Good Wednesday afternoon, dear friend, and loyal reader. Welcome to This Day In The History Of Music. Enjoy the facts and the read. 1.) On this day in 1818, Opera venue Teatro Nuovo (now Teatro Rossini) opens with Gioachino Rossini's "La gazza ladra" (The Thieving Magpie) in Pesaro, Italy. 2.) On this day in 1865, Richard Wagner's opera "Tristan und Isolde" (Tristan and Isolde) premieres in Munich, Germany. Primarily known for his operas. Unlike most opera composers, he wrote both the libretto and the music for each of his stage works. His life was characterised by political exile, turbulent love affairs, poverty, and repeated flight from his creditors. His most famous operas include "The Flying Dutchman" and "The Ring of the Nibelung." Wagner died on February 13th, 1883. 3.) On this day in 1956, American singer, actor Pat Boone was at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'I'll Be Home.' Boone scored over 30 UK Top 40 hit singles during the 50s and early 60s and was the second biggest charting artist behind only Elvis Presley. (Side note: Onthisday.com makes no mention of this music artist's historical event.) 4.) On this day in 1964, the first edition of the official The Rolling Stones book was issued, priced at one and six (the publication ran for 30 issues). Also on this day, at producer Phil Spector’s suggestion, The Stones recorded 'It's All Over Now', 'I Can’t Be Satisfied', and 'Time Is On My Side' at Chess studios in Chicago. During the day, the Stones got to meet Muddy Waters, Willie Dixon, Buddy Guy, and Chuck Berry. 5.) On this day in 1966, Janis Joplin played her 1st live gig with Big Brother & The Holding Company, at Avalon Ballroom in San Francisco, California. (Side note: Shockingly, This Day In Music makes no mention of this music artist's historical event.) 6.) On this day in 1966, The Monkees' first recording sessions took place. These sessions featured members of the Wrecking Crew, a group of studio musicians in Los Angeles, but proved to be unsuccessful. On this same day, The Mamas & the Papas are awarded a gold record for "Monday, Monday." 7.) On this day in 1967, The Beatles Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band went to No.1 in the UK. Costing £25,000 ($42,500) to produce, the album was recorded over 700 hours of studio time. It was also the first album to print the lyrics on the sleeve. The album spent 27 weeks at No.1 on the UK chart. 8.) On this day in 1972, The Rolling Stones' double album Exile on Main Street went to No.1 on the UK chart, the band's seventh UK No.1 album. In 2010, the re-released album entered the UK chart at No.1, almost 38 years to the week after it first occupied that position. The Rolling Stones are the first act to ever have a studio album return to No.1 after it was first released. 9.) On this day in 1972, Sammy Davis Jr.'s cover of "The Candy Man" by Anthony Newley and Leslie Bricusse (from the film "Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory") goes to #1 on the charts - his biggest single. (Side note: This Day In Music makes no mention of this music artist's historical event.) 10.) On this day in 1974, "Feel Like Makin' Love" single was released by Roberta Flack (Billboard Song of the Year 1974) (Side note: This Day In Music makes no mention of this music artist's historical event.) 11.) On this day in 1975, The Eagles released their fourth studio album, One of These Nights, which became the Eagles' first No.1 album on Billboard's chart. The album produced three top 10 singles: 'One of These Nights', 'Lyin' Eyes', and 'Take It to the Limit'. 12.) On this day in 1978, John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John went to No.1 on the US singles chart with You’re the One That I Want. ‘You’re the One That I Want’ was one of the two singles, along with ‘Hopelessly Devoted to You’, written by Australian producer and musician John Farrar specifically for Newton-John’s appearance in the 1978 film version of the musical Grease. (Side note: Shockingly, onthisday.com makes no mention of this historic music event.) 13.) On this day in 1989, Jason Donovan was at No.1 on the UK singles chart with his version of the Brian Hyland 1962 hit 'Sealed With A Kiss'. Donovan became the first Australian act to enter the UK charts at No.1. 14.) On this day in 2001, Radiohead went to No.1 on the UK album chart with 'Amnesiac'. The band's fifth studio album debuted at No.2 on the US Billboard 200 and produced three singles, 'Pyramid Song', 'I Might Be Wrong', and 'Knives Out'. 