Music History - December 27

In 1903, in New York City, the barbershop quartet favorite, "Sweet Adeline," was sung for the first time.

In 1932, Radio City Music Hall opened its doors to the public for the first time.

In 1939, CBS Radio presented the first airing of the musical variety program, "The Glenn Miller Show," a 15-minute broadcast that aired three times a week until 1942.

In 1957, 20,000 fans begin lining up at 5:30 in the morning for Alan Freed's Christmas show at Brooklyn's Paramount Theatre, set to kick off at 9:00 AM. The average ticket price was $1.85.

In 1957, Will Glahe and the Techniques were the guest performers on ABC-TV's "American Bandstand."

In 1958, Buddy Holly makes his first appearance in his hometown of Lubbock, Texas since becoming a major star. Along with broadcasting 'live' over KLLL radio from a fruit and vegetable store, he will return to the station's studios to record "You're The One," a song that station management challenged him to write in half an hour.

In 1960, the Beatles were a last minute addition to a show at the Litherland Town Hall Ballroom in Liverpool. Advertising posters were altered to read "Direct From Hamburg, The Beatles!", causing some to believe they were a German group.

In 1960, at Van Gelder Studios in Hackensack, New Jersey, Ray Charles and his orchestra recorded the instrumental "One Mint Julep."

In 1963, the Animals perform on their first radio broadcast on the BBC show "Saturday Club."

Also in 1963, the music critics of the London Times name John Lennon and Paul McCartney as The Outstanding Composers of 1963. Two days later, the Sunday Times' music critic Richard Buckle proclaims the same two songwriters "the greatest composers since Beethoven."

In 1964, the Supremes made their first appearance on TV's "Ed Sullivan Show."

In 1965, Davy Jones, a teen actor and not yet a Monkee, appeared in an episode of ABC-TV's medical drama series "Ben Casey."

In 1966, the Marvelettes released the single "The Hunter Gets Captured By The Game."

In 1967, the Doors performed on "The Jonathon Winters Show" on CBS-TV.

On December 27, 1967, Bob Dylan released the album 'John Wesley Harding.' The LP marked Dylan's return to acoustic music and traditional roots, after three albums of electric rock music and was well received by critics and enjoyed solid sales, reaching #2 on the US charts and topping the UK charts.  "All Along the Watchtower" became one of his most popular songs after it was covered by Jimi Hendrix the following year.  In 2003, the album was ranked #301 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time.

In 1969, the Supremes final single release with Diana Ross, "Someday We'll Be Together", becomes the last US number one song of the sixties. It made #13 in the UK.

In 1969, jazz trumpeter Miles Davis was pictured on the cover of Rolling Stone magazine.

In 1970, the Friends of Distinction sang "Grazing In The Grass" on CBS-TV's "The Ed Sullivan Show."

In 1971, the "Sonny & Cher Show" began airing on CBS. The show ran for four 1/2 years.

In 1975, the 4 Seasons released the single "December 1963 (Oh, What A Night)," featuring drummer Gerry Polci on lead vocals, with the group's longtime frontman Frankie Valli singing the bridge sections and background vocals. Originally about the repeal of Prohibition under the title "December 5th, 1933," the lyrics were changed and the song became a remembrance of a young man's "first time" with a woman.

In 1978, singer/songwriter Bob Luman died of pneumonia at the age of 41.

In 1978, singer/songwriter/guitarist Chris Bell, founder and former member of Big Star, died in a one-car accident at age 27.

In 1980, three weeks to the day after John Lennon's murder, "Starting Over" is #1 in the US and the UK simultaneously.

In 1981, composer /pianist/singer/actor Hoagy Carmichael died after a heart attack at age 82.

In 1983, Walter Scott, lead singer of Bob Kuban And The In-Men, who scored a 1966 hit with "The Cheater," was seen alive for the last time. On April 10th, 1987, his badly decomposed, bound body would be found floating face down in a cistern, shot in the back. Scott's second wife, Jo Ann (Calceterra), pled guilty to hindering prosecution in his murder. She received a five year sentence. Jo Ann's boyfriend (whom she married in 1986), James H. Williams Sr., was found guilty of two counts of capital murder in the deaths of Walter Scott as well as his previous wife, Sharon Williams. James Williams received two life terms without the possibility of parole.

In 1985, Metallica finished working on 'Master of Puppets.'

On this day in 1987, "Faith" by George Michael was the #1 song.

In 1992, singer/actor Harry Connick, Jr. was arrested at New York's Kennedy Airport after a 9mm pistol was discovered in his carry-on luggage.

In 2003, Dick St. John, one half of the singing team of Dick and Dee Dee, who recorded such hits as "The Mountain's High" (1961), "Young And In Love" (1963) and "Thou Shalt Not Steal" (1965), died from complications suffered in a fall from the roof of his home two weeks earlier. The 63 year old singer had continued to record and performed regularly until his death.

In 2003, singer/Gospel Music Hall of Famer Vestal Goodman of the Happy Goodman Family died at age 74.

In 2004, Nashville recording session guitarist Hank Garland died of a staph infection at 74.

In 2008, thieves broke into the Georgia home of singer/keyboardist Gregg Allman and stole a coin collection, knives and unreleased concert recordings. Two men where charged with the burglary two days later.

Delaney & Bonnie
In 2008, Delaney Bramlett, the guitarist who gained renown in the late 1960s as part of the rhythm and blues combo Delaney and Bonnie and Friends, died following gallbladder surgery. He was 69. Bramlett's backing band would often contain the likes of Eric Clapton, George Harrison and Dave Mason. The ensemble achieved a pair of Billboard Top 40 hits in 1971: "Never Ending Song Of Love" (#13) and "Only You Know And I Know" (#20).

birthdays today include (among others): Mike Pinder (Moody Blues) (72), Peter Sinfield (King Crimson) (70), Mick Jones (Foreigner) (69), Larry Byrom (Steppenwolf) (65) and David Knopfler (Dire Straits) (61) and Matt Slocum (Sixpence None the Richer) (41)