Today in Music History for May 17:
In 1893, the Arion Male Voice Choir gave its first concert at Institution Hall in Victoria. Named for Arion, the poet-singer of ancient Greece, the choir sang at the opening of the British Columbia legislative buildings in 1898. Still in existence, it is probably Canada's oldest male choir devoted to the singing of secular music.
In 1949, Bill Bruford, the original drummer with "Yes," was born in London. "Yes" -- one of the most successful progressive rock bands of the 1970s -- was formed in London in 1968. He left the group in 1972 to join "King Crimson."
In 1963, the first Monterrey Folk Festival in California featured performances by Bob Dylan, Pete Seeger, Joan Baez and "Peter, Paul and Mary."
In 1964, Bob Dylan appeared at the Royal Festival Hall in London, his first major British concert. On the same day two years later, Dylan played Manchester, England -- a performance captured on a legendary bootleg which was finally released legally by Columbia Records in 1998. On May 17, 1967, "Don't Look Back," a documentary on Dylan's 1965 British tour, premiered in San Francisco.
In 1969, "Chicago Transit Authority" released its first album, a self-titled double album. The band was sued by the real Chicago Transit Authority and had to shorten its name to just "Chicago."
In 1971, the rock musical "Godspell" opened in New York City.
In 1975, Elton John was awarded a platinum record for sales of a million copies of his album, "Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy." It was the first album to sell a million copies on its first day of release.
In 1975, Mick Jagger tripped and, in an attempt to break his fall, put his fist through the window of a restaurant in Long Island, New York. Jagger required 20 stitches but "The Rolling Stones'" North American tour proceeded in two weeks as planned.
In 1980, singer Wayne Newton received an honorary doctorate in humane letters from the University of Nevada at Las Vegas.
In 1980, singer and drummer Peter Criss left theatrical rock group "KISS" for a solo career.
In 1985, Columbia Records presented the U.S.A. for Africa organization with the first royalty cheque for the "We Are the World" recording. Proceeds from the all-star recording session went to African famine relief.
In 1986, a 14-hour benefit concert for Ireland's unemployed was held in Dublin. Among the performers were "U2," Elvis Costello, Van Morrison, "The Pogues" and "The Boomtown Rats." An album of the concert was released in 1988.
In 1988, a deadlocked jury forced a judge in Athens, Ala., to declare a mistrial in a US$1.3 million lawsuit filed by two teenagers against the heavy metal band "Motley Crue." The two said they were injured at a 1985 concert when a special effects display propelled dry ice into the audience. One youth said he lost his right eye, the other claimed his face was cut.
In 1989, "The Who" lead singer Roger Daltrey announced at the Cannes Film Festival that he planned a new career -- as a doctor of Chinese medicine. He said he never felt his singing and acting career was a proper job and said he wanted to study herbal medicine and acupuncture.
In 1989, promoters announced the cancellation of a July 5th Montreal reunion concert by "The Who" due to poor ticket sales. There was heavy demand for tickets for the tour's other 25 dates.
In 1992, “Genesis" cancelled a performance in Tampa, Fla., after two songs because lead singer Phil Collins had a sore throat. A half-dozen people were arrested as police cleared angry fans from the arena.
In 1992, champagne music maker Lawrence Welk died at his home in Santa Monica, Calif., at age 89. People laughed at his corny music but "The Lawrence Welk Show" was a TV success for 30 years. Musical trends came and went but Welk's bouncy dance music and wholesome formula continued to find favour among older fans. The hits began in the 1930s -- among them was "Bubbles in the Wine," the band's theme song -- and continued through the mid-'60s. "Calcutta," featuring the harpsichord of Frank Scott, topped the charts in 1960.
In 1993, Stompin' Tom Connors received an honorary doctor of laws degree from St. Thomas University in Fredericton. The native of Saint John, N.B., had little formal education and said the honour meant a great deal to him.
In 1996, Willis Conover, whose Music U.S.A. program brought jazz to millions of listeners around the world, died in Alexandria, Va., of lung cancer. He was 75. Conover's show was carried by the Voice of America for more than 40 years.
In 1996, R&B guitarist and singer Johnny "Guitar" Watson died of a heart attack on stage in Yokohama, Japan. He was 61. Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton and Frank Zappa were among those influenced by Watson's playing. Samples of his guitar riffs turned up in rap recordings by Snoop Doggy Dog and Ice Cube. Watson's best-selling album was his 1977 "A Real Mother For Ya."
In 1997, Paul McCartney took to the Internet for a live chat with some of the fans who submitted more than three million questions. McCartney got through about 200 queries during the 90-minute session, most of which was broadcast live on satellite TV. He said it was likely "The Beatles" would have reunited if John Lennon had not been murdered in 1980.
In 2001, an estimated 20,000 people gathered on a section of Yonge Street in downtown Toronto for a free outdoor concert by "R.E.M."
In 2006, Paul McCartney and Heather Mills announced they were separating after four years of marriage, blaming media intrusion for their martial difficulties. They later divorced.
In 2008, Pete Wentz of "Fall Out Boy" married singer Ashlee Simpson at her parents' house in Los Angeles. (They divorced in November 2011. They had one child together, a son, Bronx.)
In 2009, Roy Clark, Barbara Mandrell and Charlie McCoy were inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.
In 2010, the National Association of Recording Merchandisers gave multi award-winning country music sweetheart Taylor Swift its Artist of the Year Award.
In 2012, "Queen of Disco" Donna Summer, whose pulsing anthems such as "Last Dance," ''Love to Love You Baby" and "Bad Girls" became the soundtrack for a glittery age of sex, drugs, dance and flashy clothes, died after a battle with cancer. She was 63.
In 2015, Taylor Swift won eight Billboard awards - including Top Artist, Top Female Artist and Billboard 200 album for "1989" - to become the most decorated artist in the show's history with 20 wins.
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The Canadian Press
