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Compact Discs: High Quality, Small Space
On this date in 1983, compact discs and their players were released in the United States. Here are some things you may not have known about CDs. They trace their roots to the LaserDisc player, which was a video format using a disc that looked like a vinyl record-sized CD. It was invented in the…
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Rhapsody in Blue: Gershwin’s Five-Week Miracle
On this date in 1924, George Gershwin’s “Rhapsody in Blue” premiered during a showcase concert in New York City. Here are some things you may not have known about Gershwin and one of his masterpieces. George Gershwin was born in Brooklyn, New York in 1898. He was the second of four children. His older brother,…
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Janis Joplin: A Powerful Voice Gone Too Soon
Today would have been the 73rd birthday of singer-songwriter Janis Joplin. Here are some things you may not have known about her. She was born in Port Arthur, Texas. Her mother worked at a business college and her father was an engineer for Texaco. As a teenager, she sang in a local choir and began…
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John Hammond: Mastering the Art of Musical Talent Scouting
Today is the birthday of American music producer and talent scout John Hammond. Here are a few facts about a man whose career spanned several decades and several genres. John Hammond was born in New York in 1910, the great-great-grandson of Cornelius Vanderbilt. As a child, Hammond was drawn to music played by his family’s…