Good Friday morning, dear friend, and welcome to This Day In The History Of Music...Enjoy the facts as well as the read. 1.) On this day in 1786, Audiences at Vienna’s Burgtheater witnessed the premiere of "The Marriage of Figaro," Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s lively comic opera, . Based on a once-controversial French play that poked fun at the upper class, the work mixed humor, romance, and sharp social commentary. Though its initial critical reception in Vienna was mixed, the opera—widely seen as the first to bring emotional depth to a farce—soon won wider acclaim. It remains one of the most beloved operas ever written. By 1786, Mozart—just 30 years old—was already one of Europe's most accomplished composers, with dozens of now-canonical symphonies, concertos, sonatas, chamber works, and sacred pieces to his name. He had also written more than a dozen operas, though not yet the works for which he is best known today. In the last five years of his life, before he died in 1791, Mozart produced a remarkable run of operas that remain central to the repertory. That period of sustained creative success began with "Figaro." The opera marked Mozart's first collaboration with librettist Lorenzo Da Ponte. For their source, they turned to a controversial play by the French writer Pierre-Augustin Caron de Beaumarchais, "The Marriage of Figaro." First performed in 1784, it was the second part of a trilogy that began with "The Barber of Seville" (later the basis for the Rossini opera). Authorities in France had initially restricted the play because of its "subversive” elements. The plot centers on a Spanish nobleman, Count Almaviva, who tries to seduce Susanna, a young servant in his household. The scheme is ultimately foiled—and he is humiliated—by his wife Countess Rosina, working together with his servant Figaro, who is also Susanna’s fiancé. 2.) On this day in 1956, Johnny Cash released his classic song, 'I Walk the Line', which became his first No.1 Billboard country hit and remained on the charts for over 43 weeks, selling over 2 million copies. The unique chord progression for the song was inspired by backwards playback of guitar runs on Cash's tape recorder while he was in the Air Force stationed in Germany. (Side Note: On this day makes no mention of this historic music event.) 3.) On this day in 1962, The Beatles started a month-long residency at The Star Club, Hamburg, Germany. American musicians, including Ray Charles, Bo Diddley, Fats Domino, the Everly Brothers, Bill Haley, Jimi Hendrix, and Jerry Lee Lewis, also appeared here. The club had a capacity of 2,000 people, and cinema-style seating was destroyed by a fire in 1987. 4.) On this day in 1965, Herman's Hermits started a three-week run at No.1 in the US singles chart with 'Mrs Brown You've Got A Lovely Daughter'. The song was recorded as an afterthought in two takes, and the band never dreamed it would be a single, let alone hit No.1 in the US. 5.) On this day in 1966, The Beatles played live for the last time in the UK when they appeared at the NME Poll Winners concert at Wembley Empire Pool. The Beatles set included: 'I Feel Fine', 'Nowhere Man', 'Day Tripper', 'If I Needed Someone', and 'I'm Down'. Also on the bill were The Spencer Davis Group, The Fortunes, Herman's Hermits, Roy Orbison, The Rolling Stones, The Seekers, The Small Faces, Dusty Springfield, The Walker Brothers, The Who, and The Yardbirds. 6.) On this day in 1967, 32-year-old Elvis Presley married 21-year-old Priscilla Beaulieu, a girl he first met in 1959 when she was just 14 years old. When Elvis got out of the army in 1960, Beaulieu moved into the singer's Graceland mansion with her family's blessing. The wedding ceremony took place at the Aladdin Hotel in Las Vegas, and although the marriage license was only $15, the wedding cake cost $3,500. The couple divorced after five years of marriage on October 9, 1973. 7.) On this day in 1975, during a press conference held at the 5th Avenue Hotel in New York City to announce The Rolling Stones' forthcoming American tour, the Stones themselves came down the street playing live from the back of a flat-bed truck. Stones drummer Charlie Watts came up with the idea, after the practise of New Orleans jazz musicians, who would play while walking down the street. 8.) On this day in 1976, Led Zeppelin started a two-week run at No.1 on the US album chart with Presence, the group's fifth No.1 album. The LP's artwork from Hipgnosis featured several photographs focused on a mysterious black object, called "The Object". 9.) On this day in 1976, The Bellamy Brothers went to No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Let Your Love Flow', the duo's only US No.1, a No.7 hit in the UK. 10.) On this day in 1979, British pop superstar Elton John performed in Israel for the first time, kicking off a mini tour of five shows in six nights. 11.) On this day in 1980, the South African government banned Pink Floyd 's single 'Another Brick In The Wall  (Part 2)' after black children adopted the song as their anthem in protest against inferior education. 12.) On this day in 1983, the musical "My One and Only," featuring songs by George Gershwin and Ira Gershwin, opens at the St. James Theatre in New York City and runs for 767 performances. 13.) On this day in 1986, American songwriter and producer Hugo Peretti died aged 70. Wrote and produced many classic hits, including 'Can't Help Falling In Love', 'Twistin' The Night Away', 'Shout', 'The Hustle', and 'You Make Me Feel Brand New.' 14.) On this day in 1991, Cy Coleman, Betty Comden, and Adolph Green's musical "The Will Rogers Follies" opens at the Palace Theatre in New York City, runs for 981 performances, and wins six Tony Awards. 