This Date in Rock Music History: January 14

1955:  Alan Freed's New York Rock & Roll Ball, featuring the Drifters, Fats Domino, Big Joe Turner and the Moonglows, kicked off at Saint Nicholas Arena in Harlem.

Little Richard from the Alan Freed movie Don't Rock the Boat...

1956:  Listeners became aware of a new talent who debuted on the chart on this date with his first single--"Tutti Frutti".  And Little Richard's career was born.
1960:  Elvis Presley was promoted to Sergeant in the United States Army.

1960:  G.I. Blues by Elvis Presley moved to #1 on the U.K. album chart.
1962:  The movie Teenage Millionaire, featuring Jimmy Clanton, Jackie Wilson, Dion and Chubby Checker, debuted in theaters.

1963:  Eydie Gorme released the single "Blame It On the Bossa Nova".

1963:  Charlie Watts made his live debut with the Rolling Stones at the Flamingo Jazz Club in Soho, London.

1966:  David Jones changed his last name to Bowie so there wouldn't be confusion with Davy Jones of the Monkees.

1967:  Cliff Richard announced that he was retiring from show business to teach religious education in the schools.

1967:  25,000 people attended the Human Be-In A Gathering of the Tribes at Golden Gate Park in San Francisco.  The event, featuring Jefferson Airplane, the Grateful Dead, Big Brother & the Holding Company and Quicksilver Messenger Service, was the forerunner of major outdoor rock concerts that were to follow.

1967:  The Monkees remained #1 on the album chart with their self-titled debut.  S.R.O. from Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass was second.
1967:  An amazing group was introduced on this date as the 5th Dimension charted with their first career single--"Go Where You Wanna' Go".

Great lead singer Levi Stubbs helps the Tops score their third Top 10 hit.

1967:  The Monkees held on to #1 for a third week with "I'm a Believer".  "Snoopy vs. the Red Baron" by the Royal Guardsmen would have to settle for #2.  Aaron Neville remained third with "Tell It Like It Is" while Boise, Idaho's Paul Revere & the Raiders moved from 7-4 with "Good Thing".  The rest of the Top 10:  Nancy Sinatra and "Sugar Town", the Mamas & Papas with "Words of Love", the Four Tops were at 7 with "Standing in the Shadows of Love", the New Vaudeville Band's former #1 "Winchester Cathedral", Frank Sinatra was down with "That's Life" and the Seekers exploded from 20-10 with "Georgy Girl".
1969:  The movie Monterey Pop, about the famous Monterey Pop Festival of 1967, opened in theaters.

1970:  Diana Ross performed for the final time with the Supremes at the Frontier Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada.
1972:  Paul Simon released his second solo album, his self-titled release.

1972:  Yes played at the Rainbow Theatre in London.

1973:  Phil Lesh of the Grateful Dead was arrested on drug charges.

1974:  Cher released the single "Dark Lady".
1978:  New soul group Raydio first appeared on the chart on this date as their first release, "Jack and Jill" debuted.

1978:  After 16 weeks, Player reached #1 with "Baby Come Bsck".  That ended three weeks at #1 for "How Deep Is Your Love" from the Bee Gees.  Dolly Parton found herself at #3 with "Here You Come Again", just ahead of Rod Stewart's "You're In My Heart".  The rest of the Top 10:  L.T.D.'s hot R&B song "(Every Time I Turn Around) Back In Love Again", Paul Simon was up to 6 with "Slip Slidin' Away", Shaun Cassidy with "Hey Deanie", former Fleetwood Mac member Bob Welch and "Sentimental Lady", Styx had their first Top 10 with "Come Sail Away" although they had many good songs previously, and Queen stopped at #10 with "We Are the Champions".
    
           "I Don't Want to Know", from Rumours...

1978:  Rumors by Fleetwood Mac posted a 31st week at #1 out of 47 weeks of release.  That record would stand for six years until Michael Jackson's Thriller and is still easily #2 in the Rock Era for weeks at #1.
1980:  Pink Floyd released the single "Another Brick in the Wall, Part II".

1980:  Rupert Holmes released the follow-up to "Escape (The Pina Colada Song)"--"Him".

1984:  Paul McCartney had the top song in the U.K. with "Pipes of Peace".

1984:  Kool & the Gang took over at #1 on the R&B chart with "Joanna".

           The Romantics with their biggest career hit...

1984:  Paul McCartney & Michael Jackson combined for "Say Say Say", #1 for a fifth week.  Yes was one step away with "Owner of a Lonely Heart", Hall & Oates backed down with "Say It Isn't So" and Duran Duran slithered down with "Union of the Snake".  The rest of the Top 10:  "Twist of Fate" from Olivia Newton-John, the Romantics held steady with "Talking In Your Sleep", Matthew Wilder and "Break My Stride", Elton John was at #8 with "I Guess That's Why They Call It the Blues", Culture Club had another Top 10 --"Karma Chameleon" and Lionel Richie scored his seventh consecutive solo Top 10 with "Running With the Night".

            Ronstadt changed her image yet again...

1984:  Thriller by Michael Jackson continued at #1 for the 24th week.  Other than albums on their way down, however, the competition wasn't great.  Can't Slow Down from Lionel Richie was the closest, with What's New from Linda Ronstadt and Synchronicity by the Police trailing.  The rest of the Top 10:  Metal Health by Quiet Riot, 90125 by Yes, Culture Club was at 7 with Colour By Numbers, Billy Joel's An Innocent Man remained in the #8 spot, the "Yentl" Soundtrack and Hall & Oates with their compilation album Rock 'N Soul, Part 1.

