Birthdays:
Kenny Rogers (1938)
Harold Reid - Statler Brothers (1939)
Ernie Maresca (1939)
Guitarist James Burton - played on Dale Hawkins ’57 hit "Susie Q." He's also heard on Rick Nelson’s hits and from the late ‘60s to the end he’s a key member of Elvis Presley’s band (1939)
Tom Costello - Santana (1941)
Jackie DeShannon (1944)
Carl Giammarese - Buckinghams (1947)
Glenn Hughes - Deep Purple/Black Sabbath (1952)
Nick Kane - Mavericks (1954)
Steve Smith - Journey (1954)
Budgie - Siouxsie and the Banshees (1957)
Kim Sledge - Sister Sledge (1957)
Serj Tankian - System of a Down (1967)
Liam Howlett - Prodigy (1971)
They Are Missed:
Born on this day in 1904, Count Basie, bandleader. Worked with Frank Sinatra as well as his own Count Basie band. Died on April 26, 1984.
Born today in 1952, Joe Strummer, singer, songwriter, guitarist, The Clash. He died on December 22, 2002.
In 2005, Robert Moog, inventor of the synthesiser died (age 71), four months after being diagnosed with brain cancer. Dr Moog built his first electronic instrument, a theremin - aged 14 and made the MiniMoog, "the first compact, easy-to-use synthesiser" in 1970. He won the Polar prize, Sweden's "music Nobel prize," in 2001. Wendy Carlos' 1968 Grammy award-winning album, Switched-On Bach, brought Dr Moog to prominence.
In 2008, drummer Buddy Harman died of congestive heart failure, (age 79). Worked with Elvis Presley (‘Little Sister’), Patsy Cline (‘Crazy’), Roy Orbison (‘Pretty Woman’), Johnny Cash (‘Ring Of Fire’), Tammy Wynette (‘Stand By Your Man’). Was the first house drummer for The Grand Ole Opry. He can be heard on over 18,000 recordings.
History:
In 1923, in Kalamazoo, Michigan, an ordinance was passed forbidding dancers from gazing into the eyes of their partner. Yeah, that will work....
The classic song "Ain't Misbehavin'" was recorded by Fats Waller in 1938.
Ricky Nelson recorded "Lonesome Town" in 1958.
Elvis Presley started a three-week run at #1 on the US album chart in 1961 with 'Something For Everybody' his sixth US #1 album.
Patsy Cline recorded the classic Willie Nelson song, "Crazy" in 1961. She was still on crutches after going through a car windshield in a head-on collision two months earlier.
The Rolling Stones started a three week run at #1 on the US album chart in 1965 with 'Out Of Our Heads' the group's first US #1 album. It’s the first Rolling Stones album recorded in stereo.
Barry McGuire's "Eve Of Destruction" was released in 1965.
The Lovin' Spoonful's "Do You Believe In Magic" was released in 1965.
In 1966, on their last ever US tour The Beatles performed in two cities due to a cancellation due to rain the previous day. First they performed at Crosley Field in Cincinnati, Ohio. Then they flew to St. Louis, Missouri, for a concert at Busch Stadium, where they performed under a tarpaulin due to heavy rain. It was this gig that convinced Paul McCartney that The Beatles should stop performing live.
The Doors were fired from the Whiskey-A-Go-Go in 1966 following Jim Morrison’s profanity filled/Oedipus laced version of "The End." Fortunately, the band signed a recording contract with Elektra Records only days earlier.
The Doors started recording their second album at Sunset Sound Studios, Hollywood, California in 1967.
In 1972, Jack Casady of Jefferson Airplane was arrested after a fight broke out on stage during a concert when the police had been called 'pigs'. Grace Slick was maced and another group member injured at the show in Akron.
In 1976, it was announced by RCA Victor records that the sales of Elvis Presley records passed the 400 million mark.
Aerosmith recorded “Come Together” for the Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band soundtrack in 1978. George Martin produced The Beatles’ cover.
In 1983, Ramones guitarist Johnny Ramone had a four-hour brain surgery operation, after being found unconscious in a New York Street where he had been involved in a fight.
Prince released the soundtrack to "Graffiti Bridge" in 1990.
Ratt released the album "Detonator" in 1990.
Los Angeles police raided Michael Jackson's Neverland estate in 1993 looking for evidence of child abuse.
The soundtrack from the film 'Sleepless In Seattle' went to #1 on the US album chart in 1993.
In 1995, R.E.M. sued Hershey Foods, claiming the company exploited its name when it ran a "Kit Kat - R.E.M. Concert" sweepstakes in Hershey candy bars. The suit was eventually dropped.
In 1996, former Talking Heads lead singer David Byrne sued to prevent the rest of the group from touring as "The Heads." The suit was settled out of court.
Rick James was released from prison in 1996 after serving two years for assault.
At a press conference in the San Francisco Hard Rock Cafe in 1997, Carlos Santana unveiled a limited-edition t-shirt bearing his artwork. He autographed 500 of the shirts for distribution to foreign and domestic markets.
In 1997, Oasis' third album 'Be Here Now', became one of the fastest selling albums ever, shifting over a million copies on the first day of release.
In 2000, Survivor filed a lawsuit against TVT Records after they released a soundtrack to the TV show ‘Survivor.’ Survivor guitarist Frankie Sullivan said, “It’s unfortunate that after 23 years of building, promoting, and protecting the name of our band, someone can suddenly come along and release a recording that uses our name and takes away everything we have worked for.”
African and Carribean stamps were issued in 2002 honoring American girl groups.
Staind were at #1 on the US album chart in 2005 with 'Chapter V.'
In 2006, a man surfing the Internet in America foiled three men who broke into a Liverpool shop in Liverpool, England. The man who had logged onto a site streaming live footage of Mathew Street and a forthcoming Beatles festival saw the men smashing a window of a shop and climb inside. He phoned Merseyside police who arrested the men.
Also in 2006 - German prosecutors announced that they had decided against opening an investigation into Madonna after she performed a controversial mock crucifixion scene at a concert on August 20.
"Dear Mr. Fantasy: A Celebration For Jim Capaldi" was released in 2007. The album was a London tribute to the late Traffic percussionist/vocalist. There are performances by Capaldi's Traffic bandmate Steve Winwood, the Who's Pete Townshend, ex-Rolling Stones bassist Bill Wyman, the Eagles' Joe Walsh, Bad Company's Simon Kirke and former Deep Purple keyboardist Jon Lord.
Paul McCartney issued "Live At The ICA" EP in 2007. The set was recorded at London's Institute of Contemporary Arts in conjunction with the first iTunes Festival. The EP contains versions of "Jet" and "Coming Up." The recording was initially available exclusively through iTunes.
In 2008, pedophile and ex-pop star Gary Glitter returned to Thailand after being refused entry to Hong Kong. Chinese authorities informed the UK Foreign Office they had barred Glitter from entry. He was earlier deported from Vietnam after spending almost three years in jail for sexually abusing two girls. He flew to Hong Kong from Bangkok after refusing to fly to the UK, and had made a plea for medical treatment after saying he was suffering a heart attack.
Leo Sayer judged the Miss Nude Sydney (Australia) Pageant in 2008 (I promise this will be the ONLY reference to Leo Sayer on this blog!)