Music
Throwback Thursday: This Day In Music
1919
Singer Nat King Cole, father of Natalie Cole, was born on this day. He became the first African-American performer to host a variety TV series in 1956. He is best known for his soft baritone voice and for singles like “The Christmas Song”, “Mona Lisa” and “Nature Boy.” He died of lung cancer on February 15th, 1965.
1956
Rock Around The Clock, starring Little Richard, The Platters, and Bill Haley and his Comets, premiered in Washington DC.
1957
Elvis Presley purchased Memphis’ Graceland mansion, featuring 23 rooms and 10,000 square feet of space on 13.8 acres, for $102,500.
1962
Ray Charles started his own artist-owned record label, Tangerine. In 1973 Charles left ABC, closed Tangerine and started Crossover Records. The Raelettes had many releases that sold well, Louis Jordan was also signed as were Ike & Tina Turner, Percy Mayfield and the Ohio Players.
1967
Bobby Vee recorded “Come Back When You Grow Up.” The song was a comeback for the 24 year-old Vee, and it reached #3 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1967. The song appeared on his 1967 album, Come Back When You Grow Up.
1968
The Bee Gees made their US television debut when they appeared on CBS’ The Ed Sullivan Show, where they performed “To Love Somebody” and “Words.”
1976
Boxer Rubin “Hurricane” Carter’s murder case is reopened, largely due to the attention brought upon it by Bob Dylan’s recent hit song “Hurricane.”
1990
That’s What Friends Are For, an AIDS benefit concert at Radio City Music Hall that also serves to celebrate 15 years of the Arista label, features performances by label artists Barry Manilow, Dionne Warwick, Hall and Oates, Whitney Houston and more.
1990
In Paris, the Bastille opera opened with a performance of Berlioz’ “Les Troyens.”
1998
Van Halen released the band’s first album with lead sing Gary Cherone, titled Van Halen III.