by Britt Ryan | Aug 13, 2020 | Today in Music History
Bluesman Jimmy McCracklin had a hit with a catchy tune called “The Walk” back in ’57 and with the rockin’-bluesy “Just Got to Know” in ’62. Born on this day in 1921 in St. Louis, Missouri (or Helena, Arkansas), he died in San Pablo, Calif., in 2012. Also born today:...
by Britt Ryan | Aug 12, 2020 | Today in Music History
Woodstock 2, celebrating the 25th anniversary of the real Woodstock, kicked off at Winston Farm, west of Saugerties, New York, on this day in 1994. Here, Dolores O’Riordan and the Cranberries serenade the massive crowd estimated at more than half a million music...
by Britt Ryan | Aug 11, 2020 | Today in Music History
Co-creator of “the Philadelphia Sound” with longtime collaborator Leon Huff, and co-writer of such classics grroves as the “Love Train,” “Back Stabbers” and “For the Love of Money” by the O’Jays and the Grammy-winning “Me and Mrs. Jones” by Billy Paul, Kenny Gamble...
by Britt Ryan | Aug 10, 2020 | Today in Music History
A 13-year-old phenom makes history with the first live recording to hit #1 in the U.S. “Fingertips – Part 2” introduced America to the blind jazz-soul prodigy Stevie Wonder, performing that memorable harmonica solo in a Motown classic that can still inspire goosebumps...
by Britt Ryan | Aug 7, 2020 | Today in Music History
Rahsaan Roland Kirk certainly took the term “multi-instrumentalist” to heart, sometimes playing three saxophones at once while rounding out his sound with clarinets and flutes (not to mention literal “bells and whistles”). Born in the Flytown section of Columbus,...
by Britt Ryan | Aug 6, 2020 | Today in Music History
“C’mon baby, let’s do The Twist.” So sang Chubby Checker on “American Bandstand” on this day in 1960, in a TV appearance that helped launch the song to #1. In an unprecedented twist, the song returned to the #1 spot again 16 months later in January 1962. Just 19 for...
