When Herman Poole Blount, aka Sun Ra, played a gig at a mental hospital, it prompted a patient to talk for the first time in years. The patient walked directly to his piano, and said ‘Do you call that music?’
musicians
When a then-unknown Prince opened up for the Rolling Stones…
When a then-unknown Prince opened up for the Rolling Stones on the first of two nights in LA in 1981, the crowd threw beer cans at him and booed him off the stage within the first 20 minutes of his set. He came on the stage wearing nothing but bikini briefs and a trench coat.
At 52, Rolling Stones bassist Bill Wyman married…
At 52, Rolling Stones bassist Bill Wyman married 18-year-old Mandy Smith but divorced after a year. Bill’s 30-year-old son then Stephen married Mandy’s mother, age 46. If Bill and Mandy had remained married, Stephen would have been his father’s father-in-law and his own grandpa.
Frank Sinatra and the Rat Pack are widely credited with…
Frank Sinatra and the Rat Pack are widely credited with helping end segregation in Las Vegas, by refusing to perform in venues that wouldn’t allow blacks.
Both members of the electronic dance duo…
Both members of the electronic dance duo, LMFAO, are indirectly related to President Jimmy Carter through his mother’s side.
Ten days before Freddie Mercury died, Jim Beach, Queen’s manager…
Ten days before Freddie Mercury died, Jim Beach, Queen’s manager, met with him to discuss what could be done with his legacy. Freddie said, “You can do whatever you like with my image, my music, remix it, re-release it, whatever… just never make me boring.”
When Queen wanted to release “Bohemian Rhapsody”, various executives told them that a song…
When Queen wanted to release “Bohemian Rhapsody”, various executives told them that a song with a length of 5 minutes and 55 seconds was too long and would never be a hit. They even played it to other musicians who claimed that the song had “no hope” of being played on the radio.
In 1974, a then-unknown Queen performed at an Australian festival to a mean…
In 1974, a then-unknown Queen performed at an Australian festival to a mean-spirited, drunken crowd. Before finishing, Freddie Mercury told them that Queen would be “one of the biggest bands in the world” the next time they visited. When they came back, they were at the top of the charts.
Scatman John suffered from a severe stutter from the time he learned to…
Scatman John suffered from a severe stutter from the time he learned to speak, which led to an emotionally traumatic childhood. He then made the song, “Scatman,” in which he intended to inspire children who stuttered to overcome adversity.
Max Martin, a 43-year-old Swede, has co-written more #1 singles than anyone…
Max Martin, a 43-year-old Swede, has co-written more #1 singles than anyone since the Beatles. His credits include “I Want It That Way”, “Oops!… I Did It Again”, “It’s My Life”, “Since U Been Gone”, “I Kissed a Girl”, “Shake It Off”, “Everybody (Backstreet’s back)”, “As long as you love me” for the Backstreet Boys, “I want you back”, “Tearin’ up my heart” and “It’s gonna be me” for N’Sync and much more.