15.) On this day in 1997, the house where Kurt Cobain committed suicide went up for sale. The asking price for the five-bedroom house built in 1902 was $3 million. The carriage house where the Nirvana guitarist died had been demolished. 16.) On this day in 2005, Matchbox Twenty singer Rob Thomas went to No.1 on the US album chart with his first solo album, Something To Be. This marked the first time a male artist from a rock group had debuted at No.1 with his first solo album since the Billboard Top 200 was introduced 50 years ago. 17.) On this day in 2010, Canadian singer Bryan Adams was given the Governor General's Performing Arts Award for his 30 years of contributions to the arts. 18.) On this day in 2013, A Minnesota man who was accused of pretending to be a member of Pink Floyd at a US hospital racked up as much as $100,000 in unpaid medical bills. Phillip Michael Schaeffer, 53, went for treatment on April 20 and claimed he was Pink Floyd singer-guitarist David Gilmour and that he didn't have health insurance. The man was treated and released from the St. Cloud Hospital, Minnesota, but not before he signed an autograph for an employee’s son. 19.) On this day in 2023, Canadian singer-songwriter and guitarist Gordon Lightfoot died at the age of 84. He had the 1971 UK No.30 single 'If You Could Read My Mind' and the 1974 US No.1 single 'Sundown'. Among his extensive discography, Lightfoot's most enduring composition is undoubtedly “The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald,” inspired by the real-life tragedy of the freighter that sank in Lake Superior in 1975, resulting in the loss of 29 crewmen. Released in 1976, the song not only achieved commercial success but also became a poignant tribute that kept the memory of the ship and its crew alive. Several of Lightfoot's albums achieved gold and multi-platinum status internationally, and his songs have been recorded by many notable artists. The Guess Who recorded a song called 'Lightfoot' on their 1968 album Wheatfield Soul; the lyrics contain many Lightfoot song titles.  Born On This Day In The Music World:  1.) Born on this day in 1582, Marco da Gagliano, Italian opera composer, born in Florence, Grand Duchy of Tuscany (d. 1643) 2.) Born on this day in 1895, Leo Sowerby, American organist and composer (Pulitzer Prize for Music, 1946), born in Grand Rapids, Michigan (d. 1968) 3.) Born on this day in 1907, Kate Smith, American singer ("God Bless America"; "When The Moon Comes Over The Mountain"), radio star, born in Greenville, Virginia (d. 1986) 4.) Born on this day in 1928, James Loden, who became known as Sonny James, is best known for his 1957 hit, 'Young Love'. Dubbed the Southern Gentleman, James has had 72 country and pop chart hits from 1953 to 1983, including 23 No.1 hits. He died on 22nd Feb 2016, aged 87. 5.) Born on this day in 1939, Judy Collins, American Grammy Award-winning eclectic singer ("Send in the Clowns"; "Both Sides Now"), writer, and activist, born in Seattle, Washington 6.) Born on this day in 1944, Reather Dixon from the American R&B girl group The Bobbettes, who had a 1957 top 10 hit song, 'Mr. Lee'. They were discovered by James Dailey, a record producer, while playing a concert at the Apollo Theater's amateur night, and signed a recording contract on the Atlantic label. Dixon died on 8 January 2014. 7.) Born on this day in 1945, American recording artist. Rita Coolidge, who was a backing singer with Joe Cocker, Leon Russell, Bob Dylan, Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, and Delaney and Bonnie. She scored the 1977 UK No.6 & US No.7 single 'We're All Alone'. Coolidge was married to singer, songwriter, and actor Kris Kristofferson from 1973 to 1980. 8.) Born on this day in 1953, American songwriter, lyricist, and record producer Glen Ballard, who is best known for co-writing and producing Alanis Morissette's album Jagged Little Pill. He was involved in the recording and writing of Michael Jackson's Thriller and Bad, and as a writer, he co-wrote Jackson's 'Man in the Mirror'.  9.) Born on this day in 1954, American guitarist, singer-songwriter Ray Parker Jr., who had the 1984 US No.1 & UK No.2 single 'Ghostbusters'. 10.) Born on this day in 1957, Steve Farris, from American pop rock band Mr Mister, who scored the 1985 US No.1 & 1986 UK No.4 single 'Broken Wings'. 11.) Born on this day in 1966, American bassist Johnny Colt with The Black Crowes, who had the 1991 hit single 'Hard To Handle' and the 1992 US No.1 & UK No.2 album The Southern Harmony And Musical Companion. The band has sold more than 30 million albums. Colt also played with Lynyrd Skynyrd. 12.) Born on this day in 1967, Tim McGraw, a country singer and actor. Many of McGraw's albums and singles have topped the country music charts with total album sales in excess of 40 million units in the US. McGraw had 11 consecutive albums debut at No.1 on the Billboard albums charts, as well as twenty-one singles hitting No.1 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. He is married to country singer Faith Hill.  13.) Born on this day in 1968, D'arcy Wretsky-Brown, bassist with American alternative rock band, Smashing Pumpkins, who had the 1995 US No.1 album Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness. 14.) Born on this day in 1999, American singer and actress Sabrina Carpenter. She first gained recognition for starring in the Disney Channel series Girl Meets World (2014–2017). In 2024, she opened for Taylor Swift at the Eras Tour. Carpenter's album, Short n' Sweet (2024), includes the singles 'Espresso' and 'Please Please Please', both of which topped the Billboard Global 200, with the latter becoming her first number-one song in the US. Have a blessed Friday and a great weekend. Take care, and GOD bless.          ... View more