ON THIS DAY IN MUSIC HISTORY:
1961 - Bob Dylan achieved his dream of meeting his idol Woody Guthrie when Guthrie was on weekend release from the hospital where he was being treated for Huntington's disease. Dylan told him, "I was a Woody Guthrie jukebox." Guthrie gave Dylan a card which said: "I ain't dead yet."
1969 - The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour debuts on CBS. A homey variety show with Steve Martin on board as a writer, it lasts three seasons and draws impressive ratings. Campbell, who had been a regular guest on The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour, gets even more exposure later in 1969 when he stars in the John Wayne movie True Grit.
1983 - Stevie Nicks marries Kim Anderson in a union she later describes as "a terrible, terrible mistake." Nicks' close friend Robin Snyder died in 1982 after a battle with leukemia, leaving behind an infant son, Matthew. In a state of grief, she and Robin's husband, Kim Anderson, get married, thinking it is best for the baby. "We didn't get married because we were in love, we got married because we were grieving". They divorce three months later. She eventually writes the Fleetwood Mac song, 'Gypsy" as a tribute to Robin.
1992 - Willie Dixon died of heart failure. His life and work was virtually an embodiment of the progress of the blues and a vital part of America's musical heritage. He wrote the classic songs "You Shook Me", "I Can't Quit You Baby", "Hoochie Coochie Man", "I Just Want to Make Love to You" and "Little Red Rooster". Dixon was a major influence on The Rolling Stones, Cream, The Yardbirds and Led Zeppelin. Speaking of, In 1987, Dixon reached an out-of-court settlement with Led Zeppelin after suing for plagiarism in the band's use of his music in "Bring It On Home" and lyrics from his composition "You Need Love" in the band's recording of "Whole Lotta Love".
2009 - Singer-songwriter John Martyn died in hospital in Ireland at the age of 60. The folk, blues and funk artist was widely regarded as one of the most soulful and innovative singer-songwriters of his generation and had been cited as an influence by artists as varied as U2, Portishead and Eric Clapton. In fact, Clapton covered 'May You Never' on Slowhand.
Birthdays:
James Jamerson, bassist with The Funk Brothers, was born today in 1936. His distinctive grooves form the bedrock of many Motown hits like "My Girl" by The Temptations and "Where Did Our Love Go" by The Supremes.
David Byron of Uriah Heep was born on this day in 1947.
Tommy Ramone (born Thomas Erdelyi), the drummer from the Ramones, was born today in 1949.
Louie Perez of Los Lobos is 68.
Peter Baumann of Tangerine Dream is 68.
Jonny Lang is 40.
Rag'n'Bone Man (born Rory Charles Graham) is 36.
On This Day In Music History is sourced from This Day in Music, Paul Shaffer's Day in Rock, Song Facts and Wikipedia.