Today in Music History for May 15:
In 1918, country crooner Eddy Arnold was born at a farm near Henderson, Tenn. Arnold is said to have sold more than 60 million records by appealing to people who normally wouldn't even think of buying a country record. His big break came in the early '40s when he joined Pee Wee King's "Golden West Cowboys." That gave him exposure on the Grand Ole Opry, and in 1944 he signed with RCA Victor. Arnold had his first million-seller, "I'll Hold You in My Heart," in 1947, soon followed by others such as "Bouquet of Roses," and "Cattle Call." Eddy Arnold was still topping the country charts in the 1960s with such hits as "What's He Doing in My World" and "Make the World Go Away." He died May 8, 2008.
In 1948, new wave producer Brian Eno was born in Woodbridge, England. A founding member of "Roxy Music" in 1971, he played synthesizer and electronically altered the other instruments in the group, before leaving in a dispute with songwriter Bryan Ferry. Eno went on to work as a solo artist and a producer-collaborator with such artists as "Talking Heads," David Bowie and "Devo."
In 1953, multi-instrumentalist and composer Mike Oldfield was born in Reading, England. His 1973 LP, "Tubular Bells," went to No. 3 on the Billboard chart and sold over a million copies. It won the 1974 Grammy award as Best Pop Instrumental LP after excerpts were used in the soundtrack of the film "The Exorcist."
In 1953, the famous "Quintet of the Year" jazz concert took place at Massey Hall in Toronto. The members of the quintet were among the greatest musicians that jazz ever produced -- saxophonist Charlie Parker, trumpeter Dizzy Gillespie, pianist Bud Powell, bassist Charles Mingus and drummer Max Roach.
In 1963, "I Left My Heart in San Francisco" by Tony Bennett won the Grammy for Record of the Year. Robert Goulet won Best New Artist.
In 1971, two films by John Lennon and Yoko Ono, "Fly" and "Apotheosis," were screened at the Cannes Film Festival in southern France.
In 1973, "The Pointer Sisters" made their debut at the Troubador Club in Los Angeles.
In 1974, bass guitarist Bill Wyman became the first member of "The Rolling Stones" to have a solo LP with the release of "Monkey Grip."
In 1979, Canadian pianist and soprano Sheila Henig died in Toronto at age 45. Henig, a native of Winnipeg, appeared in recital and with symphony orchestras across Canada.
In 1979, the Country Music Association presented U.S. President Jimmy Carter with its first Special Award for his support of country music.
In 1981, former "Sex Pistol" John Lydon, who used to be known as Johnny Rotten, and his band "Public Image Limited" were booed and pelted by debris during a performance at a New York club. A dozen people were hurt before the band's 50-minute performance ended. A show set for the following night was cancelled.
In 1984, guitarist Nils Lofgren joined Bruce Springsteen's "E Street Band," replacing Steve Van Zandt.
In 1987, rock star Prince and his band made an unannounced after-hours appearance at a private club in West Berlin. They performed for an hour at the Quasimodo club following the first of two sold-out shows in a West Berlin concert hall.
In 1988, "Carrie," a musical adaptation of Stephen King's novel about a troubled teenager with telekinetic powers, closed in New York after a brief run. It was one of the most expensive flops in Broadway history, losing about $8 million.
In 1988, Michael Jackson made the top of the New York Times best-seller list with his autobiography, "Moonwalker."
In 1989, five-time Academy Award-winning composer Johnny Green died in Beverly Hills, Calif., at age 80. He won Oscars for scoring "Easter Parade," "An American in Paris," "West Side Story" and "Oliver!," and for producing the short subject "The Merry Wives of Windsor Overture." Green was also a member of the Songwriters Hall of Fame, and composed such standards as "Body and Soul," "Out of Nowhere" and "I Cover the Waterfront."
In 1995, singer Scott Weiland of the grunge rock group "Stone Temple Pilots" was arrested in Pasadena, Calif., for cocaine and heroin possession. Police pulled over Weiland's car after he made a quick midnight stop at a motel. He was ordered to spend four to six months in a drug treatment centre, forcing cancellation of the group's tour in the summer of 1996.
In 1996, Independent Television in Britain broadcast the earliest known footage of "The Beatles," shot in February, 1961. That was three years before the group became world-famous. The film, which had no soundtrack, was found in a drawer in a house in Liverpool.
In 2003, country singer June Carter Cash, wife of country singer Johnny Cash, died at age 73.
In 2008, Emmy-winning composer Alexander "Sandy" Courage, who created the otherworldly theme for the original "Star Trek" TV series, died in Los Angeles at age 88.
In 2008, country music superstar Shania Twain and her husband, producer Robert (Mutt) Lange announced their separation. The couple married in 1993 and had one son, Eja.
In 2009, Canadian rocker Randy Bachman was invested as an officer of the Order of Canada. The veteran guitarist, a founding member of "The Guess Who" and "Bachman-Turner Overdrive," was presented with the medal by Gov. Gen. Michaelle Jean in a ceremony in Ottawa.
In 2009, former basketball star and accomplished jazz bassist Wayman Tisdale died of cancer in Tulsa, Okla. at age 44. He played 12 seasons in the NBA and was on the U.S. team that won the gold medal in the 1984 Olympics. As a musician, he recorded eight albums. His most recent album, "Rebound," was inspired by his fight with cancer and included guest appearances by several artists, including saxophonist Dave Koz and country star and fellow Oklahoma native Toby Keith, whose tribute single "Cryin' For Me (Wayman's Song)" was a top-10 hit.
In 2011, Major League Baseball honoured guitarist Carlos Santana with its Beacon of Change award, for an individual who impacts society through words and actions.
In 2011, Grammy award-winning country music star Keith Urban and songwriter/performer Bill Anderson unveiled their stars on Nashville's Music City Walk of Fame.
In 2011, "Stone Sour" drummer Roy Mayorga suffered a minor stroke following their concert in Des Moines, forcing them to cancel the remaining handful of shows on their tour.
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The Canadian Press