January 3rd, 1989, FOX TV aired the first episode of their new late-night talk show: The Arsenio Hall Show starring host comedian Arsenio Hall. Arsenio created and produced the show with Maria Brown-becoming one of the first Blacks to have a self-produced late night talk show on a major cable network. Backdrop:
Hall had been the host of Paramount’s Solid Gold music show for the last two years of its existence (1986-1988). He also co-hosted prior to his promotion as sole host. When Joan Rivers left Fox’s Late Show in 1988, Hall picked up the job of host and stayed on the program for 13 weeks. Fox called him back after he did Coming To America with Eddie Murphy, and gave him an opportunity to have his own show. He had a distinct target audience of young and urban viewers; which up to that point didn’t have a late-night show geared specifically towards entertaining them.
Hall had been the host of Paramount’s Solid Gold music show for the last two years of its existence (1986-1988). He also co-hosted prior to his promotion as sole host. When Joan Rivers left Fox’s Late Show in 1988, Hall picked up the job of host and stayed on the program for 13 weeks. Fox called him back after he did Coming To America with Eddie Murphy, and gave him an opportunity to have his own show. He had a distinct target audience of young and urban viewers; which up to that point didn’t have a late-night show geared specifically towards entertaining them.
Hall oversaw most of the guests, comedic bits, and writing duties. He hired Burton Richardson to do the narration & infamous intro:
The Arseniooooooooooooooooooooooooo Hall Show!
Ricahrdson would hold the ‘O’ in Arsenio for a long time. He invented The Dog Pound, a V.I.P. audience section used for the butt of his jokes during the opening monologue. He also composed the theme music-which was played by Michael Wolff, his house bandleader. Speaking of music, the acts that Arsenio ‘broke’ on his program helped them touch a larger, and potentially more difficult to reach, prior to performing on the show. Lastly, Hall was very instrumental in having 1992 Presidential Candidate Bill Clinton elected into office. Without his Sax solo on the show, he may have never won. The show stayed on for six seasons (1,403 episodes) and went off the air May 27th, 1994.
The Arseniooooooooooooooooooooooooo Hall Show!
Ricahrdson would hold the ‘O’ in Arsenio for a long time. He invented The Dog Pound, a V.I.P. audience section used for the butt of his jokes during the opening monologue. He also composed the theme music-which was played by Michael Wolff, his house bandleader. Speaking of music, the acts that Arsenio ‘broke’ on his program helped them touch a larger, and potentially more difficult to reach, prior to performing on the show. Lastly, Hall was very instrumental in having 1992 Presidential Candidate Bill Clinton elected into office. Without his Sax solo on the show, he may have never won. The show stayed on for six seasons (1,403 episodes) and went off the air May 27th, 1994.
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On January 3rd, 1987, The Rock ‘N’ Roll Hall Of Fame was having it’s 2nd Annual Induction Ceremony. It opened on April 20th, 1983; and was set up to commemorate, archive, and recognize notable, well-known and influential musicians, producers, artists, engineers, composers, and others that have made a profound effect on the development of Rock ‘N’ Roll. Historically musicians tend to be males; so it’s no wonder that it took over for years for The Hall Of Fame to induct its first female musician-Aretha Franklin. She’s one of the most innovative and original singers to ever do it. She has her own style, and the ability to make any song her own.
Aretha recorded Gospel, Soul, Blues, Funk, Pop, and R&B. She’s known as The Queen of Soul, has been featured on numerous soundtracks, and made several cameo appearances in films. Her Gospel roots brought a new sound to music that was fresh and heartfelt. She belonged to a strong class of inductees as well: Bo Diddley, Jackie Wilson, Marvin Gaye, Smokey Robinson, The Coasters, Clyde McPhatter, Eddie Cochran, Carl Perkins, Roy Orbison, and Bill Haley. All of the artists from The Class Of ’87 were worthy of induction, and contributed to several genres of music. The Rock ‘N’ Roll Hall Of Fame continues to stand as one of the pillars that uphold the historical preservation of good music.
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On January 3rd, 1980, one of the lesser-known true pioneers of Rock ‘N’ Roll, innovator of Texas Boogie, singer, and proficient pianist (Joseph) Amos Milburn passed away in Houston, Texas. Born and raised in Houston, Milburn came from a huge family, he had 12 siblings. By the time he was five, he was playing songs on piano. He continued to play in speakeasies and juke joints until he was 15; at which point he entered The US Navy, and fought in the Philippines. He earned over a dozen battle stars, and returned to Houston a decorated veteran. He assembled a 16 piece band, and started playing around the local nightclubs in the Houston area.
