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December in Music History
This month in 1982, Michael Jackson's "Thriller" hit the streets...it went on to become the biggest seller of all time with 40 million copies spawned...Martha and The Vandellas called it quits this month in '72 causing a prompt cessation of dancing in the streets. Talk about a lineup - this month in '57, appearing on the Ed Sullivan show, Buddy Holly and The Crickets performed "That'll Be The Day," followed by Sam Cooke crooning "You Send Me". On December 2nd, 1986, Jerry Lee Lewis checked in to the Betty Ford Center to overcome a pain-killer addiction...back in 1963 a French nun, Sister Luc-Gabrielle, owned the pop top slot with her ditty "Dominique". This month in 1998 Tejano supergroup La Mafia retired after a 20-year career and two Grammys. In 1986 a suit was filed against Judas Priest and CBS Records charging that two fans shot themselves after a six-hour stint of listening to Priest music. In 1979, 11 fans were trampled to death at a Cincinnati Who show. In 1976, members of Pink Floyd assembled a media group to witness the making of an album cover. The shoot included a 40-foot inflatable flying pig which failed to ascend due to a lack of helium..a day later the pig was made airborne only to break free from its moorings, causing scares for London's air traffic. In 1988, Roy Orbison, after a recent comeback with the Traveling Wilburys, has a heart attack and passes on at only 52. Back in '71 the Swiss Montreux Casino burned down during a Frank Zappa show...Ian Gillian of Deep Purple who was doing some recording in the area was inspired to write the rock classic "Smoke On The Water"...this month in '66 Ray Charles received a $10,000 fine and a five-year suspended sentence after being convicted of heroin and pot possession...then on December 5th, 1997, Brother Ray's manager Carl Edward Hunter was busted by Japanese cops for suspicion of marijuana posession. On December 4, 1980, Led Zep announced its breakup...Helen Reddy's feminist anthem "I Am Woman" topped the charts this month in 1972. In 1965 Pete Seeger's tune "Turn! Turn! Turn!," based on verses from the Bible's Book of Ecclesiastes, ascended to the top of pop charts in its Byrds rendition. December 6, 1969, was a hellish day for the Rolling Stones. Their free concert in Altamont, California, turned ugly when a fan was stabbed to death within feet of the stage. The Hell's Angels (the show's hired security) went way beyond their job description and hundreds freaked out on some bad brown acid. This month in 1991 U2's "Achtung Baby" debuted at #1. Also in 1991 Bob Marley's $11.5 million estate is finally awarded to his wife and kids after an interminable legal battle. On December 7, 1967, the Beatles opened their Apple Boutique in London. In 1956 Elvis Presley returned to Sun Studios where together with Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Carl Perkins, he put down tracks for two and a half hours. The incredible combo became known as The Million Dollar Quartet.
In1968, Grace Slick, performing with the Jefferson Airplane on the Smothers Brothers show, wore black face and raised a gloved hand in a black power salute. The incident was one cause of the show's cancellation the following season. In1969, Tiny Tim married Miss Vickie on Johnny Carson's "The Tonight Show" and John Lennon gave his last live performance at a UNICEF benefit in London. In1972, Joe Tex's song "I Gotcha" hits number two on the pop charts... its success was partially credited to Tex's slurred delivery of the line "Told you not to play with my affection," which caused millions of teenage girls to misunderstand "affection" as "erection". In1974, George Harrison met President Ford at the White House. Peter Frampton had lunch at the White House this same day. In1977, "Saturday Night Fever" premiereed in New York, launching the disco craze. The Who performed a secret concert for fan club members and film footage of the event appeared in Jeff Stein's documentary "The Kids Are Alright". In1979, five singles and five albums by CCR were certified gold on a single day. In 1980, Devo's "Whip It" went gold. In 1981, a fifteen-year-old concert goer in England attended a Saxon gig, engaged in head banging, then went home and died from the injuries he sufferd. In 1984, Madonna got her first No.1 hit with "Like a Virgin" which topped the charts for six months. In 1985, Phil Collins appeared on "Miami Vice" playing a drug dealer. In 1988, James Brown was sentenced to six years in prison for leading police on a