Continental Confidential 

"Revealing the facts, and naming the names"

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March 4

1678 - Antonio Lucio Vivaldi was born. Musician: violin; composer: The Four Seasons, Nisi dominus, Summer Storm, Primavera, Concerto per liuto e mandolino, Griselda, Gloria, Symphony 4 in B Minor, Magnificat, Quattro stagione; died July 28, 1741

1877 - Emile Berliner, the man behind so many inventions, came up with a thing called the microphone.

1934 - Barbara McNair was born. Singer; TV hostess: The Barbara McNair Show; actress: The Organization, They Call Me Mr. Tibbs!, Change of Habit, Dead Right; February 4, 2007

1942 - The Dick Jurgens Orchestra recorded "One Dozen Roses" on Okeh Records in Chicago.

1944 - Bobby Womack was born. Songwriter: I’m a Midnight Mover, I’m in Love; singer: Lookin’ for a Love, Harry Hippie, If You Think You’re Lonely Now

1948 - Chris Squire was born. Musician: bass: LP: Fish Out of Water; group: Yes: Roundabout, Owner of a Lonely Heart

1948 - Shakin’ Stevens (Michael Barratt) was born. Singer: Hot Dog, Marie Marie, This Ole House, Green Door, Oh Julie; actor: Elvis, Oh Boy

1951 - Chris Rea was born. Musician: guitar: groups: Chris Rea Band, Ambrosia; singer, songwriter: Fool If You Think It’s Over

1955 -Jazz great Charlie Bird Parker played at Birdland in what would be his last public performance.

1959 - The winners of the first Grammy Awards were announced. Domenico Modugno's "Volare" was Record of the Year; Henry Mancini's Peter Gunn was Album of the Year and The Champs "Tequila" won best R&B performance.

1966 - John Lennon's statement that The Beatles were "more popular than Jesus Christ" was published in The London Evening Standard. “Christianity will go. It will vanish and shrink. We’re more popular then Jesus now; I don’t know which will go first, rock ‘n’ roll or Christianity. Jesus was alright, but his disciples were thick and ordinary.” Lennon later apologized.

1967 - Steve Winwood and his brother Muff announced that they were leaving the Spencer Davis Group after their April 2 show.

1970 - Janis Joplin was fined $200 for using obscene language onstage in Tampa, FL.

1978 - Jerry Lee Lewis's home was raided at dwan by The US internal Revenue Service, they removed cars worth over $175,000 to pay off his tax debts.

1978 - Andy Gibb reached the top of the music charts as "(Love is) Thicker Than Water" reached #1 for a two-week stay. The Bee Gees also set a record on this day as their single, "How Deep Is Your Love," from the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack stayed in the top 10 for an unprecedented 17 weeks. Gibb died on March 10, 1988 of an inflammatory heart virus in Oxford, England. He was 30 years old.

1979 - Randy Jackson of The Jackson Five was seriously injured in a car crash breaking both legs, he almost died in the emergency room when a nurse inadvertently injects him with methadone.

1981 - Lyricist E.Y. ‘Yip’ Harburg died in an auto accident in Hollywood, CA at the age of 82. Two of his most successful hits were Over the Rainbow from The Wizard of Oz and It’s Only a Paper Moon, popularized by Nat King Cole and many others.

1982 - Rolling Stone reported that Dweezil and Moon Unit Zappa had formed a new band called Fred Zeppelin.

1993 - Patti LaBelle received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

1994 - Kurt Cobain was rushed to hospital after overdosing on champagne and 50-60 pills of Rohypnol in a Rome hotel during a Nirvana European tour.

1996 - Minnie Pearl (Sarah Ophelia Colley Cannon), died in Nashville, Tennessee. She was 83 years old. In 1992, President George Bush awarded the country music singer/comedienne a National Medal of Arts. In 1994, she became the first woman inducted into the Comedy Hall of Fame. Pearl’s trademarks were her wide-brimmed straw hat with the price tag still fluttering in the breeze, and her greeting, “How-dee! I’m just so proud to be here.”

2003 - 23 year-old Sian Davies was banned from playing her music and had her stereo system impounded, after she had played Cliff Richard music too loudly. Davies was fined $1,700 plus court costs after environmental protection officers raided her flat in Porth, Rhondda, Wales. The disc found in her CD player was the Cliff Richard single, "Peace in Our Time."

March 5

1928 - Lou Levy was born; pianist: band: Supersax; recorded with Sinatra, Peggy Lee, Nancy Wilson, Anita O’Day; died Jan 23, 2001

1946 - Murray Head was born; singer: Superstar, One Night in Bangkok, Never Even a Thought, Corporation Corridors, Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow; actor: Sunday Bloody Sunday

1947 - Eddie Hodges was born; singer, actor: The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, A Hole in the Head, Live a Little Love a Little

1950 - Eugene Fodor was born; musician: violinist: made solo debut at age 10 [w/Denver Symphony]; won first national competition at age 12; won first prize in International Paganini Competition [Italy: 1972]; won highest prize in International Tchaikovsky Competition [Moscow: 1974]; attended Juilliard, Vienna Academy, Indiana Univ., USC

1952 - Alan Clark was born; musician: keyboards: group: Dire Straits: Telegraph Road, Private Investigation, Money for Nothing, Walk of Life, The Man’s Too Strong, Goin’ Home, Smooching

1955 - Elvis Presley made his TV debut when he appeared on the weekend show Louisiana Hayride on KWKH TV

1958 - Andy (Andrew Roy) Gibb was born; singer: Love is Thicker than Water, I Just Want to be Your Everything, Shadow Dancing, [Our Love] Don’t Throw It all Away; host of TV’s Solid Gold; died Mar 10, 1988

1960 - Elvis Presley returned to civilian life after a two-year hitch in the U.S. Army. Not since General Douglas MacArthur returned from battle has a soldier received such publicity. Elvis said he probably would not be growing his famous and long sideburns back, though he did relent in later years.

1963 - Patsy Cline, Cowboy Copas and Hankshaw Hawkins were killed in a plane crash at Camden, TN, near Nashville. The famous country music stars were returning from a benefit performance. Cline, the ‘Queen of Country Music’ was elected to the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1973. Jessica Lange played Patsy in the 1985 biographical film, Sweet Dreams, named after one of Cline’s hugely popular songs. Willie Nelson wrote her biggest hit, "Crazy", which become a number one country hit and a top 10 pop song in November, 1961.

1968 - Jerry Lee Lewis opened in the rock musical adaptation of Othello in Hollywood, CA.

1969 - Dusty Springfield collapsed while taping a TV appearance.

1969 - The rock magazine, Creem, was published for the first time this day.

1970 - John Frusciante was born; musician: guitar: group: Red Hot Chili Peppers: Under the Bridge, Give It Away, Californication, Scar Tissue, Otherside, Suck My Kiss, By the Way

1973 - The former US manager of Jimi Hendrix, Michael Jeffrey was one of 68 people killed in a plane crash in France. Jeffery was en-route to a court appearance in London related to Hendrix.

1973 - Roberta Flack was riding at #1 on the pop music charts with "Killing Me Softly with His Song"

1975 - Rod Stewart met Swedish actress, Britt Ekland at a party in Los Angeles, the couple went on to have a high profile love affair.

1979 - ABC Records of US announces declining profits and goes out of business.

1982 - Two new 'Mamas' appear in the reformed Mamas and the Papas as they performed for the first time at Princeton University.

1984 - CBS announced that Michael Jackson's Thriller album has sold 30.9 million copies worldwide.

1989 - Pepsi Cola in the U.S. said it would withdraw its Madonna TV ads from any station that showed the singer’s video, Like a Prayer. The video, which already had been banned in Italy, showed a scantily-clad Madonna kissing the naked feet of a statue in a church sanctuary and caressing a priest.

1994 - CHART TOPPERS: The Power of Love - Celine Dion; Whatta Man - Salt ’N’ Pepa with En Vogue; Without You/Never Forget You - Mariah Carey; I Just Wanted You to Know - Mark Chesnutt

1999 - Sir Elton John won a court case against The Daily Star, after they had published long-lens photographs of Spice Girl Victoria Adams and footballer David Beckham while they were staying at his home.

2002 - The first episode of The Osbournes TV show was aired on MTV in the US. Focusing on the daily activities of rock musician Ozzy Osbourne and his family.

March 6

1808 - The first college orchestra was founded at Harvard University in Cambridge, MA.

