This week in music history: July 4-10

July 4

1623 - William Byrd, English composer, died at 80

1826 - Stephen Foster, composer, born in Lawrencevil, PA

1832 - The song "America" was sung in public for the 1st time at the Park Street Church in Boston, MA.

1895 - The song "America the Beautiful" was published.

1900 - Louis "Satchmo" Armstrong born in New Orleans, LA

1970 - Casey Kasem hosted radio’s "American Top 40" for the 1st time.

1982 - Ozzy Osbourne married his manager, Sharon Arden.

1992 - Astor Piazzolla, Argentine composer, died at 71

July 5

1950 - Huey Lewis born in New York City

1958 - Ray Charles' performance at the Newport Jazz Festival was recorded for a live album.

1969 - The Rolling Stones gave a free concert for 250,000 fans in London's Hyde Park to introduce Mick Taylor as new guitarist.

July 6

1937 - "Sing, Sing, Sing" was recorded by Benny Goodman and his band.

1964 - The Beatles' 1st film, "A Hard Day's Night," premiered in London.

1973 - Queen released their 1st single, "Keep Yourself Alive."

1984 - The Jacksons began their Victory Tour in Kansas City, MO.

This week in Music History: June 6-12

June 6
1915 - Vincent Persichetti, composer, born in Philadelphia
1955 - Bill Haley and Comets "Rock Around the Clock" hits #1
1991 - Stan Getz, jazz saxophonist, dies at 64

June 7
1972 - The musical "Grease" opened on Broadway. It had been playing off-Broadway for about 4 months
1990 - Michael Jackson hospitalized for chest pains

June 8
1810 - Robert A Schumann, Zwickau Saxony Germany, composer
1949 - Emanuel Ax, pianist, born in Lvov Poland
1969 - Rolling Stones guitarist Mick Taylor replaces Brian Jones
2000 - Sinead O'Connor revealed that she was a lesbian in an article that would later be published by "Curve" in their July-August 2000 issue.