This Date In Music History - August 13

Birthdays:

Dave "Baby" Cortez ("Happy Organ") turns 72

Cliff Fish - Paper Lace (1949)

Danny Bonaduce - Partridge Family (1959)

LeAnn Rimes (1982)


They Are Missed:

In 1971, saxophonist King Curtis Ousley was stabbed to death by a vagrant on the front steps of his New York home. Ousley had worked with John Lennon and also played on The Coasters "Yakety Yak."

In 1982, American soul singer Joe Tex died at his home in Navasota, Texas, following a heart attack, just five days after his 49th birthday. Had nine US Top 40 hits including the 1972 US #2 single "I Gotcha."

Francine Hurd Barker (Peaches of Peaches & Herb) died in 2005.

Don Ho was born today in 1930. He died on April 14, 2007.

Also born on this day, Dan Fogelberg, US singer and songwriter (1951). Worked with Joe Walsh, Jackson Browne, Randy Newman. Fogelberg died on Dec 16, 2007 at his home in Maine at the age of 56 of prostate cancer.

In 2009, guitarist and innovator, Les Paul, died of complications from pneumonia at age 94. His development of the electric guitar (the Gibson Les Paul is one of Rock’s most popular guitars) and multi-track recording techniques had a profound impact on Rock music. "Les Paul was a shining example of how full one's life can be," reads a statement from Velvet Revolver/ex-Guns N' Roses guitarist Slash, a Gibson Les Paul player. "He was so vibrant and full of positive energy." Henry Juszkiewicz, CEO of Gibson Guitars adds, “I think an appropriate title for Les would be ‘the father of modern guitar."




History:

Robert Johnson played a show at a roadhouse outside Greenwood, MS in 1938. It is speculated that Johnson was poisoned by the bar owner. Johnson died several days later.

Willie Mae "Big Mama" Thornton recorded the original "Hound Dog" in 1952.



Bobby Darin signed a six-picture deal with Paramount Studios in 1959 (worth $1 million).

Brenda Lee recorded "Sweet Nothin's" in 1959.

Drummer Pete Best auditions for The Beatles. He spends just over two years with the group before being replaced by Ringo Starr. 1960

In 1963, the Four Seasons sued Vee-Jay Records for non-payment of royalties.

The Supremes recorded "Baby Love" in 1964, their second US chart topper.

Jefferson Airplane made their live stage debut at San Francisco's Matrix Club in 1965.

The Beatles album "Help!" was released in the United States in 1965.

Also in 1965, the Beatles arrived at Kennedy International Airport for a tour of North America. The set list for the tour was "Twist and Shout," "She's a Woman," "I Feel Fine," "Dizzy Miss Lizzie," "Ticket to Ride," "Everybody's Trying to Be My Baby," "Can't Buy Me Love," "Baby's in Black," "Act Naturally," "A Hard Day's Night," "Help!" and "I'm Down" and "I Wanna Be Your Man." The tour was not a happy one for The Beatles, John Lennon took to screaming off-microphone obscenities at the audiences.

Lovin Spoonful started a three week run at #1 on the US singles chart in 1966 with "Summer In The City."



The Supremes' "You Can't Hurry Love" was released in 1966.

In 1967, the Daughters of the American Revolution refused to allow Joan Baez to perform at Constitution Hall in Washington, DC. because of her opposition to the Vietnam War.

Fleetwood Mac made their live debut when they appeared at the National Jazz and Blues Festival in Windsor in 1967. Also on the bill - Jeff Beck, Cream, Small Faces, The Move, The Pink Floyd, Donovan and Chicken Shack.

The Guess Who recorded "American Woman" in 1969.



John Lennon flew from Heathrow Airport to New York in 1971, he never set foot on British soil again.

In 1972, John Lennon and Stevie Wonder performed at New York's "One-To-One Concert" to aid the retarded.

Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band played a five night stand at NY’s Bottom Line in 1975. The concerts generated a buzz around Springsteen in the days just before “Born To Run” was released.

The Clash played a private gig for the press at Chalk Farm rehearsal studios, London in 1976.

Bachman Turner Overdrive split up in 1977.

In 1980, four masked robbers broke in to Todd Rundgren's New York house and proceeded to steal Hi-Fi equipment and paintings after tying the musician up. It was reported that one of the intruders had been humming his hit "I Saw The Light."

In 1982, major American record companies including CBS Atlantic and Warner Brothers all made staff cut-backs as the industry plunged into 'the worst shape in its history'.

Curtis Mayfield was paralyzed from the neck down in an onstage accident in Brooklyn on August 13, 1990. The day Mayfield was doing something he’d done a thousand times, the soundcheck for an outdoor concert, onstage at Wingate Field, Flatbush, Brooklyn. But high winds toppled the stage lighting rig and Mayfield was underneath. He survived but paralyzed from the neck down, his spine crushed in three places.

Jane’s Addiction unveils their “Ritual De Lo Habitual” album in 1990.

Neil Diamond played the first of six sold-out nights at Madison Square Garden in New York in 1992. Diamond would bring in over $40 million from touring this year, the second highest in the music industry.

Members from Oasis and The Verve were arrested in 1994 after smashing up a hotel bar and breaking into a church to steal communion wine. Both bands had been appearing at Hulsfred Festival in Sweden. Communion wine???

Woodstock '94 was held in Saugerties, New York in 1994, attended by over 350,000 fans, the festival featured Green Day, Nine Inch Nails, Aerosmith and the Red Hot Chili Peppers. Tickets cost $135.00.

The movie "Detroit Rock City" opened in 1999.

In 1999, Mick Jagger's marriage to model Jerry Hall was been declared null and void at the High Court in London. Neither Jagger nor Hall were present for the 30-minute hearing before Mr Justice Connell. After hearing evidence on behalf of Hall the judge ruled their "marriage" in Bali in 1990 was not valid either in Indonesia or under English law, and a decree of nullity was granted to Hall. The annulment avoided what had been expected to be a long and costly court battle, in which Ms Hall, 43, was reportedly seeking a £30m share of Jagger's wealth.

In 2002, Adam Ant pleaded guilty to threatening drinkers at The Prince Of Wales Pub in London in January of this year. The former 1980's pop star had returned to the bar with a starting pistol after being refused entry. He had also thrown a car alternator through the window of the pub. How bad can a man be who calls himself Adam Ant?

It's the first day of the Rock 'n Roll Fantasy Camp in New York in 2006. The “instructors” include George Thorogood, Yes vocalist Jon Anderson, E Street Band drummer Max Weinberg, ex-Grand Funk Railroad frontman Mark Farner and former Allman Brothers Band singer-guitarist Dickey Betts. The counselors are Bad Company drummer Simon Kirke, former Boston guitarist Barry Goudreau and ex-KISS axe-man Bruce Kulick. The five day camp costs a mere $8,499.

Bob Dylan launched his second summer tour of U.S. minor league baseball stadiums in 2006. Dylan takes his first swing in Comstock Park, MI. The tour supports Dylan's “Modern Times” album.

In 2007, Amy Winehouse pulled out of two Rolling Stones gigs in Hamburg Germany citing exhaustion, British group Starsailor replaced Winehouse for the shows.