Week in Music History

Composer Johann Ludwig Krebs was probably born between October 10 and 12.

Composer Giuseppe Verdi was born. He composed 26 operas.

Orville Gibson founded the Gibson Mandolin-Guitar Mfg. Co., Ltd. in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Its first electric guitar, the ES-150, was produced in 1936, and in 1946 the company introduced the P-90 single-coil pickup, which was later used on the first Les Paul model in 1952.

Composer Paul Creston was born.

Johnny Green, a four-time Academy Award-winning composer, arranger and conductor, was born in New York City. He is best known for his 1930 composition “Body and Soul.”

Singer, songwriter and pianist Ivory Joe Hunter was born in Kirbyville, Texas. He became known for R&B hits such as “I Lost My Mind,” “I Need You So” and “Since I Met You Baby”; some of his songs were later recorded by Elvis Presley.

Influential jazz pianist and composer Thelonious Monk was born in Rocky Mount, North Carolina. He composed numerous jazz standards, including “Round Midnight,” “Ruby, My Dear,” “Well, You Needn't” and “Blue Monk.”

Louis Gottlieb, double bassist and bassist with The Limeliters, was born in Los Angeles, California.

The opera Porgy and Bess premiered on Broadway.

The real Eleanor Rigby died in her sleep from unknown causes at the age of 44. The Beatles song from 1966 was not originally written about her; in his first draft, Paul McCartney named the character Miss Daisy Hawkins. Her gravestone was discovered in the 1980s in the churchyard of St. Peter's in Woolton, Liverpool, near the place where McCartney and Lennon first met in 1957.

Lanny Ross recorded the song “Moonlight and Roses.”

Denis D'Ell, lead singer and harmonica player of the British beat group The Honeycombs, was born on October 10, 1943. The group had a UK number-one hit in 1964 with “Have I the Right.” D'Ell died of cancer on July 6, 2005.

Alan Cartwright, bassist for Procol Harum, was born on October 10, 1945, in London. He was a member of the group from 1971 to 1976 and played on four albums, including Live with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra from 1972. He died on March 4, 2021, at the age of 75.

Jerry LaCroix, singer and saxophonist with Blood, Sweat & Tears and Edgar Winter's White Trash, was born in Alexandria, Louisiana. Blood, Sweat & Tears had hits including “Spinning Wheel” and “You've Made Me So Very Happy” and reached number one on the U.S. album chart in 1968. LaCroix died in 2014.

Actor, dancer and singer Ben Vereen was born Benjamin Augustus Middleton in Miami, Florida. He won a Tony Award for his performance in the 1973 musical “Pippin.”

American country-folk singer, songwriter and guitarist John Prine was born in Maywood, Illinois, near Chicago. He became known for songs such as “Sam Stone” from his 1971 album John Prine. He released a total of 19 studio albums and died on April 7, 2020, from complications related to COVID-19.

American percussionist and singer Cyril Neville was born on October 10, 1948, in New Orleans, Louisiana. He became known as a member of The Meters and later performed with his brother Art in the Neville Brothers. He also recorded with Bob Dylan, Robbie Robertson, Edie Brickell, Willie Nelson and Dr. John.

American guitarist Keith Grimes, who worked with singer Eva Cassidy, was born on October 10, 1951. After her death, Eva Cassidy became known for three albums that reached number one on the UK chart: Songbird, Imagine and American Tune.

Scottish singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and producer Midge Ure was born in Cambuslang, Scotland. He performed with Slik, Rich Kids, Thin Lizzy, Visage and Ultravox. He co-wrote the 1985 charity single “Do They Know It's Christmas?” His solo album The Gift included the UK hit “If I Was.”

Stan Freberg's “St. George And The Dragonet” reached number one on the U.S. chart.

Longtime Van Halen frontman David Lee Roth was born in Bloomington, Indiana. Thanks to his distinctive extroverted personality, he became one of rock's most prominent frontmen and helped the band gain considerable attention in the early days of MTV. As a solo artist, he had hits such as “California Girls,” a cover of a Beach Boys song, and “Just Like Paradise.”

Elvis Presley worked for Crown Electric. According to the source, he continued working there until mid-October 1954.

Elvis Presley performed at Memorial Hall in Brownwood, Texas. The other performers were Jimmy Newman, Johnny Cash, Floyd Cramer, Jimmy Day, Wanda Jackson, Porter Wagoner and Bobby Lord. The event was sponsored by the Brownwood Volunteer Fire Department.

Elvis Presley's “Love Me Tender” entered the Billboard retail-sales chart, where it remained for 19 weeks, including five weeks at number one, and sold more than three million copies. The song was written for his first film, and its melody was adapted from the 1861 song “Aura Lee” from the period of the American Civil War.

