Human Interest

Bob Dylan plays a Fender Stratocaster at the 1965 Newport Festival

"Today in Music History: July 25, 1965

On this day in 1965, singer-songwriter Bob Dylan rocks the world of folk music when he performs at the Newport Folk Festival in Rhode Island and abandons his acoustic guitar for an electric one. By going electric, Dylan eventually moved rock and folk music closer together. He also infused rock and roll, known then for its mostly lightweight lyrics, with a more intellectual, poetic sensibility. [Source: History.com]"

"Within the music industry are the singers, songwriters, musicians here today but gone tomorrow. Some hit the charts fast and furious only to become among the many classified as one-hit wonders. Then, upon occasion, there is that one, or group, which fills the pages of music history with hit after hit becoming legends in his or her own time.

Today in Music History: July 15, 1986
Songwriter, storyteller and cat lover, Johnny Cash

Johnny Cash, the Man in Black, was a singer, guitarist and songwriter whose music innovatively mixed country, rock, blues and gospel influences."

"70s Groovy Times brought into the spotlight Dance, Dance, Dance! Disco was at an all-time high and fashion was absolutely outrageous...on and off stage. One group at the very top of the success ladder was a Swedish quartet who first found fame when they won the 1974 Eurovision Song Contest. They became one of the most widely known European groups ever and one of the best selling artists of all time. If the name has not yet come to mind, perhaps two of their most popular songs will shake off the cobwebs: Take a Chance on Me and Dancing Queen."

Welcome into the Spotlight...ABBA

"It is not unusual for a novel to become a movie. Many classics have resounded their presence decade after decade upon the silver screen. Among the greats are Gone With the Wind, The Great Gatsby, The Last Picture Show, To Kill a Mockingbird, just to name a few. There are also movie series, such as Harry Potter and Twilight. Less known are the songs that have been made into movies. A few that immediately come to mind are Stand By Me, La Bamba, Walk the Line, Cold Miner's Daughter and The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia. The song in the spotlight today is still going strong over 50 years after its release with the movie being an all-time favorite.

Today in Music History: August 29, 1964

Welcome into the Spotlight...Roy Orbison

"Guns N' Roses - Mainstream hard rock wasn't the same after members of Guns N' Roses sank their teeth into it.  

Axl Rose and Izzy Stradlin originally formed the band out of the ashes of two other groups—L.A. Guns and Hollywood Rose. Guns N' Roses played in a style that owed much more to the pure hard rock Stuck in the 70s than to the showy heavy metal of the 80s Music Mania. 

Guns N' Roses made its big popular breakthrough on July 23, 1988

Today in Music History: July 23, 1988

"The sound of the 80s - totally tubular! The 80s' hits defined the MTV generation with pop classic songs that are still considered 'tubular' after over 30 years on the airways. If you don't recall the term 'tubular', it was used mostly in the 80's, or by people mocking the 80's, to describe something 'awesome' or 'excellent'."

Welcome into the Spotlight...

Leslie Sebastian Charles, aka Billy Ocean: The biggest black recording star Britain has ever produced