Today in Music History for Feb. 25:
In 1873, Enrico Caruso, universally regarded as the world's greatest operatic tenor, was born in Naples, Italy. He became widely known in 1898 through his appearances in Milan, about three years after his debut at Caserta, near Naples, in the role of Faust. In 1902, he made his London debut and the following year he first appeared in the U.S. Caruso made his first recordings in 1901, and was largely responsible for the public perceiving the phonograph as a home entertainment medium rather than a toy. His recording of "Vesti La Giubba (On With the Motley)" for the Victor Company in 1907 is believed to be among the first records to sell a million copies. For more than 30 years after his death in 1921, Caruso was one of the Victor company's top-selling artists. The 1951 film "The Great Caruso," with Mario Lanza, provided renewed interest in his records.
In 1943, George Harrison, former lead guitarist for "The Beatles," was born in Liverpool, England. Although his songwriting was overshadowed by the great Lennon-McCartney team, Harrison did contribute such "Beatles" classics as "Here Comes the Sun" and "Something." His first project after "The Beatles" broke up in early 1970 was a three-record set, "All Things Must Pass," which contained the No. 1 single, "My Sweet Lord." But Harrison was later ruled to have plagiarized the song from the old "Chiffons" hit, "He's So Fine." In 1971, Harrison organized two benefit New York concerts for the people of Bangladesh. The concerts, a documentary film and a Grammy Award-winning three-record set earned more than $10 million, which was donated to UNICEF after a lengthy delay caused by legal problems. Harrison had another No. 1 hit in 1973 with "Give Me Love (Give Me Peace on Earth)," and his tribute to John Lennon, "All Those Years Ago," made it to No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1981. Harrison's 1987 comeback album "Cloud Nine," was a big hit, as was the single "Got My Mind Set On You." Harrison also teamed in the late '80s with old friends - Bob Dylan, Jeff Lynne and Roy Orbison - as "The Traveling Wilburys." Away from music, Harrison also produced films such as "Monty Python's Life of Brian." He was diagnosed with throat cancer in 1998, and survived an attack by an intruder who stabbed him several times in 1999. But the cancer later spread to his brain, and he died at the age of 58 at a friend's Los Angeles home on Nov. 29, 2001.
In 1957, "Buddy Holly and the Crickets" recorded "That'll Be the Day," their first and only No. 1 hit, at Norman Petty's studio in Clovis, N.M., after weeks of rehearsal.
In 1961, Elvis Presley played a charity concert in Memphis, his first performance since being discharged from the U.S. Army almost a year earlier.
In 1963, Vee Jay Records released the first "Beatles" record in the U.S., "Please Please Me" backed with "Ask Me Why." At the time, the single went unnoticed by the record-buying public.
In 1973, the Stephen Sondheim musical "A Little Night Music" opened on Broadway.
In 1981, singer Christopher Cross was the big winner at the Grammy Awards, picking up Album of the Year for his self-titled debut and his hit "Sailing" was named Song and Record of the Year.
In 1985, director Peter Bogdanovich sued Universal Studios for $19 million in an unsuccessful effort to get Bruce Springsteen's songs back into the score of "Mask." Bogdanovich had cut the picture to fit Springsteen's music, which Universal did not want to pay for the right to use. The studio had Bob Seger do replacement songs, which Bogdanovich called inappropriate.
In 1986, "We Are the World," the charity anthem by an all-star choir, won four Grammy Awards, including Song and Record of the Year. Lionel Richie and Michael Jackson wrote the song, which was recorded by 45 celebrities. It raised more than $33 million for African famine relief.
In 1987, Frank Sinatra's appearance on "Magnum P.I." gave the TV show its highest rating ever.
In 1992, Natalie Cole's single and album "Unforgettable" captured seven Grammy awards, including Album, Record and Song of the Year. Victoria, B.C.-native David Foster was named Producer of the Year for the album and single. The title song of "Unforgettable" was an electronically-produced duet between Cole and her father, Nat (King) Cole, who died in 1965.
