Monday, October 6, 2008

This Date In Music History- October 6

Birthdays:

REO Speedwagon singer Kevin Cronin was born in Evanston, Illinois in 1951.

Los Lobos bassist David Hidalgo was born in Los Angeles in 1954. He's also played accordion on albums by Buckwheat Zydeco, Bonnie Raitt, and Tom Waits.

Born on this day in 1964, Matthew Sweet, singer guitarist.

Millie Small ("My Boy Lollipop") is 63.

History:

In 1964, the Beatles recorded 13 takes of "Eight Days a Week." It was the first time Lennon and McCartney had gone into the studio with an incomplete song, then finish it during the recording process. Late evening was spent at The Ad Lib Club, London, partying with The Ronettes and Mick Jagger.

In 1980, the Bee Gees sued their manager, Robert Stigwood, and PolyGram for $200 million. They alleged misrepresentation and fraud, and complained that the defendants had been lining their pockets to the detriment of the group (they settled out-of-court).

Cher started a two week run at No.1 on the US singles chart in 1973 with 'Half-Breed', the singer’s second US No.1. The single didn't chart in the UK.

The US Top 5 singles in 1970 were: at 5, 'All Right Now' by Free, 4, 'Ain't No Mountain High Enough', Diana Ross, 3, 'Candida', Dawn, 2, 'I'll Be There', Jackson Five and No.1, 'Cracklin' Rose,' Neil Diamond.

In 1958, Billboard Magazine ran an article that stated "payola, that under-the-turntable device whereby record companies win plugs and influence disc jockeys, is fast growing into a monster that may yet destroy its creators. According to key record execs, jockey payola is so widespread that it's no longer possible to measure its effectiveness." Disc jockey Alan Freed's career will soon be ended by the scandal.

In 1966- British rocker Johnny Kidd was killed in a car crash in Manchester, England, at the age of 26. The car was being driven by the husband of the secretary of his fan club. Although he never made a dent in the US record charts, Kidd had several hits in the UK. He is best remembered on the North America music scene for writing The Guess Who's 1965 chart debut, "Shakin' All Over".

In 1969, George Harrison's song "Something" was released as the "A" side of a Beatles' 45, a first for Harrison. Along with Lennon and McCartney's "Come Together", the single will reach number one in the US next month.

Rick Dees and His Cast of Idiots received a gold record in 1976 for one of the more bizarre novelty hits of the decade, "Disco Duck". In December, it became only the fourth single ever to be certified platinum.

The Eagles' "Heartache Tonight" was released in 1979. It would become their fifth Billboard number one single.

Bob Marley collapsed onstage during a concert in Pittsburgh in 1980. He was flown to Sloan-Kettering Hospital in New York City and then to Ethiopia to rest. He would later be admitted to a German disease-treatment center, but would die of brain tumor in May 1981.

Mick Jagger offered an apology to the Reverend Jesse Jackson in 1978 after Jackson denounced the Stones' song, "Some Girls" as racist. Jagger, however, refused to change the lyrics.

Robert John had the top tune on the Billboard Pop chart in 1979 with a song called "Sad Eyes.” It had been nearly 21 years since his first chart appearance in 1958 with a minor hit, "White Bucks and Saddle Shoes.”

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