Music History - August 12

In 1877, Thomas Edison finished designing his phonograph and gave the plans to mechanic John Kreusi to build. A skeptical Kreusi bet Edison two dollars that the device would never work.

In 1953, at Columbia studios in New York, the Four Lads recorded "Istanbul (Not Constantinople)."

In 1957, singer Frankie Lymon left his group the Teenagers to pursue a solo career. He was not nearly as successful as a solo artist.

In 1957, the guest performers on ABC-TV's "American Bandstand" were Gene Vincent and the Four Coins.

In 1957, Johnny Mathis released the single "Chances Are" b/w "The Twelfth Of Never."

In 1958, Elvis Presley was granted "compassionate leave" by the U.S. Army, allowing him to travel to Memphis' Baptist Memorial hospital to be at the bedside of his mother Gladys, whose health was quickly deteriorating as a result of acute hepatitis.

In 1958, "Volare (Nel Blu Dipinto di Blu)" by Domenico Modugno was the #1 song.

In 1958, in New York City, the Crests recorded "16 Candles." The song peaked at #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 charts and #4 on the R&B charts in 1959.

In 1960, Pete Best became the new drummer for the Beetles. (note the early spelling) Their previous drummer, Norman Chapman, had been called into Britain's armed forces after he had replaced Tommy Moore the month before. The band would leave for Hamburg, Germany the next day.

In 1966, the Beatles performed two shows at the International Amphitheatre in Chicago, Illinois. This was the first stop on what would turn out to be The Beatles' final US tour. Support acts were the Remains, Bobby Hebb, Cyrkle, and the Ronettes.

In 1967, Fleetwood Mac played their first show at the Windsor Jazz and Blues Festival. The band members included Mick Fleetwood, Jeremy Spencer, Peter Green and Bob Brunning. John McVie wouldn't replace Brunning until a month later, which is rather odd, since the band has always maintained that the "Mac" part of their name was taken from "McVie

In 1967, the Beatles'"All You Need Is Love," beginning with the now familiar opening to the French national anthem, "La Marseillaise," was the best selling single in America. It would top the Billboard chart a week later and reach #1 in nine other countries, including France.

In 1967, in Washington, DC, the Jimi Hendrix Experience performed at the Ambassador Theatre.

In 1967, Diana Ross And The Supremes (their new billing) lip-synced their latest single release, "Reflections," on ABC-TV's "American Bandstand."

In 1968, Jimmy Page, Robert Plant, John Paul Jones and John Bonham played together for the first time when they rehearsed in a small basement room on Gerrard Street just south of London’s Soho district. The first song they played was a version of “Train Kept A-Rollin’.”  They also played "Smokestack Lightning" and a version of "I'm Confused" (soon to become "Dazed And Confused"). The first live dates they played were as the Yardbirds, and it was not until the following month when they started to use the name Led Zeppelin.

In 1968, Big Brother and the Holding Company (with Janis Joplin as primary lead vocalist) released the legendary album 'Cheap Thrills.' It reached #1 on the Billboard charts in its eighth week in October. It kept the #1 spot for eight (nonconsecutive) weeks while the single, "Piece of My Heart" also became a huge hit. By the end of the year it was the most successful album of 1968, having sold nearly a million copies.  The cover was drawn by cartoonist R. Crumb (the band's original cover idea, a picture of the group naked in bed together, was dropped by the record company). Crumb had originally intended his art for the LP back cover, with a portrait of Joplin on the front. But Joplin, an avid fan of underground comics, and especially the work of Crumb, so loved the Cheap Thrills illustration that she demanded Columbia Records place it on the front cover. It is #9 on Rolling Stone's list of one hundred greatest album covers.

In 1969, Blind Faith made their live debut at Madison Square Garden in New York.

In 1970, at Harvard University, Janis Joplin performed her final concert. The last song of her set was George Gershwin's "Summertime."

In 1970, a memorial concert for folk music's Woody Guthrie was held at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles. Performers included Bob Dylan, Arlo Guthrie, Richie Havens, Pete Seeger, Odetta, and Tom Paxton.

In 1970, in Hollywood, Fleetwood Mac played the first of five nights at the Whisky A Go Go.

In 1971, the Carpenters released the single "Superstar."

In 1972, Jim Croce appeared on ABC-TV's "American Bandstand."

In 1972, Alice Cooper was at #1 on the UK singles chart with “School's Out.”  The singers only UK #1, which was also a #7 hit on the US chart. Cooper has said he was inspired to write the song when answering the question, "What's the greatest three minutes of your life?" Cooper said: "There's two times during the year. One is Christmas morning, the next one is the last three minutes of the last day of school."

In 1974, Bad Company's "Can't Get Enough" was released. It is their biggest-hit and is considered their most popular song which is from their 1974 self-titled debut album. As a single, this song reached #5 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart and #1 on Cashbox magazine's Top 100 Singles chart. 

