Music History Diary

Dear Diary:Today is Thursday, April 25, 2002. Today we’ll be talking about Lisa Lopes and TLC, and you can’t help but wonder if her death was truly an accident or was a spirit following her, like she thought.Either way, the music world lost a true artist and performer way too soon.

Dear Diary:Today is Thursday, March 13th, and Gavin Newsom just announced that everyone in California needs to stay at home in order to curb the spread of the coronavirus.I’m not going to lie. This is scary stuff, and I can only pray that things get better. My heart goes out to everyone who has been affected. But, don’t worry, this diary entry isn’t going to be about things like only being able to talk and see my friends through Facetime, probably not being able to go back to school for the rest of the year, the tv playing CNN nonstop, and watching my mom constantly disinfect everything in the house over and over. No, this diary entry is going to be about something that seems trivial with everything going on right now. But, for me, right now, being trivial is good. I need something light, something fun. So, today is going to center around my favorites, related to music of course. This is about my favorite song from movies, my favorite one hit wonder, and my favorite cover song that makes me want to jump up, start dancing, and forget for three minutes that life right now hasn’t been turned upside down. So diary, I’m going to stop writing now, and instead I’m going to press play to listen to some of my favorites.Cue the music.

Today Music History Diary is covering Part 2 of our two part episode on Elliott Smith. Now, if you haven’t listened to Part 1, make sure to go back and listen to that episode since it focuses on the life of the talented singer/songwriter Elliott Smith, and it helps to put this episode in perspective. In contrast, this episode is going to focus on the controversy that surrounded the circumstances of Elliott’s tragic death. Now, the views on Elliott’s death fall into two camps, bizarre suicide or the reprehensible murder by a loved one. However one thing that both sides can agree upon is that only one person actually knows what happened, and that one person is Jennifer Chiba, Elliott’s girlfriend.* Thank you to Alyson Camus for her permission to use information on her site Justice for Elliott Smith. Check it out: https://justiceforelliottsmithcom.wordpress.com/

Dear Diary:It was 12:18 pm when the 911 call was made by Jennifer Chiba. She explained to the operator that she had found her boyfriend Elliott Smith with a knife in his chest. Trying to help him, she had pulled the knife out, but that only made things worse because he started losing a lot of blood really quickly,and eventually collapsed. When the paramedics arrived, Elliott Smith was still alive, barely. They rushed him to County USC Medical Center where they repaired two heart lacerations. And then there was hope. Elliott’s heartbeat now had a regular rhythm. But this hope would quickly dissipate after noticing a third laceration. They worked quickly to repair this newly discovered injury, but Smith whose body was worn out, and whose spirit was perhaps waiting to go, was unable to pull through as his regular heartbeat slowed, and then stopped, never to beat again. So, at 1:36 pm on October 21, 2003 singer/songwriter Elliott Smith passed away.

Dear Diary, Today is October 2nd and something happened on this day that will forever change the course of music history.Today we lost an artist whose music helped create the soundtrack of our country.This artist and his band were as all American as apple pie. They were rebels, learned to fly the highs of success, and didn’t back down when they saw injustice. So how did this day change music history?Well, sadly on Wednesday, October 2, 2017 one of music’s heroes, Tom Petty from Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers passed away from an accidental overdose.

Hi Everyone. I’m Miko and I’m Fifi and welcome to Music History Diary. Today’s episode is a Listener Spotlight dedicated to Bill from Los Angeles. We are so thankful since he is the one who turned us on to the New Zealand band called The Beths. So Bill, this one’s for you. If you would like us to do an episode on your favorite song or artist, contact us through musichistorydiary.com.

Dear Diary, Today is February 1st and something happened on this day in music history that’s a real mystery. On January 31st, Richie Edwards of the Manic Street Preachers checked into the Embassy Hotel with bandmate James Dean Bradfield for their upcoming trip to the United States. This trip was big. The band was already popular in Britain, so touring the United States would definitely bump up their visibility to the next level. Although the tour dates were scheduled later in February, Richie and Bradfield were going to head out early to promote their latest album and the upcoming tour.But the flight and tour would never happen.Because on Wednesday, February 1st, 1995, Richie Edwards checked out of Room 561 and was never seen again.

