MacMASTER, Mary P. 'Petch' Age 79, April 16, of Dunstable, formerly of Tewksbury. Daughter of the late Duncan and Mary (Currie) MacMaster. Mother of Debbie. New Releases Now - Sign up to find top new songs of 2021 and videos from the best new 2021 albums! Discover and listen to new music releases and 2021's best new album releases this week and every week here.
Mary Macmaster Work
Today in Music History for March 16:
In 1918, 'K-K-K-Katy,' subtitled 'The Stammering Song,' written by Chatham, Ont., composer Geoffrey O'Hara, was published. It became one of the most popular songs of the First World War era, selling more than a million copies in sheet music. The song was also a big hit when recorded by American tenor Billy Murray. O'Hara wrote the song while on a visit to Kingston, Ont.
In 1954, guitarist Nancy Wilson of the rock group 'Heart' was born in San Francisco. 'Heart,' led by Nancy's sister, Ann, was formed in Seattle in 1972. The group's debut album, 'Dreamboat Annie,' was released first on a Canadian label, Mushroom, in 1976. The LP sold 30,000 copies in Canada, and when it was released in the U.S., it eventually sold 2.5 million. From 'Dreamboat Annie' came two hit singles, 'Crazy on You' and 'Magic Man.' 'Heart' switched to the CBS family of labels in 1977, prompting a prolonged legal fight with Mushroom Records owner Shelly Siegel. The band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2013.
In 1968, '(Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay' by Otis Redding reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. Redding had been killed in a plane crash the previous December in Wisconsin.
In 1970, Motown singing star Tammi Terrell died at the age of 24. Three years earlier, while performing with Marvin Gaye at a college concert in Virginia, she had collapsed on stage. It was discovered she had a brain tumour, and her death came after a series of operations. Terrell signed with Motown in the mid-1960s. She had some success on her own, but her real breakthrough didn't come until she was teamed with Marvin Gaye. The duo's top-10 hits in 1967 and '68 included 'Your Precious Love,' 'Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing' and 'You're All I Need to Get By.'
In 1971, 'Simon and Garfunkel' were the first winners of the so-called 'Triple Crown' of the Grammys. 'Bridge Over Troubled Water' was named Song and Record of the Year, and the album by the same name won Album of the Year. It was also the first year the Grammys were televised live.
In 1974, the Grand Ole Opry moved into its new 4,400-seat Opry House at the Opryland amusement park outside Nashville. The Opry had been housed in the Ryman Auditorium in downtown Nashville since 1943. Opening the new facility was Richard Nixon, who played three tunes on the piano. He also played with a yo-yo on stage, a gimmick often used by Opry star Roy Acuff.
In 1975, Aaron 'T-Bone' Walker, the first bluesman to exploit the electric guitar, died in Los Angeles of bronchial pneumonia. He was 64. Walker claimed he began using the electric instrument as early as 1935. From the 1940s on, he was a major influence on blues and R&B guitarists. His most famous song is 'Call It Stormy Monday,' which he first recorded in 1947. It has since been recorded by countless other artists.
In 1976, blues singer Arthur 'Big Boy' Gunter died at age 50. He is best known for the record 'Baby, Let's Play House.'
In 1979, heavy-metal act 'Twisted Sister' sold out the New York Palladium, without even having a record contract at the time.
In 1988, at a concert in Chile, Richard Page of the Los Angeles rock band 'Mr. Mister' dedicated a version of Stevie Wonder's 'Higher Ground' to Chilean artists who had been 'frightened to death' by the military regime. As the band left the stage, military censors issued a phoney retraction from Page to the audience.
Mary Frances Macmaster Leahy
In 1991, seven members of country singer Reba McEntire's band and her road manager were among 10 people who died when their private jet crashed in California just north of the Mexican border. McEntire, who had given a private concert in San Diego for IBM employees the night before, was not on the plane.
In 1993, pop singer and songwriter Johnny Cymbal died in Nashville of an apparent heart attack at age 46. His novelty song 'Mr. Bass Man' reached the top-20 in 1963. Five years later, recording under the name 'Derek,' his recording of 'Cinnamon' reached No. 11 on the Billboard pop chart. Cymbal also wrote Al Martino's 1967 hit 'Mary in the Morning.' Cymbal emigrated from Scotland with his family at age seven, settling in Goderich, Ont. He moved to Cleveland in 1960.
