This Date In Music History- August 11

Birthdays:

Eric Carmen ("All By Myself" and the Raspberries) turns 59.

Joe Jackson ("Is She Really Going Out With Him") is 53.

Producer Kenny Gamble, who with Leon Huff perfected the Philly soul sound turns 65.

Benjamin Gibbard, vocalist for Death Cab For Cutie, was born in Bremerton, WA in 1976.

History:

In 1956, Elvis Presley released "Don't Be Cruel." The single became a No. 1 pop, country, and R&B hit.

Elvis Presley earned his first gold record in 1958 for "Hard Headed Woman.” By 2002, he will have sold over 100 million records.

In 1966, The Beatles held a press conference at the Astor Towers Hotel in Chicago where John Lennon apologized for his remarks that The Beatles were "more popular than Jesus now." The US media mis-quoted Lennon and rallies were held all over the country to smash and burn Beatle records. Lennon said later that he was trying to say, "the way they (some fans) carry on, it's like we're more popular than Jesus Christ." Meanwhile, the city of Memphis asks the Beatles not to play any concerts there and the price of Capitol Records' stock drops.

Apple Records was formed in 1968.

In 1968, the Beatles released "Hey Jude," their first single to bear the Apple imprint. The single, backed with "Revolution," went to No. 1. In England, today marks the start of National Apple Week, named in honor of the Beatles' fledgling record label.

The Beatles' "Help!" film opened in New York in 1965 (nearly two weeks after its London premiere).

In 1973, Bill Aucoin approached Kiss after seeing them play in New York to offer his services as manager. He also promised them a record deal, which they later made with Casablanca. The rest is Rock & Roll history.

In 2005, Mariah Carey sat atop the U.S. singles chart for a staggering 11th week with "We Belong Together."

In 1962, a flood of new releases hit the Billboard Hot 100 chart- that will go on to be hit records. Mary Wells' "You Beat Me to the Punch,” Ray Stevens' "Ahab the Arab,” Johnny Tillotson's "Send Me the Pillow That You Dream On,” The Marvelettes' "Beechwood 4-5789,” The Contours' "Do You Love Me,” The Beach Boys' "Surfin' Safari,” Booker T and the MGs' classic instrumental "Green Onions" and crooner Tony Bennett's "I Left My Heart in San Francisco.”

After eight previous songs landed in the Billboard Top 40, Neil Sedaka scored his first US number one hit in 1962 with "Breaking Up Is Hard To Do". It reached #7 on the UK chart.

In 1984, Ray Parker Jr. had Billboard's number one song with "Ghostbusters.” Huey Lewis would later launch a successful plagiarism suit, claiming the song was a rip-off of his "I Want a New Drug".

Although they were nearly 20 years old, six Monkees albums that had been re-released, re-entered Billboard's Hot 200 LP chart in 1986.

In 1987, The Beatles' album "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" was named 'the best album made during the last 20 years' by Rolling Stone magazine.

The Kingston Trio were the mystery guests on TV's "What's My Line" in 1963.

The Edgar Winter Group's "Free Ride" was released in 1973.

Aerosmith goes gold with their “Toys In The Attic” LP in 1975.