Tuesday March the 4th

ON THIS DAY in 1910
radio pioneer Lee DeForest conducted an experimental broadcast from New York City.  Radio as we know it was still a decade away.

In 1925, US President Calvin Coolidge's inauguration was broadcast live on 21 radio stations.

                                                                                                      
In 1930 , "The Redhead", sportscaster Red Barber, began his radio career on WRUF at the University of Florida in Gainsville. He soon became one of the best known sports voices in America.

In 1934, singer-actress Barbara McNair was born in Racine Wisconsin. She graduated from Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts to seven appearances on the Ed Sullivan Show & even her own TV variety series.  She later had a recurring role on General Hospital.  She died from throat cancer Feb. 7 2007 at age 72.

In 1937, actor/producer/writer/composer/comedian and this night's host, George Jessel, welcomed the glamorous crowd to the Biltmore Hotel in Los Angeles, the setting for the 9th Annual Academy Awards show. Which film was which, you ask? The envelope, if you please... For the films of 1936: Outstanding Production/Best Picture: The Great Ziegfeld (from Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer); Best Director: Frank Capra for Mr. Deeds Goes To Town; Actor: Paul Muni (The Story Of Louis Pasteur); and Best Actress: Luise Rainer (The Great Ziegfeld).    

In 1942, Dick Jurgen's "sweet" Big Band recorded One Dozen Roses on Okeh Records in Chicago.

Also in 1942, teenager Shirley Temple had a starring role as Junior Miss debuted on CBS radio. The show, costing $12,000 a week, was found to be too expensive to produce.  But a 1948 version starring Barbara Whiting as Judy Graves stayed on network radio for 5 years.  

In 1948, Chris Squire, bass player with the group Yes, was born in London. One of the most successful progressive rock bands of the 1970's, the group was hated by the critics and loved by the audiences.

In 1952, the first seagoing radio station, "Courier", was dedicated by President Harry Truman.

Also in 1952, actor Ronald Reagan took actress Nancy Davis for his wife. (#2)

In 1954, Edmonton radio station CHED signed on with 1000 watts at 1080 khz.

In 1960, Lucille Ball filed for divorce from Desi Arnaz.

In 1966, the London newspaper Evening Standard published an interview with John Lennon with his now-infamous quote, "We're more popular than Jesus Christ right now."

Also in 1966, the Who released the single "Substitute'' on producer Robert Stigwood's Reaction Records in violation of their current deal with Brunswick Records in Britain.

In 1967, "Ruby Tuesday" by the Rolling Stones topped the charts, but only for a week.

Also in 1967, it was announced that Steve Winwood and his brother Muff were leaving the Spencer Davis Group after an April 2 show.

                                                                                                          
In 1970, rocker Janis Joplin was fined $200 for using obscene language onstage in Tampa, Florida.

In 1971, the Rolling Stones announced they were moving to France to avoid British income taxes.

In 1975, the first TV coverage of a Canadian parliamentary committee was aired.

In 1976, the No. 1 Billboard Pop Hit was "Love Machine (Part 1)'' by The Miracles. The song was the last by the group to reach the charts.

Also in 1976, singers Hall & Oates recorded "Rich Girl."

In 1977, the Rolling Stones made a rare nightclub appearance at the El Mocambo in Toronto. The concert was advertised only as a performance by the opening act, the Canadian group April Wine, and the Stones' appearance was kept secret until the last minute.

Also in 1977, Santana played the Roseland Ballroom in New York City. What made the concert unique was the fact that it was advertised only in the Spanish-language media.

In 1978, Andy Gibb reached the top of the music charts as (Love is) Thicker Than Water reached #1 for a two-week stay. The Bee Gees also set a record this day as their single, How Deep Is Your Love, from the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack stayed in the top 10 for an unprecedented 17 weeks.

            
In 1979, the 200th episode of the smash hit sitcom  "All in the Family" aired on CBS.
The same night the 100th episode of "The Waltons" was seen.

In 1980, "Coal Miner's Daughter,'' the film biography of country singer Loretta Lynn, premiered in Nashville. Lynn was played on screen by Sissy Spacek, who also did all the singing in the movie and won the best actress Oscar.

In 1986, Richard Manuel, the pianist for the rock group, the Band, was found hanged in the bathroom of his motel room in Winter Park, Florida. The 42-year-old Stratford, Ontario native had performed with other members of The Band in Winter Park the previous night.

Also in 1986, a judge in New Jersey appointed a legal guardian for singer Connie Francis, who was in a psychiatric clinic for treatment of manic-depressive psychosis.

Still on this date in 1986, Howard Greenfield, Neil Sedaka's longtime songwriting partner, died of AIDS at age 49.

In 1987, the world's first long-distance recording session took place as Stevie Wonder and Quincy Jones in Los Angeles teamed with a chorus in New York to overdub an anti-drug song, ''Stop, Don't Pass Go.''

In 1989, "Lost in Your Eyes" by Debbie Gibson topped the charts and stayed there for 3 weeks.

In 1990, commentator Andy Rooney returned to "60 Minutes" after being suspended for making allegedly racial remarks.
                                                                                                    
Also in 1990, David Bowie kicked off his "Sound and Vision" world tour in Quebec City.