1985:  REO Speedwagon released the single "Can't Fight This Feeling".

1989:  Paul McCartney released the album Back in the U.S.S.R. exclusively in Russia.
1989:  Karyn White wasn't "Superwoman", but her song was, and it was the new #1 on the R&B chart.
1989:  Phil Collins registered a fourth week at #1 on the Adult Contemporary chart with "Two Hearts".

With vocals from Roy Orbison, the Wilburys and "Not Alone Any More"

1989:  Anita Baker earned a fourth week at #1 on the album chart with Giving You the Best That I Got.  U2's "Rattle and Hum" Soundtrack was second, followed by the "Cocktail" Soundtrack and New Jersey from Bon Jovi.  The veteran Appetite for Destruction was #5 after 73 weeks for Guns N' Roses.  The rest of the Top 10:  Don't Be Cruel from Bobby Brown, Def Leppard's Hysteria, still #7 after 74 weeks, Volume One from the Traveling Wilburys, Poison remained at 9 with Open Up and Say...Ahh! and Kenny G had #10--Silhouette.

1991:  Mariah Carey released the single "Someday".
1995:  Neil Young and Pearl Jam performed for the Voters for a Change benefit in Washington, D.C.
1995:  Solly McElroy, lead singer of the Flamingoes ("I Only Have Eyes for You") died in Chicago, Illinois at age 61.

1995:  Rednex from Sweden led the way on the U.K. chart with "Cotton Eye Joe".
1995:  "Creep" by TLC remained at #1 on the R&B chart for the sixth week.

1995:  With the resurgence back to the top on December 31, Boyz II Men now enjoyed their fifth week at #1 with "On Bended Knee".  Including their smash "I'll Make Love to You", the group had now been #1 in 18 of the last 20 weeks, the hottest streak for any artist of the Rock Era.
1997:  The Beach Boys were a guest on the television show Home Improvement.
2001:  Chaka Kham reunited with Rufus at the Barbados Paint It Jazz festival in Bridgetown.

2001:  Jennifer Lopez owned the #1 song in the U.K. with "Love Don't Cost a Thing".
2005:  A statue honoring the late Johnny Ramone was unveiled by his widow Linda at the Hollywood Forever cemetery.
2006:  Leif Garrett ("I Was Made for Dancin'" from 1979) was arrested for possession of drugs.
2007:  Back to Black by Amy Winehouse led the way on the U.K. album chart.


Born This Day--Birthdays of Rock Era Artists:
1928:  Jack Jones ("Wives and Lovers" from 1964) was born in Hollywood, California.

1936:  Clarence Carter ("Patches" from 1970) was born in Montgomery, Alabama.

1938:  Allen Toussaint, singer, songwriter and producer who worked with Paul Simon, Joe Cocker, the Band, the Neville Brothers and Lee Dorsey, was born in Gert Town, Louisiana.
1938:  Jack Jones ("The Race Is On" from 1965) was born in Hollywood, California.
1948:  T-Bone Burnett (Joseph), guitarist with Bob Dylan's band and producer with Elton John, John Mellencamp, the Counting Crows, Tony Bennett and others, was born in St. Louis, Missouri. 
1948:  Tim Harris, drummer of the Foundations ("Build Me Up Buttercup"), was born in Raddington, England.
1959:  Chas Smith, horn player for Madness ("Our House")
1959:  Geoff Tate, singer-songwriter and keyboardist of Queensryche, was born in Stuttgart, West Germany.
1961:  Mike Tramp, vocalist and the only original member remaining of White Lion, was born in Copenhagen, Denmark.
1965:  Slick Rick was born in London.


1967:  Zakk Wylde, elite guitarist for Ozzy Osbourne, was born in Bayonne, New Jersey.
1967:  Steve Bowman, founding member, songwriter and drummer with the Counting Crowes,
1968:  L.L. Cool J (real name James Smith) was born in Bay Shore, New York.

1969:  Dave Grohl, drummer and singer with Nirvana and the Foo Fighters, was born in Warren, Ohio.

This Date in Rock Music History: January 13

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1957:  Another magical day in the Rock Era as Elvis Presley went into the recording studio in Hollywood, California and recorded "All Shook Up".
1962:  These were indeed historic days in Rock History as Bob Dylan performed at the San Remo Coffee House in Schenectady, New York.
1962:  Cliff Richard topped the U.K. album chart with The Young Ones.
1962:  "Can't Help Falling In Love" by Elvis Presley moved to #1 on the Easy Listening chart.

1962:  "The Twist", which had reached #1 in 1960 for Chubby Checker, had found new popularity and on this date, became the only song in the history of the Rock Era to hit #1...twice.  Chubby toppled the classic "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" by the Tokens.
1963:  The Beatles recorded an appearance in Birmingham, England, performing "Please Please Me" for Thank Your Lucky Stars to be broadcast on ABC January 19.

1964:  The Beatles released the single "I Want to Hold Your Hand" in the United States.  And music was changed forever.

1965:  Bob Dylan recorded "Subtarranean Homesick Blues" at the Columbia Recording Studios in New York City for his upcoming album Bringing It All Back Home.

1967:  Jimi Hendrix performed at the Bag O'Nails club in London.  Paul McCartney & Ringo Starr both went to see the show.

1968:  Smokey Robinson & the Miracles reached #1 on the R&B chart with "I Second That Emotion".