late-night, two-state car chase. In 1995, classified government documents were released which reveal that the FBI spied on John Lennon and his anti-war activities during the early '70s... one report criticized Yoko's singing ability. In 1996, country star Clint Black got a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, joining Garth Brooks, Gene Autry, and Roy Rogers as the only country stars to receive this honor. In 1999, the late rapper Notorious B.I.G.'s second posthumous album, "Born Again," sold more than 485,000 copies in its first month, bumping Celine Dion from the top sales spot. Also in 1999, Keith Richards stole a guitar from an autograph seeker outside his birthday party at the Russian Tea Room in New York. The owner of the guitar decided not to press charges saying, "It's Keith, man". This was the month in1999, where, in a grim struggle for their lives, George Harrison and wife Olivia successfully subdued an intruder in their home and held him until the police arrived...George received four stab wounds in the chest, but both he and Olivia recovered without incident. In 1989 "Another Day in Paradise" by Phil Collins took that honor.On December 22, 1976, Isaac Hayes filed a petition for bankruptcy...and way back in 1957, Pat Boone, replete with white bucks, nailed the #1 slot with his white bread anthem "April Love". Speaking of white, it was on December 23, 1942, that Bing Crosby's "White Christmas" was named #1...the song was re-released in successive years and topped the charts again in 1945 and 1947 making it one of the most persistent Yuletime staples...this month in 1962 the Tornadoes' "Telstar" was the top seller...it was the first time a UK group owned the top position on the U.S. chart. On December 31, 1976, the Cars gave their debut performance at Pease Air Force Base in Portsmouth, NH...another seminal rock group first met the world at the Richie Valens memorial concert in Long Beach in 1961, the Beach Boys pulled down $300 for the gig...six years later Beach Boys keys and guitar man Carl Wilson refused to be sworn in after receiving his draft notice, saying he was a conscientious objector. BIRTHDAYS Billy Paul (1934) December 31: OBITUARIES: |
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The
world mourned the loss of one of the great musicians of the 20th century,
George Harrison, who died Thursday, November 29, of brain cancer. From
the age of fifteen, when he first began playing with his older friends,
Paul McCartney and John Lennon, Harrison was a deeply dedicated guitarist,
songwriter, and singer. He penned many of the Beatles greatest hits, including
"If I Needed Someone," "Love You Too," "Within
You, Without You," "Blue Jay Way," "Here Comes the
Sun," "Something," and "While My Guitar Gently Weeps"
(about which he said, "It was my guitar that was gently weeping--Eric
just happened to be playing it."). After the Beatles, Harrisonís
songwriting gift continued to flower on solo albums such as "All
Things Must Pass," "Living in the Material World," and
"Cloud 9," among others. He also engaged in very fruitful collaborations
with such fellow luminaries as Eric Clapton, Ravi Shankar, and the Traveling
Wilburys--a supergroup with Bob Dylan, Tom Petty, Roy Orbison, and Jeff
Lynn.
This
month in 1944, an air force plane carrying band leader Glenn Miller disappeared
over the English Channel. In1955, with "Only You" already on
the charts, The Platter's "The Great Pretender" entered the
R&B charts.1957, controversy raged over the Elvis Christmas album,
as some segments of society thought it improper that the hip-shaking corruptor
of youth should banter about such nice songs as "White Christmas".
In 1959, as a harbinger of the Generation Gap, Ohio State University Research
Center stated that though rock & roll was the overwhelming favorite
of 14 to 18 year olds, a majority of adults aged 19 to 70 list it as their
least favorite form of music. In1961, Chubby Checker's "The Twist"
had been on the Hot 100 chart for 23 straight months, longer than any other
song. In 1962, The Beatles made their final trip to Hamburg in their pre-fame
days to play a two-month stint at The Star Club. In1964, funeral services
were held for Sam Cooke in Chicago and fans storm the funeral home. In
1967, Brian Jones received a nine-month prison sentence for marijuana
possession commuted to a fine and probation. His lawyer, with support
of a psychiatrist, argued that Brian was too freaked to handle incarceration.
In1968, Iron Butterfly's "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida" went gold.