This Date In Music History- August 9

Birthdays:

Benjamin Orr, bassist with the Cars, was born in Cleveland in 1955. He also sang the lead vocal on one of their biggest hits, "Drive."

Golden Earring bassist and keyboardist Rinus Gerritsen was born in the Hague, Netherlands in 1946. The Dutch group's biggest hit was 1983's "Twilight Zone." (“Radar Love” peaked at #13 and was on the charts for 20 weeks while “Twilight Zone” peaked at #10 and charted for 27 weeks)

Happy birthday to Whitney Houston (born in 1963).

Barbara Mason ("Yes, I'm Ready") is 61.

History:

The Ramones split up in 1996.

In 1967, Jerry Lee Lewis' set at England's Sunberry Jazz and Blues Festival inspired such fervor in the audience that the organizers tell him to cut his set short. He does it again in 1968 when Jerry Lee kills ‘em at the England's National Jazz and Blues Festival. The audience is so revved up that the next act (The Herd) refused to go on.

In 1952, Kitty Wells became the first woman to top the country charts with "It Wasn't God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels."

Bill Chase and three other members of the group Chase ("Get It On") died in a Jackson, Minnesota plane crash in 1974.

53 year old Jerry Garcia, leader of The Grateful Dead died on August 9, 1995 at a California rehabilitation centre. The official cause of death was a heart attack brought on by hardening of the arteries. He was reportedly buried in a red T-shirt and sweatpants.

Robert Zimmerman legally changed his name to Bob Dylan in 1962.

In 1958, Billboard Magazine changed the name of its weekly music chart from the Top 100 to the Hot 100, a name that will stick until 1996. Their first number one was "Poor Little Fool" by Ricky Nelson, his sixth hit record in the US.

In 1975, the Bee Gees had the first of several disco style hits in the US when "Jive Talkin" topped the Billboard Hot 100. The inspiration for the song came to Barry Gibb as his car passed over a Florida bridge on the way to a recording studio. His wife said "Hey, listen to that noise. It's the same every evening. It's our drive talking." The record made it to #5 in the UK.

The BBC's Rock & Roll television show Ready! Steady! Go! made its debut in 1963. The first episode featured The Searchers, Jet Harris, Pat Boone, Billy Fury and Brian Poole and The Tremeloes. The final show aired in December 1966 after 175 episodes.

Queen gave what would be their last ever live performance when they appeared at Knebworth Festival in 1986. It was their 658th and final concert performance.

In 2004, England`s Classic Rock magazine named AC/DC's Bon Scott the #1 frontman of all time. Scott, who died of a barbiturates and alcohol overdose in 1980, beat out Ozzy Osbourne, Freddie Mercury and Jim Morrison. Certainly up for debate, what about John Lennon?

The James Gang embarked on their first tour in 35 years in 2006. All three members of the group's definitive lineup are present: singer-guitarist Joe Walsh of Eagles fame, drummer Jimmy Fox and bassist Dale Peters. The first stop was in Morrison, CO.

Johnny Horton cut "North To Alaska" at his last recording session in 1960.

Muddy Waters performs for President Jimmy Carter at the White House in 1978.

In 1969, Jethro Tull scored their only UK No.1 album with their second release 'Stand Up'.

Paul McCartney recorded ‘Mother Natures Son’ at Abbey Road Studio’s London in 1968. No other Beatles were featured on the track, which was included on the ‘White Album.’

Promoter Don Kirshner held the first Rock Music Award Show in Santa Monica, California in 1975. Big winners included the Eagles, Bad Company, and Stevie Wonder.