Inside the Rock Era shakes your memory with the Lemon Pipers

1968:  The Beatles remained at the top spot with "Hello Goodbye", #1 for a third week.  In just four years, the group had spent 40 weeks at #1 with 15 #1 songs.  John Fred & His Playboy Band made their move with "Judy In Disguise (With Glasses)".  The Monkees' former #1 smash "Daydream Believer" was third, followed by Twin Falls, Idaho's Gary Puckett & the Union Gap with "Woman, Woman" and Gladys Knight & the Pips with "I Heard It Through the Grapevine".  The rest of the Top 10:  Aretha Franklin's "Chain of Fools", the American Breed moved to #7 with "Bend Me, Shape Me", Smokey Robinson & the Miracles slid to #8 with "I Second That Emotion", the Lemon Pipers had the #9 song with "Green Tambourine" and Joe Tex was at #10 "Skinny Legs and All".
1969:  Elvis Presley returned to the Memphis, Tennessee recording studio and recorded "Suspicious Minds".
1973:  Eric Clapton performed at Rainbow Theatre in London in a show organized by friend Pete Townshend to help Clapton shake alcoholism and heroin.
1973:  Carly Simon had the new #1 album with No Secrets as the long-running #1 Seventh Sojourn by the Moody Blues was now second.  Stanley, Idaho's Carole King dropped to 3 with Rhymes & Reasons while One Man Dog by James Taylor came in fourth.
1973:  Carole King rose to #1 on the adult chart with "Been to Canaan".

1973:  Elton John had his fourth Top 10 song with "Crocodile Rock", which moved from 13-9.

1975:  Bachman-Turner Overdrive released the single "Roll On Down the Highway".
1978:  The Police began recording their debut album at Surrey Sound Studios in London.
1979:  The Y.M.C.A. filed a lawsuit against the Village People for their song of the same name and the implications that men go to the recreational facilities so they can play with all the young men.
1979:  Donny Hathaway died at the age of 34 after falling 15 floors from his hotel room at the Essex in New York City.  His death was ruled a suicide.

1979:  Earth, Wind & Fire had the #1 R&B song--"September".  Will it make the Top 100 R&B songs of the 70's?  We'll find out in less than a month!
1979:  Al Stewart wrapped up 10 weeks at #1 on the Adult Contemporary chart with "Time Passages".

1979:  The Bee Gees ruled again with "Too Much Heaven", but former #1 "Le Freak" by Chic was making another bid for the top.  Billy Joel sat at #3 with "My Life" while Barbra Streisand & Neil Diamond's former #1 "You Don't Bring Me Flowers" was fourth.  Toto's first hit "Hold the Line moved nicely up to #5. 
1980:  The Beach Boys, Jefferson Starship and Grateful Dead played a benefit concert for the people of Kampuchea.

1986:  Inxs released the single "What You Need".
1986:  Heart went from 1980-1985 without a Top 10 but they released the single "These Dreams" in the hopes of scoring their third straight in one of the great comebacks of the Rock Era.
1990:  "Rhythm Nation" by Janet Jackson moved into the #1 position on the R&B chart.

                Bolton's remake of Laura Branigan's hit

1990:  Phil Collins remained #1 well into the New Year with a fourth week at the top for "Another Day in Paradise".  "Rhythm Nation" by Janet Jackson continued to e just off the pace while Technotronic's "Pump Up the Jam" was third.  Michael Bolton moved up with "How Am I Supposed to Live Without You" and the former #1 "Don't Know Much" from Linda Ronstadt and Aaron Neville was fifth.  The rest of the Top 10:  "Everything" from Jody Watley, New Kids on the Block continued to be satisfied with #7 with "This One's for the Children", Cher held on to 8 with "Just Like Jesse James", Taylor Dayne fell to #9 with "Every Beat of My Heart" and Lou Gramm, lead singer of Foreigner, had a Top 10 solo hit with "Just Between You and Me".
1993:  The musical ABBA:  The True Story opened in Stockholm.
1996:  Daydream by Mariah Carey was the top album for a sixth week.

                          Everything But the Girl..

1996:  Mariah Carey and Boyz II Men were a dominant #1 for a seventh week with "One Sweet Day".  Counting her solo #1 "Fantasy", Carey had been at #1 for 16 out of the last 17 weeks.  Everything But the Girl finally landed in the Top 10 after 23 weeks of release with "Missing".
2000:  In today's episode of Dangerous Inmates Run Rap Music, Puff Daddy was arrested and charged with weapon possession after he ran away from a nightclub shooting in December.

2000:  Christina Aguilera had the #1 song--"What a Girl Wants".
2003:  Tommy Mottolla resigned as chairman of Sony Music.
2003:  Pete Townshend, guitarist of the Who, was arrested child porn offenses.

2004:  Daniel Bedingfield ("If You're Not the One") was released from the hospital in New Zealand where he was recovering from a neck injury suffered in a New Year's Eve car accident.

2004:  The National Football League denied a request from Bono's U2 to perform "An American Prayer" with Jennifer Lopez during the upcoming Super Bowl halftime show.  Bono had hoped to raise awareness of AIDS in Africa with the performance.  The NFL's answer:  "We don't believe it's appropriate to focus on a single issue."

2005:  Ricky Martin toured the island of Phuket off of Thailand that had been struck by a tsunami.  Martin was there to draw attention to child slave gangs preying on children left orphaned by the disaster.  Losers.
2005:  A report showed that more songs had been written about Elvis Presley (220) than about any other artist.
2006:  In today's version of Inmates Run Rap Music, Juvenile was the arrestee in Ocala, Florida for failing to pay child support.  Loser.
2009:  "Little" Jimmy Dickens ("May the Bird of Paradise Fly Up Your Nose" from 1965) had brain surgery to repair a subdural hematoma.

