This week in music history: August 15-21

August 15

1922 - Lukas Foss, [Fuchs], composer, born in Berlin, Germany

1939 - "The Wizard of Oz" premiered in Hollywood, CA. Judy Garland became famous for the movie's song "Somewhere Over the Rainbow."

1964 - MCA, [Adam Yauch], rock vocalist (Beastie Boys) born in NYC

1965 - The Beatles set a record for having the largest single crowd at a concert at Shea Stadium in New York. Attendance was 56,000.

1969 - The Woodstock Music and Art Fair began in Bethel, NY at Max Yasgur’s Dairy Farm. The 3-day concert featured 24 bands and drew over 400,000 people.

1991 - Paul Simon played a free concert at New York's Central Park in front of an estimated 750,000 people.

August 16

1876 - Wagner’s 3rd Ring Cycle opera "Siegfried" premiered at Bayreuth

1962 - Ringo Starr was picked to replace Pete Best as the drummer for the Beatles. Best had been with the group for about 2 1/2 years.

1974 - The Ramones played their first concert at New York's CBGB

1977 - Elvis Presley died at the age of 42 in Memphis, TN of coronary arrhythmia.

2003 - A U.S. postage stamp featuring Henry Mancini was unveiled. The design showed Mancini conducting while titles of his works scroll past on a screen behind him.

2005 - At her home outside London, Madonna suffered several broken bones in a horse riding accident. She was treated and released after cracking three ribs and breaking her collarbone and hand.

August 17

1838 - 138 singing teachers traveled to Boston, MA, to attend the first music convention.

1969 - After 3 days, the Woodstock Music and Art Fair in New York came to an end.

1973 - Paul Williams (Temptations) was found dead by police. It was ruled a suicide.

1986 - 42 people were beaten or stabbed at a Run D.M.C. concert in Long Beach, CA.

1998 - Carlos Santana received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

August 18

1777 - Giuseppe Scarlotti, composer, died at 54

1876 - Wagner’s 4th and final Ring Cycle opera, "Götterdämmerung", premiered at Bayreuth

1969 - Donald E Wahlberg Jr (New Kids on the Block), born in Dorchester, MA

Mourners overcome by heat and emotion wailed to view
Presley's body at his Memphis estate

August 18

1750 - Antonio Salieri, composer, born in Italy

1956 - Elvis Presley's "Hound Dog/Don't Be Cruel" reaches #1

1962 - Ringo Starr made his first appearance as a Beatle at a Cavern Club show.

1962 - Peter, Paul & Mary's "If I Had A Hammer" was released.

1977 - Funeral services for Elvis Presley were held at Graceland.

August 19

1881 - Georges Enesco, [or Enescu], composer, born in Romania

1964 - The 1st American tour by the Beatles began in San Francisco, CA. The tour would cover 26 cities.

1967 - Beatles' "All You Need is Love," single goes #1

2008 - Lady Gaga's album "The Fame" released.

August 20

1882 - Tchaikovsky's "1812 Overture" debuted in Moscow.

1967 - The New York Times reported about a noise reduction system for album and tape recording developed by technicians R. and D.W. Dolby. Elektra Record's subsidiary, Checkmate Records became the first label to use the new Dolby process in its recordings.

1973 - The Rolling Stones released "Angie."

August 21

1893 - Juliette Marie Olga Lili Boulanger, composer, born in France

1904 - [William] Count Basie, born in Red Bank, NJ

1923 - In Kalamazoo, Michigan, an ordinance was passed forbidding dancers from gazing into the eyes of their partner.

1938 - The classic song "Ain't Misbehavin'" was recorded by Fats Waller.

1980 - Linda Rondstadt made her debut on Broadway. The production was Gilbert & Sullivan's "The Pirates of Penzance."

1992 - Sting and Trudi Styler married.