Music History on February 8

  • 1735 First opera performance in North American colonies "Flora" opens in Charleston, South Carolina
  • 1926 Sean O'Casey's "Plough & Stars" opens at Abbey Theater Dublin
  • 1930 "Happy Days Are Here Again" by Benny Mereoff hits #1
  • 1940 Lewis & Hamilton's musical "Two for the Show" premieres in NYC

Danses Concertantes

1942 Igor Stravinsky's orchestral piece "Danses Concertantes" premieres in Los Angeles, California

Bartók's 3rd Piano Concerto

1946 Béla Bartók's 3rd Piano Concerto premieres in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, by the Philadelphia Orchestra conducted by Eugene Ormandy with György Sándor as piano soloist

Hoagy Carmichael Hollywood Star

1960 American "Stardust" composer and character actor Hoagy Carmichael receives a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame

Royal Hunt of the Sun

1964 Peter Shaffer's musical "Royal Hunt of the Sun" premieres in London

Stop In the Name of Love

1965 Motown Records release The Supremes' single "Stop In the Name of Love"

Zappa Concert Cancelled

1971 Royal Albert Hall cancels scheduled concert featuring Frank Zappa, due to concerns about indecent lyrics

You're Sixteen

1974 Ringo Starr releases a cover of "You're Sixteen" as a single in UK; originally released by Johnny Burnette in 1960

  • 1981 "5 O'Clock Girl" closes at Helen Hayes Theater NYC after 12 performances

Brigadoon Revived

1981 Revival of Alan Jay Lerner and Frederick Loewe's musical "Brigadoon" closes at Majestic Theater, NYC, after 133 performances

  • 1992 "I'm Too Sexy" by Right Said Fred peaks at #1

Tommy Lee Charged

1994 Motley Crue drummer Tommy Lee is charged with possession of a loaded firearm

Both Sides Now

2000 Reprise Records releases "Both Sides Now", Canadian singer-songwriter Joni Mitchell's 17th studio album, a collection of torch songs, including re-worked versions of two of her own, backed by an orchestra

46th Grammy Awards

2004 46th Grammy Awards: Coldplay's "Clocks", and Evanescence win

48th Grammy Awards

2006 48th Grammy Awards: Boulevard Of Broken Dreams, John Legend win

51st Grammy Awards

2009 51st Grammy Awards: Best Album "Raising Sand" and Record of the Year "Please Read The Letter", both by Robert Plant & Alison Krauss win

Rihanna Cancels

2009 Singer Rihanna cancels performance at the Grammys after being assaulted by boyfriend Chris Brown

  • 2015 57th Grammy Awards: Best Song "Stay With Me" by Sam Smith; Best Album "Morning Phase" by Beck

Adele's BRIT Wins

2022 BRIT Awards: Adele wins best artist, song and album of the year