This Date in Rock Music History: January 9

1961:  Comedian Bob Newhart reached #1 on the Album chart with The Button Down Mind Strikes Back!

1961:  Jerry Butler posted a seventh week at the top of the R&B chart with "He Will Break Your Heart".


          The talented piano duo with one of their biggest hits...

1961:  Bert Kaempfert had a #1 song with "Wonderland By Night", unseating Elvis Presley's "Are You Lonesome To-night?" after six weeks.  "Exodus", one of The Top 100 Instrumentals of the Rock Era* by Ferrante & Teicher, moved to #3 with "Last Date" from Floyd Cramer on the way down.  The rest of the Top 10:  The Shirelles with a song written by Stanley, Idaho's Carole King--"Will You Love Me Tomorrow" that moved from 14-5, Bobby Vee's "Rubber Ball" bounced into the Top 10, "Angel Baby" from Rosie & the Originals, Johnny Horton's "North To Alaska" was at #8 after 17 weeks, "Corinna, Corinna" from Ray Peterson edged up and Johnny Burnette placed "You're Sixteen" at #10.

1963:  Charlie Watts left Blues Incorporated and became the new drummer of the Rolling Stones.
1965:  John Lennon made an appearance on the satirical television show Not Only...But Also in the U.K.








         
                              Little Anthony & the Imperials...

1965:  The Beatles saw "I Feel Fine" record a third week at #1, holding off "Come See About Me" from the Supremes.  Bobby Vinton held steady with "Mr. Lonely" while the Searchers edged up with "Love Potion Number Nine".  Petula Clark had a hot new song with "Downtown", moving from 12 to 5.  It had raced up from #87 to #41 to #12 to #5 in just four weeks.  The rest of the Top 10:  "Goin' Out Of My Head" from Little Anthony & the Imperials, "Amen" by the Impressions, the Larks placed "The Jerk" at #8, the Righteous Brothers moved from 14-9 with "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin', jumping over "The Wedding" from Julie Rogers.

1965:  Beatles '65 moved from #98 to #1 this week on the Album chart, one of the only times in the history of the Rock Era in which one group owned three of the Top 10 albums.  The Beatles were also at #6 with the Soundtrack to "A Hard Day's Night" and at #7 with The Beatles' Story.
1967:  The Monkees released the album More of the Monkees.







1967:  Buffalo Springfield released one of The Most Important Songs of the Rock Era*, "For What It's Worth".
1967:  The Beatles supervised the recording of flutes, trumpets, piccolos and flugelhorn for "Penny Lane".
1969:  The Beatles ruled the U.K. Album chart with the White Album.  The Rolling Stones were runners-up with Beggar's Banquet while the Seekers were at 3 with Best of the Seekers.
1970:  Led Zeppelin was at the Royal Albert Hall in London on lead guitarist Jimmy Page's 26th birthday.

1971:  Elvis Presley was named one of the Ten Outstanding Young Men of the Nation by the United States Jaycees.

1971:  "Watching Scotty Grow" by Bobby Goldsboro was the new #1 on the Adult chart.
1971:  New soul act the Stylistics first appeared on the chart on this date with their first single--"You're A Big Girl Now".




        People often mistook this great group for the Beatles...

1971:  George Harrison's great new song "My Sweet Lord" continued to be the #1 song while Dawn moved closer with "Knock Three Times".  The 5th Dimension dropped from its peak at #2 while Santana was up to #4 with "Black Magic Woman" and the Partridge Family moved up with "I Think I Love You".  The rest of an excellent Top 10:  "The Tears Of A Clown" from Smokey Robinson & the Miracles, Chicago held on to #7 with "Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is?", the Supremes had song #8 with "Stoned Love", the Bee Gees shot up from 21 to 9 with "Lonely Days" and Barbra Streisand with "Stoney End".
1973:  Mick Jagger was refused a visa in Japan because of his arrest for drugs in 1969.  As a result, the Rolling Stones could not tour there.
1975:  The Beatles and Company partnership was dissolved in London's High Court.
1976:  Queen had the top song in the U.K. with "Bohemian Rhapsody".

1979:  The Bee Gees, ABBA, John Denver, Olivia Newton-John, Donna Summer, Rod Stewart, Earth, Wind & Fire, Rita Coolidge and Kris Kristofferson performed at the benefit A Gift of Song at the United Nations General Assembly in New York City.  All proceeds went to UNICEF.
1982:  Dare by the Human League returned to #1 on the U.K. Album chart.
1982:  "Let's Groove" by Earth, Wind & Fire was the #1 choice of the R&B chart.






