DYR Today, May 24

“MUSIC TODAY”

• 1859 – Charles Gounod’s “Ave Maria” was performed by Madame Caroline Miolan-Carvalho for the first time in public.
• 1956 – The first Eurovision Song Contest was held in Lugano, Switzerland. The event was the brainchild of Marcel Baisoncon of the European Broadcasting Union. Seven countries participated and they were each allowed two songs. Both Luxembourg and the winner Switzerland used the same singer for both. Switzerland won with ‘Refrain’ by Lys Assia.
• 1962 – Elvis Presley was at No.1 on the UK singles chart with ‘Good Luck Charm’ his 11th UK No.1 single. It completed his second hat-trick of chart topping singles in the UK.

• 1963 – The Beatles recorded the first of their very own BBC radio program, “Pop Go the Beatles”. The theme song for the program was a version of “Pop Goes the Weasel”. The Beatles’ guests for this first show were the Lorne Gibson Trio.
• 1966 – Captain Beefheart appeared at the Whisky a Go Go. West Hollywood, California. Supported by Buffalo Springfield and The Doors.
• 1968 – The Rolling Stones released the single ‘Jumpin Jack Flash’ in the UK, the track gave them their seventh UK No.1 hit.

• 1969 – Bob Dylan’s album Nashville Skyline peaked at No.3 in the US chart. The singer’s ninth album, it also scored Dylan his fourth UK No.1.
• 1969 – The Beatles with Billy Preston started a five week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with ‘Get Back’, the group’s 17th US No.1. Credited to “The Beatles with Billy Preston”, it was the Beatles’ only single that credited another artist, ‘Get Back’ was also the Beatles’ first single release in true stereo in the US.

• 1970 – Peter Green played his last gig with Fleetwood Mac when they appeared at the Bath Festival, Somerset, England.
• 1974 – David Bowie released his eighth studio album Diamond Dogs. The cover art features Bowie as a striking half-man, half-dog grotesque painted by Belgian artist Guy Peellaert. It was controversial as the full painting clearly showed the hybrid’s genitalia.
• 1975 –  “99 Miles From L.A.” by Albert Hammond held down the #1 position on the Adult Contemporary chart.
• 1975 – “Shining Star” was the first and only #1 for Earth, Wind & Fire.
  
• 1975 – Earth Wind and Fire went to No.1 on the US singles chart with ‘Shining Star’, the group’s first and only US No.1.

• 1980 – Genesis fans turning up at the Roxy Club box office in Los Angeles to buy tickets for a forthcoming gig were surprised to find the band members Phil Collins, Tony Banks and Mike Rutherford selling the tickets themselves.
• 1980 – Bette Midler remained at #1 on the Adult Contemporary chart for the third week with “The Rose”.
• 1980 – Blondie held on to #1 for a sixth week with the smash “Call Me”
• 1986 – Davy Jones, Mickey Dolenz, and Peter Tork reunited as the Monkees. They kicked off their reunion tour at the Concord Hotel, in New York’s Catskills Mountains.
• 1986 – “Greatest Love Of All” from Whitney Houston was #1 for the fifth straight week.