This date in musical history: February 13
In 1883, composer Richard Wagner, whose operas expressed German romanticism, died.
He experienced both great financial hardship and some critical success. But opposition to him and his ideas was considerable during his lifetime. However, Wagner's operas completely dominated the next generation, and have retained their popularity to this day.
His best known works include the four-part "Ring" cycle, "Tannhauser" and "Lohengrin." Wagner called his operas music-dramas because he hoped to achieve the complete union of the two entertainment forms.
PHOTO: Composer Richard Wagner.
Other musical milestones on this date:
In 1867, Johann Strauss first conducted his "Blue Danube Waltz," in Vienna. It is the most famous of the more than 400 waltzes that he composed.
In 1914, the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers was formed as the first organization to protect the work of songwriters. The agency was started by composer Victor Herbert after he heard other people using his music without compensating him. Herbert sued, took the case all the way to the US Supreme Court, and won.
In 1961, Frank Sinatra unveiled his own record label, Reprise (www.repriserec.com). Sinatra had a low opinion of rock music but nonetheless the label would release recordings by the Beach Boys, Jimi Hendrix and the Kinks.
In 1966, the Rolling Stones made their first appearance on American television, on "The Ed Sullivan Show" from New York.
In 1972, Led Zeppelin was forced to cancel a concert in Singapore after authorities wouldn't let the group off the plane because of their long hair.
In 1974, the heavily-publicized Bob Dylan and the Band tour ended at the Forum in Los Angeles. Many of the tracks on Dylan's "Before the Flood" album were recorded at this concert.
In 1982, thieves removed a 300-pound marble tombstone from the grave of Lynyrd Skynyrd lead singer Ronnie Van Zant in Orange Park, Florida. Police found it in a riverbed two weeks later. Van Zant and two other members of Lynyrd Skynyrd were killed in a plane crash in 1977.
In 1985, Canadian folk-rock singer Bruce Cockburn gave a concert in East Berlin after having performed the previous night in the western portion of the divided city. His 27-date European tour included eight shows in communist countries.
In 1986, singer Rita Coolidge played a benefit for AIDS research at a homosexuals club in San Diego.
In 1989, Cliff Richard received a special lifetime achievement award at the British Phonographic Industry BRITS awards show in London. He was cited as being the most enduring pop star Britain has produced.
In 1992, police in the Ivory Coast used clubs, whips and tear gas on Michael Jackson fans as they struggled to get a glimpse of the singer during his trouble-plagued African trip. The government had urged the fans to turn out in force to see Jackson, who was shooting scenes for his "Return to Africa" video.
In 1997, Michael Jackson became a father when his wife, Deborah Rowe Jackson, gave birth to a son at a Los Angeles hospital. Jackson had announced in November that Rowe, a nurse who worked with the singer's dermatologist, was six months pregnant with his child. They married later that month in Sydney, Australia, where Jackson was on tour.
Also on this date in 1997, singer and songwriter Hoyt Axton lost his honorary deputy sheriff's badge after he was arrested for drug possession in Hamilton, Montana. Police found more than half a kilogram of marijuana in Axton's house.
Born on this date:
In 1919, country and religious singer Tennessee Ernie Ford, whose full name was Ernest Jennings Ford, was born in Bristol, Tennessee. He was nicknamed "the Ol' Peapicker," and is best known for his 1955 hit "Sixteen Tons," which sold four-million copies. But Ford had his first hit, "Mule Train," in 1949. The success of "Sixteen Tons" gained Ford an NBC television series, which ran from 1955 to 1961. During his career, Tennesse Ernie Ford has also recorded many religious albums. One of them was awarded a platinum disc in 1963 for one-million copies sold. Ford died in Reston, Virginia on October 17th, 1991.
In 1944, Peter Tork of the manufactured-for-television group, the Monkees, was born in Washington, DC. The success of the Monkees' TV show beginning in 1966 led to their singles and albums selling in the millions. Their hits included "Last Train to Clarksville," "I'm a Believer" and "Pleasant Valley Sunday." Peter Tork was one of two members of the quartet who actually could play an instrument when he was chosen for the group. Tork was the first to leave the Monkees, in 1968. The other three members went their separate ways a year later. Three of the Monkees reunited in 1986 for a succesful tour and a hit album.
In 1920, opera singer Eileen Farrell.
In 1927, Jim McReynolds of the country duo Jim and Jesse.
In 1938, Bunny Sheppard of the Ukranian-Canadian pop music duo Mickey and Bunny, in Rosa, Manitoba. Mickey and Bunny were popular in the 1960's.
In 1945, '70s soul-funk singer King Floyd.
In 1952, Ed Gagliardi, bass guitarist with Foreigner.
In 1956, Peter Hook of New Order.
In 1961, punk rock singer and actor Henry Rollins.
|
