by Britt Ryan | Aug 17, 2020 | Today in Music History
Day 2 of Woodstock (51 years ago today) featured just a few musical acts you may have heard of — the Grateful Dead, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Janis Joplin, Sly and the Family Stone, Santana and The Who, who took the stage at around 5 a.m. and ripped through a...
by Britt Ryan | Aug 17, 2020 | Today in Music History
Though she was not among the “half a million strong” who made it to Woodstock — the iconic “Aquarian Exposition: 3 Days of Peace & Music” that opened down at Yasgur’s farm on this day in 1969 — Joni Mitchell wrote the defining song about the legendary festival....
by Britt Ryan | Aug 14, 2020 | Today in Music History
Banjo wizard Steve Martin, seen here in this 1975 Johnny Carson clip, was in born Waco, Texas, on this day in 1945. Here he is performing “The Crow” from his 2009 Grammy-winning Best Bluegrass Album. Oh yeah, he’s also a famous comedian and movie star. Also born...
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’Water View Grillrdan and the Cranberries serenade the massive crowd estimated at more than half a...
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...
by Britt Ryan | Aug 5, 2020 | Today in Music History
Airto Moreira, born in Brazil on this day in 1941, was a very busy and talented jazz percussionist indeed. In addition to playing with Miles Davis and Weather Report, he can also be heard on records by Dizzy Gillespie, Herbie Hancock, Cannonball Adderley, Stan Getz,...