1905 - Bob Wills was born; fiddler, composer, bandleader: Light Crust Doughboys, Bob Wills and his Texas Playboys: San Antonio Rose; inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (Early Influence category: Mar 15, 1999); died May 13, 1975

1925 - Wes (John Leslie) Montgomery was born; jazz composer, musician: guitar: Windy, Goin’ Out of My Head, Wes’ Tune, Sunny; albums: The Wes Montgomery Trio, The Incredible Jazz Guitar of Wes Montgomery, The Montgomery Brothers [w/his brothers Buddy and Monk Montgomery]; died June 15, 1968

1931 - "Without a Song" was recorded by Lawrence Tibbett for Victor Records. This wonderful melody came from the film, The Southerner and has been a hit for many, including Willie Nelson, Frank Sinatra and Tony Bennett.

1941 - Les Hite and his orchestra recorded "The World is Waiting for the Sunrise" on Bluebird Records. The instrumental became Hite’s most popular work. A decade later, Les Paul and Mary Ford added a vocal to the tune, making it one of their biggest-selling hit songs.

1944 - Dave Gilmour was born; singer, musician: group: Pink Floyd: Atom Heart Mother, Echoes, LP: The Dark Side of the Moon

1944 - Mary Wilson was born; singer: group: The Supremes: Where Did Our Love Go, Baby Love, Come See About Me, Stop! In the Name of Love, Back in My Arms Again, I Hear a Symphony, Nothing But Heartaches, You Can’t Hurry Love, You Keep Me Hanging On, My World is Empty Without You

1945 - Hugh Grundy was born; musician: drums: group: The Zombies: She’s Not There, You Make Me Feel Good, Tell Her No, She’s Coming Home, I Want You Back Again, Time of the Seasons

1947 - Kiki Dee (Pauline Matthews) was born; singer: Don’t Go Breaking My Heart, Amoureuse, [You Don’t Know] How Glad I Am, Star

1962 - Frank Sinatra recorded his final session for Capitol Records in Hollywood. Sinatra had been recording for his own record label, Reprise, for two years. His final side on Capitol was I Gotta Right to Sing the Blues, with Skip Martin’s orchestra.

1964 - Skip Ewing was born; musician: guitar, banjo; songwriter, singer: Your Memory Wins Again, I Don’t Have Far to Fall, Burnin’ a Hole in My Heart, The Gospel According to Luke, The Coast of Colorado; as of 2006, he had some 25 top-ten singles and nearly a dozen #1 hits

1965 - The Temptations went to No.1 in US singles chart with the Smokey Robinson penned song "My Girl," making the group the first male act to have a No.1 for Motown

1967 - Singer Nelson Eddy died. He was 66 years old. Eddy’s operatic-style duets with Jeanette MacDonald were big favorites in movies and on records in the 1930s. Their first movie together was Naughty Marietta in 1935. From it came their most popular recording, "Indian Love Call". Eddy and MacDonald starred in several other movie musicals, including Rose Marie and Girl of the Golden West.

1968 - Sandie Shaw marries fashion designer Jeff Banks.

1970 - Awareness Records released the Charles Manson album Lie. Manson was unable to promote the LP due to the fact he was serving a life sentence for the Sharon Tate murders.

1973 - Attempts to get Elvis Presley to the UK for shows at London's Earl's Court failed. They were told that Elvis now had US tour and filming commitments.

1975 - Two golds are won .. Led Zeppelin win a gold record for Physical Graffiti and Average White Band win their gold record for "Pick Up the Pieces".

1976 - The Waylon & Willie (Jennings and Nelson) song, Good Hearted Woman, started the last of three weeks at the top of the country music charts. Waylon and Willie wrote the song in 1969 during a poker game in Ft. Worth, TX. According to Jennings, “I’d been reading an ad for Ike and Tina Turner and it said, ‘Tina Turner singing songs about good-hearted women loving good-timing men.’ I thought, ‘What a great country song title that is!’” He was mighty correct, y’all.

1977 - An Evening With Diana Ross aired on NBC-TV.

1986 - CHART TOPPERS: Kyrie - Mr. Mister; Sara - Starship; Living In American - James Brown; You Can Dream of Me - Steve Wariner

1989 - Smokey Robinson's autobiography "Inside My Life" was released.

1994 - Frank Sinatra collapsed during a concert in Richmond, Virginia. The 78-year-old performer fell face down on stage midway through "My Way." Sinatra was conscious as he was taken away in a wheelchair, but was released from hospital after a few hours. Heat exhaustion was blamed for Sinatra’s blackout.

1998 - Oasis' Liam Gallagher was released on $10,000 bail from an Australian court in Brisbane after being charged for headbutting a fan, breaking the fan's nose.

1999 - George Jones was severely injured in a car accident

2000 - Eric Clapton was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and became the first musician to be inducted three times. Clapton was first honored as a member of The Yardbirds in 1992 and with Cream in 1993. Among other honorees this day were James Taylor, Bonnie Raitt and Earth, Wind & Fire.

2001 - A man who hid for 24 hours in the rafters of a Cathedral and secretly filmed the christening of Madonna's baby appeared in court. Security staff discovered the man after the ceremony when he made a noise climbing down from the rafters.

2004 - Diane Richie, the estranged wife of singer Lionel Richie, went to court seeking $300,000 a month in maintenance support. Diane’s monthly costs included: $20,000 a year on plastic surgery; $15,000 a month for clothing, shoes and accessories; $5,000 on jewellery; $3,000 on dermatology; $1,000 for laser hair removal and $600 on massages.

March 7

1875 - Maurice Ravel was born; composer: Bolero; died December 28, 1937

1917 - The first jazz record is released in US, recorded by Nick La Rocca's original Dixieland Jazz Band, it is called "The Dixie Jazz Band One Step."

1917 - Lee Young was born; jazz musician: drummer: Nat King Cole Trio, Lee Young Band; died July 31, 2008

1923 - Mahlon Clark was born; musician: clarinet/reeds: Lawrence Welk’s band

1939 - Guy Lombardo and his Royal Canadians recorded one of the most popular songs of the century. The standard, Auld Lang Syne, was recorded for Decca Records.

1942 - Hamilton Bohannon was born; bandleader, percussionist, arranger, producer for 1970s disco/dance music: South African Man, Foot Stompin’ Music, Disco Stomp

1943 - Chris White was born; musician: bass: group: The Zombies: She’s Not There, You Make Me Feel Good, Tell Her No, She’s Coming Home, I Want You Back Again, Time of the Seasons

1944 - Townes Van Zandt was born; songwriter, singer: Needed You, To Live Is To Fly, No Place to Fall, Tecumseh Valley, Our Mother the Mountain, Snake Mountain Blues, White Freightliner Blues, Tower Song, Who Do You Love; died January 1, 1997

1946 - Matthew Fisher was born; musician: organ: group: Procol Harum: Whiter Shade of Pale; solo: LPs: Journey’s End, I’ll be There, Matthew Fisher, Strange Days; operated own recording studio

1946 - Peter Wolf (Blankfield) was born; singer: group: J. Geils Band: Centerfold; Lights Out, Freeze-Frame; married Faye Dunaway

1952 - Ernie Isley was born; songwriter, musician: guitar: group: The Isley Brothers: Shout, It’s Your Thing, Twist and Shout, I Wanna Be With You, Don’t Say Goodnight [It’s Time for Love]

1953 - Kenny Aronoff was born; musician: drums: group: John Mellencamp and a Who's Who of American musicians.

1956 - Lonnie Donegan’s hit song, Rock Island Line, was doing well on the pop music charts from across the big pond in the U.S. The popular music from Great Britain’s ‘King of Skiffle’ ushered in the new music craze called ‘skiffle’. Donegan was born in Glasgow, Scotland and was a member of Chris Barber’s Jazz Band. He had one other major hit on the U.S. pop charts even bigger than "Rock Island Line." In 1961, Donegan’s "Does Your Chewing Gum Lose It’s Flavor (On the Bedpost Over Night)" made it to the top five in America. The song was a top-10 hit in 1924 by Ernest Hare and Billy Jones. However, instead of “Chewing Gum” in the original title, it was “Spearmint”. Donegan recorded his version of the song in 1959, two years before it became a hit. Incidentally, John Lennon and George Harrison of The Beatles both started their careers in skiffle bands.

