Today in Music History: Happy 40th, Chris Walla
November 02, 2015
Birthday Highlight
Chris Walla, former guitarist with Death Cab for Cutie, is 40 today. Walla was born in Bothell, Wash., and he joined Death Cab for Cutie while attending Western Washington University in Bellingham. Death Cab for Cutie would go on to release seven albums, four EPs and two live EPs with Walla in the lineup; he co-wrote many of their hit songs, including "Title and Registration" and "I Will Possess Your Heart." On Aug. 13, 2014, after 17 years with Death Cab for Cutie, Chris Walla decided to part ways with the band, stating that he plans to "…continue making music, producing records, and erring on the side of benevolence and beauty whenever possible." His last performance with the band was Sept. 13, 2014, at the Rifflandia Music Festival in Victoria, British Columbia.
Also, Today In:
1956 - Police used tear gas to break up a riot that broke out during a Fats Domino concert in Fayetteville, N.C. Fats and three of his sidemen suffer minor injuries.
1963 - Peter Paul and Mary started a five-week run at No.1 on the U.S. album chart with In The Wind.
1969 - Creedence Clearwater Revival released Willy and the Poor Boys, the third studio album the band released that year. The album features the songs "Down on the Corner," which the album title references, as well as the protest song, "Fortunate Son."
1974 - Crosby Stills Nash & Young went to No. 1 on the U.S. album chart with So Far, their third No. 1 album.
1985 - Stevie Wonder went to No.1 on the U.S. singles chart with "Part-time Lover," his ninth No. 1 single.
1996 - Counting Crows went to No. 1 on the U.S. album chart with Recovering From Satellites.
1999 - Foo Fighters released their third studio album, There Is Nothing Left to Lose. It was the band's first album to feature current Foo Fighters drummer Taylor Hawkins.
2004 - Queen Elizabeth II awarded guitarist Eric Clapton a CBE — Commander of the British Empire, an order of chivalry of British democracy — for his services to music.
Birthday:
Keith Emerson of Emerson, Lake and Palmer is 71.
Highlights for Today in Music History are gathered from This Day in Music, Paul Shaffer's Day in Rock, and Wikipedia.