Good Thursday morning, welcome to another This Day In The History Of Music, enjoy the read. 1). On this day in 1958, Big Records released 'Our Song' by a teenage duo from Queens, New York, Tom, and Jerry. Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel grew up in the 1940s and 1950s in Queens, New York, just three blocks away from one another, and attended the same schools. In the mid/late 50s, they began performing for the first time as a duo at school dances. At age 15, Simon & Garfunkel had a recording contract with the independent label Big Records. Using the name Tom & Jerry (Garfunkel naming himself Tom Graph, a reference to his interest in mathematics, and Simon naming himself Jerry Landis, using the surname of a girl he had dated). In 1957 the single "Hey Schoolgirl" was released, with the B-side "Dancin' Wild". Alan Freed played "Hey Schoolgirl" on his radio show where it became a nightly staple. It also attracted regular rotation nationwide, sold over 100,000 copies, and reached number 49 in Billboard. Their last recording with Big Records was a cover of Jan and Dean's, "Baby Talk", but the company went bankrupt soon after its release. It failed to sell and Tom & Jerry was dissolved. Their debut studio album as Simon and Garfunkel, "Wednesday Morning, 3 A.M." was released in 1964. 2). On this day in 1962, Bruce Channel started a three-week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Hey! Baby'. An irresistible mid-tempo shuffle from the first few bars of homespun harmonica (played by Delbert McClinton), it was a seemingly effortless blend of rock, blues, country, and Cajun beats, featuring Channel's lazy, drawling vocals and an instantly catchy tune. On one of their shows, they were supported by a then-unknown Liverpool group, The Beatles, who had yet to cut their first record. John Lennon was smitten by McClinton's style of playing, and picked up some pointers that he put to use on the Beatles' very first single, "Love Me Do"; in fact, McClinton's influence can be easily detected in Lennon's harmonica playing on many early Beatles tracks from 1962 and 1963. 3). On this day in 1964, Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel recorded 'The Sounds Of Silence' as an acoustic duo. It wasn't until record company producers added electric guitar, bass, and drums, without the knowledge of Paul and Art, that the song would become a hit in late 1965. The album "Wednesday Morning 3 AM which was billed as "exciting new sounds in the folk tradition," sold about 2000 copies. When the album tanked, Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel split up. What they didn't know was that their record company had a plan. Trying to take advantage of the folk-rock movement, Columbia Records had producer Tom Wilson add electric instruments to the acoustic track, and released it as a single. Simon and Garfunkel had no idea their acoustic song had been overdubbed with electric instruments, but it became a huge hit and got them back together. Had Wilson not reworked the song without their knowledge, the duo probably would have gone their separate ways. When the song hit #1 in the States, Simon was in England and Garfunkel was at college. Paul Simon endorsed Disturbed's version after the band delivered a performance of his tune during their March 28, 2016 appearance on Conan. Simon sent David Draiman an email shortly after, saying, "Really powerful performance on Conan the other day. First time I'd seen you do it live. Nice. Thanks." Released as a single, Disturbed's cover became their highest-charting song on the Hot 100, peaking at #42. Draiman told The Wall Street Journal that he "couldn't be more flabbergasted" by the success of their cover. He added: "[It's a song] that my parents can play for their friends with pride without having to warn them not to be frightened ahead of time. I have fans saying, 'Finally, I and my mom can actually agree on music for once!'" 4). On this day in 1965, I've Got a Tiger by the Tail is an album by Buck Owens and His Buckaroos, released in 1965. It reached Number one on the Billboard Country charts and Number 43 on the Pop Albums charts. It was re-released on CD in 1995 by Sundazed Records with two bonus tracks, both live performances recorded in Bakersfield, CA at the Civic Auditorium in October 1963. The album was included in Robert Dimery's 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die. 5). ( Aretha Franklin) I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You is the tenth studio album by American singer Aretha Franklin released on March 10, 1967, by Atlantic Records. It was Franklin's first release under her contract with the label, following her departure from Columbia Records after nine unsuccessful Jazz standard albums, and marked a commercial breakthrough for her, becoming her first top 10 album in the United States, reaching number 2 on the Billboard 200. 