Wednesday, March 7, 2012

This Date in Rock Music History: March 7

1956:  Kay Starr ("Rock And Roll Waltz") suffered a serious car accident after running a stop sign in Corona, California.  She was hospitalized with neck, arm and leg injuries.
1960:  Percy Faith remained perched at the top for a third week with the great instrumental "Theme From 'A Summer Place'".  
1964:  Al Hirt had the top Easy Listening song for the third week with "Java".












1964:  Those lucky enough to be alive were seeing history unfold before their eyes.  The Beatles, who had launched their American careers on The Ed Sullivan Show just weeks before, now had the #1 song in the land for the sixth straight week with "I Want To Hold Your Hand".  And that was how it all began.  Reinforcements came in the form of "She Loves You" at #2 and "Please Please Me" at #4 and soon, it was a full-scale invasion.  
1964:  Meet the Beatles, the second U.S. album from the group, was #1 for a fourth week with their first one, Introducing...the Beatles, in the #2 position.  Here was what the Rock Era sounded like prior to the Beatles:  Al Hirt with Honey in the Horn at #3, Peter, Paul & Mary with In the Wind, The Singing Nun with her self-titled debut, Nancy Wilson with Yesterday's Love Songs/Today's Blues moving from 13-6, the Soundtrack to "Charade" from Henry Mancini & His Orchestra, the Soundtrack to "Hello, Dolly!" moving from 25-8, The Wonderful World of Andy Williams and There!  I've Said It Again from Bobby Vinton.  Just in case you doubt that the Beatles changed music forever.











1967:  The Beatles recorded overdubs for "Lovely Rita" including harmony vocals and effects.
1967:  Sandra Dee received a divorce from Bobby Darin.
1970:  Sly & the Family Stone spent a fifth week atop the R&B chart with "Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin).








"The Only Living Boy in New York" on the incredible final album from Simon & Garfunkel...

1970:  The great album Bridge Over Troubled Water by Simon & Garfunkel moved to #1 after just four weeks, toppling Led Zeppelin II.  Former #1 Abbey Road by the Beatles was still a strong third after 21 weeks.  Willy and the Poorboys, the great new one from Creedence Clearwater Revival was fourth with Chicago II edging up to #5.  The rest of the Top 10:  The debut from the Jackson 5 (Diana Ross Presents the Jackson 5), Hello, I'm Johnny Cash, which moved from 13-7, Was Captured Live at the Forum by Three Dog Night, the self-titled Engelbert Humperdinck and Santana at #10 with their self-titled release.








                        The Chairmen of the Board with their first single...

1970:  Simon & Garfunkel's new single "Bridge Over Troubled Water" had been out for five weeks and two of those were at 1.  The world's favorite #2 band--CCR was in their familiar position with their double-sided "Travelin' Band"/"Who'll Stop The Rain", Sly & the Family Stone's former #1 "Thank You" was now third but Brook Benton headed up strong (9-4) with "Rainy Night In Georgia".  The rest of the Top 10:  "Hey There Lonely Girl" from Eddie Holman, the Tee Set's one and only hit--"Ma Belle Amie", the Jaggerz headed into the Top 10 with "The Rapper" (the good kind--long before a group of misfits ruined the word...), Chairmen of the Board moved from 16 to 8 with "Give Me Just A Little More Time", B.J. Thomas was still in the Top 10 after 19 weeks with his #1 classic "Raindrops Keep Fallin' On My Head" and the Hollies were making their own story as "He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother" jumped from 17 to 10.
1971:  Harold McNair, saxophone and flute player who worked with Quincy Jones, Donovan, Melanie and Ginger Baker's Air Force, died of lung cancer in Westminster, London, England at age 39.  (Note:  some websites report that McNair died in London, or in Maida Vale, London, England.  Maida Vale is a residential district, not a city.  It is located in the city of Westminster, which is in the county of London.)
1973:  While new signee Bruce Springsteen was giving a performance to celebrate his contract with Columbia Records, A&R man John Hammond suffered a heart attack.  John just got a little excited when the dollar signs started floating around in his head.
1976:  A likeness of Elton John was unveiled at Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum in London.  Elton was the first rock star to be so honored since the Beatles.








