ON THIS DAY IN MUSIC HISTORY: 1.10
1964 - The first U.S. Beatles album, Introducing The Beatles (, is the abbreviated version of the U.K. "Please Please Me" album) was released on Vee-Jay records. The album cover showed John, Paul and George with their now famous "mop top" haircuts, but Ringo had yet to convert. Vee-Jay would be forced to stop selling the disc by the end of the year because of legal complications, but by then over 1.3 million copies had been sold.
1976 - Blues man Howlin Wolf, (Chester Burnett), died, aged 66. In the history of the blues, there has never been anyone quite like the Wolf. Six foot three and close to 300 pounds in his salad days. No one could match him for the singular ability to rock the house down to the foundation while simultaneously scaring its patrons out of its wits. The guitarist, singer and harmonica player's well known songs included 'Smoke Stack Lightning', 'Little Red Rooster' and 'Spoonful.'
1984 - Cyndi Lauper became the first female recording artist since Bobbie Gentry in 1967 to be nominated for five Grammy Awards. She won "Best New Artist" and In her acceptance speech she brought special guest Hulk Hogan with her.
1999 - The Sopranos debuts on HBO. Bruce Springsteen's guitarist, Steven Van Zandt, plays Silvio Dante, a character he modeled on his relationship with Bruce. Series creator David Chase originally wanted Van Zandt to play Tony Soprano, but HBO said no.
Fortunately, there was another role suitable for Van Zandt.
“(Chase) still wanted me in the show and I actually said to David, ‘Listen, I’m feeling pretty guilty about taking an actor’s job here,’ and he said, ‘OK, in that case, I’ll write you in a part that doesn’t exist,’ and (Silvio Dante) was born.”
2016 - David Bowie died at his New York home two days after releasing the album Blackstar on his 69th birthday. He designed Blackstar as a farewell to an audience who didn't realize he was dying of liver cancer.
One of the greatest stars of the rock & roll era, David Bowie evaded easy categorization throughout his career, operating as the artiest rocker within the mainstream and the most accessible musician on the fringe. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Getty Images)
Birthdays:
Producer and record company executive Jerry Wexler was born today in 1917. As a producer and executive with Atlantic Records, he plays a key role in the success of Aretha Franklin, Led Zeppelin and Wilson Pickett.
Rod Stewart is 78. Considered one of the finest singers of his generation, whether singing one of his own or interpreting someone else . He started with The Hootchie Cootchie Men, later The Jeff Beck Group, The Faces, and had massive success as a solo artist.
Donald Fagen is 75. As one of the co-leaders of Steely Dan, (along with Walter Becker) Donald Fagen developed a smooth, sophisticated blend of jazz, R&B, pop, and rock, a fusion that relied on lyrical wit, technical acumen, and smooth groove.
Shawn Colvin is 67. Her song "Sunny Came Home" (about a woman who burns her house down) wins the Grammy Awards for Record of the Year and Song of the Year in 1998.
Joey Santiago, guitarist for the Pixies, is 58.
On this Day in Music History was sourced from Deadline, This Day in Music, Allmusic, Song Facts and Wikipedia.