Today in Music History

[Staxsun]

Carlos Santana performs at the Nobel Peace Prize concert in Oslo Norway in 2002. The first U.S. Genesis concert is held at Brandeis University near Boston in 1972. The Coasters record "Charlie Brown" in 1958. Happy Birthdays to Mos Def, 33, David Gates of Bread, 66, Cosy Sheridan, 42, Booker T. Jones, 62, Nikki Sixx, 48, McCoy Tyner, 68, and Arthur Lee Maye of the Crowns, 72. Also born on this date were Perez Prado in 1916, Big Mama Thornton in 1926, and Benny Spellman in 1931. Lost to us on this date was Sam Cooke in 1964.

[saturn]

In 1984, a group of 38 British musicians known as Band Aid recorded "Do They Know this is Christmas" for famine victims.




Frank Sinatra was born on this day in 1915. He was one the most important popular music figure of the 20th century. In a professional career that lasted 60 years, he demonstrated a remarkable ability to maintain his appeal and pursue his musical goals despite often countervailing trends. He got the nickname "Chairman of the Board". He died in 1998.



Happy Birthday to Connie Francis, age 68, and Dionne Warwick, age 66.

[Staxsun]

On this date in 1957, Jerry Lee Lewis marries his second cousin Myra (his divorce from his previous marriage isn't final). Mick Taylor leaves the Rolling Stones in 1974. Mick Jagger receives knighthood in 2003. A Portland Oregon disk jockey is fired for playing Elvis Presley's "White Christmas" on-air in 1957. Filming begins on Diana Ross' "Lady Sings the Blues" movie in 1971. Happy Birthday to Hank Williams III, 34, Alex Acuna, 62, Dickey Betts, 63, Tim Hauser of the Manhattan Transfer, 64, Cy Curnan of the Fixx, 49, and Sheila E (Escovedo), 49. Also born on this date were Tony Williams (drummer), in 1945, Robin Tyner of MC5 in 1944, Joe Williams in 1918, Lonesome Sundown in 1928, John Weston in 1927, and Grover Washington Jr. in 1943. Lost to us on this date were Clifton Chenier in 1987 and Mildred Bailey in 1951.

[saturn]

Louis Armstrong recorded the song "Rockin' Chair" with Hoagy Carmichael for columbia Records on this day in 1929.



Former Beatle, George Harrison and Billy Preston had lunch with President Gerald Ford on this day in 1974



In 1999, the performing rights group BMI proclaims the most-performed song of the century is the Righteous Brothers' 1965 No. 1 "You've Lost That Loving Feeling."




Happy Birthday today to Ted Nugent, who is 57.

[Staxsun]

On this date in 1961, the Beatles sign with manager Brian Epstein (though Epstein never signs the contract). Jimi Hendrix records "Foxy Lady" in 1966. Phil Collins guest stars on "Miami Vice" in 1985. Happy Birthday to John Anderson, 52, Buck White of the Whites, 76, Steve Forbert, 52, Skunk Baxter, 58, Lurrie Bell, 48, Sherman Washington, 81, Lucky Peterson, 42, Tom Verlaine, 57, John Davidson, 65, and Morris Day, 49. Lost to us on this date were Doctor Daddy-O (Vernon Winslow) in 1993, Pigmeat Markham in 1981, and Zal Yanovsky of the Lovin Spoonful in 2002.

[saturn]

In 1968, Marvin Gaye scored his first US No.1 single when "I Heard It Through The Grapevine" started a five-week run at the top.



In 1971, The MC5's manager John Sinclair was released from prison after Michigan relaxed its drug penalties. Sinclair had been sentenced to ten years in prison for possession of two marijuana joints. [He lived in New Orleans for some years, and currently lives in Amsterdam.]
http://www.johnsinclair.us/10for2/index.php



Charlie Rich was born on this day in 1932. Known as "The Silver Fox", he was most famous for the song "Behind closed Doors". He passed away in 1995.



Happy Birthday to Dave Clark (of the Dave Clark Five), age 64.



See a Dave Clark Five clip here ----
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WqxOYFwLRL4

[Staxsun]

On this date in 1998, Billy Preston pleads guilty to insurance fraud. Chad & Jeremy and Don Ho guest on TV's "Batman" in 1966. Happy Birthday to Patty Duke, 60, Clark Terry, 86, Spider Stacy of the Pogues, 48, Christopher Parkening, 59, and Tim Skold, bassist with Marilyn Manson, 40. Also born on this date were Deford Bailey in 1899, Phineas Newborn, Jr. in 1931, and Spike Jones in 1911. Lost to us on this date were Dinah Washington in 1963, and Curley Moore, vocalist with Huey Smith and the Clowns in 1985.

[saturn]

Lena Horne recorded one of the true musical standards "Stormy Weather" on this day in 1948 on Victor Records.

Alan Freed was born on this day in 1922. Famous Disc Jockey with nickname "Moondoggy". He was fired while still on the air for a payola scandal, whcih rocked the industry. Until then he was rock & roll's first superstar deejay, hosting his own TV show, starring in numerous quickie film musicals, and wielding enormous influence within the R&B and rock communities. He died in 1965 in Palm Springs, CA.

In 1977, The Sex Pistols were refused entry into the USA two days before a scheduled NBC TV appearance. Johnny Rotten because of a drugs conviction, Paul Cook & Sid Vicious because of 'moral turpitude' and Steve Jones because of his criminal record.

Happy Birthday to Carmine Appice, age 60. He was the drummer for Vanilla Fudge and also a member of Beck, Bogart and Appice and the Rod Stewart band.

[Staxsun]

On this date in 2001, Joe Walsh is given an honorary Doctorate of Music from Kent State. The Beach Boys meet Maharishi Mahesh Yogi in Paris and learn Transcendental Meditation in 1967. James Brown is sentenced to six years in prison in 1988. Jermaine Jackson marries Berry Gordy, Jr.'s daughter Hazel in 1973. Glenn Yarbrough records "Baby the Rain Must Fall" in 1964. Happy Birthdays to Cindy Birdsong of the Supremes, 67, Doug Phelps of the Kentucky Headhunters, 66, Jerry Wallace, 78, and Mark Hummel, 51. Also born on this date were Jesse Belvin in 1932, Max Yasgur in 1919, John Hammond, Sr. in 1910, and Stan Kenton in 1911. Lost to us on this date were Rufus Thomas in 2001, Jackie Brenston in 1979, Fats Waller in 1943, and author Al Rose in 1993.

[saturn]

No. 1 Billboard Pop Hit on this day in 1987: "Faith," by George Michael. Billboard ranks the song as the No. 1 single of 1987.

Don McClean released the eight minute version of the classic "American Pie" on this day in 1971. It eventually hit #1 on the charts.

We were singing,
"bye-bye, miss american pie."
Drove my chevy to the levee,
But the levee was dry.
Them good old boys were drinkin’ whiskey and rye
And singin’, "this’ll be the day that I die.
"this’ll be the day that I die."

On this day in 1997, Nicolette Larson, the recording artist who lifted Neil Young's pop hit "Lotta Love" to chart tops in the 1970s, died from brain swelling at the age of 45.

Happy Birthday to Billy Gibbons, of ZZ Top, age 57.