1958 - The first US DJ convention was held in Kansas. Broadcasters voted against Top 40 formatting recently adopted by American stations.

1962 - Taylor Dayne was born; singer: Tell It to My Heart, Prove Your Love, I’ll Always Love You, Don’t Rush Me, Every Beat of My Heart, Love Will Lead You Back; actress: Fool’s Paradise, Martial Law, Rude Awakening; LPs: Tell It to My Heart, Can’t Fight Fate

1964 - For the first time the UK Top Ten Singles Chart was made up entirely of British acts. Cilla Black was in the No.1 spot with 'Anyone Who Had A Heart.'; 2 Dave Clark Five: Bits and Pieces; 3 Bachelors: Diane; 4 Merseybeats: I Think of You; 5 Searchers: Needles and Pins; 6 Rolling Stones: Not Fade Away; 7 Billy J. Kramer: Little Children; 8 Gerry and the Pacemakers: I'm the One; 9 Brian Poole: Candy Man and at No.10 Eden Kane, with Boys Cry.

1965 - During a Rolling Stones gig at The Palace Theatre in Manchester, a teenage fan fell from the circle, the crowd below broke her fall.

1966 - Paul Davis was born; musician: keyboards: group: Happy Mondays

1967 - Sandra Dee received a divorce from Bobby Darin.

1973 - CBS records hold a concert at Max's Kansas City in New York to celebrate the signing of Bruce Springsteen, boss John Hammond suffered a heartattack.

1976 - Elton John was immortalised in wax and put on display i in London's Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum.

1983 - Willie Nelson received the Sammy Cahn Lifetime Achievement Award from the Songwriters’ Hall of Fame in New York; and Margaret Whiting and Rosemary Clooney were co-recipients of the Hitmaker award.

1985 - The song We Are the World, from the album of the same name, was played on the radio for the first time. Forty-five of pop music’s top stars had gathered together to combine their talents to record the music of Lionel Richie and Michael Jackson. Richie and Jackson sang, too, while Quincy Jones did the producing of the USA for Africa record. The proceeds of the multimillion-selling recording went to aid African famine victims. The project, coordinated by Ken Kragen, was deemed a huge success.

1987 - The Beastie Boys became the first rap act to have a No.1 album in the US with their debut album, Licensed To Ill.

1991 - Rolling Stone magazine readers voted George Michael the best male singer and sexiest male artist.

2000 - Oasis singer Liam Gallagher won the Best Dressed Man Award from fashion magazine GQ.

2000 - Country singer Frank ‘Pee Wee’ King died in Louisville, Kentucky. He was 86 years old.

2002 - Former Visage singer Steve Stange was hit over the head resulting in him needing 18 stitches and robbed of a bracelet given to him by Kylie Minogue; he had been on his way to a party in West London.

March 8

1927 - Dick Hyman was born; pianist: Moritat; music director for Arthur Godfrey

1937 - Raynoma Liles was born; co-founder of Motown [with husband Berry Gordy]

1941 - Willie Dixon was jailed for refusing induction into the armed forces. Military personnel escorted him from the stage of Chicago's Pink Poodle club. "Itold them I was a conscientious objector and wasn't gonna fight for anybody," said Dixon.

1941 - Horace Heidt and his orchestra recorded G’bye Now for the nice folks at Columbia Records. The vocal on the piece was done by Ronnie Kemper.

1942 - Ralph Ellis was born; musician: banjo, singer: group: The Swinging Blue Jeans: Hippy Hippy Shake

1945 - Mickey Dolenz was born; singer, drummer: group: The Monkees: I’m a Believer, Last Train to Clarksville; actor: Circus Boy

1946 - Randy Meisner was born; singer: base: group: The Eagles: Take it Easy, Best of My Love, Take it to the Limit

1947 - Mike Allsup was born; musician: guitar: group: Three Dog Night: Try a Little Tenderness, Easy to be Hard, Eli’s Coming, Mama Told Me [Not to Come], Joy to the World, Black & White, Shambala

1947 - Carole Bayer Sager was born; singer, songwriter: That’s What Friends are For; w/Tony Wein: Groovy Kind of Love; w/Albert Hammond: When I Need You; w/Bruce Roberts: You’re the Only One; w/Marvin Hamlisch: Break It to Me Gently, Looking Through the Eyes of Love, Nobody Does It Better

1948 - Little Peggy March (Margret Annemarie Batavio) was born; singer: I Will Follow Him

1954 - Cheryl Baker (Rita Crudgington) was born; singer: group: Bucks Fizz: Making Your Mind Up, Land of Make Believe, My Camera Never Lies, Now Those Days are Gone, If You Can’t Stand the Heat; TV host

1957 - Clive Burr was born; musician: drums: group: Iron Maiden [1979-1983]: Eddie the Head

1958 - Gary Numan (Webb) was born; singer: Cars, Are Friends Electric, I Die You Die, We Take Mystery to Bed, Music for Chameleons, White Boys and Heroes, Warriors, Sister Surprise, Berserker; songwriter: I Dream of Wires

1962 - The Beatles performed for the first time on ‘Auntie Beeb’ (as the BBC was known in Great Britain). The show was on the 5 p.m. Teenager's Turn. Pete Best played the drums, as Ringo hadn’t joined up yet, and Paul McCartney sang "Dream Baby".

1964 - Peter Gill was born; musician: drums: group:Frankie Goes to Hollywood: Relax, Two Tribes, The Power of Love, Ferry Cross the Mersey

1965 - David Bowie made his TV debut with The Manish Boys on UK programme called Gadzooks! It's All Happening performing their current single "I Pity The Fool."

1966 - Lulu became the first British female singer to appear behind the Iron curtain, when she toured Poland with The Hollies.

1968 - Rock show promoter and impresario, Bill Graham of San Francisco, moved to the other side of the U.S. to open Fillmore East in New York City.

1969 - The Small Faces split up after singer Steve Marriott announced he was leaving the band. Ronnie Lane, Ian McLagan and Kenny Jones linked up with Ronnie Wood and Rod Stewart and formed The Faces.

1969 - Sly and the Family Stone were starting their fourth (and final) week at number one on the pop music charts (also #1 on the soul charts) with Everyday People.

1971 - WPAX Hanoi goes on the air for the first time, opening with Jimi Hendrix's "Star-Spangled Banner." Abbie Hoffman and many others make tapes in a loft in New York, the tapes were then broadcasted to US troops.

1973 - Paul McCartney was fined $170 for growing cannabis at his farm in Campbeltown, Scotland. He claimed some fans gave him the seeds, and that he didn't know what they would grow in to.

1974 - Bad Company gave their debut performance in England.

1975 - Olivia Newton-John reached the top spot on the pop charts with Have You Never Been Mellow. In addition to "...Mellow", Olivia also reached the peak of pop stardom with "I Honestly Love You," "You’re the One That I Want" (with John Travolta), "Magic" and "Physical".

1988 - CHART TOPPERS: Father Figure - George Michael; Never Gonna Give You Up (facts) - Rick Astley; She’s Like the Wind - Patrick Swayze featuring Wendy Fraser; Face to Face - Alabama

1989 - Country/gospel singer/songwriter Stuart Hamblen died in Santa Monica, California of cancer. He was 80 years old. Hamblen was best known for his spiritual tunes, including "It Is No Secret What God Can Do" and "This Ole House," which Rosemary Clooney turned into a million-seller. Hamblen’s mid-life conversion to Christianity following a visit to a Billy Graham revival show led him to run for the anti-alcohol Prohibition Party in the 1952 U.S. presidential election. He lost to Dwight Eisenhower by about 24,000,000 votes.

1990 - In the Rolling Stone Magazine's awards, Donny Osmond won the most unwelcome comeback award while Cher won the worst dressed female, and worst video for "If I Could Turn Back Time."

1993 - MTV debuts Beavis and Butt-Head, an original animated series starring two suburban misfits written by Austinite Mike Judge. The show is the first spin-ff from the MTV's award-winner animated variety series, Liquid Television.

1993 - Billy Eckstine, one of the first black balladeers to cross over into the white market, died in Pittsburgh after suffering a stroke. He was 78 years old. His distinctive baritone was heard on such hits as "Prisoner of Love," "My Foolish Heart" and "I Apologize" in the 1940s and early 1950s. Eckstine, known to his fans as ‘Mr. B’, also formed a historic jazz band in 1944 that helped establish the new musical form known as bebop.

