Today in Music History for May 9:
In 1909, fiddler Don Messer, Canada's foremost exponent of old-time music, was born in Tweedside, N.B. "Don Messer and His Islanders" were a fixture on Canadian radio and television for more than 30 years. He died in 1973.
In 1914, Hank Snow, one of the fathers of country music in Canada, was born in Liverpool, N.S. He was heavily influenced by singer and yodeller Jimmie Rodgers, and began to perform in his style in the early '30s. Snow made his radio debut about 1933 on CHNS in Halifax, and three years later made his first recording for Victor, with whom he spent four decades. He settled permanently in Nashville about 1950, and became a U.S. citizen in 1958. Snow became a regular on the "Grand Ole Opry" in 1950, the year he recorded "I'm Movin' On" -- one of the most successful country singles ever. His other hits include "Golden Rocket" and "I've Been Everywhere." Hank Snow was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1976 and the Juno Awards Hall of Fame in 1979. On his 80th birthday in 1994, he received an honorary degree from Saint Mary's University in Halifax. He died on Dec. 20, 1999.
In 1937, David Prater, of the 1960s soul duo "Sam and Dave," was born in Ocilla, Ga. Prater and Sam Moore were one of the top acts for the Stax-Volt labels in Memphis with such hits as "Hold On, I'm Coming" and "Soul Man." "Soul Man" was revived in 1978 by "The Blues Brothers" team of comedians John Belushi and Dan Ackroyd. Prater died in a car accident in Georgia on April 9, 1988.
In 1944, country singer Jimmie Davis was elected governor of Louisiana. Davis, who wrote the country standard "You Are My Sunshine," resumed his music career after leaving politics.
In 1945, Steve Katz, vocalist, guitarist and harmonica player with such bands as "The Blues Project," "Blood, Sweat and Tears" and "American Flyer," was born in Brooklyn, N.Y. He was with "Blood, Sweat and Tears" from its 1968 formation until 1972.
In 1949, singer Billy Joel was born in suburban New York City. His hit singles have included "Piano Man," "Just the Way You Are," "My Life," "It's Still Rock and Roll to Me" and "Uptown Girl." He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1999.
In 1959, 16-year-old Wayne Newton made his Las Vegas debut at the Freemont Hotel. That first booking, scheduled to last two weeks, stretched into three years. Newton went on to become king of the Vegas showrooms, earning close to $20 million a year. He has been seen live by over 12 million people, more than have seen either Frank Sinatra or Elvis Presley in concert.
In 1962, what turned out to be a rather momentous recording contract was signed in London. Producer George Martin, of EMI subsidiary Parlophone, inked four young men who called themselves "The Beatles."
In 1965, "The Beatles" and Donovan were in the audience as Bob Dylan played the first of two nights at the Royal Albert Hall in London.
In 1970, Lynyrd Skynyrd first performed "Free Bird" in public, at the grand opening of the Jacksonville Art Museum in Florida.
In 1986, Belinda Carlisle performed her first solo show since splitting with the "Go-Go's" -- in Sacramento, Calif.
In 1989, country singer Keith Whitley died of alcohol abuse at age 33. He was found dead in bed at his Nashville-area home. The coroner said he had a blood-alcohol content five times the legal limit. At the time of his death, Whitley had just had three straight No. 1 singles -- "Don't Close Your Eyes," "When You Say Nothing At All" and "I'm No Stranger to the Rain."
In 1992, Bruce Springsteen made his network TV debut, performing three songs on "Saturday Night Live." He was promoting his two recently-released albums, "Lucky Town" and "Human Touch," which were not selling as well as had been hoped. The appearance also allowed Springsteen to showcase his new band, featuring guitarist Shane Fontayne, formerly of "Lone Justice."
In 1996, Canadian singer-songwriter Eria Fachin died of cancer in Oakville, Ont., at age 36. "Savin' Myself," from her debut album "My Name is Eria Fachin," was an international dance hit in 1988.
In 1997, Geri Halliwell of the "Spice Girls" kissed Prince Charles on the cheek and told him he was "very sexy" as they met at a Prince's Trust charity concert in Manchester, England. The prince declined an invitation to have his tongue pierced like group member Mel B.
In 2001, James Myers, who wrote "Rock Around the Clock," considered the granddaddy of all rock 'n' roll songs, died in Tampa, Fla., at age 81.
In 2005, actress Renee Zellweger married country music star Kenny Chesney on the Caribbean island of St. John in the U.S. Virgin Islands. (The marriage was annulled just four months later).
In 2009, Smokey Robinson and Linda Ronstadt were given honorary degrees at the Berklee College of Music. Smokey also delivered the school's commencement address.
In 2009, Stephen Bruton, the guitarist and songwriter who had played with Kris Kristofferson for nearly 40 years and whose songs had been recorded by Bonnie Raitt, Willie Nelson, Jimmy Buffett and others, died of complications of throat cancer. He was 60.
In 2010, singer Lena Horne, who broke racial barriers as a Hollywood and Broadway star and famed for her velvety rendition of "Stormy Weather," died at New York-Presbyterian Hospital. She was 92. In the 1940s, Horne was one of the first black performers hired to sing with a major white band and among a handful with a Hollywood contract. In 1943, she won the role of Selina Rogers in the all-black movie musical "Stormy Weather." She won a special Tony Award for her 1981 one-woman Broadway show, "Lena Horne: The Lady and Her Music."
In 2012, Gotye's "Somebody That I Used to Know" became the first song to sit atop Billboard's Hot 100, Alternative, Dance/Club Play and Dance/Mix Show Airplay charts. And with it's nine-week reign on the Alternative chart, the song surpassed Everlast's "What It Takes" as the longest-reigning No. 1 by a solo artist in the chart's 23-year history.
In 2012, Carrie Underwood became just the third woman (Linda Ronstadt, Faith Hill) to take three country albums to No. 1 on the all-genre Billboard 200 album chart when "Blown Away" debuted on top. She also became just the second country artist (Miranda Lambert) in the 47-year history of the Billboard's Top Country Albums Chart to have each of her first four albums debut at No. 1.
In 2012, Burt Bacharach and songwriting partner Hal David, the brainpower behind the unforgettable tunes "Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head" and "Close to You," were awarded the Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song. David did not attend as he was recovering from a stroke. (David died on Sept. 1)
In 2012, Andy Warhol's painting of Elvis Presley ("Double Elvis"), which shows the King as a cowboy shooting from the hip, sold for US$37 million at Sotheby's auction in New York.
In 2013, original "American Idol" judge Randy Jackson announced he would leave the FOX TV singing competition at the conclusion of the 12th season.
In 2013, Justin Bieber's "Baby" became the first song to be certified 12-times platinum (12 million) after the Recording Industry Association of America began including on-demand streams to its tally.
In 2016, Toronto rapper Drake posted a record-shattering 20 songs on the Billboard Hot 100 chart (dated May 21) - including his first No. 1 as a lead artist ("One Dance" featuring WizKid & Kyla) - with 18 coming from his new album "Views," which also debuted at No. 1 on the all-genre Billboard Album 200 chart.
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The Canadian Press
