musical #tbt: June 20
Welcome to Thursday! Glad you could join us. Today’s jaunt through time takes us to an old festival in Newport and shows us a man who missed his big break right after he made it. We’ll see a few phenoms celebrate birthdays and a couple legends leave us too soon. It’s musical #tbt, June 20.
1969
Today marks the beginning of a three day festival on the second anniversary of the Newport Pop Fest. Acts included Marvin Gaye, Janis Joplin, Ike and Tina Turner, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Steppenwolf, and The Jimi Hendrix Experience. Jimi Hendrix raked in a record $125,000 for the performance. A ticket cost $15, a tag which the more than 200,000 attendees gladly paid.
2000
Ronnie Spector and The Ronettes were awarded $2.6 million in back earnings from ex-husband, songwriter, producer and label owner, Phil Spector. Though Phil wrote and produced many of their songs, a New York Judge ruled that he also cheated the women out of substantial royalties. Something about cake.
Phil and Ronnie back in the day.
2006
Kool & the Gang lead guitarist and co-founder Claydes Charles Smith passed away at 57. Smith was a crucial member of the band from its inception and roots in Jazz to its rise into Funk and R&B lore.
2017
Prodigy, legendary Queensbridge rapper and Mobb Deep co-founder, passed away in Las Vegas while on tour with Ice-T, KRS-One and Onyx. The 42 year-old rapper died in the hospital after being admitted for problems related to his battle with sickle-cell anemia. Some sources reported that Prodigy died choking on an egg, and his family has since filed a wrongful death suit against the hospital, Spring Valley Medical Center.
The Infamous.
Birthdays
Danny Cedrone
The lead guitarist on Bill Haley and His Comets’ “Rock Around the Clock” was born in 1920. He died after breaking his neck falling down the stairs just 10 days after recording the hit song.
Lionel Richie
Today in 1949, heaven gave us an angel in the omni-talented Lionel Richie. From The Commodores to the silver screen, and all the accolades in between, there’s nothing this American gem cannot do.
John Taylor
The Duran Duran bassist and co-founder was born today in 1960.
Jeordie Osbourne White
“Twiggy” was born today in 1971 and by 1998 the bassist was touring the world behind a #1 album with Marilyn Manson.
Adam Hann
The lead guitarist for British indie-rock chart toppers The 1975 was born today in The 1988.