2004 - Westlife singer Bryan McFadden announced he was quiting the group to spend more time with he wife and two children. He launched his solo career later on that year.

2009 - Country singer Hank Locklin died at his home in Brewston, Alabama. He was 91 years old. Locklin’s 70 charted singles include "Send Me the Pillow You Dream On," "Please Help Me, I’m Falling," "Let Me Be the One," "It’s a Little More Like Heaven," "Geisha Girl" and was inducted into The Country Music Hall of Fame.

March 9

1932 - Keely Smith (Dorothy Jacqueline Keely) was born; singer: That Old Black Magic, How Are Ya’ Fixed for Love?; former Mrs. Louis Prima

1933 - Lloyd Price was born; songwriter: Lawdy Miss Clawdy; pianist; singer: Stagger Lee, Personality, I’m Gonna Get Married; record label owner; producer; booking agent

1936 - Mickey Gilley was born; country singer: Academy of Country Music Top New Male Vocalist [1974], 1976 awards: Entertainer of the Year, Male Vocalist of the Year, Album of the Year: Gilley’s Smoking, Song of the Year: Don’t the Girls Get Prettier at Closing Time, Single of the Year: Bring It on Home; owned Gilley’s Club [honky-tonk that inspired movie Urban Cowboy]; owner: Mickey Gilley’s Theatre, Branson MO; Jerry Lee Lewis’ and Jimmy Swaggart's cousin

1942 - Tommy Dorsey and his orchestra recorded Well, Git It! for Victor Records. Ziggy Elman was featured on the session which was recorded in Hollywood. Sy Oliver arranged the Dorsey classic.

1942 - John Cale was born; musician: viola, bass, keyboards; singer: group: The Velvet Underground: Sweet Jane, Rock and Roll, Sunday Morning, I’m Waiting for the Man, Femme Fatale, All Tomorrow’s Parties

1942 - Mark Lindsay was born; musician: saxophonist, singer songwriter: group: Paul Revere & The Raiders: The Great Airplane Strike, Good Thing, Him or Me - What’s It Gonna Be, Indian Reservation; solo: Arizona, Silver Bird

1944 - Trevor Burton was born; musician: guitar: group: The Move: Night of Fear, I Can Hear the Grass Grow, Flowers in the Rain, Fire Brigade, Wild Tiger Woman, Blackberry Way; Uglys

1945 - Robin Trower was born; musician: guitar: group: Procol Harum: Whiter Shade of Pale; solo: Bridge of Sighs

1945 - Ron Wilson was born; musician: drums: group: The Surfaris: Wipe Out, Surfer Joe, Point Panic; died May 7, 1989

1946 - Jim Cregan was born; musician: guitar: group: Family: It’s Only a Movie; Stud; Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel

1947 - Chris Thompson was born; musician: guitar, singer: group: Manfred Mann’s Earth Band: Blinded By the Light, Spirit in the Night, Quit Your Low Down Ways, Questions, Circles, Davy’s on the Road Again

1948 - Jimmie Fadden was born; singer, musician: harmonica, guitar: group: Nitty Gritty Dirt Band: Mr. Bojangles, An American Dream, Make a Little Magic, Modern Day Romance, Long Hard Road [The Sharecropper’s Dream]

1948 - Jeffrey Osborne was born. musician: drums, singer, songwriter: group: L.T.D.

1957 - Calypso hits the U.K. charts with the "Banana Boat Song" by Terriers.

1958 - Martin Fry was born; singer: group: ABC: Tears are Not Enough, Poison Arrow, Be Near Me, When Smokey Sings, King Without a Crown; founded magazine: Modern Drugs

1962 - CHART TOPPERS: Duke of Earl - Gene Chandler; Hey! Baby - Bruce Channel; Crying in the Rain - The Everly Brothers; Misery Loves Company - Porter Wagoner

1972 - Allen Klein presents UNICEF with the first cheque from the proceeds of George Harrison's Concert For Bangladesh $1.2 million. Nearly $9 million more will be held up until 1982, due to legal problems.

1972 - Barbra Streisand, Carole King, James Taylor, Carly Simon, Quincy Jones and others give a fund-riasing concert at LA Forum for George McGovern.

1974 - Many new musical faces were on the scene, including Terry Jacks, who was starting week two of a three-week stay at the top of the pop charts with his uplifting ditty, Seasons in the Sun. Other newcomers: Jefferson Starship, Billy Joel, Kiss, Olivia Newton-John, Kool & the Gang and The Steve Miller Band.

1975 - Elvis Presley began his final recording session at RCA's Hollywood studios.

1976 - Keith Moon collapsed on stage at the start of a Who concert in the Boston Garden.

1977 - The Jacksons CBS show was aired for the last time on US TV finishing at the bottom of the ratings.

1981 - Robert Plant played a secret gig at Keele University, England with his new band The Honey Drippers.

1985 - Bandleader and record producer Robert ‘Bumps’ Blackwell died of pneumonia at the age of 66. Blackwell signed such artists as Sam Cooke and Little Richard to record contracts. His bands included such famous artists as Ray Charles and Quincy Jones.

1987 - U2’s The Joshua Tree was released. The album sold nearly six-million copies in the U.S. alone. The compact disc version of the album became the first CD to sell one-million copies in the U.S.

1993 - Bob Crosby, brother of Bing Crosby, died of cancer. The swing-era bandleader (Bob Crosby and the Bobcats), was 79 years old.

1996 - Oasis guitarist Noel Gallagher walked off stage during a gig at the Vernon Valley Gorge ski resort in New Jersey because his hands were too cold to play.

1997 - The Notorious B.I.G. is shot to death after a Soul Train Awards party. Biggie was returning to his hotel in Los Angeles, California when a car pulled up beside his and opened fire. He was killed almost instantly.

2004 - Tom Jones was banned from wearing tight leather pants by his own son and manager Mark Jones. His son said it was time to "dress his age" as he was in danger of becoming a laughing stock at 63.

2005 - Rodeo star and country singer Chris LeDoux died in Wyoming from complications of liver cancer. He was 56 years old.

2006 - California authorities ordered Michael Jackson to shut down his Neverland Valley Ranch and fined the pop star $169,000 for failing to pay his employees and/or maintain proper insurance.

2007 - Brad Delp, lead singer of the rock band Boston, died at his home in New Hampshire. He was 55 years old. Delp died from the smoke generated by two charcoal grills he had lighted inside his sealed bathroom. He was found by police lying on a pillow on his bathroom floor with a suicide note pinned to his shirt.

March 10

1892 - Arthur Honegger was born; composer: film scores: Crime and Punishment; died November 27, 1955

1903 - (Leon) Bix Beiderbecke was born; ‘young man with a horn’: jazz cornetist: groups: Wolverine Orchestra: Fidgety Feet, Jazz Me Blues; Bix Beiderbecke and His Rhythm Jugglers: Davenport Blues; Charlie Straight Orchestra; Breeze Blowers; Jean Goldkette Orchestra; Frankie Trumbauer and his Orchestra: Singin’ the Blues, Clarinet Marmalade, Clementine; Bix Beiderbecke and His Gang: At the Jazz Band Ball, Royal Garden Blues; Adrian Rollini and the New Yorkers; Paul Whiteman Orchestra: From Monday On, China Boy, Oh, Miss Hannah; jazz pianist: In A Mist, Candlelights, Flashes, In the Dark; died August 6, 1931

1920 - Jethro (Kenneth C. Burns) was born; entertainer, musician: mandolin, banjo: Homer & Jethro: The Battle of Kookamonga, Don’t Let the Stars Get in Your Eyeballs; died February 4, 1989

1923 - Don Abney was born; jazz pianist, studio musician; died January 20, 2000

1935 - Nelson Eddy recorded Ah, Sweet Mystery of Life for Victor Records. The song came from the film, Naughty Marietta. Later, Eddy recorded the classic tune with Jeanette MacDonald.

1937 - An audience of 21,000 jitterbuggers jammed the Paramount Theatre in New York City to see a young clarinetist whom they would crown, ‘King of Swing’ on this night. The popular musician was Benny Goodman.

1938 - Norman Blake was born; musician: guitar, singer: I’m Going to Leave Old Dixie, Hangin’ Dog, I’d Rather be an Old Time Christian, Poor Little Sailor Boy, Rescue from Moose River Goldmine

1940 - Dean Torrence was born; singer: group: Jan & Dean: The Little Old Lady [From Pasadena], Dead Man’s Curve, Surf City, Honolulu Lulu

1940 - I Pagliacci by Ruggiero Leoncavallo became the first opera to be broadcast on television.

