April 6: Concerts in North Dakota

At the moment we proceed strolling down reminiscence lane, recalling previous concert events in North Dakota. Maybe you’ll keep in mind some!

Louis Armstrong carried out in 1957 on the Grand Forks Central Excessive Faculty Auditorium for 1,200 folks. However his look is best remembered for his feedback to the Grand Forks Herald in regards to the remedy of Black college students in Arkansas often known as the Little Rock 9. Armstrong had canceled his government-sponsored tour of the Soviet Union as a result of “the best way they’re treating my folks within the south, the federal government can go to hell.” He stated President Eisenhower had “no guts,” and he denounced Arkansas’s governor with such robust language, that the reporter requested him for phrases he might really print! They went with “uneducated plow boy.” Days later, Eisenhower despatched federal troops to Little Rock to guard the scholars.

Ray Charles additionally carried out in Grand Forks, showing with the Raelettes in 1968. 3,600 folks crammed the College of North Dakota Fieldhouse to listen to him carry out such hits as “Georgia on My Thoughts,” “You Made Me Love You,” “Crying Time” and “I Can’t Cease Loving You.”

Whereas pausing for reflection midway by means of his live performance, he put down a heckler. Charles stated: “You understand, they are saying we’re descended from apes, and that man bought a two-way ticket.” Charles additionally performed UND’s Chester Fritz Auditorium in 1975 and ‘79.

Anne Murray offered out the Chester Fritz in 1974. A six-piece band accompanied her. Her repertoire included “Snowbird.” She praised the auditorium as “a deal with” after doing a sequence of concert events in gymnasiums.

On this date in 1974, John Denver carried out on the Bismarck Civic Middle for 7,100 folks. His practically two-hour live performance featured 22 songs together with his newest hit, “Sunshine on My Shoulders.” Denver stated he wrote the music “on a very cruddy day in Minnesota.” His stage set featured a wall-hanging that learn “Warfare Is Not Wholesome for Youngsters and Different Residing Issues.” Denver additionally examined songs from his subsequent album “Again House Once more,” and earlier within the day he even recorded a music for the album at a Bismarck studio.

Johnny Money carried out in 1980 on the State Truthful in Minot for 8,000 folks. His set included “Folsom Jail Blues,” “Ring of Hearth” and “I Stroll the Line.” He launched his spouse, June Carter Money, they usually sang a number of numbers. Money had carried out within the Magic Metropolis years earlier, and instructed the group, “It’s good to be again in Minot.”

Dakota Datebook by Jack Dura

Sources:

• Grand Forks Herald. 1957, September 18. Web page 1: Satchmo blasts faculty discord
• Newsday. 1957, September 18. Web page 2: Satchmo kills pink journey, hits U.S. on bias
• Grand Forks Herald. 1968, Could 8. Web page 5: Charles despatched his messag
• The Bismarck Tribune. 1974, April 8. Web page 9: Denver brings nation to city
• Grand Forks Herald. 1974, November 22. Web page 3: Canadian vocalist delights viewers
• Grand Forks Herald. 1975, September 20. Web page 11: Ray Charles efficiency tops leisure week
• Grand Forks Herald. 1979, September 16. Web page 9C: Ray Charles on the Fritz: An enchanted night …
• Minot Each day Information. 1980, July 28. Web page 21: 8,000 hear Johnny Money say hiya
• Nationwide Park Service. Little Rock 9: nps.gov/folks/the-little-rock-nine.htm
• NPR. 2007, September 22. Remembering Louis Armstrong’s Little Rock protest. Retrieved from: npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=14620516