The Litchfield Marching Band had a busy weekend. On Saturday they took first place in Class AA in Owatonna. They also got the awards for Best Winds and Best Color Guard.
From there they traveled to Waconia for the Lake Waconia Band Festival and received first place in Class AA and also was awarded Best Colorguard, Best Winds and Best Drumline.
They marched on Sunday in Hutchinson. No awards were awarded as this was an exhibition parade.
Tonight they will travel to Roseville to participate in the Rose Parade.
On this day in music, June 22, 1971, Joni Mitchell released her celebrated fourth album, Blue. Written after a break-up with Graham Nash and amid a budding romance with James Taylor, the album explores all of the emotions that come with a relationship and features several of the Canadian singer-songwriter’s most enduring songs, including “California,” “A Case of You,” and “River.” Long regarded as one of the greatest albums of all time, Blue was a commercial success upon its release, landing in the Top Ten in the UK and Canada, and peaking at No.15 in the US.
In 1969, actress and singer Judy Garland died at the age of 47. Known most famously for her role as Dorothy Gale in 1939’s The Wizard of Oz, Garland was a multi-hyphenate icon of Hollywood’s Golden Era, appearing in such hit films as Meet Me in St. Louis, Easter Parade, and A Star Is Born. Garland also enjoyed a successful recording career, later becoming the first woman to earn a Grammy Award for Album of the Year for 1961’s Judy at Carnegie Hall.
In 1963, Stevie Wonder (then “Little Stevie Wonder”) made his debut on the Billboard pop chart with “Fingertips Part 1 & 2.” The live recording, which featured Marvin Gaye on drums, eventually topped both the pop and R&B charts, becoming the first non-studio single to do so.
In 2008, Coldplay made UK chart history when their single, “Viva La Vida,” became the first digital-only No.1 hit. The song also marked the British group’s first single to top the charts in both the US and UK. It later earned a Grammy for Song of the Year.
In 2022, Glastonbury history was made when the festival hosted both its youngest and oldest solo headliners to date. The artists in question were 20-year-old Billie Eilish and 80-year-old Paul McCartney. The long-running UK festival – which also featured performances by Diana Ross, Haim, and Lorde – returned after a two-year hiatus, amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
In 1968, Herb Albert’s “This Guy’s in Love with You” became the bandleader and record executive’s first No.1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100. Penned by Burt Bacharach and Hal David, the single also marked the legendary songwriting duo’s first US chart-topper.
In 1985, Canadian singer-songwriter Bryan Adams scored his first No.1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 with “Heaven. The song first appeared on the soundtrack to the 1983 film A Night in Heaven.
BORN ON JUNE 22
1936: Kris Kristofferson
1944: Peter Asher (Peter & Gordon)
1947: Howard Kaylan (The Turtles)
1948: Todd Rundgren
1953: Cyndi Lauper
1961: Jimmy Somerville (Bronski Beat)
1964: Bobby Gillespie (Primal Scream)
1970: Steven Page (Barenaked Ladies)
One of this summer’s music concerts in Litchfield’s Central Park will celebrate America’s 250th birthday. The West Central Barbershop Chorus will present “250 years of American Music” on July 2nd from 6-to-8 p.m.
Chorus member Rick Sandry says they will be wearing their tuxedos that evening. He says the concert is made possible with a Southwest Minnesota Arts Council grant.
Sandry says he began singing barbershop music in 1976, took a few years off to drive semi, but has been back at it the past 35 years. Jon Schmidt says he joined the West Central Barbershop Chorus about 10 years ago. He says there are close to 18 members and they will sing about 9 numbers – mostly from the last century.
Schmidt says they will sing the set that they performed in Willmar last spring, and it’s all memorized. Bob Starz says the West Central Barbershop Chorus has performed in several other states and in Canada. He says barbershop is fun music that can be heard all over the world.
Starz says he started performing barbershop music in 1978 and was in a chorus in Upstate New York, then moved back to Minnesota and performed in Rochester and then in Willmar. He says people should attend their concert on July 2nd at 6 p.m. in Litchfield’s Central Park and celebrate America’s 250th birthday.
By the way, this Thursday’s concert – June 25th – in Central Park will be the Dad & Drea show with Terry Shaw and his daughter, Andrea, and the Meeker County Dairy Princesses will be serving ice cream.
The 70th annual Litchfield Watercade celebration is coming up July 9th through the 12th. Some events actually begin before that – such as the Medallion Hunt on July 6th and the 2nd annual Pickle Ball Tournament at the Litchfield Area Recreation Center on July 6th.
Watercade Board member Sara Miller says registration forms for several Watercade events can be found at watercade.com. She says there are some events that are not coordinated by the Watercade Board, but they include them on their posters such as the blood drive at Ecumen on July 7th from 10-to-4, the LAMP pork chop supper July 7th from 4:30-to-6:30 at the Fieldgate Pavilion, the Center Bank Brat Feed on July 9th from 4-to-6 p.m., and the Kiwanis Pancake Breakfast on July 10th from 6:30-to-12:30 in Central Park.
Miller says the Beach Party is on July 10th from 6-to-9 p.m. at Lake Ripley Beach and there is no sand sculpture contest this year. She says there will be lots of vendors at Memorial Park that evening and the fireworks show that night will be extra special as this is the 70th anniversary.
Miller says July 11th will be the busiest day of the weekend with 4 and 8-mile runs, the fishing contest, bike dig, art-in-the-park, the kiddie parade – and more – including the Grande Day Parade at 6 p.m. She says much of what they do would not be possible without their sponsors.
Miller says the 70th annual Litchfield Watercade celebration will conclude on July 12th with a golf tournament at 10 a.m., Junior Royalty Coronation at 12:30 (which is free), and the Coronation of the new Miss Litchfield at 3 p.m. in the Bernie Aaker Auditorium. Admission for that is $10 or $5 with a Watercade button. She says there are tennis and softball tournaments taking place throughout the Watercade weekend and for more details on any events or for registration information, go to watercade.com.