1947 - Tom Scholz was born; musician: guitar, keyboards, singer: group: Boston: More than a Feeling, Long Time, Peace of Mind, Don’t Look Back, Man I’ll Never Be, Amanda

1954 - CHART TOPPERS: Make Love to Me! - Jo Stafford; I Get So Lonely - The Four Knights; Answer Me, My Love - Nat ‘King’ Cole; Wake Up, Irene - Hank Thompson

1955 - Ruth Brown presented with special award to mark sales of five million records, by Atlantic bosses Ahmet Urtegun and Jerry Wexler at Apollo theatre in Harlem.

1963 - Jeff Ament was born; musician: bass guitar, songwriter: founding member of group Pearl Jam: Merkinball, Not for You, Save You, Other Side, Dissident, Release, Off He Goes, Crazy Mary, Even Flow

1964 - Neneh Cherry (Neneh Mariann Karlsson) was born; songwriter, rap singer: groups: Rip Rig + Panic, The Slits; solo: Buffalo Stance, LPs: Homebrew, Nearly God, Raw Like Sushi, Man, Woman; British Music Awards: Best Single, Best Female Vocalist [1990], Best Video [Woman: 1996]; World Music Awards: Best African Single [7 Seconds: 1995]

1972 - CHART TOPPERS: Without You - Nilsson; Hurting Each Other - Carpenters; Down by the Lazy River - The Osmonds; Bedtime Story - Tammy Wynette

1977 - At 7am in the morning on a trestle table set up out-side Buckingham Palace, London, The Sex Pistols signed to A&M Records. The contract lasted for six days.

1983 - Carrie Underwood was born; singer: Inside Your Heaven, Jesus, Take the Wheel, Some Hearts, Wasted, Don’t Forget to Remember Me, The Night Before [Life Goes On]

1984 - Ian Gillan leaves Black Sabbath.

1988 - Teen idol Andy Gibb died in England of a sudden inflammation of the heart muscle caused by a viral infection. He was 30 years old.

1992 - At the Soul Train Awards, Prince wins a lifetime achievement award

1995 - Stone Roses' former manager Gareth Evans' $17m. lawsuit with the band was settled out of court over alleged wrongful dismissal, for an undisclosed sum.

1997 - LaVern Baker, one of the most influential R&B singers of the 1950s, died in New York. She was 67 years old. Baker had suffered from diabetes and had both legs amputated below the knees two years earlier. She had 20 r&b hits beginning in 1955, including "Tweedle Dee," "Jim Dandy" and "I Cried a Tear." Baker became the second female artist, after Aretha Franklin, to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

2000 - Pretenders singer Chrissie Hynde was arrested for leading an animal rights protest against the clothing firm Gap, who were accused of using leather from cows slaughtered 'illegally and cruelly'. The protest took place in a store in Manhattan.

2005 - Michael Jackson arrived in court an hour late dressed in his pyjamas after being treated for a back injury. Jackson was attending the Santa Moria court for his child abuse trial.

2008 - Little Walter earned a place in The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame for his revolutionary harmonica technique, his virtuosity and musical innovations reached heights of expression never previously imagined on blues harmonica, making him the only artist ever to be inducted specifically for his work as a harmonica player.

March 11

1903 - Lawrence Welk was born; bandleader: Calcutta, Tonight You Belong to Me, Weary Blues, Moritat; TV: The Lawrence Welk Show; developer: senior citizen retreat near San Diego, The Lawrence Welk Theater; died May 17, 1992

1919 - Mercer Ellington was born; songwriter: Blue Serge, Things Ain’t What They Used to Be; owned Mercer record label; bandleader: only son of Duke Ellington: led the Duke’s band after he died and for musical Sophisticated Ladies; died February 8, 1996

1932 - Leroy Jenkins was born; violinist: groups: Creative Construction Company, Revolutionary Ensemble; composer: Mother of Three Sons, Fresh Faust, The Negro Burial Ground; died February 24, 2007

1942 - Vaughn Monroe and his orchestra recorded the classic, Sleepy Lagoon. It was the last song Monroe would record for Bluebird Records. Vaughn sang on the track while Ray Conniff played trombone. Both later moved to different record companies. Monroe went with RCA and Conniff to Columbia. The big-voiced baritone of Monroe was regularly heard on radio and he was featured in several movies in the 1950s. He died in May 1973. "Racing With the Moon" and "Ghost Riders in the Sky" were two of his greatest contributions to popular music.

1944 - Ric Rothwell was born; musician: drums: group: Wayne Fontana & The Mindbenders: Game of Love

1945 - Harvey Mandel was born; musician: guitar: group: Canned Heat: On the Road Again, Same All Over, Let’s Work Together, Time Was, Boogie Music, Going Up the Country

1947 - Mark Stein was born; musician: organ, singer: groups: Vanilla Fudge: Take Me for a Little While; Boomerang

1947 - Blue (Derek) Weaver was born; musician: keyboards: group: Amen Corner: Gin House Blues, Bend Me Shape Me, [If Paradise Is] Half As Nice, Natural Sinner; Bee Gees, Strawbs

1950 - Bobby McFerrin was born; pianist, jazz musician, songwriter, singer: improvisational solo: all voices and imitates instruments

1955 - Jimmy Fortune was born; singer: group: Statler Brothers: LPs: Today, Atlanta Blue, Pardners in Rhyme, Four for the Show, Radio Gospel Favorites, Maple Street Memories

1961 - Bruce Watson was born; musician: guitar: group: Big Country: Harvest Home, Fields of Fire, In a Big Country, Chance, Wonderland, East of Eden, Where the Rose is Sown

1963 - The Mann Hugg Blues Brothers (later to become Manfred Mann) played at London's Marquee Club.

1964 - Elvis Presley's 14th movie, Kissin' Cousins, was released. [It was banned by the Catholic church because of the implied incest. At the age of 13, my best friend & I snuck out of her house at night & walked 1.5 miles to the movie theater to see Elvis in Kissin' Cousins. That summer I opened my first business & dubbed it The Country Cousin. ~Dianne]

1966 - Wilson Pickett performs at the Flamingo Club in London

1968 - Otis Redding posthumously received a gold record for the single, "(Sittin’ on) The Dock of the Bay". Redding was killed in a plane crash in Lake Monona in Madison, WI on December 10, 1967. He recorded 11 charted hit songs between 1965 and 1969. Otis Redding was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1989.

1968 - Lisa Loeb was born; singer: group: Lisa Loeb & Nine Stories: Stay (I Missed You); actress: House on Haunted Hill, Serial Killing 4 Dummys

1969 - Motown bought the Jackson 5 out of their contract with Steeltown.

1971 - Jim Morrison of The Doors arrived in Paris booking into The Hotel George's, the following week he moved into an apartment at 17 Rue Beautreillis in Paris. Jim lived in Paris until his death in July.

1973 - CHART TOPPERS: Killing Me Softly with His Song - Roberta Flack; Love Train - O’Jays; Also Sprach Zarathustra (2001) - Deodato; ’Til I Get It Right - Tammy Wynette

1981 - LeToya Luckett was born; songwriter, singer: founding member of Destiny’s Child: Survivor, Second Nature, Bridges, Tell Me, Bootylicious, Gospel Medley, Sexy Daddy; solo: LeToya, Torn, Lady Love

1985 - DJs around the U.S. began questioning listeners to see which ones could name the 46 pop music stars who appeared on the hit, We Are the World. The song, airing first on this day as a single, contains a "Who’s Who" of contemporary pop music.

1991 - For one week only Janet Jackson holds the record for the largest record deal ever until Michael Jackson signs with Sony a week later. Janet's deal with Virgin Records is worth $30 million.

1996 - Jarvis Cocker, Pulp singer walked free from Kensington police station after police failed to charge him with any criminal offence following his 'stage invasion', during Michael Jackson's performance at the Brit Awards 3 weeks earlier.

1997 - Paul McCartney was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in a ceremony at Buckingham Palace. Hundreds of fans, some wearing T-shirts that read “Arise Sir Paul,” cheered his arrival and stayed outside the palace until he emerged.