In 1946, he moved to Los Angeles and got his first recording opportunity by signing to Aladdin Records. He recorded over 70 songs for the label during an eight year period from 1946-1954. He had a hit in 1946 with Down The Road A Piece, which is considered a Texas Boogie song that most musical historians view as a pre-cursor to Rock ‘n’ Roll. It was similar to Jump Blues and faster than the average Blues cut. In 1949, he released a couple charting hits with Chicken Shack Boogie and Hold Me Baby. He was the primary performer, and a staple in LA’s Central Ave Music Scene. In the early 1950s, he was recognized by DownBeat Magazine as one of the Top Blues Artists in the country. He’s most noted for making drinking songs, although he didn’t drink much. In 1972, he made his last recording with Johnny Otis. He was 52 when he passed away.
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On January 3rd, 1975, guitarist, DJ, composer, pianist, bassist, songwriter, singer, vocoder user, keyboardist, film director, record producer, and member of the UK House outfit Daft Punk, Thomas Bangalter was born in Paris, France. He started playing piano when he was six years old (1981). In 1987, he met Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo at Lycee Carnot School. They shared a love for retro music, and films, from the 60s and 70s. The duo hooked up with Laurent Brancowitz, and formed the indie Rock trio Darlin’. When Melody Maker reviewed their music as Daft Punky Trash, the group changed their name to Daft Punk and started getting into the budding EDM and House Music Scene of the late 1980s.
By 1993, they had their first demo recorded with the single The New Wave (released in 1994). In 1996, he joined The Mongoloids with Armand Van Helden and Junior Sanchez. They released one single-Spark da Meth. Bangalter then recorded Homework with Daft Punk in 1997 on Virgin Records. He called it Homework because most of the LP had been recorded in his bedroom. At this point his career really began to take off; and by the 2000s, he was producing for others-and composed the score for the film Irreversible (2002). He continued to record music, perform and work on movies. Daft Punk has released four LPs since 1997’s Homework. All were received well by the public. He's 43 today.
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On January 3rd, in 1946, keyboardist, songwriter, producer, composer, pianist, arranger, bassist, actor, and film composer, John Paul Jones was born in Sidcup, Kent, England. He’s most known for his work with Led Zeppelin as their bassist, keyboardist, and producer. However, he’d been putting in work long before he linked up with the band. He had been playing piano since he was six. His father was a pianist and arranger for big bands in the 1940s and 1950s; and taught him how to play. He studied music at Christ’s College, in Blackheath, London; and by age 14, he had become the organist and choir director at the local church. His early musical influences were Charles Mingus (Jazz), Big Bill Broonzy (Blues), and Sergei Rachmaninoff (Classical). You can hear these musical genres and influences in the body of work he did with Led Zeppelin in the late 1960s and early 1970s.
He was inspired to take up bass in the early 60s, when he heard Phil Upchurch’s You Can’t Sit Down LP. By 1962 he was proficient with the instrument, and was playing with Jett Black (Prog-Rock featuring John McLaughlin). He also did session work for several bands and artists signed to Decca Records during the early to late 60s. This is where he learned his way around the studio, and overall recording process. In the late 60s, the original Yardbirds were splitting up and Jones was added to the lineup of The New Yardbirds, which eventually became Led Zeppelin. The quartet released their self-titled debut LP in 1969. Jones went on to produce for other artists, score soundtracks for film & television, and record with other bands. He’s 72 today.
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HONORABLE MENTION: On January 3, 1962 one of the Best Basketball Players (Male or Female) Of All-Time, Hall Of Fame athlete, former college & professional basketball coach, Women's College Player Of The Year and NBA broadcaster, Cheryl D. Miller was born in Riverside, California. Cheryl is the older sister of Indiana Pacers three-point assassin Reggie Miller. She beat him often in their one-on-one playground battles, as well as in statistics during their basketball careers. She’s the first person, regardless of gender, to become a Four-Time Parade Magazine All-American. She turns 56 today.
On January 3rd, 1969, The Jimi Hendrix Experience made a live TV Show appearance in the UK (The Lulu Show). They were scheduled to perform two songs, Voodoo Child and Hey Joe, with time constraints set on them as well. However, in true creative rebellion fashion, Jimi played Voodoo Child-and then started on Hey Joe, but went into Cream’s Sunshine Of Your Love (they split a few days before that; so it was a tribute to them of sorts), before going back to playing Hey Joe. They went over their allotted time which kept the host Lulu from closing the show. Credits rolled as they played.
On January 3rd, in 1970, The Beatles found out that their movie Let It Be would be shown in theaters in the UK. They had dabbled in film, television, and soundtrack scoring as solo artists and a group previously with Yellow Submarine. Once Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, and George Harrison got confirmation of the film being aired, they all headed to Abbey Road Studios to cut a song for it which would be featured on the soundtrack: I Me Mine. The Beatles were still at the height of their game during this time.
On January 3rd, in 2017, seminal singer, actress, producer, dancer, choreographer, and little sister of the King of Pop, Janet Jackson gave birth to her first child at the age of 50. She had a son, and named him Eissa Al Mana. The father was her then-husband Wissam Al Mana. He’s an infamous Qatari billionaire. Janet stayed clear of the public eye for the most part during her pregnancy. She didn’t want or need the drama that would’ve surrounded it as the world still wasn’t fully over the ‘wardrobe malfunction’.
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