              Rest in Peace, Teddy.  You're 100 times the artist that any rapper is.

2010:  Teddy Pendergrass died after a difficult recovery from colon cancer surgery.

Born This Day:
1930:  Bobby Lester of the Moonglows was born in Louisville, Kentucky; died of lung cancer in 1980 in his hometown.
1932:  Carl Dobkins, Jr. ("My Heart Is An Open Book" from 1959) was born in Cincinnati, Ohio.
1942:  Jinx Dawson, lead singer of Coven, who recorded a version of "One Tin Soldier"

1947:  Chris Thomas, producer of such great albums as Kick for Inxs and the Pretenders' debut album, was born in Middlesex, England.
1954:  Trevor Rabin of Yes was born in Johannesburg, South Africa.
1955:  Fred White, drummer of Earth, Wind & Fire
1957:  Don Snow, keyboardist of Squeeze ("Tempted") was born in Nairobi, Kenya.
1961:  Suggs (real name Graham MacPherson), lead singer of Madness ("Our House"), was born in Hastings, England.
1970:  Zach de la Rocha of Rage Against the Machine was born in Long Beach, California.

This Date in Rock Music History: January 12

1957:  Elvis Presley recorded "All Shook Up".

1959:  Here's inspiration for you aspiring business owners.  On this date, Berry Gordy borrowed $800 to begin the empire that has become known as Motown Records.
1959:  Jackie Wilson continued to reign over the R&B chart for a fifth week with "Lonely Teardrops".
1959:  "The Chipmunk Song" from the Chipmunks was #1 for a fourth straight week.  The Platters, amazingly enough, remained at #2 for the fourth week and were still in position to make a move to the top with "Smoke Gets In Your Eyes".  "My Happiness" from Connie Francis was third, followed by "Gotta' Travel On" from Billy Grammer and the Teddy Bears' big hit "To Know Him Is to Love Him".  The rest of the Top 10:  "Whole Lotta' Loving" from Fats Domino, Clyde McPhatter with "A Lover's Question", Elvis Presley and "One Night", the Everly Brothers dropped to #9 with "Problems" and Ricky Nelson had song #10 with "Lonesome Town".

1963:  The Beatles released their second single "Please Please Me" in England.
1963:  Bob Dylan performed in the BBC radio play The Madhouse of Castle Street.

1963:  Ray Charles logged a third week at #1 on the R&B chart with "You Are My Sunshine".

                 Bobby Vee was watching over the charts

1963:  Steve Lawrence, who already had a #1 adult hit with "Go Away Little Girl", made it official as the song took over at #1 on the popular chart.  Bobby Vee had a hot new song moving up (14-7) with "The Night Has a Thousand Eyes".
1964:  The Beatles performed "I Wanna' Hold Your Hand", "This Boy", "All My Loving", "Money" and "Twist and Shout" on the ATV show Sunday Night at the London Palladium.

1965:  Hullaballoo with host Jack Jones premiered on NBC.  The New Christy Minstrels and comedian Woody Allen were guests, while Brian Epstein, manager of the Beatles, introduced the Zombies and Gerry & the Pacemakers from London in a taped segment.  

1968:  Pink Floyd was at the University of Aston in Birmingham, England.

1968:  The Supremes appeared on an episode of Tarzan on NBC-TV.
1969:  Led Zeppelin released their debut album in the U.K.
1969:  The psychedelic movie Wonderwall, featuring the Soundtrack by George Harrison, opened in theaters.

1974:  You Don't Mess Around with Jim, the album by the late Jim Croce, reached #1 47 weeks after its release.  The Singles 1969-1973 by the Carpenters was second followed by former #1 Goodbye Yellow Brick Road from Elton John.
1974:  Aretha Franklin scored a week at #1 on the R&B chart with "Until You Come Back to Me (That's What I'm Gonna' Do)", taking over from Stevie Wonder's "Living for the City".
1974:  Barbra Streisand led the way on the adult chart with "The Way We Were".

Brownsville Station was checking to make sure the coast was clear. Nope, free road to cancer.

1974:  Newcomers the Steve Miller Band reached #1 with "The Joker".  Jim Croce slipped to #2 with his classic "Time In a Bottle" while Al Wilson showed strength among the heavyweights with "Show and Tell".  Brownsville Station surprisingly was at #4 with "Smokin' in the Boy's Room" and Gladys Knight & the Pips moved from 10-5 with "I've Got to Use My Imagination".  The rest of the Top 10:  Ringo Starr with "You're Sixteen", Barry White and "Never, Never Gonna' Give Ya Up", Stevie Wonder had #8--"Living for the City", Olivia Newton-John had another Top 10 hit with "Let Me Be There" and Paul McCartney & Wings were at #10 with "Helen Wheels".
1977:  The Police rehearsed for the first time, with Henri Padovani on guitar, at drummer Stewart Copeland's flat in London.

1980:  Stevie Wonder made it four straight weeks at #1 on the Adult Contemporary chart with his new love song--"Send One Your Love".

1980:  "An American Dream" by the Dirt Band and Linda Ronstadt was racing up the chart, up from 59-33.

1980:  Rupert Holmes went back for another pina colada, posting his third week at #1 with "Escape".  Michael Jackson moved one step closer with "Rock with You" while the Captain & Tennille were up to 3 with "Do That to Me One More Time" and Stevie Wonder held on to #4 with "Send One Your Love".  The rest of the Top 10:  Previous #1 "Please Don't Go" by K.C. & the Sunshine Band, the Commodores' big hit "Still" was up to 6, Kenny Rogers was on a roll and "Coward of the County" moved to #7, Kool & the Gang and "Ladies Night", Cliff Richard reached #9 with "We Don't Talk Anymore" and Styx's former #1 "Babe".

