Today in Music History for Dec. 24:
In 1818, the Christmas carol "Silent Night" was performed for the first time, at the Church of St. Nikolaus in Oberndorf, Austria. Written by Father Joseph Mohr, and set to music by the village organist, Franz Gruber, the carol was originally known as "Song From Heaven." The song eventually reached the ears of the King and Queen of Saxony, who were much taken with its message of peace. The biggest-selling recording of "Silent Night" is by Bing Crosby, who first waxed it for Decca in 1935. The original and re-recordings have sold more than 30 million copies.
In 1871, the first performance of Verdi's opera "Aida" was presented in Cairo to celebrate the opening of the Suez Canal.
In 1894, the Canadian Artistic Society was founded in Montreal with the aim of establishing a national conservatory of music. The conservatory was funded by a lottery, and began operations in 1896. Courses were free and teachers received a monthly salary of $25. The conservatory accepted several hundred students, but was forced to close in 1901 when the federal government prohibited lotteries.
In 1915, Canadian composer Jean Vallerand was born in Montreal. He became head of musical broadcasts at the CBC in the 1950s. His best known work is the opera "Le Magicien," which was performed more than 100 times across Canada during a 1961-62 tour by "The Jeunesses Musicales." Vallerand later taught at the Montreal Conservatory of Music and the University of Montreal. He died June 24, 1994.
In 1920, Enrico Caruso, the world's greatest operatic tenor, gave his last performance. Caruso sang the role of Eleazar in Jacques Helevy's "La Juive" at the Metropolitan Opera in New York. He died less than seven months later, on Aug. 2, 1921, in his hometown of Naples, Italy. Caruso was the artist who was most responsible for transforming the phonograph from a toy into a medium of home entertainment. For more than 30 years after his death, he was among the top-selling artists for Victor records.
In 1924, R&B singer Lee Dorsey was born in New Orleans. His hits in the 1960s, most of them produced by Allen Toussaint, included "Ya Ya," "Working in the Coal Mine" and "Ride Your Pony." Dorsey died in 1986.
In 1944, Henry Vestine, guitarist for the blues-rock band "Canned Heat," was born in Washington, D.C. He joined "Canned Heat" in 1966 after playing with "The Mothers of Invention." "On the Road Again" in 1968 and "Going Up the Country" in 1969 were "Canned Heat's" two biggest hits. Vestine left "Canned Heat" in mid-'69 to form a new band but returned the following year after the death of group member Al Wilson. Vestine was part of "Canned Heat" off and on over the years and was touring with them when he died in France of heart failure on Oct. 20, 1997.
In 1950, pianist Glenn Gould made his network broadcast debut on the CBC's "Sunday Morning Recital." The broadcast marked the beginning of what Gould called his love affair with the microphone. He gave up the concert stage in 1964 to concentrate on the possibilities of recording technology.
In 1951, Gian Carlo Menotti's "Amahl and the Night Visitors," the first opera written specifically for television, was first broadcast by NBC Television.
In 1954, singer Johnny Ace shot himself while playing Russian roulette backstage at a show in Houston. He died the next day. His song "Pledging My Love" became a hit the next year.
In 1955, "The Weavers" played Carnegie Hall in New York, ending three years on Senator Joseph McCarthy's blacklist because of their support of left-wing causes. Many of the groups in the folk music revival of the following decade were inspired by "The Weavers" topical songs and fervent style.
In 1961, "The Tokens" reached the top of the U.S. charts with "The Lion Sleeps Tonight." An adaptation of a South African folk song, it first reached the best-seller lists in 1951 in a recording by "The Weavers" under the title "Winoweh." Singer Robert John also had a hit with the song, again under the title "The Lion Sleeps Tonight," in 1971.
In 1964, "The Beatles" began a 20-night run of "Another Beatles Christmas Show" at the Hammersmith Odeon in London. The 38 consecutive shows remains a record for the theatre.
In 1965, "The Beatles" earned a gold record for the "Rubber Soul" album, just two-and-a-half weeks after it was released.
In 1972, police in Miami, enforcing a curfew, cut short a concert by "Manfred Mann's Earth Band." Fans rioted for nearly two hours, while the band hid in the dressing room.
In 1973, Tom Johnston of the "Doobie Brothers" was arrested in Visalia, Calif., for marijuana possession.
In 1978, Bjorn Ulvaeus and Agnetha Faltskog of "ABBA" separated after seven years of marriage.
In 1985, Stevie Wonder turned down an invitation from the White House in order to accept the key to the city of Detroit for recording "Don't Drive Drunk." During the ceremony, Wonder dedicated a moment of silence to the 258 American servicemen killed in a plane crash at Gander, Nfld.
In 1992, former "Doobie Brothers" percussionist Bobby LaKind died after a long battle with cancer. He was 47.
In 1997, "The Gin Blossoms" announced their breakup. They have since reunited.
In 2012, Ray Collins, who invited guitarist Frank Zappa to join the band that eventually became the "Mothers of Invention," died five days after a heart attack. He was 75. Collins sang on three albums, then left the Mothers, saying their comedic approach to music didn't suit him.
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The Canadian Press