Music Diary – 24th January

Welcome to my Music Diary – today for the 24th January!

On the 24th January 1962, manager Brian Epstein signed a contract with The Beatles. The management deal was time-limited for five years and gave Epstein 10 – 15 % of their income. Interestingly, Epstein didn’t sign this first contract: „Well, if they ever want to tear it up, they can hold me but I can’t hold them“. After that, Brian Epstein formed his own management company „NEMS Enterprises“. And on the 1st October 1962, the deal was renewed (including a three years publishing contract signed by John Lennon and Paul McCartney) and gave the manager 15 unitl 25 % of revenues, depending on Epstein’s help to increase the band’s earnings.

Four days later, the first single by The Beatles was released: „Love Me Do„, backed by „P.S. I Love You„, reached No. 17 on the UK chart and marked the beginning of an outstanding career of one of the most successful pop bands in history.

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Music Diary – 10th December

Welcome to my Music Diary – today for the 10th December!

Otis Redding (9th September 1941 – 10th December 1967)

On the 10th December 1967 the American soul singer Otis Redding was killed in a plane crash. The airplane (carrying the musician and his whole band) crashed at 3.28 pm into the Lake Monomo near Madison, Wisconsin. Beside Redding (born on 9th September 1941) the members of the Band „The Bar-Kays“ – Jimmy King (guitar), Ronnie Caldwell (organ), Phalon Jones (saxophone) and Carl Cunningham (drums) – died also. The only survivor was trumpet player Ben Cauley. Redding and his band were booked that day for a show at the Factory nightclub, which was located next to the University of Wisconsin. This tragedy happened just three days after Otis Redding recorded „(Sittin’ on) The Dock of the Bay”. This song should become Redding’s biggest hit.

 

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Music Diary – 8th December

Welcome to my Music Diary – today for the 8th December!

On the 8th December 1980 (Monday), John Lennon was murdered. Mark Chapman shot the musician four times outside the Dakota building in New York City.

John Lennon and Mark Chapman (8th December 1980)

Before Lennon and Ono were going go the Record Plant Studio, Chapman asked John for an autograph and the musician signed the cover of „Double Fantasy„. Then the ex-Beatle headed to the taxi.

John Lennon and his wife Yoko Ono returned appr. at 10.50 pm to their aparrtment at the Dakota building where Chapman already waited. Then the tragedy happened: Chapman shot Lennon four times in the back. The British musician was taken to the emergency room of nearby Roosevelt Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival at 11.07 pm. The massive loss of blood caused the tragic death of the former Beatles member. John Lennon died at the age of 40 years.

Yoko Ono issued a statement the next day:
„There is no funeral for John“, ending it with the words, „John loved and prayed for the human race. Please pray the same for him.“

John Lennon’s body was cremated at Ferncliff Cemetery in Hartsdale, New York. His ashes were scattered in New York’s Central Park, where the Strawberry Fields Memorial was created in 1985.

Murder Mark Chapman pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and was sentenced to 20 years to life. He still remains in prison – all his paroles (eight times) have been denied.

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Music Diary – 9th September

Welcome to my Music Diary – today for the 9th September!

Otis Redding (9th September 1941 – 10th December 1967)

On the 9th September 1941 Mr. Otis Ray Redding, Jr. was born in Dawson, Georgia. He was one of the most outstanding Soul singers in music history. At the age of 15 he left school and started supporting Little Richard‘s backing band „The Upsetters“. Then he joined Johnny Jenkins‚ group „The Pinetoppers“. In 1962 he recorded his first single „These Arms of mine“ for Stax records. Otis Redding’s debut album „Pain in my Heart“ was released two years later. In 1967 he performed at the legendary Monterey Pop Fesival and shortly after that he recorded with Steve Cropper from Booker T. & The M.G.’s „(Sittin‘ on) The Dock of the Bay“ . The final recordings of this song were done on the 8th December 1967.

Two days later, on the 10th December 1967, Otis Redding was killed in a plane crash. His very last recording „(Sittin‘ on) The Dock of the Bay“ became the first posthumous number-one record on the Billboard charts. The afterwards released album of the same name reached the first place in the UK charts.

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Music Diary – 20th March

Welcome to my Music Diary – today for the 20th March!

On the 20th March 1969, John Lennon married Yoko Ono in Gibraltar. The ceremony took place at the British Consulate Office and the just hitched couple spent their honeymoon in The Netherlands at the Amsterdam Hilton, where John and Yoko campaigned for an international „Bed-In“ for peace.

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Music Diary – 9th February

Welcome to my Music Diary – today for the 9th February!

George Harrison, Paul McCartney, Pete Best and John Lennon

On the 9th February 1961, The Beatles played the very first time at the legendary Cavern Club in Liverpool! This was the start of many more performances to come – the quartet played from 1961 until 1963 exactly 292 times at The Cavern Club. The last concert of the „Fab Four“ at this very historic location took place at the 3rd August 1963.

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