Chapter 01 — Today in music
On a day like today December 14
1946
Jane Birkin is born, the English muse of French song
Jane Birkin is born in London: the actress and singer who with Serge Gainsbourg signed “Je t'aime... moi non plus”, the duet censored even by the Vatican that conquered Europe anyway in 1969. Muse, mother of Charlotte Gainsbourg and inspiration for the world's most famous handbag, she embodied the cultural bridge between England and France like no one else.
Jane Birkin
1899
DeFord Bailey is born, the Grand Ole Opry's first star and the first to be erased
On December 14, 1899, DeFord Bailey was born in Tennessee, a Black harmonica player who was the first artist to perform on the show that would later be called the Grand Ole Opry and one of its most popular acts for fifteen years. In 1941 he was fired amid a copyright dispute and ended up shining shoes in Nashville. He was inducted into the hall of fame in 2005.
DeFord Bailey
1911
Spike Jones is born, who deliberately destroyed the most beloved songs of his day
On December 14, 1911, Lindley Armstrong Jones was born in California, a session drummer who assembled an orchestra to systematically wreck the hits of the moment with gunshots, cowbells, hiccups and car horns. Far from offending anyone, audiences adored him: his anti-Nazi parody "Der Fuehrer's Face" sold more than a million copies in 1942.
Spike Jones
1920
Clark Terry is born, the trumpeter who taught Miles Davis and Quincy Jones
On December 14, 1920, Clark Terry was born in St. Louis. He built his first trumpet from a garden hose and a funnel. He played with Count Basie and Duke Ellington, was the first Black musician hired on staff by an American television network, and spent fifty years teaching. Among his teenage students were Miles Davis and Quincy Jones.
Clark Terry
Quincy Jones
Miles Davis
1963
Dinah Washington dies, the blues queen of perfect diction
Dinah Washington dies in Detroit at 39, from an accidental mix of medications. The “Queen of the Blues” sang jazz, R&B and pop with a cutting clarity that made you understand every syllable and every wound. Her version of “What a Diff'rence a Day Makes” brought her the Grammy and immortality: few voices have said so much with such precision.
Dinah Washington
1991
Offset is born, one third of the trio that changed the rhythm of the decade in rap
On December 14, 1991, Kiari Cephus was born in Lawrenceville, Georgia. With his cousin and his nephew he formed Migos, the group that popularised the triplet flow that dominated rap for the whole following decade: three fast syllables repeated to the point of hypnosis. "Bad and Boujee" hit number one in 2017 and the formula was copied everywhere after that.
Offset
Migos
1932
Charlie Rich is born, who set fire to the envelope with the winner's name on live television
On December 14, 1932, Charlie Rich was born in Arkansas, a pianist trained in jazz and blues who recorded for the same label as Elvis before becoming a country star with "Behind Closed Doors". At the 1975 awards ceremony, tasked with announcing entertainer of the year, he pulled out a lighter and burned the envelope on camera after reading John Denver's name.
Charlie Rich
1958
Spider Stacy is born, who played a metal tray by hitting himself over the head with it
On December 14, 1958, Spider Stacy was born in Eastbourne, tin whistle player for the Pogues, the band that crossed traditional Irish music with London punk attitude. His most remembered stage contribution was not the whistle but a beer tray he rhythmically banged against his own head. He sang lead for the group during the years Shane MacGowan could not.
Spider Stacy
The Pogues
1970
Anna Maria Jopek is born, the Polish voice Pat Metheny sought out for a whole album
On December 14, 1970, Anna Maria Jopek was born in Warsaw, daughter of Polish folk musicians and a classically trained pianist. She built a repertoire mixing her country's traditional melodies with jazz and improvisation. In 2002 she recorded "Upojenie" with Pat Metheny, who had heard her by chance and travelled to Poland to propose the project.
Anna Maria Jopek
Pat Metheny
1970
Beth Orton is born, who crossed folk guitar with electronic music before anyone else
On December 14, 1970, Beth Orton was born in Norfolk. She came to music by accident, singing over producer William Orbit's tracks. With "Trailer Park" in 1996 she mixed acoustic guitar songs with electronic programming and created a category the British press christened folktronica. She later worked with the Chemical Brothers.
Beth Orton
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