Birthdays:
Robert Lester - The Chi-Lites (1942)
Kevin Ayers - Soft Machine (1945)
Gary Loizzo - American Breed (1945)
Gordon Fleet – Easybeats (1946)
Barry Hay - Golden Earring (1948)
Scott Asheton - Iggy Pop And The Stooges (1949)
Joey Spampinato – NRBQ (1950)
James Taylor - Kool & The Gang (1953)
Kevin Rowland - Dexy's Midnight Runners (1953)
Tim Farriss – INXS (1957)Belinda Carlisle – Go Go’s (1958)
Matt Lukin – Mudhoney (1964)
LL Cool J (1968)
Emily Robinson - Dixie Chicks (1972)
Venessa Carlton (1980)
Bob Hardy - Franz Ferdinand (1980)
Madonna, (Madonna Louise Veronica Ciccone) (1958)
They Are Missed:
American blues musician Robert Johnson died at the age of 27 at a country crossroads near Greenwood, Mississippi in 1938. He caught pneumonia after allegedly being poisoned by the jealous husband of one of his many conquests. His recordings from 1936–1937 have influenced generations of musicians including Muddy Waters, Bob Dylan, Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin, The Rolling Stones, Johnny Winter, Jeff Beck and Eric Clapton; just to name a few.
In 1977, Elvis Presley was found dead lying on the floor in his bathroom by his girlfriend Ginger Alden, he had been seated on the toilet reading “The Scientific Search For Jesus.” He died of heart failure at the age of 42. His first record for RCA, “Heartbreak Hotel,” was also his first US #1. He starred in 31 films. Elvis holds the record for the most entries on the US Hot 100 chart with 154. Elvis became the first rock 'n' roll artist to be honored by the US Postal Service with a stamp. He is still a legend and loved by millions - what a sad end.
Pakistani singer Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan died in 1997 (age 48). He had recorded with Bruce Springsteen Eddie Vedder and Peter Gabriel.
Alan Caddy guitarist with The Tornadoes died in 2000. Caddy also played on sessions and worked on arrangements for Spencer Davis Group, Kiki Dee, Pretty Things and Dusty Springfield.
"Hillbilly jazz" fiddler Vasser Clements died in 2005. The 77-year-old instrumentalist worked with Emmylou Harris, The Byrds, Bonnie Raitt and Kris Kristofferson.
History:
Yodeling cowgirl Patsy Montana recorded "I Want to Be a Cowboy's Sweetheart" in 1935. The record later becomes the first million-selling country single by a female artist.
Booked on a race music tour package because the promoter thought they were black, Buddy Holly & the Crickets played the unlikely venue of the Apollo Theatre in 1957. Also on the bill were the G-Clef's, whose Ted Scott remembered, "People were saying, 'What is this?' and I think Buddy and his group were shaken by playing in a black theater in a black territory. But he was a different kind of white act - he did a lot of jumping around - and really put on a good show."
In 1962, Little Stevie Wonder, (age 12), released his first single, “I Call It Pretty Music, (But The Old People Call It The Blues),” the single featured Marvin Gaye on drums.
Also in 1962 - Ringo Starr was picked to replace Pete Best as the drummer for the Beatles. Best had been with the group for about 2 1/2 years.
The Monkees' first single, "Last Train to Clarksville," was released in 1966.
In Blackpool, England, in 1964, the Beatles played a concert supported by the High Numbers. The High Numbers later become the Who.
The Jackson Five made their formal debut with Diana Ross and The Supremes at the Great Western Forum, California in 1968.
Working at Abbey Road studios in 1968, The Beatles recorded 14 takes of the new George Harrison song “While My Guitar Gently Weeps,” taking the song from its early acoustic version into an electric version.
In 1968, Bruce Springsteen’s new band Earth made their live debut at the Off Broad Street Coffee House in Red Bank, New Jersey.
In 1969, during a North American tour Led Zeppelin appeared at the Convention Hall in Asbury Park with Joe Cocker as support. Zeppelin had been asked to perform at Woodstock but due to this gig commitment they were unable to attend. And down the road Bruce Springsteen’s band Child played the first of two shows over two days at the Student Prince, Ashbury Park. Springsteen was also unable to attend Woodstock due to these gigs.
The Who and Janis Joplin performed at the Woodstock Festival in Bethel, N.Y. in 1969. During the Who's set, Abbie Hoffman leaps onstage to protest something or other, but Pete Townshend is having none of it. He clobbers the activist with his electric guitar. Townshend later explains he had no idea who Abbie Hoffman was.
In 1974,the Ramones played their first show at CBGB's in New York's Bowery district.
Peter Gabriel announced he was leaving Genesis to go solo in 1975.
The biggest single of the summer of 1979 was The Knack's "My Sharona," which goes gold. The success of the group was the gimmick of Beatle-esque posturing which the group treats as tounge-in-cheek. The Knack disbanded less than two years later.
Madonna started a two week run at #1 on the US singles chart in 1986 with “Papa Don't Preach,” her fourth US #1, & # 1 in the UK. Also on this day Madonna went to #1on the US album chart with 'True Blue'.
In 1997, on the 20th anniversary of Elvis Presley's death over 30,000 fans descended on Memphis Tennessee for a 10-minute mourning circuit circling his grave. A poll found that almost a third of the fans were keeping an eye out for him in the crowd. See the story in the Enquirer for details…..
In 2005, the artist formerly known as Sean Combs, then Sean "Puffy" Combs, then Puff Daddy, and currently as P. Diddy announced he is changing his name to "Diddy." The name change to Diddy upset Richard "Diddy" Dearlove, a London based DJ who took out court proceedings against P Diddy over the use of the name. He won when an out of court settlement of £110,000 was agreed and as a result, Combs is no longer be able to use the name Diddy in the UK. I used to be Robert ‘Diddy’ Benson…. Just call me Robert....
In 2007, a fan of the 1980s pop band Wham! was silenced after becoming the first noise nuisance to be prosecuted by Newcastle city council's night watch team. Brian Turner had tormented neighbors by playing their hit song ‘Last Christmas’ all night at full volume from 1 am onwards. Magistrates fined Turner, of Sandyford, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, £200 and ordered him to pay £215 costs. Good thing he wasn’t playing Tiny Tim.
