This Date In Music History - July 29

Birthdays:

Randy Sparks - New Christy Minstrels (1933)

Neal Doughty - REO Speedwagon (1946)

Simon Kirk - Bad Company (1949)

Geddy Lee - Rush (1953)

Patti Sciafa - Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band (1953)

John Sykes - Thin Lizzy/Whitesnake (1959)

Martin McCarrick - Therapy (1962)

Miles Hunt - The Wonder Stuff (1966)

Simon Jones - The Verve (1972)

Wanya Morris - Boyz II Men (1973)


They Are Missed:

Mama Cass Elliot, a one-time member of the Mama's & Papa's, died in London in 1974. She was staying at Harry Nilson's London flat when she died. A postmortem the following day shows she died as a result of choking on a sandwich and from inhaling her own vomit. It's later revealed that she suffered a heart attack. She was 32.

American record producer and pedal steel guitar player Pete Drake died of lung disease in 1988. Worked with Elvis Presley, George Harrison and Ringo Starr.

Keyboard player Huby Heard died from heart problems in 2004. Member of Billy Preston's, The God Squad.


History:

The Isley Brothers recorded the classic "Shout" in 1959.



Dick Clark premiered his summer stage show, the Dick Clark Caravan of Stars, at the Steel Pier in Atlantic City in 1961.

After a four year hiatus, the Newport Folk Festival in Newport, Rhode Island reopened in 1963. Those getting thumbs-up from the crowd included Joan Baez, Peter, Paul & Mary and Bob Dylan.

Peter, Paul and Mary's "Blowin' In The Wind" was released in 1963.

In 1965, the Beatles film "Help!" debuts at London's Pavillion Theatre. Another sell-out crowd attended while critics were bemused.

In 1966, Bob Dylan suffered a broken neck vertebra when he crashed his Triumph 55 motorbike near his home in Woodstock, New York.

Also in 1966, Datebook published Maureen Cleave’s interview with John Lennon in which he said ‘We’re bigger than Jesus now.” American Christian’s reacted with outrage, organizing ‘Beatle bonfires’ burning the group's records.

Eric Clapton, Jack Bruce and Ginger Baker made their live debut as Cream at The Twisted Wheel, Manchester, England in 1966.

The Doors started a three week run at #1 on the US singles chart in 1967 with “Light My Fire.”

The first recording session of The Beatles seven-minute epic “Hey Jude” took place at Abbey Road studios London in 1968.



The Byrds left on their tour of South Africa in 1968 without member Gram Parsons. He refused to set foot in a country where apartheid was official policy.

The Rolling Stones' contract with Decca Records expired in 1970 and they talked about starting their own label. They did.

Gilbert O'Sullivan started a five week run at #1 on the US singles chart in 1972 with “Alone Again, (Naturally).” The follow up “Clair” peaked at #2.

In 1973, while Led Zeppelin, were in the middle of a very successful U.S. tour, they were the victims of one of the largest cash thefts in New York City. $180,000 was taken from the band's deposit box at the Drake Hotel. The money was mostly cash receipts from the first of two nights at Madison Square Garden.

In 1978, Prince appeared on the US charts for the first time with “Soft and Wet.”

The film soundtrack to Grease featuring John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John went to #1 on the US album chart in 1978.

Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream introduced their "Cherry Garcia" flavor (named after the Grateful Dead's Jerry Garcia) in 1987.

In 2003, the chairman of the Professional Association of Teachers Jim O'Neill warned that children were being put under pressure to grow up too soon by pop stars who use a sexy image. "Kylie Minogue might be a great singer but in many of these things you can see more of her bottom than you hear of her voice," said Mr O'Neill. Dirty old man….