Today in rock history: on this date in 2010, after never really getting its due, it was announced that the highly influential, pioneering New York City punk rockers the Ramones was to be recognized by The Recording Academy and honored with a lifetime achievement Grammy award for its body of work. The awards ceremony took place the following February and, sadly, most of the original members were not able to receive their trophies in person as three of the four founders had passed away. Some fans thought the gesture was too little too late while some felt that the recognition, although long overdue, was certainly worthy.
Today in rock history: on this date in 2006, singer/songwriter Yusuf Islam made his return to a concert stage after a long exile from pop music. Formerly known as highly successful singer Cat Stevens who racked up a pile of hit singles and albums throughout the 1960s and 1970s, Islam was absent from music and recording for nearly 30 years choosing to instead live his life as a devout Muslim. Longtime fans were ecstatic to see and hear the return of this great artist who’d chosen to write and record again and to revisit the rich catalog of great songs that made him famous.
Today in rock history: on this date in 1968, Bob Seger made his chart debut with his single, “Ramblin’ Gamblin’ Man” credited to his early band, Bob Seger System. It would be several years until Seger would become the renowned and well known rock singer who could fill any arena in America. His breakthrough album would come in 1976 with the multi-platinum selling Night Moves, and it catapulted his rise to rock stardom.
Today in rock history: on this date in 1964, The Rolling Stones were starting to break out on the way to becoming one of the biggest and most revered bands of the British Invasion which overtook American sales charts. Drummer Charlie Watts surprised fans and followers when, still in his early 20s, he revealed his love for jazz music and for legendary saxophone player Charlie Parker in particular. Watts created and released a picture book dedicated to the sax player who passed away in 1955 entitled Ode To A High Flying Bird. Original copies of this hard to find book are now scarce and fetch several hundred dollars in collector’s markets. Watts’s love of jazz has never waned as he’s engaged in several jazz-related side projects while The Rolling Stones are not busy touring or recording.
