This Date in Rock Music History: June 24

1957:  A keyboard-banging star first emerged on the charts. He would go on to score 18 hits in the early years of the Rock Era.  On this date, Jerry Lee Lewis debuted with his first single--"Whole Lotta' Shakin' Goin' On". 

1957:  It was a magical time on the R&B chart.  "Searchin'" by the Coasters, which would go on to become one of The Top R&B Songs of the Rock Era* with 12 weeks at #1, spent its third week at the top.
1959:  Ricky Nelson sang "I Got A Feeling" on his family's television program The Ozzie & Harriet Show.











1963:  A famous day in the Rock Era, as Peter, Paul & Mary released the Bob Dylan-penned classic "Blowin' In The Wind" on Monday, June 24, 1963.  (Note:  one naive website claims that the song was released in August.  "Blowin' In The Wind" debuted on the Singles chart on June 29.  It is physically impossible for a song to be included on the Singles chart if it has not been released as a single.)










1964:  Sam Cooke kicked off a two-week gig at the Copacabana nightclub in New York City.

1964:  The Beatles played the first of two concerts at Auckland Town Hall in New Zealand.
1965:  The Hollies had the #1 U.K. hit with "I'm Alive".

1965:  John Lennon published his second book--A Spaniard in the Works.

1966:  Janis Joplin performed for the first time as lead singer for Big Brother & the Holding Company at the Avalon Ballroom in San Francisco, California.  (Note:  for years, it was thought that Joplin debuted with the group on June 10, and several websites still report this.  However, Joplin only arrived in the Bay Area on June 4, and it is now the general consensus that it is unlikely she arrived, rehearsed with the band and then performed live in less than a week.  This thinking is supported by the fact that Big Brother was not on the bill on June 10.  They did, however, perform on June 24-25, as the above poster shows.)

1966:  Lynn, Massachusetts found out what it was like to invite the Rolling Stones to perform in their city.  The Stones debuted their tour at the Manning Bowl.  The experience was so pleasurable that police had to use tear gas on the crowd and thus all rock concerts were banned at the Bowl because of one very bad apple.

1966:  The Beach Boys lined up quite a show at their Summer Spectacular at the Cow Palace in San Francisco, California.  Jefferson Airplane, Lovin' Spoonful, the Byrds, Percy Sledge and the Sir Douglas Quintet performed for the crowd.




1967:  "White Rabbit" by Jefferson Airplane earned the highest debut of the week after being released on Monday, June 19.

1967:  The 5th Dimension performed "Up, Up And Away" on American Bandstand.
1967:  "Respect" by Aretha Franklin spent week #6 at the top on the R&B chart.








        
          The Association had the ability to give us classic after classic...

1967:  It was one of the best times in music history.  "Groovin'" by the Young Rascals spent a second week at #1 with fellow member of The Top 500 Songs of the Rock Era* "Respect" from Aretha Franklin still at #2 after a turn at #1.  The Turtles had a solid #3 with "She'd Rather Be With Me".  A third representative of The Top 500 Songs* was also in the Top 10 at the same time--"Windy" from the Association.  The rest of a great Top 10:  "Little Bit O' Soul" from the Music Explosion, Scott McKenzie moved from 20-6 with his anthem "San Francisco (Be Sure To Wear Flowers In Your Hair)", Jefferson Airplane's smash "Somebody To Love" was at #7, yet another big hit (Frankie Valli's "Can't Take My Eyes Off You") was moving into the Top 10, Spanky & Our Gang had song #9 with "Sunday Will Never Be the Same" and the Grass Roots scored their first Top 10 song with "Let's Live For Today".

1967:  The Beatles debuted at #8 on the Album chart with Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band.
1969:  "The Ballad Of John And Yoko" by the Beatles rose to #1 in the U.K.
1972:  Gilbert O'Sullivan was gaining attention with his release "Alone Again (Naturally)", which rose from #88 the previous week to #59 on this date.

1972:  "Lean On Me" by Bill Withers took over at the top of the R&B chart.











