This Date In Music History-June 5

Birthdays:

Kenny G. (1956)

Peter Lewis Kingston Wentz III - Fall Out Boy (1979)

Freddie Stone - Sly and The Family Stone (1940)

Laurie Anderson (1947)

Nicko McBrain - Iron Maiden (1954)

Richard Butler - Psychedelic Furs (1956)

Brian McKnight (1969)


They Are Missed:

Born today in 1941, Floyd Butler, vocalist with The Friends Of Distinction. Died of a heart attack on April 29, 1990.

Tom Evans of Badfinger was born in 1947. Evans committed suicide November 23, 1983.

Animals’ keyboardist Dave Rowberry died in London in 2003 (age 62). Rowberry joined The Animals after the group had a falling out with founder/leader Alan Price.

In 1999, Jazz singer and songwriter Mel Torme died at the age of 73. His Christmas song' “Chestnuts Roasting On An Open Fire” has been recorded more than 1,700 times.

Ronnie Lane (Faces) died in 1997 (age 51) after a 20-year battle with multiple sclerosis.

Country singer Conway Twitty died from an abdominal aortic aneurysm in 1993. Until 2000, he held the record for the most #1 singles of any country act, with 45 #1's.


Dee Dee Ramone died of an apparent overdose in 2002.









History:

In 1971, Grand Funk Railroad smashed the record held by The Beatles when they sold out New York's Shea Stadium in 72 hours.

The classic cut "Susie Q" was released by Dale Hawkins in 1957.

Roy Orbison went to #1 in 1961 with “Running Scared” (#9 in the UK).

James Taylor's epic song "You've Got A Friend" was released in 1971.

In 2007, Lucy O’Donnell, a former schoolmate of John Lennon’s son Julian, claimed that she was the subject of a painting by Julian that inspired The Beatles song "Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds." Oh, and I am the walrus.

In 1975, former Pink Floyd singer Syd Barrett turned up in the studio and was present while the band mixed “Wish You Were Here,” the majority of whose tracks referred to Barrett's increasing dementia.

In 1956, Elvis Presley appeared on ABC-TV's “Milton Berle Show,” and while singing “Hound Dog” performed the suggestive 'gyrating' movements.

In 1977, Alice Cooper's boa constrictor, a co-star of his live act, suffered a fatal bite from a rat it was being fed for breakfast. Cooper held auditions for a replacement and a snake named “Angel” got the gig. No word on what happened to the rat.

In 1979, "Love You Inside Out" became the Bee Gees' ninth #1 single, sixth consecutive #1 single (tying the Beatles), and fifth to sell over two million copies. It is also, to date, their last #1 single.

Sir Paul McCartney released his 21st solo album, “Memory Almost Full” in 2007 on the new Hear Music Starbucks label.

In reaction to the slaying of Presidential candidate Senator Robert Kennedy in LA in 1968, David Crosby composed “Long Time Gone.”

The Rolling Stones begin recording "Sympathy For The Devil" at London's Olympic Sound Studios in 1968. Also responding to Senator Kennedy's assassination, Mick Jagger added the line "who killed the Kennedys?" The Stones finished the track in less than a week.

In 1971, a memorable two-night stand by the Mothers, featuring Frank Zappa, results in the popular live album “Fillmore East, June 1971.”

New York Dolls released their eponymous first album in 1973 (it peaked at #116). It was produced by Todd Rundgren.

Gene Vincent released the smoldering rocker “Be-Bop-A-Lula” in 1956. It sells over a million copies.

During a 48-date North American tour in 1983, U2 played at Red Rocks Amphitheater near Denver. The show was recorded and released as “U2 Live At Red Rocks: Under A Blood Red Sky.”