In 1973, the Eagles, Joni Mitchell and Neil Young and the Santa Monica Flyers all appeared at the Corral Club in Topanga, California.

In 1977, the Police became a trio when guitarist Henri Padovani quit the group after nine months.

In 1978, the Commodores started a two-week run at #1 on the US singles chart with “Three Times a Lady.” The track also went to #1 in the U.K., becoming Motown's biggest British selling single. Lionel Richie wrote the song about his love for his wife, mother and grandmother, hence “Once, Twice, Three Times a Lady.”

In 1984, Lionel Richie closed the Olympic Games in Los Angeles with his number one smash, "All Night Long." 2.6 billion people watched on their TV sets.

In 1985, Kyu Sakamoto was killed in a plane crash, when Japanese Airlines Flight 123 crashed and burned on a thickly wooded mountain about 60 miles northwest of Tokyo. He was 43. Sakamoto had the 1963 US #1 and UK #6 single, “Sukiyaki,” which made him the first Japanese artist to hit the top of the US singles chart.

In 1986, Prince started a run of five nights at Wembley Arena, London, his first UK shows for five years.

In 1988, on their 129 Crazy Nights world tour, KISS played the first of two nights at the Ritz in New York City.

In 1989, the two-day Moscow Music Peace Festival was held at The Lenin Stadium in Moscow, Russia. Western Acts who appeared included Mötley Crüe, Ozzy Osbourne, Bon Jovi, Skid Row and Scorpions. This was the first time that an audience had been allowed to stand up and dance at a stadium rock concert in the Soviet Union. Previous to this, all concerts had to be seated.

In 1993, Jesse Tobias replaced Arik Marshall as the guitarist for the Red Hot Chili Peppers. Tobias lasted only a few weeks with the band before being replaced by Dave Navarro.

In 1994, Woodstock '94 opened in Saugerties, New York on the 25th anniversary of the Woodstock Music and Art Fair. More than 30 acts performed at the three-day event, including Red Hot Chili Peppers, Sheryl Crow, Aerosmith, Metallica, and Nine Inch Nails, for a crowd estimated at between 235,000 and 350,000 people.

In 1995, a wake was held for Jerry Garcia in Golden Gate Park, San Francisco.

In 1996, Alanis Morissette appeared at the Darien Lake Performing Arts Center, Buffalo, New York with Radiohead as support.

In 1997, blues guitarist/singer/Blues Hall of Famer Luther Allison died of lung and brain cancer at the age of 57.

In 1997, the Fleetwood Mac reunion concert, "The Dance," debuted on MTV. Footage was taken from two performances at a Warner Brothers soundstage a few months earlier, which was the first time since 1982 they had been on stage together.

In 2000, during an outdoor gig in Mancos, California as 38 Special were mid-set, the wind took hold of an overhead canopy and brought down ten tons of equipment onto the stage. The drum kit was completely crushed, but no one was seriously injured.

In 2006, founding member of Destiny's Child, LeToya was #1 on the US album chart with her debut solo album 'LeToya.' It was released six years after being dismissed from the group and staying away from the spotlight.

In 2007, it was declared Chicago Day in Cary, North Carolina and the band showed up to accept the honor.

In 2008, John Lennon's killer was denied parole for a fifth time "due to concern for the public safety and welfare." 53 year old Mark David Chapman, who is being held at New York's Attica Correctional Facility, has been in prison for 27 years since pleading guilty to the murder, which he has said he committed to gain attention. Chapman's next appearance before the board was scheduled for August 2010.

In 2009, guitarist Les Paul died in hospital in White Plains, New York at the age of 94 suffering from severe pneumonia. Paul is credited with developing one of the first solid-body electric guitars, which went on sale in 1952 and contributed to the birth of rock. He also developed other influential recording innovations such as multi-track recording and overdubbing. In the early 50s, Paul and his wife Mary Ford had a string of hits including "Mockin' Bird Hill,""How High the Moon" and "Vaya Con Dios." Among his many honors, Paul is one of a handful of artists with a permanent, stand-alone exhibit in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

In 2010, Richie Hayward, drummer and co-founder of Little Feat passed away at the age of 64 after contracting pneumonia as he battled liver cancer.

In 2012, the London 2012 Olympics ended with a spectacular musical closing ceremony. The three-hour show featured some of the biggest names of British music from decades past, including the Spice Girls, George Michael, The Who, Take That, Muse, Jessie J, Emeli Sande, Elbow, Madness, The Pet Shop Boys, One Direction, Ray Davies, Liam Gallagher, and Brian May and Roger Taylor from Queen.

celebrating birthdays today (among others):  Mark Knopfler (65), Jerry Speiser (Men at Work) (61), Pat Metheny (60), Danny Shirley (Confederate Railroad) (58) and Sir Mix-a-Lot (born Anthony Ray) (51)