KISS."
In 2012, Ottawa folk singer Bruce Cockburn received SOCAN's lifetime achievement award for a long career that has earned him 11 Juno Awards. Vancouver rock band "Trooper" and electronic producer Deadmau5 received the national and international achievement awards respectively.
In 2012, classic rock band "AC/DC" announced it was finally releasing its entire catalogue, including 16 studio albums, on iTunes.
In 2014, the Library of Congress honoured "Piano Man" Billy Joel with the Gershwin Prize for Popular Music, its lifetime achievement award named for the songwriting duo of George and Ira Gershwin.
In 2014, Taylor Swift became the first woman in Billboard Hot 100 history to succeed herself at the top spot when "Blank Space" zoomed from No. 13 to No. 1, ending her four-week run with "Shake It Off."
In 2015, acclaimed singer-songwriter Ron Hynes, Newfoundland and Labrador's "man of a thousand songs," died after a battle with cancer. He was 64.
In 2017, at the American Music Awards, Bruno Mars won artist of the year, favourite pop/rock male and favourite soul/R&B male as well as video of the year ("That's What I Like"). A trio of Canadians were also recognized. Shawn Mendes took home the favourite adult contemporary artist, his first AMA. Drake was named favourite rap/hip-hop artist. Justin Bieber shared the collaboration of the year award with Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee for the mega-hit song "Despacito." Bieber was also featured on DJ Khaled's No. 1 hit "I'm the One," which won favourite rap/hip-hop song.
In 2017, Country Music Hall-of-Famer Mel Tillis, the affable longtime country star who wrote hits for Kenny Rogers, Ricky Skaggs and many others, and overcame a stutter to sing on dozens of his own singles, died at age 85. He recorded more than 60 albums and had more than 30 top-10 country singles, including "Good Woman Blues," "Coca Cola Cowboy" and "Southern Rain."
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The Canadian Press
