Birthdays:
Debbie Reynolds (Mary Frances Reynolds) (1932)
James Edward Brown - The Browns (1934)
Blues singer Eddie King (1938)
Rudolph Isley - Isley Brothers (1939)
Phil Margo - Tokens (1942)
John Barbata - Turtles (1945)
Robin Scott - M (1947)
Jamaican singer Jimmy Cliff (1948)
Simon Cowe - Lindisfarne (1948)
Jazz musician Gil Scott-Heron (1949)
Billy Currie - Ultravox (1952)
Mark White - ABC (1961)
Susan Boyle - Scottish singer, debut 2009 album 'I Dreamed a Dream' was the biggest selling album in the world in 2009 (1961)
Leslie Langston - Throwing Muses (1964)
Peter O'Toole - Hothouse Flowers (1965)
Clifford Smith, (Method Man) - Wu-Tang Clan (1971)
Hillary Scott - Lady Antebellum (1984)
They Are Missed:
In 1984, Marvin Gaye was shot dead by his father at his parent's home in Los Angeles, California. The argument started after his parents squabbled over misplaced business documents, Gaye attempted to intervene, and was killed by his father using a gun he had given him four months before. Marvin Sr. was sentenced to six years of probation after pleading guilty to manslaughter. Charges of first-degree murder were dropped after doctors discovered Marvin Sr. had a brain tumor.
Born on this day in 1954, Jeff Porcaro, drums, Toto. Porcaro died on August 5, 1992.
Born today in 1942, Alan Blakley, Brian Poole and the Tremeloes. He died of cancer 1st June 1996.
Born on this day in 1946, Ronnie Lane, bass player and vocalist with Small Faces. He died on June 4th 1997, (age 51), after a 20 year battle with multiple sclerosis.
Born today in 1946, Arthur Conley, US soul singer. He died of cancer on November 17, 2003.
Paul Atkinson guitarist with The Zombies died in 2004 (age 58) due to liver and kidney disease. He later became an artists and repertoire executive, working for Columbia and RCA discovering and signing such bands as ABBA, Bruce Hornsby, Mr. Mister, Judas Priest, and Michael Penn.
History:
George Martin became the head of A&R for EMI's Parlophone label in 1955.
Elvis Presley released his fourth single in 1955, “Baby, Let’s Play House” backed with “I’m Left, You’re Right, She’s Gone.”
Elvis Presley was given a screen test at Paramount Studios in Hollywood in 1956, acting the role of Jimmy Curry in a scene from 'The Rainmaker.'
After being rejected by no less than 30 labels, the Everly Brothers’ “Bye Bye Love” was released on Cadence Records in 1957. It hit #2 on the pop charts and topped the Country & Western charts.
In 1961, the Beatles began a three-month residency at The Top Ten Club, Hamburg, playing 92 straight nights. The group played for seven hours a night on weekdays and eight hours at weekends with a fifteen-minute break every hour. It was during this visit that Astrid Kirchherr cut Stuart Sutcliffe's hair into the style destined to become known as the "Beatle haircut" which The Beatles later adopted themselves.
Pye Records released David Bowie's first solo single in 1966, "Do Anything You Say." Bowie had previously recorded as David Jones and The Lower Third.
The Troggs recorded "Wild Thing" at Regent Sound Studio in London in 1966. The song went on to be a #1 US and #2 UK hit in June the following year.
In 1969, the Beach Boys announced that they were suing their record company for over $2 million in royalties. They also announced that they were starting a new record label called Brothers Records.
The "Woodstock" movie premiered in Hollywood in 1970.
Also in 1970, 50 musicians recorded the orchestral scores for The Beatles tracks "The Long And Winding Road" and "Across The Universe" for the Phil Spector produced sessions. The bill for the 50 musicians was $1.914.
In 1970, Ringo went into the studio to lay down the final drum tracks for the 'Let It Be' album. In the studio only with producer Phil Spector, he is the last Beatle to record anything for the group (until he, Paul and George work on 'The Beatles Anthology').
“Stairway To Heaven” was played on the radio for the first time in 1971. The Led Zeppelin song was part of a London concert recording that is played on the BBC’s John Peel Rock Hour. Over the ensuing decades, “Stairway To Heaven” becomes the most played song on the radio.
Jimmy Buffett's "Margaritaville" was released in 1976.
The Who released the album "The Kids Are Alright" in 1979.
In 1985, David Lee Roth quit Van Halen shortly after releasing his version of The Beach Boys' "California Girls" (which featured Carl Wilson on background vocals). He was replaced by Sammy Hagar later in the year.
The "We Are the World" album was released in 1985.
The Bangles went to #1 on the US singles chart in 1989 with "Eternal Flame," also a #1 in the UK and the biggest selling single of 1989 in Australia.
Willie Nelson's tour bus crashed into a car in Riverdale, Canada in 1990, killing the car driver.
Nirvana’s classic single, "Smells Like Teen Spirit," goes platinum (one million sales) in 1992. Also, the Red Hot Chili Peppers’ “Blood Sugar Sex Magik” was their first certified platinum album.
Kurt Cobain (Nirvana) walked away (actually jumps a six foot wall) from a rehab center in Marina del Rey and returns to Seattle in 1994. He killed himself four days later.
Santana started a nine week run at #1 on the US singles chart in 2000 with "Maria Maria."
Paul McCartney’s 'Driving USA Tour' started in Oakland in 2002. While promoting his “Driving Rain” album, McCartney also performed Wings and Beatles classics. It’s the highest grossing tour of the year taking in more than $100 million.
Crazytown went back to #1 on the US singles chart in 2001 for two weeks with "Butterfly."
Indie rock band Modest Mouse were at #1 on the US album chart in 2007 with ‘We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank.' The album featured former Smiths guitarist Johnny Marr who joined the band in May 2006.
“Pretty Odd,” Panic At The Disco’s sophomore effort was released in 2008. The set featured the single, “Nine In The Afternoon.”
The last televised interview granted by John Lennon was released on DVD in 2008. The two-disc set, titled The Tomorrow Show with Tom Snyder: John, Paul, Tom and Ringo, features a '75 Lennon interview plus Snyder’s chats with Ringo Starr and Paul McCartney and videos by Starr and (McCartney’s) Wings.
The Imagine A Better World collection, a line of ecologically friendly plush toys based on sketches John Lennon made for his son Sean, were made available in 2009. The collection includes stuffed elephants, rhinoceroses and giraffes made from organic terry cloth, natural corn fibers and other "green" fabrics.
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