Poet, playwright and important social rights activist, Langston Hughes (his tour de force work was “The Negro and the Racial Mountain”, published in 1926).
Music history and highlights that have happened on February 1st… from the birthplace of the blues… and rock n’ roll.
Rock and Roll Hall of Famer, Don Everly.
1896: Giacomo Puccini’s world famous opera “La Boheme” opens in Turin.
1902: Important poet, playwright and social activist Langston Hughes born in Jopin, Missouri.
1934: Kingston Trio singer Bob Shane born in Hilo, Hawaii.
1937: The Everly Brothers Don Everly “Wake Up Little Susie”, Cathy’s Clown”, “All I Have to Do is Dream”) born in Brownie, Kentucky.
1938: Mothers of Invention drummer Jimmy Carl Black born in El Paso.
1948: Funk master Rick James “Superfreak”) born in Buffalo.
1949: RCA records release the first 45 rpm single record ever (this made juke boxes possible).
“Superfreak” Rick James.
1954: Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers guitarist Mike Campbell born in Jacksonville, Florida.
1956: Punk rocker Exene Cervenka (“X”) born in Chicago.
1957: Reggae singer Dennis Brown passes on ( No. 14 single in the UK, “Money In My Pocket”).
1964: The Beatles “I Want to Hold Your Hand” tops the Hot 100, and stays there for 7 weeks… before giving way to “She Loves You”.
The Godfather of Soul, James Brown.
1965: James Brown records “Papa’s Got a Brand New Bag” at Arthur Smith Studios in Charlotte, North Carolina (it won a Grammy Award, No 1 on the R & B chart and No. 8 on the Billboard Pop Chart.
1967: The Beatles start work on a new song called “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band” (it later evolved into the concept for the whole album).
1968: Elvis Presley daughter Lisa Marie born in Memphis.
1972: Best selling album of the year, “Harvest” released by Neil Young.
1972: Chuck Berry has his 1st No. 1 single in the U.K., “My Ding-a-Ling”, which he had been playing live for 20 plus years.
The legendary bandleader and composer Duke Ellington produced more than one thousand lasting works.
1981: Duke Ellington musical “Sophisticated Ladies” opens in New York City.
1986: Diana Ross marries Norwegian businessman Arne Naess in Switzerland.
1986: Beatles music publisher Dick James passes on.
1989: The Platters singer Paul Robi (“Smoke Gets in Your Eyes”) passes on.
1994: British pop singer Harry Styles (“One Direction”) born in Redditch, England.
2003: Cuban band leader and percussionist Mongo Santamaria passes away.
2008: NASA announces that The Beatles “Across the Universe” would become the first song ever beamed directly into space- over the Deep Space Network.
2004: Janet Jackson experiences her well known wardrobe malfunction during half-time show at the 38th Super Bowl.
2012: Host of “Soul Train” TV show Don Cornelius leaves the building.