This Date in Rock Music History: February 9

1957:  A new star first appeared on the radio.  On this date, Johnny Mathis had his first hit "Wonderful!  Wonderful!" debut on the chart.

1957:  "Blue Monday" by Fats Domino was the top R&B song for a third week.
1959:  Frankie Avalon had to bow out of the ill-fated Winter Dance Party (that had already claimed the lives of Buddy Holly, Richie Valens and the Big Bopper) due to pneumonia, replaced by Paul Anka and Fabian.

1959:  "Stagger Lee" by Lloyd Price moved to #1 on the R&B chart.

1959:  The Coasters had a big hit out as "Charlie Brown" moved from 69 to 29.
1959:  Lloyd Price jumped to #1 with "Stagger Lee".
1961:  The Beatles made their first appearance at the Cavern Club in Liverpool, England under their new name.








1962:  Neil Sedaka recorded "Breaking Up Is Hard To Do".
1962:  Bobby Darin was a guest on the popular television show What's My Line.  (Note:  numerous websites state that Bobby Darin was a guest on the program on December 9, 1964.  The correct date is February 9, 1964, according to the official website for Bobby Darin.)1963:  "Two Lovers" by Mary Wells wrapped up a four-week run at #1 on the R&B chart.
1963:  The Rooftop Singers remained on top for a third week on the Easy Listening chart with "Walk Right In".







The 4 Seasons with one of the great sounds of the early 60's...

1963:  Paul & Paula had the new #1 song with "Hey Paula".  That meant someone had to fall and on this day it was the Rooftop Singers.  Bobby Vee's excellent "The Night Has A Thousand Eyes" remained third with "Loop De Loop" from Johnny Thunder next.  The rest of a great Top 10:  The 4 Seasons vaulted from 15 to 6 with one of their signature hits--"Walk Like A Man", Dion moved from 12-7 with "Ruby Baby", the Miracles climbed in with "You've Really Got A Hold On Me", the Cascades' great song "Rhythm Of The Rain" shot up from 19 to 9 and Steve Lawrence fell with "Go Away Little Girl".

1968:  Hal Cone, former manager of the Monkees, was found guilty of theft, forgery, receiving stolen property and conspiracy.

1971:  Bobby Darin had surgery in Los Angeles to replace a bad heart valve.  He survived this operation but would die later while undergoing another.
1972:  Bobby Darin starred on an episode of Night Gallery on NBC-TV.

1972:  Wings made their live debut at Nottingham University in England.  Brinsley Swartz opened the show.
1974:  A new act from Philadelphia first appeared on the chart and on the radio with their debut single release ("She's Gone").  It wouldn't become a hit until two years later when they re-released it.  They would go on to become one of The Top Duos of the Rock Era*--Hall & Oates.

1974:  "Waterloo" by Abba was chosen to represent Sweden in the Eurovision Song Contest.  It of course won and helped launch them as one of the top international super acts of the Rock Era.
1974:  Anne Murray reached #1 on the Adult chart with "Love Song".
1974:  Eddie Kendricks had himself a #1 R&B song with "Boogie Down".










1974:  John Denver appeared to have his second big hit as "Sunshine On My Shoulders" moved from #77 to 51.
1974:  The beautiful "Love's Theme" by Love Unlimited Orchestra was the new #1 song, with Barbra Streisand's "The Way We Were" dropping for now.
1975:  Cher debuted her television variety series with guests Elton John and Bette Midler.









1976:  Percy Faith, bandleader, composer and conductor who gave us "Theme From 'A Summer Place'", not only Record of the Year in 1961 and one of The Top 5 Instrumentals of the Rock Era* but also one of The Top 100 Songs of the Rock Era*, died of cancer at age 67 in Encino, California.  (Note:  several websites, including 'Allmusic.com', falsely report his place of death as Los Angeles.  According to credible sources such as the newspaper 'The Los Angeles Times', Faith died in Encino.)










1980:  A great new group from Australia was introduced to us on this date as Air Supply first appeared on the chart and on the radio with their debut single--"Lost In Love".
1980:  "Rock With You" topped the R&B chart for Michael Jackson for a sixth week.
1980:  Dan Fogelberg scored a #1 on the Adult Contemporary chart with one of The Top Love Songs of the Rock Era*--"Longer".







         Stevie Nicks on lead for Fleetwood Mac's "Sara"...