1998 - French authorities dug up the remains of legendary French singer and actor Yves Montand and whisked them to a laboratory for DNA tests to settle a paternity suit. The tests would determine if Montand was the father of Aurore Drossart, age 22, who claimed she was his daughter and wanted part of his estate. Montand died in 1991 at age 70, just three days before he was to testify in the lawsuit. While alive, he refused to submit to the DNA testing, but was forced to do it in death. The tests proved that Yves was right after all. He was not Drossart’s father.

2003 - Striking Broadway musicians settled a contract dispute with theater producers to end a walkout that had shut had down 18 musicals. The agreement called for a smaller number of musicians working in the largest theaters.

2005 - The front door of Ozzy Osbourne's childhood home in Birmingham went up for sale on eBay because the current owner was fed up with fans defacing it.

And there you have it until next week,
Dianne

*****************

The Continental Club Gallery

A Fusion of Art, Funky Jazz and Cocktails

1313A S. Congress Avenue, Austin TX 78704

Two doors up from The Continental Club

http://www.continentalclub.com

http://www.myspace.com/continentalclubgallery

Volume XIII, Issue 10.1 * March 4, 2010

***

"The Continental Gallery’s ambience is strikingly different from most other clubs around town, highlighted by the revolving art displays on the walls and relatively quiet live music. Upstairs from The Continental Club, patrons find more secluded seating areas and a ping-pong table. Unique touches like this one are what make the gallery so exciting." ~DTWeekend.com

***

Dianne's Gallery Dish

Hey, y'all! The most current SXSW 2010 schedule for The Continental Club Gallery is posted below! The Gallery is NOT an official SXSW venue, so no wristbands or badges are needed or accepted. And we've got some very cool shows for you!

Former 8 1/2 Souvenirs chanteuse Chrysta Bell knocked everyone's socks off on Monday night! I keep getting reports of how wonderful it was. She's going to perform for the next two Mondays! Chrysta's fist set each week will see her paired with David Garza singing sweet and sexy tunes at 10:30. At 11:30 Chrysta will play another set with her full band: Jon Sanchez on Guitar, Brad Houser on Bass, Michael Hale on drums and Davíd Garza on B3, plus some very special guests! Blues rocker Lisa Marshall will take the last 2 Mondays in March!

Jon Dee Graham's birthday party was awesome! The show opened with his son, Willie Graham, leading the audience in a rousing "Happy Birthday" sing-along, followed by Jon Dee & Son in Willie's own "Rock & Roll In The Streets." Jesse Sublett, Kathy McCarty, Chris Gates & more performed, as well as a reading by actor/poet Karl Anderson. Big fun was had by all! JDG says it was his best birthday EVER.

***

SXSW 2010

Below you will find the confirmed lineups for our NON-SXSW shows! Please remember that all schedules are subject to change!

NON-SXSW Wednesday 3/17: The Continental Club GALLERY Presents! - $15 - Doors open at 8pm - Must be 21+ and able to provide valid ID - NO Badge or wristband required or accepted!

8:00pm: Greyhounds (Austin, TX)

10:30pm: Mike Flanigin w/Jimmie Vaughan & Frosty! (Austin, TX)

NON-SXSW Thursday 3/18: The Continental Club GALLERY Presents! - No cover! - Doors open at 6:30pm - NO badge or wristband required or accepted - Must be 21+ and able to provide valid ID

7:00pm: Lee Barber, Jonny Burke, and James McMurtry!

Later...

10:30: Continental Graffiti (Austin, TX)

NON-SXSW Friday 3/19: The Continental Club GALLERY Presents! - $10 - Doors open @ 8:00pm - NO Badge or wristband required or accepted - Must be 21+ and able to provide valid ID

8:00pm: Greyhounds (Austin, TX)

11:00pm: Mike Flanigin B-3 Trio w/Denny Freeman & Frosty! (Austin, TX)

NON-SXSW Saturday 3/20: The Continental Club GALLERY Presents! - No cover! - Doors open at NOON - NO Badge or wristband required or accepted - Must be 21+ and able to provide valid ID

12:30pm: Ben Livingston release party! (Austin, TX)

2:00pm: McLemore Avenue Presents: 2nd Annual B-3 Organ Summit! w/The Mike Flanigin B-3 Trio (Austin, TX), Diplomats of Solid Sound (Iowa City, IA), McLemore Avenue (Austin, TX) & more!

Later...

$10 - Doors open @ 8:00pm - NO Badge or wristband required or accepted - Must be 21+ and able to provide valid ID

8:30pm: Greyhounds (Austin, TX)

11:00pm: Mike Flanigin B-3 Trio w/Denny Freeman & Frosty (Austin, TX)

NON-SXSW Sunday 3/21: The Continental Club GALLERY Presents! - $10 - Doors open at 8pm - NO Badge or wristband required or accepted - Must be 21+ and able to provide valid ID

8:30pm: Jon Dee Graham (Austin, TX) & Kelly Willis (Austin, TX)

10:30, no cover: Mike Flanigin B-3 Trio w/Derek O'Brien & Kyle Thompson

***

Keep readin' & rockin'....
Dianne

***

Art

Art show openings will take place on the First Thursday of each month at 7pm - doors will open at 6pm - and will run for the entire month. This will be the general rule, although as with everything in this business, there may be exceptions. Art can also be shown during the day by appointment by sending an email to Steve to make arrangements. Check this section regularly for news on current & upcoming shows.

***

Thursday March 4 @ 7pm: Art Opening for acclaimed Austin photographers Matt Sturtevant & George Brainard!
Mathew Sturtevant graduated from the Photocommunications Department at St. Edward’s University. After this he polished his skills working with nearly every photographer in Austin and dozens from across the country. Now he enjoys the freedom and variety of doing editorial, commercial and personal projects. His celebrity and stock photography is represented by Retna @ Retna.com. He lives in South Austin with his dog "Monkey". His client list includes: The New York Times, Fidelity Investments, Cooking Light Magazine, LearJet, Fortune Magazine, Charles Schwab, Lance Armstrong Foundation, Interscope Records, Men's Journal, and Universal Records. "Working with Mathew rarely feels like work. His playful nature makes even the most difficult situations seem like fun without sacrificing professionalism, quality or concept." -Amanda Pounds, Art Director/Surrey Inc. "You'll never be disappointed, but you may be surprised." - Mark Cadell, CSC. "What a truly talented artist he is. Part mad scientist, part holy man, and part Jerry Lewis, Mathew is a one of a kind, and I envy his unique way of seeing things. Not only is he a phenomenal photographer, but he's the kind of guy you wanna hang out with." - John Langford, Langford Photo.
A sixth generation Texan, George Brainard was raised in Austin. His father was a former FBI agent/Renaisance man (who was among other things the Official Blacksmith of the State of Texas). His mother was a second grade schoolteacher who later ran her own event planning company. When George was eleven his Aunt took him on a trip to Washington D.C. and let him use her 35mm camera. He was hooked. He graduated from the University of Texas at Austin in 1993 with a degree in Studio Art. For many years George led a double life of photographer by day and musician by night. He fronted numerous bands including a seven-piece group in the mid nineties that recorded three CDs of original music and toured the country. In 1999 George gave up the nightlife to focus exclusively on his photographic career (he was sick of living in a van with six other guys). Since then he has amassed an impressive client list by making beautiful photographs and making sure everyone has a good time in the process. He has shot over 35 CD covers, assignments for numerous national and international publications, advertisements and catalogues (both local and national) and worked for some of the largest corporations in the country. George lives in the hills east of Austin with his wife, Mindy; daughter, Lillian and a turtle named Earl.

a. b.

a. Billy Joe Shaver ©Mathew Sturtevant b. Joe Ely ©Mathew Sturtevant

c. d.

c. Kinky Friedman ©George Brainard d. Steven Fromholz ©George Brainard

***

Music

Mondays @ 9:30. No cover - Former 8 1/2 Souvenirs chanteuse Chrysta Bell will be in the Gallery for the next two Mondays! Chrysta's first set each week will see her paired with her musical compadre David Garza singing sweet and sexy tunes at 10:30. At 11:30 Chrysta will play another set with her full band: Jon Sanchez on Guitar, Brad Houser on Bass, Michael Hale on drums and Davíd Garza on B3, plus some very special guests! Blues rocker Lisa Marshall will take the last 2 Mondays in March!
Video Links:
Chrysta Bell
David Garza