                        "Brown Eyes" from Tusk

1980:  Bee Gees Greatest, which indeed includes the cream of the crop from the group on a double-album set, was the #1 album, holding off another double release--On the Radio-Greatest Hits-Volumes I & II from Donna Summer.  Pink Floyd had their best album since Dark Side of the Moon, as The Wall moved from 7-3.  The Eagles continued to be strong in The Long Run and Stevie Wonder had #5 with Journey Through the Secret Life of Plants.  The rest of the Top 10:  Damn the Torpedoes from Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers, Cornerstone by Styx, Kenny from Kenny Rogers moved 15-8, Off the Wall from Michael Jackson was picking up steam after 20 weeks of release and the great album Tusk was still in the Top 10 for Fleetwood Mac.
1981:  Hall & Oates released the single "Kiss On My List".

1983:  Reebop Kwaku Baah, percussionist with Traffic, who also worked with the Rolling Stones, Eric Clapton, Steve Winwood and Ginger Baker's Air Force, died at the age of 38 from a brain hemorrhage in Stockholm, Sweden.

Crue began their first U.S. tour at Madison Square Garden in New York City.
1985:  Midnight Star's "Operator" ruled the R&B chart for the fourth week.
1985:  Actor Jack Wagner moved to #1 on the Adult Contemporary chart with "All I Need".

Springsteen's tell-it-like-it-is release reached the Top 10...

1985:  Madonna's first career #1 "Like a Virgin" remained there for a fourth week with "All I Need" from Jack Wagner closing.  "The Wild Boys" from Duran Duran and "Sea of Love" by the Honeydrippers both fell while Pat Benatar was able to remain fifth with "We Belong".  The rest of the Top 10:  Chicago and "You're the Inspiration", Bryan Adams at #7 with "Run to You", New Edition said to "Cool It Now", Julian Lennon had song #9--"Valotte" and Bruce Springsteen registered his fourth career Top 10 and third from Born in the U.S.A. with the title cut.

1985:  The Soundtrack to "Purple Rain" by Prince & the Revolution was #1 on the album chart for the 24th week, tying the Soundtrack to "Saturday Night Fever" for #3 all-time.  Only Michael Jackson's Thriller and Rumours by Fleetwood Mac remained #1 longer than those two.
1987:  Huey Lewis & the News released the single "Jacob's Ladder".
1993:  Creedence Clearwater Revival, the Doors, Sly & the Family Stone, Cream, Frankie Lymon, Dinah Washington and Etta James were all honored as new members of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame at the induction ceremony in Los Angeles.  Van Morrison did not show up for his own induction, becoming the first and only living person not to do so.
1995:  In today's episode of Inmates Run Rap Music, Snoop Doggy Dogg was arrested in Los Angeles for possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia.

1995:  AC/DC embarked on an 11-month tour, kicking it off at Greensboro, North Carolina.
1995:  A solid class was inducted into the Rock Hall of Fame:  Led Zeppelin, Neil Young, Martha & the Vandellas, Janis Joplin, Al Green, the Allman Brothers Band and Frank Zappa were accepted into the ever-expanding club.
1997:  Paula Abdul made her acting debut on the NBC movie In the Shadow of Evil.

1998:  A new class was inducted into the Rock Hall of Fame at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York City, some extremely deserving, others not so much.  The Eagles, Fleetwood Mac, the Mamas & Papas, Santana, Lloyd Price, Gene Vincent, Allen Toussaint and Jelly Roll Morton were all accepted as new members.  There's still a few that may have recorded or written a song at some point in life that still haven't been inducted, but their time is coming soon.
 1999:  Britney Spears released the album ...Baby One More Time.  
2000:  In a second episode of Dangerous Inmates Run Rap Music, the rapper who calls himself Ol' Dirty *@#*%& (which should tell you a lot right there...) was arrested after he failed to appear in Brooklyn, New York to answer crack cocaine charges.
2000:  Charlotte Church fired manager Jonathan Shalit.

2000:  Gary Barlow, singer of Take That, married Dawn Andrews on the Caribbean island of Nevia.

2000:  Sarah McLachlan was declared an Officer of the Order of Canada.

2001:  More news from troublemaker Liam Gallagher of Oasis.  On a flight from London to Rio De Janeiro, Gallagher refused to stop smoking and threw objects around the cabin.

2002:  Aaliyah, who had been killed in an August, 2001 plane crash in the Bahamas, rose to #1 in the U.K. with "More Than a Woman".

2003:  Maurice Gibb of the Bee Gees died at age 53 of an intestinal blockage in Miami Beach, Florida.  

2004:  Randy Vanwarmer ("Just When I Needed You Most" from 1978) died from leukemia at age 48.

2005:  The Strawberry Field children's home in Liverpool, made famous by the Beatles' song "Strawberry Fields Forever", announced that it was closing.

2005:  American Idiot by Green Day returned to #1 on the album chart.
2006: A bonus episode of Inmates Run Rap Music, we find another one in their home away from home.  Mystikal was sentenced to a year in prison for tax evasion.  Yeah, buy his CD's, then work like crazy so your can make up for him not paying taxes. 

2008:  Mary J. Blige had the #1 album with Growing Pains.
2010:  Shakin' Stevens was found guilty of hitting a photographer with a microphone stand during a concert.

