This Day in Music: May 17th

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Born on this day:

1942, Taj Mahal, blues guitarist
1948, Bill Bruford, King Crimson, Yes
1961, Enya Ni Bhraonain, Clannad
1965, Trent Reznor, Nine Inch Nails
1974, Andrea Corr, The Corrs

1963, the first Monterey Folk Festival in California was held over three days and featured Joan Baez, Bob Dylan and Peter Paul and Mary.

1966, During a U.K. tour, Bob Dylan appeared at The Free Trade Hall in Manchester. This was the concert where a member of the audience shouted out “Judas” at Dylan unhappy with the singers move from acoustic to rock. Dylan replied with ‘You’re a liar’, the entire concert was eventually officially released in The Bootleg Series by Sony Music in 1999.

1971, Dawn were at #1 on the U.K. singles chart with “Knock Three Times,” the group's first of two U.K.#1's. Singer Tony Orlando had retired from singing when he was persuaded to front Dawn for studio recordings.

1975, Elton John was awarded a Platinum Record for sales of a million copies of the LP 'Captain Fantastic and The Brown Dirt Cowboy', the first album ever to be certified Platinum on the day of its release.

1980, Drummer Peter Criss left Kiss and was replaced by Eric Carr.

1981, Whitesnake appeared at Bingley Hall, Stafford, England.

1987, a fire destroyed Tom Petty's house in Los Angeles, the cost was estimated at $800,000.

1989, former Rolling Stone Bill Wyman's first Sticky Fingers restaurant opened in London.

1989, the first night of a 12-date U.K. tour for R.E.M. started at Leicester De Montfort Hall.

1996, U.S. blues guitarist Johnny Guitar Watson died of a heart attack while on tour in Yokohama, Japan. According to eyewitness reports, he collapsed mid guitar solo. His last words were “ain't that a bitch.”

2002, Sharon Sheeley, US songwriter, died aged 62. Hits include 'Poor Little Fool' US No.1 for Ricky Nelson in 1958 and 1959 hit for Eddie Cochran 'Somethin' Else'. Sheeley survived the car crash that killed Eddie Cochran during a 1960 UK tour. For more on this story, see This Day in Music Spotlight.

2008, Madonna was at #1 on the U.S. album chart with her eleventh studio album Hard Candy. The album reached number one in thirty-seven other countries.

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