Today in Music History for Jan. 3:
In 1917, Leon McAuliffe, one of the first country musicians to use an electric steel guitar, was born in Houston. He joined "The Light Crust Doughboys" at age 16, and two years later began his long association with Bob Wills, the King of Western Swing. After the Second World War, McAuliffe formed his own band, "The Cimarron Boys," and had hits with "Blacksmith Blues" and "Cozy Inn." He also was the composer of "Steel Guitar Rag," made famous by Wills' "Texas Playboys." McAuliffe died on Aug. 20, 1988.
In 1926, record producer Sir George Martin was born in London. He joined EMI records in 1950, producing hits by pop singers Matt Monro and Shirley Bassey. Martin signed "The Beatles" in 1962, and produced all of their records until 1969. The group's first recording session at Abbey Road -- the EMI studios in St. John's Wood, London -- took place from Sept. 4-11, 1962. Among the songs recorded were "Love Me Do" and "Please, Please Me," which became "The Beatles" first two hits in Britain. "The Beatles" chose not to use George Martin for their "Let It Be" album, but he was asked to produce their last album, "Abbey Road." The two albums were released in reverse order of recording. He had over 50 No. 1 hits in the U.S. and the U.K. Martin won six Grammys, was knighted in 1996 and inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1999. He died March 8, 2016.
In 1964, American TV viewers got their first look at "The Beatles" as Jack Paar aired a BBC performance film of the group. "The Beatles" would make their live U.S. TV debut a month later on "The Ed Sullivan Show."
In 1966, conductor Geoffrey Waddington, the founder of "The CBC Symphony Orchestra," died in Toronto at age 61.
In 1967, Carl Wilson of "The Beach Boys" refused to be sworn in after receiving a U.S. Army draft notice. Wilson said he was a conscientious objector.
In 1969, John Lennon and Yoko Ono's "Two Virgins" record sleeve, which showed them posing naked, was declared pornographic in New Jersey.
In 1970, members of "The Beatles" recorded their last song together, "I Me Mine." George Harrison later used that title for his autobiography.
In 1970, singer Davy Jones announced he was leaving "The Monkees," a year after Peter Tork quit the group.
In 1970, pioneer fiddler Clayton McMichen died at the age of 70.
In 1971, the first Canadian production of the rock musical "Hair" closed at the Royal Alexandra Theatre in Toronto after a run of slightly over a year.
In 1974, Bob Dylan and "The Band" opened their 21-city, 40-concert American tour in Chicago. Several dates were recorded for a live album.
In 1980, blues singer Amos Milburn died in Houston, Texas, at the age of 52.
In 1981, Nashville producer Felton Jarvis, who produced Elvis Presley's last recordings, died of a stroke at age 46.
In 1987, singers Diahann Carroll and Vic Damone were married at the Golden Nugget Hotel Casino in Atlantic City, N.J., by Mayor James Usry. It was the fourth marriage for both. They divorced in 1996.
In 1988, Saday Courville, who made the first known Cajun record, died in Mamou, La., at the age of 82. Courville and his brother-in-law, Dennis McGee, teamed to record that first Cajun disc, a fiddle duet, in 1928. They played together for 60 years, and made their last recording in 1987, when McGee was 94. Courville and McGee were one of the last to play in the pure Cajun style derived from the folk music of the Acadians.
In 1989, country legend Johnny Cash was released from a Nashville hospital two weeks after undergoing double-bypass heart surgery. At the time, he said he had no plans to cancel any of his tour dates that year.
In 1992, singer Jim Kerr of "Simple Minds" married actress Patsy Kensit in London. They later split up.
In 1993, it was announced that Toronto's Gasworks Tavern, which inspired the hit movie comedy "Wayne's World," was closing after 25 years of presenting hard rock and heavy metal. But following a benefit show a week later, the club's 20 staffers announced plans to renovate the club and reopen it within several months. The Gasworks helped such Toronto-based acts as "Rush," "Max Webster," "Goddo" and "Triumph" get their start.
In 1994, singer Wilson Pickett began serving a one-year sentence in a Hackensack, N.J., prison for drunken driving and assault for striking a pedestrian in 1992.
In 1995, Calgary-born broadcaster Byron MacGregor, whose narration of "Americans" made the top-five on Billboard in 1974, died in Detroit of complications from pneumonia. He was 46. MacGregor was at CKLW in Windsor, Ont., when he recorded "Americans," a tribute written and originally broadcast by Gordon Sinclair over Toronto station CFRB. Sinclair's own recording made the top-30.
In 1997, Prince -- then known as the artist formerly known as Prince -- performed a medley in an on-air tribute to Bryant Gumbel in his final appearance as co-host of NBC's "Today" show. The singer dressed up as Gumbel in a conservative dark suit, white shirt and tie.
In 2004, Britney Spears married childhood friend Jason Alexander in a spur-of-the-moment wedding in Las Vegas. The marriage lasted 55 hours before they had it annulled.
In 2008, pop star Britney Spears was hospitalized after a child custody dispute with ex-husband Kevin Federline resulted in an hours-long standoff with police.
In 2011, Donald Himes, the composer who penned the theme song to the beloved CBC-TV children's series "Mr. Dressup," died at the age of 80. He was featured alongside Ernie Coombs on the CBC children's show "Butternut Square" from 1964-65. They then re-teamed on "Mr. Dressup," which ran from 1967-96.
In 2011, Rodolfo Vazquez, the man credited by Guinness World Records as having the largest "Beatles" memorabilia collection (8,500 objects), opened a museum in Buenos Aires, Argentina, to showcase it.
In 2014, Phil Everly, the youngest of the Everly Brothers who took the high notes, died of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. He was 74. The Everlys were known for hits like "Wake Up Little Susie," Bye Bye Love" and "Cathy's Clown." Between 1957 and 1962, they had 19 top-40 hits. The two broke up amid quarrelling in 1973 then reunited in 1983. They were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Country Music Hall of Fame.
In 2016, visionary Canadian-born pianist Paul Bley, a pivotal figure in the avant-garde jazz movement known for his innovative trio and solo recordings, died at age 83. He was a child prodigy and played with Sonny Rollins, Charlie Parker and Roy Eldridge, all before he turned 21. Bley pioneered the use of electric pianos and synthesizers in the 1960s.
In 2017, 50-year-old pop superstar Janet Jackson gave birth to her first child, a boy, Eissa Al Mana. (In April, she filed for divorce to end her five-year marriage to husband Wissam Al Mana.)
In 2020, Gerry Marsden, lead singer of the 1960s British group Gerry and the Pacemakers, died. Marsden's family said the singer died at age 78, after a short illness related to a heart infection. The group found fame in the 1960s, around the same time as another Liverpool band -- The Beatles. They had such hits as "Ferry Cross the Mersey'' and the song that became the anthem of Liverpool Football Club, "You'll Never Walk Alone.''
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The Canadian Press
