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Today in Music

June, 17

  • 2000 The Grand Ole Opry, carried since 1925 on WSM radio in Nashville, begins webcasting at www.opry.com or www.wsmonline.com.
  • 1999 Geri Halliwell’s first official trip in her capacity as a United Nations Population Fund (UNPF) goodwill ambassador wraps up. Controversy trails Halliwell constantly during the three-day trip to the very Catholic Philippines where she puts the spotlight on the issue of contraception. Monsignor Pedro Quitorio, spokesman for the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines, likens the UN’s sending of Halliwell to a Catholic country to “sending Salman Rushdie to a Muslim country as a goodwill ambassador.”
  • 1998 R&B vocalist Jody Watley says she was told “by the powers that be” at Atlantic Records that although they intend to release her album “Flowers” outside of the U.S., the label will not release the project in the U.S. Watley also says she receives no explanation when she is informed of the decision.
  • 1995 Rod Stewart sets an attendance record for Wembley Stadium with a concert crowd of 90,000. The 1985 Live Aid concert drew 72,000.
  • 1984 No. 1 Billboard Pop Hit: “The Reflex,” Duran Duran. It is the group’s first No. 1 hit in the United States.
  • 1972 Paul McCartney releases “Mary Had a Little Lamb.” The musical version of the nursery rhyme reaches No. 28 on Billboard’s Hot 100 and No. 9 in Great Britain.
  • 1972 No. 1 Billboard Pop Hit: “The Candy Man,” Sammy Davis Jr. The biggest pop hit of Davis’ career, the song is featured in the film “Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.”
  • 1963 No. 1 Billboard Pop Hit: “Sukiyaki,” Kyu Sakamoto. This is the only Japanese-language tune to top Billboard’s pop chart.
  • 1946 Barry Manilow (Barry Alan Pinkus) is born in Brooklyn, N.Y. He studies at Juliard. Manilow becomes Bette Midler’s accompanist in 1972, later producing her first two albums. He writes and sings jingles for Dr Pepper, Pepsi and McDonalds before releasing his first single in 1974, “Mandy,” a million-selling No. 1 song.