6). On this day in 1981 Kim Carnes, "Bette Davis Eyes" is a song written and composed by Donna Weiss and Jackie DeShannon in 1974. It was originally recorded by DeShannon in that year for her album New Arrangement, but it was made popular by American singer Kim Carnes in March of 1981 when it spent nine non-consecutive weeks on top of the U.S. Billboard Hot 100. The song was #1 for five weeks but was interrupted for one week by "Stars on 45" before it returned to the top spot for another four weeks and became Billboard's biggest hit of the year. The song also became #1 in 21 other different countries and #10 in the U.K. 7). It was 34 years ago today (March 10th, 1988) that Andy Gibb died. Andy, who was the younger brother of the Bee Gees — Barry, Robin, and Maurice Gibb — died just five days after his 30th birthday from an inflammatory heart virus exacerbated by years of substance abuse. Andy, who was almost a decade younger than his brothers, had desperately wanted to become part of the group, but because of his age, he missed out on the Bee Gees’ first era of success in the late-’60s. By the time he was 19, he had emigrated from Australia to be with his brothers, who helped him sign with Robert Stigwood, who managed the group and owned their record label, RSO. Success for Andy came fast, with his brother Barry’s songwriting and producing help. He racked up three Number One hit — “I Just Want To Be Your Everything” in 1977, and “(Love Is) Thicker Than Water” and “Shadow Dancing” in 1978 — all before his 21st birthday. (Source: Remembering Andy Gibb - 106.1 The River - Classic Hits (1061theriver.com) 8). On this day in 1996, Alanis Morissette's Jagged Little Pill gained the album of the year award, it is the third studio album by Canadian singer Alanis Morissette, released on June 13, 1995, through Maverick. It was her first album to be released worldwide. Jagged Little Pill was a worldwide commercial success, topping the charts in thirteen countries. With sales of over 33 million copies worldwide, it is one of the best-selling albums of all time and made Morissette the first Canadian to achieve double diamond sales. Jagged Little Pill was nominated for nine Grammy Awards, winning five, including Album of the Year, making the then 21-year-old Morissette the youngest artist to win the top honor up to that point. Rolling Stone Magazine ranked Jagged Little Pill at #69 on its 2020 list of "The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time". 9). On this day in 2017, American singer-songwriter, actress, and producer Joni Sledge died from natural causes at age 60. She was best known as a founding member of Sister Sledge, who was best known for their hits 'We Are Family' and 'He's The Greatest Dancer. 10). On this day in 2019, American guitarist, singer, and songwriter Asa Brebner died at age 65. He was a member of The Modern Lovers led by Jonathan Richman. They are the best known for their 1976 hit ‘Roadrunner’ which Rolling Stone ranked Number 274 on their list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. 11). Born on this day in 1933, Walter Ralph Emery was an American country music disc jockey, radio, and television host from Nashville, Tennessee. Emery promoted numerous stars on his radio and TV shows and was called the **ahem** Clark of country music He gained national fame hosting the syndicated television music series, Pop! Goes the Country, from 1974 to 1980, and the nightly Nashville Network television program, Nashville Now from 1983 - 1993. From 2007 to 2015, Emery hosted the weekly program, Ralph Emery Live. Ralph Emery died on January 15th, 2022. 12). Born on this day in 1962, Gary Clark, guitarist from Scottish pop group Danny Wilson who had the 1988 UK No.3 single 'Mary's Prayer'. Clark became a successful songwriter for other music artists including Natalie Imbruglia, Liz Phair, k.d. lang, and former Spice Girls Melanie C and Emma Bunton. 13). Born on this day in 1971, Timothy Z. Mosley (Timbaland), R&B producer and rapper. With partner Magoo, he is a member of hip-hop duo Timbaland & Magoo. Produced hits for Nelly Furtado, Missy Elliott, Aaliyah, Jay-Z, Justin Timberlake, Utada Hikaru, Ludacris, and The Pussycat Dolls. 14). Born on this day in 1973, John Charles LeCompt, guitarist, with American rock band Evanescence who 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. 15). Born on this day in 1983, Carrie Underwood, American pop country music singer, winner of the fourth season of American Idol. Her debut album 'Some Hearts' is the fastest-selling debut country album in Nielsen SoundScan history. In 2010, when Carrie garnered her second win as ACM Entertainer of the Year, she became the first female artist to win the award twice, and only the 7th female to take the award in the 40-year history of the ACM category, among Loretta Lynn, Dolly Parton, Barbara Mandrell, Reba McEntire, Shania Twain, and the Dixie Chicks. 16). Born on this day in 1992, Emily Jordan Osment is an American actress, singer, and songwriter. Born and raised in Los Angeles, she began her career as a child actress, appearing in numerous television shows and films, before co-starring Gerti Giggles in Spy Kids 2: The Island of Lost Dreams and Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over. She played Lilly Truscott in the Disney Channel television series Hannah Montana and appeared in the theatrical film based on the series, Hannah Montana: The Movie. Have a great Thursday, take care, and stay safe.
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