On this day in music, July 16, 2007, Detroit alt-rock duo The White Stripes entered the record books by playing the shortest-ever live gig when they appeared at a Newfoundland venue called George Street during a Canadian tour. They played just a single note with a cymbal crash before exiting the stage. The “concert” was recognized by the Guinness Book Of Records in 2009 but the book’s compilers dropped the category a year later after being swamped by applications for similar record-breaking attempts.
In 1966, British blues-rock supergroup Cream was formed. The influential power trio, which consisted of guitarist Eric Clapton, singer, and bassist Jack Bruce, and drummer Ginger Baker, only stayed together for two years and four months, but in that time they racked up one gold and two platinum albums.
In 2000, Coldplay scored their first chart-topping album in the UK with Parachutes. The British band’s debut featured the hits “Yellow,” “Trouble,” and “Don’t Panic,” and later earned them a Grammy for Best Alternative Music Album.
In 2016, singer and visual artist Alan Vega died aged 78. Born Boruch Alan Bermowitz in New York City, Vega is best remembered for his role alongside partner Martin Rev in the pioneering electronic proto-punk duo, Suicide, whose 1977 self-titled debut album appeared in Rolling Stone’s 500 Greatest Albums of All Time list in 2020.
In 1962, The Beach Boys signed a seven-year contract with Capitol Records after being rejected by the Dot and Liberty labels. Their first hit for the company was “Surfin’ Safari,” which peaked at No.14 on the Billboard Hot 100. It was recorded a few months before they joined Capitol during their second-ever trip to the recording studio.
In 1955, 19-year-old Elvis Presley entered the US charts for the first time when his distinctive take on bluesman Arthur Gunter’s “Baby, Let’s Play House” landed at the No.15 spot in Cash Box magazine’s country chart. Presley’s version, recorded for Sun Records, marked the first time he featured his much-imitated hiccup-like vocal style.
In 2014, the revered American blues guitarist Johnny Winter died aged 70. The Texas-born musician (and elder brother of keyboard wizard Edgar Winter) picked up a trio of Grammy awards for three albums he produced for blues icon Muddy Waters between 1977 and 1981.
BORN ON JULY 16
1939: Denise LaSalle
1941: Desmond Dekker
1952: Mark McEntee (Divinyls)
1952: Stewart Copeland (The Police)
1964 Polly Hancock (Popinjays).
1971: Edward Joel Kowalczyk (Live)
1978: TJ (3T)
1990: Wizkid
1996: Luke Hemmings (5 Seconds of Summer)
1996: Kevin Abstract (Brockhampton)
Pheasants Forever and Great River Greening are teaming up on a savannah restoration field day. It will be held north of Dassel on July 30th from 9-to-1 and you can register for the event and get more information by contacting the USDA office – just west of Walmart – in Litchfield.
Farm Bill Biologist Dustin Paesler says he works with landowners with CRP and other programs and is always trying to improve habitat. He says the event on July 30th will be on the property of a private landowner at 71215 CSAH 21 and the focus that day will be mainly on the brush management aspect.
Paesler says lunch will be provided for all participants and space is limited, so you can get signed up in advance at pheasantsforever.org/events or give him a call at 320-535-3074. He says brush management does not apply just to oak savannah like the site where they will be on July 30th. He says the pheasant population seems to be up so the habitat efforts of Pheasants Forever seem to be working.
LSS Meals will have a community dining event on Thursday, July 30th at 11:30 a.m. – a special pizza and bingo party – at Zion Lutheran Church in Litchfield, with entertainment by Keith Johnson and Jackie Dennin. Preregister by July 21st by calling Diane at 320-693-6203.
The LSS meals are for people 60-years and older. The meals are designed by a registered dietitian to provide variety and balanced nutrition to meet dietary needs. To pick up meals at the dining site, there is a quick and easy form to fill out and an LSS team member or volunteer can help you.
Voluntary contributions help sustain the services, and you will be served regardless of your ability to offer a contribution. The event on July 30th will include pizza and bingo, but you need to RSVP by July 21st. Diane Johnson can also be contacted at Diane.M.Johnson@lssmn.org.
In 2018, a new digital milestone occurred when Guns N’ Roses’ “November Rain” became the first video released before the advent of YouTube to surpass one billion views on the platform. One of the most expensive music videos of its time, the 1992 visual was directed by Andy Morahan and featured supermodel Stephanie Seymour, the then-girlfriend of frontman Axl Rose. The power ballad, which peaked at No.3 on the Billboard Hot 100, also marked the longest song to enter the US Top Ten at the time.
In 1972, Elton John earned his first No.1 album in the US with his fifth studio effort, Honkey Chateau. Named for the 18th-century French chateau in which it was recorded (Château d’Hérouville), the album featured the Top 10 singles “Rocket Man” and “Honkey Cat.”
In 1978, The Rolling Stones began a two-week run at the top of the US album chart with Some Girls. Despite the popularity of the album (which marked their 16th LP in the US), the Peter Corriston-designed jacket cover caused a stir among some of the era’s biggest celebrities. The image, which featured the likenesses of Lucille Ball, Farrah Fawcett, Judy Garland, Raquel Welch, and Marilyn Monroe, was instantly challenged by the women and/or their estates. Corston redesigned the cover, without the starlets’ faces, and the album was promptly reissued.
In 1958, John Lennon’s mother, Julia Lennon, was hit and killed by a car driven by an off-duty policeman. While John, who was 17 at the time of the tragedy, lived with his aunt Mimi, he was very close with his mother. Julia, in turn, was one of his biggest supporters at Quarrymen shows. The loss inspired several of the artist’s songs, including 1968’s “Julia” (with The Beatles) and his 1970 solo track, “Mother.” John’s first son, Julian, was named for Julia.
In 1956, 13-year-old Frankie Lymon (with The Teenagers) became the youngest artist to hit the top spot on the UK pop charts with “Why Do Fools Fall in Love.”
In 1989, Pink Floyd performed on a floating barge in Venice’s Grand Canal, during the Italian city’s annual Festa del Redentore. More than 200,000 fans attended the show (double what authorities had planned for), taking over buildings and bridges along the San Marco Basin. Following the concert, which was broadcast to global audiences, the Italian Army was called in to help clean up the trash and damage that resulted from the overflow of onlookers.
BORN ON JULY 15
1946: Linda Ronstadt
1947: Roky Erickson (13th Floor Elevators)
1949: Trevor Horn (Buggles)
1952: Johnny Thunders (New York Dolls)
1956: Ian Curtis (Joy Division)
1956: Joe Satriani
1966: Jason Bonham
1973: John Dolmayan (System of a Down)
1977: Ray Toro (My Chemical Romance)
1990: Olly Alexander (Years & Years)