Today in Music History for Dec. 13:
In 1835, Phillips Brooks, American Episcopal clergyman and hymn writer, was born. Though he produced 10 volumes of sermons, he is better remembered as the author of the Christmas carol, "O Little Town of Bethlehem," written in 1868 for the children of his Sunday school.
In 1928, George Gershwin's musical work "An American in Paris" made its debut at New York's Carnegie Hall. This tone poem contained elements of jazz, as well as making use of realistic sound effects.
In 1934, Lulu Belle and Scotty Wiseman, one of the most popular husband-and-wife teams in the history of country music, were married. Lulu Belle and Scotty were regulars on the National Barn Dance radio show, which originated from WLS in Chicago, from 1933-58. Scotty Wiseman wrote the country music standard "Mountain Dew," as well as the duo's biggest hit, "Have I Told You Lately That I Love You?"
In 1942, the "Canadian Army Radio Show" debuted on CBC radio. Among the cast of the musical review were comedians Johnny Wayne and Frank Shuster. The success of the musical review prompted a touring stage version to entertain the troops, promote recruitment and bolster civilian morale.
In 1948, Tony Gomez, organist with the 1960s British rock group "The Foundations," was born in Ceylon. The group had a million-seller with their first release, "Baby, Now That I've Found You," in 1967. The group's "Build Me Up Buttercup" also sold a million in 1969.
In 1948, heavy metal rock singer and guitarist Ted Nugent was born in Detroit. His early recordings were with a band called "The Amboy Dukes," who had a top-20 hit in 1968 with "Journey to the Centre of Your Mind." Nugent's popularity peaked in the late 1970s. "Cat Scratch Fever," which reached No. 30 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1977, was his biggest hit. In 1989, Nugent formed "Damn Yankees" with ex-"Styx" member Tommy Shaw and Jack Blades, formerly of "Night Ranger." Their 1990 single "High Enough" went to No. 3 on the Billboard chart.
In 1949, Randy Owen, lead singer of "Alabama," was born. "Alabama," a quartet from Fort Payne, Ala., was the hottest country group of the 1980s. Among their 41 No. 1 hits were "Feels So Right," "Love in the First Degree," "Take Me Down" and "When We Make Love." In 2008, he released his first solo album, "One on One."
In 1963, "The Beatles" ended their third British tour at the Gaumont Theatre in Southampton. The year 1963 was also the year "Beatles" records began to appear in North America. When Vee Jay records in the U.S. released their first "Beatles'" single that year, "Please Please Me," the group's name was misspelled on the label with two "t's." The early "Beatle" hits were later gathered on a Vee Jay album, together with songs by "The Four Seasons." The LP was billed as "The International Battle of the Century."
In 1974, former "Beatle" George Harrison had lunch at the White House at the invitation of Jack Ford -- U.S. President Gerald Ford's son. Harrison was the first rock musician to be invited to the White House.
In 1985, rock singer Phil Collins appeared as a sleazy game show host on an episode of "Miami Vice."
In 1987, Paul Simon, Billy Joel and Bruce Springsteen performed together on Springsteen's "Glory Days." The occasion was a benefit for the New York Children's Health Project.
In 1989, Sammy Lerner, the songwriter who penned "I'm Popeye the Sailor Man" in 1932, died in Los Angeles at the age of 86. He wasn't proud of the "Popeye" song, and said he'd rather be remembered for his serious lyrics in songs like "Is It True What They Say About Dixie" and "Falling in Love Again."
In 1992, an estimated 150,000 people showed up for a free "Scorpions" concert in Frankfurt, Germany. The concert was aimed at protesting violence by radical rightists.
In 2001, the Cavern Club in Liverpool, where "The Beatles" launched their career in the early 1960s, was sold as part of a $16 million real estate deal.
In 2007, country music star Taylor Swift's "Our Song" reached the top of the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. It was her first No. 1 and, at 18, she became the youngest sole writer and singer of a No. 1 country song.
In 2009, country music star Taylor Swift celebrated her 20th birthday by donating $250,000 to schools she either attended or worked with to pay for teacher salaries, buy supplies and fund educational programs.
In 2009, Yvonne King Burch, who gained early fame as one of the singing "King Sisters" during the big band era before launching her entire extended musical clan into show business as the King Family, died at age 89.
In 2010, former "Beatle" Paul McCartney performed at New York's famed Apollo Theater for the first time. The live radio broadcast was an invitation-only event mainly for Sirius XM listeners to celebrate the station reaching 20 million subscribers but many celebrities also attended including Keith Richards, Rob Thomas, Steve Van Zandt, Tony Bennett and Jerry Seinfeld.
In 2010, Canadian teen sensation Justin Bieber topped the 2010 YouTube list of most watched videos globally. His music video for "Baby," was viewed 408 million times. Bieber also held the No. 6 ("Never Say Never"), No. 7 ("Never Let You Go") and No. 9 ("Somebody to Love Remix").
In 2010, rapper-actor Ja Rule pleaded guilty to attempted criminal possession of a weapon, becoming the second platinum-selling rapper set to do time after arrests in the aftermath of a star-studded hip-hop concert in July 2007. Lil Wayne was arrested separately the same night and later pleaded guilty to the same charge for which he served eight months of a year-long sentence before being released in November 2010.
In 2011, "Five Easy Pieces" producer Bert Schneider, credited for inspiring a "New Hollywood" band of independent filmmakers, died at age 78. With producer-director Bob Rafelson, he also created "The Monkees" pop band.
In 2013, Billboard announced pop crooner Bruno Mars as its Top Male and Overall Artist for 2013. Taylor Swift was the year's Top Female Artist. Hip-hop duo "Macklemore & Ryan Lewis" was the Top Group and New Act. Justin Timberlake ruled the R&B charts, while groups Florida George Line and Imagine Dragons topped the country and rock charts, respectively.
In 2013, pop diva Beyonce released her new self-titled album in an unconventional way - she announced and dropped it on the same day, available exclusively on iTunes. The CD reached retail stores on Dec. 20.
In 2014, the live stage show, "Shania: Still the One," concluded after a two-year residency at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. Twain performed just over 100 shows since its launch on Dec. 1, 2012, featuring her vast catalogue of hits aided by typical Vegas sparkle.
In 2016, Canadian-born actor Alan Thicke, a versatile performer who gained his greatest renown as the beloved dad on the sitcom "Growing Pains," died after his aorta ruptured. He was 69. Thicke, father of "Blurred Lines" singer Robin Thicke, was also a composer, writer and once a popular talk show host on Canadian television before making his name in the U.S. He composed the original theme for "The Wheel of Fortune" and other shows including "The Facts of Life" and "Diff'rent Strokes." In 2013, he was inducted into Canada's Walk of Fame.
In 2017, iconic singer Nina Simone and New Jersey rockers Bon Jovi led the 2018 class of Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees, that also included The Cars, Dire Straits, The Moody Blues and gospel singer Sister Rosetta Tharpe. They were inducted on April 14 2018 in Cleveland.)
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The Canadian Press
