HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — Jazz composer and pianist Dave Brubeck, whose pioneering style in pieces such as “Take Five” caught listeners’ ears with exotic, challenging rhythms, has died. He was 91.
Brubeck died Wednesday morning at Norwalk Hospital of heart failure after being stricken while on his way to a cardiology appointment with his son Darius, said his manager Russell Gloyd. Brubeck would have turned 92 on Thursday.
From the MCRFB music calendar:
Events on this date: DECEMBER 5
1936: Bing Crosby takes over as host of the Kraft Music Hall radio show.
1955: The BMI Annual Awards in New York City score big for R&B, with rhythm and blues songs winning a record eleven awards.
1956: The Alan Freed movie Rock! Rock! Rock!, starring Chuck Berry, The Flamingos, Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers, Lavern Baker, and Johnny Burnette premieres in New York City.
1960: Billboard reports that five “answer records” to Elvis Presley’s “Are You Lonesome Tonight?” have been released — four versions of “Yes, I’m Lonesome Tonight” and one “Oh, How I Miss You Tonight.”
1967: The Beatles throw a party to celebrate the opening of the Apple Boutique.
1968: Graham Nash quits the Hollies and within three days forms the “supergroup” Crosby, Stills and Nash.
1968: The Rolling Stones hold a “Beggar’s Banquet” at Elizabeth Rooms, London, to promote their release of the new album with the same name. The “banquet” ends with a pie fight.
1976: Elvis Presley falls onstage at a show in Las Vegas and sprains his ankle.
1980: John Lennon gives what would be his last interview, with Rolling Stone‘s Jonathan Cott.
2002: Elton John guest stars on NBC’s Will and Grace.
2003: Original Elvis Presley guitarist Scotty Moore undergoes surgery to repair a subdural hematoma.
Birthdays: 1899: Sonny Boy Williamson (II). 1922: Don Robertson.
1935: Little Richard. 1936: Chad Mitchell (The Chad Mitchell Trio). 1938: J. J. Cale. 1943: Mike Smith (The Dave Clark Five). 1946: Andy Kim. 1947: Jim Messina (formerly of Buffalo Springfield; Poco; Loggins and Messina).
Releases: None
Recording: None
Certifications: 1975: The ‘Fleetwood Mac’ LP is certified gold by the RIAA. 1975: Earth, Wind and Fire’s ‘Gratitude’ LP is certified gold by the RIAA.
Charts: 1964: Lorne Greene’s “Ringo” hits #1 on the charts. 1964: The Zombies’ “She’s Not There” enters the pop charts. 1964: The Kinks’ “You Really Got Me” enters the pop charts.
Deaths (Updated): December 5, 2012: Today, legendary jazz great Dave Brubeck. (See our MCRFB news brief, posted 12/05/12: ‘Dave Brubeck Dead at 91′).
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 5