This Date In Music History- May 12

I am resuming this feature, look for it every other day from now on!


Birthdays:

Melanie Chisholm - Spice Girls (1976)

Kix Brooks - Brooks and Dunn (1955)

Billy Squier - (1950)

Billy Duffy – Cult (1961)

Steve Winwood - Traffic, Blind Faith and the Spencer Davis Group turns 61.

Billy Swan ("I Can Help") is 67.

James Purify ("I'm Your Puppet") is 65.

Ian McLagen – Faces (1946)

Born on this day in 1940, Norman Whitfield, songwriter and producer, best known for his work with Berry Gordy's Motown. Also collaborated with Barrett Strong on such hits as ‘I Heard It through the Grapevine,” “Ain't Too Proud to Beg,” “(I Know) I'm Losing You” “War,” “Papa Was a Rolling Stone” and others.

Born on this day in 1928, Burt Bacharach, US songwriter, pianist and arranger. With Hal David wrote many classic songs including, “Close To You,” “Magic Moments,” “I Say A Little Prayer,” among others. Won two Oscars for film score “Butch Cassidy And The Sundance Kid,” for “Raindrops Keep Fallin' On My Head.”


They Are Missed:

In 2001, Perry Como died aged 88. He scored fourteen US #1 singles, from 150 US chart hits and over 25 UK chart hits, including the single “Magic Moments” and “Catch A Falling Star.” Como was once the highest-paid performer in the history of television.

Ian Dury, singer, songwriter, poet, actor (1942) - 1977 UK #5 album “New Boots And Panties!!” spent 90 weeks on the UK chart, 1979 UK #1 single “Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick”). Dury died on March 2000 27, 2000 (age 57).

The late George Carlin ("Wonderful WINO") was born in 1937.


History:

The only single of Billie Holiday's ever to chart, "Lover Man (Oh, Where Can You Be), entered Billboard's R&B chart in 1945, peaking at #5.

In 1958, "Nee Nee Na Na Na Na Nu Nu" by Dicky Doo & the Don'ts peaks at #40 on the charts.

In 1960, Elvis guest-starred on a Frank Sinatra-hosted TV special, “Welcome Home Elvis, and cut his first post-Army recordings in Nashville. They yield the hit album “Elvis Is Back” and such million-selling singles as "It's Now or Never" and "Are You Lonesome Tonight."

In 1962, the Temptations appeaedr on the chart for the first time with "Dream Come True."

"Right Place Wrong Time," by Dr. John, enters the singles chart in 1973, where it will peak at #9. Allen Toussaint produced, arranged, played and sang on the song, which was Dr. John's commercial zenith.

In 1967, Pink Floyd played London's Queen Elizabeth Hall, one of their first concerts to experiment with quadraphonic sound.

A British radio station debuts the Beatles' "Sgt. Pepper" album in its entirety in 1967.

"Satisfaction" was recorded by The Rolling Stones in 1965.

In 1968, Jimi Hendrix was arrested for possession of hashish and heroin when he crossed the Canadian border for a concert in Toronto. He claimed the drugs were planted and he was later exonerated.

All I Have To Do Is Dream,” the Everly Brothers ballad, was the #1 song in America in 1958.

In 2008, Neil Young had a spider named after him. Officially known as a Myrmekiaphila neilyoungi, the trap door spider is named by biologist Jason Bond. According to Bond "Young is worthy of that honor." The spider in question is found only in Alabama.

In 1962, Billboard Magazine reported that last year's most-played jukebox record was “Big Bad John” by Jimmy Dean. The second most-played was Chubby Checker's “The Twist.”

Led Zeppelin started a three week run at #1 on the US album chart in 1973 with “Houses Of The Holy.”

Buy Zeppelin Music - Picture Disc of "Houses of the Holy" Available Now!