1980:  Michael Jackson had by far his biggest solo hit to date as "Rock With You" remained at #1 for a fourth week.  The Captain & Tennille would have to settle for #2 for a fourth week with "Do That To Me One More Time".  Kenny Rogers was still a solid #3 and many radio stations had "Coward Of The County" #1.  Smokey Robinson's biggest career solo hit "Cruisin'" was fourth with Queen holding their ground with "Crazy Little Thing Called Love".  The rest of the Top 10:  Teri DeSario with K.C. and "Yes, I'm Ready", Fleetwood Mac's "Sara"--it too was much higher in most markets, the Eagles remained at #8 with "The Long Run", Dan Fogelberg's breakthrough hit "Longer" moved from 17 to 9 and Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers were content at #10 with "Don't Do Me Like That".

             The Eagles with one of 'The Top Album Tracks of the Rock Era'*--"In the City"...

1980:  Pink Floyd notched a fourth week at #1 on the Album chart with The Wall.  Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers finally had their breakthrough with Damn the Torpedoes and the Eagles' great album The Long Run was third.  Michael Jackson (Off the Wall), Kenny Rogers (Kenny) and Dan Fogelberg (Phoenix) held their ground.  The rest of the Top 10:  On the Radio-Greatest Hits-Volumes I & II from Donna Summer, the superb Tusk album by Fleetwood Mac, Bee Gees Greatest at #9 and Styx re-entered the Top 10 with Cornerstone.









1981:  Bill Haley, whose song "Rock Around The Clock" not only officially started the Rock Era but remains one of The Top 100 Songs of the Rock Era*, died of a heart attack at his home in Harlingen, Texas at age 56.











1985:  Howard Jones released the single "Things Can Only Get Better".
1985:  All signs pointed to a huge hit for Wham!  with "Careless Whisper" and it jumped to the top of the Adult Contemporary chart.









      
   The great Fogerty made a huge comeback with "The Old Man Down the Road".

1985:  Madonna rose to #1 on the Album chart with Like a Virgin.  Previous #1 Born in the U.S.A. by Bruce Springsteen would greatly outlast Madonna's album in the long run.  Wham!  moved to 3 with Make It Big while Foreigner's Agent Provocateur locked on to the #4 spot.  The rest of the Top 10:  Prince with the Soundtrack to "Purple Rain", Chicago 17, New Edition with their self-titled album, Bryan Adams and Reckless, Tina Turners's great album Private Dancer was ninth after 35 weeks and former CCR leader John Fogerty was back with Centerfield, which jumped from 21 to 10 in its third week of release.








                        Ocean was back with another smash...

1985:  Foreigner's great song "I Want To Know What Love Is" was #1 for a second week.  Phillip Bailey from Earth, Wind & Fire teamed with Phil Collins for "Easy Lover" while Wham!  was third with "Careless Whisper".  Billy Ocean had another winner with "Loverboy" and Don Henley glided into the #5 position with "The Boys Of Summer".  The rest of a solid Top 10:  Chicago's "You're The Inspiration", Hall & Oates and "Method Of Modern Love", the Pointer Sisters reached #8 with "Neutron Dance", Madonna wasn't "Like a Virgin" and Prince dropped with "I Would Die 4 (sic) U (sic)".
1986:  Pete Townshend, lead guitarist of the Who, and Chrissie Hynde, lead singer of the Pretenders played a charity concert at Royal Albert Hall in London for victims of a volcanic eruption in Columbia.
1991:  Jesus Jones had the top album in the U.K.--Doubt.

1991:  C&C Music Factory climbed on top with "Gonna' Make You Sweat".  Surface fell after two weeks with "The First Time" while Whitney Houston moved from 8 to 3 with her latest--"All The Man That I Need".

1993:  Mick Jagger, lead singer of the Rolling Stones, released his solo album Wandering Spirit.

1998:  Garth Brooks donated all earnings from his album Sevens for a seven-day period to Oprah Winfrey's Angel Network.














2002:  The top selling albums in the world of 2001 were No Angel by Dido ($8.6m), Hybrid by Linkin Park ($8.5m), Survivor by Destiny's Child ($7.8m),  Hotshot from Shaggy ($7.2m) and Britney by Britney Spears ($7m too much).
2003:  Kelly Rowland had the #1 album in the U.K. with Simply Deep.

2004:  Diana Ross was convicted of driving under the influence in Tucson, Arizona and was ordered to spend two days in jail.

2005:  Roger Daltrey, lead singer of the Who, was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire at Buckingham Palace in London.

