Entertainment

On this day in music, February 25, 1995, Frank Sinatra performed his final concert at the Palm Springs Marriott Desert Spring Resort, as part of the Frank Sinatra Desert Classic golf tournament. The 79-year-old icon, who was one of the most popular entertainers of the 40s, 50s, and 60s, closed out the show with one of his signature hits, “The Best Is Yet to Come” (a title that was later etched on his tombstone). Sinatra’s final appearance in front of a live audience took place later in the year, during a star-studded 80th birthday event at The Shrine Auditorium. Sinatra died in 1998 at the age of 82.

In 1956, Elvis Presley scored his first No.1 hit on Billboard’s Country & Western charts with “I Forget to Remember to Forget.” Written by Stan Kesler and Charlie Feathers, the song marked Presley’s final single on Sun Records before he moved to RCA.

In 2009, President Barack Obama honored Stevie Wonder with the Library of Congress’ Gershwin Prize. Wonder’s 1970 single, “Signed, Sealed, Delivered (I’m Yours),” was the theme song of Obama’s campaign, while the 44th President cited the prodigy as his musical hero. Established in 2007, the Gershwin Prize for Popular Song recognizes artists for a lifetime of contributions to popular music.

In 1984, Van Halen’s “Jump” began a five-week run at the top of the Billboard Hot 100. The high-energy song, which served as the lead single off their sixth studio album, 1984, went on to become their most successful hit. It later earned Van Halen their first Grammy nod.

In 1977, mod revivalists The Jam signed to Polydor Records for just £6,000. Over the next five years, they would score 18 consecutive Top 40 singles in the UK.

BORN ON FEBRUARY 25

1943: George Harrison (The Beatles)
1947: Doug Yule (Velvet Underground)
1950: Emitt Rhodes
1953: John Doe (X)
1957: Dennis Diken (The Smithereens)
1957: Stuart “Woody” Wood (Bay City Rollers)
1969: Mike Peters (The Alarm, Big Country)
1965: Brian Baker (Minor Threat, Bad Religion)
1971: Daniel Powter

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On this day in music, February 24, 1968, Fleetwood Mac (popularly known then as Peter Green’s Fleetwood Mac) released their eponymous debut. At the time, the band (Peter Green, Mick Fleetwood, Jeremy Spencer, and John McVie) was a blues-rock outfit. That style was reflected in the album’s tracklist, which included covers of blues standards by Howlin’ Wolf, Robert Johnson, and Elmore James, plus original material. Despite the lack of a hit single, Fleetwood Mac peaked at No.4 in the UK. The album also marks the only Fleetwood Mac LP to not include keyboardist and vocalist Christine McVie (wife of John), who joined the group in 1970.

In 1969, The Jimi Hendrix Experience played their final UK show together. Held at London’s Royal Albert Hall, the set included covers of Cream’s “Sunshine of Your Love” and Elmore James’ “Bleeding Heart,” plus an extended jam of “Room Full of Mirrors,” all of which appeared on the 1971 live album, Experience. The band would break up shortly after an appearance at the Denver Pop Festival that June.

In 1976, The Eagles’ Their Greatest Hits compilation became the first album to receive Platinum certification by the RIAA, marking the sale of one million copies. Released just one week earlier, the album contained favorites from the rock band’s first four albums – all of which were Top 40 US hits (except “Tequila Sunrise”).

In 2020, guitarist David Roback, a founding member of Mazzy Star, died from metastatic cancer at age 61. Before forming the dream pop band in 1989 with singer Hope Sandoval, Roback was an active member of Los Angeles’ Paisley Underground scene, with bands like Rain Parade and Opal (which morphed into Mazzy Star).

In 1982, the first annual BRIT Awards were held in London, four years after an inaugural event took place around the Queen’s Silver Jubilee. British broadcaster David Jacobs hosted the ceremony, as Adam and the Ants won British Album of the Year (for Kings of the Wild Frontier) and Soft Cell’s “Tainted Love” earned British Single of the Year.

In 2004, 85-year-old Estelle Axton, who co-founded Stax Records, died in Memphis. Axton established the pioneering soul label with her brother, Jim Stewart, in the late 50s.

BORN ON FEBRUARY 24

1942: Paul Jones (Manfred Mann)
1947: Lonnie Turner (Steve Miller Band)
1947: Rupert Holmes
1950: George Thorogood
1959: Colin Farley (Cutting Crew)
1973: Chris Fehn (Slipknot)
1974: Chad Hugo (The Neptunes)

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In 1998, Celine Dion’s “My Heart Will Go On,” which was already on its way to becoming the best-selling single of the year, topped the UK pop chart. Composed by James Horner, with lyrics by Will Jennings, the ballad served as the theme to the blockbuster film Titanic, and quickly became the French Canadian singer’s signature hit. The song, which also appeared on Dion’s 1997 LP, Let’s Talk About Love, topped the charts in more than 25 countries, including the US a week later. It has sold more than 18 million copies worldwide and is one of the best-selling physical singles of all time.

