This Date In Music History - July 12

Birthdays:

Walter Egan ("Magnet & Steel") turns 62.



Christine McVie - Chicken Shack, Fleetwood Mac, Solo (1943)

Wilko Johnson - Dr Feelgood (1947)

John Wetton - King Crimson, U.K., Uriah Heep, Roxy Music, Asia (1949)

Liz Mitchell - Boney M (1952)

Dan Murphy - Soul Asylum (1962)

Tim Gane - Stereolab (1964)

Robin Wilson - Gin Blossoms (1965)

Tanya Donnelly - Belly (1966)

John Petrucci - Dream Theater (1967)

Dominic Howard - Muse (1977)


They Are Missed:

Singer-songwriter Minnie Riperton died of cancer in 1979 (age 31). The Stevie Wonder produced "Loving You" gave Minnie a US #1 single in 1975. She worked at Chess records singing backup for various artists such as Etta James, Fontella Bass, Bo Diddley, Chuck Berry, and Muddy Waters. She also sang lead for the experimental rock/soul group Rotary Connection, from 1967 to 1971. Also a member of Wonderlove in 1973, a backup group for Stevie Wonder.

In 1983, former Traffic member Chris Wood died of liver failure after a lengthy illness. Also played with Jimi Hendrix in 1968, appearing on the Electric Ladyland album and worked with both John Martyn and the Small Faces.

The late Barbara (Mama) Cowsill of the Cowsills was born in 1928 (died January 1985).

Born on this day in 1950, Eric Carr, drums, Kiss. Carr died on November 24, 1991.

Born today in 1960, Ray Gillen, member of Black Sabbath (died 1st December 1, 1993).

Born on this day in 1952, Philip Taylor Kramer, bass guitar, Iron Butterfly. His disappearance on February 12, 1995 caused a mystery lasting four years. On May 29, 1999, Kramer's Ford Aerostar minivan and skeletal remains were found by photographers looking for old car wrecks to shoot at the bottom of Decker Canyon near Malibu, California. Based on forensic evidence his death was ruled as a probable suicide.



In 1996 - Jonathan Melvoin (Smashing Pumpkins) was found dead in a New York City hotel of a heroin overdose.

Saxophonist, composer and arranger Benny Carter died in 2003 (age 95). He worked with Miles Davis, Ella Fitzgerald, Ray Charles and composed many TV theme's including Ironside and M-Squad.

American singer Earl Nelson (Earl Lee Nelson) died in Lake Charles, Louisiana in 2008. One half of the duo, Bob And Earl, (recorded ‘Harlem Shuffle’ in 1963). Nelson sang background vocals on "Rockin' Robin," a #2 for The Jackson Five in 1972.


History:

In 1954, 19 year-old Elvis Presley signed a recording contract with Sun Records. He also gave in his notice at his day job at The Crown Electric Company. Sam Phillips from Sun Records originally wanted to use the 19 year-old to make demos of songs meant for other artists, but soon realized that here was the man who could bridge the gap between white and black performances.

Frankie Lymon, the Everly Brothers and Connie Francis starred on Alan Freed's first official "Big Beat" TV show on ABC in 1957 (it had two previous "test runs").

In 1962, the Rolling Stones made their live debut at the Marquee Jazz Club, London, with Dick Taylor on bass and Mick Avory on drums. The band were billed as The Rollin' Stones. They were paid around $25 for the gig.

In 1964, the Beatles appeared at the Hippodrome Theatre in Brighton with The Fourmost and the Shubdubs (whose drummer, Jimmy Nicol, would later fill in for an ill Ringo Starr on The Beatles' world tour). Also in the US, The Ed Sullivan Show re-broadcast The Beatles' first live television appearance on the Sullivan show (from February 9). On the way to tonight's gig George Harrison was involved in a minor crash in his brand new E-Type Jaguar in Kings Road, Fulham, London. Passing pedestrians collected bits of broken glass as souvenirs.

The Beach Boys recorded "Sloop John B" in 1965.

Also in 1965 - The Beach Boys released their home state tribute, “California Girls.” The song only gets to #3 but it immortalizes west coast talent.

One hit wonders Zager and Evans started a six week run at #1 on the US singles chart in 1969 with "In The Year 2525, (Exordium And Terminus)."



In 1969, Elvis Presley was featured on the cover of Rolling Stone magazine, on sale for 35 Cents.

In 1969 - Blind Faith began their one and only tour with a sold-out show at New York's Madison Square Garden.

The Hues Corporation recorded "Rock The Boat" in 1973.



In 1979, Chicago Rock DJ Steve Dahl’s “disco demolition” promotion was held between games of a Chicago White Sox double-header at Comiskey Park. Disco records were blown up in center field. The damage to the field and the riot that followed caused the second game to be cancelled, with Chicago forfeiting. Sorry folks, disco still sucks.

Simply Red scored their first US #1 single in 1986 with 'Holding Back The Years."

In 1988, Michael Jackson arrived in the UK for his first ever-solo appearances. He performed a total of eight nights to 794,000 people.

Axl Rose (Guns N' Roses) was arrested at New York's JFK airport in 1992 on a warrant from St. Louis, MO. Rose was wanted on charges stemming from a 1991 Guns N' Roses concert.

In 1996, Smashing Pumpkins drummer Jimmy Chamberlin was charged with drug possession after the death of the bands keyboard player Jonathan Melvoin in his New York Hotel room.

DMX was arrested in Trinidad in mid-concert in 1999 for using obscene language.

In 1999, Fred Durst (Limp Bizkit) was arrested in St. Paul, MN, for allegedly kicking a local securit guard in the head during the band's performance. Nice.

A statue erected in memory of John Lennon was unveiled in London’s Trafalgar Square in 2000.

Metallica and Napster settle their copyright dispute in 2001. Unfortunately, it comes too late to help either party. Metallica’s lawsuit disillusions fans and Napster ceases being what it was.

New Orleans names its suburban airport after Louis Armstrong in 2001.

In 2004, nearly four decades after their major hit "I Had Too Much To Dream Last Night," two former members of the Electric Prunes, vocalist James Lowe and bassist Mark Tulin, filed separate suites against their record label and music publisher claiming $1 million in owed royalties.



The Moondance Jam festival took place in Walke, MN in 2006. The four day camping and music event features Heart, the Steve Miller Band, the Doobie Brothers, John Kay & Steppenwolf, Alice Cooper, ex-Styx frontman Dennis DeYoung, former Santana singer-keyboardist Gregg Rolie and Ted Nugent.

In 2007, the E Street Band's Steven Van Zandt was named the head of an advisory group to decide what music appears in the Rock Band video game (from Harmonix). The Who, Metallica, Black Sabbath, David Bowie, Rush, Bon Jovi, Mountain and Blue Oyster Cult are included.

Also in 2007, the Rolling Stones were paid $5.5 million (or $67,500 per minute) to perform a 14 song set at a private Deutsche Bank party for top-level employees held at the National Art Museum of Catalonia in Barcelona, Spain.

In 2008, Rolling Stone Ron Wood left his wife of 23 years and moved in with an 18-year-old Russian cocktail waitress. The 61 year-old dad-of-four had met the teenager while out drinking and had taken her away to his luxury pad in Ireland. Real smart....

Also in 2008, Beatles producer George Martin was honored by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences as the most successful producer of all time.

A brawl with drunken bar patrons in 2009 caused members of Collective Soul to be banned from Myrtle Beach, SC, for one year. The fight spilled out into the streets before the "cops came and escorted everyone away," reported guitarist Dean Roland. Cool....