Chapter 01 — Today in music
On a day like today December 27
1932
Radio City Music Hall opens, the biggest stage in the world
In the depths of the Great Depression, Radio City Music Hall opens in New York: the world's largest indoor theater, an art deco jewel of Rockefeller Center. Conceived as a palace of entertainment for the masses, it would become popular music's sacred stage: from the Grammys to historic residencies, playing there still means consecration.
Radio City Music Hall
1906
Oscar Levant is born, the finest interpreter of Gershwin and the most neurotic man on television
On December 27, 1906, Oscar Levant was born in Pittsburgh, a pianist, composer and close friend of George Gershwin, whose music he played better than anyone. He was also a star of American radio and television, where he spoke openly about his psychiatric hospitalisations and his prescription drug addiction at a time when such things were never mentioned.
Oscar Levant
George Gershwin
1931
Scotty Moore is born, the guitarist many wanted to be instead of Elvis
On December 27, 1931, Scotty Moore was born in Tennessee. In 1954 he backed a nineteen-year-old truck driver at some test sessions at Sun studio. During a break, messing about, "That's All Right" came out. Keith Richards said that when he heard that record he did not want to be Elvis: he wanted to be Scotty Moore. His playing defined rock and roll guitar.
Scotty Moore
Elvis Presley
Keith Richards
1943
Peter Sinfield is born, who named King Crimson and wrote lyrics for Celine Dion
On December 27, 1943, Peter Sinfield was born in London, King Crimson's lyricist and lighting man, and the author of the band's name. He wrote the words to "In the Court of the Crimson King", foundational to progressive rock. Decades later the same man was writing pop ballad lyrics for Celine Dion and Cher, and earning considerably more money.
Peter Sinfield
King Crimson
1943
Joan Manuel Serrat is born, who gave up Eurovision to sing in Catalan
On December 27, 1943, Joan Manuel Serrat was born in Barcelona, son of a Catalan anarchist. In 1968 he was to represent Spain at Eurovision, but demanded to sing in Catalan and the regime replaced him at the last minute. He set the poems of Antonio Machado and Miguel Hernández to music, and in 1975 had to go into exile in Mexico after condemning the last executions of the Franco years.
Joan Manuel Serrat
Antonio Machado
1946
Lenny Kaye is born, the archivist who gave garage rock its name
Lenny Kaye is born in New York: guitarist of the Patti Smith Group and compiler of “Nuggets” (1972), the anthology that rescued the forgotten garage bands of the sixties. That double album became a bible for punk in formation and fixed the garage rock canon. Critic, musician and historian: few figures have influenced so much from so many flanks.
Lenny Kaye
Patti Smith Group
1988
Hayley Williams is born, who turned down a solo pop career to form a band
On December 27, 1988, Hayley Williams was born in Mississippi. A label signed her at fourteen to make her a solo pop singer. She refused: she wanted a rock band. The contract stayed in her name anyway, which caused tension for years inside Paramore, the group that ended up being one of the few of its generation to survive two decades.
Hayley Williams
Paramore
1950
Terry Bozzio is born, who got the job by sight-reading an impossible piece
On December 27, 1950, Terry Bozzio was born in San Francisco. At twenty-four he auditioned for Frank Zappa. The test was to read "The Black Page", a score deliberately written to be nearly impossible to play. Bozzio got through it and took the job. He later built a gigantic drum kit on which he performs entire concerts completely alone.
Terry Bozzio
Frank Zappa
1950
Haris Alexiou is born, the voice that took Greek rebetiko out of the taverns
On December 27, 1950, Hariklia Roupaka was born in Thebes. She came to Athens as a teenager and started out singing in night clubs. As Haris Alexiou she recorded the rebetiko repertoire, the music of refugees and poor neighbourhoods, and carried it onto the big stages. She is one of the best-selling artists in Greek history and still sings exclusively in Greek.
Haris Alexiou
1952
David Knopfler is born, who left Dire Straits just as the band took off
On December 27, 1952, David Knopfler was born in Glasgow, rhythm guitarist and co-founder of Dire Straits alongside his older brother Mark. He played on the first three albums, including the one with "Sultans of Swing". In 1980, midway through recording the third and with the band on the rise, he walked out: he was tired of always being the other one's brother.
David Knopfler
Dire Straits
Mark Knopfler
One ephemeris a day, one editorial a week. Zero spam, pure archive.