In 2012, Russian feminist punk collective Pussy Riot staged a performance inside Moscow’s Cathedral of Christ the Saviour to protest the reelection of Vladimir Putin. Donning colorful balaclavas, the group was escorted out of the building less than a minute after their performance began, and three of the women were arrested and charged with hooliganism. They later used footage of the event in the music video for “Punk Prayer: Mother of God, Drive Putin Away.”

In 1968, Otis Redding had his first entry on the UK singles chart with his posthumous hit, “(Sittin’ On) The Dock Of The Bay.” The song, which peaked at No.3, was the final song recorded by the legendary soul star. Across the Atlantic, it became the first posthumously-released song to top the US charts.

In 1961, The Beatles played three shows across Liverpool in one day. They began with a lunchtime performance at the Cavern Club – marking bassist Stuart Sutcliffe’s first appearance at the venue. The band later performed at the Cassanova Club before playing at Litherland Town Hall.

In 2014, Kurt Cobain’s hometown of Aberdeen, Washington, unveiled a statue in honor of the late Nirvana frontman. The tribute was also accompanied by the announcement of the annual celebration of Kurt Cobain Day.

BORN ON FEBRUARY 21

1933: Nina Simone
1943: David Geffen (Record Executive)
1952: Jean-Jacques Burnel (The Stranglers)
1954: Mike Pickering (M People)
1969: James Dean Bradfield (Manic Street Preachers)
1967: Michael Ward (The Wallflowers)
1986: Charlotte Church
1995: GIVÉON

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On this day in music, February 20, 1959, 16-year-old Jimi Hendrix made his stage debut with an unnamed band at a room in Seattle’s Temple De Hirsch Sinai synagogue. Inspired by blues artists like Muddy Waters and B.B. King, Hendrix purchased a guitar for $5 and began teaching himself the instrument as a teenager. While he would be fired from his first gig “for showing off,” Hendrix’s innovative techniques (including tone-altering effects, such as fuzz distortion and wah-wah) would soon find him droves of fans and inspire musicians around the world to follow suit.

In 2003, a pyrotechnic accident at a Great White show in Rhode Island resulted in the deaths of 100 people, including the band’s guitarist, Ty Longley. After the tragic incident, the band’s surviving members embarked on a benefit tour, to raise funds for the victims of the fire and their loved ones.

In 1970, The Plastic Ono Band released their single “Instant Karma!” in the US. Recorded weeks earlier, on January 27, 1970, the John Lennon-penned track quickly became one of the fastest-released songs in pop music history – having been written, recorded, and released in the UK in 10 days. While release across the Atlantic took slightly longer, it was still a remarkable feat – and a Top Ten hit on the Billboard Hot 100.

In 1988, Kylie Minogue topped the UK singles chart with “I Should Be Lucky.” While the Australian singer and actress recorded the song in less than an hour, it spent a whopping 17 weeks on the chart, including five weeks at No.1.

In 1958, the six-date “Big Gold Record Stars” tour kicked in Daytona Beach, FL. The lineup consisted of Bill Haley & His Comets, The Everly Brothers, Buddy Holly & The Crickets, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Jimmie Rodgers.

BORN ON FEBRUARY 20th

1941: Buffy Sainte-Marie
1956: J Geils
1950: Walter Becker (Steely Dan)
1953: Poison Ivy (The Cramps)
1954: Jon Brant (Cheap Trick)
1963: Ian Brown (Stone Roses)
1967: Kurt Cobain (Nirvana)
1975: Brian Littrell (Backstreet Boys)
1988: Rihanna
2003: Olivia Rodrigo

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On Jan. 9, 1959, “Rawhide” premiered on CBS.

In 1964, The Temptations recorded the song “The Way You Do The Things You Do” at Motown Studios in Detroit.

In 1965, “The Beatles ’65” album hit number one and stayed there for nine weeks.

In 1973, the Rolling Stones’ plans to tour Asia were halted when Japan refused to grant Mick Jagger a visa. The Japanese turned down Jagger’s request because of his 1969 drug bust.

In 1977, country singer Emmylou Harris married music producer Brian Ahern. They divorced in 1984.

In 1979, “A Gift Of Song: The Music For UNICEF Concert” was held at the United Nations. Pop stars including ABBA, the Bee Gees and Rod Stewart performed, raising about $500,000 to fight world hunger. The concert was taped and broadcast by NBC.

