Today in Music History for April 6:
In 1759, George Frideric Handel made his last public performance, conducting his oratorio ``The Messiah.'' He died eight days later. Handel was one of the greatest masters of baroque music, and he strongly influenced other composers for a century after his death.
In 1883, Vernon Dalhart, the first singer of country songs to gain national attention, was born in Jefferson, Texas. Dalhart, whose real name was Marion Slaughter, began recording hillbilly songs in 1925. His ``The Prisoner's Song'' and ``The Wreck of the Old 97'' was the biggest-selling non-Christmas hit of the pre-rock 'n' roll era. He died in 1948.
In 1937, country superstar Merle Haggard was born in Bakersfield, Calif. He started recording in 1963 after leaving a job in the oil fields. His countless hits have included 1970's ``Okie from Muskogee.''
In 1941, tenor Henry Burr, the most prolific recording artist of his era, died in New York. Born in 1885 in St. Stephen, N.B., he recorded an estimated 12,000 titles from 1902 to about 1930.
In 1956, Paramount Pictures signed Elvis Presley to a three-picture contract only five days after his first screen test. Elvis was to earn $100,000 for his first movie, $150,000 for the second and $200,000 for the third.
In 1968, ``The Beatles''' Apple Corps Ltd. opened in London. ``The Fab Four's'' business enterprise was a failure, eaten away by debts and dissension.
In 1968, guitarist Syd Barrett left ``Pink Floyd,'' the British psychedelic group he founded. Dave Gilmour was his replacement, and ``Pink Floyd'' went on to become one of the world's most popular bands.
In 1969, bassist Pete Quaife quit ``The Kinks.''
In 1969, the only Palm Springs Pop Festival turned ugly when 25,000 people jammed a drive-in theatre parking lot to see Ike and Tina Turner and ``Procul Harum.'' Police helicopters arrived to disperse the crowd, and a riot began. A nearby gas station was trashed, and two people were wounded when the station owner fired a rifle into the mob.
In 1971, Igor Stravinsky, considered by many to be the greatest and most versatile composer of the 20th century, died at age 88. He came from a musical family which nonetheless wanted him to study law, so his musical training was limited. He wrote ``Firebird'' in 1910 as a commission for Serge Diaghilev, director of the Ballets Russes in Paris. Stravinsky helped to revolutionize modern music with his 1913 ballet score ``The Rite of Spring.''
In 1971, Carly Simon performed her first concert, opening for Cat Stevens in New York. James Taylor was in the audience and went backstage to meet her.
In 1974, 2,000 white doves, a 20-metre-long dragon and a 12-metre inflatable tongue were used to promote the New York premiere of the film, ``Ladies and Gentlemen -- The Rolling Stones.''
In 1974, the first California Jam rock festival opened in Ontario, Calif. More than 200,000 people gathered to hear such acts as ``Emerson, Lake and Palmer,'' ``Black Sabbath'' and ``Deep Purple.''
In 1979, singer Rod Stewart married Alana Hamilton, the ex-wife of actor George Hamilton. They separated in 1984.
In 1983, U.S. Interior Secretary James Watt declined to invite ``The Beach Boys'' to Fourth of July celebrations in Washington. Watt said rock 'n' roll bands attracted the wrong element, but changed his mind under pressure from a powerful ``Beach Boys'' fan -- presidential wife Nancy Reagan.
In 1988, jazz guitarist Larry Carlton was shot and wounded in the neck by a youth who broke into his Los Angeles home. His left arm was paralyzed and his voice was severely damaged, but Carlton performed again eight months later. No one was ever charged in the shooting.
In 1988, Elton John joined George Michael in a duet on ``Candle in the Wind'' during Michael's concert in Honolulu.
In 1992, George Harrison appeared in his first British post-Beatles solo concert -- a London benefit for the Natural Law Party.
In 1993, Bruce Hornsby released the album ``Harbor Lights,'' his first album without the band ``The Range.''
