On this day in music, February 17, 1960, Elvis Presley earned his first Gold record for an album, weeks before his discharge from the US Army. The plaque celebrated his self-titled second studio album, which was originally released in October 1956. Featuring three Little Richard covers (including “Long Tall Sally” and “Rip It Up”), several new country ballads, as well as the hits “Love Me” and “Paralyzed,” Elvis spent four weeks at the top of the Billboard albums chart, making Presley the first artist to have two albums reach No.1 in the same year.
In 1975, AC/DC released their debut studio album, High Voltage in Australia only. Recorded in November 1974 at Sydney’s Albert Studios, the LP offered a glimpse into the band’s early glam-rock influences. Nearly two years later, the Aussie group released an identically-titled international debut, which had a very different tracklist and showcased the hard rock sound they settled into.
In 1978, British singer-songwriter Kate Bush released her debut album, The Kick Inside, via EMI Records. Lead single “Wuthering Heights” peaked at No.1 in the UK, remaining at the top for four weeks and making Bush the first female artist in the UK to write a No.1 hit. Produced by Andrew Powell and David Gilmour, the album was also a rousing success, landing at No.3.
In 1971, singer-songwriter James Taylor made his TV debut with an appearance on The Johnny Cash Show, where he performed “Sweet Baby James,” “Country Road,” and his No.1 hit, “Fire and Rain.”
In 1989, Whitesnake frontman David Coverdale married actress and model Tawny Kitaen. Kitaen famously starred in several of the British hard rockers’ music videos, including an iconic appearance in 1987’s “Here I Go Again,” where she danced and cartwheeled atop two Jaguar XJs. The couple divorced in 1991.
BORN ON FEBRUARY 17
1941: Gene Pitney
1950: Rickey Medlocke (Lynyrd Skynyrd)
1972: Billie Joe Armstrong (Green Day)
1972: Taylor Hawkins (Foo Fighters)
1981: John Hassall (The Libertines)
1988: Arin Ilejay (Avenged Sevenfold)
1991: Ed Shee
The Meeker County Gardener’s Gala is coming up on Thursday, March 12th from 5-to-8:30 p.m. in the St. Philip’s Church Social Hall in Litchfield. Early bird $10 registration is due by February 27th – after that it will be $20.
Master Gardener Connie Johnson says there will be two speakers – Courtney Tchida from Wild Farm Alliance who will talk about edible native plants and herbs; and Quincy Sadowski from University of Minnesota Extension who will talk about non-native plants and their native alternatives. She says both speakers will provide great gardening information and maybe encourage you to try something new in your gardening endeavors this spring and summer.
Johnson says there will also be vendor and information booths at the Gardener’s Gala and door prizes. She says you can register ahead of time at z.umn.edu/MeekerGardenGalaReg and you can also stop at the Extension office at the Meeker County Fairgrounds or call 320-693-5275.
The Stearns County Sheriff’s Department responded to a fire at the Holdingford Mill around 7:40 Sunday night. The Sheriff’s Department received several calls of a fire at the business at 130 Plymouth Street in Holdingford.
The callers said they could see flames and hear explosions coming from the feed mill. When deputies arrived, they confirmed that there was a fire and it was spreading to other areas of the feed mill. The Holdingford Fire Department responded and requested assistance from numerous other local agencies.
The fire was extinguished; however, the building is a total loss. The nearby grain bins are still standing. No one was at the mill when the fire started. At this time the cause of the fire is unknown, and the state fire marshal’s office will be investigating.
The Stearns County Sheriff’s Office was assisted by the Avon Police Department and the Albany Police Department. The Holdingford Fire Department was assisted by the Avon Fire Department, Albany Fire Department, Bowlus Fire Department, Freeport Fire Department, Melrose Fire Department, Sartell Fire Department, St. Joseph Fire Department, St. Stephen Fire Department, Upsala Fire Department, Mayo Ambulance Service, and Giese Excavating.