Born This Day:
1926:  Ray Price ("For the Good Times") was born in Perryville, Texas.
1930:  Glenn Yarborough, singer with the Limeliters, was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
1939:  William Lee Gordon of the Oak Ridge Boys

1941:  Long John Baldry, instrumental in Britain in the early years of the Rock Era in signing several key people to be in his band Bluesology, including Elton John and Rod Stewart, was born in London.
1945:  Abe Tilmon of the Detroit Emeralds ("Feel the Need In Me" from 1973)

1946:  Cynthia Robinson, trumpet player with Sly & the Family Stone, was born in Sacramento, California.

1951:  Larry Hoppen, guitarist with Orleans, was born in Greenpoint, New York.
1954:  Felipe Rose of the Village People was born in New York City.

1959:  Per Gessle, songwriter and guitarist for Roxette, was born in Halmstad, Sweden.
1963:  Guy Chambers, singer, songwriter and producer ("Angels" and "Millennium" with Robbie Williams), was born in London.
1965:  Greg Kriesel, bassist of the Offspring ("Pretty Fly (For a White Guy)", was born in Glendale, California.

1966:  Rob Zombie of White Zombie as born in Haverhill, Massachusetts.

1968:  Raekwon of Wu-Tang Clan was born in New York City.

1974:  Melanie Chisholm of the Spice Girls was born in Whiston, Lancashire, England.

Red Hot Chili Peppers Postpone Winter Tour

Due to multiple foot injuries to lead singer Anthony Kiedis, the Red Hot Chili Peppers have had to postpone their winter tour of the United States.

Below are the original concert dates followed by the revised dates.




January 20 - April 2 - Sunrise, FL @ Bank Atlantic Center
January 21 - March 31 - Orlando, FL @ Amway Arena
January 23 - March 29 - Tampa Bay, FL @ Tampa Bay Times Forum
January 25 - April 6 - Charlotte, NC @ Time Warner Cable Arena
January 27 - April 4 - Raleigh, NC @ RBC Center
January 28 - April 7 - Columbia, SC @ Colonial Life Arena
January 30 - April 10 - Duluth, GA @ Gwinnett Center
January 31 - April 9 - Greensboro, NC @ Greensboro Coliseum
February 3 - April 12 - Memphis, TN @ FedEx Forum
February 4 - October 4 - New Orleans, LA @ New Orleans Arena
February 17 - August 14 - Oakland, CA @ Oakland Arena
February 18 - August 15 - Oakland, CA @ Oakland Arena
February 26 - August 11 - Los Angeles, CA @ Staples Center
February 27 - August 12 - Los Angeles, CA @ Staples Center
February 29 - September 23 - San Diego, CA @ Valley View Casino Center
March 2 - September 25 - Glendale, AZ @ Jobing.com Arena
March 4 - September 27 - Denver, CO @ Pepsi Center
March 6 - September 29 - San Antonio, TX @ AT&T Center
March 8 - October 20 - Houston, TX @ Toyota Center
March 9 - October 2 - Dallas, TX @ American Airlines Center
March 13 - October 24 - Tulsa, OK @ BOK Arena
March 15 - October 22 - Oklahoma City, OK @ Chesapeake Arena
March 16 - October 25 - Little Rock, AR @ Verizon Arena

Congratulations to Beyonce and Jay-Z

The couple's daughter Blue Ivy Carter was born on Saturday, January 7.

This Date in Rock Music History: January 11

1960:  Bill Black's Combo took over at #1 on the R&B chart with "Smokie - Part 2".
1961:  Connie Francis released the single "Where the Boys Are".

1963:  The famous Whisky-a-Go-Go first opened on Sunset Strip in West Hollywood, California.
1965:  The Beach Boys recorded "Do You Wanna' Dance".
1965:  Gary Lewis & the Playboys released their first career single "This Diamond Ring".
1965:  The Righteous Brothers appeared on three television shows in Britain:  Ready Steady Go!, Scene At 6.30. and Discs A Go-Go.

1967:  Jimi Hendrix recorded "Purple Haze".  He also signed a recording contract with Track Records.
1967:  The Hollies recorded "On A Carousel".
1968:  Jimi Hendrix moved into the townhouse in London where George Frederick Handel was believed to have composed "Messiah".
1969:  Pink Floyd released their debut album This Was.
1969:  For the fifth week, Marvin Gaye remained atop the R&B chart with "I Heard It Through the Grapevine".

             B.J. Thomas with this feel-good song from 1969

1969:  Marvin Gaye remained at #1 for the fifth week with "I Heard It Through the Grapevine".  Diana Ross & the Supremes joined the Temptations for the #2 song--"I'm Gonna' Make You Love Me" while Glen Campbell's "Wichita Lineman climbed to 3.  Young-Holt Unlimited remained in the #4 spot with "Soulful Strut" and B.J. Thomas moved from 10-5 with "Hooked On a Feeling".  The rest of the Top 10:  "Cloud Nine" from the Temptations, Stevie Wonder slipped with "For Once In My Life", Tommy James & the Shondells had a huge hit with "Crimson and Clover", moving from 17 to 8, Diana Ross & the Supremes were also at #9 with "Love Child" and Bobby Vinton reached the Top 10 with "I Love How You Love Me".
1969:  The White Album by the Beatles continued to be unstoppable, #1 for the third straight week out of just five weeks of release.  

1970:  Al Hirt played the U.S. national anthem at Super Bowl IV.
1971:  The posthumous album Pearl by Janis Joplin was released.
1971:  Chicago released the album Chicago III.