1972:  Cornelius Brothers & Sister Rose had a huge hit on their hands with "Too Late To Turn Back Now", which moved from 23 to 10.
1972:  Sammy Davis held on to #1 for a third week with "The Candy Man".








1974:  The Guess Who released the single "Clap For The Wolfman".












1974:  Lynyrd Skynyrd released the single "Sweet Home Alabama".

1975:  The U.S. attorney in Newark, New Jersey indicted 19 music business executives, including Arista CEO Clive Davis, on income tax evasion and payola.
1977:  The Jacksons owned the #1 U.K. song with "Show You The Way To Go".
1978:  If you were near England on this date, I hope you went to the concert at Knebworth Park.  Jefferson Starship, Genesis, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, the Atlanta Rhythm Section, Jeff Beck and Devo performed.
1978:  The O'Jays remained at #1 on the R&B chart with "Use Ta Be My Girl".

 

We all knew that "Baker Street" was better than the #2 that Billboard showed!

1978:  It was a pretty solid week for music with "Shadow Dancing" by Andy Gibb spending a second week at #1.  "Baker Street" by Gerry Rafferty would never get higher than #2; in fact it is one of The Top #2 Songs of the Rock Era*--it would spend six weeks behind Andy Gibb.  "It's A Heartache" from Bonnie Tyler was third followed by the former #1 "You're the One That I Want" from Olivia Newton-John & John Travolta.  The rest of the Top 10:  ABBA with their 11th hit "Take A Chance On Me", Carly Simon at #6 with "You Belong To Me", the O'Jays entered the Top 10 with "Use Ta Be My Girl", Sweet's dynamic "Love Is Like Oxygen" was song #8, Bob Seger scored a Top 10 with "Still The Same" and Peter Brown edged up one to #10 with "Dance With Me".





1978:  The album took over at #1 for Fleetwood Mac's classic Rumours on January 11, so that meant on this date Saturday Night Fever was spending its 23rd consecutive week at the top.  Feels So Good by Chuck Mangione was #2 followed by Gerry Rafferty's excellent City to City.  The rest of the Top 10:  London Town from Wings, The Soundtrack to "FM" at #5, So Full of Love from the O'Jays at #6, the Commodores reached #7 with Natural High, Bob Seger & the Silver Bullet Band entered the Top 10 at #8 with Stranger in Town, Jefferson Starship's fine album Earth was at #9 and Bruce Springsteen moved from 39-10 with Darkness on the Edge of Town.







 
            "Hold On Hold Out", the top track on Jackson Browne's new album...


1980:  Jackson Browne released the album Hold Out on Asylum Records.

1981:  Contrary to what you may read elsewhere, "Endless Love" by Diana Ross & Lionel Richie was not released on this date.  As shown earlier in the week on Inside the Rock Era, the song was released on Monday, June 19 so that radio stations could add the song and report the numbers to the trade magazines, who then would print their magazines and report on Saturday, June 24 that the song did well enough to debut on the chart, five days after its release.
1984:  Jimmy Page joined Yes on stage in Dortmund, Germany to perform the Beatles' "I'm Down".






1985:  It was a Monday on this date, and that meant new 45's for radio stations to play.  A great one arrived on desks on this particular Monday--"The Power Of Love" by Huey Lewis and the News. 
1988:  No one would want to be UB40 bass player Earl Falconer on this date--he had some things to deal with.  Falconer was sent to jail for six months after admitting to causing his brother's death in an automobile accident.
1989:  Paul McCartney scored a #1 U.K. album with Flowers in the Dirt.
1989:  Soul II Soul began four weeks atop the U.K. chart with "Back To Life".







1989:  Simply Red reached #1 on the Adult Contemporary chart with their remake of the great Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes song "If You Don't Know Me By Now".











1989:  Richard Marx had his fifth consecutive Top 10 song out of the gate and on this date, "Satisfied" became #1 for him.  New Kids on the Block were toppled with "I'll Be Loving You (Forever)".  Neneh Cherry challenged with "Buffalo Stance".  The rest of the Top 10:  Bette Midler's former #1 classic "Wind Beneath My Wings" was at #6, Donna Summer's last big hit, her 30th career hit and 14th Top 10--"This Time I Know It's For Real" was up to #7, Bobby Brown tumbled with "Every Little Step", Natalie Cole scored a Top 10 with "Miss You Like Crazy" at #9 and Waterfront were stuck at 10 with "Cry".

