On this day in music, July 17, 1967, the broadly influential jazz saxophonist and composer John Coltrane died, aged 40, from liver cancer. Born in North Carolina and raised in Philadelphia, Coltrane rose to fame as a member of Miles Davis’ pathfinding quintet in the 1950s and played on several of the trumpeter’s key albums, including 1959’s Kind Of Blue. Coltrane’s stellar solo career, which took flight in the late 50s, saw him push the frontiers of modern jazz with groundbreaking albums like Giant Steps, My Favorite Things, and A Love Supreme, the latter sowing the seeds for the spiritual jazz movement.
In 1995, Robbie Williams left Take That during the middle of the British boy band’s Nobody Else tour. The singer-songwriter launched his solo career the following year with a cover of Geoge Michael’s “Freedom.”
In 1975, Bob Marley and the Wailers played the first of two concerts at London’s Lyceum Theatre. Marley’s label, Island Records, taped both nights and selected the best moments for the reggae icon’s first in-concert album, Live!, released in December 1975. It included a performance of the anthemic “No Woman No Cry,” which was released as a single and gave Marley his first UK chart entry.
In 1968, the animated movie Yellow Submarine, inspired by the music of The Beatles, premiered in London. A psychedelic fantasy adventure directed by George Dunning, the film featured the “Fab Four” as cartoon characters but their voices were spoken by actors. The soundtrack album made No.2 in the US and No.3 in the UK.
In 1959, legendary jazz singer Billie Holiday died at 44. Born Eleanora Fagan in Philadelphia, “Lady Day” was noted for her plaintive tone as well as her heightened musical sensitivity. Among her signature songs was the Civil Rights anthem, “Strange Fruit,” as well as the self-written “Lady Sings The Blues” and “God Bless the Child.” Despite her success, the influential singer did not have an easy life and struggled with addictions, legal troubles, and several abusive relationships.
In 1965, James Brown released the single “Papa’s Got a Brand New Bag.” Regarded as a landmark record in the evolution of funk music, the song spent two months at the top of the Billboard R&B chart and won the Grammy Award for best for Best Rhythm & Blues Recording.
In 2013, U2 frontman Bono was awarded Commandeur of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres by the French government for his contribution to music and commitment to humanitarian causes.
BORN ON JULY 17
1941: Spencer Davis (The Spencer Davis Group)
1947: Wolfgang Flür (Kraftwerk)
1948: Ron Asheton (The Stooges)
1949: Geezer Butler (Black Sabbath)
1952: Phoebe Snow
1966: Lou Barlow (Dinosaur Jr., Sebadoh)
1971: DJ Minutemix (P.M. Dawn)
1976: Luke Bryan
1985: Tom Fletcher (McFly)
1987: Jeremih
The Songs of Summer Festival is getting closer. The big event is scheduled for August 14th at Memorial Park on Lake Ripley, with gates opening at 4 p.m. and the music staring at 5 o’clock.
Amanda Nelson says there are 3 bands performing – Vintage Revival, South 40 and Shirts & Skins. She says it’s a free event, but they do accept freewill donations and the event helps to raise money for grants that go to local non-profit, youth-related organizations.
Nelson says the Songs of Summer Festival would not be possible without donations from lots of sponsors. Cammy Moses says they still have raffle tickets available at the American Legion and at Mid-Country Bank for $20 each and the top prize is $1,000. You need not be present to win. She says they have many food vendors lined up for the event on August 14th at Memorial Park.
Moses says they will have overflow parking available at Lake Ripley Elementary School and Red, White & Brews will shuttle people back and forth. She says kids will be able to enjoy the splash pad and the playground during the Songs of Summer Festival so bring your lawn chair and enjoy a great evening of music at Memorial Park in Litchfield on August 14th.
The replacement of the County-State-Aid-Hghway 34 bridge over the North Fork of the Crow River – about 4 miles north of Litchfield – was completed on July 16th. The road is once again open to all traffic.
The project was expected to take 5-months to complete and the road was closed for exactly 5-months – from February 16th to July 16th. The bridge project contractor was Structural Specialties of Hutchinson. Meeker County Public Works Director Phil Schmalz says the patience of the traveling public was greatly appreciated while construction crews worked to replace the aged structure.
The Minnesota State Patrol responded to a 2-vehicle crash in Litchfield at 10:37 Thursday morning at the intersection of Highway 12 and 24. A 2023 Chrysler Pacifica was travelling northbound on U.S. Highway 12 and a 2025 Chevrolet Trailblazer was headed northbound when they collided in the intersection.
The Trailblazer was driven by 80-year-old Virginia Ann Evensen of Mora. She received non-life-threatening injuries and was taken to Meeker Memorial Hospital. A passenger in her vehicle – 82-year-old Dee Etta Kuehn of Van Cleave, Mississippi – received non-life-threatening injuries and was also taken to Meeker Memorial Hospital.
The Pacifica was driven by 81-year-old Stephen Louis Mattson of Willmar. He was not injured. A passenger in his vehicle – 85-year-old Annabell Maxine Larsen of Willmar – received non-life-threatening injuries and was taken to Meeker Memorial Hospital. Also responding to the scene were Litchfield Police Dept., Meeker County Sheriff’s Office, Litchfield Fire Dept. and Mayo EMS.