15.) On this day in 2004, US singer and songwriter Ray Charles died aged 73. Glaucoma rendered Charles blind at the age of six. He scored the 1962 UK & US No.1 single 'I Can't Stop Loving You' plus over 30 other US Top 40 singles and the 2005 US No.1 album 'Genius Loves Company.' Charles, who was married twice and fathered twelve children by nine different women, appeared in the 1980 hit movie, The Blues Brothers, and was also the winner of 17 Grammy Awards. (Side note: Shockingly, onthisday.com makes no mention of this music artist's historical event.) 16.) On this day in 2006, the surviving members of Led Zeppelin met at a secret rehearsal space in England to run through songs for the forthcoming 02 Arena benefit tribute to Atlantic Records co-founder, the late Ahmet Ertegun. It was the first time the three members had been in the same room with instruments since their four-song set at Led Zeppelin's 1995 induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. 17.) On this day in 2007, Rihanna went to No.1 on the UK album chart with her third album Good Girl Gone Bad, featuring the single ‘Umbrella,’ which spent 10 consecutive weeks at No.1 in the UK, making it the longest-running No.1 single since Wet Wet Wet's 1994 hit Love Is All Around. The album stayed on the UK chart for a total of 177 weeks. 18.) On this day in 2009, Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page was inducted into the Mojo Hall Of Fame at the magazine's award ceremony. Singer Richard Hawley won the best album prize, while Kasabian's single ‘Fire’ was named song of the year. Mojo had become the best-selling music magazine in the UK, selling more than twice as many copies as NME. A further 16 honorary prizes were handed out. They included the classic album award, which went to The Stone Roses for their 1989 self-titled debut LP, and veteran space rockers Hawkwind accepted the Mojo Maverick honour. Born On This Day In The Music World: 1.) Born on this day in 1781, Giovanni Battista Polledro, Italian composer, born in Piovà Massaia, Kingdom of Sardinia (d. 1853) 2.) Born on this day in 1891, Al Dubin, Swiss-American lyricist ("Tiptoe Through The Tulips"; "I Only Have Eyes For You"; "You're Getting To Be A Habit With Me"), born in Zürich, Switzerland (d. 1945) 3.) Born on this day in 1901, Frederick Loewe. He was an Austrian-American composer known for his collaborations with lyricist Alan Jay Lerner. The duo is responsible for some of the most beloved musicals of the 20th century, including My Fair Lady (1956) and Camelot (1960), which left a permanent mark on American musical theatre. Loewe died on February 14th, 1988. 4.) Born on this day in 1910, Howlin' Wolf [Chester Arthur Burnett], American blues singer, guitarist, and harmonica player ("Smokestack Lightnin'"; "Killing Floor"), born in White Station, Mississippi (d. 1976) 5.) Born on this day in 1922, Judy Garland, singer, actress. Played Dorothy in the 1939 film 'The Wizard Of Oz,' sang 'Over the Rainbow' in the film, 1961 US No.1 comeback album 'Judy At Carnegie Hall'. 'Over The Rainbow' was voted the 'Song Of The Century' in a 2001 poll published in America. She died June 22nd, 1969, of a barbiturate overdose. 6.) Born on this day in 1934, American singer Gerald Gregory from the Fifties doo-wop group The Spaniels. Their 1954 hit 'Goodnite, Sweetheart, Goodnite' was featured in such films as Three Men and a Baby and American Graffiti. The Spaniels became one of the first artists to sign with Vee-Jay Records, the first large, independent Afro-American owned record label. He died on 12 February 1999. 7.) Born on this day in 1941, Shirley Owens, singer with American girl group The Shirelles, notable for their popularity in the early 1960s. They were the first all-female black group to have a No.1 hit record with 'Will You Love Me Tomorrow' in 1961. 8.) Born on this day in 1967, Darren Robinson (Human Breathbox), Rapper, The Fat Boys, (1988 UK No.2 single 'Wipe-out'). He was also known as Buffy, The Human Beat Box, and DJ Doctor Nice. He, along with Doug E. Fresh and others, was a pioneer of beatboxing, a form of vocal percussion used in many rap groups throughout the 1980s and 1990s. He died on 10th December 1995 at the age of 28. 9.) Born on this day in 1973, American singer-songwriter Faith Evans, who had the 1997 US & UK No.1 single with Puff Daddy 'I'll Be Missing You', and the 2000 UK hit single with Whitney Houston 'Heartbreak Hotel'. 10.) Born on this day in 2004, American pop singer Taylor Gayle Rutherfurd, better known by her mononym Gayle (stylized as GAYLE). She released the single 'ABCDEFU' in 2021, which charted worldwide, including reaching No.1 in the United Kingdom. Have a blessed day, take care, and GOD bless.
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