Music History - March 4

In 1877, the Tchaikovsky's ballet "Swan Lake" debuted.

In 1951, at the RCA Victor Studio on N. Lake Shore Drive in Chicago, Pee Wee King & His Golden West Cowboys, featuring vocalist Redd Stewart, recorded "Slow Poke."

In 1955, jazz great Charlie Bird Parker played at Birdland in what would be his last public performance.

In 1957, Marty Robbins released the single "A White Sport Coat (And A Pink Carnation)."

In 1959, the winners of the first Grammy Awards were announced. Domenico Modugno's 'Volare' was Record of the Year; Henry Mancini's 'Peter Gunn' was Album of the Year and The Champs "Tequila" won best R&B performance.

In 1962, Fats Domino performed "Jambalaya" and "Let The Four Winds Blow" on CBS-TV's "The Ed Sullivan Show."

In 1963, the Beach Boys released "Surfin' USA." The song was a note-for-note copy of Chuck Berry's "Sweet Little Sixteen" with new lyrics. After Berry sued, he was granted royalties, and all further issues of the song gave him writing credit. The "Surfin' USA" single, backed with "Shut Down," was released under Capitol Records in the US in March 1963. The song peaked on the Billboard pop chart at #3, the band's first top ten hit. The B-side charted at #23. The song was re-issued in the US as a single in July 1974 backed with "The Warmth of the Sun," That single also hit the Billboard Hot 100 chart, peaking at #36.

On March 4,1966, in London, the Evening Standard newspaper published an article titled "How Does a Beatle Live? John Lennon Lives Like This." In one small part of the story, Lennon was quoted as saying, "Christianity will go. It will vanish and shrink. I needn't argue that. I'm right and will be proved right. We're more popular than Jesus right now. I don't know which will go first, rock 'n' roll or Christianity. Jesus was alright, but his disciples were thick and ordinary." Lennon later apologized, explaining that what he meant was "the way some people carry on, (screaming at their concerts) you'd think we were more popular than Jesus Christ."

The English public didn't raise an eyebrow over his remarks, but in America there was an immediate response, starting with an announcement by two radio stations in Alabama and Texas that they had banned Beatles' music from their playlists. WAQY DJ, Tommy Charles: "We just felt it was so absurd and sacrilegious that something ought to be done to show them that they can't get away with this sort of thing".  Around two dozen other stations followed suit with similar announcements. Some stations in the South went further, organizing demonstrations with bonfires, drawing hordes of teenagers to publicly burn their Beatles' records and other memorabilia.

Lennon: "I suppose if I had said television was more popular than Jesus, I might have got away with it, but I just happened to be talking to a friend and I used the words "Beatles" as a remote thing, not as what I think - as Beatles, as those other Beatles like other people see us. I just said "they" are having more influence on kids and things than anything else, including Jesus. But I said it in that way which is the wrong way."

In 1967, it was announced that Steve Winwood and his brother Muff were leaving the Spencer Davis Group after an April 2 show.

In 1967, the Rolling Stones went to #1 on the US singles chart with "Ruby Tuesday," the group's fourth US #1 single. "Lets Spend The Night Together" was the original A side but after radio stations banned the song "Ruby Tuesday" became the A side.

In 1970, Janis Joplin was fined $200 for using obscene language onstage in Tampa, FL.

In 1971, the Rolling Stones kicked off a 9-date UK tour at Newcastle City Hall, supported by The Groundhogs. Also on this day, the Stones announced that they were to become the UK's first rock and roll tax exiles, residing in France.

In 1972, Badfinger's single "Day After Day" was certified Gold.

In 1973, Pink Floyd played the first night on a 19 date North American tour at the Dane County Memorial Coliseum in Madison, Wisconsin.

In 1973, Elvis Presley released "Steamroller Blues."

In 1976, Hall & Oates recorded "Rich Girl." It debuted on the Billboard Top 40 on Feb. 5, 1977 at #38 and on March 26, 1977, it became their first (of six) #1 singles on the Billboard Hot 100. The single originally appeared on the 1976 album 'Bigger Than Both of Us.'

In 1977, at the El Mocambo Tavern in Toronto and advertised only as a performance by the opening act April Wine, the Rolling Stones recorded four tracks for their 'Love You Live' album.

