I cannot help but think of Michael Crawford in the live show Barnum.  He played the part so well, and today’s feature figures into the musical show.  On this date in 1852, the “Swedish Nightingale,” Jenny Lind, left the U. S. On her wildly successful 2-year-long American tour.  It was organized by P.T. Barnum, and she decided it was time […]

I had no idea this competition was so young.  On this date in1959, tne first annual Grammy Awards Show occurred.  Frank Sinatra was the host, and amongst tbe award winners were Ella Fitzgerald and Henry Mancini.  And the song of the year was Volare.  I bet most people under 40 don’t know the words nor melody to that song, but […]

Today’s feature is quite somber, and it is something I taught about every year when I taught music in Texas.  On this date in 1995, Selena was fatally shot by the president of her fan club.  The story is horrific, and if you watch the movie about her life (where J-Lo got her start), you will get a good understanding […]

On this date in 1914, composer Victor Herbert (ever seen Babes in Toyland?  He wrote the music for that.) founded the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers known as ASCAP.  He founded this organization to ensure that royalties were paid and copyrights were protected as it related to the music scene.  Supposedly, the story goes that Victor Herbert was […]

Today features a very troubled composer.  On this date in 1854, composer Robert Schumann was saved from a suicide attempt.  He tried to drown himself in the Rhine River, but he was unsuccessful.   According to another report, it was on February 27, 1854.  So I’m sorry if my information is skewed.  For more info: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Schumann http://www.musicorb.com/classical/composers http://www.historyorb.com/events/february/6

I found today’s feature kind of fun, and this video was a great watch.  We lost a great person when Dick Clark passed away.  But on this date in 1960, Brian Hyland’s Itsy Bitsy Teeny Weeny Yellow Polka Dot Bikini went to number one on the Billboard charts.  Need I say more? For more information; http://famousdaily.com/history/itsy-bitsy-teeny-weeny-yellow-polka-dot-bikini.html http://popculturemadness.com/PCM/1960/1960-number-one-hits/ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Hot_100_number-one_singles_of_1960_(U.S.) http://www.digitaldreamdoor.com/pages/best_billbord2.html http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Itsy_Bitsy_Teenie_Weenie_Yellow_Polka_Dot_Bikini […]

Exactly one year before my dad’s birthday (he is 71 today), Glenn Miller and his band recorded Chattanooga Choo Choo.  Let me tell you that I have been a Glenn Miller band since seeing The Glenn Miller Story when I was in high school.  I love James Stewart and June Allyson, and I can’t recall how many times I saw that […]

Being a musician, today’s feature is interesting to me.  On this date in 1959, the very first Grammy Awards was held.  This awards ceremony was created because of the explosive success of rock ‘n’ roll.  The record executives were concerned that quality pop music was going away.  It was held in the Grand Ballroom of the Beverly Hills hotel.  There […]

I won’t say much about this day’s feature.  When I was a music teacher in Texas,  learned much about the young lady whose birthday is celebrated today.  It was always a bittersweet lesson to share with my students.  On this date in 1971, Selena Quintanilla-Perez was born.  She went on to become an unbelievable Hispanic musician, and she was killed […]