Tuesdays @ 10:30. No cover - The Ephraim Owens Experience is the brainchild of trumpet master in the jazz arena, Ephraim Owen. He is especially well known for his signature solos and ability to improvise. He has an uncanny ability to imagine his music laid on top of anything else he hears, and his adaptability makes him a welcome addition to any lineup. The Austin Chronicle ranks Ephraim as "Best Horn" in Austin.
Video Links:
Ephraim Owens

Wednesdays @ 8:30. No cover - Jon Blondell Jazz Trio is the newest addition to our Wednesday night lineup! Famed bassist & trombonist, Blondell brings his own take on jazz to an early set.
Video Links:
Jon Blondell

Wednesdays @ 10:30. No cover - Trube, Farrell & Sniz are Anthony Farrell and Andrew Trube of the Greyhounds, along with drummer Dave "Sniz" Robinson. They bring their mix of funk, soul and r&b to the Gallery every Wednesday night for a real happening scene.
*Except SXSW
Video Links:
Trube, Farrell & Sniz

Thursdays @ 10:30. No cover - Olivier Giraud holds every Thursday with his latest Django incarnation, Continental Graffiti. The addition of fiddler Katie Holmes has added another dimension to their already-fabulous sound. The gypsy jazz that Olivier has become known for is great for dancing and for listening. Our Gallery space is perfect for just this kind of ultra-cool evening.
*Except SXSW
Video Links:
Continental Graffiti

Fridays and Saturdays @ 10:30. $5 - The Mike Flanigin Trio features Mike on Hammond B-3 or B-6 organ amplified through a classic Leslie cabinet. His backing players vary from night to night, but you count on it being the cream of Austin's crop in jazz, blues or funk. Regular guitarists include Derek O'Brien, Jonny Moeller, Mike Keller, Dave Biller, Gary Clark Jr. and Denny Freeman, and even special guest Jimmie Vaughan on occassion. The drummer will most likely be Barry "Frosty" Smith, but George Rains, Damien Llanes, and Chris "Whipper" Layton are also on tap. Whether the show is jazz, blues, funk or some combination of them depends solely on who the guitarist is, since Flanigin does it all with finesse.
Friday 3/5 @10:30, $10 - Mike Flanigin Trio w/Denny Freeman & Frosty
Saturday 3/6 @10:30, $10 - Mike Flanigin Trio w/Denny Freeman & Frosty
Friday 3/12 @10:30, $10 - Mike Flanigin Trio w/Denny Freeman & Frosty
Saturday 3/13 @10:30, $10 - Mike Flanigin Trio w/Denny Freeman & Frosty
Denny Freeman lived and played with Jimmie Vaughan and Stevie Ray Vaughan (in The Cobras) off and on through the 70's and 80's. He has also played and recorded with Lou Ann Barton, Buddy Guy, and Angela Strehli among others After touring for a year and a half with Jimmie Vaughan in the mid nineties, he toured w/Taj Mahal and the Phantom Blues Band until late 2002, playing guitar. It was during this period that Taj's Grammy winning CD, Shoutin' in Key was released. "Playing with an American icon like Taj Mahal was a real honor for me." Freeman was also a guitarist for Bob Dylan from March 2005 until August 2009.
*Except SXSW
Video Links:
Mike Flanigin

Sundays door @ 8:00, show @ 8:30, $Variable - Jon Dee Graham & Friend is an acoustic format with Jon Dee playing guitar, lap steel and who knows what else. Each week he invites a special guest to join him for a semi-acoustic concert punctuated by stories that will bring lots of laughter and maybe even a few tears. Jon Dee has a way of getting his fellow musicians to relax & talk & share stories that you probably haven't ever heard before. It's not just music - it's also part talk show & part comedy hour, and 100% genuine.
Sunday 3/7 @8:30, $10: Jon Dee Graham & Nano Whitman. "Trained in the classics but schooled on classic rock, Nano’s songs are structured with originality and delivered with raw emotion. Nano moved to Austin in 2004, gaining attention first as a solo artist, but now happily collaborating with many of the talented musicians in that city (including former Spoon-bassist Joshua Zarbo and renowned jazz singer Kat Edmondson)....His songs are honest, heartfelt stories of family ties and tensions, of loves found and lost. Nano is a piano- playing story teller, sometimes migrating to the guitar to better serve the song. But it is his vocals – sometimes soaring, sometimes intimate, always inviting and warm – that truly drive the music he so loves to make. 'lyrically witty songs, quirky, catchy songs, with a chorus that any human with blood in their veins could identify with'." ~The Austinist.
Sunday 3/14 @8:30, $10: Jon Dee Graham & Andrew Duplantis. Okay he's blonde, but otherwise he looks nothing like Kelly Willis! I thought Jon Dee said Kelly was playing this week, but it's next week. "Working mostly in alt.country watercolor, Duplantis' subtle shifts in mood and tone accentuate his hangdog lyrics, suggest myriad influences without slipping into outright thievery, and, most importantly, provide a reliable anchor..." ~Michael Corcoran. Chris Gray wrote "Andrew Duplantis should know from intelligent roots rock; he plays bass in Son Volt. Andrew works in similar tones, somber but never dour, adding deep shades of the many other groups crowding his résumé: Jon Dee Graham, Alejandro Escovedo, Tia Carrera." Andrew is best known around here for his bass & back up bocal duties with Jon Dee Graham. This show brings the two cohorts together swapping songs & telling stories.
Sunday 3/21 @8:30, $10: Jon Dee Graham & Kelly Willis. Country singer, songwriter Kelly Willis is Jon Dee's "Friend" for a second time! Everyone really enjoyed her last appearance so much that we couldn't wait for her to come back. Kelly was named by NPR as “alternative country’s golden goddess,” long before she had released her much-anticipated seventh recording, Translated From Love in 2005. Since then she's been busy raising four children with husband, songwriter/musician, Bruce Robison. Her expressive, honeyed vocals are perfectly matched to the songs that she writes, as well as the occasional duets that she & Bruce do. Maybe Kelly will do another of her maraca solos!
Video Links:
Jon Dee Graham
Nano Whitman
Andrew Duplantis
Kelly Willis

***

Literati

**************

The Continental Club

Bringing the Continental tradition to Downtown Houston

3700 Main St, Houston TX 77002

http://www.continentalclub.com

http://www.myspace.com/continentalclubhouston

Volume XIII, Issue 10.1 * March 4, 2010

***

"A spin-off of an Austin landmark, this club located in a booming section of Midtown plays host to popular retro roots, rockabilly, country and swing acts like Big Sandy and Flaco Jimenez, who perform on a red velvet-curtained stage; vintage neon light fixtures shine from high metal ceilings in the space that was once a general store, where pool tables, a back-room bar and an outdoor patio offer a respite from the music." ~Priceline.com

***

The Space City Music Spin

When you come visit us on Main St, don't forget the good eats at Tacos A Go-Go, 3704 Main, a funky taco joint right between the Continental Club, Sigs Lagoon, and Shoeshine Charley's Big Top Lounge (The Big Top). You can place your order, return to your drink at The Big Top, and they will deliver your order to you. The Pachinko Hut is now open in The Continental Club's backyard! Come by and enjoy our brand new deck. The Pachinko Hut will be featuring free hotdogs from 4-7pm on Thursdays and Fridays, and music every Saturday.

***

Check out Chris Gray's latest photo blog in the Houston Press, Houston Music Is More Than Just Wallpaper. He writes:

The block of music-related businesses at 3700 Main known as the Island - Continental Club, Sig's Lagoon, Big Top, etc. - will soon have some new neighbors. The Island's owners are currently remodeling the building due north of the Continental, a former wallpaper store, into a coffee shop and poster gallery, clothing/jewelry boutique and maybe a wine bar. (Rocks Off forgets.) At the moment, though, the exterior is an eye-catching mural of notable names in Houston music throughout the years, as painted by some talented local youth.

Rocks Off took some shots of the mural on his way to work Thursday morning. Check it out the next time you're in the neighborhood.

Or you can view the photos online here.

***

Hey, y'all, the Continental Confidential can now be found on our MySpace Blog, as well as on the website!

***

Check out our schedules below for both The Continental Club, The Pachinko Hut and for THE BIG TOP. Tickets for select shows, which will be noted in the schedule, will be available at Sig's Lagoon, 3710 Main St., (713) 533-9525.

Email me if you need more details on the shows, or give us a call (713) 529-9899.

Keep Rockin’ Houston,
Pete

***

This week's shows at The Continental Club, Houston...

