This Date In Music History - May 12

Birthdays:

Burt Bacharach -- songwriter, pianist and arranger. With Hal David wrote many classic songs including, "Close To You," "24 Hours From Tulsa," "Make It Easy On Yourself," "Magic Moments," "I Say A Little Prayer;" among others. Won two Oscars for film score 'Butch Cassidy And The Sundance Kid', for "Raindrops Keep Fallin' On My Head." (1928)

Norman Whitfield - songwriter and producer, best known for his work with Berry Gordy's Motown. Collaborated with Barrett Strong on such hits as "I Heard It through the Grapevine," "Ain't Too Proud to Beg," "(I Know) I'm Losing You," "Cloud Nine," "War," "Papa Was a Rolling Stone" and "Car Wash." (1940)



David Walkes - Gary Lewis and the Playboys (1943)

Billy Swan - (1944)

James Purify (1944)

Ian McLagan - Small Faces. Also worked with The Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan, Bonnie Raitt, Joe Cocker, Billy Bragg and Bruce Springsteen (1946)



Steve Winwood - Spencer Davis Group,Traffic, Blind Faith, Solo (1948)

Billy Squier - (1950)

Barry Borden - Molly Hatchet (1954)

Kix Brooks - Brooks and Dunn (1955)

Eric Singer - Kiss (1958)


They Are Missed:

Born on this day in 1942, Ian Dury, singer, songwriter, poet, actor. Dury died on March 27, 2000 (age 57).

Singer and TV presenter Perry Como died in 2001 (age 88). He scored fourteen US #1 singles, from 150 US chart hits and over 25 UK chart hits, including the single "Magic Moments" and "Catch A Falling Star." Como was once the highest-paid performer in the history of television.


History:

The Everly Brothers started a four-week run at #1 in the US in 1958 with "All I Have To Do Is Dream" (the song was written in 15 minutes).

In 1962, Billboard Magazine reported that last year's most-played jukebox record was "Big Bad John" by Jimmy Dean. The second most-played was Chubby Checker's "The Twist."



In 1963, Bob Dylan walked out of rehearsals for the US TV Ed Sullivan show after being told he couldn't perform "Talking John Birch Society Blues" due to it mocking the US military.

The Beach Boys started a four week run at #1 on the US album chart in 1964 with 'Beach Boys Concert', the group's first US #1.

'Are You Experienced', the debut album by Jimi Hendrix was released in the UK in 1967. To celebrate, Hendrix played a gig at the Bluesville Club, Manor House in London.

A British radio station debuts the Beatles' 'Sgt. Pepper' album in its entirety in 1967.

In 1968, Jimi Hendrix was arrested by police on his way to Toronto for possession of hashish and heroin. Hendrix claimed the drugs had been planted on him. He was exonerated.

Brian Jones made his final live appearance with The Rolling Stones in 1968 when they appeared at the New Musical Express Poll Winners Concert at the Empire Pool, Wembley, England.

Rolling Stone Mick Jagger married Bianca Macias at St Tropez Town Hall in 1971. The guest list included the other members of the Rolling Stones, Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, Eric Clapton and Stephen Stills. The couple separated in 1977.

The Rolling Stones released the album 'Exile on Main St' in 1972.

Led Zeppelin started a three week run at #1 on the US album chart in 1973 with 'Houses Of The Holy', the group's third US #1 album.

In 1975, Jefferson Starship gave a free concert in New York's Central Park in front of 60,000 fans. The band and concert sponsor, WNEW-FM, were forced to pay $14,000 for cleaning up and damage done to the park after the event.

Lionel Richie started a two week run at #1 on the US singles chart in 1984 with "Hello" his second US solo #1, also a #1 in the UK.

In 1996, 17-year-old Bernadette O'Brien died the day after being injured 'body surfing' at a Smashing Pumpkins gig at The Point, Dublin.

Hootie & the Blowfish went to #1 on the US album chart in 1996 with 'Fairweather Johnson'.

In 2000, thieves stole the gates to Strawberry Fields the Merseyside landmark immortalized by The Beatles song. The 10' high iron gates were later found at local scrap metal dealers in Liverpool.

In 2008, singer-songwriter Neil Young had a spider named after him. US university biologist Jason Bond discovered a new species of trapdoor spider and decided to name it after his favourite musician. Myrmekiaphila neilyoungi was found in Jefferson County, Alabama, in 2007.

John Lennon: The New York Years opened at New York's Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Annex NYC in 2009. The Lennon-themed exhibit, created by his widow, Yoko Ono, benefits the Spirit Foundation, a charity begun by Lennon and Ono. "I so hope it will be a true gift to New York City's residents and visitors," says Ono.