This Day in Music
December 18th
One legend releases an album, another slows down, and yet another legend performs at a prestigious event, all on this day in music.
Releases
2020: “McCartney III,” the 18th studio album from legendary ex-Beatle Paul McCartney, is released. Similar to “McCartney” (1970) and “McCartney II,” (1980), Paul plays all the instruments on the album, except guitar and drums on “Slidin’.”
Embraced by fans and highly-rated by critics, totalling 81/100 on Metacritic, the album peaked at No. 1 on the UK Albums list and No. 2 on the Billboard 200. It was nominated for Best Rock Album at the 64th Grammy Awards.
People
1943: Keith Richard (no ‘s’ on the last name) is born in Dartford, in the county of Kent, United Kingdom. Known by his stage name, Keith Richards (now with an ‘s’ on his last name), for an incredible 63 years he has been the rhythm, riff, sometimes lead guitarist, and co-principal songwriter for that little-known act from London, The Rolling Stones.
Though The Rolling Stones have nearly completed an album for 2026 release, Richards has indicated that he cannot commit to a tour due to his arthritis.
There’s too much to write about Richards in a short blog, so his full biography will be left to Wikipedia, and his autobiography, Life. One critical event to note was when Canadian judge Lloyd Graham spared Kieth from a prison sentence following his conviction for heroin and cocaine trafficking in Toronto. A stint in prison would have derailed the Stones and Richards’ career. Instead, the judge ordered Richards to perform a charity concert for The Canadian National Institute for the Blind in Oshawa, Ontario.
Happy 82nd Birthday, Keef!
1943: Robert Henry Keys, or just Bobby Keys, is born in Slaton, Texas. With the same birthday as Keith Richards, the American saxophonist has coincidentally appeared on several Rolling Stones albums and Keith Richards solo albums. He has played with dozens of famous recording artists throughout his seven-decade career. Happy 82nd Birthday, Bobby!
2015: Bickering brothers Ray and Dave Davies of The Kinks perform together for the first time in 20 years, when Ray joined his brother on stage at Islington Assembly Hall in London. Though the brothers seem to have settled their long-running feud, the band is still retired.
The Daily Elvis
1954: Elvis performed at the Louisiana Hayride in Shreveport and added “Hearts of Stone” and “Shake, Rattle and Roll” to his set.
Pictured: The immortal Keef!