Check out the Remembering Selena Facebook group:https://www.facebook.com/groups/144045876276140/ Dear Diary, Today is March 31st and a lot happened on this day in music history. On Saturday, March 31, 2007, a dispute occurred at Papa Joe’s Texas Saloon. And just like those wild west stories that you probably read growing up, a showdown occurred to settle the dispute. However, on this day, what happened wasn’t an old west tale. It was real life. Because, when outlaw country singer Billy Joe Shaver got into a brawl at Papa Joe’s, it ended with gunfire. There’s also another event that happened on this day that I need to tell you about. It happened on Friday, March 31, 1995. You see, there was an argument at the Days Inn Motel in Corpus Christi, Texas, that was getting heated. Singer Selena Quintanilla-Perez was having an argument with Yolanda Saldivar. Yolanda, the very person, who, up until recently, was Selena’s fan club president, boutique manager, and most importantly, friend. Now, the details surrounding those final moments in the motel room are unclear. However, what we do know, is that Yolanda shot Selena in the back while Selena was trying to leave the motel room. And by 1:05 pm on March 31st, 1995, the world would officially lose Selena, the queen of Tejano music.

Welcome back to the MHD Minute that we do on our off weeks.This week we have a little survey question for you.If you use a song as your phone ringtone, what song is it?Submit your answers on our website musichistorydiary.com.So good luck, and keep playing that music loud!

Dear Diary:Today is July 23rd and a lot happened on this day in music history. However, there’s one particular event that really makes this day a sad one. You see, every so often, the world gets to experience the work of a true artist. Someone who’s talent has the ability to bring out many different emotions in people. Hope. Happiness. Nostalgia. Sadness. Encouragement. The list goes on. So when the world loses this artist, it makes that fleeting time that we were graced by their genius, just a little more precious.We treasure what we got, but can only imagine what the future could have held.So sadly, I’m going to remember this day, Saturday, July 23, 2011, as the day that Amy Winehouse died.

Welcome to Music History Diary. As you know, we do our normal episodes biweekly. However, we received a few requests asking us to go to a weekly format. Well, once we get enough listeners we’ll definitely consider that option, but until then we decided to give you just a little something on the off weeks.We’re calling these mini-episodes The MHD Minute. We’ll change it up, but this week we have a trivia question for you.The first person with the correct answer will get a shoutout.So good luck, and keep playing that music loud! musichistorydiary.com

Dear Diary:Today is December 11th and a lot happened on this day in music history. On Friday, December 11, 1964, The King of Soul, Sam Cooke was killed. There’s a lot of controversy regarding how he died, and although we may never really know what happened that night, one thing is for sure, Sam Cooke’s music will continue to live on.Also, on Saturday, December 11, 1982, much to the sadness of fans everywhere, The Jam performed their final gig at the Brighton Conference Centre. Later, Paul Weller, the frontman of The Jam went on to form The Style Council.But today is important for one more reason. Because today is the day that Music History Diary featured “Don’t Speak” by No Doubt as it’s MHD Listener Spotlight.

Dear Diary, Today is October 23rd and a lot happened on this day in music history. On Wednesday, October 23, 2002, Producer Kanye West fractured his jaw when he got into a car accident while driving home from a recording session. This event would be the catalyst for Kanye’s transition from producer to artist.Also, on Sunday, October 23, 2016, there was some sad news. Pete Burns from the band Dead or Alive passed away from sudden cardiac arrest.But today is important for one more reason. Because today is the day that Music History Diary featured “Break My Heart Sweetly” by John Moreland as it’s MHD Listener Spotlight.

Do you love music? If so, take a peek into our Music History Diary.Join Miko and Fifi as they explore bands that you love, artists who left us way too soon, scandals that rocked the music industry, and songs that you just can’t get out of your head.Bottom line, Music History Diary is all about music. Come join us.