Today in Music History for May 10:
In 1899, dancer, singer and actor Fred Astaire, whose real name was Frederick Austerlitz, was born in Omaha, Neb. He and his famous dance partner, Ginger Rogers, starred in such movie classics as "The Gay Divorcee" and "Top Hat." In 1951, Astaire starred with Jane Powell in the film "Royal Wedding." Astaire died in 1987, at age 88.
In 1909, Maybelle Carter of "The Carter Family" was born in Nickelsville, Va. Maybelle's sister, Sara, was married to family leader A.P. Carter. The trio pioneered modern country music, first recording in Bristol, Tenn., in 1927 and continuing until 1943. Maybelle Carter died in 1978.
In 1928, the legendary country music group, "The Carter Family," recorded "Wildwood Flower." This is the song most associated with the band, largely because of the guitar playing of Mother Maybelle Carter. "Wildwood Flower" is still in the repertoire of practically every country guitarist.
In 1935, '50s rock 'n' roll singer Larry Williams was born in New Orleans. He had several hits in 1957 and '58 with frantic novelty numbers such as "Short Fat Fannie," "Bony Moronie" and "Dizzy Miss Lizzy," which was later recorded by "The Beatles." He committed suicide on Jan. 7, 1980.
In 1957, Sid Vicious, bass player for the "Sex Pistols," was born in London. Leaders of the punk-new wave explosion in the late 1970s, they were extremely popular in Britain and Europe. But an attempt to crack the North American market failed, and a tour of the U.S. ended in chaos. The group split in 1978, and Vicious was later arrested for the murder of his girlfriend. He died of a heroin overdose before he could be tried. He was 21.
In 1960, "U2" frontman Bono was born Paul Hewson in Dublin. The band was formed there in 1976, and by 1987 was acknowledged as the world's top rock band. Their hit albums include "The Joshua Tree" "Achtung Baby" "All That You Can't Leave Behind" and "Rattle and Hum" -- the title of their 1988 concert film.
In 1963, "The Rolling Stones" began their first recording session in London with producer Andrew Loog Oldham. Their first single, a cover of Chuck Berry's song "Come On," was released a month later.
In 1965, Bob Dylan played the Royal Albert Hall in London as the climax to a tour of Britain.
In 1967, Mick Jagger of "The Rolling Stones" was formally charged with illegal possession of pep pills, while fellow Stone Keith Richards was charged with allowing pot to be smoked on his premises. As the case was going to court, police arrested another Stone, Brian Jones, at his London apartment and charged him with drug possession.
In 1969, "The Turtles" and "The Temptations" performed at the White House for a masqued ball given by U.S. President Richard Nixon's daughter, Tricia. Mark Volman of "The Turtles" was reported to have fallen off the stage five times.
In 1974, "The Who" performed the first of four concerts at Madison Square Garden in New York City. All 80,000 seats were sold in eight hours.
In 1975, "Human Kindness Day" was celebrated in front of the Washington Monument in the U.S. capital, as Stevie Wonder performed for 125,000 people.
In 1975, Ella Fitzgerald was the guest artist at the 25th anniversary benefit concert of the Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra.
In 1977, "Adam and the Ants" played their first public concert at a restaurant in London's Institute of Contemporary Arts. Singer Adam Ant had told the booker they were a country band but showed up wearing leather, a hood and chains. The booker paid them their $15 fee after one song and asked them to leave.
In 1980, Canadian folk singer Bruce Cockburn performed "Wonderin' Where the Lions Are" on "Saturday Night Live."
In 1983, "Metallica" began recording their first album in Rochester, N.Y.
In 1986, "Motley Crue" drummer Tommy Lee married actress Heather Locklear. They later divorced. (Lee later married actress Pamela Anderson, and Locklear married "Bon Jovi" guitarist Richie Sambora. Both couples have sinced divorced.)
In 1989, jazz trumpeter Woody Shaw died of pneumonia in a New York hospital at age 44. Shaw's trumpet playing was in the hard bop tradition of Clifford Brown and Lee Morgan. He was named top trumpeter in "Downbeat Magazine's" readers' poll in 1978.
In 1991, Madonna's "Truth or Dare" concert-documentary film opened in North American theatres.
In 1992, Sylvia Syms, whom Frank Sinatra called "the world's greatest saloon singer," collapsed and died while performing a Sinatra tribute in New York. She was 73. Syms' 1956 recording of "I Could Have Danced All Night" from "My Fair Lady" was a top-20 hit.
In 1994, country singer John Berry underwent surgery in Los Angeles to remove a benign cyst from his brain. His "Your Love Amazes Me" was a top-10 country hit at the time. Berry recovered completely.
In 1994, Barbra Streisand opened her first concert tour in 28 years with a show in New York. The tour was inspired by the warm reception she received at two New Year's concerts in Las Vegas.
In 1994, singer and dancer Paula Abdul filed for divorce from actor Emilio Estevez after two-plus years of marriage.
In 1996, singer LaToya Jackson filed for divorce in Las Vegas. Michael Jackson's sister also obtained a temporary protective order against her husband and agent, Jack Gordon, saying he threatened to kill her.
In 2005, model Heidi Klum married singer Seal. The power couple had three children together, and Seal also adopted Klum's daughter from a previous relationship. (Klum filed for divorce in 2012).
In 2006, Daniel Biechele, a former manager of a rock band whose pyrotechnics caused a 2003 Rhode Island nightclub fire that killed 100 people, was sentenced to four years in prison. (He was paroled in March 2008.)
In 2010, New York's Apollo Theater unveiled its new Walk of Fame. Plaques were placed in front of the storied Harlem theatre celebrating some of the artists who had performed there including Smokey Robinson, Ella Fitzgerald, James Brown, Little Richard, Patti LaBelle and "Gladys Knight and the Pips."
In 2011, Norma Zimmer, the "Champagne Lady" of TV's "The Lawrence Welk Show" and a studio singer who worked with Frank Sinatra and other pop stars, died at age 87.
In 2011, "The Cars" ("Move Like This") and Christopher Cross ("Dr. Faith") both released new studio albums after long layoffs, 24 years and 12 years respectively.
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The Canadian Press