Saturday, August 22, 2009

This Date In Music History - August 22

Birthdays:

Bob Flanagan - Four Freshmen (1926)
Fred Milano - Belmonts (1939)
Joe Chambers - Chambers Brothers (1942)
Kathy Lennon - Lennon Sisters (1942)
Ron Dante - studio voice of the Archies, Detergents & Cuff Links (1945)
Gary Withem - Gary Puckett & the Union Gap (1946)
Donna Godchaux - Grateful Dead (1947)
Theresa Davis - Emotions (1950)
Frank Marino - Mahogany Rush (1954)
Vernon Reid - ex-Living Clour (1958)
Ian Mitchell - Bay City Rollers (1958)
Jay & Michael Aston - Gene Loves Jezabel (1961)
Debbi Peterson - Bangles (1961)
Roland Orzabel - Tears For Fears (1961)
Gary Lee Connor - Screaming Trees (1962)
James Debarge - Debarge (1963)
Tori Amos (1963)
Paul Doucette, Matchbox 20 (1972)
Howie D - Backstreet Boys (1973)
Dale Hawkins ("Susie-Q") is 71
David Marks of the Beach Boys ("Little Deuce Coupe") turns 61


They Are Missed:

Orchestra leader David Rose died in 1990 (age 80). He had the 1962 US No.1 single 'The Stripper'. He also wrote music for the television series Little House on the Prairie and Bonanza.

Bluesman John Lee Hooker, whose boogie rhythms provided a link with rock 'n' roll, was born in Clarksdale, Mississippi in 1917. Hooker died on June 21, 2001.

The Knacks' original drummer, Bruce Gary, died in 2006 at age 55 in Tarzana, CA, after a battle with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. He played on the band's chart-topping ‘79 hit "My Sharona" and stayed with the group until their breakup in ‘81. Outside of the Knack, Gary worked as a session drummer.

Layne Staley - Alice in Chains (August 22, 1967 – April 5, 2002) In his last interview, which was given in early 2002 months before his death, Staley admitted, "I know I'm near death, I did crack and heroin for years. I never wanted to end my life this way." How sad.



History:


In 1906, the Victor Talking Machine Company received a patent for its Victrola phonograph. The Victrola was the first phonograph designed to be a fine piece of furniture, as well as a means for reproducing music. The mahogany cabinet hid the flared horn, the turntable and the tone arm from sight. Despite the then unheard of price of $200, Victor could not keep up with orders for the Victrola.

Elvis began work on his first movie, "Love Me Tender" in 1956. In the drama that was set during and just after the Civil War, Elvis played Clint Reno, the youngest of four brothers. The original title for the movie was The Reno Brothers, but was changed to take advantage of the ‘Love Me Tender’ song recorded for the film.

The Five Satins made their debut on the R&B charts in 1956 with a song they recorded in a New Haven, CT church basement, "In the Still of the Night."

In 1962, the first TV appearance of The Beatles was recorded by Manchester based Granada TV, who filmed a lunchtime session at The Cavern Club Liverpool, (it was shown on October 17, 1962).

Martha & The Vandellas' "Dancing In The Streets" was released in 1964.

Liberty Records reported that the album "The Chipmunks Sing the Beatles" was selling 25,000 copies a day in 1964. Yeah, right.

The Supremes reached the top of the pop music charts in 1964 with their hit "Where Did Our Love Go?"

The Beach Boys met the Beatles backstage at a Beatles concert in Portland, OR in 1965.

In 1966, New York City teenagers Carol Hopkins and Susan Richmond climbed out onto the ledge on the second floor of a city hotel and threatened to jump unless they could get to meet the Beatles. Police talked then down and they're sent to Roosevelt Hospital to get their heads examined.

Also in 1966 - Jerry Lee Lewis was signed to play Iago in "Catch My Soul," a rock version of Shakespeare's "Othello."

Cynthia Powell Lennon sued John Lennon for divorce in 1968 on the grounds of adultery. She came back from a vacation and found Yoko Ono living in the Lennon's London home. Ooops.

Ringo Starr quit the Beatles during the White Album sessions in 1968, when the constant bickering and tension became too much for him. The news of Ringo's departure was kept secret, and he rejoined the sessions on September 3. After Ringo walked out, the remaining Beatles recorded "Back In the USSR," with Paul on drums and John playing bass.

The Beatles got together at John Lennon’s Tittenhurst Park home in England for their final ever photo session in 1969.

Bread went to #1 on the US singles chart in 1970 with "Make It With You," the group's only #1 hit (#5 in the UK).

Elton John signed with MCA Records in 1970.

Creedence Clearwater Revival's Cosmo's Factory LP hits #1 in 1970, a position it held for 9 weeks.

Derek and the Dominoes began work on their first and only studio album in 1970, "Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs."

Sex Pistol Sid Vicious made his last live stage appearance in 1978 when he appeared with Rat Scabies from The Damned, former Sex Pistol Glen Matlock and Nancy Spungen at London's Electric Ballroom. In the audience: Elvis Costello, Blondie, Joan Jett , The Slits and Captain Sensible.

Led Zeppelin released what turned out to be their last album together, "In Through the Out Door" in 1979.

Foreigner’s “4” is the top album in the US in 1981. The set featured “Urgent,” with the Jr. Walker sax solo, “Jukebox Hero” and the mega-ballad, “Waiting For A Girl Like You.” The album had a ten week run at #1.

Suzanne Vega's "Luka" peaked at #3 on the pop chart in 1987.



Madonna went to #1 on the US singles chart in 1987 with "Who's That Girl," her sixth US #1 and also a #1 in the UK.

Bruce Springsteen hopped on stage with Levon Helm during Helm's show at the Stone Pony in Asbury Park, NJ in 1987. They played "Up on Cripple Creek" and Little Richard's "Lucille."

In 1998, Mark David Chapman said that he did not want any of the money that would be made from the sale of the signed "Double Fantasy" album that John Lennon signed for him the same day he was killed. Chapman was currently serving sentence for the December 8, 1980 murder. Like the asshole deserves any - last report the record is still for sale for $525,000.

In 2003, Kjell Henning Bjoernestad, a Norwegian Elvis Presley impersonator, set a world record by singing the rock 'n' roll legend's hits non-stop for over 26 hours. The previous record was set by British Elvis fan Gary Jay who sang for 25 hours 33 minutes and 30 seconds. What's sad is that there was a previous record for him to break.....

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