Scotty Moore and Bill Black performed at the Texas State Fair in Dallas. According to the source, four concerts were held there each day from October 5 to 20.

Eddie Cochran recorded the song “C'mon Everybody” for Liberty Records. It was released as the B-side of the single “Don't Ever Let Me Go.” Radio DJs soon flipped the record and favored the energetic, rebellious song. It became Cochran's final U.S. Top 40 hit, reaching number 35.

Elvis Presley was serving in the military in Germany and staying at the Grunwald Hotel in Bad Nauheim.

American country singer and songwriter Tanya Tucker was born on October 10, 1958, in Seminole, Texas. She became famous with her debut hit “Delta Dawn,” released in 1972 when she was 13. Her other successful songs include “What's Your Mama's Name” and “Blood Red and Goin' Down.” She reached number one on the U.S. country chart ten times.

Elvis Presley's compilation album A Date With Elvis reached number 32 on the U.S. chart.

“Here Comes Summer” by Jerry Keller reached number one on the UK singles chart. In the United States, it reached number 14 earlier that year.

British singer and songwriter Kirsty MacColl was born in Croydon, England. She became known for songs including “There's a Guy Works Down the Chip Shop Swears He's Elvis,” “A New England” and “Days,” and recorded the hit “Fairytale of New York” with The Pogues. Her father was folk singer Ewan MacColl. She died in 2000 in a speedboat accident in Mexico.

The first Berry Gordy recording for the newly founded Motown Records, The Miracles' “Bad Girl,” entered the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 at number 98. It remained on the chart only briefly and was later recognized as a doo-wop classic.

The Quarry Men performed at the Casbah Coffee Club in Liverpool. Ken Brown was unable to play because of a severe cold. After the concert, a dispute arose over the division of the fee because Paul McCartney said Brown should not receive a share if he had not performed. Lennon and Harrison sided with McCartney, and Brown subsequently left the group.

Eric Martin, singer of the American hard rock band Mr. Big, was born on October 10, 1960. The band achieved international success with the song “To Be with You,” which reached number one on the charts in 15 countries in 1992.

The novelty song “Mr. Custer” by Larry Verne reached number one on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and number nine on the R&B chart. It tells the story of an American cavalryman trying to avoid fighting the Sioux at Little Bighorn in 1876. Verne's version did not chart in the UK, but a successful cover version by Charlie Drake did.

British guitarist, singer and songwriter Simon Townshend, younger brother of The Who guitarist Pete Townshend, was born on October 10, 1960. He has worked with The Who and other musicians, including Pearl Jam, Dave Grohl and Jeff Beck.

Martin Kemp, English musician, bassist and founding member of Spandau Ballet, was born in London. The band became known for hits including “True,” “Gold” and “Through the Barricades.” Kemp is also known as an actor, notably from the series EastEnders and the film The Krays; he is the brother of Gary Kemp.

While filming It Happened at the World's Fair at MGM Studios in Culver City, California, Elvis Presley received a Norwegian silver record for the single “Good Luck Charm.”

Brian Poole and the Tremeloes reached number one on the UK singles chart with their version of “Do You Love Me.” It remained at the top for three weeks.

French singer Édith Piaf died at the age of 47. She achieved international fame with songs including “La Vie en Rose,” “Padam, padam,” “Hymne à l'amour” and “La Foule.”

Elvis Presley recorded vocal parts for the songs “Once Is Enough,” “Catchin' On Fast,” “Anyone (Could Fall in Love with You),” “Smokey Mountain Boy,” “There's Gold in the Mountains,” “One Boy, Two Little Girls,” “Kissin' Cousins,” “Barefoot Ballad” and “Tender Feeling.” The source notes several different versions, edits and composite recordings for the film Kissin' Cousins.

James “Jim” Glennie, bassist and founding member of the rock band James, was born on October 10, 1963, in Manchester, England. The band became known for songs including “Sit Down,” “Laid” and “Come Home.”

Jonny Male, guitarist of the British alternative rock band Republica, was born on October 10, 1963. The band became known for singles including “Drop Dead Gorgeous” and “Ready to Go.”

Betty Everett and Jerry Butler entered the U.S. Top 10 with the song “Let It Be Me.”

Dance music singer and songwriter Crystal Waters, known for the song “Gypsy Woman (She's Homeless),” was born in Philadelphia.

Gale Garnett's single “We'll Sing in the Sunshine” reached number four on the U.S. chart.

Gene Pitney's single “It Hurts to Be in Love” reached the U.S. Top 10.

Graham Crabb, drummer of the British alternative rock band Pop Will Eat Itself, was born on October 10, 1964. The group had hits including “X Y & Zee” and “Get the Girl! Kill the Baddies!”