2005:  Tyrone Davis ("Turn Back The Hands Of Time" from 1970) died in Chicago, Illinois of a stroke at the age of 66.
2005:  The artist the Game had the #1 album with The Documentary while Tina Turner's compilation All the Best was second.
2010:  Bob Dylan, Smokey Robinson, John Cougar Mellencamp, Natalie Cole and Joan Baez performed for U.S. President Barack Obama at the White House for "A Celebration of Music from the Civil Rights Movement" during Black History Month.

Born This Day:

1925:  Bobby Lewis, who himself had another of the great early rock songs ("Tossin' And Turnin'" from 1961), was born in Indianapolis, Indiana.  (Note:  several websites report that Day was born on either February 16 or February 17, and some say his birth year was 1927 or 1933.  The correct birthday is February 17, 1925, according to an interview Bobby gave in 2010.)



 

Barry Mann with wife Cynthia Weil and Carole King...

1939:  Barry Mann, who along with wife Cynthia Weil wrote scores of great songs including "On Broadway" for the Drifters, "You've Lost That Lovin' Feeling" and "(You're My) Soul And Inspiration" by the Righteous Brothers, "Kicks" and "Hungry" for Paul Revere & the Raiders, "We've Gotta' Get Out Of This Place" by the Animals, "Walkin' In The Rain" by the Ronettes, and "Blame It On The Bossa Nova" by Eydie Gorme, and many more, was born in Brooklyn, New York.
1940:  Brian Bennett, drummer of the Shadows, was born in Palmers Green, North London.  (Note:  some websites report that he was born in Hampstead, England, or simply London.  Palmers Green is a suburb of London, and Bennette was born there, according to the 'BBC'.)

1942:  Stanley, Idaho's Carole King, star performer who gave us one of The Top 10 Albums of the Rock Era*--Tapestry and is one of the top songwriters of the Rock Era, was born in Brooklyn, New York.  (Note:  some websites report that Carole was born in Manhattan.  According to her official website, she was born in Brooklyn.)

1943:  Barbara Lewis ("Hello Stranger" from 1963) was born in South Lyon, Michigan.  (Note:  'Allmusic.com' and other websites report that Barbara was born in South Lyon.  This is not the truth.  She was born in Salem, Michigan, and went to high school in South Lyon, according to the book 'Grit, Noise, & Revolution:  The Birth of Detroit Rock 'n' Roll' by David A. Carson.) 1947:  Major Harris of the Delfonics and a solo artist ("Love Won't Let Me Wait"), was born in Richmond, Virginia; died of congestive heart and lung failure in Richmond on November 9, 2012.
1951:  Dennis Thomas, alto saxophone player of Kool & the Gang, was born in Jersey City, New Jersey.
1960:  William "Holly" Johnson, bassist of Big in Japan and lead singer of Frankie Goes to Hollywood, was born in Liverpool, Merseyside, England.  (Note:  many websites claim he was born on February 19, and some list his birthplace as Khartoum, Sudan.  According to Johnson's official websites he was born February 9 in Liverpool.)
1966:  Rachel Bolan (real name James Southworth), songwriter and bassist of Skid Row, was born in Point Pleasant, New Jersey.

More Than a Cinderella Story: A Great Vocalist, Songwriter, and Marketer Up Next...

We are now up to #20 in The Top 100 Female Artists*, and we're excited to present her story and music tomorrow on Inside The Rock Era!

Featured Unknown/Underrated Song: "Love You Like I Never Loved Before" by John O'Banion

He's from Kokomo, Indiana, and he was in a local band called Hog Honda & the Chain Guards at age 13.  He hosted his own radio show on WIOU and his own local television show by age 20.

O'Banion was the lead singer in Doc Severinsen's band, Today's Children.  Johnny Carson, in fact, was a big fan.  O'Banion made five appearances on The Tonight Show, as well as appearing on The Merv Griffin Show and The Mike Douglas Show.  He also appeared on American Bandstand and Solid Gold, and he won a contest on Star Search.

O'Banion released this single in 1981, and, although it was a huge hit in many places, it stalled at #24.  John won the Tokyo Music Festival Award in 1982 with "I Don't Want To Lose Your Love", and his popularity in Japan surged when two of his songs were featured in the movie Legend of the Eight Samurai.