Thursday 3/4 - Quadraphonic @ 10pm, no cover!
Video Links:
N/A

Friday 3/5 - Skyrocket! @ 9:30pm! Buy Tickets!
Video Link:
Skyrocket

Saturday 3/6 - Spain Colored Orange, The Sour Notes, and Chase Hamblin! Doors open @ 8pm! Buy Tickets!
Video Links:
Spain Colored Orange
Sour Notes
Chase Hamblin

Sunday 3/7 - LITTLE JOE WASHINGTON BIRTHDAY BASH 3pm -7pm! Many many guests and appearances! Don't miss this chance to celebrate a Houston Legend.
Video Links:
Little Joe Washington

Wednesday 3/10 - Wicked Wednesdays with Whiskey Boat and Aubrey Slackey @ 9pm! Doors open @ 8pm.
Video Links
Aubrey Slackey

***

Upcoming shows at The Continental Club, Houston... 

Thursday 3/11 - Thunderado @ 10:30pm
Video Links:
Thunderado

Friday 3/12 - Umbrella Man @ 11pm, plus Mr. Lewis & The Funeral Five @ 9:30pm! Buy Tickets!
Video Link:
Umbrella Man
Mr Lewis

Saturday 3/13 - Ian Moore @ 10:30, and The Small Sounds @ 9pm. Doors open @ 8pm! Buy Tickets!
Video Links:
Ian Moore

Wednesday 3/17 - Saint Patrick's Day with The Blaggards, Allen Oldies Band and The Mighty Orq @ 9pm! Doors open @ 8pm.
Video Links
Blaggards
Allen Oldies
Mighty Orq

***

Weekly Residencies at The Continental Club, Houston...

Every Monday - The beautiful Tango music of pianist Glover Gill begins at 8pm every Monday. Then join us for Rockabilly The Octanes@ 10pm!
Video Links:
The Octanes

Every Tuesday - The Umbrella Man @ 10pm! Comedy, Music and more. Doors open at 8pm.
Video Links:
Umbrella Man

Every Wednesday - Wicked Wednesdays with Whiskey Boat, plus special guests @ 10pm, Burlesque, Fire Breathers, and a special guest musical act each week!
Video Links:
N/A

Thursday Nights 7:00 -10:00 - FREE! BEETLE is an unbelievable band; “close your eyes” and you are there. Beetle weaves their way through all the fun of The Beatles songs, playing “Hard Days Night”, “Lucy in the Sky”, “Hello Goodbye”, and “She Loves You, YEAH, YEAH,YEAH” they cover all the favorites. Paul on bass, Jim on guitar, Jamie on guitar, and BK "Ringo" Jamison on the drums, BEETLE will have you dancing the evening away week after week. TACOS A GO GO is right next door to feed you some of their fantastic food!
Video Links:
Beetle

Friday Nights 7:00-9:00. No Cover - Molly and the Ringwalds are giving you the best in 80’s Pop Rock. From “My Sharona” to “Jesse’s Girl” the '80s come screaming back to you! Songs you thought you forgot, but you seem to know every word. ’re going to party like it’s 1989. *Except 3/12: Picture Book @ 7pm-9pm
Video Links:
Molly & The Ringwalds

Sunday Evenings 7:00-?. No Cover - Houston Funk Factory!
Video Links:
N/A

Keep readin' & rockin'....
Dianne

************************

The Pachinko Hut

The Continental Club's backyard patio & ice house

3700 Main St, Houston TX 77002

Volume XIII, Issue 10.1 * March 4, 2010

***

"There's yet another place to drink at 3700 Main, the block already home to the Continental Club, Big Top and the Mink. It's the Pachinko Hut, an icehouse in the Continental's backyard catering to those who'd prefer not to stay out until the wee hours. Named after the Japanese game that's half pinball, half slot machine, the Pachinko Room opens as early as 4 p.m. weekdays, but check the website to make sure. It opens even earlier Saturday..."
~Shae Serrano, Houston Press

The Pachinko Hut is open! Free hotdogs from 4-7pm on Thursdays and Fridays!! Open at 6pm on Saturdays! Visit the Pachinko Hut in the backyard and enjoy the brand new deck.

This week at The Pachinko Hut...

Saturday 3/6 - DJ Shortee
Video Links:
N/A

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Upcoming shows at The Pachinko Hut...

Saturday 3/13 - DJ Shortee
Video Links:
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Shoeshine Charley's Big Top Lounge

No Phone - No Pool - No Pets - No Phacebook

3714 Main St, Houston TX 77002

Three doors down from The Continental Club

http://www.continentalclub.com

http://www.bigtoplounge.com

http://www.myspace.com/bigtoplounge

Volume XIII, Issue 10.1 * March 4, 2010

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"Basically the chill out room to Houston's venerable hard-partying Continental Club, Shoeshine Charley's Big Top Lounge, while not being as raucous as its adjacent bar brother, is really no slouch when it comes to the hip and boisterous drinking scene. When you step inside to this local Houston bar the decor will definitely make you do a double take, but don't worry, despite the circus atmosphere the only freaks here are the ones you came in with and the only high wire acts are downing canned PBR's while slamming shots. On some nights, Shoeshine Charley's Big Top Lounge has some local live music treat their patrons to a riff or two." ~Houston.com

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Shoeshine Charley's Big Top Lounge is named after "Shoeshine" Charley Miller (b. 1937 - d. 2001) a long time staple of The Continental Club in Austin, TX, and in the Houston Club after it opened in 2000. The room was once Playhouse Toys, which was open in the 1930s and 1940s. It still has several murals of animals on the plaster walls, one if which is believed to be the inspiration for Geoffrey Giraffe of Toys 'R Us. We've got No Phone, No Pool, No Pets, No Phacebook, BUT Shoeshine Charley's Big Top Lounge is now on MySpace! Won't you be our friend?

The Big Top opens at 8pm Wednesday—Saturday. No cover. Ever.

This week's shows at Shoeshine Charley's BIG TOP Lounge...

Thursday 3/4 - Davie Graves @ 10pm
Video Links:
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Friday 3/5 - Allison Fisher @ 10pm
Video Links:
Allison Fisher

Saturday 3/6 - Dustin Welch @ 10pm
Video Links:
Dustin Welch

Tuesday 3/9 - The Hustlers Brass Band with FREE Red Beans and Rice!
Video Links:
Hustlers Brass Band

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Upcoming shows at Shoeshine Charley's BIG TOP Lounge...

Friday 3/12 - TBA @ 10pm
Video Links:
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Saturday 3/13 - The Psychedelic Sex Panther DJ's Outlaw Country @ 10pm
Video Links:
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Tuesday 3/16 - The Hustlers Brass Band with FREE Red Beans and Rice!
Video Links:
Hustlers Brass Band

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Weekly Residencies at Shoeshine Charley's BIG TOP Lounge...

Every Wednesday @ 10pm - PETER & JAMES, no cover!
Video Links:
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Every Thursday @ 10pm - Pistoleros de Texas, no cover! *Except 3/4: Davie Graves
Video Links:
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Email me if you need more details on the shows, or give us a call. (713) 529-9899. If you are interested in holding a party at the Continental Club or The Big Top, drop us a line for details, we hold all kinds of cool events here. Keep Rockin’ Houston.

Thanks,
Pete

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Are you a customer with questions about upcoming show times, tickets, cover charge etc.? In Austin call: (512) 441-0202 or (512) 441-2444 or e-mail Dianne at info@continentalclub.com. In Houston call: (713)529-9899 or (713) 529-9666. Are you a musician inquiring about booking a gig? Booking in Austin: steve@continentalclub.com. PR in Austin: Dianne, info@continentalclub.com. Booking & PR in Houston: pete@continentalclub.com.

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There is currently no e-mail version of the newsletter for Houston, however there is a monthly pdf calendar available via e-mail. Sign up for the free subscription to the Houston calendar by sending an e-mail with "subscribe" in the subject line to calendar@continentalclub.com. If you have questions about Houston shows, contact Pete at pete@continentalclub.com. You may subscribe to a weekly e-mail of the Austin info from Dianne at info@continentalclub.com.To unsubscribe from the e-mail

version, or if you feel that you have received the e-mail in error, please respond to info@continentalclub.com with "unsubscribe" as the subject. Don't forget to get your birthday to me if you want to be on the monthly birthday list. I'd be happy to add Houston birthdays also if y'all let me know about them!

Keep readin' & rockin'....
Dianne

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