Sandy Stewart (1937)
Ian Whitcomb (1941)
Jerry Miller - Moby Grape (1943)
Arlo Guthrie (1947)
Dave Smalley - Young Rascals, Raspberries (1949)
Greg Kihn (1950)
Neil Tennant - Pet Shop Boys (1954)
Martyn P Casey - Nick Cave And The Bad Seeds (1960)
Graham Lambert - Inspiral Carpets (1964)
Peter DiStefano - Porno For Pyros (1965)
Jason Orange - Take That (1970)
Gary LeVox - Rascal Flatts (1970)
Jessica Simpson (1980)
They Are Missed:
Producer and record company executive John Hammond died in 1987. He brought Stevie Ray Vaughan, Bob Dylan, Aretha Franklin, Leonard Cohen and Bruce Springsteen to Columbia Records. Hammond also worked as a producer with Bessie Smith, Billie Holiday, Benny Goodman and Count Basie.
Born on this day in 1959, Sandy West, drummer, founding member of US all girl group The Runaways. West died on Oct 21, 2006.
Born today in 1949, Ronnie James Dio, vocals, Elf, Rainbow, Black Sabbath, Heaven & Hell, and his own band Dio. Died on May 16, 2010, after a six-month battle with stomach cancer. He was 67 years old.
History:
1936 - Billie Holiday recorded "Billie’s Blues" in 1936.
The movie "Go, Johnny, Go," with Jimmy Clanton and Chuck Berry (with performances by Ritchie Valens, Eddie Cochran and Jackie Wilson) opened in 1959.
Bobby Lewis started a seven week run at #1 on the US singles chart in 1961 with "Tossin' and Turnin," the longest running #1 single of 1961.
In 1964, 200,000 Liverpudlians took to the streets to celebrate The Beatles return to Liverpool for the northern premiere of the group's first film 'A Hard Days Night.' The group were honored in a public ceremony in front of Liverpool Town Hall and as The Beatles stood on a balcony looking at the large crowd gathered below, John Lennon, gave a few Nazi "Sieg Heil" salutes. Not everyone appreciated his sense of humor.
The Beatles started a six week run at #1 on the US album charts in 1965 with 'Beatles VI,' the group's fifth #1.
Wilson Pickett's "In The Midnight Hour" was released in 1965.
The Rolling Stones started a four week run at #1 on the US singles chart in 1965 with "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction," the group's first US #1. Some US stations cut out the last verse believing it referred to women's 'time of the month.'
In 1966, Johnny Tilotson, The Jive Five, The Tymes, The Shangra-Las and local band The Castiles (with Bruce Springsteen on vocals) all appeared at the Surf ‘n See Club in Seabright New Jersey.
Kenny Rogers left the New Christy Minstrels in 1967 (the next day he helps form the First Edition).
Bobbie Gentry recorded "Ode to Billie Joe" in 1967.
In 1968, Eric Clapton announced that Cream would break-up after their current tour.
Also in 1968, The Nice were banned from appearing at London's Royal Albert Hall after burning an American flag on stage.
The funeral of Rolling Stone Brian Jones took place in his home town at Hatherley Road Parish Church, Cheltenham in 1969. Canon Hugh Evan Hopkins read Jones' own epitaph, 'Please don't judge me too harshly'. Bill Wyman, Keith Richards and Charlie Watts from The Stones attended the funeral.
Three Dog Night's "Liar" was released in 1971.
Gladys Knight's NBC-TV summer variety series begins in 1974.
One hit wonders Starland Vocal Band started a two week run at #1 on the US singles chart in 1976 with the silly song "Afternoon Delight."
A 16 year-old girl was stabbed to death at a Yes concert in Jersey City, New Jersey in 1976.
In 1977, Cher gave birth to a baby girl Elijah Blue. Allman Brother Gregg Allman was the father.
Rolling Stone Bill Wyman was knocked unconscious after falling from the stage during a Stones concert at the Coliseum, St Paul, Minnesota in 1978.
Chuck Berry was sentenced to five months in jail after being found guilty of tax evasion in 1979.
Bob Marley and the Wailers began what would be Marley's last ever UK tour when they appeared in Dublin, Ireland in 1980.
The song "Poplife," by Prince, was released in 1985.
Girl trio SWV started a two week run at #1 on the US singles chart in 1993 with "Weak."
Diana Ross' "reunion" tour with two Supremes she never recorded with was cancelled in 2000 for poor ticket sales.
Dolly Parton launched a 13-city tour in 2002. It was her first tour in decades.
In 2005, the four members of Led Zeppelin were voted the UK's ideal supergroup after 3,500 music fans were asked to create their fantasy band for Planet Rock Radio. Jimmy Page won best guitarist, followed by Guns N' Roses' Slash and Deep Purple's Ritchie Blackmore. John Paul Jones was named top bassist, with John Bonham, who died in 1980, winning best drummer and Robert Plant beat the late Freddie Mercury to best singer.
George Strait was at #1 on the US album chart in 2005 with 'Somewhere Down In Texas', the US country singers third #1 album.
In 2008, the drum skin used on the cover of The Beatles' Sgt Pepper album sold for a cool $1million at Christie's Memorabilia auction in London. Other items sold included John Lennon's lyrics for "Give Peace a Chance" which sold for $832,257 and a pair of tinted prescription sunglasses belonging to Lennon, which he wore for the cover of the single "Mind Games," sold for $79,000. A rare 1/4 inch reel to-reel master tape recording of the Jimi Hendrix Experience performing at the Woburn Music Festival in 1968 went for $95,000, a Marshall amplifier used by Hendrix in concert fetched $50,000 and a pair of his stripy flared trousers made $49,000.
Led Zeppelin's Robert Plant received a Commander of the British Empire medal from England's Prince Charles at Buckingham Palace in 2009.
In 2010, Prince’s “20Ten” CD is available via inserts in England's Daily Mirror, Scotland's Daily Record and Belgium's Het Nieuswsblad. The album, not available in stores or online, is also in the German edition of Rolling Stone 12 days later.