Unfortunately, because some stations did not play this song, we never heard from John O'Banion again.  Not everyone has a huge bankroll that enables them to keep recording songs if their first one doesn't make it.  And Elektra Records, his record label, didn't believe in him enough to promote him properly.  In 2007, just days before his 60th birthday, O'Banion died of blunt force trauma as the result of a car accident several years before.  He had been battling the effects of the trauma to the head folling the accident.

John, we know you had a great song that deserved to be a Top 10, even if some radio stations didn't.


Written by John O'Banion

Heard a promise in the wind,
Then I saw you walking in...
Tell me baby where you been so long?
Waited all my life to feel this strong!

I Love You Like I Never Loved Before
And every day I love you so much more.
Feeling like I never felt so sure,
Love You Like I Never Loved Before!

Lonely days and lonely nights,
(needing you)
Finally gone and out of sight.
(Thanks to you)
I'll do everything within my power
To make your life get sweeter hour by hour.

I Love You Like I Never Loved Before
And every day I love you so much more.
Feeling like I never felt so sure,
Love You Like I Never Loved Before.

I'll do everything within my power
To make your life get sweeter hour by hour.

I Love You Like I Never Loved Before
And every day I love you so much more.
Feeling like I never felt so sure,
Love You Like I Never Loved Before.

I Love You Like I Never Loved Before
(No I Never)
No I Never
(Never Loved Before)
I Love You Like I Never Loved Before

(repeat)

Pat Benatar, The #21 Female Artist of the Rock Era

Patricia Andrzejewski was born in Brooklyn, New York. Pat became interested in theater and took voice lessons, singing her first solo at the age of eight. Pat participated in musical theatre, marched in the Homecoming parade, and sang in the choir at Lindenhurst Senior High School.

While training as a coloratura with plans to attend Julliard School, Pat surprised everyone by declaring that a classical career was not for her, and instead enrolled in the State University of New York at Stony Brook to pursue a degree in health education.  However, she dropped out after one year to marry Dennis Benatar and the couple moved to Virginia.

Pat got a job as a singing waitress at a nightclub called The Roaring Twenties, and she joined a group called Coxon's Army.  Benatar received her break in 1975 when she took the stage on amateur night at the comedy club Catch a Rising Star in New York City.  Her performance of Judy Garland's "Rock-a-Bye Your Baby With a Dixie Melody" caused club owner Rick Newman to call her back.

Benatar became a regular at Catch a Rising Star for nearly three years.  She also landed a part in Harry Chapin's musical The Zinger, which played in Long Island.  Pat also recorded commercial jingles for several companies including Pepsi, and she headlined the Tramps nightclub in 1978.

Executives from Chrysalis Records saw Benatar at Tramps, and signed her to a recording contract the next week.  Famed producer Mike Chapman, who had worked with Blondie and the Knack among others, broke his vow not to add any new artists when he heard Benatar's demo tape.  Chapman and Nicky Chinn also wrote three songs for the album.  

But the most significant thing that happened was when Benatar met guitarist Neil Giraldo.  He shared Pat's passions and used his skills as an innovative arranger and producer to help design, from the beginning, the now-renowned Benatar sound.  Giraldo and Benatar's vision merged explosively on Pat's debut album In the Heat of the Night in 1979.  The lead single, "I Need A Lover", was highly underrated; the best it did was #31 in the Netherlands.

Benatar's next single was "If You Think You Know How to Love Me", which became a hit for Smokie.

Many of Pat's early songs weren't appreciated until she became a big star.  We now see in retrospect that they should have been big hits.  The single "Heartbreaker" was #16 in Canada and #23 in the U.S.

Pat's follow-up, "We Live For Love", hit #8 in Canada but only #27 in the United States.

Benatar toured to support her debut album.  She also played a small role in the movie Union City in 1980.  Another outstanding track on the debut album, which eventually went Platinum, is "My Clone Sleeps Alone".

 

As unrecognized and underrated as Pat's first album was, her second, Crimes of Passion in 1980, became her launching point.  It started, however, with the same story as the singles from her debut, as the first single (Benatar's cover of the Rascals song "You Better Run") was largely ignored, with #31 in Australia being its best chart ranking.  It holds the distinction of being the second video aired by MTV when the music channel kicked off in August of 1981.

The next single was the one that did it for Pat--the fiery "Hit Me with Your Best Shot" reached #9 in the United States and #10 in Canada.

 

Crimes of Passion hit #2 on the Album chart for five straight weeks, and remained a top-seller for 93 weeks.  If anything, it has gotten better with time.  "Treat Me Right" (featured in the classic movie An Officer & A Gentleman) hit #12 in Canada and #18 in the U.S.

