This Date In Music History- July 1

Birthdays:

Deborah Harry – Blondie (1945)

John Ford – Strawbs (1948)

Dan Aykroyd - Blues Brothers (1952)

Phil Solem – Rembrandts (“I’ll Be There For You” theme from Friends)(1956)

Roddy Bottum - Faith No More (1963)

Missy Elliott (1971)

Fred Schneider – B-52’s (1954)




They Are Missed:

Steppenwolf bassist Rushton Moreve (co-wrote "Magic Carpet Ride" with John Kay) died in a motorcycle accident at age 32 in 1981.

Legendary DJ Wolfman Jack died of a heart attack at age 57 at his home in Belvidere, North Carolina in 1995.

In 2008, Whitesnake guitarist Mel Galley died at the age of 60 from cancer of the oesophagus.

In 2005, Four Tops singer Renaldo "Obie" Benson died aged 69 in a Detroit hospital from lung cancer. The Four Tops sold over 50 million records. Benson co-wrote “What's Going On,” a #2 hit for Marvin Gaye.

Jamaican reggae singer Dennis Brown died in 1999 (age 42). During his career, he recorded more than 75 albums. Bob Marley cited Brown as his favorite singer, naming him “The Crown Prince of Reggae."

Born today in 1939, Delaney Bramlett, Delaney & Bonnie. Worked with Eric Clapton during the early 70's. Died on Dec 27, 2008.

Bobby Day (July 1, 1928 - July 15, 1990) 1958 hit “Rockin Robin”

Born on this day in 1915, Willie Dixon, blues singer, guitarist. Credited with writing more than 500 songs by the end of his life. Wrote classic songs: “Hoochie Coochie Man,” “I Can't Quit You Baby,” “Little Red Rooster.” Major influence on The Rolling Stones and Led Zeppelin. Dixon died on January 29, 1992.


History:

From a front page Billboard article in 1957, "Good music may be making a comeback on the bestseller charts..but rock & roll discs continue to dominate the pop market.”

In 1963, the Beatles recorded their single “She Loves You” and “I'll Get You,” completing the two songs in less than four hours. Went on to become The Beatles' first million-selling single.

In 1966, Ahmet Ertegun signed the English group Cream. Atlantic Records would become a major force in British rock, releasing albums by such artists as the Bee Gees, Mott the Hoople, Yes, Genesis, Derek and the Dominos, Emerson, Lake and Palmer and Led Zeppelin.

The Association scored their second and last US #1 single in 1967 with “Windy.”

The Beatles started a 15 week run at #1 on the US album chart in 1967 with “Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band,” the group's 10th US #1 album.

In 1969, John Lennon and his son Julian, along with Yoko Ono and her daughter Kyoko, were injured in car crash in Scotland. John receives 17 stitches for facial injury, Yoko receives 14 stitches, and the children suffer from shock. Lennon later had the car crushed into a cube and exhibited it on his lawn at Tittenhurst Park.

Sam Phillips sold Sun Records in 1969. The Memphis label released the first recordings of Elvis, Johnny Cash, Ike Turner, Roy Orbison, Carl Perkins, Jerry Lee Lewis and others.

The Doors released their album The Soft Parade in 1969.

In 1970, the Casey Kasem hosted "American Top-Forty" AM radio show debuts in Boston, Philly, Detroit, St. Louis, San Bernardino, San Antonio, San Diego, San Francisco, Minneapolis, Honolulu and Albany.

Neil Diamond went to #1 on the US singles chart in 1972 with “Song Sung Blue,” his second US #1.

In 1975, the Captain & Tennille got their first gold record with "Love Will Keep Us Together,” an album that will eventually sell 2 1/2 million copies and win a Grammy for Record of the Year.

Lifelong Buddy Holly fan Paul McCartney purchased rights to the entire Holly song catalog in 1976.

A New Jersey based quintet calling themselves Bon Jovi signed to Phonogram's Mercury Records in 1983.

The Grateful Dead's "In The Dark" LP was released in 1987.

Radiohead released their third album, OK Computer in 1997.

In 2007, Elton John, Rod Stewart and former Supertramp singer-keyboardist Roger Hodgson were among the artists who performed at a Princess Diana memorial concert at London's Wembley Stadium. Elton was a friend and Diana was reportedly a Supertramp fan. Aerosmith's guitarist, Joe Perry, performs with '60s pop star Tom Jones. Concert for Diana was organized by Princes William and Harry to mark the 10th anniversary of their mother's death on what would have been her 46th birthday.

In 2008, Beck's eighth album "Modern Guilt," co-produced by Gnarls Barkley's Danger Mouse, was released via TouchTunes digital jukeboxes (in bars and clubs) a week before the CD was out.