Today in Music History for June 3:
In 1875, French composer Georges Bizet died in Paris at age 36.
In 1942, Curtis Mayfield, a driving force in R&B music as singer, writer, producer and record company owner, was born in Chicago. Mayfield formed "The Impressions" in the late '50s with singer Jerry Butler. When their first single, "For Your Precious Love," was a huge hit in 1958, Butler went solo and Mayfield joined him as a guitarist. Mayfield re-formed "The Impressions" in 1961, and led the group during its greatest years. He wrote many of their hits, including their biggest, "It's All Right," in 1963. Mayfield left "The Impressions" in 1970 and had his biggest hit two years later with the "Superfly" film soundtrack. Mayfield was paralyzed in 1990 when a light standard fell on him before a concert in New York. He died in 1999.
In 1954, Canadian singer and songwriter Dan Hill was born in Toronto. He received early exposure as the opening act on one of Murray McLauchlan's cross-country tours. The success of his first LP and his single "You Make Me Want to Be" gained him the 1975 Juno Award as the best new male singer. Hill reached the peak of his popularity in 1977 when "Sometimes When We Touch," a song he wrote with American lyricist Barry Mann, was an international hit, selling more than two million copies. Hill received the 1977 Junos for best composer, male singer and best-selling LP. Hill made his first U.S. tour in 1978, opening concerts for Art Garfunkel. That year, he was named best new male vocalist by the American music trade magazines "Cashbox" and "Record World." In 1987, Hill was back in the top-10 with "Can't We Try," a duet with Vonda Sheppard. He continues to write songs for other artists including Rod Stewart, Barry Manilow and Tina Turner and won the 1996 Grammy Award for Producer for Celine Dion's CD "Falling Into You."
In 1957, "The Isley Brothers" -- Ronald, Rudolph and O'Kelley -- released their first record, "Angels Cried," on the Teenage label. But "The Isley Brothers" had to wait two years for their first hit -- "Shout."
In 1964, "The Rolling Stones" made their U.S. TV debut on "Hollywood Palace" hosted by Dean Martin.
In 1967, Marvin Gaye and Tami Terrell made their debut as a duo on the R&B chart with "Ain't No Mountain High Enough."
In 1970, "The Kinks" lead singer Ray Davies made an 11,000-kilometre round trip from New York to London to change one word on the recording of "Lola." The reference to Coca-Cola became cherry cola because the BBC bans commercial references in songs.
In 1972, "The Rolling Stones" began their "Exile on Main Street" tour before 17,000 fans in Vancouver. It was the their first North American appearance in three years. Keith Richards blew out two guitars during the show, which was only tepidly received by the audience. Stevie Wonder was the opening act.
In 1979, Bruce Springsteen, Boz Scaggs and Rickie Lee Jones performed together at the wedding of Springsteen's lighting director.
In 1986, charges were filed in Los Angeles against the lead singer of the punk rock band "The Dead Kennedys" and four others regarding a sexually explicit poster packaged with the group's album, "Frankenchrist." Eric Boucher, who used the stage name Jello Biafra, and the others were acquitted of distributing harmful material to minors.
In 1987, George Michael's "I Want Your Sex" was banned by the BBC and numerous U.S. radio stations. Michael said the song was about love, not lust.
In 1988, a 75-voice children's choir joined "Crosby, Stills and Nash" in "Teach the Children" at a Montreal peace concert. The event also featured Bruce Cockburn, Quebec pop star Michel Rivard and the Soviet rock band “Aquarium.”
In 1989, Stevie Wonder, Bob Geldof, Sting, Elton John and Diana Ross were among the stars participating in a global telecast to heighten awareness about the environment. The program was beamed to 100 countries. Prime Minister Brian Mulroney was among the world leaders who taped messages for the show.
In 1989, Reba McEntire married her manager, Narvel Blackstock, in Lake Tahoe. (They divorced in 2015.)
In 1990, Michael Jackson was taken to a Los Angeles-area hospital after complaining of chest pains. Tests showed he suffered bruised ribs after a vigorous dance practice in his bedroom.
In 1994, Bob McBride, the former lead singer of "Lighthouse" in the 1970s, was sentenced in Ottawa to 90 days in jail for twice robbing a drugstore to feed his heroin addiction. McBride wept as he pleaded for clemency and apologized for his crimes. The judge also ordered McBride to organize two benefit concerts to raise awareness of the dangers of drugs. McBride was plagued by drug abuse before he died at age 51 in 1998.
In 1995, a coroner in Langley, B.C., said he found no link between the suicides of three Quebec City college students and the death of Kurt Cobain. The "Nirvana" lead singer shot himself at his Seattle-area home several months before the teens were found dead of carbon monoxide poisoning in a storage locker in October, 1994. They died while listening to "Nirvana's" album "Nevermind" on their car stereo.
In 1996, Neil Finn, leader of "Crowded House," announced the New Zealand-based group was breaking up after 10 years. They have since reunited.
In 2001, singer Tom Petty married Dana York in a private Las Vegas ceremony. The couple said their vows again 18 days later before about 40 friends and family members at their Los Angeles-area home. The second ceremony for the 50-year-old groom and 37-year-old bride was performed by Little Richard.
In 2009, George Strait's "Troubadour" album was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America for sales of over one million copies. That gave him 33 different platinum albums, the most in country music and third in all genres ("The Beatles" (39) and Elvis Presley (45)).
In 2009, Koko Taylor, a sharecropper's daughter whose regal bearing and powerful voice earned her the sobriquet "Queen of the Blues," died after complications from surgery for gastrointestinal bleeding. She was 80.
In 2011, Andrew Gold, a singer, musician and composer whose songs included the 1977 hit "Lonely Boy," died in his sleep at his Encino, Calif. home. He was 59 and had been battling cancer. "Thank You For Being a Friend" was a top-40 hit for him before it was used as the theme to "The Golden Girls." He later sang the theme to "Mad About You." He also wrote or played for Art Garfunkel, James Taylor, Carly Simon, Celine Dion, Roy Orbison, Paul McCartney, Cher, Don Henley and 10cc.
----
The Canadian Press