There must be something in the water on February 17, because it seems to be associated with a great deal of music. You name the genre and somebody connected with it was born, died, debuted, danced to it, or had a hit with it on February 17.
BORN ON FEBRUARY 17:
1941: Gene Pitney
1950: Rickey Medlocke (Lynyrd Skynyrd)
1972: Billie Joe Armstrong (Green Day)
1972: Taylor Hawkins (Foo Fighters)
1981: John Hassall (The Libertines)
1988: Arin Ilejay (Avenged Sevenfold)
1991: Ed Sheeran
February 17, 1960, Elvis Presley earned his first Gold record for an album, weeks before his discharge from the US Army. The plaque celebrated his self-titled second studio album, which was originally released in October 1956. Featuring three Little Richard covers (including “Long Tall Sally” and “Rip It Up”), several new country ballads, as well as the hits “Love Me” and “Paralyzed,”
In 1962, The Beach Boys started making waves with the release of “Surfin’”. Gene Chandler sort of mixed up his levels of nobility with “Duke of Earl” also in 1962, and in 1976, The Eagles were flying high with their “Greatest Hits” album. Now all of the above is good listening and great fun, but this day had some major heavy hitters as well.
First up is Swan Lake, a ballet with music by Tchaikovsky, was first performed, in Russia in 1895, and there has probably not been a night since when those lovely ladies in the white tutus haven’t flapped their way onto a stage somewhere.
In 1897, the great Marian Anderson was born. Her magnificent voice took her to the steps of the Lincoln Memorial and made a nation face the evils of racism. There is a short biography on line that is well worth your time to read.
QUOTE: [On prejudice]:
Sometimes, it’s like a hair across your cheek. You can’t see it, you can’t find it with your fingers, but you keep brushing at it because the feel of it is irritating.
— Marian Anderson
In 1982, the world lost Pianist Thelonious Monk, one of the pioneers of the bop (or bebop, if you prefer) movement in jazz, who died of a stroke in New York at the age of 64.
Finally, one of the pieces I listen to whenever the mood for an opera comes nudging for my attention. Madama Butterfly by Puccini debuted in 1904 and is absolute proof that just because something is a failure the first time, it doesn’t mean you shouldn’t keep trying. It has now been performed, copied, retold, reviled, and praised for over 100 years. You might want to give a little bit of it a listen.
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