Today in Music History for Nov. 11:
In 1919, the Hart House cultural centre opened at the University of Toronto. It was conceived by Vincent Massey and named after his grandfather, Hart Massey. Hart House's facilities include a concert hall, a music room and a theatre, and the centre has served as home to the Hart House Glee Club, "The Hart House Orchestra" and "The Hart House String Quartet."
In 1929, LaVern Baker, a major R&B vocalist in the 1950s, was born in Chicago. Among Baker's hits were "Tweedle Dee," "Jim Dandy" and "Jim Dandy Got Married." But her only major success on the pop charts came in 1959 with the ballad "I Cried a Tear." Part of Baker's lack of success in the pop field can be attributed to the fact that white artists continually covered her records. She became so upset with the practice that she wrote a letter about it to her congressman. All Baker got for her trouble was a little publicity. Baker was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1991. She died on March 10, 1997, in New York.
In 1943, Herbert A. Fricker, conductor of "The Toronto Mendelssohn Choir" from 1918-42, died in Toronto at the age of 75. Fricker took over the choir from the founder, A.S. Vogt. From 1918-25, the choir was closely associated with the Philadelphia Orchestra under Leopold Stokowski. The two organizations performed together at numerous concerts on both sides of the border.
In 1944, Jesse Colin Young, lead singer with the 1960s folk-rock band "The Youngbloods," was born Perry Miller in New York. Young formed "The Youngbloods" in 1965 with Jerry Corbitt. The group's big hit was "Get Together," which hit No. 5 on the Billboard chart in 1969. The song had appeared two years earlier on "The Youngbloods'" first album but wasn't a hit until it was re-released after being used as a TV public service ad for brotherhood. Young had a moderately successful solo career after "The Youngbloods" folded in 1972.
In 1945, Chris Dreja, rhythm and later bass guitarist with "The Yardbirds," was born in Surbiton, England. "The Yardbirds" were a blues-based British group whose guitar-oriented rock heavily influenced the heavy metal bands that were to come in the 1970s. Included in their various lineups were three major rock guitarists -- Eric Clapton, Jimmy Page and Jeff Beck. "The Yardbirds'" two major hits in North America were "For Your Love" and "Heart Full of Soul," both of which made the top-10 in 1965. After "The Yardbirds" broke up in 1968, Dreja became a photographer.
In 1958, "Hank Ballard and the Midnighters" recorded the original version of "The Twist" at the King Records studio in Cincinnati. It was released as the flip side of Ballard's hit "Teardrops on My Letter." "The Twist" itself was not a hit until 1960 when Chubby Checker recorded it.
In 1965, the "Velvet Underground" played their first paying gig for an audience of high school students in Summit, N.J. Lou Reed, John Cale, Sterling Morrison and Maureen (Moe) Tucker were the opening act for a local band.
In 1969, "The Doors" lead singer Jim Morrison was arrested for public drunkenness and interfering with the flight of an aircraft after annoying a stewardess. Morrison was travelling from Los Angeles to Phoenix to attend a concert by "The Rolling Stones." The charges were eventually dropped.
Also in 1969, "The Supremes" appeared on "The Tonight Show" -- their first appearance since Diana Ross left the group. Ross's replacement was Jean Terrell.
In 1970, Bob Dylan's book, "Tarantula," was published in New York. Excerpts from it had appeared two years earlier in the Vancouver underground newspaper Georgia Straight.
In 1972, Berry Oakley, bass guitarist with "The Allman Brothers Band," died at the age of 24 after his motorcycle hit a bus in Macon, Ga. The accident occurred only three blocks from where guitarist Duane Allman died in a similar motorcycle accident a year earlier.
In 1984, Don Addrisi of "The Addrisi Brothers" duo died of cancer at the age of 45. "The Addrisi Brothers" had half a dozen chart records, the biggest of which was "Slow Dancin' Don't Turn Me On," which reached No. 20 in 1977.
In 1987, "U2" frontman Bono was charged with malicious mischief after spray painting a fountain in San Francisco. The incident followed a free concert by the band.