1990:  Perry Bamonte was the newest member of the Cure, replacing Roger O'Donnell on keyboards.
1992:  Donny Osmond began a year-long run by appearing in the musical Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

1994:  Metallica was in concert at the Ionia Free Fair in Ionia, Michigan .

                                                      Live's "Selling the Drama"...

1995:  Pulse from Pink Floyd debuted at #1 on the Album chart, knocking Cracked Rear View by Hootie & the Blowfish from the top spot.  The Soundtrack to "Pocahontas" was third, followed by the incredible album Throwing Copper from Live, in its 59th week on the chart.  Another excellent album, CrazySexyCool by TLC, was up to 5.  The rest of the Top 10:  It was easy by then to debut high on the chart due to lackluster music and Soul Asylum took full advantage with Let Your Dim Light Shine, the debut from John Michael Montgomery was at #7, Primus debuted at #8 with Tales from the Punchbowl, Boyz II Men were at 9 with II in its 41st week on the chart and the Soundtrack to "Friday" fell to #10.
1995:  Bryan Adams had his 22nd career hit "Have You Ever Really Loved a Woman?" at the top of the chart for a fourth week.  

1997:  LaToya Jackson filed a lawsuit against her husband/manager Jack Gordon alleging physical abuse.  (Note:  several websites claim Jackson were divorced on this date.  According to 'Jet' magazine, what happened on this date was Jackson filed a separate lawsuit against Gordon for alleged abuse.  The divorce was granted on March 3, 1998, according to official legal documents from the trial.) 

1999:  Eric Clapton raised over $5 million for his drug dependency treatment center in the West Indies and his Crossroads Centre at Antigua by selling 100 of his guitars.  The 1956 sunburst Fender that he used to write the song "Layla" fetched $450,000.  (Note:  some websites report the Fender was sold for $497,500.  According to Reuters news agency, the selling price was $450,000.)

2000:  The members of KISS must have spent all their money--they auctioned off memorabilia from their past tours that brought in $876,000 on the first day.

2000:  Natalie Maines of the Dixie Chicks married actor Adrian Pasdar in Las Vegas, Nevada.
2003:  Beyonce Knowles released her debut solo album Dangerously in Love.

2003:  For people who couldn't make the Hollywood Walk of Fame, the Hollywood Rock Walk was created.  On this date, Lou Reed was honored.

2003:  Michelle Branch released the album Hotel Paper.

2003:  In today's edition of "Inmates Run Rap Music", we find three members of Snoop Dogg's security team in familiar territory, being arrested for misdemeanor crimes at an awards show no less (the BET Awards in Los Angeles).

2004:  Due to the abundance of material on this date, you get an extended version of "Inmates Run Rap Music".  In our second segment, we find DMX arrested for drugs and weapons charges for stealing a car from the parking lot of John F. Kennedy Airport in New York City.
2005:  The White Stripes and Elvis Costello were among the performers at the U.K. Glastonbury Festival.  (Note:  Some websites claim that Coldplay, Brian Wilson and Garbage also played on this date.  The Glastonbury Festival was a three-day event.  Coldplay played June 25 and Wilson and Garbage played June 26.)
2006:  Kevin Richardson left the Backstreet Boys.  (Note:  one website claims Richardson announced on the group's website that he was leaving on June 23.  According to 'CBS News', Richardson made the announcement on Saturday, which in 2006 was on June 24.)
2007:  The White Stripes had the #1 album in the U.K. with Icky Thump.

