Sunday, July 5, 2009

Sir Paul & Neil

As Neil Young brought his set at Saturday’s Hard Rock Calling concert in London’s Hyde Park to a close by covering The Beatles’ A Day In The Life, a shadowy figure emerged from the wings to sing harmony.....Now if only Neil Young could carry a tune....

This Date In Music History-July 5

Birthdays:

Robbie Robertson - Band (1943)

Michael Monarch – Steppenwolf (1946)

Huey Lewis - Huey Lewis and the News (1950)

Marc Cohn - singer/songwriter (1959)

Bengt Lagerberg - The Cardigans (1973)

Jason Wade - Lifehouse (1980)

Nick O'Malley - Arctic Monkeys (1985)

Producer Thomas "Snuff" Garrett (Bobby Vee, Gary Lewis, Cher and many other artists) turns 71.

Terry Cashman of Cashman & West ("American City Suite") is 68.

Jason Bonham - son of Led Zeppelin drummer John (1966)


They Are Missed:

Born today in 1920, Smiley Lewis, R&B singer who wrote “I Hear You Knocking” (US #2 & UK #1 for Dave Edmunds). Lewis died on October 20, 1966.

Cassie Gaines, backing singer with Lynyrd Skynyrd was born in 1948. Gaines was killed in a plane crash on October 20, 1977 with two other members of the band.

Sun records musical director Bill Justis died of cancer in 1982 (age 55). He worked with Sam Phillips at Sun Records, worked with also worked with Johnny Cash, Elvis Presley, Roy Orbison, Charlie Rich and Jerry Lee Lewis. Had the 1957 hit “Raunchy” (the first Rock and Roll instrumental hit)

Michael "Cub" Koda, founder member of Brownsville Station died of complications from kidney failure in 2000. Wrote the 2 million selling 1974 hit “Smokin' In The Boys Room.” He took his nickname from Cubby on television's Mickey Mouse Club.

Ernie K-Doe ("Mother-In'Law") died of liver failure in 2001.

Lyricist Hy Zaret, who wrote the words for the song “Unchained Melody” died in 2007 (age 99). The song (which does not feature the word "unchained"), has been recorded over 300 times. Zaret co-wrote the song with film composer Alex North for the 1955 prison film Unchained. The Righteous Brothers' 1965 version was produced by Phil Spector.


History:

In 1954, while working together for the first time in a recording studio with Scotty Moore and Bill Black, Elvis Presley fooled around during a break with an up-tempo version of “That's All Right.” Producer Sam Phillips had them repeat the jam and recorded it. It became Presley's first release on Sun Records. Scotty Moore remembered, "When we heard a playback, we knew we had some kind of rhythm, a little different rhythm, but none of us knew what to call it."

In 2004, Elvis Presley`s "That`s All Right" was played simultaneously on radio stations around the world to mark the 50th anniversary of The King's first professional record. Scotty Moore, Presley's first guitarist, hits the button on a control board at Sun Studios to begin the satellite broadcast to over 1,200 stations.



Ray Charles recorded "Hit The Road Jack" and "Unchain My Heart" in 1961.

In 1964, the Irish band Them, featuring Van Morrison, recorded "Gloria."

On the recommendation of Rolling Stone Keith Richards girlfriend, Chas Chandler from the Animals went to see Jimi Hendrix play at The Cafe Wha in New York City in 1966. Chandler suggested that Hendrix should come to England, which he did and Chandler became his manager.

Promoter Bill Graham opened The Fillmore West in San Francisco in 1968.

In 1969, the Rolling Stones gave a free concert in London's Hyde Park before an audience of 250,000, as a tribute to Brian Jones who had died two days earlier. Mick Jagger read an extract from Percy Bysshe Shelley's 'Adonais' and released 3,500 butterflies; it was also guitarist's Mick Taylor's debut with the Stones.

A Led Zeppelin gig in Milan in 1971 turned violent when police fired tear gas at the crowd. The band escaped unharmed, but numerous arrests were made and a roadie was hit in the head with a bottle.

Bad Company's "Feel Like Making Love" was released in 1975.

In 1978, the manufacturing of “Some Girls,” the new album by the Rolling Stones, was halted after complaints from celebrities including Lucille Ball who were featured in mock advertisements on the album sleeve.

In 1999, the Eurythmics announced their first world tour for more than 10 years and that all profits would be given to charity.