In 1994, Herbie Hancock and Vanessa Williams hosted a 50th anniversary tribute to Norman Granz and his Verve record label. Also among the New York performers were Betty Carter and Antonio Carlos Jobim. Granz organized his first Jazz at the Philharmonic concert in Los Angeles in 1944, and later formed both Clef Records and Verve.
In 1998, country star Tammy Wynette died at her Nashville home from a blood clot in her lungs. She was 55. Her chart-toppers included ``D-I-V-O-R-C-E'' and ``Stand By Your Man.'' Her third of five husbands was another country star, George Jones.
In 1998, Wendy O. Williams, lead singer of the sex-and-violence punk rock band the ``Plasmatics,'' shot and killed herself near her Connecticut home. She was 48. Williams' on-stage theatrics in the '70s and '80s included blowing up equipment and chainsawing guitars.
In 1999, jazz vibraphonist Red Norvo died in Santa Monica, Calif., at age 91.
In 1999, ``Mamma Mia,'' a musical based on the songs of ``ABBA,'' opened in London. A hit Toronto production opened the following year.
In 2008, (Leslie) Feist won five Junos including Single and Album of the Year, Songwriter of the Year and Artist of the Year at Juno Awards ceremony in Calgary.
In 2009, George Strait received the Academy of Country Music's Artist of the Decade award in recognition of his nearly 25-year career. Only four other acts have received the distinction: Marty Robbins in the '60s, Loretta Lynn in the '70s, Alabama in the '80s and Garth Brooks in the '90s. Strait's many hits include ``Amarillo By Morning,'' ``Ocean Front Property,'' ``Check Yes or No'' and ``I Saw God Today.''
In 2010, German rock band ``Scorpions'' took their place on the Hollywood RockWalk.
In 2010, Afro-Cuban music pioneer Graciela Perez Grillo died in New York City at age 94. She was known as the First Lady of Latin Jazz and her best-known albums were ``Esta es Graciela'' (This Is Graciela), ``Intimo y sentimental'' (Intimate and Sentimental) and ``Yo soy asi'' (That's the Way I Am).
In 2011, the U.S. National Recording Registry announced 25 more recordings would be preserved at the Library of Congress. Among them: America's favourite pastime anthem ``Take Me Out to the Ball-Game'' by Edward Meeker, Tammy Wynette's ``Stand By Your Man,'' Henry Mancini's ``The Music From 'Peter Gunn,'' Al Green's ``Let's Stay Together,'' ``Steely Dan's'' ``Aja'' and ``De La Soul's'' ``3 Feet High and Rising.''
In 2011, the Recording Academy, which puts on the annual Grammy music awards gala, announced that it would reduce the number of categories from 109 to 78 for the 2012 ceremony. Male and female vocal categories in fields including pop, R&B and country were among those being cut, with men and women now competing in one streamlined field.
In 2011, singer-songwriter John Bottomley, who won the Juno for Most Promising Male Vocalist in 1992, committed suicide near his home in Brackendale, B.C. He was 50.
In 2014, George Strait won his second Academy of Country Music Awards Entertainer of the Year award, 25 years after he won his first.
In 2015, jazz legend Billie Holiday was inducted into the Apollo Theater's Walk of Fame in Harlem, N.Y.
In 2016, country music legend Merle Haggard died on his 79th birthday, of complications from pneumonia at his home outside Redding, Calif. Haggard rose from poverty and prison to international fame through his songs about outlaws, underdogs and an abiding sense of national pride in such hits as ``Okie From Muskogee'' and ``Sing Me Back Home.'' A masterful guitarist, fiddler and songwriter as well as singer, the Country Music Hall of Famer with the firm, direct baritone recorded for more than 40 years, releasing dozens of albums and No. 1 hits.
In 2018, rapper-singer Kid Rock was inducted into the Celebrity Wing of the WWE Hall of Fame. His songs have been used as entrance music for several wrestlers as well as the theme music for several of the wrestling organization's pay-per-view events.
The Canadian Press