Born This Day:
1939:  Oz Bach, bassist and co-founder of Spanky and Our Gang, was born in Paw Paw, West Virginia; died of cancer September 21, 1998.
1944:  Arthur Brown (leader of The Crazy World of Arthur Brown) was born in Whitby, North Riding of Yorkshire, England.  (Note:  'Allmusic.com' reports that Brown was born in 1942, so right away we know that isn't right.  He was born in 1944, according to the official website of Whitby.  Some websites say he was born in Whitby, Yorkshire, England and some say Brown was born in Whitby, North Yorkshire.  The name of the county became North Yorkshire in 1974 with the Local Government Act of 1972.  But that was 28 years after Brown was born.  In 1944, Whitby was located in the county of North Riding and you will never see either North Yorkshire or simply Yorkshire entered under his County of Birth on his official birth certificate.)  

1944:  Elite guitarist Jeff Beck, the #3 Guitarist of the Rock Era*, was born in Wallington, Surrey, England.  (Note:  some websites naively say Beck was born in Wallington, London, England.  Wallington was included in the county of Surrey until 1965, when it was included in the county of Greater London.  Beck was born 21 years prior to this change, so it is physically impossible for him to have been born in the county of London.)

1944:  Chris Wood, flute and saxophone player and co-writer with Traffic, was born in Harborne, Warwickshire, England; died of pneumonia in Birmingham, England on July 12, 1983.  (Note:  some websites report Wood was born in Quinton, Birmingham while some say he was born in Birmingham.  According to the official website for Traffic teammate Steve Winwood, Wood was born in Harborne.  Harborne is part of the county borough of Birmingham but it has its own official population.  Birmingham is not and has never been a county, and at the time of Wood's birth, Harborne was located in Warwickshire county.)

1945:  Colin Blunstone, the great vocalist and songwriter for the Zombies ("She's Not There") and Manfred Mann, was born in Hatfield, Hertfordshire, England.

1947:  Mick Fleetwood, the face and steadying force of Fleetwood Mac and great drummer, was born in Redruth, Cornwall, England.  (Note:  the notorious 'Allmusic.com' claims Mick was born in London in 1942.  According to the book 'The 100 Greatest Bands of All-Time:  A Guide to the Legends Who Rocked The World' by David V. Moskowitz, Mick was born in 1947 in Redruth.)

1948:  Patrick Moraz, progressive rock keyboard player of Yes and the Moody Blues, was born in Villars-Ste-Croix, Morges, Switzerland.

1949:  John Illsley, bass guitarist for Dire Straits, was born in Leicester, Leicestershire, England.
1957:  Terence Wilson of UB40 was born in Birmingham, Warwickshire, England.  (Note:  one naive website claims Wilson was born in Birmingham, West Midlands.  The county of West Midlands was not created until 1974, 17 years after Wilson was born, so it is physically impossible for him to have been born in the county of West Midlands.)
1967:  Jeff Cease, lead guitarist for the Black Crowes, was born in Nashville, Tennessee.  (Note:  some websites report he was born in 1957.  Although there aren't any credible websites for either date, our best research indicates Jeff was born in 1967.)
1959:  Andy McCluskey, vocalist and guitarist for Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark, was born in Heswall, Cheshire, England.  (Note:  some websites claim McCluskey was born in Heswall, Wirall, Merseyside while some say he was born in Heswall, Wirall, England and one website claims he was born in Liverpool, England.  Wirall has never been a county so that is out.  Heswall was part of the county of Cheshire until 1974 when it was included in Merseyside.  That was 15 years after McCluskey was born, so it is physically impossible for him to have been born in the county of Merseyside.)

1961:  Curt Smith of Tears for Fears was born in Bath, Somerset, England.

1970:  Glenn Medeiros ("Nothing's Gonna' Change My Love For You" from 1987) was born in Lihue, Kaua'i, Hawai'i.

1973:  Mario Calire, drummer of the Wallflowers, was born in Buffalo, New York.

