Today in Music History for June 1:
In 1915, country singer Johnny Bond was born in Enville, Okla. He is best known as the composer of "Hot Rod Lincoln," a hit for both Bond and Charlie Ryan in 1960, and for "Commander Cody and the Lost Planet Airmen" in 1970. Bond died in 1978.
In 1921, composer and arranger Nelson Riddle was born in Ordell, N.J. Well-known as an orchestrator for such singers as Frank Sinatra and Linda Ronstadt, Riddle also had several hits under his own name, including the 1956 million-seller "Lisbon Antigua." He died on Oct. 6, 1985.
In 1934, pop singer Pat Boone was born in Jacksonville, Fla. At his peak in the late 1950s, he was considered a rock 'n' roller, a sort of sanitized, parent-approved alternative to Elvis Presley. The first of his more than 50 chart records came in 1955 -- a cover version of Fats Domino's "Ain't That a Shame." Boone's version went to No. 1 while Domino's reached only No. 16. Boone became one of the all-time biggest-selling pop singers, and had his own network TV series from 1957-60.
In 1948, blues singer Sonny Boy Williamson was killed during a robbery in Chicago. He was only 34. The first of two singers to perform under that name, Williamson was a major influence on later blues harp players, such as Little Walter and Junior Wells. He's best known for his 1937 recordings of "Good Morning Little Schoolgirl" and "Sugar Mama."
In 1964, "The Rolling Stones" arrived in New York to begin their first American tour. Their first date was at a high school stadium in Lynn, Mass. They also stopped in Chicago to record at the Chess studios, but a riot broke out when they tried to hold a news conference.
In 1967, "The Beatles" album "Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" was released in Britain. Two days later, it was released in North America.
In 1968, Canadian conductor Ettore Mazzoleni died in a traffic accident near Toronto. He was 62. Mazzoleni conducted several Canadian Opera Company productions, as well as guest conducting with symphony orchestras across the country. He was also a longtime principal of the Royal Conservatory of Music and the Royal Conservatory Opera School.
In 1968, "Simon and Garfunkel" reached the top of the U.S. charts with "Mrs. Robinson," a song featured in the soundtrack of the film "The Graduate." The song won a Grammy Award for the Best Contemporary Pop Performance by a Vocal Duo or Group.
In 1971, Elvis Presley's birthplace, a two-room home in Tupelo, Miss., was opened to the public.
In 1973, Robert Wyatt, the former drummer for the British progressive rock band "Soft Machine," was paralyzed after falling from a window during a party.
In 1974, Canadian rock singer Alanis Morissette was born in Ottawa. She began writing and playing songs as a little girl and at age 10 had a role on the variety show "You Can't Do That on Television." By 14, she went platinum in Canada with her dance-pop debut, "Alanis." In 1995, Alanis completely overhauled her image from bubblegum to angry rock and hit the big-time with the multi-platinum "Jagged Little Pill." The album', with songs "You Oughta Know," "Hand in My Pocket," "All I Really Want" and "Ironic," sold 15 million copies and earned several Junos and Grammys. Her follow-up albums didn't have the same commercial success.
In 1975, guitarist Ron Wood celebrated his 28th birthday by making his debut with "The Rolling Stones" in Baton Rouge, La.
In 1984, Nate Nelson, lead singer of the doo-wop group "The Flamingos," died at age 52. He was with the group when they recorded their biggest hit, "I Only Have Eyes For You," in 1959. Nelson joined "The Platters" three years later.
In 1987, 20 years to the day after it originally came out, "The Beatles" "Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" compact disc was released. It contained what some might consider a bonus -- a two-second burst of laughter and gibberish which was only available previously on European versions of the album, and a high frequency note at the end of the LP audible only to dogs.
In 1990, Mariah Carey made her national TV debut on the "Arsenio Hall Show," performing "Vision of Love."
In 1991, "The Temptations" former lead singer David Ruffin died in Philadelphia of a cocaine overdose at age 50. Ruffin, who had a history of drug problems, was the lead singer on such hits as "My Girl" and "Ain't Too Proud To Beg." After quitting the group in 1968, Ruffin had hits with "My Whole World Ended (The Moment You Left Me)" and "Walk Away From Love." Ruffin and another ex-Temptation, Eddie Kendricks, returned to the limelight in the 1980s by performing and recording with Daryl Hall and John Oates.
In 2002, four days of concerts and parades began in Britain to celebrate the Golden Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II. They included a rock concert on the grounds of Buckingham Palace.
In 2005, singer Jack White of "The White Stripes" married model Karen Elson in Brazil. Six years later, they threw a party to announce their divorce.
In 2010, Keystone Entertainment Group sued "Aerosmith" seeking damages over the band’s cancelled tour of the Prairies and Vancouver the previous summer and its refusal to schedule new dates. Lead singer Steven Tyler fell from the stage during a performance in Sturgis, S.D. on Aug. 5, 2009 and sustained a tour-ending shoulder injury. When the new North American summer tour dates were announced, there was only one Canadian stop, in Toronto.
In 2011, "American Idol" winner Scotty McCreery made the best debut on Billboard's country songs chart of any new artist since 1990 when "I Love You This Big" landed at No. 32. Idol runner-up Lauren Alaina's "Like My Mother Does" debuted at No. 49.
In 2011, Canadian singer Leonard Cohen won Spain's prestigious Prince of Asturias award for Letters for his poetic gifts and thought-provoking songs, praising him as one of the most influential authors of modern times.
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The Canadian Press