This Date In Music History-October 21

Birthdays:

Norman Wright - Dell-Vikings ("Come Go With Me") (1937)

Jimmy Beaumont - Skyliners (1940)

Manfred Mann (1941)

Steve Cropper - Booker T and the MG's (1941)

Elvin Bishop (1942)

Ron Elliott - Beau Brummels (1943)

Kathy Young ("A Thousand Stars") (1945)

Lee Loughnane - Chicago (1946)

Tetsu Yamauchi - Faces (1947)

John 'Rabbit' Bundrick - Free (1948)

Charlotte Caffey - Go-Go's (1953)

Eric Faulkner - Bay City Rollers (1954)

Steve Lukather - Toto (1957)

Julian Cope (1957)


They Are Missed:

Jazz giant Dizzy Gillespie was born today in Cheraw, SC in 1917 (died January 6, 1993).

Born today in 1946, Lux Interior (Erick Lee Purkhiser), singer and founding member of The Cramps. Died in Glendale, California on February 4, 2009.

Born on this day in 1952, Brent Mydland, The Grateful Dead. He was found dead on the floor of his home on July 26, 1990 (age 38) from a drug overdose.

Bill Black, Elvis Presley's bass player, (1954-57), died in 1965, four months after receiving surgery to remove a brain tumor (age 39). With guitarist Scotty Moore, and Elvis Presley on rhythm guitar, Black played on a number of the King's hits. After leaving Presley Black formed Bill Black's Combo.

Blind Melon lead singer Shannon Hoon died in 1995 of a cocaine/heroin overdose in New Orleans. He was 28.



In 2003, singer-songwriter Elliott Smith (real name Steven Paul Smith) was found dead of a self-inflicted stab wound to the chest. Smith was 34.

In 2006, singer, songwriter, and drummer Sandy West died. Founding member (with Joan Jett) of all girl group The Runaways, hailed by fans and critics alike to be one of the most groundbreaking drummers in rock and roll history.


History:

Today in 1957, the song "Jailhouse Rock" by Elvis Presley topped the charts and stayed there for 7 weeks.

In 1958, in what will be his last studio session, Buddy Holly recorded, "True Love Ways," "It Doesn't Matter Anymore," "Moondreams" and "Raining in my Heart" with the Crickets in New York.

Bob Dylan recorded his first album, "Bob Dylan," for Columbia Records in 1961. The album presents the 20-year old singer accompanied by his guitar and harmonica. The recording was done in a day and productions costs run $400. Filling out his income-tax form, Dylan gave his name as Blind Boy Grunt.

The Kingsmen appeared on "Shindig!" in 1965, performing "Louie Louie."

In 1965, wanting to improve on a previous recording session The Beatles started from scratch on a new song called "Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown)," finishing recordings in three takes. They also began working on a new John Lennon song "Nowhere Man."

The Who, done up in pop-art costumes and equipped with smoke bombs, flash powder and other stage devices, appeared on British television's Ready Steady Go! in 1966. They played music from their rush released EP, "Ready Steady Who!" This included the "Batman Theme," "Barabara Ann," "Bucket T," "Circles" and "Disguises."

Today in 1967, the song "To Sir with Love" by Lulu topped the charts and stayed there for 5 weeks.

Nashville's top Country Music Awards in 1968 went to Jeannie C. Riley's "Harper Valley P.T.A." for best song and to "Johnny Cash at Folsom Prison" for best album.

In 1972, seventeen years after writing and recording the first of his many rock & roll classics, Chuck Berry gets his first US #1 pop hit with "My Ding-a-Ling." It's a singalong novelty song derived from grade-school level private parts jokes. It is Chuck Berry’s most commercially successful single, bigger than “Roll Over Beethoven,” “Johnny B. Goode” or “Rock and Roll Music.” Amazing.

Also in 1972, Curtis Mayfield started a four-week run at #1 on the US album chart with soundtrack to "Superfly."

John Lennon began producing his "Rock 'n' Roll" album himself at the Record Plant Studios in 1974.

In 1976, Keith Moon played his last North American show with the Who as he and the band wrap-up an extensive year of touring at Toronto's Maple Leaf Garden.

Led Zeppelin's "The Song Remains The Same" movie debuts in New York in 1976.

"Road to Ruin," the Ramones’ fourth album, was released in 1978. It contains such anthems as “I Wanna Be Sedated” and “I Just Want to Have Something to Do.”

In 1997, Elton John's 'Candle In The Wind 97' was declared by the Guinness Book Of Records as the biggest selling single record of all time, with 31.8 million sales in less than 40 days and raising more than £20 million for charity.

In 2001, Concerts at Madison Square Garden and the RFK stadium in Washington were expected to raise millions in funds for the victims of the Sept 11th attacks. Stars who appeared included Michael Jackson, Tom Petty, Aerosmith, *NSYNC, P Diddy, James Brown, Paul McCartney, David Bowie, Eric Clapton, The Who and Elton John.

In 2003, Elton John signed a three-year, $50 million deal to perform 75 shows at Caesar`s Palace.

Neil Young's 20th annual Bridge School Benefit Concert gets underway in 2006. The two day event at the Shoreline Amphitheater in Mountain View, CA, featured Pearl Jam, Foo Fighters and Nine Inch Nails' frontman Trent Reznor, who gave a rare acoustic set. Young joined Pearl Jam onstage and sits in on pump organ to play "Good Vibrations" with Brian Wilson. When the Dave Matthews Band covers Young’s "Cortez The Killer," Neil adds acoustic guitar. Proceeds go to the nonprofit learning organization for physically or verbally impaired children that Young's wife co-founded. This was the fifth year Pearl Jam performs at the Bridge School concerts.

In 2006, Alice In Chains are among more than 20 bands that perform in different cities across North America as part of MySpace.com's Rock For Darfur initiative to help the battle-torn region of Sudan. AIC play in Winston-Salem, NC, and a portion of profits benefit the Oxfam humanitarian organization.