This Week in Music History

March 19th, 1974 – Jefferson Airplane re-named the group and became Jefferson Starship. The new line-up included Paul Kantner, Grace Slick, drummer Johnny Barbata, David Freiberg, Peter Kaukonen, Cragi Chaquico and Papa John Creach.

March 20th, 1980 – A 28-year-old by the name of Joseph Riviera held up the office at Asylum Records in New York and demanded to see either Jackson Browne or The Eagles. Riviera demanded to talk to them to see if they would finance his trucking operation, but quickly gave him-self up when it became apparent that neither act was in the office at the time.

March 21st, 1981 – REO Speedwagon went to No.1 on the US singles chart with ‘Keep On Loving You’, the group’s first top 40 hit and first No.1. It was also a No.7 hit in the UK.

March 22nd,1984 – Queen films their video for ‘I Want To Break Free’ at a studio in London. It was directed by David Mallet and was a parody of a British soap opera, featuring the band members dressing in drag. Guitarist Brian May later said the video ruined the band’s image in America, and was initially banned by MTV.

March 23rd,1960 – Elvis Presley takes the train from Nashville to Miami to record a TV show with Frank Sinatra. The special is to welcome him home from the Army.

March 24th, 1966 – Simon and Garfunkel made their UK singles chart debut with ‘Homeward Bound.’ Simon is said to have written the song at Farnworth railway station, Widnes, England, while stranded overnight waiting for a train. A plaque is displayed in the station to commemorate this, although memorabilia hunters have stolen it many times. The song describes his longing to return home, both to his then girlfriend, Kathy Chitty in Brentwood, Essex, England, and to return to the United States.

March 25th, 1985 – Prince takes home the Best Original Score prize for the film Purple Rain at this year’s Oscars ceremony. Best Original Song goes to Stevie Wonder’s “I Just Called to Say I Love You” from the film The Woman in Red.