This Week In Music History

What’s interesting about a Friday morning in early September? Your weekly fix of music history, that’s what. Twenty-eight years ago in 1984, MTV introduced their now annual award show, the MTV Video Music Awards. Bette Midler and Dan Aykroyd, one of the original cast members of SNL, co-hosted the show. This original broadcast of the VMAs included Madonna’s performance of “Like A Virgin” and the iconic statuette awards were introduced for the first time. The awards were in the shape of the MTV moonman, MTV’s original logo launched in 1981. Currently, the awards show remains the channel’s most watched annual event.

In 1995, the Beatles continued to make a mark by managing to sell one of music’s most expensive pieces of memorabilia. Paul McCartney’s handwritten lyrics for the 1967 track “Getting Better” sold for $249,000. The song composed by Lennon and McCartney for Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band sold at the Sotheby’s auction, one of the world’s largest auctioneers of fine art, collectibles and jewelry.

Today also celebrates the birthday of Steve Berlin, keyboard, saxophone, flute player and melodica for the group Los Lobos, known for their distinctive heritage Mexican/American rock sound. Berlin also does work as a session musician as well as producing records working bands such as R.E.M., The Replacements, The Smithereens and Sheryl Crow. Berlin is married and currently lives in Portland with his wife and children. Berlin turns 57 years old today.

By Alexandra Parker

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