Unbelievably, the next single "I'm Gonna' Follow You" went nowhere, making it one of The Top Unknown/Underrated Songs of the Rock Era*.

Benatar headlined a very successful tour and her fan base was growing rapidly.  The incredible Crimes of Passion album (#63 for the Rock Era*) has sold over four million copies in the U.S. alone and also included several great album tracks.  This is "Never Wanna' Leave You".

Benatar had developed an incredible range of 4 1/2 octaves, and she captured Favorite Pop/Rock Female Vocalist at the American Music Awards.  Another great track is Pat's remake of the Kate Bush song "Wuthering Heights".

The entire Crimes of Passion album was cited when Benatar was given the Grammy Award for Best Female Rock Vocal Performance.  Pat delivered an amazing performance on "Hell Is For Children", one of The Most Important Songs of the Rock Era*.

The following year, Benatar kept the momentum going with her album Precious Time, which went straight to #1 on the Album chart.  The dynamite first single "Fire And Ice" went to #4 in Canada and #2 on the Mainstream Rock chart and #17 overall in the U.S., and Pat won the Grammy for Best Female Rock Vocal Performance for the second straight year.

Another highly underrated song, at least as far as its chart performance, was Pat's next single, "Promises In The Dark".  It peaked at #38 overall in the U.S., although it reached #16 in the more specific Mainstream Rock chart.

Precious Time sold two million copies in the U.S. alone.  Pat also did a great cover of one of the best songs from the group from Boise, Idaho, Paul Revere & the Raiders.

In 1982, Benatar released the album Get Nervous.  The opening single, "Shadows Of The Night", ran up to #3 on the Mainstream Rock chart and #13 overall in the U.S. and #12 in Canada.  Three years, three straight Grammys for Benatar for Best Female Rock Vocal Performance.

Get Nervous became Pat's fourth straight Platinum album, and she was back on stage to accept her second American Music Award for Favorite Pop/Rock Female Vocalist.  The accompanying world tour was recorded and later released as the "Live from Earth" album.  "Little Too Late", which peaked at #20, is another track worth featuring as we salute The #24 Female Artist of the Rock Era*.

Benatar married her amazing guitarist, Neil Giraldo, to create one of the top music marriages of all-time in 1982.  

In 1983, Benatar released the live package Live From Earth, which went Platinum, and contained the single "Love Is A Battlefield".  The song became one of her biggest hits, peaking at #1 on the Mainstream Rock chart and #5 overall in the U.S., #1 in Australia and the Netherlands, #2 in Canada and #6 in New Zealand.  With the million-selling "Love Is A Battlefield", Benatar accomplished the unprecedented feat of winning her fourth consecutive Grammy for Best Female Rock Vocal Performance.

Benatar released the album Tropico in 1984.  The single "We Belong" hit #3 on the Mainstream chart and #5 overall in the U.S., #5 in Switzerland, #7 in Australia and New Zealand and #8 in Canada.  The song gave Benatar another Grammy nomination for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance.

Tropico became Pat's sixth straight Platinum album.  Her next single was "Ooh Ooh Song".

 

Benatar also was nominated for a Grammy as a member of Artists United Against Apartheid for the single "Sun City" and the category Best Rock Vocal Performance, Duo or Group.

In 1985, she released the album Seven the Hard Way, another Gold Benatar album.   The lead single, "Invincible", rocked up to #4 on the Mainstream chart and #10 overall in the U.S. and #6 in Canada.  Once again, the amazing Benatar was nominated for Best Female Rock Vocal Performance at the Grammy Awards.

The follow-up, "Sex As A Weapon", hit #5 on the Mainstream Rock chart, and earned Pat yet another Grammy nomination for Best Female Rock Vocal Performance.

In 1988, Benatar released the album Wide Awake in Dreamland.  The album yielded the hit "All Fired Up", a #2 smash on the Mainstream Rock chart and #19 overall in the United States, #2 in Australia and #8 in Canada.  It earned Benatar a Grammy nomination for Best Female Rock Vocal Performance.

The album gave Pat her eighth consecutive Gold album.  Another single from Wide Awake in Dreamland gave Benatar yet another Grammy nomination for Best Female Rock Vocal Performance.  Her next hit was "Let's Stay Together".  In fact, in the 10 years of the 1980's, Benatar was nominated for Best Female Rock Performance an incredible eight times. 

