This Date In Music History - July 16

Birthdays:

Thomas Boggs - Box Tops (1947)

Stewart Copeland - Police (1952)

Edward Joel Kowalczyk - Live (1971)


They Are Missed:

Singer-songwriter Harry Chapin, who had success in the ‘70s with "Taxi," "W-O-L-D" and the #1 hit "Cat’s In The Cradle," was killed in 1981 (age 38) after suffering a cardiac arrest while driving on a New York expressway. His car was hit from behind by a tractor-trailer, causing the gas tank to explode.



Latin jazz musician Cal Tjader was born today in 1925. He died on May 5, 1982.

Singer Billy Williams died in 1984 (age 74). Had the 1957 US #3 single "I'm Gonna Sit Right Down (And Write Myself A Letter)."

In 1988, Steve Cayter, a road crew technician with Def Leppard, died of a brain hemorrhage on stage before an American show at the Alpine Valley Music Theatre.

John Panozzo, drummer with Styx, died from cirrhosis of the liver in 1996 (age 48).

Born on this day in 1940, Tony Jackson, bass, vocals, The Searchers. Jackson died on August 18, 2003.

Born today in 1941, Desmond Dekker, Jamaican singer. Died May 25, 2006.



Jo Stafford ("You Belong To Me") died of congestive heart failure in 2008.

Gordon Waller of Peter and Gordon ("A World Without Love") died of a heart attack in 2009.


History:

"Baby Let’s Play House" is the first Elvis Presley song to land on a national chart. But it’s not on pop or even R&B. The track gets listed on the Country survey. 1955

The Coasters recorded "Poison Ivy" in 1959.

The Beach Boys signed to Capitol Records in 1962, their first hit was in September of the same year with the immortal "Surfin' Safari."

The Beach Boys recorded "In My Room" in 1963.

Tommy James and the Shondells started a two week run at #1 on the US singles chart in 1966 with "Hanky Panky," a song first recorded by The Raindrops.



The Lovin' Spoonful's "Summer In The City" was released in 1966.

Jack Bruce, Ginger Baker and Eric Clapton formed Cream in 1966, and although the three piece group only lasted 2 years, they left behind some classic recordings including "Sunshine of Your Love," "Badge," "Strange Brew" and "White Room;" among others.

During recordings at Abbey Road studio’s in London in 1969, the Beatles worked on two new George Harrison songs, "Here Comes The Sun" and "Something."

The Who's "I'm Free" was released in 1969.



Smokey Robinson made his last appearance with The Miracles at a concert in Washington DC in 1972.

Bob Dylan released the soundtrack to "Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid" in 1973. It contains Bob Dylan’s mournful “Knocking On Heaven’s Door.” The film stars Dylan and Kris Kristofferson.

Loggins and Messina broke up in 1976.

Barry Manilow went to #1 on the US album chart in 1977 with 'Barry Manilow Live,' the singers only US chart topper.

Shaun Cassidy went to #1 on the US singles chart in 1977 with "Da Doo Ron Ron."

In 1989, Tom Jones lost a paternity suit, and was ordered by Judge Judy Sheindlin to pay $200 a week in child support to 27 year old, Katherine Berkery, of New York. Further terms of the settlement were agreed upon a couple of months later.

The film soundtrack to 'The Lion King' started a nine-week run at #1 on the US album chart in 1994.

In 1995, rap singer and actress Queen Latifah was the victim of a car-jacking attempt that went wrong, leaving her bodyguard shot and wounded.

Michael Jackson performed at a birthday party for the Sultan of Brunei in 1996 and receives an estimated 15-20 million dollars.

Matchbox 20 went to #1 on the US singles chart in 2000 with "Bent."



In 2003, the Pretenders’ Chrissie Hynde is detained by police following a PETA (Physicians for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) protest outside a Paris KFC. Despite the efforts of Hynde and others, the chickens inside, original recipe and extra crispy, remain dead and tasty.

Pollstar's Top 100 North American Tours list for the first half of 2007 puts Rod Stewart at #1 grossing $48.1 million and the Police's at #3 taking in $41.9 million.

In 2007, three masked men, carrying sledgehammers and crowbars, broke into the home of former Atomic Kitten singer Kerry Katona and escaped with goods including the singers BMW M5 sports car, two laptops, two gaming machines and two televisions. The robbers held a knife to the neck of the former pop star during the raid on her home in Wilmslow, Cheshire.

Also in 2007, the White Stripes played their 'shortest live show ever' at George Street, St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada. Jack White played a single C# note accompanied by a bass drum/crash cymbal hit from Meg. At the end of the show, Jack announced, "We have now officially played in every province and territory in Canada." They then left the stage and performed a full show later that night in St John's.

In 2008, Rush performed "Tom Sawyer" on Comedy Central's The Colbert Report. The Canadian trio's last US television appearance was on a ‘75 episode of Don Kirshner's Rock Concert. Later, fellow Canadain Neil Young does a turn on CBS' Late Show With David Letterman.

2009 - A stage being built in France for a concert by Madonna collapsed, killing two workers and injuring six others. Technicians had been setting up the stage at the Velodrome stadium in Marseille when the partially-built roof fell in, bringing down a crane. Madonna was performing on her Sticky and Sweet tour in Udine, Italy, when she received news of the incident and was said to be "devastated" by the news.