Today in Music History for June 14:
In 1594, Orlando di Lasso, one of the greatest composers of sacred music in his era, died in Munich, in present-day Germany. He is best known for his motets based on the seven Penitential Psalms.
In 1894, the famous Massey Hall in downtown Toronto opened with a performance of Handel's "Messiah" as part of a three-day festival. The top ticket price was one dollar.
In 1923, Fiddlin' John Carson became the first country musician to be recorded by Ralph Peer, the most notable talent scout of the '20s.
In 1953, Elvis Presley graduated from the L.C. Humes high school in Memphis. His first job after graduation was with the Precision Tool Co. Then he drove a truck for Crown Electric.
In 1961, country singer Patsy Cline suffered serious head and hip injuries in a car crash in Madison, Tenn. She would die in a plane crash in May, 1963.
In 1965, Paul McCartney recorded "Yesterday."
In 1968, Ernest (Pop) Stoneman, leader of one of the most famous family groups in country music, died in Nashville at age 75.
In 1969, "The Rolling Stones" announced the formation of their own record company. "Rolling Stone" magazine said the proposed name of the label was "Pear," but it became simply, Rolling Stones Records, a subsidiary of Atlantic.
In 1969, what was billed as the biggest soul music festival ever was held in the Houston Astrodome.
In 1970, Eric Clapton's "Derek and the Dominoes" made their live debut in Britain. The group was joined by Dave Mason, who played the guitar parts performed by Duane Allman on "Layla," the only studio album from "Derek and the Dominoes."
In 1970, the "Grateful Dead" released "Workingman's Dead."
In 1970, "Blood, Sweat and Tears" became the first western rock band to play Soviet bloc countries, opening a tour of Yugoslavia, Romania and Poland.
In 1971, two American entrepreneurs, Peter Morton and Isaac Tigrett, opened the first Hard Rock Cafe in London. The chain became famous for its collection of rock and pop memorabilia.
In 1972, police used tear gas to disperse would-be gate-crashers at "The Rolling Stones" concert in Tucson, Ariz.
In 1974, David Bowie opened his "Diamond Dogs" tour at the Montreal Forum. Bowie stunned his fans by appearing with a conventional hairstyle, and wearing a light grey two-piece suit for the opening number. Gone was Bowie's flamboyant Ziggy Stardust persona.
In 1977, Canadian folksinger Alan Mills died at age 63. He made more than 30 LPs, was the host of CBC Radio's "Folk Songs For Young Folks" from 1947-59 and appeared at the 1960 Newport Folk Festival. He wrote the popular folk song "I Know An Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly."
In 1986, Oscar and Tony-winning lyricist and composer Alan Jay Lerner died of lung cancer in New York at age 67. With Frederick Loewe, Lerner wrote the Broadway musicals "Camelot," "Brigadoon" and "My Fair Lady." His first of three Oscars was for his 1951 screenplay for "An American in Paris." He added two more in 1958 for his work on "Gigi" -- Best Screenplay, and Best Song for "Thank Heaven For Little Girls." Lerner and Loewe split in 1962. Lerner's last musical was in 1983, when "Dance a Little Closer" closed after one performance.
In 1986, students at Collegiate High School in Passaic, N.J., were treated to a concert by "Bon Jovi." They won the honour by submitting the most postcards in a contest -- 1,300 cards per student.
In 1988, Edmonton pianist Angela Cheng became the first Canadian winner of the Montreal International Music Competition.
In 1989, singer Bruce Cockburn received an honorary doctor of letters degree from York University in Toronto for his work in aid of humanitarian causes.
In 1992, 38 people were slightly hurt and 28 arrested after violence broke out among 75,000 people at a beachfront sports and music festival in Belmar, N.J. The trouble started after the town asked the sponsor of the event, MTV, to close the festival an hour early after cars were vandalized.
In 1994, film and television composer Henry Mancini died in Beverly Hills, Calif., of liver and pancreatic cancer. He was 70.
In 1994, a 100th anniversary concert at Toronto's Massey Hall featured Gordon Lightfoot, "Blue Rodeo" and Ontario Premier Bob Rae, who played a tin drum during Mozart's "Toy Symphony."
In 1995, Irish blues guitarist Rory Gallagher died in London of complications following a liver transplant. He was 46. Gallagher hit his peak in 1972 and '73 with the albums "Live in Europe" and "Blueprint."
In 1995, an estimated one in four Americans watched Diane Sawyer interview Michael Jackson and his wife, Lisa Marie Presley, on ABC's PrimeTime Live. It was the couple's first interview since their surprise marriage a year earlier. They divorced the following year.
In 1997, record collector and critic Clyde Gilmour ended his more than 40-year run as host of "Gilmour's Albums" on CBC Radio. Illness forced the 85-year-old Gilmour to call it quits. He died five months later.
In 2003, jazz trombonist Jimmy Knepper died from complications of Parkinson's disease in Triadelphia, W.Va. He was 75.
In 2009, Bob Bogle, lead guitarist and co-founder of the rock band "The Ventures," known for 1960s instrumental hits including "Walk, Don't Run," died at the age of 75. The band sold millions of albums and heavily influenced other rock guitarists and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2008. The hall's website hailed "The Ventures" as "the most successful instrumental combo in rock and roll history."
In 2010, Michael Jackson, the late King of Pop, and Aretha Franklin, the Queen of Soul, were inducted into the Apollo Theatre's Legends Hall of Fame.
In 2010, Rufus Wainwright's first-ever opera, "Prima Donna," had its North American premiere in Toronto. The opera was written entirely in French by Wainwright, who was raised in Montreal. He also composed the score. "Prima Donna" was set in Paris in 1970 and tells the story of an aging opera singer trying to regain her status as a great soprano.
In 2010, Yannick Nezet-Seguin was confirmed as the musical director of the Philadelphia Orchestra, adding to his duties as principal conductor of Montreal's Orchestre metropolitaine and music director of the Rotterdam Philharmonic. (In 2016, New York's Metropolitan Opera announced he would become its music director in 2020-21, but moved it up to September 2018 after James Levine was fired for sexual abuse and harassment.)
In 2011, the $75 million mega-musical "Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark" finally debuted on Broadway after a record 183 previews. The much-anticipated show - the brainchild of Tony Award-winning director Julie Taymor with music by "U2's" Bono and The Edge - took more than eight years to make. The opening was delayed several times due to injuries, creative problems and scathing early reviews during previews, and the firing of Taymor. (It closed its Broadway run on Jan. 4, 2014, after having played 1,268 performances and grossing more than $200 million. It went on to take up residence in Las Vegas.)
In 2012, Canadian singer-songwriter Gordon Lightfoot was inducted into the U.S. Songwriters Hall of Fame along with Bob Seger, "The Gambler" songwriter Don Schlitz, Harvey Schmidt & Tom Jones (musical, "The Fantastick's"), and Jim Steinman (who wrote songs for Meat Loaf on his first two "Bat Out of Hell" albums).
In 2013, Grammy and Academy Award-winning singer Adele was named a Member of the Order of the British Empire, or MBE, for services to music in the queen's annual Birthday Honors list.
In 2017, Yoko One accepted an award from the National Music Publishers Association that declared John Lennon's 1971 hit "Imagine'' as its Centennial Song. Ono, who was credited as a co-producer, was also surprised with a co-writing credit.
In 2018, John Mellencamp, Alan Jackson, Jermaine Dupri, Kool & the Gang, Allee Willis, Bill Anderson and Steve Dorff were inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame. Neil Diamond, inducted into the Hall in 1984, received the SHF's highest honour, the Johnny Mercer Award.
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The Canadian Press
