This Date In Music History-January 23

Birthdays:

Jerry Lawson - Persuasions (1944)

Anita Pointer - Pointer Sisters (1948)

Patrick Simmons - Doobie Brothers (1950)

Bill Cunningham - Box Tops (1950)

Robin Zander - Cheap Trick (1952)

Anita Baker (1958)

Earl Falconer - UB40 (1959)

Nicholas Harmer - Death Cab for Cutie (1975)


They Are Missed:

Born on this day in 1889, Leadbelly, (Hurrdi William Ledbetter), Blues musician. Wrote "Goodnight Irene," "The Rock Island Line," "The Midnight Special" and was once jailed for shooting a man dead during an argument over a woman. He died December 6, 1949.

In 1972, Maybelle Smith, also known as 'Big Maybelle,' died in Cleveland from a diabetic coma. Her career crested as a jazz singer in the late 40's and early 50's recording some best selling records such as "Candy" and "96 Tear Drops." She was 47.

Vic Ames (Ames Brothers) died in an auto accident in 1978.

In 1978, Terry Kath, guitarist with Chicago accidentally shot himself dead while cleaning (with what he believed) was an unloaded gun. Kath’s last words were "Don't worry it's not loaded" as he put the gun to his head and pulled the trigger. The guitarist and singer was killed instantly. He was 32 years old.

In 1990, Allen Collins guitarist from Lynyrd Skynyrd died of pneumonia after being ill for several months. Collins who was one of the founding members also co-wrote most of the band's songs (including Free Bird), with late front man Ronnie Van Zant. He survived a plane crash in 1977 that killed two other band members.

"Louie Louie" composer Richard Berry died in his sleep at his home in South Central Los Angeles in 1997, (age 61). Berry sold the rights to all his songs, including "Louie Louie," for $750 in 1956. Thirty years later, an artists' rights group helped him recover two-million dollars in royalties.



Associates singer, songwriter, Billy MacKenzie committed suicide in 1997 (age 39).

Soul singer Johnny Funches from The Dells died in 1998.

Born today in 1950, Danny Federici, organ and keyboard player for Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band. Died of cancer on April 17th 2008 at the age of 58. Federici had worked with Springsteen for over 40 years, including early bands Steel Mill and Child.


History:

In 1956, rock 'n' roll fans in Cleveland that were under age 18 were banned from dancing in public (unless accompanied by an adult), after Ohio Police introduced a law dating back to 1931.

Brunswick Records released "Maybe Baby" b/w "Tell Me How" by The Crickets in 1958.

In 1959, 6,000 teenagers attended the first night of the ill-fated Winter Dance Party with Buddy Holly at the Million Dollar Ballroom in Milwaukee (despite temperatures of 17 below and 13 inches of snow).

Tony Bennett recorded "I Left My Heart In San Francisco" in 1962.

"Downtown" made Petula Clark the first UK female singer to have a #1 on the US singles chart since Vera Lynn in 1952.

Cream released its final album in 1969, appropriately titled Goodbye Cream.

In 1969, working at Apple studios in London, The Beatles (with Billy Preston on keyboards) recorded ten takes of "Get Back."



In the wake of Buffalo Springfield’s demise, Neil Young released his self-titled first solo album in 1969.

In 1970, folk singer Judy Collins was denied permission by the court to sing as part of her testimony at the trial of the Chicago Seven. Others denied the same privilege are Pete Seeger, Phil Ochs, Arlo Guthrie and Country Joe McDonald.

Steel Mill played their final show when they appeared at the Upstage Club, Asbury Park, New Jersey in 1971. Singer Bruce Springsteen formed new bands during the rest of the year known under such names as the Bruce Springsteen Jam, Dr. Zoom and the Sonic Boom, and finally the Bruce Springsteen Band.

George Harrison became the first solo Beatle to have a #1 when "My Sweet Lord" went to the top of the UK single charts in 1971. The song from his 'All Things Must Pass' album stayed at #1 for five weeks. The track returned to the top of the UK charts in 2002, following his death.

Dawn started a three week run at #1 on the US singles chart in 1971 with "Knock Three Times," the group's first #1, also an UK #1.

In 1977, Pink Floyd released 'Animals,' a bleak concept album that appears to have drawn on author George Orwell's 'Animal Farm' for inspiration.

The members of the inaugural Rock & Roll Hall of Fame were inducted during ceremonies at New York's Waldorf Astoria in 1986. And the winners are: Chuck Berry, James Brown, Ray Charles, Sam Cooke, Fats Domino, the Everly Brothers, disc jockey Alan Freed, Buddy Holly, Jerry Lee Lewis, Little Richard, Sun Records founder Sam Phillips and Elvis Presley. Three of rock's forefathers — Mississippi delta blues singer Robert Johnson, country and western singer Jimmie Rodgers and blues pianist Jimmy Yancey — are also inducted.

Michael Jackson went to #1 on the US singles chart in 1988 with "The Way You Make Me Feel."



Tiffany started a two-week run at #1 on the US album chart in 1988 with Tiffany.

In 1988, Nirvana recorded a 10-song demo with Seattle producer Jack Endino. Sub Pop records boss Jonathan Poneman hears the tape and offers to put out a Nirvana single.

The IRS began auctioning off Willie Nelson's property in 1991 to satisfy the $16.7 million in back taxes owed by the country singer.

In 1996, the City Council in Johnson City, Tennessee, withdrew permission for White Zombie to hold a show there. Several town residents had complained that the band advocated Satan worship.

Santana started a three week run at #1 on the US album chart in 2000 with 'Supernatural', the album spent a total of nine weeks at #1 during this year.

In 2001, an English coroner criticized the rap singer Eminem's lyrics as depressing during an inquest into the death of a schoolboy who threw himself in front of a train. The 17-year old boy had printed out the lyrics to Eminem's track 'Rock Bottom' before his death.

In 2003, R Kelly was arrested on new child pornography charges. The singer was detained in Miami after police said digital sex pictures were discovered at his home in Florida last June. The singer was already facing 21 charges relating to producing child pornography and appearing in a video having sex with an underage girl. He was charged with a further 12 counts of possession of child pornography.

In 2005, one of the biggest charity concerts since Live Aid raised $2 million for victims of the tsunami disaster in Asia. The concert was held at The Millennium Stadium, Cardiff featured Eric Clapton, Manic Street Preachers, Keane, Charlotte Church, Snow Patrol, Embrace, Feeder, Craig David and Liberty X, who appeared before 60,000 fans at the sold-out concert.

John Mellencamp released his "Freedom's Road" album in 2007 with the single (and truck commercial theme) "Our Country."