In 1993, more than 100 teens fought each other and terrorized patrons in two downtown Edmonton malls (Eaton Centre and Edmonton Centre) following the showing of the rap movie spoof 'CB-4.' Police used pepper spray and batons to control the mob. The same night at a mall in suburban Toronto (Scarborough Town Centre), about 50 police officers were called in after 4,000 teens turned up for a showing of the movie. Some in the crowd became unruly when told the film was sold out.
In 1993, the long-awaited collaboration between former 'Whitesnake' singer David Coverdale and guitarist Jimmy Page was released by Geffen Records.
In 1996, Mariah Carey and 'Boyz II Men' extended their Billboard Hot 100 record to a 16th consecutive and final week at No. 1 with 'One Sweet Day.' The next chart had Celine Dion's 'Because You Loved Me' in the top spot.
In 1996, Joseph Pope, lead singer for the R&B group 'The Tams,' died in Decatur, Ga. He was 63. 'The Tams' had a top-10 hit in 1964 with 'What Kind of Fool (Do You Think I Am).'
In 1999, 'Stone Temple Pilots' united on stage for the first time in more than two years for a show at the Viper Room in Los Angeles. The group's hiatus was caused in large part by lead singer Scott Weiland's heroin problems.
In 2002, singer Liza Minnelli and television producer David Gest were married in a celebrity-filled ceremony in New York. They split after 16 months of marriage in July 2003, and after years of legal disputes, their divorce was finalized in April 2007.
In 2006, Michael Jackson paid hundreds of thousands of dollars in back wages to employees at his Neverland Ranch in California, then shut down the ranch. He paid them to avoid a lawsuit threatened by California officials.
In 2008, Ola Brunkert, a former drummer for the Swedish pop group 'ABBA,' was found dead at his home on the Spanish island of Mallorca. He was 62.
In 2008, Daniel MacMaster, former lead singer of 'Bonham,' died of a Group A streptococcus infection at a hospital in Thunder Bay, Ont. He was 39. The band was named after its drummer Jason Bonham, son of late 'Led Zeppelin' drummer John Bonham.
In 2009, Canadian singer-songwriter Nelly Furtado announced the launch of her own music company, Nelstar Music.
In 2010, a judge approved a multi-million-dollar legal settlement involving the wife and young son of Chris Baker, 'Blink-182' drummer Travis Barker's assistant. He was among four people killed in a 2008 plane crash in South Carolina. Barker and celebrity disc jockey DJ AM were seriously injured in the crash.
In 2010, the estate of Michael Jackson landed the late King of Pop the biggest recording deal in history: a $200 million guaranteed contract with Sony Music Entertainment for 10 projects over seven years. The record-breaking contract could be worth up to $250 million if certain conditions are met. People familiar with the music Jackson left behind said there were about five dozen unreleased recordings.
In 2013, Bobbie Smith, a former lead singer of the R&B group 'The Spinners,' died due to complications from pneumonia and influenza. He was 76. He had been diagnosed with lung cancer in November.
In 2015, Andy Fraser, who co-wrote the rousing rock anthem 'All Right Now' when he was the teenage bassist for the British rock band Free, died in the California desert community of Temecula at age 62.
In 2016, Frank Sinatra Jr., who carried on his famous father's legacy with his own music career and whose kidnapping as a young man added a bizarre chapter to his father's legendary life, died unexpectedly of cardiac arrest while on tour in Daytona Beach, Fla. He was 72.
In 2017, blues singer and harmonica player James Cotton died of pneumonia at age 81. He played blues harp with Howlin' Wolf in the 1950s, then moved on to play in Muddy Waters' band. His harmonica is heard on the Muddy Waters 'At Newport' and 'Hard Again' albums. He released nearly 30 albums on his own and toured with Janis Joplin. He also worked with B.B. King, Todd Rundgren, Keith Richards, Taj Mahal and Johnny Winter.
In 2018, veteran rockers Stone Temple Pilots released a self-titled album, the first with new lead singer Jeff Gutt. Former frontman Scott Weiland was fired in 2013 and died in 2015. His replacement, Linkin Park singer Chester Bennington, left in 2015 to focus solely on Linkin Park and died in 2017.
----
(The Canadian Press)
The Canadian Press