March 15 Illinois History Minute

It’s March 15th, the Ides of March ---and one of the 20th century’s best-known Ides of March got its start in Illinois.

The Ides of March, a band from Berwyn, had their biggest hit with “Vehicle”, written by frontman Jim Peterik. The song was reportedly the fastest-selling single in the history of Warner Brothers Records.

On the other end of the musical spectrum is this string quartet by Ben Johnston, born on this day in 1926. While teaching at the University of Illinois, Johnston composed for a musical scale going beyond the intervals available on conventional instruments ---although he often adjusted those instruments so they could play them.