Good Wednesday afternoon, or morning dear friend. Enjoy the read for This Day In Music History. 1). On this day in 1759 Michael Hillegas opened the first music store in America in Philadelphia. It wasn’t quite the same as the music stores we know today- there were no CDs or records on sale. The shop sold a range of musical goods, including instruments, sheet music, ruled paper, and music tutors. The owner of the store, Michael Hillegas, was an extremely wealthy merchant. His business interests generated a lot of money and were used to support the Revolutionary War. Interestingly, Hillegal also went on to become the first treasurer of the USA. 2). On this day in 1895 the Neue Zeitschrift für Musik reported on the first complete performance of Mahler’s Second Symphony in Berlin – the review appeared in early January 1896. However, the performance itself had taken place on 13 December 1895, when Mahler himself had conducted the Berlin Philharmonic. 3). On this day in 1928 George Gershwin's "An American In Paris" symphonic poem premieres at Carnegie Hall, NYC, performed by the New York Philharmonic conducted by Walter Damrosch. An American in Paris was originally scored for 3flutes(3rd doubling on piccolo), 2oboes, English horn, 2clarinets inB-flat, bass clarinet in B-flat, 2 bassoons, 4 horns in F, 3 trumpets in B-flat, 3 trombones, tuba, timpani, snare drum, bass drum, triangle, wood block, ratchet, cymbals, low and high tom-toms, xylophone, glockenspiel, celesta, 4taxi horns labeled as A, B, C, and D with circles around them, alto saxophone, tenor saxophone, baritone saxophone(all doubling soprano and alto saxophones), and strings. Although most modern audiences have heard the taxi horns using the notes A, B, C, and D, Gershwin had intended to use the notes A♭4, B♭4, D5, and A3. It is likely that in labeling the taxi horns as A, B, C, and D with circles, he was referring to the four horns, not the notes they played. 4). On this day in 1955 Dickie Valentine was at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Christmas Alphabet', the first Christmas song to reach the No.1 position. It was the first Christmas No.1 that was actually about Christmas, a trend that would continue off and on over the next several decades. 5). On this day in 1962 Elvis Presley was at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Return To Sender', his 13th UK No.1. Elvis performed 'Return To Sender' in the film Girls! Girls! Girls!. The opening bars and backing on baritone saxophone were performed by Bobby Keys who later went on to work with The Rolling Stones, The Who, Harry Nilsson, George Harrison, and Eric Clapton. 6). On this day in 1966 Jimi Hendrix made his TV debut on ITV's 'Ready Steady Go!' (Marc Bolan was also on the show). The Jimi Hendrix Experience also recorded 'Foxy Lady' on this day. The United States version of Are You Experienced listed the song with a spelling mistake as 'Foxey Lady' and this is how it is still known among many North American fans. 7). On this day in 1970 Dave Edmunds was at No.1 on the UK singles chart with his version of the 1955 Smiley Lewis hit 'I Hear You Knocking.' The Welsh singer, songwriter, and producer's only No.1. hit. 8). On this day in 1986 Bruce Hornsby & The Range went to No.1 on the US singles chart, with 'The Way It Is', a No.15 hit in the UK. Written by Bruce Hornsby and his brother John Hornsby, it made explicit reference to the American Civil Rights Movement. The song was heavily sampled by Tupac Shakur in his song, 'Changes' from 1998. 9). On this day in 1993 "I Swear" a single released by John Michael Montgomery (Billboard Song of the Year 1994) In 1994 Boyz II Men and Shai gave the song a brighter polishing as some would say. Alan Jones from Music Week declared it as a "pretty and powerful ballad", "[that] should be big". 10). On this day in 2012 A collection of love letters written by Mick Jagger to American singer Marsha Hunt sold at auction for £187,250. The letters were penned in the summer of 1969 while The Rolling Stones frontman was in Australia. They are believed to be the inspiration for the band's hit single 'Brown Sugar'. 