Today in Music History: Thin Lizzy's Phil Lynott honored in bronze
August 19, 2015
History Highlight:
Today in 2005, Phil Lynott, the founding member, principal songwriter, lead vocalist and bassist of the band Thin Lizzy, was honored when a statue of him was unveiled in Grafton Street in Dublin, the city where Lynott grew up. The statue-dedication ceremony was attended by Lynott's mother as well as former band members Gary Moore, Eric Bell, Brian Robertson, Brian Downey, Scott Gorham and Darren Wharton. Lynott had passed away 20 years earlier at his home in London. His grave in St Fintan's Cemetery in northeast Dublin is regularly visited by family, friends and fans.
Also, Today In:
1967 - The Beatles scored their 14th U.S. No. 1 single with "All You Need Is Love." Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Eric Clapton, Keith Moon, Graham Nash, Marianne Faithfull and Walker Brother Gary Leeds all sang backing vocals on the track.
1988 - Patsy Cline's "Crazy" and Elvis Presley's "Hound Dog" were announced as the most-played jukebox songs of the device's first 100 years. The jukebox had been around since 1906, but earlier models had been first seen in 1889.
1999 - Lauryn Hill won New Artist Of The Year and Album Of The Year at the Source Hip Hop Music Awards in Los Angeles. R. Kelly won R&B Artist of The Year; DMX won Artist Of The Year and Solo and Live Performer Of The Year.
2001 - American soul singer Betty Everett died at age 61. She had the 1964 U.S. No. 6 single, "The Shoop Shoop Song (It's In His Kiss)," later covered by Cher.
2005 - A life-size bronze statue of the late Phil Lynott (bassist and lead singer of Thin Lizzy) was unveiled on Harry Street in Dublin.
2013 - Kate Bush requested fans did not take any photographs or video using mobile devices at her 22-date run of performances in London. Posting on her website, she wrote: "I very much want to have contact with you as an audience, not with iPhones, iPads or cameras." She repeated the request before a string of London dates in 2014.
Birthdays:
Cream founder and drummer Ginger Baker is 76.
Johnny Nash (who had the 1972 No. 1 single, "I Can See Clearly Now") is 75.
Deep Purple's Ian Gillan is 70.
Queen bassist John Deacon is 64.