Friday, February 12, 2016

Times Gone By...Times Remembered

Every day is a historical day, only some days are just more memorable than others. On any given day something happens somewhere some time. The moment it happens it becomes history. The impact each event has on life may be individual, nationwide or even worldwide. The extent of that impact will depend upon a person's preference (music, entertainment, sports, etc.), race and/or religion. Here are but a few for today not in any particular order other than year of the event...

This Day in History: February 12, 1773, 1809, 1908, 1909, 1973 plus Music History 1924 and 1964

February 12, 1773

View of Savannah, 1734
Image Source: en.wikipedia.org

Savannah, Georgia, a city full of historical sites with story upon story of ghosts wandering the streets and chilling the atmosphere of old Southern homes. Step back in time to the year 1773. Begin with a vision of the ship, Anne, setting sail from Britain in November, 1772 carrying 114 colonists to the New World, among them being General James Oglethorpe. On February 12, 1733, after a brief stay at Charles Town, South Carolina, Oglethorpe and his settlers landed at Yamacraw Bluff on the bank of the Savannah River. The city of Savannah was founded on that date, along with the Province of Georgia.

February 12, 1809

1864 photo of President Lincoln
with youngest son, Tad, one year
before his assassination.

Happy Birthday, Abraham Lincoln! If Abe Lincoln were alive today, he would be 207 years old. During his life span of 56 years, his monumental accomplishments led to his becoming immortalized in marble, a giant version of his face carved into a mountain, and being represented on both the paper and coin form of the United States money. The man known as “Honest Abe” is one of America’s most beloved past Presidents (the 16th President of the United States).

It is not merely for to-day, but for all time to come that we should perpetuate for our children's children this great and free government, which we have enjoyed all our lives. --Abraham Lincoln, August 22, 1864

February 12, 1908

1908 - a time of innocence and a wide-eye belief that anything was possible!

In November of 1907, the French newspaper Le Matin and The New York Times issued a challenge that would set the stage for The Greatest Auto Race on Earth and unknowingly precipitated a chain of events that helped shape the world. The challenge: to travel by car around the world from New York to Paris. And with the crack of a golden pistol, the greatest auto race on earth was begun on February 12, 1908.

To get the full impact of this event and the monumental obstacles that had to be overcome watch the trailer! Better still...get the documentary!

February 12, 1909

Over one hundred years after the birth of Abraham Lincoln, the President of the United States who freed the slaves, a group of black and white Americans founded the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). Founded Feb. 12, 1909, the NAACP is the nation's oldest, largest and most widely recognized grassroots-based civil rights organization. Its mission: to ensure the political, educational, social, and economic equality of rights of all persons and to eliminate racial hatred and racial discrimination.

February 12, 1973

The release of American prisoners of war begins in Hanoi as part of the Paris peace settlement. The first release of POWs from the Vietnam War took place on February 12, 1973. A C-141A Starlifter transport jet with a distinctive red cross on its tail lifted off from Hanoi, North Vietnam with the first flight of 40 U.S. POWs beginning their journey home through Operation Homecoming.

John McCain, Prisoner of War: A First-Person Account

Today in MUSIC History:

February 12, 1924

Cover of the original sheet music of the
two-piano version of Rhapsody in Blue.

Rhapsody in Blue by George Gershwin received its premiere in the afternoon concert, An Experiment in Modern Music, which was held on February 12, 1924, in Aeolian Hall, New York. It was performed by Whiteman and his band with Gershwin playing the piano combining elements of classical music with jazz-influenced effects.

Rhapsody in Blue has since become one of the most popular of all American concert works. This composition established Gerswin's reputation as a serious composer. One must understand the piece is written for solo piano with orchestra of large-scale harmonic and melodic structure. Gershwin himself spoke of the rhapsody as "a musical kaleidoscope of America", Rhapsody in Blue has often been interpreted as a musical portrait of New York City.

This first version is the piano solo performed by George Gershwin.

The second still features Gershwin at the piano but orchestrated.

February 12, 1964

Add captionThe Beatles live at the Carnegie Hall.
Photo via Carnegie Hall

On February 7, 1964, the Beatles Come to America! On this day, February 12, after a concert appearance at the Coliseum in Washington, D.C. (February 11), the Beatles perform two back-to-back performances at New York's Carnegie Hall completing their U.S. tour.

Bit of Beatles Trivia while on tour...