                    "Edge of Seventeen" from Stevie...

1982:  Budding superstars AC/DC latched on to #1 on the Album chart with For Those About to Rock We Salute You.  Ghost in the Machine from the Police was second followed by Foreigner's 4, now in its 25th week.  Escape from Journey was another great release while Earth, Wind & Fire remained in the #5 position with Raise!  The rest of the Top 10:  Physical from Olivia Newton-John, Bella Donna by Stevie Nicks, the Rolling Stones were steady at #8 with Tattoo You, the Cars' new release Shake It Up was doing just that and Memories, the compilation from Barbra Streisand, was #10.
1984:  Van Halen released their landmark album 1984, or as they titled it on the cover MCMLXXXIV.
1988:  Michael Jackson made it three weeks atop the R&B chart with "The Way You Make Me Feel".
                   
                                       The Cougar Man was back...

1988:  The Soundtrack to "Dirty Dancing" was #1 on the Album chart for a ninth week but George Michael's Faith was giving chase.  Bad from Michael Jackson slipped a spot with the self-titled Tiffany making a move at #4.  Whitesnake politely swapped places and the new John Cougar Mellencamp--The Lonesome Jubilee was #5.  The rest of the Top 10:  Whitney from Whitney Houston, Pink Floyd's A Momentary Lapse of Reason, George Harrison's new album Cloud Nine entered the list and Hysteria by Def Leppard was just beginning to be discovered for the incredible album that it was.

1988:  Whitney Houston made Rock Era history with her record-tying sixth consecutive #1 song--"So Emotional".  That tied her with the Bee Gees (1977-1979) and she would set the all-time record with her next release.  George Harrison's "Got My Mind Set On You" moved to #2 with the previous #1 "Faith" from George Michael slipping.  







        "Forever In Love", from Kenny's great album 'Breathless'...

1993:  The Soundtrack to "The Bodyguard" charted a fifth week at #1 on the Album chart.  Unplugged by Eric Clapton and Breathless from Kenny G made their bids, followed by Timeless (The Classics) from Michael Bolton.  The rest of the Top 10:  The Chase from Garth Brooks, Ten from Pearl Jam, Billy Ray Cyrus with Some Gave All, a solid release from R.E.M.--Automatic for the People burst into the Top 10, Home for Christmas from Amy Grant was #9 and Hard or Smooth from Wreckx-N-Effect brought up the rear.
1993:  Whitney Houston had the top song on the R&B chart for a sixth week with "I Will Always Love you".
1993:  "I Will Always Love You" by Whitney Houston again topped the AC chart for the fourth week.
1993:  Peabo Bryson & Regina Belle had a fast-rising song (42-25) with "A Whole New World (Aladdin's Theme)".

               
                           Snap with their pulsating hit...

1993:  Whitney Houston had the #1 song for a seventh week with "I Will Always Love You".  Other notable songs within the Top 10:  Shai's "If I Ever Fall in Love", "In The Still Of The Nite (I'll Remember)" from Boyz II Men, Snap dropped with "Rhythm Is A Dancer", PM Dawn's former #1 "I'd Die Without You" was now #6 and Shanice moved to #7 with "Saving Forever For You".
1997:  David Bowie celebrated his 50th Birthday Bash a day late at Madison Square Garden in New York.  Guests included the Foo Fighters, Lou Reed, Sonic Youth, Billy Corgan and Robert Smith of the Cure.  Proceeds from the concert went to the Save the Children fund.

2001:  Creed captured Favorite Album (Human Clay), the Backstreet Boys won Favorite Group, Faith Hill was named Favorite Female Artist and 3 Doors Down was honored with Favorite New Artist at the American Music Awards.
2003:  A  Knabe grand piano that once belonged to Elvis Presley was  sold for $685,000.
2003:  Tommy Mottola resigned as chairman of Sony Music.

2004:  Tico Torres, drummer of Bon Jovi, and his wife Alejandra celebrated the birth of son Hector Alexander in Florida.