In 1991, actor Vance Colvig Jr., who was Bozo the Clown on KTLA Los Angeles for 5 years in the 60's, died at age 72.

In 1992, rock 'n' roll recording pioneer Al Silver died in Fort Lauderdale, Florida at age 78.

In 1993, country star Clint Black played four shows for U-S troops serving in Somalia.

In 1994, Nirvana lead singer Kurt Cobain went into a coma in Rome after an overdose of powerful sedatives combined with alcohol. A month later another suicide bid was successful.

Also in 1994, Toronto actor John Candy died at 43 of a heart attack while filming on location in Mexico.  Candy had been an SCTV Network regular who graduated to a string of big screen successes.

Again in 1994, producers Chris and Bob Herbert placed an ad in a British magazine for female singers who can dance. Nearly 400 auditioned, and five were chosen for a group that became the Spice Girls.

In 1995, Canadian classical guitarist Liona Boyd played a one-hour concert in Los Angeles for the sequestered jurors and deputy sheriffs in the O-J Simpson murder trial.

In 1996, Paul McCartney announced that the three surviving members of the Beatles had turned down a multi million-dollar offer for a world tour.

Also on this date in 1996, Minnie Pearl (below), the first country comedian to become world-famous, died in Nashville of complications from a stroke. She was 83. Pearl, whose real name was Sarah Cannon, spent more than 50 years on the Grand Ole Opry and 20 on the T-V show "Hee-Haw."
                

In 1997, fans lined up at record stores in Canada and the U-S to buy U-2's ninth full-length album, "Pop." Some stores opened as early as midnight.

Also in 1997, two TV series aired thier first episodes. "Just Shoot Me" on NBC, and  "The Practice" on ABC.

In 1999, Eddie Dean, a singing cowboy in the 1930s and '40s, died in Newhall, California, at 91. He was best known for writing "I Dreamed Of A Hillbilly Heaven," a hit for the late Tex Ritter.

In 2001, Victoria's Nelly Furtado was the big winner at the 30th Juno Awards Show in Hamilton. She won for best single (for "I'm Like a Bird''), best new solo artist, best producer and best songwriter. The ceremony also saw Bruce Cockburn inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame.

Also in 2001, singer Glenn Hughes died of lung cancer at 50. He was the mustachioed, leather-clad biker in the 1970's and '80s disco group the Village People.

In 2004, Clear Channel Communications paid a record $755,000 fine for indecent material aired during broadcasts of the "Bubba The Love Sponge" program


Today's Birthdays:

Folk singer Miriam Makeba is 76.

Actress Paula Prentiss (He & She, Mr. & Mrs. Dracula) is 70.

Singer Bobby Womack is 64.

Bassist Chris Squire of Yes is 60.

British rockabilly singer Shakin' Stevens is 60.

Nova Scotia-born country singer Carroll Baker is 59.

Singer Chris Rea is 57.

Actor Ronn Moss (The Bold and the Beautiful) is 56.

Actress Kay Lenz (Reasonable Doubts, The Tick, Simon & Simon) is 55.

Percussionist Emilio Estefan of the Miami Sound Machine is 55.

Actress Catherine O'Hara (SCTV, Committed, Six Feet Under) is 54.

Actress Patricia Heaton (Everybody Loves Raymond) is 50.

Actor Mykelti Williamson (Boomtown, The Fugitive) is 48.

Actor Steven Weber (Studio 60, Wings) is 47.

Bassist Jason Newsted (Metallica) is 45.

Actress Stacy Edwards (Chicago Hope) is 43.

Rapper Grand Puba (Brand Nubian) is 42.

Drummer Patrick Hannan of The Sundays is 42.

Singer Evan Dando of The Lemonheads is 41.

Chastity Bono is 39.

Actor Nick Stabile (Passions, Sunset Beach) is 38.

Drummer Fergal Lawler of The Cranberries is 37.

Country singer Jason Sellers is 37.

Jazz musician Jason Marsalis is 31.

Actress Andrea Bowen (Desperate Housewives) is 18.

Actress Jenna Boyd (The Gathering, Mary Christmas) is 15.


Chart Toppers

March 4

1951
If - Perry Como
My Heart Cries for You - Guy Mitchell
Tennessee Waltz - Patti Page
There’s Been a Change in Me - Eddy Arnold

1959
Stagger Lee - Lloyd Price
Donna - Ritchie Valens
Charlie Brown - The Coasters
Don’t Take Your Guns to Town - Johnny Cash

1967
Ruby Tuesday - The Rolling Stones
Love is Here and Now You’re Gone - The Supremes
Baby I Need Your Lovin’ - Johnny Rivers
The Fugitive - Merle Haggard

1975
Best of My Love - The Eagles
Have You Never Been Mellow - Olivia Newton-John
Black Water - The Doobie Brothers
It’s Time to Pay the Fiddler - Cal Smith

1983
Baby, Come to Me - Patti Austin with James Ingram
Shame on the Moon - Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band
Stray Cat Strut - Stray Cats
Why Baby Why - Charley Pride

1991
All the Man that I Need - Whitney Houston
Someday - Mariah Carey
One More Try - Timmy -T-
Walk on Faith - Mike Reid