    (Please click on "Skip Video" after 5 seconds...

1975:  Led Zeppelin performed "Kashmir" live for the first time at the Ahoy in Rotterdam, the Netherlands.
1975:  Ringo Starr reached #1 on the adult chart with "Only You".

1975:  Carl Douglas chopped his way up the charts to land a #1 R&B song--"Kung Fu Fighting".
1975:  Elton John's Greatest Hits was #1 for the seventh week on the album chart.  Jethro Tull's War Child was second.  The only new entry into the Top 10 was Heart Like a Wheel from Linda Ronstadt.

1982:  Journey released the single "Open Arms".
1985:  A rock festival in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil included Rod Stewart, Queen, AC/DC, Yes, Whitesnake and Iron Maiden.
1986:  The Pet Shop Boys reached #1 in the U.K. with "West End Girls".

1986:  Lionel Richie reached #1 on the R&B chart with "Say You, Say Me".

1986:  Dionne & Friends (Dionne Warwick, Elton John, Stevie Wonder & Gladys Knight) moved to #1 on the Adult Contemporary chart with "That's What Friends Are For".

1988:  Belinda Carlisle released the single "I Get Weak".


1988:  George Michael released the single "Father Figure".
1990:  Paul McCartney performed the first of 11 sold-out shows at Wembley Arena in London.

1991:  "I Love Your Smile" by Shanice continued into 1991 the way it ended 1990--as the #1 R&B song.
1991:  Richard Marx enjoyed one of his biggest hits as "Keep Coming Back" remained #1 on the Adult Contemporary chart for a fourth week.
1992:  Paul Simon began a tour in South Africa, the first artist to perform there since the end of the United Nations cultural boycott.

                        U2's "Mysterious Ways"

1992:  Nevermind by Nirvana took over at #1 in a great Top 10.  Ropin' the Wind by Garth Brooks had already been #1, but was so strong it was ready for another try at the top.  Hammer's Too Legit to Quit was third, followed by the strong new release from U2--Achtung Baby.  The rest of the Top 10:  The previous #1 from Michael Jackson--Dangerous, Cooleyhighharmony by Boyz II Men after 33 weeks of release, Guns N' Roses owned the next two spots with their twin releases of Use Your Illusion II and Use Your Illusion I, Metallica remained at #9 with their debut and Michael Bolton slipped to 10 with Time, Love & Tenderness.

En Vogue enjoyed one of their biggest hits

1997:  Toni Braxton upped her total to six weeks at #1 with "Un-Break My Heart".  R. Kelly would have to settle for having a great #2 song in "I Believe I Can Fly" and En Vogue wasn't going anywhere with "Don't Let Go (Love)".  Keith Sweat moved up with "Nobody" while Whitney Houston registered the #5 song--"I Believe In You and Me".  The rest of the Top 10:  Blackstreet with "No Diggity", New Edition had #7 with "I'm Still In Love with You", Merril Bainbridge was at #8 with "Mouth", Az Yet reached #9 with "Last Night" and Celine Dion's 13th career hit entered the Top 10--"It's All Coming Back to Me Now".
1999:  In today's episode of Inmates Run Rap Music, Sean Combs and Dwight "Heavy D" Myers were found guilty of negligence in a 1991 celebrity basketball game that killed nine people and injured dozens in New York City.  For rap stars, even something as innocent as a celebrity basketball game can be highly dangerous.  Stay away.

1999:  Billy Joel was honored with the Award of Merit at the American Music Awards.

1999:  'N Sync captured the Favorite Pop/Rock New Artist honor at the American Music Awards.
1999:  Barry Pritchard, guitarist and singer of the Fortunes ("You've Got Your Troubles"), died of a heart attack in Swindon, Wiltshire, England at the age of 54.

2001:  Whitney Houston was stopped for possessing marijuana at Keahole-Kona International Airport.  And the Bobby Brown influence was just beginning.
2001:  Neil Sedaka underwent angioplasty in a New York City hospital.

2002:  Mickey Finn, percussionist for T Rex ("Bang A Gong" from 1972), died of kidney and liver problems at age 55.

2003:  Alan Whyte, drummer of Oasis, quit the group.

2003:  Paul McCartney had the top tour of 2002, bringing in $68 million.  The Rolling Stones collected $58 million for their coffers while Elton John grossed $57m.

2003:  Mickey Finn, percussionist for T. Rex, died at the age of 55 in London.
2004:  The bizarre Ted Nugent required 40 stitches when a chain saw cut his leg while filming his reality show.  Don't know why anyone with intelligence would want to watch that but to each his own.

               Matchbox Twenty lands distinguished honor...

2004:  Beyonce and Faith Hill tied for favorite female performer while Matchbox Twenty won favorite group at the People's Choice Awards.
2004:  Michell McManus rose to the top of the U.K. chart with "All This Time".

2005:  Jimmy Griffin, guitarist of Bread and co-writer of "For All We Know" for the Carpenters, died from cancer in Nashville, Tennessee at age 61.
2005:  Spence Dryden, drummer with Jefferson Airplane and New Riders of the Purple Sage, died of cancer in Petaluma, California at the age of 66.

2009:  Bruce Springsteen captured a Golden Globe award for Best Original Song for "The Wrestler" from the movie of the same name.

2009:  Lady Gaga had the top U.K. song with "Just Dance".

2010:  Leon Russell ("Lady Blue" from 1975) underwent five hours of successful brain surgery to repair an unspecified chronic condition.