Hits List: Stray Cats

One of the important cogs in New Wave in the early 80's, here was a talented group.  Their output is strictly confined to the 80's--here is the complete Hits List for the Stray Cats:

1980:  "Runaway Boys" (#9 U.K.)
1981:  "Rock This Town" (#9, #9 U.K.)
           "Stray Cat Strurt" (#3, #11 U.K.)
           "You Don't Believe Me" (#57 U.K.)
           "Little Miss Prissy"
1983:  "(She's) Sexy + 17" (#5, #29 U.K.)
           "Rebels Rule" (#90 U.K.)
           "I Won't Stand In Your Way" (#35)
1984:  "Look At That Cadillac" (#68)

1989:  "Bring It Back Again" (#64 U.K.)
           "Gina" (#88 U.K.)

This Date in Rock Music History: June 23

1958:  A new singer named Bobby Darin debuted on the charts with his first hit song--"Splish Splash", which eventually landed in the Top 10.

1960:  Paul Anka became the youngest performer (age 20) to perform at the Copacabana in New York City.
1960:  Eddie Cochran hit #1 in the U.K. with "Three Steps To Heaven" a little over two months after he had been killed in a car crash.  (Note:  Some websites claim the song reached #1 three months after Cochran died.  Eddie died April 17, which is barely over two months before the song hit #1.)
1962:  Orlons moved from 60 to 30 with "The Wah Watusi".
1962:  The Soundtrack to "West Side Story" was #1 on the U.K. Album chart.






1962:  Ray Charles made it four straight weeks at #1 for "I Can't Stop Loving You". 
1965:  The Supremes recorded the track "Love Is Like An Itching In My Heart".









1965:  Smokey Robinson & the Miracles released the single "Tracks Of My Tears".
1965:  The television favorite Shindig! featured the Byrds, the Kingsmen and Billy Preston.
1965:  The Yardbirds were in concert at City Hall in Salisbury, England.
1966:  The Beatles flew from London to Munich, Germany for the start of what would be their final world tour.
1966:  The Beatles made it 10 #1 songs in their native U.K. as "Paperback Writer"/"Rain" reached the top spot.
1967:  Aretha Franklin recorded "Chain Of Fools" at Atlantic Studios in New York City.

1967:  John Entwistle of the Who married Alison Wise.









1969:  Neil Diamond released the single "Sweet Caroline".  (Note:  one naive website claims the single was released September 16, while another says it was released June 28.  "Sweet Caroline" debuted on the Singles chart on June 28.  It is physically impossible for a record company to mail a single to radio stations, be received by radio stations, listened to and added to station playlists, reported to the trade papers and the trade papers printed and published, all on the same day, and even more impossible for a song to be included on the Singles chart if it has not yet been released as a single.  "Sweet Caroline" was released June 23.)
1970:  Chubby Checker was arrested in Niagara Falls after marijuana and drug capsules were discovered in Checker's car.









1972:  Johnny Nash released the single "I Can See Clearly Now".
1972:  Smokey Robinson performed with the Miracles for the final time in Washington, D.C.
1973:  B.W. Stephenson recorded the great song "My Maria".
1973:  "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy" by Bette Midler took over at the top of the Easy Listening chart.








1973:  The Spinners remained on top of the R&B chart for a third week with their great song "One Of A Kind (Love Affair)".

 

    "Great Gig in the Sky" from 'Dark Side of the Moon'...That's Clare Torry on vocal...

1973:  George Harrison's album Living in the Material World became the new #1, taking the place of Red Rose Speedway from Paul McCartney & Wings.  Houses of the Holy by Led Zeppelin was #3 with There Goes Rhymin' Simon from Paul Simon fourth.  The rest of the Top 10:  The Beatles 1967-1970 (The Blue Album) was #5, Diamond Girl from Seals & Crofts was at 6, Pink Floyd's The Dark Side of the Moon was in its 15th week on the chart, Made in Japan by Deep Purple was #8, They Only Come Out At Night by the Edgar Winter Group was #9 and Call Me from Al Green was #10.








1973:  The Doobie Brothers' smash "Long Train Runnin'" first hit the Top 10 on this date.
1973:  Paul McCartney & Wings remained at #1 for a fourth week with "My Love".
1975:  Jefferson Starship released the album Red Octopus.