In 1987, a near-riot greeted Michael Jackson as he arrived in Sydney, Australia. Screaming fans were knocked to the ground by police and bodyguards battling the surging crowd at Sydney Airport. Police said there were no serious injuries among the 200 fans, many of whom had waited for hours to get a glimpse of Jackson.
In 1993, bandleader and trumpeter Erskine Hawkins, best-known for co-writing and recording the swing era classic "Tuxedo Junction," died in Willingboro, N.J. at age 79.
In 1997, metal band "Metallica" played a free concert in the parking lot of the CoreStates complex in Philadelphia. The band had gone to court and won the right to do so after CoreStates officials bowed to pressure from city council members and neighbours who opposed the show.
In 2008, Taylor Swift's "Teardrops On My Guitar" won Country Song of the Year and earned iTunes' No. 1 Country Song honours of 2007 at the 56th Annual BMI Country Awards in Nashville. Hank Williams Jr. was honoured as a music icon. Casey Beathard won Songwriter of the Year for the second time. She co-wrote Kenny Chesney's "Don't Blink."
In 2009, 19-year-old Taylor Swift made history at the Country Music Awards, becoming the youngest person to win Entertainer of the Year. She also picked up three other awards: Female Vocalist, Album ("Fearless") and Video ("Love Story"). Among the other winners: Brad Paisley (Male Vocalist), "Sugarland" (Vocal Duo), "Lady Antebellum" (Vocal Group and Single of the Year for "I Run to You"), Jamey Johnson (Song of the Year "In Color"). "Hootie and the Blowfish" frontman Darius Rucker won for New Artist and became the second African-American to win a major individual CMA (Charley Pride, 1971).
In 2009, country music star Carrie Underwood's "Play On" debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Album chart. The first single from the CD, "Cowboy Casanova," also reached the top of the Billboard Country Songs chart.
In 2011, it was announced that EMI Group Ltd., home of "The Beatles" and "Coldplay," was being sold in two parts. Vivendi SA's Universal Music Group agreed to buy the recording division for US$1.9 billion, while the publishing division in charge of songwriting copyrights was sold to Sony/ATV for US$2.2 billion.
In 2011, Alex Cuba (Best New Artist) and Nelly Furtado (Best Female Pop Vocal Album for "Mi Plan") became the first two Canadians to ever win a Latin Grammy award.
In 2012, "INXS" drummer Jon Farriss announced to a Perth crowd that the Australian rockers' performance would be their last. The band released a statement two days later to confirm they were retiring from touring after 35 years.
In 2012, at the MTV Europe Music Awards held in Frankfurt, Germany, country crossover star Taylor Swift won three trophies: Best Female, Best Live and Best Look. Justin Bieber also took home three awards, including Best Male while fellow Canadian Carly Rae Jepsen picked up Best Song for "Call Me Maybe." PSY's "Gangnam Style" won Best Video and the late Whitney Houston was named Global Icon.
In 2014, the International Ski Federation banned celebrity violinist Vanessa-Mae for four years for taking part in four fixed giant slalom races to qualify for the Sochi Olympics, where she raced for Thailand as Vanessa Vanakorn, using the last name of her Thai father. She finished last of 67 racers in the two-run giant slalom.
In 2014, Big Bank Hank, who was a part of the Sugarhill Gang in 1979 when it had hip-hop music's first hit with "Rapper's Delight," died of complications of cancer at age 57.
In 2015, Phil "Philthy Animal" Taylor, former drummer of legendary British heavy metal trio Motorhead, died after a long illness. He was 61. His distinctive double bass-drum style helped define a new genre — thrash metal. He played on Motorhead's best-known albums, including "Overkill," ''Bomber," ''Ace of Spades" and the live recording "No Sleep 'til Hammersmith." Taylor left the band in 1984, rejoined in 1987 and left again in 1992.
In 2016, guitarist Doug Edwards, the former Skylark band member who crafted the sound of the 1973 hit "Wildflower," died in Vancouver at age 70 after a battle with cancer. The lyrics were written by Dave Richardson, a longtime friend of bandmate David Foster. The song went gold in Canada and hit No. 9 on the U.S. Billboard charts and was covered by over 70 musicians. It was inducted into the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2011.
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The Canadian Press