Good Thursday morning, welcome to This Day In The History Of Music. Enjoy the read. 1). On this day in 1900, American modern dancer Isadora Duncan gives her first European performance in London, England. Angela Isadora Duncan was an American dancer who performed to great acclaim throughout Europe and the US. Born and raised in California, she lived and danced in Western Europe, the US, and the Soviet Union from the age of 22 until her death at age 50 when her scarf became entangled in the wheel and axle of the car in which she was traveling in Nice, France. 2). On this day in 1957, Elvis Presley bought the Graceland mansion from Mrs. Ruth Brown-Moore for $102,500. (£60,295). The 23 room, 10,000 square foot home, on 13.8 acres of land, would be expanded to 17,552 square feet of living space before Elvis moved in a few weeks later. The original building had at one time been a place of worship, used by the Graceland Christian Church, and was named after the builder's daughter, Grace Toof. 3). On this day in 1967, The Jimi Hendrix Experience released 'Purple Haze' in the UK, (the US release was June 19). Hendrix had read Night of Light, a 1966 novel by Philip José Farmer. In the story set on a distant planet, sunspots produced a "purplish haze" which had a disorienting effect on the inhabitants. It is thought that Hendrix took this as the idea for the song's lyrics. 4). On this day in 1967, Sheila Bromberg's claim to fame, as she puts it, was that she was the first female musician to be on a recording with The Beatles, which was on “Sgt Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band”. Sheila played on the track “She’s Leaving Home”. 5). On this day in 1973, "The Cover of 'Rolling Stone'" is a song written by Shel Silverstein and first recorded by American rock group Dr. Hook & the Medicine Show. Produced by Ron Haffkine and released in 1972, it was the band's third single and peaked at No 6 on the U.S. pop chart for two weeks on March 17–24, 1973. 6). On this day, I Will Survive by Gloria Gaynor was a UK number 1 hit on Saturday, March 17, 1979, spending 4 weeks at the top of the UK charts. This won the 1979 Grammy for Best Disco Recording, beating out "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough," "Bad Girls," "Boogie Wonderland" and "Da Ya Think I'm Sexy?" 7). On this day in 1979, The Bee Gees went to No.1 on the UK album chart with their fifteenth studio album release Spirits Having Flown, the group's first album after their collaboration on Saturday Night Fever soundtrack. The album's first three tracks were released as singles and all reached No.1 in the US, giving The Bee Gees an unbroken run of six US chart-toppers and tying a record set by The Beatles. 😎. On this day in 1984, Van Halen's 'Jump' peaked at No.1 in the US. Over the years David Lee Roth has given various accounts of the meaning behind the lyrics, but most often says they are about a TV news story he saw where a man was about to kill himself by jumping off a building. It is the only single the group released in their career to reach #1 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100. 9). On this day in 1997, Elvis Presley Enterprises of Memphis, Tennessee, lost its Court of Appeal battle to stop London trader Sid Shaw using the name of 'The King' on his souvenirs. The legal tussle with Mr. Shaw, who ran a memorabilia shop called 'Elvisly Yours', had been going on for over 17 years. Speaking after the ruling, Mr. Shaw said: 'I'm delighted. I've proved that Elvis belongs to all of us - Elvis is part of our history, part of our culture. 10). Tragically on this day in 2008, Ola Brunkert, the former drummer with the Swedish group ABBA, was found dead with his throat cut at his home in Majorca, Spain. Brunkert died after he hit his head against a glass door in the dining room at his home. He had managed to wrap a towel around his neck and leave the house to seek help, but collapsed and was found dead in his garden. The 62-year old musician had played on every ABBA album the group released and had toured with the group. 11). On this day in 2013, John Lennon and George Harrison were honored with a blue plaque at the site of the former Apple Boutique in a ceremony in London held at 94 Baker Street. The new plaque reads "John Lennon, M.B.E., 1940-1980, and George Harrison, M.B.E., 1943-2001, worked here." 12). On this day in 2014, "Chandelier" is a song by Australian singer and songwriter Sia, from her sixth studio album, 1000 Forms of Fear (2014). Written by Sia and Jesse Shatkin and produced by Shatkin and Greg Kurstin, the song was released on 17 March 2014 as the lead single from the album. 13). Born on this day in 1655, Élisabeth Claude Jacquet de La Guerre was a French musician, harpsichordist, and composer. 14). Born on this day in 1664, Georg Österreich was a German Baroque composer and collector. He is regarded as the founder of the so-called Bokemeyer collection which is now housed in the Staatsbibliothek in Berlin and is considered one of the most important music collections of the late 17th and early 18th centuries. 15). Born on this day in 1892, Sayed Darwish was an Egyptian singer and composer who was considered the father of Egyptian popular music and one of Egypt's greatest musicians and seen by some as its single greatest composer. 16). Born on this day in 1909, Edward Lee Watson{Lovie Lee}was an American electric blues pianist and singer. He is best known for his work accompanying Muddy Waters. He also recorded a solo album, in 1992. He was the "adoptive stepfather" of the bluesman Carey Bell and thus the "grandfather" of Lurrie Bell. 17). Born on this day in 1919, Nathaniel Adams Coles, known professionally as Nat King Cole, was an American singer, jazz pianist, and actor. He recorded over 100 songs that became hits on the pop charts. His trio was the model for small jazz ensembles that followed. Cole also acted in films and on television and performed on Broadway. He was the first African-American man to host an American television series. He was the father of singer-songwriter Natalie Cole. 18). Born on this day in 1937, Patrick Henry Wade, known professionally as Adam Wade, is an American singer, musician, and actor. Wade is perhaps most known for his stint as the host of the CBS game show Musical Chairs, which noted him as the first Black game show host. 19), Born on this day in 1938, Zola Taylor from American vocal group The Platters who had the 1959 UK & US No.1 single 'Smoke Gets In Your Eyes. She was the original female member of The Platters from 1954 to 1962. The Platters were one of the first African-American groups to be accepted as a major chart group and were, for a period of time, the most successful vocal group in the world. She died on 30 April 2007 at age 69. Have a great Thursday, take care, and stay safe.
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