This date in musical history: January 31
In 1951, rock vocalist Phil Collins was born in London. He joined the art-rock group Genesis in 1970 as drummer, replacing John Mayhew. Collins became the lead vocalist for Genesis after the group's front man, Peter Gabriel, left in 1974.
With Collins fronting the band, Genesis began to score hit singles, starting with "Follow You, Follow Me" in 1978. Collins, while remaining with Genesis, started a solo career in 1982. His first album, "Face Value," sold two-million copies. He's had numerous single hits as well, including such chart-toppers as "Against All Odds," "One More Night," "Sussudio" and "Separate Lives," a 1986 duet with Marilyn Martin.
PHOTO: Phil Collins, ex-drummer for Genesis.
Other musical milestones on this date:
In 1843, the Halifax Harmonic Society performed the oratorio "The Creation" at its first public appearance. The society was the first Halifax ensemble to tackle major choral and orchestral works and to continue performing for a number of years.
In 1970, blues singer and songwriter Slim Harpo died of a heart attack in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. He was 46. Harpo is best known for his 1961 hit "Rainin' In My Heart." He also composed "I'm a King Bee," a tune favored by thhe Rolling Stones early in their career.
In 1976, Memphis harmonica player and vocalist Buster Brown died at age 64. His 1959 recording of "Fanny Mae" is a classic oldies tune.
In 1979, Paul McCartney and Wings signed with Columbia Records, ending a 16-year association between the former Beatle and Capitol Records.
In 1985, Barbara Cowsill, mother of the family group the Cowsills, died in Tempe, Arizona at the age of 56. The Cowsills consisted of Barbara and six of her children - five boys and a girl. Their bubblegum hits in the late 1960's included "The Rain, the Park and Other Things," "Indian Lake" and the title song from "Hair." It was the Cowsills who provided the inspiration for TV's "The Partridge Family."
In 1986, rock star John Cougar Mellencamp, was honored by the Indiana Senate in a resolution praising his music and loyalty to the state. Mellencamp is a native of Seymour, Indiana.
In 1988, Ritchie Valens's brother and sister visited for the first time the place where Valens, Buddy Holly and the Big Bopper died in a plane crash on February 3rd, 1959. They also visited the Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake, Iowa, where Valens made his last appearance hours before the tragedy.
In 1989, rhythm-and-blues singer Donnie Elbert died in Philadelphia two weeks after suffering a stroke. He was 52. Elbert scored his greatest success in 1971 and '72 with remakes of two Motown classics, the Supremes' "Where Did Our Love Go" and the Four Tops' "I Can't Help Myself." Both made the top-30. In the mid-1980's, Elbert spent time as the A-and-R director for the Canadian division of Polygram Records.
In 1993, Michael Jackson provided the half-time entertainment at the Super Bowl in Pasadena, California. He sang three of his hits - "Jam," "Billie Jean" and "Black or White" - paused to deliver a peace message, then performed "Heal the World." Garth Brooks sang the US national anthem to open the game.
In 1995, Broadway musical writer, director and producer George Abbott died in Miami Beach, Florida at age 107. From 1948 to 1982, Abbott's shows won 40 Tony Awards, including five for himself. Among his Tony-winning productions were "Wonderful Town," "Damn Yankees," "The Pajama Game" and "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum." In 1994, at age 106, Abbott helped revise the book for a Broadway revival of his 1955 hit "Damn Yankees."
In 1997, David Bowie became the first musician to raise funds through a bond offering. Prudential Insurance bought $55-million of Bowie bonds, which were to be paid out of future earnings from his songs. The singer got his 55-million up front and Prudential received a 7.9 per cent annual return on its investment.
Born on this date:
In 1921, tenor Mario Lanza, billed as the successor to Enrico Caruso, was born in Philadelphia. There were predictions that he would become the greatest tenor of his time, perhaps even of the century. But his unreliability, destructive temper tantrums and a penchant for overeating, then going on frantic diets destroyed his career. Lanza died of a heart embolism in 1959 at age 38. Mario Lanza's 1951 film "The Great Caruso" is reported to have grossed more than five-million dollars. And two of his '50s recordings, "Be My Love" and "The Loveliest Night of the Year," sold more than a million copies each.
In 1951, Phil Manzanera, guitarist with Roxy Music, was born in London. Roxy Music was a product of the glitter-rock boom of the early 1970s, and was the brainchild of Bryan Ferry and Brian Eno. Eno, however, left the group in 1973 in a disagreement with Ferry over the direction the group should take. Phil Manzanera joined the group in 1972, replacing David O'List. Roxy Music's 1979 album "Manifesto" was their most popular in North America.
In 1937, minimalist composer Philip Glass.
In 1939, Quebec singer-songwriter Claude Gauthier, in Lac-Saguay.
In 1944, blues harmonica player Charlie Musselwhite.
In 1951, Harry Wayne Casey, lead vocalist with KC and the Sunshine Band.
In 1956, Johnny Rotten, former lead vocalist of the Sex Pistols.
In 1961, rock singer Lloyd Cole.
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