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Gold Records: Marking a Milestone
On this date in 1942, the first gold record was awarded to Glenn Miller and his Orchestra. Here are some things you may not have known about certification of record sales. The record given to Miller was from his record company, RCA Victor, to celebrate the sales of 1.2 million copies of the single “Chattanooga…
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The Beatles’ Final Concert
On this date in 1969, The Beatles had their last public performance, playing on their record company’s roof in London. Here are some things you may not have known about the concert. The performance was unannounced and caught the lunchtime crowd of office workers on the streets below by surprise. The previous year, The Beatles…
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How Did Jazz Get to Carnegie Hall? Practice
On this date in 1938, Benny Goodman and his band played the first jazz concert at Carnegie Hall in New York. Here are some things you may not have known about the concert, the landmark recording of it and Carnegie Hall in general. Until 1938, Carnegie Hall had been been a venue exclusively for classical…
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David Bowie: Gone for a Year
One year ago today, rock icon David Bowie died at the age of 69. Bowie was born David Jones in Brixton, South London on January 8, 1947. His mother worked as a waitress and his father worked for a charity. At the age of nine, Bowie’s father brought home a collection of American records, including…
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Bob Marley: One Love For Music
On this date in 1980, Bob Marley played what would be his final concert in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Here are some things you may not have known about him. Robert Nesta Marley was born on February 6, 1945, in Nine Mile, Jamaica. His parents originally gave him the first name Nesta, meaning “wise messenger.” Later,…
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Simon & Garfunkel in Central Park, 35 Years Later
On this date in 1981, Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel played their landmark “Concert in Central Park.” Here are some things you may not have known about the show. Simon & Garfunkel met as children in Queens, New York in 1952. They began performing together in 1957 under the name “Tom and Jerry.” Their initial sound…
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Woodstock: Three Days of Peace and Music
On this date in 1969, the Woodstock festival opened in upstate New York. Here are some things you may not have known about it. It wasn’t held in Woodstock. It was originally planned for Woodstock, but local residents balked at the idea, forcing the organizers to find another location. The city of Wallkill, New York,…
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American Bandstand: The Televised Dance Party
On this date in 1957, “American Bandstand” premiered on national television. Here are some things you may not have known about the long-running music show. The show started on a local Philadelphia TV station in 1950. It was called “Bandstand” and was hosted by Bob Horn, a local radio personality. It showed short musical films…
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Saxophone: A Bridge Between Woodwinds and Brass
On this date in 1846, Adolphe Sax patented the saxophone. Here are some things you may not have known about the instrument and its inventor. Adolphe Sax was born in Belgium in 1814. His parents were musical instrument designers who helped refine the design of the French horn. Sax himself made instruments at a young…
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Eurovision Song Contest: A Musical Spectacle
On this date in 1974, ABBA won the Eurovision Song Contest with their song “Waterloo.” Here are some things you might not known about the contest. In the years following World War II, European broadcasting leaders were searching for a unifying entertainment icon that would bring the continent together. In 1955, the idea of an…