Sunday, December 21, 2008

This Date In Music History-December 21

Birthdays:

Ray Hildebrand of Paul & Paula ("Hey Paula") is 67.

Birthday wishes to Carla Thomas.

Nick Gilder turns 57.

English blues guitarist Albert Lee (1943)

Barry Gordon ("Nuttin' For Christmas") is 60.


They Are Missed:

Carl Wilson of the Beach Boys was born in 1946.

Frank Zappa was born in 1940.

Vocalist Charlie Fuqua, one of the legendary Ink Spots, died in 1971.

Blues guitarist Albert King died from a heart attack in 1992.


History:

Crosby, Stills & Nash formed in 1968.

In 1967, The Rolling Stones released their psychedelic LP “Their Satanic Majesties Request” in the US. The album reaches #2 in the American album charts, below the Beatles' "Magical Mystery Tour."

One of Rock and Roll's strangest oddities happened in 1969 when "I Heard It Through The Grapevine" by Marvin Gaye hit #1 on the Cash Box music chart. The same song was also a number one hit for Gladys Knight and The Pips exactly one year earlier. The tune would also turn up on the chart by Creedence Clearwater Revival in 1976.

LaVern Baker recorded "Jim Dandy" in 1955.

Not a misprint- In 1993, Shaquille O'Neal's "I Know I Got Skillz" single was certified Gold by the RIAA.

Glen Campbell went to No.1 on the US album chart in 1968 with 'Wichita Lineman'.

The Supremes made their last TV appearance together with Diana Ross on 'The Ed Sullivan show' in 1969, singing their last No.1 'Someday We'll Be Together'.

Heart went to No.1 on the US album chart in 1985 with their self- titled album.

Following Blind Faith, Steve Winwood reformed Traffic as a trio in 1970, with original members Jim Capaldi (drums) and Chris Wood (woodwinds). Their “John Barleycorn Must Die” featuring the rousing instrumental “Glad” goes gold.

Elvis Presley dropped in on President Richard Nixon at the White House in 1970. No invitation, no warning. Elvis was convinced drugs are ruining America’s youth and he offers his to help deal with the problem. The White House staff allows Elvis to see the President. Elvis walked into the Oval Office wearing a flamboyant outfit, oversize sunglasses and two huge medallions. He gave Nixon a chrome-plated Colt .45 and Tricky Dick gave Elvis a Narcotics Bureau badge. All that really comes from the meeting is a picture of a very stoned Elvis shaking hands with a very uncomfortable Nixon.

In 1974, Harry Chapin enjoyed his only number one single with "Cat's In The Cradle". The song's theme about a distant father and son relationship was suggested to Harry by his wife, after he expressed disappointment about being on tour instead of attending his son's birth.

In 1985, Bruce Springsteen's album, "Born in the USA" passed Michael Jackson's "Thriller" to become the second longest-lasting LP on the Billboard Top 10. It stayed there for 79 weeks. Only "The Sound of Music" with Julie Andrews lasted longer at 109 weeks.

Yusuf Islam, formerly known as Cat Stevens, performed on stage in 2006 before a live US audience for the first time in nearly thirty years as he promoted his first Pop album since leaving the music world for life as a devout Muslim. Mixing new songs with such old hits as "Oh Very Young" and "Peace Train", he sang with a gentle voice that had changed little from his heyday in the 1970s.

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