This Day in Music History | Page 7 of 10

Throwback Thursday: Peter, Paul & Mary Release “Puff The Magic Dragon”

March 16, 2017

On this day in 1963, American folk group, Peter, Paul and Mary, released their beloved single, “Puff The Magic Dragon.” The lyrics of the song were written by Leonard Lipton, a friend of Peter’s at Cornell University, back in 1959 while they were in school. “Puff” recounts the story of a little boy, Jackie Paper, and his imaginary dragon friend, Puff, who go on adventures together during Jackie’s childhood. But eventually, Jackie grows up, leaving Puff to retreat back into his cave, awaiting his next child companion. The song was an instant success, reaching number 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, becoming another standard in a broad series of Peter, Paul and Mary folk hits that dominated the 1960s. However, as early as 1964, speculation over the song’s true meaning arose, leading many to believe that the seemingly innocent lyrics about childhood and growing up actually serve as a veiled metaphor for smoking marijuana. The group, as well as the lyricist Lipton, have since vehemently denied the allegations. But the song, to this day, remains heavily associated with drug culture.

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Throwback Thursday: Notorious B.I.G is Tragically Shot in Los Angeles

March 9, 2017

This Day in Music History

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On this day in 1997, influential rapper, Notorious B.I.G. (also known as Biggie, or, Biggie Smalls) was fatally shot while leaving a party at The Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles. Biggie was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York and rose to prominence as a central figure of the East Coast hip-hop scene in 1994 after the release of his debut album, Ready to Die. However, as his success skyrocketed, he became heavily involved in the growing East Coast – West Coast Hip Hop Feud. On September 7, 1996, West Coast hip hop rival, Tupac Shakur, was involved in a driveby shooting, where he sustained multiple gunshot wounds and died six days later. Although unconfirmed, rumors of Biggie’s involvement in the shooting of his rival were unavoidable. Six months later, while in Los Angeles to promote his upcoming album, Life After Death, and to shoot the music video for the album’s lead single, Hypnotize, Biggie Smalls was shot four times in his SUV while stopped at the corner of Wilshire Blvd and South Fairfax Ave. He was 24 years old. Biggie and Tupac’s murders remain unsolved to this day.

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Throwback Thursday: Bon Jovi is Born

March 2, 2017

This Day in Music History

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On this day in 1962, John Francis Bongiovi, Jr., or, Jon Bon Jovi, was born in Perth Amboy, New Jersey to two former Marines. Discovering his musical talents as an adolescent, Bon Jovi cut class in favor of practicing with his bandmates, and by 16, he was booking gigs in nightclubs. In 1983, he formed the rock band, Bon Jovi (originally called “Johnny Electric”) and became an international sensation after the release of their third studio album in 1986, “Slippery When Wet.” The album was an instant commercial success, with singles “You Give Love a Bad Name,” “Livin’ on a Prayer,” and “Wanted Dead or Alive.” The paramount success of the album transformed Bon Jovi from a no-name artist into a legendary Rock n Roller.

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Throwback Thursday: Woody Guthrie Writes “This Land is Your Land”

February 23, 2017

This Day in Music History

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Brought to you by Blackfire Research….On this day in 1940, legendary American folk singer and songwriter, Woody Guthrie, penned the lyrics to “This Land Is Your Land” in his room at the Hanover House Hotel in New York City. Since then, the song has been seen as America’s “Unofficial National Anthem” and was a major staple of the revival of folk music in the 1960s, covered by artists such as Bob Dylan, who, inspired by its political message, used it as a powerful protest song. The original lyrics to the song included a forgotten verse that was never released: “There was a big high wall there that tried to stop me. The sign was painted, said ‘Private Property.’ But on the backside, it didn’t say nothing. This land was made for you and me.”

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Throwback Thursday: Simon & Garfunkel – “The Concert in Central Park”

February 16, 2017

This Day in Music History

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35 years ago today, folk rock duo, Simon & Garfunkel, released their album, “The Concert in Central Park (Live).” The album was recorded in September of 1981 at a benefit concert in Central Park, New York City, which was attended by more than 500,000 people. Proceeds for the concert went towards the redevelopment and maintenance of Central Park, which had begun to deteriorate in the mid 1970s. The duo had split up over eleven years prior to the concert due to artistic and personal differences, but reunited for the benefit, playing old hits like “Mrs. Robinson,” “Wake Up Little Susie,” and “Bridge Over Troubled Water.” The album itself was a massive success, and was certified double platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). The video recordings were initially broadcast on HBO, but were eventually made available for purchase on Laserdisc and VHS.

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