Today in Music History for April 24:
In 1792, the French national anthem "La Marseillaise" was composed by Claude-Joseph Rouget de Lisle.
In 1897, the first "Halifax Symphony Orchestra" gave its inaugural concert at the Academy of Music. The program was a Schubert memorial, and included the "Unfinished Symphony." The first "Halifax Symphony Orchestra" lasted until 1908. A second "Halifax Symphony Orchestra" was formed in 1949, and became part of the "Atlantic Symphony" in 1968.
In 1942, singer-actress Barbra Streisand was born in Brooklyn, N.Y. One of the world's most popular performers, she first came to attention as the star of the 1962 Broadway musical "I Can Get It For You Wholesale." Her stage success led to a recording contract with Columbia. Then in 1964 came the role with which she is most associated -- the lead in "Funny Girl." Her recording of the ballad "People" from that show was her first big hit and firmly established her as a recording artist. Streisand won an Oscar for her 1968 movie debut in the film version of "Funny Girl." Her subsequent films have included "The Owl and the Pussycat," "The Way We Were," "A Star is Born," "Yentl" and "The Prince of Tides." Streisand has won multiple awards including two Oscars, five Emmys and eight Golden Globes.
In 1945, "Creedence Clearwater Revival" drummer Doug Clifford was born. "Proud Mary," a single from their second album, made "CCR" into a superstar band in 1969. Their blending of R&B with Cajun and other southern music forms resulted in more than a dozen hits during the next three years.
In 1945, Canadian arranger and composer Doug Riley was born in Toronto. Riley was the arranger for Ray Charles' 1968 LP, "Doing His Thing," and arranged music for TV variety shows by Ray Stevens, Tommy Ambrose and Wolfman Jack. Riley also formed the 16-piece band "Dr. Music" in the early '70s. He died Aug. 27, 2007.
In 1947, Quebec singer and songwriter Claude Dubois was born in Montreal.
In 1957, Ricky Nelson released his first record, "Teenager's Romance" backed with a cover of Fats Domino's "I'm Walkin'." It sold a million copies.
In 1958, the first single from "Dion and the Belmonts" -- "I Wonder Why" backed with "Teen Angel" -- was released.
In 1959, "Your Hit Parade," the Saturday night pop music show which had been broadcast regularly on radio and then on TV since 1935, went off the air.
In 1959, James Brown made his debut at the Apollo Theatre in New York.
In 1961, Bob Dylan made his recording debut, playing harmonica on Harry Belafonte's "Midnight Special" album. He was paid $50.
In 1969, Chicago bluesman Muddy Waters recorded a live album called "Fathers and Sons." Appearing with him were a host of white blues singers, including Paul Butterfield and Mike Bloomfield. Waters had a tremendous influence on many British rock 'n' rollers, including "The Rolling Stones," whose name comes from a Waters song.
In 1970, blues pianist and singer Otis Spann died. Rock music fans know him primarily for the album he made with "Fleetwood Mac" during their early blues-oriented period.
In 1972, several people were injured and at least six teenage girls fainted in a stampede prior to a "Jethro Tull" concert in New York. About 2,500 people rushed the lobby of the concert hall trying to get tickets.
Editors: Contents of following paragraph may be offensive.
In 1974, David Bowie released his "Diamond Dogs" LP with a censored cover design. The original had portrayed Bowie as a dog -- and displayed his genitalia.
In 1990, the road crew for Roger Waters, of "Pink Floyd," discovered an unexploded Second World War-era bomb while constructing the set for "The Wall" in Potsdamer Platz, Germany.
In 1991, Garth Brooks dominated the Academy of Country Music awards with a record six trophies, including Entertainer of the Year and Top Male Vocalist.
In 1992, David Bowie married supermodel Iman in Lausanne, Switzerland.
In 1992, the "Cleveland Orchestra" sued Michael Jackson and his production company for $7 million. The orchestra claimed Jackson used 67 seconds from its recording of Beethoven's "Symphony No. 9" on his "Dangerous" album without credit or compensation. It was settled out of court.
In 1993, about 40,000 people turned out for Willie Nelson's "Farm Aid Six" concert in Ames, Iowa. Nelson was joined by Neil Young, John Mellencamp and more than 40 other top artists.
In 1996, Canadian Shania Twain won the Top Album trophy for "The Woman in Me" and was named Best New Female Singer at the annual Academy of Country Music Awards. "The Woman in Me" had earlier won the country album Grammy, and Twain was also named the Best New Country Artist at the American Music Awards the previous January.
In 2001, blind baritone singer Al Hibbler died in Chicago at age 85. He came to prominence with Duke Ellington's orchestra in the 1940s, then scored a hit with his version of "Unchained Melody."
In 2002, Jewel broke her collarbone and a rib when she was thrown from a horse at her boyfriend's ranch.
In 2009, the recording industry agreed to accept $7,000 to settle a 2005 piracy lawsuit it brought against the Santangelo family of Wappingers Falls, N.Y.
In 2010, country star Vince Gill was honoured by Belmont University with the Robert E. Mulloy Award of Excellence for his success in the music business.
In 2010, "The Rascals" sang together for the first time in 40 years at a cancer benefit in New York that honoured Little Steven Van Zandt of the "E Street Band." (Van Zandt went on to write and co-direct the band's 2013 stage show, "Once Upon a Dream," that sold out on Broadway and toured North America.)
In 2014, celebrated Canadian opera singer Ben Heppner announced his retirement. The renowned tenor first rose to prominence when he won the CBC Talent Festival in 1979 and went on to perform at Covent Garden, Bavarian State Opera, Paris Opera, San Francisco Opera and Vienna State Opera. He won three Grammy Awards and a trio of Juno Awards and was named a Companion of the Order of Canada.
In 2016, singer Billy Paul, best known for the No. 1 hit ballad "Me and Mrs. Jones," died at age 80. He had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. "Me and Mrs. Jones," a seductively arranged confession to an extramarital affair, was released in 1972 and won a Grammy for Best R&B Male Vocal Performance. He also had some success with "Let's Clean Up the Ghetto" and ''Thanks for Saving My Life."
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The Canadian Press