Wednesday, December 30, 2009

This Date In Music History-December 30

Birthdays:

Paul Stookey - Peter, Paul and Mary (1937)

Kenny Penifallo - Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes (1940)

Michael Nesmith - Monkees (1942)

Davy Jones - Monkees (1945)

Roger Glover - Deep Purple and Rainbow (1945)

Singer Patti Smith (1946)

Jeff Lynne - Move and E.L.O. Traveling Wilburys (1947)

Tyrese (1978)


They Are Missed:

Born today in 1934 - Del Shannon (1961 US #1 single "Runaway") Died on February 8, 1990.

Clarence Satchell from The Ohio Players died in 1995 (age 55). Scored the 1974 US #1 single "Fire" and had hits with "Skin Tight" and "Love Roller Coaster."

Johnny Moore of the Drifters ("Under The Boardwalk") died of respiratory trouble in London in 1998.

Born today in 1942, Robert Quine, guitarist, Richard Hell and the Voidoids, (1977 album 'Blank Generation' features the track 'Love Comes In Spurts'). Worked with Lou Reed, Brian Eno, Lloyd Cole, They Might Be Giants. Found dead on May 31, 2004 of a heroin overdose.

Mary Frances Penick, better known as Skeeter Davis (December 30, 1931 – September 19, 2004)

Born on this day in 1928, Bo Diddley, (Elias McDaniel), guitarist, singer. When The Beatles first went to the US, John Lennon was asked what he would like to see; he replied 'Bo Diddley.' Diddley died from heart failure in Archer, Florida on June 2, 2008 (age 79)




History:

In 1962, pop Singer Brenda Lee was slightly injured when she runs into her burning Nashville home to rescue her poodle, Cee Cee. However, it is too late as the pet, which toured the world with Lee, succums to smoke inhalation. The home is destroyed by the flames.

New Musical Express' Twelfth International Popularity Poll lists British acts at the top of most categories for the first time in 1963. The #1 male singer is Cliff Richard, the #1 group is the Beatles and the Record of the Year is "She Loves You."

The Beatles scored their 15th US #1 in 1967 with "Hello Goodbye," Gladys Knight and the Pips were at #2 with "I Heard It Through The Grape Vine" and The Monkees at #3 with "Daydream Believer."

Frank Sinatra recorded the epic cut "My Way" in 1968.



Bob Marley visited Island Records’ head Chris Blackwell at his London office in 1971. The resulting association will make a superstar of Marley and establish Island as THE reggae label.

Swedish pop group, Abba, the world's most successful singing group of the decade, garner a US gold record for their Greatest Hits album in 1976.

Emerson, Lake & Palmer, the art-rock supergroup beloved by millions of fans and hated by most rock critics, annouced their break-up in 1978.

The J. Geils Band enjoy the biggest LP of their career with "Freeze-Frame," which turns gold on this date in 1981. The album will go on to #1 early in 1982.

In 1999, George Harrison and his wife Olivia were attacked when an intruder broke into their home in Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire. Olivia beat off the attacker with a poker and heavy lamp. Harrison who was stabbed in the chest was admitted to hospital and treated for a collapsed lung and various minor stab wounds. His wife, Olivia, was treated for cuts and bruises she had suffered in the struggle with the intruder. Police later arrested Michael Abram from Liverpool who had nursed an irrational obsession with the Beatles.

Nickelback went to #1 on the US singles chart in 2001 with "How To Remind Me."



Diana Ross was arrested for drunk driving by the Arizona highway patrol in 2002 after a motorist called to report a swerving vehicle in the western state of Arizona. When asked to walk in a straight line she fell over, could not count to 30 or balance on one foot. Police said the singer was twice over the drink drive limit with a blood-alcohol of 0.20, the legal limit is 0.08.

Young Jeezy was at #1 on the US album chart in 2006 with "The Inspiration" the rappers fourth album.

In 2006, 8,500 people attend Soul legend James Brown’s funeral service in Augusta, GA. Speakers included Rev. Jesse Jackson and Michael Jackson. The Godfather of Soul passed away five days earlier in Atlanta.

In 2007, Ian Anderson was named a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) as part of Queen Elizabeth II's annual New Year's Honours list. The Jethro Tull frontman was recognized for his contributions to music in the United Kingdom. Anderson seems to take the honor in stride. "A lowly MBE . . . requires only a discrete bow or curtsey from friends and family," writes the singer in an online post. "The rest of you can tell me to bugger off." That's graditude for you....

Patti Smith: Dream Of Life, a documentary about "Godmother of Punk," aired on PBS in 2009. In the works since ’96, the film was broadcast on the singer's 63rd birthday. "My own personal hope is just that people get some sense that I have more dimensions than is sometimes reported," Smith told the New York Times.

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