Today in Music History for June 27:
In 1942, Canadian composer-arranger-pianist Frank Mills was born in Montreal. Mills first gained notice as the pianist for the pop group, "The Bells," from 1969-71 and wrote their hits "Stay Awhile" and "Fly, Little White Dove, Fly." Mills gained international stardom when his 1978 LP and single "Music Box Dancer" were awarded gold records in Canada and the U.S. Sheet music sales of "Music Box Dancer" approached one million.
In 1964, Peter and Gordon's "A World Without Love" reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Paul McCartney wrote the song, but it was listed on the record under another name to see if a McCartney tune would be successful even if no one knew he had written it.
In 1969, the Denver Pop Festival opened at Mile High Stadium. Among the performers were Jimi Hendrix, Johnny Winter and "Creedence Clearwater Revival." It was the last concert by "The Jimi Hendrix Experience." Later that year, Hendrix formed "The Band of Gypsies."
In 1978, Peter Gabriel, former lead singer for the British progressive rock band "Genesis," released the second of his four self-titled LPs. The album was produced by "King Crimson" guitarist Robert Fripp.
In 1986, old-time country musician Joe Maphis died at age 65. Joe and his wife, Rose Lee, were among the most popular country performers in the years following the Second World War. Maphis played guitar on many early rock 'n' roll sessions in California, including Ricky Nelson's first recordings.
In 1987, former "Guess Who" bandmates Randy Bachman and Burton Cummings jammed with Neil Young at a Winnipeg nightclub. Joining the trio were "The Guess Who" founder Chad Allan and Fred Turner, formerly of "Bachman-Turner Overdrive." Ten of Winnipeg's early rock bands were featured in the concert organized by local rock historian John Einarson.
In 1989, "The Who" performed their complete rock opera "Tommy" for the first time in 17 years. It was one of two "Tommy" performances on "The Who's" reunion tour. More than 6,000 fans paid from $150 to $1,000 a ticket for the New York event, with more than $1 million being raised for a group that helps autistic children and for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
In 1989, the militant black rap group "Public Enemy" disbanded following anti-Jewish remarks made by member Richard "Professor Grif" Griffin. The group's so-called "Minister of Information," Griffin had already been dismissed after he told a Washington newspaper that Jews were responsible for "the majority of wickedness that goes on across the globe." "Public Enemy's" record company said the decision to disband had nothing to do with reported pressure by the music industry. The group was back together within a matter of weeks.
In 1989, singer Tom Jones got a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
In 1990, the world's first international high-definition TV broadcast of a live concert, featuring Canadian rock singer Sheree, originated in Ottawa. The telecast, a joint venture between Japanese and Canadian firms, was beamed by satellite to 120 jumbo TV screens in 80 Japanese cities.
In 1992, a drunk Hank Williams Jr. swore at the audience and walked off stage after stumbling through parts of four songs at a concert near Kansas City.
In 1992, show singer Allan Jones, whose 1937 recording of "Donkey Serenade" was one of RCA Records' all-time bestsellers, died in New York of lung cancer. He was 84. Jones, whose forte was musicals and operettas, sang "Donkey Serenade" in the film "The Firefly," opposite Jeanette MacDonald. He also starred in the original film of the Jerome Kern musical classic "Show Boat."
In 1992, Michael Jackson kicked off his "Dangerous" world tour with a show before 70,000 fans in Munich. At the end of the show, Jackson wore a helmet and a fake rocket pack on his back and appeared to fly off stage.
In 1993, singer Lyle Lovett wed actress Julia Roberts in a hastily arranged wedding in Marion, Ind. Lovett's band performed "Angel Eyes" in honour of the bride. The two had met the previous year while filming Robert Altman's "The Player." The couple divorced in 1995.
In 1996, dozens of people were injured in a stampede after shots were fired near an outdoor rap concert in the Harlem district of New York City. A 19-year-old woman was shot in the leg. The incident occurred during a performance by the Wu Tang Clan, the last of the half dozen acts at the show, which was intended to promote peace, unity and voter registration.
In 1998, about 15,000 people endured a pre-concert downpour to hear an all-star tribute to Princess Diana at the Althorp estate in England where she is buried. Many fans criticized the high ticket prices -- about US$65 -- and some were upset the show was being held so close to her grave.
In 2002, John Entwistle, bassist for England's hugely influential rock band "The Who," died in Las Vegas at age 57. His death was ruled a result of cocaine use and heart disease.
In 2010, it was a night of comebacks at the BET Awards. Chris Brown performed an emotional tribute to Michael Jackson. He kept a low profile since pleading guilty to felony assault for beating up Rihanna in February 2009. T.I. returned in his first TV performance since being released from prison in December and Kanye West opened the show atop a volcano onstage in his first TV appearance since dissing Taylor Swift at the previous year's MTV Video Music Awards. Prince received a lifetime achievement honour.
In 2010, the all-female music festival "Lilith Fair" relaunched after a more than decade-long hiatus, at Calgary's McMahon Stadium. Event founder Sarah McLachlan headlined. It was scheduled for 34 cities, but after sluggish tickets sales, was forced to cancel a dozen dates.
In 2010, "Motley Crue" singer Vince Neil was arrested on suspicion of drunk driving in a Lamborghini sports car near the Las Vegas Strip. He was released the following day after posting $2,000 bail. (He later received a 15-day jail sentence, another 15 days of house arrest and paid a fine).
In 2011, Montreal singer-songwriter Rufus Wainwright's French-language debut opera "Prima Donna" won the trophy for outstanding new musical/opera at the Dora Mavor Moore Awards. The Elton John musical "Billy Elliot" took home two awards.
In 2012, 18-year-old Canadian pop singer Justin Bieber's "Believe" debuted atop the Billboard 200 Album chart on sales of 374,000 copies. It was his fourth No. 1 album. It also debuted at No. 1 in 29 other countries.
In 2012, Randy Blythe, lead singer of the American heavy metal band "Lamb of God," was detained in Prague in connection with the death of a fan at the band's 2010 concert there. Blythe allegedly pushed the fan off the stage and he hit his head on the floor and later died of his injuries. In spite of posting $400,000 bail, he remained jailed for weeks forcing the band to cancel its upcoming tour. He was finally released on Aug. 2 and returned to the U.S. (In March 2013, he was acquitted of all charges. An appeals court upheld the decision).
In 2015, Chris Squire, bassist of the Grammy-winning progressive rock band Yes, died after a battle with a rare form of leukemia. He was 67. Squire co-founded the band with its former lead singer, Jon Anderson, and was the only member to play on all of Yes' albums. The band released its self-titled debut album in 1969.
In 2018, Joe Jackson, the fearsome stage dad of Michael Jackson, Janet Jackson and their talented siblings, who took his family from poverty and launched a musical dynasty, died at age 89.
In 2018, a Los Angeles jury found that rapper-producer Dr. Dre, music mogul Jimmy Iovine and their former headphone company Beats Electronics owed US$25.2 million in royalties to ex-partner Steven Lamar. Apple Music acquired Beats in 2014 for US$3 billion.
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The Canadian Press