2005:  D'Angelo was arrested for drunk driving and possession of drugs outside of Richmond, Virginia.
2005:  If at first you don't succeed, try, try, try again.  Or give up.  Vince Neil of Motley Crue married Lia Gerardini in Las Vegas, Nevada, Neil's fourth marriage.  MC Hammer performed at the ceremony.
2005:  One day after what would have been his 70th birthday, Elvis Presley had the #1 song in the U.K. as "Jailhouse Rock" returned to the top after 48 years.
2009:  Dave Dee, who scored eight Top 10 songs in the U.K. (including the #1 "The Legend Of Xanadu" from 1968), died in Kingston upon Thames at age 67 after a three-year battle with cancer.  Dee was originally a police officer and was the one called to the scene of a car crash in which Eddie Cochran was killed.  (Note:  some websites say Dee died at age 65, but according to the newspapers  'The Independent' and 'The Telegraph', as well as the 'BBC', he was born in 1941 and died at age 67.) 

Born This Day:

1941:  Joan Baez was born in Staten Island, New York.










1943:  Jerry Yester, songwriter, singer and musician of the New Christy Minstrels and the Lovin' Spoonful and later an arranger and producer, was born in Birmingham, Alabama.  (Note:  some websites report Jerry was born on November 24, but they have Jerry confused with his brother Jim.  Jim was born in November 24, according to the book 'Where Have All the Pop Stars Gone?' by Marti Childs, Marti Smiley Childs and Jeff March.  Jerry was born January 9, 1939, confirmed by the book 'Sounds of Rebellion:  Music in the 1960s' by Brittanica Educational Publishing.)
1943:  Kenneth Kelly of the Manhattans ("Kiss And Say Goodbye") was born in Jersey City, New Jersey.
1943:  Roy Head ("Treat Her Right" from 1965) was born in Three Rivers, Texas.
1943:  John Walker (real name Scott Engel), singer and songwriter with the Walker Brothers (none of whom were actually related), was born in Hamilton, Ohio.
1943:  Dick Yount, bassist of Harper's Bizarre ("59th Street Bridge Song (Feelin' Groovy)")

1944:  Jimmy Page, songwriter and elite guitarist of Led Zeppelin, was born in Heston, Middlesex, England.

1948:  Bill Cowsill, lead singer and guitarist of the Cowsills ("Hair" from 1969), was born in Middletown, Rhode Island; died February 18, 2006 at his home in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.  (Note:  some websites say Bill was born in Providence, according to the book 'No Depression #77:  Instruments of Change' by Grant Alden and Peter Blackstock  and 'Rock Obituaries - Knockin' On Heaven's Door' by Nick Talevski, he was born in Middletown.  Numerous websites including 'Rolling Stone' magazine, list the date of death as February 17, but according to the reliable sources such as the hometown newspaper 'The Calgary Herald' and 'The New York Times', Bill died on February 18.)
1948:  Cassie Gaines, who with the female singing group the Honkettes was one of the backup singers for Lynyrd Skynyrd, was born in Seneca, Missouri; died October 20, 1977 when the plane carrying two members of Lynyrd Skynyrd and other members of the entourage including Cassie, crashed outside of Gillsburg, Mississippi. 
1948:  Paul King, lead vocalist and acoustic guitar player of Mungo Jerry ("In The Summertime" from 1971) was born in Dagenham, Essex, United Kingdom.
1950:  Steve McRay, keyboardist and harmonica player of .38 Special

1951:  Crystal Gayle (real name Brenda Gail Webb), the younger sister of Loretta Lynn, was born in Paintsville, Kentucky.
1963:  Eric Erlandson, co-founder, songwriter and lead guitarist of Hole, was born in San Pedro, California.  (Note:  several websites list Eric's birthplace as Los Angeles or Hollywood, but according to Erlandson's book 'Letters to Kurt', he was born in San Pedro.)
1965:  Haddaway (Nestor Alexander Haddaway), who had the hit "What Is Love" in 1993, was born in Port of Spain, Trinidad.





1967:  Dave Matthews, songwriter, vocalist and guitarist of the Dave Matthews Band, was born in Johannesburg, South Africa.

1967:  Steve Harwell, lead singer of Smash Mouth, was born in Santa Clara, California.
1967:  Carl Bell, songwriter and guitarist of Fuel ("Hemorrhage (In My Hands)"), was born in Kenton, Tennessee.








1978:  A.J. McLean of the Backstreet Boys was born in West Palm Beach, Florida.