From the MCRFB music calendar:
Events on this date: NOVEMBER 15
1926: The first network radio broadcast, four-and-a-half hours of of various performances from New York’s Waldorf-Astoria and other remotes around the country, airs on the new National Broadcasting Company (soon to be known as NBC).
1956: Elvis Presley’s first movie, Love Me Tender, premier’s at New York’s Paramount Theater. The King’s popularity has grown so phenomenally large during the filming on the movie that his part — originally almost a cameo — is expanded to fit his stardom. Indeed, when his role character is killed in the end of the movie, test audiences are so distraught that Elvis reappears at the end of the movie to reprise the title song. A 50 ft. cutout poster of the singer is center over the theater marquee to enhance his first starring role in the motion picture.
1959: Three ex-members of the Quarrymen — later to become known as the Beatles‘ John, Paul and George — audition for a British talent program called TV Star Search at the Hippodrome Theater in Lancashire, appearing as “Johnny and the Moondogs” while performing two Buddy Holly songs: “Think It Over” and “It’s So Easy.” Unfortunately, the trio is forced to return to Liverpool the same night, having no money to rent a hotel room, and therefore missing the next round of auditions.
1964: While on tour, Brian Jones of the Rolling Stones is admitted to Chicago’s Passavant Hospital for pneumonia, having reached a dangerous level of 105 degrees. He will miss the last four dates of the U. S. tour.
1965: The Rolling Stones make their first appearance on NBC-TV’s rock variety show Hullabaloo, performing their hit, “Get Off My Cloud.”
1968: During tonight’s Janis Joplin and the Big Brother and Holding Company concert in Tampa, Florida, a policeman tries to use a bullhorn to control a crowd that has left its seats and begun to move around, prompting Joplin to object: “Don’t **** with those people! Hey, mister, what’re you so uptight about? Did you buy a $5 dollar ticket?” The cop responds in turn by ordering the singer to inform the crowd that they need to be seated, she replies, “I’m not telling ’em s***.” Joplin left the stage after the concert, calling the cop a “son of a b**** and threatening to kick his face in, leading her to be arrested afterwards in her dressing room on a charge of publicly using ” vulgar and indecent language.” After posting a $500 dollar bail, the charges are later dropped.
1969: Hamburg, Germany’s famous rock and roll venue, the Star Club, announces it will permanently close its doors at the end of the month.
1969: The Beatles’ last photographic session graces today’s cover of the Rolling Stone. On the same day, obsessive fans looking for the “Paul Is Dead” clues on album covers and in songs push two previous Beatles albums, Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band and Magical Mystery Tour, back onto the Billboard LP charts.
1972: Harry Chapin becomes the proud father of his first child, Joshua Burke, in New York City, and event that would eventually inspire him to to put his wife’s poem,”Cat’s In The Cradle,” to music and song.
1979: NBC-TV airs The Bee Gees Special, their first, starring Willie Nelson, Glen Campbell, and little brother Andy Gibb.
1992: The Doors’ Robbie Krieger, Mark Lindsay of Paul Revere and the Raiders, Peter Noone of Herman’s Hermits, John Sabastian of the Lovin’ Spoonful, Spencer Davis, Ritchie Havens, all guest stars on tonight’s “Rock Of Ages” episode of FOX’s Married With Children.
2000: Michael Abram, the Liverpool native who broke into George Harrison’s home and stabbed him in an incident earlier in the year, is found not guilty by reason of insanity at Oxford Crown Court. Abram is ordered confined to a mental hospital for an indefinite period of time.
Birthdays: Petula Clark; 1932. Clyde McPhatter; 1932. Little Willie John; 1937. Janet Lennon (Lennon Sisters); 1946. Steve Fossen (Heart); 1949. Tony Thompson (Chic); 1954.
Releases: ‘Openings,’ (LP), Carpenters; 1969. ‘E Pluribus Funk,’ (LP), Grand Funk Railroad; 1971.
Recording: 1956: “Rock Around With Ollie Vee,” “Modern Don Juan,” “You Are My One Desire,” Buddy Holly. 1966: “Somebody To Love,” Jefferson Airplane.
Charts: NONE — for this date.
Certifications: 1978: “Le Freak,” Chic; certified gold by the RIAA.
And that’s just a few of the events which took place in pop music history NOVEMBER 15
