Today in Music History for March 30:
In 1913, Frankie Laine, whose jazz-influenced singing style produced dozens of hit records in the '40s and '50s, was born in Chicago. His work included ``That's My Desire,'' ``Mule Train,'' the ``Rawhide'' TV show theme and the title song from the Mel Brooks film ``Blazing Saddles.'' He died Feb. 6, 2007.
In 1914, blues singer John Lee (Sonny Boy) Williamson was born in Jackson, Tenn. He was the first of two singers and blues harp players who called themselves Sonny Boy Williamson. The first recorded very little, but did produce a classic 1947 recording of ``Good Morning Little Schoolgirl.'' John Lee Williamson was killed the next year during a robbery. He's known mainly for his influence on later harmonica players, such as Little Walter and Junior Wells.
In 1941, ``Moody Blues'' drummer Graeme Edge was born in Staffordshire, England. After first hitting the charts with the 1965 ballad, ``Go Now,'' the group became known for its lush concept albums. ``Days of Future Passed'' included their top-selling single, ``Nights in White Satin.'' Edge also recorded a 1974 solo album, ``Kick Off Your Muddy Boots.''
In 1945, Eric Clapton, the first guitar hero of the 1960s, was born in Ripley, England. His father was Canadian soldier Edward Fryer who was stationed in Britain. Clapton's blues-based guitar work first came to light after he joined ``The Yardbirds'' in late 1963. That was followed by stints with ``John Mayall's Bluesbreakers,'' ``Cream,'' ``Blind Faith,'' and ``Delaney and Bonnie.'' The '70s and '80s yielded such Clapton albums as ``Layla'' -- with a band he called ``Derek and the Dominos'' -- and ``461 Ocean Boulevard,'' and the singles ``I Shot the Sheriff'' and ``Lay Down Sally.'' His 1992 album, ``Eric Clapton Unplugged,'' became his top-seller and won six Grammys. Eric Clapton is the only three-time member of the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame -- as a solo performer, and as a member of both ``The Yardbirds'' and ``Cream.''
In 1963, ``He's So Fine'' by ``The Chiffons'' reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. George Harrison was later found to have unknowingly plagiarized the melody for his 1970 hit ``My Sweet Lord.''
In 1968, singer Celine Dion was born in Charlemagne, Que., the youngest of 14 children in a musical family. Dion's mother wrote the first song for Celine, which she recorded with a brother at the age of 12. With her career already being managed by her future husband, Rene Angelil, Celine recorded a series of French-language albums before her 1990 English language debut, ``Unison,'' which produced four hit singles. Dion's international breakthrough followed with her duet with Peabo Bryson on the 1992 Oscar-winning title track from the Walt Disney movie, ``Beauty and the Beast.'' Her subsequent hits included ``Love Can Move Mountains,'' ``When I Fall in Love'' and ``The Power of Love.'' ``Because You Loved Me'' became the best-selling adult contemporary single ever. And, Dion achieved another worldwide hit with ``My Heart Will Go On'' from the ``Titanic'' movie soundtrack.
In 1972, Canada's first simultaneous radio and TV broadcast of a symphony concert aired on CBC-TV and CBC-FM.
In 1976, the ``Sex Pistols'' played their first show at London's 100 Club, reportedly attracting only 50 people.
In 1978, Paul Simonon and Topper Headon of the British political rock band ``The Clash'' were arrested in London for shooting pigeons from the roof of a rehearsal hall.
In 1986, the Toronto-based quartet ``The Nylons'' won the best singer award at the Tokyo Music Festival. The group -- Claude Morrison, Marc Connors, Arnold Robinson and Paul Cooper -- were awarded about $7,800.
In 1991, Poland's news agency reported ``Dire Straits'' cancelled a Polish concert to protest pirating of their albums. Janet Jackson also was reported to have called off a Polish tour for the same reason.
In 1994, ``Pink Floyd'' played their first concert in more than five years, opening a North American tour before more than 55,000 fans in Miami.
In 1995, producer Paul Rothchild, renowned for his work with ``The Doors'' and Janis Joplin, died in Los Angeles at age 59. Rothchild also worked with ``The Paul Butterfield Blues Band'' and Bonnie Raitt, and produced the movie soundtracks to ``The Rose'' and ``The Doors.''
In 1997, the Notorious B.I.G.'s ``Life After Death'' topped the Billboard 200 album chart three weeks after the rapper was gunned down in Los Angeles.
In 1998, British glam rock singer Gary Glitter was charged with 54 counts of making indecent photos of juveniles, after photos were found on his computer. Glitter pleaded guilty and served two months in prison.
In 2007, ``U2'' frontman Bono was knighted in an informal ceremony at the Dublin home of a British ambassador.
In 2010, Canadian pop-rocker Andy Kim released ``Happen Again,'' his first album in 20 years.
In 2010, Canadian teen sensation Justin Bieber's first full length album, ``My World 2.0,'' debuted atop the Billboard 200 album chart, selling 283,000 copies in the U.S. At 16 years old, Bieber was the youngest solo male artist to reach No. 1 since August 1963, when the 13-year-old Stevie Wonder spent one week at No. 1 with ``Little Stevie Wonder/The 12 Year Old Genius.''
In 2011, 21-year-old country crossover starlet Taylor Swift was given a plaque to commemorate reaching the 20 million mark in worldwide album sales prior to a sold-out show at London's O2 arena.
In 2011, a 19-year-old man charged through a window and plummeted 10 metres to his death at an arena on the campus of the University of Pittsburgh during a ``Furthur'' show featuring Bob Weir and Phil Lesh of the ``Grateful Dead.''
In 2012, parodist ``Weird Al'' Yankovic sued Sony Music Entertainment for $5 million over unpaid royalties of digital music sales. He was also seeking a higher share of profits linked to the viewer hits racked up by his music videos on YouTube. It was settled in December 2013 for an undisclosed amount.
In 2013, Phil Ramone, the masterful Grammy Award-winning engineer, arranger and producer whose platinum touch included recordings with Ray Charles, Billy Joel and Paul Simon, died of complications stemming from heart surgery. He was 79.
In 2014, at the Juno Awards televised gala in Winnipeg, co-host Serena Ryder won Songwriter of the Year, Calgary-reared twins Tegan and Sara picked up Group and Single of the Year (``Closer'') while Montreal rockers Arcade Fire claimed Album of the Year for ``Reflektor.'' Bachman-Turner Overdrive was inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame.
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The Canadian Press