In 1991, Benatar released the album True Love, which yielded the single "Payin' The Cost To Be The Boss", a #17 hit on the Mainstream Rock chart.

In 1993, Pat released the album Gravity's Rainbow.  The track "Everybody Lay Down" reached #3 on the Mainstream Rock chart.

Benatar has released two more albums, Innamorata in 1997 and Go in 2003.  In 2010, she published her autobiography, Between a Heart and a Rock Place, which became a New York Times bestseller.  

While these rankings on Inside The Rock Era reflect each artists' achievements to this date using up-to-date sales information, I suspect that, as a new generation gets wind of this lady's music, her albums will see a spark in sales, and her status will be elevated higher.

Benatar won four Grammy Awards out of nine nominations and three American Music Awards.  She has had 16 hits, with four reaching the Top 10, with 16 Mainstream Rock hits, nine of which went Top 10 and one #1.  But she earns #21 because of the quality and volume of her non-singles.  Benatar has sold over 11.5 million albums in the United States alone.  

This Date in Rock Music History: February 8

1956:  Buddy Holly signed a recording contract with Decca Records.

1960:  The Special House Subcommittee on Legislative Oversight opened hearings on disc jockey payola.

    1960--One of the best times to be a teenager in history!

1960:  Bobby Rydell had a hot song as "Wild One" moved from 72 to 29.
1960:  Mark Dinning moved to #1 with "Teen Angel".
1964:  On their first full day in New York City, John Lennon, Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr (George had a sore throat) went for a walk around Central Park.  Over 400 female fans followed and extra police had to be brought in to control them.







1964:  People who weren't around at the time and take music for granted ask:  "Why were the Beatles so popular?"  A valid question--take notes.  On this day, the Beatles' first album in the U.S.--Meet the Beatles, moved from #92 to #3 on the Album chart in just its second week.  The #1 album at the time, typical of popular music at the time, was The Singing Nun by the Singing Nun.  It had ruled the chart for 10 straight weeks.  After the Beatles hit, your very rarely saw a #1 album that wasn't a rock and roll album or at least soft rock.  The Beatles weren't just popular.  They were so talented and so innovative that they changed music forever.  None of the acts we listen to today would even be possible were it not for the Beatles.  So you see, they weren't just a group that hit it big; they made rock the dominant form of music from 1964 through the present day.






                          The Marketts great instrumental...

1964:  The Beatles had the #1 song for a second week with "I Want To Hold Your Hand".  Lesley Gore was second with "You Don't Own Me" while the Marketts ("Out Of Limits" and the Rip Chords ("Hey Little Cobra") remained in their positions.  The rest of the Top 10:  Major Lance with "Um, Um, Um, Um, Um, Um", the Trashmen had "Surfin' Bird", the Beatles' follow-up--"She Loves You", moved from 21 to 7 in its third week, Rick Nelson edged up with "For You", Dionne Warwick remained at #9 with "Anyone Who Had A Heart" and Bobby Vinton tumbled down with "There!  I've Said It Again". 












1965:  The Supremes released the single "Stop!  In the Name of Love".

1967:  Peter & Gordon ("A World Without Love") went their separate ways.
1969: Eric Clapton, Ginger Baker and Steve Winwood announced the formation of a new group. After bassist Rich Grech came aboard, the quartet would be known as Blind Faith.
1969:  Although we would come to know them better by dozens of great songs in the years to come, Three Dog Night first appeared on the radio and on the chart on this date with their first single--"Try A Little Tenderness".

1969:  Janis Joplin and the Kozmic Blues Band went to Rindge, New Hampshire to begin an intensive rehearsal schedule.

                The complete version of "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida"...

1969:  TCB by Diana Ross & the Supremes with the Temptations moved to #1 on the Album chart, temporarily knocking off The White Album by the Beatles after six weeks.  Wichita Lineman from Glen Campbell took third, with the super Greatest Hits album by the Association and another collaboration from Diana Ross & the Supremes & the Temptations--Diana Ross & the Supremes Join the Temptations, trailing.  The rest of the Top 10:  In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida from Iron Butterfly, The Second by Steppenwolf, Elvis Presley entered the Top 10 with Elvis, Young-Holt Unlimited had a great sound with Souful Strut, which moved from 24-9 and the self-titled Blood, Swet & Tears moved from 26-10 in just its second week.








