Today in Music History for Oct. 16:
In 1923, “The Societe Canadienne D’operette Inc.,” one of the first opera companies in Quebec, presented its first production, “Offenbach’s Les Brigands,” at the Monument National in Montreal.
In 1947, Canadian-born songwriter and entertainer Gitz Rice died in New York at the age of 56.
In 1953, “Antiphonie” by Francois Morel premiered under the direction of Leopold Stokowski as part of a concert of Canadian music at Carnegie Hall in New York.
In 1957, “You Send Me,” Sam Cooke’s first million-seller, was released. It went to No. 1 on the Billboard pop and R&B charts.
In 1967, folksinger Joan Baez was among 124 demonstrators arrested for blocking the entrance to the U.S. Armed Forces Induction Centre in Oakland, Calif. The entire group was jailed for 10 days.
In 1969, Leonard Chess, who founded the famous Chess record label with his brother, Phil, in 1950, died of a heart attack at the age of 52. Chess was the most important blues and rhythm-and-blues label of the 1950s and ’60s. Chess records was launched in 1950 with a roster that included Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf and Willie Dixon, who became the company’s chief arranger and producer. Added later were Chuck Berry and Bo Diddley, the company’s two greatest hitmakers. When Leonard Chess died, Chess Records was sold to the GRT Corp.
In 1969, Montreal dance band pianist Billy Munro, the composer of “When My Baby Smiles At Me,” died at the age of 76.
In 1972, “Creedence Clearwater Revival” announced their breakup in a press release which said the group members wished to pursue individual projects. “CCR” was the leading American singles’ band of the late ’60s, with such hits as “Proud Mary,” “Bad Moon Rising” and “Green River.”
In 1976, Stevie Wonder’s two LP set, “Songs in the Key of Life,” was released. Also included was a bonus 45. “Songs” was Wonder’s first release after re-signing with Motown for $13 million. He was in and out of the studio for 30 months preparing the album.
In 1982, Doyle Wilburn of the country music duo, “The Wilburn Brothers,” died at the age of 52.
In 1984, bluegrass banjo player Don Reno died of heart failure. Reno collaborated with Arthur Smith on the 1948 million-seller “Guitar Boogie” and the 1952 hit “I’m Using My Bible for a Roadmap.”
In 1985, “Sun City,” the protest against South African government policies by “Artists United Against Apartheid,” was released.
In 1986, jazz trumpeter Dizzy Gillespie donated his distinctive upward-angled trumpet to the Smithsonian National Museum of American History in Washington, D.C.
In 1986, some of the greats of rock ‘n’ roll gathered in St. Louis to celebrate Chuck Berry’s 60th birthday, which was actually two days later. Joining Berry on stage were Bob Dylan, Eric Clapton, Keith Richards, Linda Ronstadt and Julian Lennon. Some of the concert was used in the Berry film biography “Hail, Hail Rock ‘n’ Roll.”
In 1986, eight former members of the rock band “Lynyrd Skynyrd” agreed to an out-of-court settlement for $900,000 in a lawsuit against MCA Records for unpaid record royalties and interest.
In 1990, Art Blakey, one of the most influential drummers in jazz, died of lung cancer in New York. He was 71. Blakey’s group, “The Jazz Messengers,” was a breeding ground for young talent. At various times, the band included such future stars as Wynton and Branford Marsalis, pianist Cedar Walton and trumpeter Lee Morgan.
In 1992, members of the audience at Madison Square Garden booed Irish singer Sinead O’Connor during an all-star tribute to Bob Dylan. Two weeks earlier, O’Connor had ripped up a picture of the pope during an appearance on “Saturday Night Live.”
In 1993, Boxcar Willie helped save the life of a 66-year-old man who collapsed with a heart attack in the lobby of the country singer’s theatre in Branson, Mo. Boxcar performed CPR on the man until paramedics arrived.
In 1994, Conway Twitty’s multi-million-dollar estate, a tourist attraction known as “Twitty City,” and many of the late singer’s belongings were auctioned off in Hendersonville, Tenn. A judge ordered the auction following a dispute over Twitty’s will, which pitted the singer’s widow against three of his children. Twitty died the previous year.
In 1995, officials in Dartford, England, announced that a new performing arts centre at Mick Jagger’s old school would be named after him. Headmaster Tony Smith said “The Rolling Stones” lead singer “had an unblemished record” while he attended the Dartford Grammar School.
In 1996, a son was born in Minneapolis to the artist formerly known as Prince and his wife Mayta Garcia. The baby died a week later, apparently of complications from a rare skull deformity, but that has never been publicly confirmed.
In 2001, jazz singer Etta Jones died in New York of complications from cancer at the age of 72. Her soulful, blues-influenced recordings over more than 50 years won her acclaim and two Grammy nominations. She earned a gold record for her 1960 recording of “Don’t Go To Strangers.”
In 2003, “Simon and Garfunkel” reunited for their first concert tour in two decades, in Wilkes-Barre, Penn.
In 2008, Britney Spears set a new record on the Billboard Hot 100 with a 96-1 jump with her comeback song “Womanizer.” The record was short-lived as Kelly Clarkson’s “My Life Would Suck Without You” jumped 97-1 on Jan. 29, 2009.
In 2010, Italian singing sensation Vittorio Grigolo appeared on the Metropolitan Opera stage in front of an audience for the first time in the role of Rodolfo, the bohemian poet hero of Puccini’s ever-popular tear-jerker, “La Boheme.”
In 2010, singers David Clayton Thomas and Nelly Furtado were among seven people inducted to Canada’s Walk of Fame in Toronto.
In 2011, Taylor Swift won her fourth Songwriter-Artist of the Year award in five years at the Nashville Songwriters Association International. Kimberly Perry of “The Band Perry” won Song of the Year for “If I Die Young.” Garth Brooks and Alan Jackson were inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame along with John Bettis, Thom Schuyler and Allen Shamblin.
In 2012, Darius Rucker was inducted into the Grand Ole Opry. He rose to fame as the frontman for South Carolina rockers “Hootie and The Blowfish,” but began to pursue his lifelong passion for country music. He was the third black performer to hold Opry membership, joining Country Music Hall of Fame members DeFord Bailey and Charley Pride.
In 2014, Tim Hauser, the founder and singer of the Grammy-winning vocal troupe The Manhattan Transfer, died from cardiac arrest. He was 72. The foursome released their debut album in the early 1970s and launched hits such as “Operator” and “The Boy from New York City.” They went on to win multiple pop and jazz Grammy Awards. Their critically acclaimed album, 1985’s “Vocalese,” earned a whopping 12 Grammy nominations.
In 2016, country music singer Randy Travis was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame and stunned the audience by performing “Amazing Grace,” the first time he sang since suffering a life-threatening stroke in 2013. He was inducted along fiddler Charlie Daniels and record producer Fred Foster.
In 2024, former One Direction singer Liam Payne was found dead after falling from a third-floor hotel balcony in Argentina. Local officials said the 31-year-old Payne fell into the hotel’s courtyard, but declined to say whether he jumped or fell from the balcony by accident.