11). On this day in 2013 American singer Beyoncé released her fifth studio album, the self-titled Beyoncé. Developed as a visual album, every song was accompanied by a non-linear short film that illustrated the musical concepts conceived during production. Beyoncé and its release are frequently credited with inventing the modern definition of the visual album, popularising the surprise album release strategy, and provoking the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry to change the day of the week when music is released worldwide from Tuesday to Friday. The album has sold over 5 million copies worldwide. Born On This Day In The Music World. 1). Born on this day in 1732 Jean-Claude Trial, a French composer, was born in Avignon, France. He died on June 23, 1771. 2). Born on this day in 1835 Phillips Brooks, an American Episcopal bishop, and composer, wrote the lyrics of the Christmas hymn, "O Little Town of Bethlehem ". (December 13, 1835 – January 23, 1893) 3). Born on this day in 1910 Lillian Roth was an American singer and actress, born in Boston, Massachusetts. She was named after the famous singer Lillian Russell. Roth’s parents were stage parents who groomed her and her younger sister Ann for stardom at an early age. Roth made her Broadway debut at the age of six in “The Inner Man”. She was cast in the show “Artists and Models” at the age of 15. She also appeared in Cecil B. DeMille’s “Madam Satan” (1930) and the Marx Brothers’ “Animal Crackers” (1930). Roth’s career deteriorated as she spiraled further and further down into alcoholic delirium. She spent decades in and out of mental institutions until she met and married T. Burt McGuire, Jr., a former alcoholic, in the late '40s. With his support, Lillian slowly revived her career with club work. She became a singing sensation again and toured throughout the world, receiving ecstatic reviews wherever she went. 4). Born on this day in 1928 American guitarist Joe Messina. Dubbed the "white brother with soul", Messina was one of the most prolific guitarists in Motown Records' in-house studio band, the Funk Brothers. During this time, Messina worked with Diana Ross & the Supremes, the Temptations, Marvin Gaye, the Four Tops, Stevie Wonder, and Smokey Robinson & the Miracles. 5). Born on this day in 1948 Ted Nugent, guitarist, The Amboy Dukes, (1968 single, 'Journey To The Centre Of The Mind'). Solo, (1977 single 'Cat Scratch Fever'). **ahem** Yankees, (1990 album '**ahem** Yankees'). 6). Born on this day in 1948 Jeff 'Skunk' Baxter, American guitarist with psychedelic rock band Ultimate Spinach, The Doobie Brothers, and Steely Dan (their first three albums, Can't Buy a Thrill in 1972, Countdown to Ecstasy in 1973, and Pretzel Logic in 1974), and Spirit in the 1980s. Baxter has also worked with many other artists including Willy DeVille, Bryan Adams, Eric Clapton, Sheryl Crow, Joni Mitchell, Dolly Parton, Carly Simon, Ringo Starr, Gene Simmons, and Rod Stewart. 7). Born on this day in 1952 Berton Averre, lead guitarist with the Los Angeles rock band The Knack scored the 1979 US No.1 single 'My Sharona'. Their album Get the Knack became one of the most successful debuts in history, selling over one million copies in less than two months and spending five weeks at No.1 on the Billboard album chart. 😎. Born on this day in 1967 Jamie Foxx, (born Eric Marlon Bishop). US actor, R&B singer, and pianist, (2005 US No.1 and UK No.2 single ‘Gold Digger’, 2006 US No.1 & UK No.9 album ‘Unpredictable’). Academy Award winner in 2005 for his performance of musician Ray Charles in Ray. 9). Born on this day in 1975 Tom Delonge, Blink 182, (2000 UK No.2 single 'All The Small Things' and 2001 US No.1 album 'Take Off Your...'). 10). Born on this day in 1981 Amy Lynn Lee, singer with American rock band Evanescence had the 2003 UK No.1 & US No.5 single ‘Bring Me To Life’, and the 2003 UK No.1 & US No.3 album Fallen. 11). Born on this day in 1989 American singer-songwriter, Taylor Swift. Her third single, 'Our Song', made her the youngest person to single-handedly write and perform a No.1 song on the US country chart. She has sold over 40 million albums and 130 million digital single downloads worldwide. She is also the recipient of ten Grammy Awards, five Guinness World Records, one Emmy Award, 23 Billboard Music Awards, 11 Country Music Association Awards, eight Academy of Country Music Awards, and one Brit Award. Have a great Wednesday, take care and GOD bless...
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