1969:  The classic "Crimson And Clover" by Tommy James & the Shondells, remained at #1.  "Everyday People" from Sly & the Family Stone patienty waited behind while the Brooklyn Bridge remained steady with "Worst That Could Happen".  The Doors had another big hit with "Touch Me" and the Foundations were up to 5 with "Build Me Up Buttercup".  The rest of the Top 10:  The Bee Gees had their eighth career hit and second Top 10 song with "I Started A Joke", Marvin Gaye's #1 smash "I Heard It Through The Grapevine", Diana Ross & the Supremes & the Temptations were at 8 with "I'm Gonna' Make You Love Me", Booker T & the MG's with one of The Top 100 Instrumentals of the Rock Era*, "Hang 'Em High" and Tyrone Davis entered the Top 10 with "Can I Change My Mind".
1971:  Bob Dylan's documentary Eat the Document premiered at the Academy of Music in New York City.  Proceeds went towards ending strip mining in Pike County, Kentucky.







1973:  Max Yasgur, owner of the dairy farm in Bethel, New York that was the site of the famous Woodstock festival, died of a heart attack in Marathon, Florida at age 53.










1975:  A new British act that would go on to enjoy substantial success first appeared on the chart.  Queen debuted with their first single--"Killer Queen".
1975:  John Denver had the #1 Adult song with "Sweet Surrender".

1980:  David Bowie and his wife Angie were divorced after ten years of marriage.

1981:  R.E.M. recorded for the first time at Bombay Studios in Smyrna, Georgia.

1982:  Cher opened on Broadway in New York City in the play Come Back to the Five & Dime, Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean.

1986:  Billy Ocean rose to the #1 position in the U.K. with "When the Going Gets Tough (The Tough Get Going)".

                                                              Mellencamp...

 1986:  Barbra Streisand owned the top album with The Broadway Album.  Promise by Sade was a solid #2, followed by the self-titled Heart and the amazing Scarecrow by John Cougar Mellencamp.
1986:  "That's What Friends Are For" from Dionne & Friends (Elton John, Stevie Wonder, Gladys Knight & Dionne Warwick) was #1 for a third week on the R&B chart.









1986:  Sade scored a #1 on the Adult Contemporary chart with "The Sweetest Taboo".













1986:  ELO had a fast-rising song as "Calling America" moved from 91 to 69.













             "Kyrie Eleison", meaning Lord, have mercy...

1986:  Dionne & Friends registered a fourth week at #1 with "That's What Friends Are For".  Survivor had "Burning Heart" while Wham!  was #3 with "I'm Your Man".  Billy Ocean moved to #4 with "When the Going Gets Tough, The Tough Get Going" and Whitney Houston had her third Top 10 of her career with "How Will I Know".  The rest of the Top 10:  newcomers Mr. Mister and "Kyrie", Paul McCartney moved to #7 with "Spies Like Us", Stevie Nicks was on her way down with "Talk To Me", James Brown's "Living In America" entered the Top 10 and Gloria Estefan & the Miami Sound Machine were at #10 with "Conga".











1988:  Billy Ocean was on a roll and he released the single "Get Outta' My Dreams, Get Into My Car".












1988:  INXS released the single "Devil Inside".  (Note:  some websites incorrectly list the release date as February 13, the day the song debuted on the chart.  Everyone repeat after me:  It is physically impossible for a song to be mailed to radio stations, added by radio stations to their playlists, reported by radio stations to the trade papers, and the charts printed and distributed by the trade papers all on the same day.)

1988:  The surviving members of the Who reunited for their 25th anniversary at the British Phonographic Industry Awards in London.

1990:  Del Shannon, who gave us one of The Top 100 Songs of the Rock Era* in "Runaway", died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound in Santa Clarita, California.  
1992:  Jodeci had the new #1 on the R&B chart with "Stay".

               "Love is a Wonderful Thing"...one of five hits on Michael Bolton's new album...

