This date in musical history: January 30
In 1969, the Beatles gave their last public performance. It was a free lunchtime concert on the roof of the building that housed their Apple Corps Limited headquarters. One of the results was the song "Get Back," released as a single.
"Get Back" and other tracks from the performance were included on the "Let It Be" album, released in the spring of 1970.
The Beatles managed to carve their place in music history in a career that lasted only seven years, counting from the recording of their first hit single, "Love Me Do," in 1962.
PHOTO: One of the Beatles' final albums, Let it Be.
Other musical milestones on this date:
In 1917, the Original Dixieland Jazz Band recorded "Darktown Strutters' Ball." Some historians consider this to be the earliest commercially made jazz record. "Darktown Strutter's Ball" was written by Shelton Brooks, who was born in 1886 in Amherstburg, Ontario. The song was inspired by a ball at the 1915 Pacific-Panama Exposition in San Francisco.
In 1976, bluesman Mance Lipscomb died in his hometown of Navasota, Texas. He was 80. A compatriot of the wider-known Lightnin' Hopkins, Lipscomb didn't record until he was 65 years old, but his influence can be heard in some of the songs of Bob Dylan and the Grateful Dead.
In 1980, rhythm-and-blues pioneer Professor Longhair, whose real name was Henry Roeland Byrd, died in New Orleans. He was the originator of the classic New Orleans piano style made popular by Fats Domino, but a combination of poor health and mismanagement kept him from the recognition he deserved. Professor Longhair's 1959 recording of "Go to the Mardi Gras" became a theme song of the annual carnival.
In 1982, Lightnin' Hopkins, who may well have been the most frequently recorded traditional blues artist in history, died in Houston of cancer. He was 69. Hopkins played amplified guitar on his early recordings in the 1940's and '50s. But later, when Texas blues fell out of favor, he switched to acoustic guitar, playing at folk festivals and concerts with such musicians as Joan Baez and Pete Seeger. Some of Lightnin' Hopkins's music appears on the soundtrack of the 1972 film "Sounder."
In 1988, Harold Loeffelmacher, leader of one of the most popular polka bands in North America, died in his hometown of New Ulm, Minnesota at the age of 82. Loeffelmacher led the Six Fat Dutchmen for more than 50 years, founding the group in the 1930's. Among the polka group's more than 200 recordings were "The Beer Barrell Polka," "Too Fat Polka" and the band's theme song, "Dutchman's Waltz."
In 1989, "When I'm With You," a seven-year-old song by the defunct Toronto band Sheriff, hit number one on the Billboard Hot 100. The song's belated success brought its writer, Arnold Lanni, millions of dollars in royalties. Lanni went on to form the band Frozen Ghost.
In 1990, Bob Dylan was awarded the title Commander of Arts and Letters by the French Culture Ministry. Dylan had begun a European tour in Paris the day before.
In 1997, Oasis star Noel Gallagher sparked outrage in Britain by saying in a radio interview that drug-taking was as normal as having a cup of tea. At least one member of Parliament called for Gallagher to be prosecuted and Home Office Minister Tom Sackville called the pop star's comments "really stupid." Gallagher also defended Brian Harvey, who had recently been fired as lead singer of East 17 for saying that taking the drug Ecstasy was safe.
Born on this date:
In 1928, Ruth Brown, the most-recorded female rhythm-and-blues singer of the 1950's, was born in Portsmouth, Virginia. Her total of 87 songs for the Atlantic label between 1949 and 1962 surpassed the number of songs recorded by such other Atlantic artists as Ray Charles and the Drifters. Brown's first record to top the r-and-b charts was "Teardrops From My Eyes," in 1950.
In 1943, Marty Balin, vocalist with both the Jefferson Airplane and its successor, Jefferson Starship, was born in Cincinnati. Balin was the originator, with Paul Kantner, of the Airplane, the group which epitomized the psychedelic culture of the late-1960's. Balin left the Airplane in 1971, but joined the Starship for three hit albums, beginning in 1975. Marty Balin departed the Starship in 1978, and in 1981 had a hit single, "Hearts."
In 1928, Harold Prince, producer and director of Broadway musicals.
In 1936, German pianist Horst Jankowski.
In 1937, country singer Jeanne Pruett.
In 1959, singer Jody Watley.
|