Born This Day:


1895:  Laurens Hammond, inventor of the Hammond organ, was born in Evanston, Illinois; died July 3, 1973.
1924:  Don Cherry ("Band of Gold" from 1956) was born in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; died October 19, 1995 in Malaga, Spain from liver failure caused by hepatitis. Don's son is Eagle-Eye Cherry ("Save Tonight") and his stepdaughter is Neneh Cherry.

1924:  Slim Harpo ("Baby Scratch My Back" from 1966), guitarist and master of the blues harmonica, was born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana; died of a heart attack on January 31, 1970.

1935:  Chuck Barksdale, bass vocalist with the Dells ("Oh What a Night", was born in Chicago, Illinois.

1942:  Clarence Clemons, ace saxophonist with Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band, was born in Norfolk, Virginia.
1943:  Tony Kaye, original keyboardist of Yes, was born in Leicester, England.
1948:  Terry Williams, drummer for Bob Dylan, Tina Turner, Dire Straits and Rockpile, was born in Swansea, Glamorgan, South Wales.

1949:  Dennis Greene of Sha Na Na was born in New York City.

1958:  Vicki Peterson, guitarist of the Bangles, was born in Northridge, California..
1968:  Tom Dumont, guitarist and producer of No Doubt, was born in Los Angeles.

1971:  Mary J. Blige was born in The Bronx, New York.
1971:  Tom Rowlands of the Chemical Brothers was born in Kingston-upon-Thames, England.

Discography: Michael Jackson

I look at old clips of the Jackson 5 and granted, Michael had an amazing voice from the beginning, but who could have realized the amazing genius he would become, beginning with his fifth album Off the Wall.  Here is the complete Discography:

1972:  Got to Be There (#14, #37 U.K., #121 France)
            Ben (#5, #17 U.K., #12 Canada, #65 Australia, #162 France)
1973:  Music & Me (#92, #27 Australia, #108 France)
1975:  Forever, Michael (#101)

1979:  Off the Wall (#3, #3 U.K., #4 Canada, #1 Australia, #25 Germany, #8 Netherlands, #27 France)

1982:  Thriller (#1, #1 U.K., #1 Canada, #1 Australia, #1 Germany, #1 Netherlands, #1 France)

1987:  Bad (#1, #1 U.K., #1 Canada, #2 Australia, #1 Germany, #1 Netherlands, #1 France)
1991:  Dangerous (#1, #1 U.K., #3 Canada, #1 Australia, #1 Germany, #1 Netherlands, #1 France)
1995:  HIStory:  Past, Present & Future, Book 1:  (#1, #1 U.K., #1 Canada, #1 Australia, #1 Germany, #1 Netherlands, #1 France)
2001:  Invincible (#1, #1 U.K., #3 Canada, #1 Australia, #1 Germany, #1 Netherlands, #1 France)

Compilations:
1975:  The Best of Michael Jackson (#156, #11 U.K., #76 Australia, #3 Netherlands, #16 France)
1981:  One Day In Your Life (#144, #29 U.K.)
1983:  18 Greatest Hits (#1 U.K., #53 Australia, #23 Netherlands)
            9 Singles Pack (#66 U.K.)
1984:  14 Greatest Hits (#168)
            Farewell My Summer Love (#46, #9 U.K., #94 Canada, #90 Australia, #40 Germany, #47 Netherlands)
1986:  Anthology (#17 France)
1987:  Love Songs (with Diana Ross) (#12 U.K., #86 Australia)
1988:  Singles Souvenir Pack (#91 U.K.)
1992:  Motown's Greatest Hits (#53 U.K., #27 Australia, #6 France)
           Tour Souvenir Pack (#32 U.K., #83 Australia)
1997:  The Best of Michael Jackson & the Jackson 5ive (#5 U.K.)
1999:  The Very Best of Michael Jackson with the Jackson Five (#15 U.K., #41 Australia)
2000:  20th Century Masters - The Millennium Collection:  The Best of Michael Jackson (#27 Canada)
2001:  Greatest Hits:  HIStory, Volume I (#85, #15 U.K., #8 Canada, #44 Australia, #10 France)
2003:  Number Ones (#13, #1 U.K., #1 Canada, #2 Australia, #2 Germany, #17 Netherlands, #5 France,)
2004:  Off the Wall/Thriller (boxed set) (#87 Canada, #25 Australia, #65 France)
           Bad/Dangerous (boxed set) (#163 U.K., #27 Australia, #58 Germany, #85 France)
           The Ultimate Collection (#154, #75 UK., #29 Canada, #37 Germany, #46 Netherlands, #29 France)
2005:  The Essential Michael Jackson (#53, #1 U.K., #4 Canada, #1 Australia, #10 Germany, #10 Netherlands, #1 France)
2006:  Blood on the Dance Floor:  HIStory in the Mix/Invincible (boxed set) (#112 U.K., #125 France)
           Visionary:  The Video Single (boxed set)
2007:  les 50 plus belles chansons (#4 U.K., #14 Australia, #36 Germany, #4 Netherlands, #4 France)
2008:  King of Pop (#3 U.K., #5 Australia, #1 Germany, #1 Netherlands, #1 France)
           Gold (#139, #46 Australia, #60 Netherlands)
           Dangerous/Dangerous - the Short Films (#62 Australia)

2009:  The Collection (#14 U.K., #2 Australia, #2 Germany, #2 Netherlands, #1 France)
           The Definitive Collection (#39)
           La Legende de la Pop (boxed set) (#19 France)
2010:  Michael (#3, #4 U.K., #2 Canada, #10 Australia, #1 Germany, #1 Netherlands, #4 France)