Perhaps you've heard the lyrics from Don McLean's "American Pie" once or twice:

"But February made me shiver
With every paper I'd deliver
Bad news on the doorstep
I couldn't take one more step."

Hey, no doubt that the deaths of Buddy Holly and Richie Valens were a drag, but due to that event and in particular because of that song, February has a bad rap. The fact is, a lot of pretty cool things happened in February's throughout the years.

First off, Dion and Waylon Jennings (who was playing in Holly's band at the time) didn't get on the plane with the Big Bopper and the others. They lived on way past the day the music died and gave us sensational tunes and concerts.

It was also in February that&


The Beatles debuted in America, making their first appearance
on The Ed Sullivan Show, February 9, 1964.

Frank Sinatra started Reprise Records in 1961 home of
Jimi Hendrix, Neil Young, The Kinks and many others.

The B52's performed live for the first time on Valentine's Day in 1977.

Gibson's Flying V guitar debuted in 1958.

Fleetwood Mac's "Rumours" was released in 1977 and spent
31 weeks at the top of the U.S. albums chart.

Pink Floyd began the U.S. portion of "The Wall" tour in 1980.

Blind Faith featuring Eric Clapton, Steve Winwood and Ginger Baker was formed in 1969 after the breakup of Cream and Traffic.

"Heartbreak Hotel" was performed by Elvis Presley on
U.S. television for the first time in 1956.

The Who recorded their classic "Live at Leeds" album in 1970.

John Lennon and Yoko Ono hosted The Mike Douglas Show
for a week in 1972.

Buddy Holly recorded "That'll Be the Day" at a New Mexico
studio in 1957.

and in 1949, the very first 45 was released.


Follow my thinking here&no February&no 45's&. no "House Of The Rising Sun"&no Animals&no "I Wonder Why" by Dion and The Belmonts&no "I Can't Help Myself" by the Four Tops and on and on and on.

Hey, like the old song goes, it's time to "accentuate the positive, eliminate the negative." I have had my fill of
American Pie.

Ray D'Ariano



1964 - I Want to Hold Your Hand by The Beatles reached number 1 in the U.S. It was their first chart-topping hit.

1968 - The Doors were offered a lucrative movie deal. Universal Pictures were willing to give the band $500,000 for appearing in a feature film, but unfortunately, the movie was never made.

1985 - In between album releases, Glenn Frey appeared on an episode of Miami Vice and also contributed several songs to the series.

 
New this month . . .

CD Reviews:
" Yusuf An Other Cup
" JJ Cale & Eric Clapton The Road to Escondido

Feature articles:
" Phil Lynott & Thin Lizzy
" MySpace Discovery Zone featuring Stoned
Grace. Mike Martin, and Lynn Carey Saylor

Best of the Best:
" America
" The Band
" Tim Hardin
" Heart
" Tommy James & the Shondells



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