From the MCRFB music calendar:
Events on this date: DECEMBER 4
1927: Duke Ellington’s new, larger big band opens Harlem’s legendary Cotton Club.
1956: Elvis Presley visits the Sun recording studio with his companion, Marilyn Evans, a showgirl from Las Vegas, interrupting a Carl Perkins session that featured Jerry Lee Lewis on piano. Fellow labelmate Johnny Cash also arrives and the four begin running through an impromptu jam on a series of songs they all know (mainly spirituals). Producer Sam Phillips records what would become famously known as the “Million Dollar Quartet” sessions, although they don’t get released to the public officially until the early Eighties.
1957: Because of the furor created by Elvis Presley’s recently released Christmas album, radio station CKWS in Kingston, Ontario plays the album in its entirety, opening the phones to public comment. Most listeners approve of the album.
1965: Jacques Brel makes his American debut in concert at Carnegie Hall in New York City.
1969: President Richard Nixon, Vice-President Spiro T. Agnew, and forty US governors view “simulated acid trip” films and listen to rock music in order to comprehend the generation gap.
1980: Led Zeppelin officially disbands following the death by misadventure of drummer John Bonham due to excessive alcohol intake.
1988: Roy Orbison gives what would prove to be his last concert, in (Highland Heights) Akron, Ohio. He dies two days later.
Birthdays: 1915: Eddie Heywood, Jr. 1940: Freddy “Boom Boom” Cannon. 1942: Chris Hillman (The Flying Burrito Brothers, The Byrds), Bob Mosley (Moby Grape). 1944: Dennis Wilson (The Beach Boys). 1948: Southside Johnny. 1951: Gary Rossington (Lynyrd Skynyrd; The Rossington-Collins Band).
Releases: 1961: Gene Chandler, “Duke Of Earl.” 1964: The Beatles, ‘Beatles For Sale’ (LP).
Recording: 1934: Ethel Merman, “I Get a Kick Out of You.”
Certifications: 1969: The ‘Santana’ album is certified gold. 1970: Mike Bloomfield, Al Kooper and Steven Stills’ ‘Supersession’ album is certified gold. 1972: Billy Paul’s “Me and Mrs. Jones” is certified gold. 1975: KISS’ ‘Alive! ‘ album is certified gold by the RIAA.
Charts: 1954: The Chordettes’ “Mr. Sandman” hits #1 on the charts. 1965: The Byrds’ “Turn! Turn! Turn!” hits #1 on the charts. 1965: The Kinks’ “A Well Respected Man” enters the pop charts. 1965: The Knickerbockers’ “Lies” enters the pop charts. 1971: Sly and the Family Stone’s “Family Affair” hits #1 on the charts.
Deaths: 1976: Tommy Bolin (Deep Purple; The James Gang). 1993: Frank Zappa.
And that’s just a few of the events which took place in pop music history, on this day . . . . D E C E M B E R 4
