1969 - Johnny Cash released the single, 'A Boy Named Sue', a song written by Shel Silverstein. Cash was at the height of his popularity when he recorded the song live at California's San Quentin State Prison at a concert on February 24, 1969. Silverstein had recently sung it at Johnny's house and wife June encouraged him to play it. He read the lyrics off a sheet of paper taped to the foot of the stage. The song tells the tale of a young man's quest for revenge on a father who abandoned him at 3 years of age and whose only contribution to his entire life was naming him Sue.
1977 - Elvis Costello was arrested as he performed outside a CBS Records sales conference at The London Hilton Hotel. Executives were meeting there and Elvis wanted an audition for a record deal. Costello was taken away and fined, but CBS would invite him back for a proper audition, which he passed.
2015 - In a field just outside of Cesena, Italy, 1000 musicians and singers play Foo Fighters "Learn to Fly" simultaneously with the dream of attracting the band to play a show in their city for the first time in nearly 20 years.
The following day, proving the power of viral video, Dave posts a personal cell-phone video titled "Per Cesena & #Rockin1000," and speaking in Italian, he praises the video and ends with, "Stiamo arrivando, prometto," which translates to "We are coming. I promise."
On November 3, Foo Fighters take the stage at Nuova Teatro Calisport in Cesena, Italy. Appropriately, the band opens with "Learn to Fly".
Birthdays:
1943 - Mick Jagger of The Rolling Stones, born Michael Philip Jagger, IS 80.
As the lead singer for the Rolling Stones, Mick Jagger virtually invented the concept of the rock & roll frontman. Taking his cues from soul singers, bluesmen, and Elvis Presley, Jagger crafted a magnetic, carnal persona that retained its charisma even after it was mimicked and expanded by countless singers who followed in his footsteps.
“I don't regret anything and I am very fond of all of it. My years with the Rolling Stones are and were a
wonderful time
, really. I mean, you could paint it in a very dark light: it was decadent, yeah it was quite decadent, but decadence is very enjoyable, isn't it?”(Photo by -/CENTRAL PRESS/AFP via Getty Images)
R.I.P.
2013 - Oklahoma guitarist J.J. Cale, died at age 74.
With his laid-back rootsy style, J.J. Cale was best-known for writing "After Midnight" and "Cocaine," songs that Eric Clapton later made into hits. Cale's songs have also been covered by everyone from Lynyrd Skynyrd ("Call Me The Breeze") to Neil Young and the Allman Brothers, to Beck, John Mayer, and Band of Horses, But Cale's influence wasn't only through songwriting -- his distinctly loping sense of rhythm and shuffling boogie became the blueprint for the roots rock of Clapton and Mark Knopfler, among others.
1990 - Brent Mydland from The Grateful Dead was found dead at his home aged 38 from a drug overdose. After a stint with one of Bob Weir's side projects, Mydland went on to join the Dead in 1979, taking over for Keith Godchaux.
His eleven-year tenure was longer than that of any other keyboardist in the band.
On this Day In Music History was sourced from This Day in Music, Song Facts, Allmusic, Quote Catalog, and Wikipedia.