Birthdays:
Johnny Otis - 1958 US #9 single "Willie And The Hand Jive" (1921)
Charles Neville - Neville Brothers (1938)
Alan Schwartzberg - session drummer extraordinaire (1942). Schwartzberg has worked with the likes of John Lennon, Barry Manilow, Richie Havens, Peter Gabriel, Roxy Music, Jimi Hendrix (overdubs on the notorious "Crash Landing" and "Midnight Lightning" albums), KISS, and many others.
Edgar Winter - Edgar Winter Group (1946)
Dick Diamonde - Easybeats (1947)
Alex Chilton - Box Tops (1950)
Born today in 1953 - Richard Clayderman, French pianist who has sold over 70 million albums world-wide.
Country singer Joe Diffie (1958)
Marty Roe - Diamond Rio (1960)
John Legend (John Stephens) (1978)
Akon (Aliaune Thiam) (1979)
They Are Missed:
Chris Bell, guitarist with Big Star, was killed after his car crashed into a telephone pole in 1978 (age 27).
In 1983, after a heavy day's drinking, Beach Boy Dennis Wilson drowned while swimming from his boat moored in Marina Del Rey, California. With the help of President Reagan he was given a burial at sea, normally reserved for Navel personnel. Dennis was the only genuine surfer in The Beach Boys.
Born on this day in 1915, Roebuck 'Pop' Staples, vocals, The Staple Singers. Died December 19, 2000.
The body of Barry Cowsill of the Cowsills ("Hair") was discovered in the flood waters of Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans in 2005.
History:
Drifters singer Clyde McPhatter's first solo hit, "Seven Days," enters the R&B chart in 1955. It will peak at #3 and go on to #44 on the pop chart next year.
The Doors' "Touch Me" was released in 1968.
The Beatles went to #1 on the US album chart in 1968 with the "White Album," the group's 12th US #1 album.
The Miami Festival, the first big rock festival held on the east coast, got under way in Hallendale, Florida in 1968. Tickets go for six and seven dollars and 100,000 people show-up at the three day event. Those appearing included: Jose Feliciano, Procul Harem, Three Dog Night, Chuck Berry, Fleetwood Mac, Marvin Gaye, Joni Mitchell, the Turtles and Canned Heat.
In 1971, Keith Moon emcees a concert for one of his favorite acts, Fifties revivalists, Sha Na Na at New York's famed Carnegie Hall.
Helen Reddy went to #1 on the US singles chart in 1974 with "Angie Baby," the singers third US #1. The song was turned down by Cher.
In 1975, Ted Nugent, known for gun-toting hunting epics in his native Michigan, ends up looking at the wrong end of the barrel at a show in Spokane, Washington. Twenty-five year old David Gelfer pointed a .44 magnum at the Nuge and was then brought down to the ground by members of the audience and security guards. Gelfer was charged with "intimidating with a weapon."
Rolling Stone magazine voted "Some Girls" by The Rolling Stones 'Album of the Year' in 1978.
In 1979, the Who, Pretenders, Specials and others perform at the third of four shows for the people of Kampuchea.
WEA (Warner/Elektra/Asylum) followed the lead set by RCA last month and raised its list price for 45 rpm singles to $1.99 in 1981.
Red Hot Chili Peppers, Nirvana and Pearl Jam all appeared at Del Mar O'brien Pavilion, San Diego, California in 1991.
In 1991, nine fans were crushed to death at a charity basketball game in New York that was to feature Heavy D, Boys II Men and Run-D.M.C. Two thousand people tried to cram into a gym built for a few hundred.
In 1998, singer Ronnie Hammond of the Atlanta Rhythm Section was shot in the chest by a Macon police after allegedly lunging at an officer with a broken guitar handle and a hammer. Police were responding to reports that the singer was trying to commit suicide. Hammond makes a full recovery. This was the second incident with the police for Hammond. On December 9, 1998, police responded to an earlier suicide attempt.
50 Cent's debut album, 'Get Rich Or Die Tryin' was named the biggest selling album in the US in 2003 with the album going platinum six times over.
In 2005, Pink Floyd were voted the greatest rock stars ever in a survey of 58,000 listeners from UK radio station Planet Rock. Led Zeppelin were voted into second place, 3rd was The Rolling Stones, 4th The Who, 5th, AC/DC, 6th, U2, 7th, Guns N’ Roses, 8th, Nirvana, 9th, Bon Jovi and in 10th place Jimi Hendrix. Listeners also named the 1970s as the golden age of rock, followed by the 1960’s.
In 2008, John Lennon appeared in a television ad for One Laptop Per Child, a charity group that provides educational tools to underprivileged children. Thanks to digital technology, Lennon speaks about the importance of the organization's work. "You can give a child a laptop and more than imagine, you can change the world," says Lennon in the spot.
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