Birthdays:
Fred Turner - Bachman Turner Overdrive (1943)
Bob Weir - Grateful Dead (1947)
Tony Carey - Rainbow (1953)
Gary Kemp - Spandau Ballet (1959)
Michael Balzary, (Flea) - Red Hot Chili Peppers (1962)
Wendy Wilson - Wilson Phillips (1969)
John Mayer (1977)
They Are Missed:
Record company executive and founder of the Chess record label Leonard Chess died of a heart attack in 1969 (age 52). Home to John Lee Hooker, Chuck Berry, Bo Diddley, Little Walter, The Moonglows, The Flamingos Jimmy Reed and Sonny Boy Williamson.
Born on this day in 1923, Bert Kaempfert, songwriter, producer. Presley and Sinatra covered his songs, and he also produced the first recorded Beatles session. He died on June 21,1980.
Born on this day in 1938, Nico, singer, Velvet Underground. Nico died on July 18, 1988 died of a brain hemorrhage after falling off her bicycle while on holiday in Ibiza.
Macedonian pop star Tose Proeski was killed in a car crash in Croatia in 2007. Proeski sang for Macedonia in the 2004 Eurovision Song Contest and won many awards in former Yugoslavia. The 26-year-old's car was in a collision with a lorry on a motorway near the eastern Croatian town of Nova Gradiska.
History:
In 1951, 18 year old Richard Penniman, who was already using the stage name Little Richard, made his first recordings for RCA Camden at the studios of Atlanta radio station WGST.
Elvis Presley made his first radio appearance in 1954 on the "Louisiana Hayride."
The Elvis Presley film "Love Me Tender" premiered in 1956.
"You Send Me," by Sam Cooke, was released by Keen Records in 1957.
The first night of a two month Motown Records package tour started in Washington DC in 1962, featuring Marvin Gaye, The Supremes, Mary Wells, The Miracles and 12 year old Stevie Wonder.
In 1965, the Beatles recorded "Day Tripper" at Abbey Road studio’s London in three takes, they then added vocals and other overdubs, completing the song before the end of the day.
Also in 1965, the Beatles were decorated with the Order of the British Empire by Queen Elizabeth.
In 1966, Grace Slick performed for the first time with Jefferson Airplane. She replaced Signe Anderson.
Folk singer Joan Baez was arrested in 1967, along with 123 others, for blocking the entrance to an Armed Forces Induction Center in Oakland, California.
The New Yardbirds played their first concert in 1968. The band later changed their name to Led Zeppelin.
In 1972, Creedence Clearwater Revival split up following the failure of their most recent album, 'Mardi Gras.' After limited success as a solo act and some legal hassles with Fantasy Records, John Fogarty would have two big hits in 1980, "Center Field" and "Rock and Roll Girl." John's brother Tom Fogarty died in September, 1990 and the surviving members have been touring as Creedence Clearwater Revisited.
In 1974, the Grateful Dead played the first of five nights at the Winterland Arena, San Francisco, California.
One hit wonder Rick Dees and his Cast Of Idiots went to #1 on the US singles chart in 1976 with the insipid cut "Disco Duck, (part one)."
Stevie Wonder's 'Songs In The Key Of Life', went to #1 on the US album chart in 1976, featuring the tracks "Sir Duke," "I Wish," "Pastime Paradise" and "Isn't She Lovely." It was Wonder's third US #1.
RCA Records released "H2O" by Daryl Hall and John Oates in 1982.
Keith Richards, Eric Clapton and Robert Cray joined other artists on stage in St Louis in 1986, for Chuck Berry's 60th birthday concert, as featured in the film 'Hail Hail! Rock & Roll'.
Bob Dylan’s 30th Anniversary (of his recording debut) tribute concert took place at Madison Square Garden in New York City in 1992. Guest performers included Neil Young, Eric Clapton, George Harrison, Roger McGuinn, Tom Petty, Ron Wood and Dylan himself. Poor Sinead O'Connor was booed off stage. Dylan sings “My Back Pages” and Neil Young does his version of “All Along The Watchtower.” The show closes with an ensemble rendition of “Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door.”
Santana started a 12 week run at #1 on the US singles chart in 1999 with "Smooth."
Two security guards were fired in 2001 after refusing to allow Bob Dylan into his own concert. Dylan who had demanded that security on his 'Love and Theft' tour should be tighter than ever didn't have a pass when he arrived backstage. Ooops....
In 2005, Queen played their first ever US show with Paul Rodgers fronting the group. The concert took place in East Rutherford N.J.
In 2006, CBGB, the legendary New York punk club credited with discovering Patti Smith and The Ramones, closed after a final gig by Smith herself. Blondie and Talking Heads also found fame after performing at the club, which helped launch US punk music. The venue first opened in December 1973, its full name CBGB OMFUG standing for "country, bluegrass, blues and other music for uplifting gormandizers".
A Beatles photography exhibit, described as the most comprehensive ever, opens at the San Francisco Art Exchange in 2006. The Long and Winding Road -- The Life and Times of John, Paul, George & Ringo features more than 100 pictures of The Beatles by more than 20 photographers, including never-before-seen shots.
In 2007, French rock star Bertrand Cantat was freed from jail after serving half of an eight-year sentence for killing his actress girlfriend. Cantat, singer with Noir Desir, was jailed for the manslaughter of Marie Trintignant after a violent row in a Lithuanian hotel in July 2003. She died after spending days in a coma.
In 2007, R.E.M. released their first concert album, ". R.E.M. Live "- a two-CD, one-DVD package that documents an ‘05 Dublin show. The 22 song set focuses on songs from ‘04’s "Around The Sun" but also includes "(Don't Go Back to) Rockville," "Losing My Religion," "Man On The Moon" and "Orange Crush."
An AC/DC DVD box set titled "Plug Me In" was released in 2007. The two-disc collection contains rare concert and television footage. One focuses on the Bon Scott era while the other delves into Brian Johnson's tenure.
The Jimi Hendrix Experience Live At Monterey, a DVD documenting Jimi Hendrix's breakthrough '67 performance at the Monterey International Pop Festival was released in 2007 with footage from the guitarist's entire set plus previously unseen interviews with Hendrix and bandmates Mitch Mitchell (drums) and Noel Redding (bass).
In 2007, Madonna signed a ground-breaking recording and touring contract with concert promoter Live Nation becoming the first major star to choose an all-in-one agreement with a tour company over a traditional record contract. The deal reported to be worth $120m (£59m) over 10 years, would give Live Nation rights to all her music-related projects - including new albums, tours, merchandise, websites, DVDs, sponsorship, TV shows and films.
Britney Spears went to #1 on the US singles chartin 2008 with "Womanizer," the singers second #1 after her debut single ‘...Baby One More Time’ in 1999.