Today in Music History for Feb. 19:
In 1938, Canadian blues legend Dutch Mason, known as ``prime minister of the blues,'' was born in Lunenburg, N.S. The singer-guitarist was inducted into the Canadian Jazz and Blues Hall of Fame and, in 2005, was appointed an Officer of the Order of Canada. He died Dec. 23, 2006.
In 1940, Smokey Robinson, whom Bob Dylan once said was his favourite poet, was born in Detroit. Robinson, who developed into one of the foremost songwriters and singers in pop music, formed a band called ``The Miracles'' in high school. The group met Berry Gordy Jr. in 1957, and the success of ``The Miracles'' first single, ``Bad Girl,'' convinced Gordy to make Motown Records a national company. ``The Miracles'' put Motown on the map in 1960 with ``Shop Around,'' the company's first million-seller. ``The Miracles'' were one of Motown's premier groups, with hits such as ``Get Ready,'' ``Second That Emotion'' and ``Tracks of My Tears.'' Robinson left the group in 1972 to record on his own -- and to continue his duties as a vice-president of Motown.
In 1958, ``The Miracles'' released their first single, ``Got a Job,'' in response to the No. 1 hit by ``The Silhouettes,'' ``Get a Job.''
In 1972, ``A Horse With No Name'' by ``America'' entered the U.S. charts on its way to No. 1. The group, formed by three sons of American servicemen stationed in Britain, were discovered by Jeff Dexter, a DJ for a British underground radio station.
In 1972, ``Paul McCartney and Wings'' released ``Give Ireland Back to the Irish,'' a commentary about the Northern Ireland conflict. It was banned by the BBC, but still reached the top-20 in England.
In 1974, Dick Clark staged the first American Music Awards as an alternative to the industry-dominated Grammy Awards. The winners of the American Music Awards are determined by the votes of music fans. ``Tie A Yellow Ribbon'' by ``Tony Orlando and Dawn'' won for Favourite Pop Single that year.
In 1977, ``Fleetwood Mac'' released ``Rumours.'' The album would become one of the all-time biggest sellers -- over 40 million copies worldwide. It also won 1978's Best Album Grammy.
In 1980, vocalist Bon Scott of the Australian rock band ``AC/DC'' died after choking on his own vomit after an all-night drinking binge in London. He was 33. Scott's death came just months after ``AC/DC'' had scored their first North American success with the album ``Highway to Hell.''
In 1981, a judge in New York determined that George Harrison subconsciously plagiarized ``He's So Fine'' when he wrote his 1970 hit, ``My Sweet Lord.'' ``He's So Fine'' was written by Ronald Mack in 1963 for ``The Chiffons.'' Both songs were No. 1 hits. Harrison was ordered to pay US$587,000.
In 1988, Roy Acuff, the King of Country Music, celebrated his 50th anniversary on the Grand Ole Opry.
In 1988, former ``Wham!'' front man George Michael played his debut solo concert at the Budokan in Tokyo.
In 1989, one of the biggest flops in Broadway history, ``Legs Diamond,'' closed after 136 performances.
In 1993, Whitney Houston's ``I Will Always Love You'' became the longest-running No. 1 pop single of the rock era, topping the Billboard chart for the 14th week. In 1995, the record was broken by the Mariah Carey and ``Boyz II Men'' duet ``One Sweet Day,'' which spent 16 weeks at No. 1.
In 1993, Elton John had to cut short his encores at a show in Melbourne, Australia, after a swarm of crickets virtually took over the outdoor stage.
In 1994, Michael Jackson drew a nearly five-minute standing ovation at ``The Jackson Family Honors'' show at the MGM Grand Hotel in Las Vegas. The audience later booed when they found out Michael wouldn't be performing solo at the event. The following month, the producers of the concert sued the Jackson family, accusing them of fraud and claiming to have lost more than $1-million. Four-and-a-half million dollars was raised at what was billed as a charity event, but the Jacksons later acknowledged that only $100,000 would in fact go to charity.
In 1995, Sweden's ``Roxette'' became the first major western rock group to perform in China in a decade, playing before 10,000 people in Beijing. Government censors forced a change in lyrics from ``making love to you'' to ``making up to you.''
In 1995, ``Baywatch'' star Pamela Anderson married ``Motley Crue'' drummer Tommy Lee in Cancun, Mexico. The bride wore white -- a bikini. The couple, who had two children, later divorced.
In 1996, ``Pulp'' lead singer Jarvis Cocker climbed on stage and mooned the audience during Michael Jackson's performance at the Brit Awards ceremony in London.
In 1997, Lois Marshall, one of Canada's leading sopranos in the 1950s and '60s, died in Toronto of cancer. She was 73.
In 1997, a judge in New York dismissed a $7-million lawsuit a fan filed against ``Motley Crue'' for hearing loss suffered at one of their concerts. The judge said the fan knew the concert would be loud going in to it.
In 1998, country entertainer Grandpa Jones died in a Nashville hospital of complications from a stroke suffered a month earlier. He was 84.
In 1999, ``Scary Spice'' Mel B (Melanie Brown) gave birth to a daughter in a London hospital.
In 1999, a judge in Fort Pierce, Fla., sentenced 22-year-old Victor Brancaccio to life in prison for beating an 81-year-old woman to death after she criticized his rap music. Brancaccio told police he was singing aloud to Dr. Dre's ``Stranded on Death Row'' when Mollie Mae Frazier took exception to the profanity.
In 1999, jazz singer Trudy Desmond died in Toronto of cancer. She kept her age a secret.
In 2003, country singer Johnny PayCheck, best known for his 1977 working man's anthem ``Take This Job and Shove It,'' died at age 64.
In 2009, the J. Geils Band played a sold-out reunion show to open the new House of Blues club in Boston.
In 2009, former ``Electric Light Orchestra'' bassist Kelly Groucutt died of a heart attack. He was 63. Jeff Lynne and Roy Wood formed ``ELO'' in 1971, and Groucutt joined in 1974, just as the group was hitting it big. He left the band in 1983 but later toured with the spinoff groups ``ELO Part Two'' and ``The Orchestra.''
In 2010, comments by Elton John in an interview posted on the website of the U.S. magazine ``Parade'' caused consternation among many Christians. John said, ``I think Jesus was a compassionate, super-intelligent gay man who understood human problems.'' The Catholic League condemned the comments, saying that to call Jesus a homosexual is to ``label him a sexual deviant.''
In 2010, Gloria and Emilio Estefan gathered Latino musicians in Miami to record a Spanish-language version of ``We Are The World'' for Haiti earthquake relief. Carlos Santana, Jose Feliciano, Jon Secada, David Archuleta and Taboo of ``The Black Eyed Peas'' were among the artists that took part.
In 2010, Wade Brown, guitarist who played alongside Blues legend Dutch Mason for years, died in Truro, N.S., at age 63.
In 2010, Cirque du Soleil officially premiered ``Viva ELVIS'' in Las Vegas, a tribute to the life and music of Elvis Presley.
In 2015, the 1954 Les Paul Gibson guitar known as ``Black Beauty'' sold at auction in New York for just over US$335,000. The auctioneer considered it the ``holy grail'' among musicians because it was a prototype for thousands of others.
In 2018, the Kendrick Lamar-curated ``Black Panther: The Album'' soundtrack debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 Album, as the Marvel superhero movie completed its opening four-day weekend with a worldwide total of US$426.6 million. Eight of the album's songs appeared on the Hot 100.
The Canadian Press