1975:  Elton John released the single "Someone Saved My Life Tonight".
1975:  Alice Cooper fell off the stage in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada and broke six ribs.  Welcome to his nightmare.
1976:  Paul McCartney & Wings performed at the Forum in Inglewood, California.  It would be Sir Paul's last live appearance for 13 years.








1977:  Keith Moon of the Who joined Led Zeppelin onstage in Los Angeles, playing tympani on "Moby Dick" and "Rock And Roll".
1977:  The Eagles performed in concert at the Municipal Auditorium in Nashville, Tennessee.










1979:  "Shadows In The Moonlight" by Anne Murray remained at #1 on the Adult Contemporary chart
1979:  After a week at #2 on the Album chart, Supertramp wasn't going away; they returned to #1 with Breakfast in America.











                                                  The Ya-Ya's of sisterhood...

1979:  Donna Summer was about the hottest thing going, keeping her single "Hot Stuff" at #1 while also seeing the follow-up "Bad Girls" move from 11-5.  Sister Sledge had the #2 song "We Are Family", Anita Ward had #3 with "Ring My Bell" and Randy Vanwarmer had his only hit with "Just When I Needed You Most".  The rest of the Top 10:  Supertramp at 6 with "The Logical Song", Rickie Lee Jones had #7--"Chuck E.'s In Love", Kenny Rogers remained at #8 with "She Believes In Me", Earth, Wind & Fire and the Emotions teamed for the #9 song "Boogie Wonderland" and Rex Smith moved into the Top 10 with "You Take My Breath Away".
1981:  Robert Fripp announced a new King Crimson lineup as Bill Bruford, Adrian Belew and Tony Levin join Fripp in the group.

1984:  The late great Dan Fogelberg had the #1 Adult Contemporary song on this date--"Believe In Me".

      
                   "You Might Think", one of the top tracks on 'Heartbeat City'...

1984:  The album Born in the U.S.A. debuted at #9 on the Album chart, kickstarting Bruce Springsteen's career.  In fact, there were some great albums out at the same time (competition is important in evaluating success).  The Soundtrack to "Footloose" was #1, followed closely by Sports from Huey Lewis & the News at #2 after 38 weeks of release.  Can't Slow Down, the solid winner from Lionel Richie, was #3 with Cyndi Lauper's She's So Unusual sitting at #4.  The rest of the Top 10:  The Cars' great album Heartbeat City was at #5, Love at First Sting from the Scorpions was at #6, followed by Van Halen with 1984 (MCMLXXXIV), Thriller, still at #8 for Michael Jackson after 79 weeks, and Duran Duran remained at 10 with Seven and the Ragged Tiger.







                   People were getting out of their seats to dance to this one...

1984:  Duran Duran reached #1 with "The Reflex" in a pretty good Top 10.  Cyndi Lauper slipped after three weeks at the top with "Time After Time", Deniece Williams had #3 with "Let's Hear It For The Boy" and Bruce Springsteen moved from 9-4 with "Dancing In The Dark".  The rest of the Top 10:  "Self Control" from Laura Branigan, Huey Lewis & the News held steady at #6 with "The Heart Of Rock & Roll", the Pointer Sisters were climbing with "Jump (For My Love)", Prince was up 9 spots with "When Doves Cry", Steve Perry's first solo hit "Oh Sherrie" was at #9 and Billy Idol edged into the Top 10 with his great song "Eyes Without A Face".
1987:  Tiffany appeared in concert at the Bergen Mall in Paramus, New Jersey.  (Note:  several websites incorrectly report Tiffany was at the Paramus Park Mall.  She performed at the Bergen Mall, according to her official website.)
1989:  George Michael received the Silver Clef Award for outstanding contributions to British music.
1990:  "U (sp) Can't Touch This" by MC Hammer was #1 on the R&B chart.
1990:  Elton John reached #1 in the U.K. when the double-sided "Sacrifice" and "Healing Hands" topped the chart.
1990:  Actor Gary Busey, who played Buddy Holly in the movie The Buddy Holly Story, purchased one of Holly's guitars that was offered in an auction for $242,200.
1990:  "Across the River" was the highest debuting song (#63) by Bruce Hornsby & the Range.
1990: M.C. Hammer remained at #1 with the album Please Hammer Don't Hurt 'Em.  The Soundtrack to "I'm Breathless" turned up #2 with Sinead O'Connor chasing with I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got.  Another Soundtrack, "Pretty Woman", remained at #4.  The rest of the Top 10:  Poison by Bell Biv DeVoe, Brigade from Heart, Paul Abdul held steady at #7 with Shut Up and Dance (The Dance Mixes), the great Wilson Phillips debut was at #8, Depeche Mode checked in with Violator and Soul Provider from Michael Bolton remained in the #10 spot.










