By Eunice Charles
FROM WIKIPEDIA COMMONS
Randolph Charles Bachman OC OM FRCMT(hon) (/ˈbækmən/ BAK-mən; born September 27, 1943) is a Canadian guitarist, singer, and songwriter. He was a founding member of the bands The Guess Who and Bachman–Turner Overdrive. He was the writer and singer of several hit rock songs, including, “Takin’ Care of Business“, and “You Ain’t Seen Nothing Yet“. Bachman also recorded as a solo artist and was part of a number of short-lived bands such as Brave Belt, Union and Ironhorse. He was a national radio personality on CBC Radio, hosting the weekly music show, Vinyl Tap. Bachman was inducted into the Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum in 2016.
Born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, to Karl (Charlie) Bachman and Anne (Nancy) Dobrinsky, Bachman is of half-German and half-Ukrainian descent. At age three, he won a singing contest on CKY‘s King of the Saddle program and age five he had started studying the violin in the Royal Toronto Conservatory system. He studied violin until the age of 12 when he grew dissatisfied with the structured lessons. While he could not read music, he found that could play anything if he heard it once; he referred to this skill as phonographic memory.
At age 15, Bachman saw Elvis Presley play on Tommy Dorsey‘s television show and the sight of the guitar around Presley’s neck inspired him. He learned three chords from his cousin, then started practising on a modified Hawaiian Dobro. At age 16, Bachman met Lenny Breau and during the next two years Breau taught Bachman finger picking. Breau also introduced him to Chet Atkins‘ music.
In 1959, Bachman bought a ticket to see Les Paul in concert at a Winnipeg supper club but could not get in as he was too young. He instead helped Paul set up before the show and also helped him reload everything into the car after the show. Still a budding guitarist at this point, Bachman asked Paul if he could teach him a guitar lick; Paul ended up teaching his version of “How High the Moon“.
Randy is the only living member among the four Bachman brothers.
TODAY’S ALMANAC
Question of the Day
Advice of the Day
Home Hint of the Day
Word of the Day
Puzzle of the Day
Formed long ago, yet made today; And most employed when others sleep; What few would like to give away; And fewer still to keep. (What is being described?)
Bed
Born
- Samuel Adams (patriot) –
- Peter Joseph von Cornelius (painter) –
- Thomas Nast (cartoonist) –
- Catherine Marshall (writer) –
- William Conrad (actor) –
- Arthur Penn (director) –
- Wilford Brimley (actor) –
- Shaun Cassidy (singer) –
- Clara Hughes (cyclist) –
- Gwyneth Paltrow (actress) –
- Avril Lavigne (singer) –
Died
- Adelina Patti (opera singer; namesake of the song You’re the Flower of My Heart Sweet Adeline) –
- Engelbert Humperdinck (German composer) –
- Donald O’Connor (song and dance man) –
- William Safire (political columnist, language maven) –
- Maggie Smith (actress) –
Events
- Breakthrough in deciphering the Rosetta Stone announced –
- SS Arctic and SS Vesta collided in the North Atlantic –
- The Tonight Show made its television debut with Steve Allen as host –
- The Warren Commission Report on the assassination of President John F. Kennedy issued –
- Two men, Jeffrey Petkovich and Peter Debernardi, went over Niagara Falls in a barrel. They were the first pair ever to go over the falls and live. They were charged with unlawfully performing the stunt –
- Mark McGwire hit his 69th and 70th home runs –
- Dawn spacecraft launched, Cape Canaveral, Florida –
Weather
- Unripened corn in much of New England was killed by a severe black frost –
- Winds gusted to 115 mph on Long Island; 109 mph in Chatham, Massachusetts; and 100 mph in Milton, Massachusetts –
- Hurricane Gloria made landfall near Fire Island, New York, and then crossed the Connecticut coastline –
- A rare waterspout was seen in Long Island Sound, New York, off Smithtown Bay –
- Los Angeles, California, reached a record high temperature of 113 degrees F –
COURTESY www.almanac.com