1992:  Garth Brooks accomplished the rare feat of returning to #1 for a fourth time with the same album.  He did that on this date with Ropin' the Wind, and the cumulative count now reached 11 weeks at #1 for one of The Top 15 Albums of the Rock Era*.  He toppled Nevermind from Nirvana while Garth's previous album, No Fences, was incredibly moving back up to #3 after 73 weeks of release.  Dangerous from Michael Jackson was #4 while Too Legit To Quit by Hammer was at #5.  The rest of the Top 10:  Achtung Baby from U2, Cooleyhighharmony, the solid album by Boyz II Men, Time, Love & Tenderness by Michael Bolton, Metallica with their self-titled debut and Diamonds and Pearls moved to #10 for Prince & the New Power Generation.
1993:  Tom Jones was a guest on The Fresh Prince of Bel Air on NBC-TV.
1994:  Some people just don't deserve any success.  Oasis were forced to cancel their first tour in foreign countries after being deported from Holland.  The group was involved in a drunken brawl on a ferry resulting in members of the band being arrested and locked away.
1997:  No Doubt ruled the Album chart for an eighth week with Tragic Kingdom.  Soundtracks from "Evita" and "Romeo & Juliet" were next, followed by Celine Dion's smash album Falling Into You.

1997:  Toni Braxton notched a 10th week at #1 with "Un-Break My Heart".

1999:  Universal Music, Warner Music, BMG, Sony Music and EMI introduced Project Madison, developed by IBM to allow fast, secure distribution of full-length, CD-quality albums on the Internet.
2009:  Chris Brown surrendered to police and was arrested for an attack on girlfriend Rihanna the night before following a pre-Grammys party. 

2000:  Stan Lee announced that he would create a comic book based on the Backstreet Boys.
2002:  Bob Wooler, resident disc jockey and person in charge of booking talent at the Cavern Club in Liverpool, England in the early 60's, who booked the Beatles for many shows and introduced the group to their manager, Brian Epstein, died in Liverpool at age 76.  

2005:  Keith Knudsen, drummer of the Doobie Brothers, died of pneumonia at age 56 in Kentfield, California.  (Note:  some websites incorrectly list the place of death as San Francisco, California.  According to Bruce Cohn, longtime manager of the Doobie Brothers, as well as The Associated Press and the newspaper 'The Los Angeles Times', Cohn died in Kentfield.)  

 

2006:  U2 captured five Grammy awards including Album of the Year for How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb.  John Legend was honored as Best New Artist.











2006:  Kelly Clarkson won Grammys for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance (for "Since U (sic) Been Gone") and Best Pop Vocal Album (for Breakaway).












2009:  Robert Plant won five Grammy Awards for his collaboration with Alison Krauss, including Album of the Year (Raising Sand) and Record of the Year for "Please Read The Letter".  (Note:  many websites incorrectly report the date as February 9, the date that newspapers ran the story.  As you know, newspapers are printed the day following the news.  The Grammy Awards are telecast on Sunday nights, and in 2009, Sunday fell on February 8.)

 

 

 

2009:  Coldplay won the Grammy for Song of the Year with "Viva La Vida".  (See above note about false date shown for Grammy Awards on other websites.)
2009:  John Mayer won the Grammy for Best Male Vocal Performance for "Gravity".

2009:  Ringo Starr earned a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.  (Note:  many websites incorrectly report the date of the event--according to United Press International, Starr earned his star on February 8.)




 

 

Born This Day:

1932:  John Williams, acclaimed conductor and composer, was born in New York City.  (Note:  numerous places are listed as places of birth for John:  Queens, Flushing, New York City, Floral Park, and Long Island.  'MTV' lists his birthplace as Floral Park, and for once, they are right.  Floral Park is an incorporated village, formerly included as part of Queens, but it became incorporated in 1908, well before the birth of John Williams, and it is also included in the census.)
1936:  Larry Verne (the #1 "Mr. Custer" from 1960) was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota; died October 8, 2013 in Sylmar, California from heart failure.
1943:  Creed Bratton (real name William Charles Schneider), guitarist of the Grass Roots, was born in Los Angeles.
1946:  Paul Wheatbread, drummer of Gary Puckett & the Union Gap, was born in San Diego, California.
1946:  Adolpho De La Para, drummer of Canned Heat, was born in Mexico City, Mexico.




1948:  Dan Seals of England Dan & John Ford Coley was born in McCarney, Texas; died March 25, 2009 of mantle cell lymphoma in Nashville, Tennessee.











1961:  Vince Neil, lead singer of Motley Crue, was born in Hollywood, California
1961:  Sam Llanas, singer-songwriter and acoustic guitarist of the BoDeans ("Closer To Free" from 1993), was born in Waukesha, Wisconsin.

1971:  Will Turpin,bassist of Collective Soul, was born in Fairbanks, Alaska.
1977:  Dave "Phoenix" Ferrel, bassist of Linkin Park ("In The End" from 2002), was born in Plymouth, Massachusetts.