Today in Music History: April 8
1942 No. 1 Billboard Pop Hit: Glenn Miller Orchestra's "Moonlight Cocktail"Glenn Miller, King of Swing, enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1942 and was assigned to lead the Army Air Force Band. He boosted the morale of the troops with his many popular songs before mysteriously disappearing on a flight from England to Paris, France. Miller's original recordings continue to sell millions of copies.
1944 No. 1 Billboard Pop Hit: Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra's "Besame Mucho"
Jimmy Dorsey is considered one of the most important and influential alto saxophone players of the Big Band and Swing era. Dorsey had eleven number one hits with his orchestra in the 1930s and the 1940s.
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♫Still Swinging in the 40s♫
1964 The Supremes record "Where Did Our Love Go" at Motown Studios in Detroit. The song would become the first US No.1 single. Originally founded as the Primettes in Detroit, Michigan, in 1959, the Supremes were the most commercially successful of Motown's acts, who for a time even rivaled the Beatles in terms of red-hot commercial appeal. They are, to date, America's most successful vocal group with 12 No.1 singles on the Billboard Hot 100.
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♫Female Entertainer of the Year♫
Freddie & the Dreamers clowns of the British Invasion
Freddie & the Dreamers were dubbed the clowns of the British Invasion for playing their pop music for laughs while the other groups of the time were dead serious. These lads were from Manchester, England, which puts them off to the side of the "Mersey Beat" and "Brum Beat" music movements of the '60s - however they are still sometimes considered honorary members of both "British Invasion" music waves, since they were in the general vicinity and they shared a songwriter with Gerry & The Pacemakers, after all.
Freddie and the Dreamers' greatest claim to fame was the unique character of their frontman and his eccentric stage performance. First, you have the dapper little tuxedo and the chunky geek glasses. Now while he sings, he does this crazy, marching, robotic little dance where he flails his arms and legs exactly like he was a puppet on strings controlled by somebody with terrible fine motor skills. This would be punctuated by random leaps and cavorts as if he suddenly decided to try a leaping move, but changed his mind in mid-air. Inevitably one of their hit songs was "Do the Freddie" which went to #18 on the US Hot 100 in '65. [Source: Songfacts.com]
1965 No. 1 Billboard Pop Hit: Freddie & the Dreamers's "I’m Telling You Now"
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♫60s Music Revolution♫
1967 John Lennon took his Rolls Royce to coachbuilders J.P. Fallon Ltd in Surrey to enquire if they could paint his car in psychedelic colours. This was based on an idea by Marijke Koger ("The Fool" who was a member of Dutch team of gypsy artists). J.P. Fallon commissioned Steve Weaver's pattern of scroll and flowers for the Phantom V. The cost for having the work done came in at £2,000. A custom interior/exterior sound system was also installed as well as a Sony television; telephone (WEYBRIDGE 46676) and a portable refrigerator.
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♫Imagine John Lennon♫
1985 At 3:50pm GMT, over 5,000 radio stations worldwide aired the charity single by USA for Africa 'We Are The World'. The single went on to be a No.1 in the US & UK, and most Western territories. This was a benefit single for victims of famine in Africa. It raised over $60 Million, which was distributed to Ethiopia, Sudan, and other impoverished countries. Read MORE... For the stars who sang solos: Spotlight on...  Do any of today's music memories fuel your heart...yesterday, today, tomorrow? |
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