In 1978, the Bee Gees achieved a rare feat on the Billboard Hot 100, with four of the top five songs performed by the Brothers (Stayin' Alive at #2, Night Fever at #5) or written by them (Samantha Sang's Emotion at #4, kid brother Andy Gibb's (Love Is) Thicker Than Water at #1). Dan Hill's "Sometimes When We Touch" was #3.

Also in 1978, the US internal Revenue Service carried out a dawn raid at the home of Jerry Lee Lewis and removed cars worth over £100,000 ($170,000) to pay off his tax debts.

In 1979, the Jackson 5's Randy Jackson was rushed to the hospital after both of his legs were broken in a car accident near Los Angeles. He nearly died when a nurse mistakenly injected him with methadone.

In 1982, Frank Zappa's son Dweezil and his daughter Moon Unit formed a band called Fred Zeppelin. Their first single was 'My Mother is a Space Cadet'.

In 1986, songwriter Howard Greenfield died of a brain tumour aged 50. Working out of the famous Brill Building with Neil Sedaka he co-wrote many hits including "Calendar Girl,""Breaking Up Is Hard To Do," and "Crying In The Rain" with Carole King. Also wrote TV theme songs including the theme to 'Bewitched.'

In 1986, after just completing a two set show with The Band in Winter Park, Florida, 41 year old Richard Manuel of The Band hung himself from a shower curtain rod in a hotel room in Florida. His band mate, Robbie Robertson honored his friend with the song, "Fallen Angel" in 1987. 

In 1989, the world's largest media company was about to be created as it was announced that Time Inc. and Warner Communications planned to merge.

In 1989, Debbie Gibson started a three week run at #1 on the US singles chart with "Lost In Your Eyes," her second US #1, a #34 hit in the UK.

In 1990, David Bowie launched his Sound and Vision world tour in Québec City.

In 1994, Kurt Cobain was rushed to hospital after overdosing on alcohol and drugs in a Rome hotel during a Nirvana European tour. Cobain had taken 50-60 pills of Rohypnol mixed with champagne; rumours on the internet claimed that Kurt was dead.

In 1996, country music entertainer Minnie Pearl died after a stroke at the age of 83.

In 1997, R&B singer Raymond Edwards of the Silhouettes died at the age of 74.

In 2001, a London record store stayed open after hours to accommodate Michael Jackson and his friend, actor Macaulay Culkin, who spent the night shopping.

In 2001, Village People singer Glenn Hughes died of lung cancer aged 50 in his Manhattan apartment in New York. He was the original "Biker" character in the disco group who scored the 1978 UK #1 & US #2 single "Y.M.C.A."

In 2001, Shaggy featuring Rikrok went to #1 on the UK singles chart with "It Wasn't Me." It became the best-selling single of 2001, and was also a #1 in the US.

In 2002, Doreen Waddell, singer with Soul II Soul was killed after attempting to run across the A27 in Brighton, England after being caught shoplifting.

In 2003, a noisy neighbour was banned from playing her music and had her stereo system impounded, after she had played Cliff Richard music too loudly. 23 year-old Sian Davies was fined £1,000 ($1,700) plus court costs after environmental protection officers raided her flat in Porth, Rhondda, Wales and seized 15 amplifiers and speakers, plus 135 CDs and cassette tapes. The disc found in her CD player was the Cliff Richard single, 'Peace in Our Time'. A spokesman for the Cliff Richard Organization said he was delighted to hear of somebody in their early 20s owning one of his many recordings. He added, Cliff would not want anyone to play his music so that it caused a nuisance.

In 2004, Brian Wilson appeared at the Clyde Auditorium, Glasgow during his 11-date UK tour. The shows saw Wilson performing the full suite of songs from his unreleased masterpiece 'Smile' Wilson's 'teenage symphony to God.'

In 2006, Jaheim was at #1 on the US album chart with 'Ghetto Classics' the American R&B singer's third album release.

In 2007, Kaiser Chiefs started a two week run at #1 on the UK album chart with their second album 'Yours Truly Angry Mob'.

In 2009, in New Orleans, Britney Spears began a world tour, her first concert tour in five years. The show featured jugglers, acrobats, martial arts dancers and Spears dressed as a ringmaster.

In 2010, singer/guitarist Lolly Vegas, lead vocalist of the band Redbone, died of lung cancer at the age of 70.

In 2011, singer Johnny Preston died of heart failure at 71.

birthdays today include (among others):   Bobby Womack (70), Chris Squire (Yes) (66), Jason Newsted (Metallica) (51), Evan Dando (Lemonheads) (47)