Archive for August, 2015
Elton John’s American Debut: August 25, 1970
On August 25, 1970, Elton John made his U.S. debut in a legendary six-night sold-out run at West Hollywood’s Troubadour. John’s eponymous first album—which was released in the states on July 22—had landed on the Troubadour owner Doug Weston’s desk with a request for the undiscovered pianist to play a date as his club. Weston, […]
ASCAP SCORES Portland Video With Dave Berg & Tony Esterly
Video Premiere for Songwriters Dave Berg, Tony Esterly and Students from America SCORES Portland Co-Write “The Best Me I Can Be.”
Alan Freed and the Radio Payola Scandal
On Nov. 20, 1959, DJ Alan Freed was fired from WABC radio when the pay-for-play scandal erupted. Here’s the story behind that era of pay-for-play, when the ’50s music scene was the convergence of a number of seismic factors.