Today-Music-History-Jun04

Today in Music History for June 4:

In 1894, Quebec singer and songwriter La Bolduc (Mary Rose-Anna Travers,) was born in Newport, Que. Her songs, detailing the life of ordinary Quebecers in the 1920s and '30s, were very popular at the time, and had a great influence on later Quebec singers. She died on Feb. 20, 1941.

In 1937, singer Freddy Fender, the "Bebop Kid" of the Texas-Mexico border, was born in San Benito, Texas. Over the years, he grappled with drug and alcohol abuse, was treated for diabetes and underwent a kidney transplant. He hit it big in 1975 after some regional success, years of struggling, and a stint in prison, when he turned his twangy tenor into the smash country ballad "Before the Next Teardrop Falls," making it to No. 1 on the pop and country charts. "Wasted Days and Wasted Nights" rose to No. 1 on the country chart and top-10 on the pop chart that same year, while "Secret Love" and "You'll Lose a Good Thing" also hit No. 1 in the country charts. He was diagnosed with lung cancer in early 2006 and died later that year on Oct. 14.

In 1944, Michelle Phillips of "The Mamas and the Papas" was born in Long Beach, Calif. She married John Phillips, the lead singer, in 1962 and were divorced in 1970. The group's 1965 debut album yielded the hit singles "Monday, Monday," "California Dreamin'" and "I Call Your Name." "The Mamas and the Papas," which also included Canadian Denny Doherty, broke up in the late '60s. Michelle Phillips later turned to acting.

In 1945, Gordon Waller, one-half of the 1960s British folksinging duo of "Peter and Gordon," was born in Braemar, Scotland. "Peter and Gordon" had a softer sound than most of the British groups of the period. They first hit the North American charts in 1964 with "World Without Love," written by Paul McCartney. They had a string of hit singles during the next several years, the biggest of which was "Lady Godiva" in 1966. After the duo broke up in 1968, Waller practically vanished from the music scene. Peter Asher became a talent executive with Apple Records and later managed and produced such stars as Linda Ronstadt and James Taylor. Waller died on July 17, 2009.

In 1967, "The Monkees" TV show won an Emmy award for outstanding comedy series.

In 1973, Murray Wilson, father of three of "The Beach Boys," died of a heart attack at age 55. He had a good deal to say about their early careers, managing the band and negotiating their first contract with Capitol Records in 1962. Brian, Carl and Dennis Wilson later accused their father of verbal and physical abuse.

In 1974, "Band on the Run" by "Paul McCartney and Wings," both the single and the album, were certified gold in the U.S.

In 1984, "Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band" released their "Born in the U.S.A." album.

In 1986, the first of six Amnesty International shows was held in San Francisco. A crowd of 14,000 turned out to hear Kingston, Ont.-native Bryan Adams, Sting, "U2" and Peter Gabriel.

In 1986, a judge in Los Angeles ordered producers of the "Beatlemania" stage show and movie to pay Apple Corps Ltd., "The Beatles" record and holding company, $10 million. The judge ruled the show's primary purpose was to commercially exploit "The Beatles" popularity. "Beatlemania" featured four "Beatle" lookalikes who performed the group's biggest hits.

In 1990, Stiv Bators, former lead singer of "The Dead Boys" punk band, died in Paris after being struck by a car. He was 40. Bators founded the group in Cleveland in 1976, and they soon moved to New York to become part of the scene at the legendary punk club CBGB. They released two albums before breaking up in 1978.

In 1991, British police seized 23,000 copies of an album ("Efil4zaggin") by American rappers "N.W.A." A warrant had been issued under the Obscene Publications Act. But a judge cleared the album for release five months later.

In 1992, by a 3-1 margin, fans in the United States chose a young Elvis Presley to appear on a new postage stamp honouring the music legend. It was issued the following Jan. 8, which would have been Elvis' 58th birthday.

In 1994, Derek "Lek" Leckenby, the lead guitarist with "Herman's Hermits," died in Manchester, England, of cancer. He was 48. The group had such hits as "Mrs. Brown You've Got a Lovely Daughter" and "I'm Henry VIII, I Am" in the 1960s. Leckenby performed with the group until a month before his death.

In 1995, Garth Drabinsky's Canadian-bred production of "Show Boat" won five Tony Awards, including one for the best musical revival of the year on Broadway. The show had opened in Toronto in 1993. Andrew Lloyd Webber's "Sunset Boulevard" won seven Tonys, including best musical.

