Today in Music History - October 21st

What happened on this day in music

From the file of #1 Songs

1975 - Neil Sedaka with “Bad Blood”

This song reached number one on the US chart and remained in the top slot for three weeks. It came from Sedaka’s album, The Hungry Years. Elton John sang background vocals but was never credited for them. Something strange but true. “Bad Blood” was replaced at the #1 spot by John's single, ‘Island Girl’.

1972 - Chuck Berry with “My Ding-A-Ling”

This single by Chuck Berry enjoyed a two week run at #1 on the U.S. singles chart with “My Ding-A-Ling”. This was his only US #1. It took 17 years to get to #1 after his first chart hit, “Maybellene”.

The clip below comes courtesy of YouTube.

From the file called Final Performances

Drummer Keith Moon played his last show with The Who at the end of a North American tour at Maple Leaf Gardens, Toronto on October 21,1976. It would be his final concert with the band. Due in part to the drummer’s health struggles, the band took a break from the road. On September 7, 1978, Moon died of an overdose of a sedative Heminevrin, that had been prescribed to prevent seizures induced by alcohol withdrawal. Less than two years later, following Moon’s death, the band released a statement saying, “We are more determined than ever to carry on, and we want the spirit of the group to which Keith contributed so much to go on, although no human being can ever take his place.”

On October 21, 1958, Buddy Holly’s last recording session took place at Pythian Temple Studios in New York. The songs he recorded, including “True Love Ways”, “Raining in My Heart” and “It Doesn’t Matter Anymore,” are colloquially known as “The String Sessions.” He died in a plane crash near Clear Lake, IA on February 3, 1959. He had only three officially released albums while alive and over 20 compilation albums since his passing.

The clip, courtesy of YouTube, is “True Love Ways”. It’s brilliant IMO.

From the file called Rock In Peace

1965 - Bill Black

Bill Black, Elvis Presley's bass player, passed away four months after receiving surgery to remove a brain tumor at age 39. With guitarist Scotty Moore, and Elvis Presley on rhythm guitar, Black played on ‘That's All Right (Mama)’, Heartbreak Hotel, ‘Baby Let's Play House’, ‘Mystery Train’, ‘Hound Dog’; ‘Jailhouse Rock’ in the late 1950s. Black, Scotty Moore and drummer D. J. Fontana toured extensively during Presley's early career. After leaving Presley, Black formed his own band, Bill Black's Combo.

That’s a sampling of this day in music history. A weekly wrap-up episode of The Musical Spot podcast will come out either Friday night or Saturday. Come back tomorrow for more interesting history nuggets.

See you on the flip side! Take care and stay safe.