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July 2009, This Day In Rock

This Land was Made for You and Me.

Tue, Jul 14, 2009

This Land was Made for You and Me.

Good morning! And welcome to Tuesday, July 14, 2009!

 

Woody Guthrie was born on this day in 1912. The folk singer penned ‘This Land is Your Land’ in 1940. The song now traditionally sung in patriotic celebration was originally written as a parody of Irving Berlin’s ‘God Bless America’ to convey the sentiment that working class should have the same rights as the rich. He became a major influence of American Folk Music and Bob Dylan. Woody Guthrie died in October 1967 at the age of 55.

 

In 1961 reports by Billboard Magazine state that the adult crowd in Philadelphia had picked up on the “teen dance craze” known as the Twist. This provocative dance would inspire dances such as the Funky Chicken and the Monkey to the disdain of many objecting parents.

 

1973 The Everly Brothers Break Up! It was during a concert at Knott’s Berry Farm that Phil smashed his guitar and walked off stage, leaving Don to finish the show. The duo would not play together again until September of 1983.

 

1988 marked the launch of Michael Jackson’s British tour with a two-hour concert at Wimbley Stadium in London. Jackson played seven sold out shows and broke the Guinness World Record for attendance, previously held by Genesis.

 

In 1992 Olivia Newton-John announces that she is battling Breast Cancer. She has since fully recovered and become a tireless crusader for Cancer awareness and research.

 

July 14th appears to have a been a day off for music history in recent years. We'll have to see what tomorrow offers. Until then, have a wonderful Tuesday!

 

 

 

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