portrait of this blog's author - by Stephen Blackman 2008

Saturday, June 22, 2019

ON THIS DAY IN MUSIC



1948 - The birth of the Vinyl Disc
Columbia Records launched a new vinyl disc that played at thirty-three and one third RPM in New York City, sparking a music-industry standard so strong that the digital age has yet to kill it. Makes you wonder why it was 33 1/3 but then 45 rpm makes me wonder too! 

21 JUNE 

1966 - Reg Calvert
Reg Calvert the manager of The Fortunes, Screaming Lord Sutch and the owner of offshore pirate radio station Radio City was shot dead by business rival William Smedley during a confrontation. Smedley was the owner of pirate station Radio Caroline and was later cleared of the murder.


1966 - The Beatles
Working at Abbey Road studios in London, The Beatles recorded from start to finish, a new John Lennon song ‘She Said She Said’. The song was reportedly based on a bizarre conversation that Lennon had with Peter Fonda while John and George Harrison were tripping on LSD. Something was definitely happening . . . . . . . 


1968 - Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd played two shows in one day: the first at the Commemoration Ball, Balliol College, Oxford, and then at Middle Earth Club, Covent Garden, London. The club was notable for several drug raids by the police, during which underage revellers were arrested; on one occasion a machine called the 'Trip Machine' was dismantled and taken away by the police.

1972 - Stonehenge Free Festival
The first Stonehenge Free Festival was held at Stonehenge, England culminating on the summer solstice. Staged between 1972 and 1984, acts who have appeared include Hawkwind, Gong, Doctor and the Medics, Flux of Pink Indians, Buster Blood Vessel, Crass, Selector, Dexys Midnight Runners, Thompson Twins, The Raincoats, Amazulu, Wishbone Ash, Man, Benjamin Zephaniah, The Enid, Roy Harper, Jimmy Page, Ted Chippington, Zorch and Ozric Tentacles.

1977 - Johnny Rotten
Sex Pistol Johnny Rotten was attacked in a brawl outside the live music venue Dingwalls in Camden, London, England.

1979 - Angus MacLise
Angus MacLise, Velvet Underground's first drummer [ percussionist, composer, poet, occultist, head, hippie, yippie, and calligrapher] died of tuberculosis aged 34. He quit the band in 1965 allegedly after hearing about a booking where it is reported he said "What, so we're expected to start when they say and finish when they say? I can't work that way." and promptly left.

Early Velvet's John Cale, Maclise top left, Morrison and Reed
Maclise in Nepal by Ira Cohen
2001 - John Lee Hooker
John Lee Hooker, American blues singer and guitarist died in his sleep aged 83. Had hits with 'Boom Boom', 'Dimples' and 'I'm In The Mood'. His songs have been covered by many artists including The Animals, CreamAC/DC, ZZ Top, Led Zeppelin, Jimi Hendrix, Van Morrison, The Yardbirds, The Doors and The White Stripes. He appeared and sang in the 1980 movie The Blues Brothers.







2011 - Maroon 5

American band Maroon 5 released 'Moves Like Jagger', featuring Christina Aguilera. Its lyrics refered to a male's ability to impress a female with his dance moves, which he compares to those of Mick Jagger. The video featured old video footage of Jagger and his iconic dance moves. 'Moves Like Jagger' was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance at the 54th Grammy Awards. The single peaked at No.1 on the US chart.


BIRTHDAYS
1985 - Lana Del Rey
American singer-songwriter, Lana Del Rey, (born Elizabeth Woolridge Grant). In 2011 a music video for her debut single 'Video Games' created by Del Rey was posted on YouTube and became a viral internet hit with over 20 million views. Her third studio album, Ultraviolence (2014), became her first album to reach No.1 in the United States.


1981 - Brandon Flowers
American singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist Brandon Flowers from The Killers, who scored the 2005 UK No.1 with their debut album Hot Fuss. Their 2017 album Wonderful Wonderful peaked at No.1 on the US & UK chart. In 2010, Flowers released a solo album, entitled Flamingo which peaked at No.1 on the UK charts.

1959 - Marcella Detroit
American soprano vocalist, guitarist, and songwriter Marcella Detroit who with Shakespears Sister had the 1992 UK No.1 single 'Stay'. She co-wrote the 1977 Eric Clapton hit 'Lay Down Sally' and released her debut album Marcella in 1982.


1953 - Nils Lofgren
American musician Nils Lofgren. He joined Neil Young's band aged 17, playing piano on the album After the Gold Rush. From 1971 to 1974 he recorded four albums with his own band, Grin. He had the 1976 solo album, 'Cry Tough'. Joined Bruce Springsteen E Street Band in 1984. And has been a member of Ringo Starr's All-Starr Band.




1944 - Jon Hiseman
English drummer Jon Hiseman who replaced Ginger Baker in the Graham Bond Organisation and worked with Arthur Brown, Colosseum and Jack Bruce. Hiseman died on 12 June 2018 nine days short of his 74th birthday. I think I have said before but my old friend and drummer Malcolm played us lots of Jon Hiseman when we were still at school and I saw his band several times over the years around the end of the sixties at festivals down south here and loved that sound. Here's why . . . . 




1944 - Ray Davies
English musician Ray Davies, singer, songwriter with The Kinks, who had the 1964 UK No.1 & US No.7 'You Really Got Me', and the 1967 UK No.2 single 'Waterloo Sunset' and the 1983 US No.6 single 'Come Dancing'. The Kinks have sold over 50 million records worldwide and among numerous honours, they received the Ivor Novello Award for "Outstanding Service to British Music".


with thanks to On This Day In Music

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