Today in Music History for June 19:
In 1902, band leader Guy Lombardo, whose orchestra played "The Sweetest Music This Side of Heaven," was born in London, Ont. His "Royal Canadians" were the most popular dance band in North America in terms of record sales -- more than 300 million during the orchestra's 50-year career. Among Lombardo's million-sellers were "Humoresque" in 1946, "Easter Parade" in 1947 and the "Third Man Theme" in 1950. Lombardo went to Cleveland in 1923 with a group of London-area musicians, including his brothers Carmen and Lebert. By the following year, the band was being billed as "The Royal Canadians." Lombardo's New Year's Eve radio and TV broadcasts from New York City were a traditional part of holiday celebrations from 1929-62. "The Royal Canadians" were known especially for their version of "Auld Lang Syne." He died Nov. 5, 1977.
In 1914, bluegrass musician Lester Flatt was born in Overton County, Tenn. Lester Flatt, Earl Scruggs and "The Foggy Mountain Boys" were one of the most popular country music acts of the 1950s and '60s. They were largely responsible for making bluegrass music popular outside the rural South. Their biggest hits were "The Ballad of Jed Clampett," from the "Beverly Hillbillies" TV show, and "Foggy Mountain Breakdown," which was used in the soundtrack of "Bonnie and Clyde." Flatt and Scruggs parted company 10 years before Flatt's death on May 11, 1979.
In 1926, harmonica player DeFord Bailey, the most important black performer in country music before Charley Pride, made his first appearance at the Grand Ole Opry. His lively adaptations of old songs made him one of the most popular Opry performers until 1941, when he was dismissed, according to Opry founder George D. Hay, for refusing to learn new material.
In 1942, Elaine "Spanky" McFarlane, leader of the late 1960s pop group, "Spanky and Our Gang," was born in Peoria, Ill. From 1967-69, the group had such hits as "Lazy Days" and "Like to Get to Know You." The group split up in 1970, but re-formed in '75.
In 1951, Ann Wilson, lead singer of the rock group "Heart," was born in San Diego. The group, featuring Ann's sister, Nancy, on guitar, sold more than 30 million records -- among them their 1976 debut album "Dreamboat Annie." Their top-40 hits include "Magic Man" and "These Dreams."
In 1960, Loretta Lynn's first single, "I'm a Honky-Tonk Girl," made the Billboard country charts. It was recorded on a small record label called Zero, and neither the label nor Lynn had enough money to promote the record. So Loretta and her husband mailed out copies to disc jockeys by hand. The record began getting plays and eventually made the country top-10.
In 1971, Carole King reached the top spot on the Billboard Hot 100 chart with "It's Too Late." It was one of four hit singles from the album "Tapestry," which stayed on the LP chart for 302 weeks and sold more 13 million copies.
In 1973, the stage production of "The Rocky Horror Show" opened in London. It later played in Los Angeles and New York. Star Tim Curry reprised his role in the 1975 movie version, "The Rocky Horror Picture Show," which developed into a cult phenomenon. Fans, dressed up as their favourite characters from the film, continued to show up at midnight screenings for a decade.
In 1976, "Wild Cherry's" "Play That Funky Music" debuted on the Billboard Hot 100, eventually reaching No. 1.
In 1980, Donna Summer became the first act to sign to Geffen Records, the new label started by David Geffen. Her first release for Geffen was "The Wanderer."
In 1988, more than 3,000 East German young people gathered by the Berlin Wall to hear Michael Jackson thrill crowds at a West Berlin concert just on the other side of the fortified border. Security police dragged off at least three men from the crowd and forced two West German TV crews away from the scene. Canada's Bryan Adams and Scotland's "Big Country" were the headliners at a competing concert in East Berlin's suburbs. Billed as a concert "for nuclear-free zones," it attracted about 100,000 people.
In 1997, singer Bobby Helms, whose 1957 recording of "Jingle Bell Rock" became a Christmas standard, died at his home in Martinsville, Ind. He was 63. Besides "Jingle Bell Rock," Helms had two other big hits in the 1950's -- "Fraulein" and "My Special Angel."
In 1997, the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical "Cats" became the longest-running show in Broadway history. The 6,138th performance of the musical broke the record held by "A Chorus Line."
In 1998, the second "Lilith Fair" tour opened with a sold-out show in Portland, Ore. The 57-date Celebration of Women in Music featured Erykah Badu, Sinead O'Connor, "The Indigo Girls," Natalie Merchant and "Lilith Fair" organizer Sarah McLachlan.
In 2010, organizers cancelled the Calgary Jazz Festival just two days before the week-long cavalcade of jazz heavyweights, including Ben E. King, Chick Corea and Poncho Sanchez, was to start. The Calgary Jazz Association board members determined the event wasn’t financially feasible.
In 2011, outlandish pop singer Lady Gaga won two awards and took the stage for two splashy performances at the MuchMusic Video Awards. Canadian teen-pop heartthrob Justin Bieber also claimed two awards and sent fans into a frenzy when he made a surprise appearance to support his then-girlfriend Selena Gomez, the Disney-reared star who hosted the outdoor bash.
In 2012, musicians Randy Bachman and Sarah McLachlan were among the latest inductees to Canada's Walk of Fame.
In 2014, Gerry Goffin, a prolific and multi-dimensional lyricist who with his then-wife and songwriting partner Carole King wrote such hits as "Will You Love Me Tomorrow," ''(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman," ''Up on the Roof" and "The Loco-Motion," died at his home in Los Angeles. He was 75. Goffin and King were inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1987 and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame three years later.
In 2016, hometown rapper Drake won a record five awards, including Video of the Year and Best Hip Hop Video, at the iHeartRadio Canada Much Music Video Awards in Toronto.
In 2017, The Tragically Hip frontman Gord Downie was appointed to the Order of Canada. He was among 29 recipients honoured by Gov. Gen. David Johnston for leadership in raising awareness of indigenous issues. (Downie died in October of incurable brain cancer).
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The Canadian Press