In 1989, “The Pat Sajak Show” made its debut on late night TV, but it was unable to compete with the likes of Johnny Carson and David Letterman.

In 1990, Madonna began auditioning dancers for her 1990 world tour. She had taken out a newspaper ad that said, “Wimps and wannabes need not apply.”

In 1991, actor Delta Burke filed a lawsuit against the producers of “Designing Women.” She claimed they wrote her out of a script.

In 2012, Jay-Z released the song “Glory” that featured the cries of his 2-day-old daughter, Blue Ivy. Because she was credited, she became the youngest person to appear on a Billboard chart when it debuted at number 74 on the R&B/hip-hop songs chart.

Today’s Birthdays: Actor K Callan (“Lois and Clark”) is 89. Singer Joan Baez is 84. Guitarist Jimmy Page of Led Zeppelin is 81. Actor John Doman (“Gotham”) is 80. Singer-actor Buster Poindexter (David Johansen) is 75. Singer Crystal Gayle is 74. Actor J.K. Simmons (TV’s “The Closer,” ″Spider-Man” movies) is 70. Actor Imelda Staunton (“Harry Potter” movies, “Vera Drake”) is 69. Guitarist Eric Erlandson (Hole) is 62. Actor Joely Richardson is 60. Guitarist Carl Bell of Fuel is 58. Actor David Costabile (“Billions,” ″Breaking Bad”) is 58. Singer Dave Matthews of The Dave Matthews Band is 58. Actor Joey Lauren Adams (“Chasing Amy,” ″Big Daddy”) is 57. Actor Deon Cole (“black-ish”) is 54. Actor Angela Bettis (“Carrie,” ″Girl, Interrupted”) is 52. Actor Omari Hardwick (“Power”) is 51. Singer A.J. McLean of the Backstreet Boys is 47. Guitarist Drew Brown of OneRepublic is 41. Singer Paolo Nutini is 38. Actor Nina Dobrev (“The Vampire Diaries”) is 36. Actor Kerris Dorsey (“Ray Donovan,” ″Brothers and Sisters”) is 27. Actor Tyree Brown (“Parenthood”) is 21.

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On Jan. 8, 1935, Elvis Presley was born in Tupelo, Mississippi. He died at his Graceland mansion in Memphis in 1977.

In 1947, musician David Bowie was born. He died in 2016, two days after his birthday.

In 1966, the last episode of ABC’s “Shindig” music show was broadcast. The Kinks and The Who were the guest performers.

In 1974, Kiss signed their first recording contract, with Casablanca Records.

In 1979, the Canadian government named Rush its official “Ambassadors of Music.”

In 1989, the musical “42nd Street” closed on Broadway after more than 3,400 performances.

In 1990, a Los Angeles judge ruled that columnist Art Buchwald came up with the idea that inspired the Eddie Murphy movie “Coming To America.” Buchwald had sued Paramount Pictures, claiming the studio stole the idea.

In 1991, guitarist Steve Clark of Def Leppard was found dead in his London home. He was 30. A coroner ruled that Clark’s death was the result of heavy drinking.

In 1993, at a minute after midnight, the Elvis Presley commemorative stamp went on sale at his Graceland mansion in Memphis. People in the rest of the country got to buy them at post offices starting at noon.

In 1996, Robert Dewey Hoskins was found guilty of stalking Madonna.

In 2005, Motley Crue singer Vince Neil married Lia Gerardini in Las Vegas. It was his fourth marriage, her second. They separated in 2010.

Today’s Birthdays: Singer Shirley Bassey is 88. Game show host Bob Eubanks (“The Newlywed Game”) is 87. Country-gospel singer Cristy Lane is 85. Singer Anthony Gourdine of Little Anthony and the Imperials is 84. Singer Juanita Cowart Motley of The Marvelettes is 81. Actor Kathleen Noone (“Knots Landing”) is 80. Guitarist Robby Krieger of The Doors is 79. Director John McTiernan (“Predator,” “Die Hard”) is 74. Actor Harriet Sansom Harris (“Desperate Housewives”) is 70. Actor Michelle Forbes (“True Blood,” ″Star Trek: The Next Generation”) is 60. Actor Maria Pitillo (“Providence”) is 59. Bassist Jeff Abercrombie of Fuel is 56. Singer Sean Paul is 52. Singer-actor Jenny Lewis of Rilo Kiley is 49. Actor Amber Benson (“Buffy The Vampire Slayer”) is 48. Actor-director Sarah Polley is 46. Actor Gaby Hoffman (“Girls,” ″Field of Dreams”) is 43. Guitarist Disashi Lumumbo-Kasongo of Gym Class Heroes is 42. Actor-singer Cynthia Erivo is 38.

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