1991:  C + C Music Factory released the single "Things That Make You Go Hmmmm..."
1994:  Copacabana, a musical based on the career of Barry Manilow, opened at the Prince of Wales Theatre in London.
1996:  Bryan Adams had the top album in the U.K. with 18 'Til I Die.
2000:  Neil Young and Joni Mitchell were honored with a star on the Canada Walk of Fame.
2002:  Nelly began seven weeks at #1 with "Hot In Here".
2004:  Dave Navarro's website put forth a statement that Jane's Addiction had split for good.
2004:  The debuting was easy by this time in the Rock Era as the Beastie Boys had no problem getting to #1 on the Album chart with To the 5 Boroughs in its first week.
2004:  Bob Dylan was made a Doctor of Music by St. Andrews University in Scotland.
2009:  Chris Brown pleaded guilty to assault on his former girlfriend Rihanna.  Brown was sentenced to five years probation and six months community service. 
2010:  Gregg Allman had a liver transplant in Jacksonville, Florida.
2013:  Bobby Bland, who had 37 hits from 1957-1974, who also worked with Van Morrison and B.B. King, died in Germantown, Tennessee at the age of 83.  (Note:  some websites claim Bland died in Memphis, Tennessee.  He died in Germantown, according to his son in an interview with 'CNN'.)

2015:  James Horner, who wrote music for over 100 movies, died at age 61 in Los Padres National Forest in California when the plane he was piloting crashed.  Horner composed music for movies such as Titanic, Apollo 13, A Beautiful Mind , Avatar, Field of Dreams, The Lady In Red, Patriot Games, Star Trek II:  The Wrath of Khan, Star Trek III:  The Search for Spock and Aliens just to name a few.  Horner won the Academy Award for Best Original Song, shared with lyricist Will Jennings, for "My Heart Will Go On", and another Oscar for Original Dramatic Score.

Horner also wrote the songs "Somewhere Out There" for Linda Ronstadt & James Ingram and "Where Are You, Christmas?" for Faith Hill.


Born This Day:
1937:  Niki Sullivan, one of the members of Buddy Holly's backing band the Crickets, who co-wrote several of Buddy's hits, was born in South Gate, California; died April 6, 2004 of a heart attack at his home in Sugar Creek, Missouri.  (Note:  several websites claim Sullivan died in Independence, Missouri.  He died in Sugar Creek, according to Colin Larkin in the book 'The Encyclopedia of Popular Music'.)

1940:  Stuart Sutcliffe, bassist and the "fifth Beatle", was born in Edinburgh, Scotland; died of a brain hemorrhage in Hamburg, Germany on April 10, 1962.
1941:  Robert Hunter, who wrote the lyrics for Grateful Dead, was born in Arroyo Grande, California.  (Note:  some websites incorrectly say Hunter was born in San Luis Obispo, California.  According to the book 'The Complete Annotated Grateful Dead Lyrics:  The Collected Lyrics of Grateful Dead' by Hunter, David G. Dodd and John Barlow, Robert was born in Arroyo Grande.)
1944:  Rosetta Hightower, lead singer of Orlons (biggest hit:  "The Wah Watusi"), was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; died August 2, 2014 in Clapham, London, England.
1962:  Steve Shelley, drummer of Sonic Youth, was born in Midland, Michigan.
1965:  Paul Arthurs, guitarist for Oasis, was born in Burnage, Manchester, England.



1977:  Jason Mraz, who has charted several hits including "I'm Yours" from 2008, was born in Mechanicsville, West Virginia.

