Today in Music History for April 4:
In 397, St. Ambrose, bishop of Milan, died. Known as the ``Father of Hymnody,'' he encouraged the singing of hymns, wrote several and codified the Ambrosian chant for the early church.
In 1739, the first performance of Handel's ``Israel in Egypt'' was held in London at the King's Theatre in Haymarket. Second only to the ``Messiah'' in popularity, it tells the story of the exodus from Egypt.
In 1904, the Berliner Gramophone Company of Canada was chartered. The company was run by Emile Berliner, the inventor of the gramophone. He set up a manufacturing facility for his talking machine in Montreal in 1897, and began making records there three years later.
In 1915, bluesman Muddy Waters, whose real name was McKinley Morganfield, was born in Rolling Fork, Miss. He began recording in 1941, and his 1948 hit ``I Can't Be Satisfied'' helped bring the amplified guitar to the fore in blues music. His Chicago-based band included such notables as James Cotton, Buddy Guy, Willie Dixon and Otis Spann. Waters' style had a profound effect on pop music in the 1950s and '60s, influencing such musicians as Jimi Hendrix and ``The Rolling Stones.'' In fact, ``The Rolling Stones'' took their name from a Waters' recording, ``Rollin' Stone.'' Waters also brought Chuck Berry to the attention of Chess Records in 1955. Muddy Waters died in 1983.
In 1924, conductor Victor Feldbrill was born in Toronto. He conducted the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra from 1958-68, the Toronto Symphony from 1971-77, and often conducted the Canadian Opera Company. He has included at least one Canadian work in every concert he has led.
In 1948, Berry Oakley, bass player with ``The Allman Brothers Band,'' was born in Jacksonville. By 1971, the ``Allman Brothers'' seemed ready to rival the British supergroups. But leader and guitarist Duane Allman died in a motorcycle accident in Macon, Georgia. Oakley died a year later in another motorcycle accident in nearly the same spot.
In 1951, Nova Scotian Hank Snow hit the top of the Billboard country chart with ``The Rhumba Boogie.''
In 1960, Ottawa-born Paul Anka's ``Puppy Love'' reached No. 2 on the U.S. pop singles chart.
In 1964, ``The Beatles'' held the top five positions on Billboard's Hot 100. ``Can't Buy Me Love'' was No. 1, followed by ``Twist and Shout,'' ``She Loves You,'' ``I Want To Hold Your Hand'' and ``Please Please Me.''
In 1964, a subsidiary of Capitol Records was awarded copyright and royalties on ``The Trashmen's'' hit ``Surfin' Bird.'' A court had ruled the song was copied from two earlier hits by ``The Rivingtons'' -- ``Papa-Oom-Mow-Mow'' and ``The Bird's the Word.''
In 1977, ``The Clash's'' first album, ``The Clash,'' was released in Britain. It wasn't released in the U.S. until 1979, because some of the songs' content was judged to be too violent for American ears.
In 1980, country singer Red Sovine, famed for his truck driving songs and narrations, was killed in a Nashville car crash at age 61. He is best remembered for 1977's ``Teddy Bear,'' a highly-sentimental tale of a crippled boy, his CB radio and some friendly truckers. It gave Sovine his first million-seller at the age of 58.
In 1987, RCA Records officially became the Bertelsmann Music Group upon its takeover by the giant West German publishing, broadcasting and recording company.
In 1996, Jerry Garcia's widow and ``Grateful Dead'' guitarist Bob Weir sprinkled a small portion of Garcia's ashes into India's holy Ganges River. The rest of Garcia's ashes were released off San Francisco later that month. The ``Grateful Dead'' leader had died of a heart attack the previous August.
In 2000, Diana Ross announced a ``Supremes'' ``reunion'' tour, even though the other two ``Supremes,'' Scherrie Payne and Lynda Laurence, never performed with Ross. The tour was later cancelled due to poor ticket sales.
In 2002, guitarist Aaron Kamin of ``The Calling'' suffered a severe electric shock during a sound check in Bangkok, Thailand. The band had to call off the rest of their international tour.
In 2004, Juno Awards winners included -- Top Single: ``Powerless (Say What You Want),'' Nelly Furtado; songwriter: Sarah McLachlan and Pierre Marchand for ``World on Fire''; album: ``We Were Born in Flame,'' Sam Roberts. Host Alanis Morisette caused big stir by appearing in a bodysuit.
In 2009, ex-Beatles Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr reunited to promote meditation for kids. They performed at a benefit concert in New York for the David Lynch Foundation. It raised funds to teach one million at-risk kids to meditate. Other performers included Donovan, Sheryl Crow, Eddie Vedder, Ben Harper, ``Moby'' and Bettye LaVette.
In 2009, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame held its induction ceremonies for heavy metal band ``Metallica,'' rap pioneers ``Run-D.M.C.,'' soul singer Bobby Womack, guitarist and former ``Yardbirds'' member Jeff Beck and R&B doo-wop group ``Little Anthony and the Imperials.'' Rockabilly singer Wanda Jackson was inducted as an early influence, and Bill Black and D.J. Fontana of Elvis Presley's backing band were inducted as sidemen.
In 2015, original Lynyrd Skynyrd drummer Robert Burns Jr. died in a single vehicle accident in Cartersville, Ga. He was 64. He was one of five musicians who founded the Southern hard rock band in Jacksonville, Fla. While Burns was with the band, it recorded ``Sweet Home Alabama,'' ``Gimme Three Steps,'' and ``Free Bird.''
In 2016, ex-One Direction member Zayn Malick debuted at No. 1 on the all-genre Billboard 200 album chart with his first solo effort, ``Mind of Mine,'' making him the first male British solo artist to do so.
----
The Canadian Press
