Today in Music History: Happy 65th Birthday, Tom Petty
October 20, 2015
Birthday Highlight:
Tom Petty is 65 today. Born Oct. 20, 1950, in Gainsville, Fla., Petty is best known as the frontman of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, but he is also known for his work as a member and co-founder of the late 1980s supergroup the Traveling Wilburys (under the pseudonyms of Charlie T. Wilbury, Jr. and Muddy Wilbury) and of the Southern rock band, Mudcrutch. As a guitar player, singer and songwriter, Petty has recorded a number of hit singles with the Heartbreakers and as a solo artist, many of which remain heavily played on radio. Throughout his career, Petty has sold more than 80 million records worldwide, making him one of the best-selling music artists of all time. In 2002, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Also, Today In:
1956 - "Love Me Tender," Elvis Presley's adaptation of "Aura Lee," a folk tune dating back to the 1860s, entered the pop singles chart at No. 2.
1962 - Bobby "Boris" Pickett and the Crypt Kickers started a two-week run at No. 1 on the U.S. singles chart with "Monster Mash."
1969 - The Who opened a string of six consecutive nights at New York's Filmore East, performing a two-hour show of songs from their rock-opera album, Tommy.
1969 - Against the other Beatles' wishes, John Lennon released the harrowing single about his heroin withdrawal, "Cold Turkey," under the name of the Plastic Ono Band. It didn't crack the Top 20 in the U.S. and barely did so in the U.K.
1973 - The Rolling Stones had their first No. 1 hit in the U.S. with "Angie."
1977 - Ronnie Van Zant, Steve Gaines and Cassie Gaines from Lynyrd Skynyrd, along with manager Dean Kilpatrick, were all killed when their rented plane ran out of fuel and crashed into a densely wooded thicket in the middle of a swamp in Gillsburg, Miss. The crash seriously injured the rest of the band and crew, who were due to play at Louisiana University that evening.
1978 - The Police made their U.S. debut at CBGB in New York.
1979 - Herb Alpert started a two week run at No.1 on the U.S. singles chart with "Rise," giving the co founder of A&M records his second U.S. No. 1.
1979 - The Eagles started a nine-week run at No. 1 on the U.S. album chart with The Long Run, their fourth No. 1 album.
2001 - Top figures of the film and political world, along with musicians such as The Who, David Bowie, Keith Richards, Mick Jagger, Elton John, Eric Clapton, Bon Jovi, James Taylor, Jay-Z and many other big names, performed at Madison Square Garden for VH1's Concert For New York City to benefit the victims and families of the 9/11 attack. More than $35 million in donations were raised during the broadcast.
2011 - Photographer Barry Feinstein, best known for his enduring photographs of musicians such as Bob Dylan and George Harrison, died at age 80. Feinstein's images appear on more than 500 record sleeves, including Harrison's All Things Must Pass and Dylan's The Times They Are A-Changin'.
Birthday:
Jelly Roll Morton, considered the first great jazz composer, was born today in 1890.