17 July

Pick a Day

17 JULY

In Music History

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2023 CMT pulls Jason Aldean's video for "Try That in a Small Town," which shows footage of urban violence and protests. A swirl of controversy follows, sending the song to #1 on August 5.

2014 The short-lived reality show LeAnn & Eddie debuts on VH1. It stars celebrity couple LeAnn Rimes and Eddie Cibrian, who made tabloid headlines after they had an affair while married to other people.

2012 The soundtrack album to the film The Dark Knight Rises is released, destined to debut at #8 on the Billboard 200 albums chart. It also scores #10 on the Canadian albums chart. Composer Hans Zimmer becomes an overnight sensation, frequently compared with former golden soundtrack star John Williams.

2011 Wolfmother frontman Andrew Stockdale gets wasted at the Archive Bar in Brisbane, where a local Beatles tribute band is performing. After crashing the stage and drunkenly screeching along to "Let It Be," he refuses to leave and is arrested when police arrive. He spends a night in jail and is fined $350.

2009 Gordon Waller of Peter and Gordon ("A World Without Love") dies of a heart attack at age 64.

2006 Bill Miller (Frank Sinatra's longtime pianist) dies from complications following a heart attack in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

2004 At the end of her show at the Aladdin Hotel in Vegas, Linda Ronstadt dedicates her encore, a cover of the Eagles' "Desperado," to filmmaker Michael Moore, urging fans to go see his current movie, Fahrenheit 9/11. A shocked audience reacts mostly with boos; approximately half walk out on the spot.

1996 The song "Key To My Heart" by the R&B trio Choice appears in the movie Kazaam, starring Shaquille O'Neal as a 5,000-year-old genie. Choice quickly disbands but its stand-out singer, Alecia Moore, goes on to greatness as Pink.

1996 Chas Chandler (bassist for The Animals, Jimi Hendrix Experience) dies of an aortic aneurysm at age 57.

1995 Carole King's Tapestry album is certified Diamond for sales of 10 million in the US.

1987 Keith Richards signs a solo deal with Virgin Records.

1981 Universal Pictures releases the romantic drama Endless Love, starring Brooke Shields. The film is quickly forgotten, but the theme song, a duet by Lionel Richie and Diana Ross, spends nine weeks at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and earns Richie an Academy Award nomination for Best Song.

1981 Journey release Escape, their most popular album. The ballad "Open Arms" is the highest charting single, but "Don't Stop Believin'" is the one that endures, becoming one of the biggest songs of all time.

1979 Gary Moore leaves Thin Lizzy in mid-tour; Midge Ure replaces him as lead guitarist.

1976 Luke Bryan is born Thomas Luther Bryan in Leesburg, Georgia. After attending Georgia Southern University and working on his family's peanut farm, he moves to Nashville in 2001 and releases his first album, I'll Stay Me, in 2007.

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Lynyrd Skynyrd Finally Make It To Baton Rouge

1991

Fourteen years after the deadly crash of Lynyrd Skynyrd's Baton Rouge-bound aircraft, the surviving members of the band, reunited under the name "Lynyrd Skynyrd 1991," return to the Louisiana city to kick off a new tour. Shirts sold for the event read, "Baton Rouge! After 14 years! We're finally here..."


In promotion of Lynyrd Skynyrd 1991, the first album of original material released by the band since 1977's double-platinum Street Survivors, surviving members of Lynyrd Skynyrd kick off a nationwide tour in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The location is symbolic and significant: 14 years earlier the band was on its way to the city when their plane crashed into a Mississippi swamp, killing three of its band members, including frontman Ronnie Van Zant. The band at Baton Rouge includes founding member Gary Rossington (guitar) and also longtime members Leon Wilkeson (bass), Billy Powell (keyboards) and Artimus Pyle (drums), but they are going by the name "Lynyrd Skynyrd 1991" out of respect for those killed. It's a touchy subject: When this new version of the group toured in 1987 (as the "Lynyrd Skynyrd Tribute Band"), they drew ire from many close to the band, including Ronnie Van Zant's widow, Judy. This despite Ronnie's brother, Johnny Van Zant taking over on lead vocals, a decision made after getting approval from his family. The press honors the new "Lynyrd Skynyrd 1991" name for a while as per the band's request, but as time goes by the "1991" addition is dropped as fans acclimate to the new Lynyrd Skynyrd. Tickets to the Baton Rouge show cost $10, and tickets from the originally scheduled show in 1977 are honored (these tickets also allow free entry for a guest). Over 100 fans have the original tickets, and are admitted backstage to meet the band. Though ostensibly a tour to promote the new album, the band plays most of their old classics as well, which is what most concertgoers have come for (the new album is poorly received by critics and fans alike). Lynyrd Skynyrd continues to perform with an assortment of lineups for decades after they make this return. Much has changed, and while none of the band members or their fans claim that it is exactly like the original, it sure feels like it when the lighters go up for "Free Bird."

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David Summerlin from Baker, Fla.i was at this show,after being invited by frynds (johnny,artimus,leon & billy), and spending 40+years promoting shows,it was sweet~!!

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