This Date In Music History - July 6

Birthdays:

Della Reese (1931)

Gene Chandler (1937)

Jet Harris - Shadows (1939)

Rik Elswit - Dr Hook (1945)

Mike Shrieve - Santana (1949)

Nanci Griffith (1954)

John Keeble - Spandau Ballet (1959)

Tim Bricheno - All About Eve (1963)

50 Cent (Curtis Jackson) (1975)


They Are Missed:

LaVerne Andrews - The Andrews Sisters (July 6 1911- May 8, 1967)

Jazz trumpeter, singer and bandleader, Louis Armstrong died in 1971. Had many hits including the 1964 US #1 "Hello Dolly!" 1968 UK #1 "What A Wonderful World" plus "When The Saints Go Marching In," "Ain't Misbehavin" and "We Have All the Time in the World." He made frequent use of laxatives as a means of controlling his weight, resulting in Armstrong appearing in humorous, advertisements for laxative product Swiss Kriss; the ads bore a picture of him sitting on a toilet, as viewed through a keyhole, with the slogan "Satch says, 'Leave it all behind ya!"




Singer, producer songwriter, Van McCoy died from a heart attack in Englewood, New Jersey in 1979. Van McCoy and the Soul City had the US #1 single "The Hustle." Worked with Gladys Knight and the Pips, The Stylistics, Aretha Franklin and David Ruffin.

Born on this day in 1925, Bill Haley, (William John Clifton Haley), singer, guitarist, 'The first Rock 'n' Roll star.' As Bill Haley and his Comets he had the 1955 US #1 single "Rock Around The Clock." Haley was one of the earliest acts to bring rock and roll to the attention of white America and the rest of the world. He sold over 60 million records during his career. Haley died on February 9, 1981.



Skip Battin bassist and songwriter with The Byrds died of complications from Alzheimer's disease in 2003. Also played with New Riders Of The Purple Sage and The Flying Burrito Brothers.

R&B, soul singer-songwriter Syreeta Wright died in 2004, after a two-year battle with bone cancer (age 58). Teamed up with Billy Preston on the 1980, #1 US hit "With You I'm Born Again." Once worked as a secretary at Motown Records and married Stevie Wonder in 1970..


History:

In 1954, WHBQ in Memphis became the first radio station to play an Elvis Presley record ("That's Alright Mama").

Still on Sun Records, Elvis Presley’s “Baby, Let’s Play House” appeared on the national pop charts. It peaked at #10 on Country & Western charts in 1955.

In 1957, John Lennon and Paul McCartney met for the first time at The Woolton Church Parish Fete where The Quarry Men were appearing. As The Quarry Men were setting up for their evening performance, McCartney eager to impress Lennon picked up a guitar and played "Twenty Flight Rock" (Eddie Cochran) and "Be-Bop-A-Lula" (Gene Vincent). Lennon was impressed, and even more so when McCartney showed Lennon and Eric Griffiths how to tune their guitars, something they'd been paying someone else to do for them.

Essex started a two-week run at #1 on the US singles chart in 1963 with "Easier Said Than Done."

James Brown went to #2 on the US album chart in 1963 with 'Live At The Apollo'. The album spent a total of 33 weeks on the chart.

The Beatles film 'A Hard Days Night' premiered at The Pavilion in London in 1964.

Jefferson Airplane was formed in 1965.

Jackie Wilson recorded "Higher & Higher" in 1965.

The Rolling Stones scored their fifth US #1 single in 1968 when "Jumpin Jack Flash" hit the top of the charts.

Queen released their first single, "Keep Yourself Alive" in 1973.

The Hues Corporation went to #1 on the US singles chart in 1974 with "Rock The Boat."



In 1975, Rolling Stone Keith Richards was arrested by the highway patrol in Arkansas on charges of reckless driving and possessing an offensive weapon, a seven-inch hunting knife.

The Damned made their London debut supporting The Sex Pistols at the 100 Club in 1976.

In 1984, The Jacksons kicked off their North American Victory tour at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City. Over 2 million people attended the 55 concerts which grossed over $75 million. Michael Jackson donated $5 million to various charities.

Phil Collins went to #1 on the US singles chart in 1985 with "Sussudio," his third US #1.

Van Halen started a three-week run at #1 on the US album chart in 1991 with 'For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge'.

The Prodigy went to #1 on the US album chart in 1997 with 'The Fat Of The Land'.

In 2002, George Harrison's widow Olivia put the couple's home up for sale for £20m saying she couldn't bear to live with the memories of the attack by schizophrenic Michael Abram who broke into the house in 1999.

In 2004, Paul McCartney celebrated the 40th anniversary of "A Hard Day's Night" with the film’s cast and crew at a special screening. The film shows the Beatles going through a series of adventures as they prepare for a TV appearance. "Yes, it takes me back," says McCartney. "It`s very sad that George and John aren`t around to see it."



Alsao in 2004, nearly a quarter-century after its release, AC/DC`s classic 'Back In Black' album was certified double diamond by music-industry for shipment of 20 million units. The disc moved its first 10 million copies by 1990. The album was the group`s first with Brian Johnson, who replaced original singer Bon Scott - after his alcohol-related death in 1979.

Grammy award winning Rap star Lil' Kim who was convicted of perjury and conspiracy in March 2005, was sentenced to a year in jail for lying to a grand jury to protect friends. Kim told the court "I testified falsely to the grand jury and during the trial. At the time I thought it was the right thing to do. Now I know it was wrong." Lil' Kim, (real name Kimberley Jones), was also fined $50,000. Charges were brought against her after a gunfight erupted outside a New York radio station in 2001 as a rival rap group was arriving.

In 2007, Britney Spears apologized for attacking a photographer's car with an umbrella earlier this year. Pictures of the 25-year-old lashing out appeared in several newspapers shortly after photos emerged of her shaving her head in a hair salon. In a message on her website, she said: "I apologize to the pap for a stunt that was done four months ago." She said she got "carried away" preparing for a film part but added that she did not get the role.

In 2007, Ozzy Osbourne was the first celebrity honored with a plaque on Birmingham, England's Walk of Stars. "This means more to me than any f***ing Hollywood thing," says Ozzy of the hometown tribute. He also has a star on Hollywood's Walk of Fame. "I am absolutely knocked out."