"Rod the Mod"

Today in Music History: November 13, 1976

Recording artists enter the music arena each with their own 'signatures'. Natural talent follows some with their destiny of rising to the top being set as early as pre-school. Others work their way to the top developing their special uniqueness, which could be exceptional vocalization or totally bizarre stage persona.

Welcome to the spotlight...

 Once In A Blue Moon — The Lost Album
finds Stewart tackling songs by Tom Waits, Bob Dylan,
The Rolling Stones, Stevie Nicks, and others.

 Rod Stewart pop/rock singer/songwriter known for his signature raspy voice

Roderick David Stewart, better known as Rod Stewart in the music world, is one of the best-selling music artists of all time, having sold over 100 million records worldwide. Rod (the Mod) Stewart got his lucky break at 19 years old.

He came to prominence in the late 60s and early 70s. From the late 70s through the 90s, Stewart's music often took on a new wave or soft rock/middle-of-the-road quality, and in the early 2000s, he released a series of successful albums interpreting the Great American Songbook. Since his residency debut in 2011, the two-time Rock & Roll Hall of Famer has taken Las Vegas audiences by storm with high-energy performances of his iconic hits.

Songfacts: In a 2008 Esquire interview, Steven Van Zandt said: "I remember a kid running into band rehearsal one day, in '68 or so, and saying, "You're not gonna believe this, but Rod Stewart is white!" We said, "Get outta here." We didn't believe him. There was just not that many places you could see pictures of people. There wasn't MTV and we never heard any white person sing like that. We knew he was black."

 

1976 Rod Stewart started an 8 week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Tonight's The Night'. It was Rod's second US No.1; it made No.5 in the UK after being banned by many radio stations due to song being about the seduction of a virgin. The song features whispers from actress Britt Ekland who was Stewart's girlfriend at the time.

Today's Trivia Teasers...

• 1965 The Castiles, which featured a young singer called Bruce Springsteen appeared at The Fire House, Hazlet, New Jersey. The night was billed as a Teenage Go, Go Dance.
• 1999 A report showed that The Spice Girls were the highest earners in pop during the 90's with their debut album 'Spice' selling over 20 million copies. Elton John was second with 14 million sales from 'The Lion King'.
• 1999 It was announced that Cliff Richard had signed up with Internet company Remotemusic.com, making him the first major artist to sign a deal with an online company.

And the music goes on beating to the rhythm of the changing times...