ON THIS DAY IN MUSIC HISTORY:
1964 - The Animals record the folk song "House Of The Rising Sun" in a matter of minutes at a London studio. A few months later, it becomes a huge hit, going to #1. There's a couple of theories about the song's origins, the most popular: It's about a brothel in New Orleans. "The House Of The Rising Sun" was named after its occupant Madame Marianne LeSoleil Levant (which means "Rising Sun" in French) and was open for business from 1862 (occupation by Union troops) until 1874, when it was closed due to complaints by neighbors.
1974 - Ray Stevens started a three-week run at No. 1 with the novelty song "The Streak" which capitalized on the then popular craze of streaking. For those who weren't around or don't remember, streaking was the art of running naked in public for laughs. Must be completely nude. Shoes, scarves and hats were optional. It was the 70s...
1980 - Joy Division singer and guitarist Ian Curtis died at home in Macclesfield, England, at the age of 23. Curtis was known for his bass-baritone voice, dance style, and songwriting. Joy Division released the critically acclaimed debut album Unknown Pleasures in 1979, and recorded their follow-up Closer in 1980. Curtis's suicide resulted in the band's dissolution and the subsequent formation of New Order.
1985 - Simple Minds were at No. 1 with "Don't You Forget About Me". The track was featured in the 1985 American teen drama film The Breakfast Club. Songwriter Keith Forsey said Bryan Ferry of Roxy Music was his first choice to record the song, but Ferry turned it down.
2019 - A sweater worn by Kurt Cobain during the singer's last photo-shoot with Nirvana sold for $75,000 at a New York auction. Also sold for $23,000 was Nirvana's handwritten setlist from an April 1990 concert in Washington, D.C., which Cobain wrote with black marker on a paper plate. Cobain had eaten some pizza before the show and proceeded to write the set list on the plate he had been eating his pizza on.
Birthdays:
Singer-songwriter Albert Hammond (father of the Strokes' Albert Hammond Jr.) is 77.
Legendary British Keyboardist Rick Wakeman (who played with Yes and David Bowie) is 72.
Mark Mothersbaugh of Devo is 71.
Wreckless Eric (born Eric Goulden) is 67.
Jack Johnson is 46. Surfer, film maker, singer-songwriter, and one of the chilliest guys you'll ever meet.. (Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images for Firefly Music Festival)
On This Day In Music History is sourced from This Day in Music, Song Facts and Wikipedia.