Today in Music History for May 31:
In 1809, composer Franz Josef Haydn died in Vienna, Austria, at age 77.
In 1913, Edward Fisher, founder of the Toronto Conservatory of Music, died at age 65. Fisher directed the conservatory from its opening in 1887 until his death. In 1947, the institution became known as the Royal Conservatory of Music of Toronto.
In 1917, the first jazz record, "Indiana" and "Darktown Strutter's Ball," was released.
In 1948, "Led Zeppelin" drummer John Bonham was born in Redditch, England. "Led Zeppelin," formed by guitarist Jimmy Page after the demise of "The Yardbirds," became the world's premier heavy metal band in the 1970s. "Zeppelin" songs, such as "Whole Lotta Love" and "Stairway to Heaven," are still played heavily on radio. Keith Moon, drummer with "The Who," is said to have been responsible for naming the band -- he said they'd go over like a lead balloon. Singer Robert Plant joined the band in 1968 and the group changed their name from "The New Yardbirds" to "Led Zeppelin." "Zeppelin's" first album went top-10 in 1969, and their second topped the charts within two months of its release. After that, each of their albums sold a million copies. By 1975, their album and concert ticket sales had made "Led Zeppelin" the most popular rock band in the world. The group released their final album in 1979. A year later, John Bonham choked to death after drinking and falling asleep at Page's home in Windsor, England. In 1982, Page released an album of previously recorded "Zeppelin" material, featuring a percussion-only song titled "Bonzo's Montreaux."
In 1958, Sheb Wooley's "Purple People Eater" hit the top of the pop charts and stayed there for six weeks.
In 1961, Chuck Berry opened his "Berry Park," an outdoor amusement complex in Wentzville, Mo., near St. Louis. It included a miniature golf course, rides and a children's zoo.
In 1962, Canadian rock star Corey Hart was born in Montreal. His earliest stab at recording came at age 14, with two songs produced by Paul Anka. The record was not a success. Four years later, he and Dan Hill represented Canada at the World Song Festival in Japan. In 1983, came Hart's debut album, "First Offense," recorded in England. The first single from the LP, "Sunglasses at Night," went top-10 in both Canada and the U.S. Hart's real breakthrough came in 1985 with his second album, "Boy in the Box," which sold more one million copies in Canada alone. On his 28th birthday, in 1990, Hart married Erika Gagnon in Rome. The graphic designer and photographer had designed some of Hart's album covers. Hart's other albums include "Fields of Fire," "Bang," "Attitude and Virtue," "Corey Hart" (a self-titled album) and "Jade." Hart has collaborated with such artists as Celine Dion and Julie Masse.
In 1969, "The Doors" played a concert in the Mexico City Bullring. Earlier that year, "Doors'" singer Jim Morrison was arrested for exhibiting "lewd and lascivious behaviour" by exposing himself on stage during a concert in Miami.
In 1976, "The Who" played a concert at the Charlton Athletic Grounds in England that went into the Guinness Book of Records as the loudest show ever -- 120 decibels. The record has since been broken.
In 1982, "The Rolling Stones" played an unannounced show at the 100 Club in London. It was at the 100 Club that the "Sex Pistols" started the punk rock movement about six years earlier.
In 1989, the first International Rock Awards Ceremony was held in New York City. "The Traveling Wilburys Volume One" was named album of the year, "Guns N' Roses" won artist of the year, and newcomer of the year went to "Living Colour."
In 1990, singer and actor Art Lund, who rose to fame with "The Benny Goodman Orchestra," died in Holladay, Utah, at age 75. He began a solo career in 1947, scoring a million-seller that year with "Mam'selle." In later years, he concentrated on acting, appearing in such films as "The Molly Maguires" and "The Last American Hero," and on TV in such series as "Gunsmoke" and "Little House on the Prairie."
In 1991, "Glass Tiger" cut short a concert in Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., after lead singer Alan Frew was hit in the head with a loonie. Frew says three or four people in the crowd wouldn't stop throwing the dollar coins at the band.
In 1995, Ted Nugent placed his handprint and signature in cement in the Hollywood Rock Walk.
In 1996, Elsbeary Hobbs, bass singer on some of "The Drifters" biggest hits, died in New York of throat and lung cancer. He was 59. Hobbs joined "The Five Crowns," a vocal group led by Ben E. King, in 1956. The manager of "The Drifters" fired the original group in 1958 and recruited "The Five Crowns" to be "The New Drifters." Hobbs' bass voice was featured on "There Goes My Baby," "The Drifters" first big hit in 1959, as well as on "This Magic Moment" and "Save the Last Dance For Me." He left the group when he was drafted in 1960, rejoining them nine years later.
In 1998, Geri Halliwell, better known as "Ginger Spice," announced she was leaving the hugely popular British pop group "Spice Girls" because of unspecified differences. Reports of strife in the quintet surfaced the previous week when "Ginger" missed several engagements with the group. The remaining four "Spice Girls" went ahead with a North American tour. The group later disbanded but reunited for a three-month tour in 2007.
In 2000, singer Johnnie Taylor died of an apparent heart attack at a hospital in Dallas. He was 62. He's probably best known for songs like "Who's Making Love" and "Disco Lady." That same day, Latin bandleader Tito Puente, 77, died in New York from complications from open heart surgery.
In 2013, "Cruise" by Florida Georgia Line sat atop the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart for a record 22nd week overall, breaking the all-time record of 21 total weeks (Eddy Arnold’s “I’ll Hold You in My Heart (Till I Can Hold You in My Arms),” Hank Snow’s “I’m Moving On” and Webb Pierce’s “In The Jailhouse Now”). ("Cruise" went on to top the chart for a total of 24 weeks, but was overtaken in 2017 by San Hunt's "Body Like a Back Road" which held on to the top spot for 34 weeks - all consecutive.).
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The Canadian Press