In 1996, a show by "Metallica" in the parking lot of Tower Records in San Jose, Calif., drew 10,000 fans. The resulting traffic jam and overworked police officers left the record store, the promoter and the band's record company facing charges of disturbing the peace, obstructing traffic and failure to get a permit.

In 1997, Ronnie Lane, bass guitarist and co-founder of "Small Faces," died of multiple sclerosis at his home in Trinidad, Colo. He was 51. Lane helped put together "Small Faces" in London in 1965 and co-wrote many of the group's songs with lead singer-guitarist Steve Marriott. They included "Itchykoo Park," the band's only North American hit.

In 1997, the body of singer Jeff Buckley was pulled from the Mississippi River in Memphis, six days after he jumped into the city's harbour. Buckley, who was 30, was in Memphis to record an album for Columbia. His father, folk singer Tim Buckley, died at 28 of a drug overdose in 1975.

In 1998, George and Ira Gershwin were honoured with a posthumous star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. The ceremony was part of a two-year tribute honouring the 100th birthdays of the songwriting brothers.

In 1998, Angel South, lead guitarist for the '70s jazz-rock band "Chase," died in Placerville, Calif., of prostate cancer. He was 55. South played on the band's debut album in 1971, which featured the hit single "Get It On."

In 2000, rapper Eminem was arrested outside a club in Warren, Mich., on two felony weapons accounts. Police say he used an unloaded pistol to hit a man kissing his wife. He was later sentenced to probation and fines.

In 2005, "Creed" announced their breakup. They reunited in 2009.

In 2008, Frank Sinatra's "Nothing But the Best" cracked the top-10 of the Billboard 200 Album chart, setting the record for the longest span between top-10 albums for a solo act at 52 years, two months and one week. "Songs for Swingin' Lovers!" entered the top-10 in April 1956.

In 2009, The National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences, which puts on the Grammy Awards, announced it eliminated the category for best polka album. In a statement, the academy said polka was scrapped to "ensure the awards process remains representative of the current musical landscape."

In 2010, Grammy-winning singer-songwriter Sheryl Crow announced she had adopted another son, Levi James, who was born April 30. Her three-year-old son Wyatt was also adopted.

In 2011, country music star Trace Adkins' Brentwood, Tenn., home was destroyed by fire. He was enroute to a performance in Alaska but returned immediately upon hearing the news. His wife and daughters were not injured.

In 2012, singer-songwriter Lionel Richie and the late Etta James were inducted into the Apollo Theater's Hall of Fame in New York City.

In 2012, Herb Reed, the last surviving original member of 1950s vocal group "The Platters" who sang on hits like "Only You" and "The Great Pretender," died. He was 83.

In 2012, Sirs Paul McCartney, Elton John, Cliff Richard and Tom Jones, along with Dame Shirley Bassey and Stevie Wonder were among the performers at a big bash in front of Buckingham Palace to celebrate Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee, marking her 60 years on the throne.

In 2013, former Jefferson Airplane drummer Joey Covington died in a car crash in Palm Springs, Calif. He was 67. He replaced Spencer Dryden as the Airplane's drummer from 1970-72. Before that, he was with the Airplane offshoot Hot Tuna and played congas on the 1969 Airplane album "Volunteers." He co-wrote several Airplane songs, including "Pretty as You Feel" and the 1976 tune "With Your Love."

In 2016, former Canadian teen idol and singer Bobby Curtola, who also made his mark internationally in 1962 with the singles "Fortune Teller" and "Aladdin," died at age 73. Curtola's career began at age 16 and his work in the 1960s yielded 25 Canadian Gold singles and 12 Canadian Gold albums. In 1972, he was signed to a five-year contract in Las Vegas, making him the first Canadian entertainer to receive a long term deal in the city. He was named to the Order of Canada in 1997.

In 2017, a star-studded lineup including Arianna Grande, Justin Bieber, Coldplay, Katy Perry, Miley Cyrus, Liam Gallagher and many others performed at the "One Love Manchester" benefit concert at the city's Old Trafford cricket ground. The event raised US$13 million for an emergency fund set up for the victims of the suicide bombing that struck as fans exited Grande's May 22 show.

In 2018, 19-year-old Shawn Mendes earned his third No. 1 album on the Billboard 200 Album chart when his self-titled release debuted on top, making him the third-youngest to achieve that feat (Justin Bieber (17), Miley Cyrus (15)).

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The Canadian Press