Archive for December 24, 2008

1719 – Composer Johann Christoph Altnikol was born.

1818 – Franz Gruber of Oberndorf, Germany composed the music for “Silent Night” to words written by Josef Mohr.

1871 – In Cairo, Egypt, Verdi’s opera “Aida” had its world premiere.

1906 – Reginald A. Fessenden became the first person to broadcast a music program over radio, from Brant Rock, MA.

1920 – Enrico Caruso gave his last public performance, when he sang in Jacques Halevy’s “La Juive” at the Metropolitan Opera in New York.

1951 – Gian Carlo Menotti’s “Amahl and the Night Visitors,” was first broadcast by NBC. It was the first opera written specifically for television.

1954 – Johnny Ace shot himself and died while playing Russian roulette backstage at a concert in Houston, TX.

1955 – The Lennon Sisters debuted as featured vocalists on “The Lawrence Welk Show” on ABC-TV.

1966 – Tommy James recorded “I Think We’re Alone Now”.

1973 – Tom Johnson of the Doobie Brothers was arrested in Visalia, CA, on charges of marijuana possession.

1978 – Bjorn Ulvaeus & Agnetha Falkstad (both of ABBA) announced their seperation and that they were filing for divorce.

http://www.on-this-day.com/onthisday/thedays/music/dec24.htm