Also at the 1992 Grammy awards, Vancouver rocker Bryan Adams won his first Grammy for best song written specifically for a motion picture or television -- for "(Everything I Do) I Do It For You" from "Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves."
In 1993, Toy Caldwell, who formed "The Marshall Tucker Band" with his brother Tommy in 1971, was found dead in his home in Moore, S.C. He was 45.
In 1995, singer Lyle Lovett broke his collarbone in a motorcycle accident while practicing for a segment for "Moto World" on ESPN.
In 1998, Bob Dylan won all three Grammys for which he was nominated -- Album of the Year and Best Contemporary Folk Album for "Time Out of Mind" and Best Male Rock Vocal Performance for "Cold Iron Bounds." His son, Jakob Dylan, also won a pair of Grammys, one as part of his band "The Wallflowers" for Best Rock Vocal Performance by a group for the hit "One Headlight," and it was named Best Rock Song.
In 1998, also at the Grammys Awards, Halifax-born Sarah McLachlan won two awards for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance and Best Pop Instrumental. Alanis Morissette won for Best Long-Form Music Video.
In 1998, "Rockin' Sidney" Simien, who won a Grammy award in 1985 for the zydeco hit "(Don't Mess With) My Toot Toot," died of lung cancer. He was 59.
In 2009, U.S. President Barack Obama presented Stevie Wonder with the Library of Congress' Gershwin Prize for Popular Song, honouring an artist whose lifetime work transcends musical styles to bring diverse listeners together and foster mutual understanding.
In 2010, the iTunes Store sold its 10 billionth download since its launch in 2003, "Guess Things Happen That Way" by Johnny Cash. It was bought by Louie Sulcer of Woodstock, Ga., who received a US$10,000 iTunes gift card.
In 2012, Dee Cernile, a guitarist for the Canadian hard rock band "Sven Gali," died after a battle with lung cancer. He was 46. In 1993, the band was nominated for Juno Awards in the Breakthrough Group of the Year and Rock Album of the Year categories. The group is best known for songs like "Under the Influence," "Tie Dyed Skies," "In My Garden" and "Love Don't Live Here Anymore."
In 2012, Alberta dentist Michael Zuk paid C$10,000 at a U.K. auction for a dental crown made for the King of Rock, Elvis Presley. He already owned a $31,000 rotten tooth out of the mouth of "Beatles" icon John Lennon.
In 2013, former Allman Brothers Band guitarist Dan Toler died following a two-year battle with ALS at age 65. He joined the Allman Brothers in 1979 playing on the comeback album "Enlightened Rogues" and also "Reach for the Sky." In 1982, he joined The Gregg Allman Band along with his brother, David "Frankie" Toler.
In 2014, Timothy Lambesis, lead singer of Grammy-nominated metal band "As I Lay Dying," pleaded guilty to trying to hire someone to kill his estranged wife. (In May, he was sentenced to six years in prison.)
In 2014, Peter Callander, who wrote the lyrics to hits like "The Night Chicago Died," "Billy, Don't Be a Hero" and "Daddy Don't You Walk So Fast," died of a heart attack in Haresfield, Middlesex, England. He was 74.
In 2015, thanks to his surprise album "If You're Reading This It's Too Late," Toronto rapper Drake had 14 songs on the Billboard Hot 100, tying him with The Beatles for the most songs on the chart at the same time. He broke his own record wth 21 entries on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, with all 17 tracks from the new album making the list. (In May 2016, he charted 20 songs in one week on the Hot 100 with his new album "Views").
In 2019, R&B star R. Kelly's attorney entered a not guilty plea on his client's behalf to multiple charges of criminal sexual abuse. Kelly is charged with 10 counts of aggravated sexual abuse involving four females, including three who were underage when prosecutors allege that the abuse occurred. Kelly, who was acquitted of child pornography charges in 2008, has denied wrongdoing and his attorney says he's confident the singer will be vindicated.
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The Canadian Press
