Beatles history, Feb. 17 ...
• 1967, The Beatles’ double A-sided single “Strawberry Fields Forever” / “Penny Lane” was issued as a single in the U.K.
• 1975, John Lennon released his “Rock n’ Roll” album. It was his last record before he left the music business for five years.
Elvis Presley history, Feb. 17 ...
• 1958, The Elvis Presley movie “Jailhouse Rock” opened in the U.K.
• 1958, Production for the Elvis Presley movie “King Creole” began in New Orleans, La. Filming was nearly impossible because of the large crowds in the streets.
• 1960, Elvis Presley received his first gold record for the album “Elvis.” It included the songs “Rip It Up,” ″Old Shep” and “Ready Teddy.”
Music history, Feb. 17 ...
• 1904, The original two-act version of Giacomo Puccini’s opera “Madama Butterfly” received a poor reception at its premiere at La Scala in Milan, Italy.
• 1922, Singer/songwriter Tommy Edwards was born (died 2014).
• 1923, Clarinet player/bandleader Buddy DeFranco was born (died 2014).
• 1941, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame singer Gene Pitney was born (died 2006).
• 1945, “Rum and Coca-Cola” by The Andrews Sisters hit #1 the Billboard Best Sellers in Stores record chart.
• 1955, Little Richard sent his first audition tape to Specialty Records.
• 1959, The Rivieras performed “Moonlight Serenade” on American Bandstand.
• 1960, The Everly Brothers signed with Warner Bros. Records in a 10-year contract worth $1 million.
• 1961, R&B singer Brook Benton headlined at the Apollo Theater in New York City. Aretha Franklin, a newcomer to R&B, was the opening act.
• 1962, New York Philharmonic Symphony conductor Bruno Walter died at the age of 85.
• 1962, The Beach Boys introduced a new musical style with their hit “Surfin’.”
• 1964, The first Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass concert was held in Los Angeles.
• 1966, Brian Wilson began recording the Beach Boys’ “Good Vibrations.”
• 1968, Music Explosion performed “Little Bit O’ Soul” and “Sunshine Games” on American Bandstand.
• 1969, Bob Dylan and Johnny Cash recorded an album that was never released.
• 1970, Joni Mitchell held a concert at London’s Royal Albert Hall and announced her retirement from live performances. She returned to the stage within a year.
• 1970, Maurice Gibb of The Bee Gees opened in the London stage musical “Sing a Rude Song.”
• 1971, James Taylor made his prime-time television debut on ABC’s “The Johnny Cash Show.” Taylor sang “Fire and Rain” and “Carolina on My Mind.”
• 1972, Pink Floyd began a four-night stand in London. During the stand, they premiered “The Dark Side of the Moon” a full year before it was released.
• 1973, The Gallery performed “Big City Miss Ruth Ann” on American Bandstand.
• 1976, The Eagles released their “Greatest Hits.”
• 1976, Bette Midler was awarded the “Woman of the Year” award from Harvard’s University’s Hasty Pudding Theatrical Society.
• 1977, Kalakuta Republic, the commune of Nigerian musician and activist Fela Kuti, was burnt to the ground by soldiers in Lagos, Nigeria.
• 1979, The Clash opened their first U.S. tour at The Palladium in New York City.
• 1979, The Raes performed “A Little Lovin’” and Bonnie Pointer performed “Free Me From My Freedom” on American Bandstand.
• 1982, U.S. jazz pianist/composer Thelonious S. Monk (born in 1917) died. Monk, one of the early bebop musicians of the 1940s, stopped touring and recording in the early 70s, leaving such jazz standards as “Straight, No Chaser” and “‘Round Midnight.”
• 1988, A 12-year old fan of Motley Crue set his legs on fire while trying to imitate a stunt in the band’s “Live Wire” video. The boy suffered burns over 10% of his body.
• 1989, David Coverdale (Whitesnake) and actor Tawny Kitaen were married.
• 1990, Aerosmith appeared on “Saturday Night Live.” They performed the Wayne’s World theme song while appearing in the skit as themselves.
• 1990, Janet Jackson’s single “Come Back To Me” hit #20 in the U.K.
• 1999, Bob Merrill (born in 1921), composer and lyricist, died from suicide at age 74. His work included the musicals “Carnival” and “Funny Girl” and the song “How Much Is That Doggie in the Window.”
• 2006, William Cowsill, lead singer of the family band The Cowsills, died in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, at age 58.
• 2013, Mindy McCready, 37, who hit the top of U.S. country music charts before personal problems sidetracked her career, committed suicide in Heber Springs, Ark.
• 2014, Musician and sound engineer Bob Casale, best known as Devo’s guitarist and keyboardist, died of heart failure. He engineered the first solo album for Police guitarist Andy Summers.
• 2020, American blues piano player and singer Henry Gray died at age 95. He performed with many artists, including Robert Lockwood Jr., Billy Boy Arnold, Morris Pejoe, The Rolling Stones, Muddy Waters and Howlin’ Wolf. He released more than 60 albums including recordings for Chess Records.
