Today in Music History for Aug. 29:
In 1908, Lewis Redner, American Episcopal organist and composer, died at age 78. Redner composed "St. Louis," the tune to which is most commonly sung Phillips Brooks’ Christmas hymn, "O Little Town of Bethlehem."
In 1920, Charlie "Bird" Parker, the alto saxophonist credited with developing the bebop style of jazz in the 1940s, was born. Parker got his start playing with big bands, but his revolutionary style soon demanded a new outlet. He began playing with such like-minded musicians as pianist Thelonious Monk and trumpeter Dizzy Gillespie at Minton's Club in New York. But Parker was unable to gain commercial success with his bebop style, and he died of a heroin overdose in 1955.
In 1943, Canadian singer and songwriter Tom Northcott was born in Vancouver.
In 1958, George Harrison joined John Lennon's skiffle group, "The Quarrymen." Paul McCartney was already a member of the band. Harrison joined "The Quarrymen" for a performance at the opening night of the Casbah Club in Liverpool. The club was run by the mother of Pete Best, who became "The Beatles'" first drummer.
In 1958, singer Michael Jackson was born in Gary, Ind. The biggest pop star of the 1980s, Jackson began his career in his family group "The Jackson Five" when he was only five. The group had more than a dozen top-20 hits for Motown in the 1970s. Michael began branching out from the group as early as 1971, but his biggest success didn't come until he teamed up with producer Quincy Jones. Their collaboration produced the 1979 album "Off the Wall" and three years later, in 1982, "Thriller," which is the biggest-selling album of all time. In 1987 came another Jackson-Jones effort, "Bad," which became the first album to spawn five No. 1 singles. Later he became known for bizarre behaviour, including an accusation of child molestation which he denied. He was only weeks away from a comeback with a 50-show set in London when he died of cardiac arrest on June 25, 2009.
In 1966, "The Beatles" performed their last concert in front of 25,000 people at Candlestick Park in San Francisco. "The Fab Four" played 11 selections in just over half an hour, beginning with Chuck Berry's "Rock and Roll Music" and ending with Little Richard's "Long Tall Sally." The group continued to record together until 1971, when they officially disbanded.
In 1976, blues singer and harmonica player Jimmy Reed, composer of such blues standards as "Big Boss Man," "Honest I Do" and "Bright Lights, Big City," died in Oakland, Calif., at age 50. Reed had more than a dozen R&B hits in the 1950s, two of which -- "Honest I Do" and "Baby, What You Want Me to Do" -- crossed over to the pop chart. Among the many rock and country performers who have recorded Reed's songs are Elvis Presley, Aretha Franklin, "The Rolling Stones," Charlie Rich and Sonny James.
In 1976, guitarist Randy California shoved Neil Young after Young came on stage during a "Spirit" reunion concert in Santa Monica, Calif. Young had been invited by bassist Mark Andes to join "Spirit" for an encore. Everyone finally got together for a version of Bob Dylan's "Like a Rolling Stone."
In 1985, Neil Young gave a benefit performance in Cheyenne, Wyo., for victims of a flood in the city earlier in the month. The Toronto-born Young was later made an honorary resident of the state.
In 1987, country comedian Archie Campbell, a regular on TV's "Hee-Haw" and a frequent performer at the Grand Ole Opry, died in Knoxville, Tenn., of complications from a heart attack suffered two months earlier. He was 72.
In 1988, Aretha Franklin joined George Michael on stage during his "Faith" world tour stop in Auburn Hills, Mich., near Detroit. The duo sang their Grammy Award-winning hit "I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)."
In 1988, singer Bob Seger and actress Annette Sinclair filed for divorce.
In 1998, country singer Johnny Rodriguez was charged with murder after he shot and killed an acquaintance at his home in Sabinal, Texas. The singer's lawyer said Rodriguez mistook the 26-year-old victim for a burglar. Rodriguez was acquitted in October 1999.
Also on this date in 1998, rockabilly singer Charlie Feathers died in Memphis of complications following a stroke. He was 66. Although Feathers never made the big time, his recordings -- "Tongue-Tied Jill" and "Defrost Your Heart" -- gained legendary status among rockabilly fans. He claimed to have had a hand in arranging "Blue Moon of Kentucky," Elvis Presley's first recording for Sun Records. And he co-wrote Elvis's final Sun single, "I Forgot to Remember to Forget."
In 2001, the "Dixie Chicks" countersued Sony Music Entertainment -- accusing the company of cheating them out of more than US$4 million in royalties. Sony had previously sued the group for more than $100 million for five undelivered albums.
In 2002, rapper Eminem drew boos at the MTV Video Music Awards after he called Moby a girl and threatened to hit a guy with glasses, which Moby was wearing. That same night, Michael Jackson accepted a special award as a birthday present that he mistook for the Artist of the Millenium award.
In 2009, "Oasis" guitarist Noel Gallagher claimed on the band's website that "verbal and violent intimidation" led to his decision to leave the Brit-rock band. Although he didn't mention his brother Liam directly, the Gallagher boys had a well-documented history of dust-ups over the years.
In 2009, in Mexico City, 13,597 of Michael Jackson’s Mexican fans set a Guiness record for most people to dance to the song "Thriller" simultaneously in one place. The previous record was held by a group of 242 students at the College of William & Mary.
In 2009, Chris Connor, a smoky-voiced jazz vocalist who had numerous hits during a career that spanned more than 50 years, died of cancer. She was 81. She performed with several big bands and also had an extensive solo career. She was known for altering rhythms on ballads, using little vibrato and a husky, lush sound heard on hits such as "All About Ronnie," which she performed with the Stan Kenton Orchestra, as well as "Trust in Me" and "About the Blues."
In 2011, Grammy-winning Blues musician David (Honey Boy) Edwards, believed to be the oldest surviving Delta bluesman and whose roots stretched back to blues legend Robert Johnson, died in his Chicago home. He was 96.
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The Canadian Press