From the MCRFB music calendar:
Events on this date: MARCH 15
1958: Elvis Presley performs his last concert before leaving for the Army, a show at Memphis’ Russwood Park. Aside from two benefit shows in 1961, this would be the last Presley concert until 1969.
1966: Tonight’s winner at the Grammy Awards in New York City; Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass for their smash single, “A Taste Of Honey” (Record Of The Year), Frank Sinatra for his latest album, September Of My Years (Album Of The Year), and “The Shadow Of Your Smile,” (Song Of The Year).
1969: John Lennon and Yoko Ono, attempting to marry in Paris, are caught “standing in the dock at Southampton/Trying to get to Holland or France,” as later documented in the Beatles song, “The Ballad Of John And Yoko.” Passport problems keep them from boarding.
1971: CBS-TV announces it will cancel The Ed Sullivan Show, then the longest-running TV show in history, after 23 years.
1972: After Los Angeles radio station KHJ broadcasts Donny Osmond’s version of “Puppy Love” for 25 1/2 half hours straight, worried callers summons the L.A. police, who break into the studios. Turned out to be it was just a publicity stunt, and not taken over by parties involved any sort of criminal act, as some callers had speculated to police.
1975: Stoner Mick Jagger settles his paternity suit with (the beautiful) singer Marsha Hunt out of court.
1978: The Alan Freed biopic American Hot Wax, widely acclaimed as one of the best rock and roll movies of all time, premiers in New York City. The movie features performances by Jerry Lee Lewis, Chuck Berry, and Screamin’ Jay Hawkins.
1979: Elvis Costello gets in an infamous argument with Stephen Stills and Bonnie Bramlett of Delaney and Bonnie fame, at an after-party affair following Stills’ show in Columbus, Ohio. Reportedly, Costello made racist remarks to Bramlett to disgust her, in order to get her to stop her constant arguing. In retort, a very-drunk Costello refers to James Brown “as a jive-ass ……(delete N-word)” and Ray Charles “as a blind, ignorant …… (delete N-word).”
On the following day during a press conference, Costello went on to say that, “It became necessary for me to outrage these people with about the most obnoxious and offensive remarks that I could muster.” According to the story, Bramlett then responded at the bar by punching Costello in the face. Elvis later apologized to James Brown and Ray Charles personally, and, in his efforts to show his sincerity, Costello does some work with the Rock Against Racism project.
1989: The Rolling Stones sign a contract for $70 million dollars — the largest ever amount during that time — for their anticipated tour of the U.S., as had been long planned.
And that’s just a few of the events which took place in pop music history, on this day . . . . M A R C H 1 5
