This Date In Music History-July 7

Birthdays:

Ilan Rubin – Lostprophets (1988)

Vonda Shepard - (1963)

Mark White - Spin Doctors (1962)

Lynval Golding – Specials (1952)

David Hodo - Village People (1950)

Peter Banks – Yes (1947)

Jim Rodford – Argent (1945)

Warren Entner - Grass Roots (1944)

Ringo Starr (1940)




They Are Missed:

The late Mary Ford ("Vaya Con Dios" with then-husband Les Paul) was born in 1924.

Former Pink Floyd leader Syd Barrett passed away in 2006 at age 60 following a long battle with diabetes. The singer-guitarist was a founding member and wrote the majority the group’s ‘67 debut album, "The Piper At The Gates Of Dawn." He left Floyd the following year after suffering a drug-induced mental breakdown. "Syd was the guiding light of the early band lineup and leaves a legacy which continues to inspire," read a statement from the group.


History:

In 1962, David Rose and his Orchestra went to #1 with “The Stripper.”

The Monkees began a nationwide tour in 1967 with some guy called Jimi Hendrix supporting.

The Yardbirds called it quits in 1968, leading guitarist Jimmy Page to form the New Yardbirds in order to fulfill some tour commitments. The group, featuring Robert Plant, John Bonham, and John Paul Jones, becomes Led Zeppelin.

In 1969, George Harrison recorded his new song “Here Comes the Sun” with just two other Beatles, Paul McCartney and Ringo Star at Abbey Road in London. John Lennon was absent recovering from a car crash in Scotland.



Paul McCartney & Wings released "Live and Let Die" in 1973.

In 1973, Billy Preston started a two week run at #1 with “Will It Go Round In Circles,” his first of two US chart toppers.

“Talking Heads ’77,” the New Wave quartet’s debut album, was released in 1977. It contains “Psycho Killer,” an older song dating back to their days as the Artistics.

Prince started a five week run at #1 on the US singles chart in 1984 with “When Doves Cry,” his first US #1 which went on to sell over 2 million copies, it made # 4 in the UK.

Led Zeppelin played their last-ever concert in 1980 when they appeared in West Berlin at the end of a European tour. The set included “Black Dog,” “Rock and Roll,” “Kashmir,” and “Stairway To Heaven.” They finished the show with “Whole Lotta Love.”

Bruce Springsteen went to #1 on the US album chart in 1984 with “Born In The USA.” The album went on to spend a total of 139 weeks on the US chart. It’s also one of three albums (Michael Jackson's Thriller and Janet Jackson's Rhythm Nation 1814) to produce seven Top-ten US singles.

The Grateful Dead’s “In the Dark” was released in 1987. It marked the creative resurgence of the Dead following guitarist Jerry Garcia’s near-death after having lapsed into a five-day diabetic coma the previous year. The album peaked at #6 and sold more than 2 million copies.

In 1989, it was announced that for the first time compact discs were out selling vinyl albums. Very sad indeed.

In 1990, Jose Carreras, Placido Domingo, and Luciano Pavarotti performed for the first time as the Three Tenors in Rome during soccer's World Cup tournament.

Janet Jackson played the first night on her ‘All For You World Tour’ at the Rose Garden Arena in Portland, Oregon in 2001. The 72-date tour grossed over $55 million.

In 2000, Eminem's wife, Kimberly Mathers, was hospitalised after she slit her wrists following her husband's show as part of the Up in Smoke Tour at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit.

Nelly started a three week run at #1 on the US album chart in 2002 with “Nellyville” his second US #1, peaked at #2 on the UK album chart.

In 2007, the Live Earth concerts took place around the world with The Police closing the days events in New Jersey. The concerts were organized by former US Vice-President Al Gore, as part of his campaign to "heal the planet". Rock stars from around the world performed to hundreds of thousands of fans to highlight climate change. Concerts were held in Washington, Rio de Janeiro, Johannesburg, London, Hamburg, Tokyo, Shanghai and Sydney. Madonna brought London's Live Earth concert to a close, playing a song she had written for the event. Other major acts who appeared included; Snow Patrol, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Genesis, The Beastie Boys, James Blunt, The Foo Fighters, Duran Duran, UB40, Snoop Dogg, Enrique Iglesias, Crowded House & Joss Stone.