Hits List: Paul McCartney & Wings

This became Paul McCartney's group after the Beatles split up.  To achieve the success he did after the breakup, with Wings and then as a solo artist after that, is remarkable.  Here is the complete Hits List for the group:

1972:  "Give Ireland Back to the Irish" (#21, #16 U.K., #46 Canada, #17 Australia, #31 Japan)
           "Mary Had a Little Lamb" (#28, #29 Adult, #9 U.K., #41 Canada, #17 Australia, #13 New Zealand, #13 Netherlands, #41 Japan)
           "Hi, Hi, HI" (#10, #5 U.K., #5 Canada, #29 Australia, #20 New Zealand, #6 Netherlands, #26 Japan)

1973:  "My Love" (#1, #1 Adult, #9 U.K., #2 Canada, #5 Australia, #3 New Zealand, #12 Netherlands, #39 Japan)
           "Live and Let Die" (#2, #8 Adult, #7 U.K., #2 Canada, #5 Australia, #20 New Zealand, #29 Netherlands, #25 Japan)
           "Helen Wheels" (#10, #12 U.K., #4 Canada, #17 Australia, #14 New Zealand, #23 Netherlands, #56 Japan)
           "Jet" (#7, #7 U.K., #5 Canada, #2 New Zealand, #10 Netherlands, #39 Japan)
           "Mrs. Vanderbilt" (#41 Australia, #9 New Zealand, #7 Netherlands)

1974:  "Band on the Run" (#1, #22 Adult, #3 U.K., #1 Canada, #1 New Zealand, #7 Netherlands, #58 Japan)
           "Junior's Farm"/"Sally G" (#3, #16 U.K., #10 Canada, #12 Australia, #3 New Zealand, #77 Japan)--underrated.
           "Walking in the Park with Eloise" (credited to the Country Hams)
1975:  "Listen to What the Man Said" (#1, #8 Adult, #6 U.K., #1 Canada, #14 Australia, #7 New Zealand, #18 Netherlands, #46 Japan)
           "Letting Go" (#39, #41 U.K., #34 Australia, #64 Japan)
           "Venus and Mars/Rock Show" (#12, #12 Canada, #34 Australia, #99 Japan)
1976:  "Silly Love Songs" (#1, #1 Adult, #2 U.K., #1 Canada, #20 Australia, #8 New Zealand, #11 Netherlands, #66 Japan)
           "Let 'Em In" (#3, #1 Adult, #2 U.K., #3 Canada, #65 Australia, #13 New Zealand, #25 Netherlands)
1977:  "Maybe I"m Amazed" (live" (#10, #28 U.K., #9 Canada, #61 Japan)
           "Seaside Woman" (#59" (credited to Suzy and the Red Stripes)
           "Mull of Kintyre" (#33, #45 Adult, #1 U.K., #34 Canada, #1 Australia, #1 New Zealand, #1 Netherlands, #69 Japan)

1978:  "With a Little Luck" (#1, #5 Adult, #5 U.K., #1 Canada, #11 Australia, #14 New Zealand, #11 Netherlands)
          "I've Had Enough" (#25, #42 U.K., #24 Canada, #99 Australia, #13 Netherlands)
          "London Town" (#39, #17 Adult, #60 U.K., #32 Canada)
1979:  "Goodnight Tonight" (#5, #30 Adult Contemporary, #5 U.K., #2 Canada, #6 Australia, #6 New Zealand, #24 Netherlands, #77 Japan)
           "Old Siam, Sir" (#35 U.K.)
           "Getting Closer" (#20, #60 U.K., #18 Canada, #57 Australia, #29 Netherlands)
           "Arrow Through Me" (#29, #27 Canada)
1980:  "Coming Up" (Live at Glasgow)" (#1, #48 AC, #2 U.K., #1 Canada, #2 Australia, #2 New Zealand, #20 Netherlands, #66 Japan)


That's 24 hits for the group, with 14 of those going Top 10 and six #1's.  In the U.K., 23 hits, with 13 going Top 10 and one #1.