1977:  Boz Scaggs released the single "Lido Shuffle".









   
             Benatar's remake of a Rascals song helped fuel sales.

1981:  REO Speedwagon was #1 on the Album chart with Hi Infidelity for the third straight week.  Double Fantasy remained second from the late John Lennon, "The Jazz Singer" Soundtrack by Neil Diamond came in third, just ahead of Styx with Paradise Theater.  The rest of the Top 10: Zenyatta Mondatta from the Polica, Crimes of Passion from Pat Benatar, Blondie's Autoamerican, Kenny Rogers' Greatest Hits at #8, AC/DC was still in the Top 10 after 29 weeks with Back In Black and Kool and the Gang entered the list with Celebrate!













1985:  U.S.A. for Africa released the charity single "We Are The World".











1987:  Bon Jovi controlled the chart for a fourth week with "Livin' On A Prayer".  Huey Lewis & the News had a solid #2 with "Jacob's Ladder" while the Jets were up to 3 with "You Got It All".  Bruce Hornsby & the Range moved from 12-9 with "Mandolin Rain" and Janet Jackson had her fifth career Top 10 with "Let's Wait Awhile".
1987:  The Jets had the #1 R&B song with "You Got It All".









1988:  Gloria Estefan and the Miami Sound Machine released the single "Anything For You".
1988:  Gordon Huntley, pedal steel guitarist who was a member of Matthews Southern Comfort and also played for Elton John, Rod Stewart, Cliff Richard and others, died of cancer.
1992:  Michael Jackson moved to #1 on the R&B chart with "Remember The Time".        






     
                                               Grant had hit the mainstream...

1992:  Three new songs moved into the Top 10 and upped the quality--"Save The Best For Last" from Vanessa Williams at #5, Eric Clapton's "Tears In Heaven" at #6 and Amy Grant edged in at #10 with "Good For Me".
1992:  "Missing You Now" by Michael Bolton and Kenny G. moved to #1 on the Adult Contemporary chart.
1994:  The United States Supreme Court ruled that parodies that make fun of an original work can be considered "fair use" and do not require permission from the copyright holder.








1998:  Madonna had her eighth #1 song in the U.K. with "Frozen".
2001:  Jerry Collins, formerly with the Trammps ("Disco Inferno") was convicted of attempted murder and two counts of aggravated assault of his wife.
2004:  Britney Spears rose to #1 in the U.K. with "Toxic".
2009:  In today's edition of Inmates Run Rap Music, Coolio, whose real name is the rather plain Artis Leon Ivey Jr., was arrested for possession of crack cocaine at Los Angeles International Airport.
2013:  Peter Banks, guitarist, singer and keyboardist with Yes, died in London of heart failure at the age of 65.


Born This Day:
1942:  Hamilton Bohannon, drummer and bandleader for Motown Records, was born in Newman, Georgia.
1943: Chris White, songwriter and bassist of the Zombies and Argent ("Hold Your Head Up"), was born in Barnet, Hertfordshire, England.

1946:  Peter Wolf (real name Peter Blankfield), lead singer of the J. Geils Band ("Freeze-Frame") was born in the Bronx, New York.  (Note:  'Allmusic.com says Wolf was born in New York City.  United Press International states Peter was born in the Bronx.  UPI is far more professional and more credible.)
1946:  Matthew Fisher, singer-songwriter and organist of Procol Harum ("A Whiter Shade Of Pale"), and a producer, was born in Addiscombe, Croydon, England.
1952: Ernie Isley of the Isley Brothers was born in Cincinnati, Ohio.
1952: Jules Shear, who wrote "All Through The Night" for Cyndi Lauper and "If She Knew What She Wants" for the Bangles, was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
1962: Taylor Dayne (real name Leslie Wunderman) was born in Baldwin, New York.  (Note:  some websites mistakenly list her birthplace as Long Island, New York, or Baldwin, Long Island, New York.  Baldwin is a hamlet and census-designated area.  If one were to write someone living in Baldwin, they would use Baldwin, New York as the city and state.  Long Island is not a state, nor it is a city (as those who report Long Island, New York as Dayne's birthplace say); it is an island within the state of New York.)
1967:  Randy Guss of Toad the Wet Sprocket

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