Today in Music History

[Steve M.]

On this day in 1931, March 3, "The Star-Spangled Banner" was officially made the national anthem of the United States of America.

[Steve M.]

On this day in 1953, March 5, Russian classical composer Sergei Prokofiev ("Peter and the Wolf") died, but no one really noticed because Soviet leader Joseph Stalin died the same day. I mean, guess which obitaury got more coverage in Pravda?

[Steve M.]

On this day in 1875, March 7, composer Maurice Ravel was born in France. Those of you ever saw 10 will recognize "Bolero!"

(Was "Bolero" the pompetus of love? )

[Steve M.]

On this day in 2002, March 9, I bought a vinyl copy of Family's fifth album, Fearless, at a record bourse in Secaucus, New Jersey. It was the first Family record I'd ever purchased; I had never heard Family's music before, but I was familiar with the fact of the group's existence. I brought it home and listened to it.

That was it- I never looked back!

[Steve M.]

On this day in 1956, March 15, the Lerner-Loewe musical My Fair Lady, based on George Bernard Shaw's "Pygmalion," opened on Broadway.

[Steve M.]

On this day in 1969, March 16, the musical "1776," about the writing of the Declaration of Independence, opened on Broadway.

[Steve M.]

On this day in 1990, March 17, rock bassist Rick Grech, who played in Family, Blind Faith, and Traffic, died of liver and kidney failure at age 43.

[Steve M.]

On this day in 1685, March 21, Johann Sebastian Bach was born in Eisenach, Germany.

[Steve M.]

On this day in 1918, March 25, French composer Claude Debussy died in Paris.

[Steve M.]

On this day in history, 35 years ago - Good Friday, March 27, 1970 - Joe Cocker and his Mad Dogs and Englishmen touring band, led by Leon Russell, began a two-night Easter weekend engagement at the Fillmore East in New York. (I may have posted this factoid this time last year, but what the heck! )

"I was jus' gon' say, don't get hung up about Easter." - Leon Russell

[Steve M.]

On this day in 1967, March 30, the Beatles posed for the groundbreaking cover of Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band.

[Steve M.]

Ten years ago today, March 31, 1995, the Tejano singer Selena was shot to death by the president of her own fan club. She joined Sam Cooke, John Lennon, Mountain bassist Felix Pappalardi, and Kurt Cobain (who shot himself) on the already long list of lives of popular musicians whose lives were cut short by a gun.

[Steve M.]

35 years ago today, April 1, 1970, Phil Spector oversaw the overdubbing of an orchestra on three Beatles songs -"Across The Universe," "I Me Mine," and, notoriously, "The Long and Winding Road" - for the Let It Be album. It was the last recording session for a Beatles ablum, and it featured the work of only one Beatle: Ringo, who played drums to augment the orchestra.

[Steve M.]

On this day in 1972, April 2, the Grateful Dead commenced a European tour in London. The tour yielded their Europe '72 triple live album, praised by Deadheads as the greatest live album of all time and damned by Dead haters as the worst live album of all time.

[musicradio77]

It was on this date, April 5th, 1985. That was 20 years ago:

Thousands of radio stations simultaneously played "We Are the Word" by members of the "USA for Africa" featuring Michael Jackson, Lionel Richie, Bruce Springsteen, Stevie Wonder, Diana Ross and a whole lot more. The song was #1 and sell 7,500,000 copies and raise $50 millino to the famine relief effort. The legendary Quincy Jones produced that record. But I have the song on both vinyl and 45 of the same name.