Saturday, January 30, 2016

This Date in Rock Music History: January 31

1956:  Elvis Presley signed a contract with the William Morris Agency to represent him in arrangements with movie companies.
1957:  "Rock Around The Clock" by Bill Haley & the Comets, which was a hit in Great Britain before it was re-released in the Untied States, went over a million in sales in the U.K., the first million-seller in Great Britain alone.
1961:  Bobby Darin hosted Bobby Darin and Friends on NBC, becoming the youngest person to headline a TV special.
1963:  The Beach Boys recorded "Surfin' U.S.A." and "Shut Down" at Western Recorders Studio in Hollywood, California.
1964:  Sales of "I Want To Hold Your Hand" by the Beatles had already topped 1.5 million in England alone while "She Loves You" was at 1.3 million.








1966:  The Outsiders released the single "Time Won't Let Me".















1967:  John Lennon bought an 1843 circus poster reading "For the Benefit of Mr. Kite" at an antique shop in Sevenoaks, Kent, England.  He later wrote a song about the title.
1969:  Bobby Darin walked off The Jackie Gleason Show after he was told he could not sing "Long Line Rider".
1970:  A new British blues band debuted on the chart on this date with a song that included 20 seconds of vocals.  The song was "Oh Well".  After making numerous lineup changes, they found the right combination and took the world by storm beginning in 1975 with the song "Over My Head".  The group is of course Fleetwood Mac.
1970:  Members of the Grateful Dead were arrested in New Orleans, Louisiana, for possession of LSD and barbiturates.



1970:  Creedence Clearwater Revival filmed a television special at their concert in Oakland, California.  The show was filmed by ABC-TV, and combined with documentary footage filmed in 1970 and was to be the pilot episode for the show In Concert.  However, the show did not air as planned, and In Concert did not premiere until over two years later, so CCR's concert was not broadcast by ABC.  The CCR episode, however, was broadcast in several European countries, and was first shown in the U.S. by WNEW in New York.
1970:  Slim Harpo ("Baby Scratch My Back" from 1966) died of a heart attack after a suspected drug overdose while recording in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.  (Note:  some websites claim Harpo died in London, but John Broven, in the book 'South to Louisiana:  Music of the Cajun Bayous', says that Harpo was scheduled to go to Europe, but died in Baton Rouge.)
1970:  Led Zeppelin II battled Abbey Road by the Beatles for a third week at #1 on the Album chart.  
1970:  The Jackson 5's first single release, "I Want You Back", remained at #1 on the R&B chart for a fourth week.
1970:  The hottest mover was Brook Benton's "Rainy Night In Georgia", up from #63 to #34.




1970:  The Jackson 5 finally toppled B.J. Thomas's song "Raindrops Keep Fallin' On My Head" after four weeks at #1 with "I Want You Back".  "Venus" by the Shocking Blue was a strong second while B.J. was third.  Led Zeppelin had their biggest career hit although Billboard didn't really know how to measure the popularity of their songs, forgetting to factor in album sales into their list of the most popular songs (just one of several factors Inside The Rock Era includes that most of our competition).  The rest of the Top 10:  "Without Love (There Is Nothing)" from Tom Jones, Elvis Presley's double-sided "Don't Cry Daddy"/"Ruberneckin'", Dionne Warwick moved to #7 with "I'll Never Fall In Love Again", Sly & the Family Stone advanced from 15 to 8 with "Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)"/"Everybody Is A Star", Diana Ross & the Supremes with their former #1 "Someday We'll Be Together" and another former chart-topper ("Leaving On A Jet Plane") was #10 for Peter, Paul & Mary.
1971:  Members of the Jackson 5 received the keys to their hometown of Gary, Indiana, as it was declared "Jackson Five Day" in Gary.









1972:  A new trio released their first single on this date, and they would become one of the Top 100 Artists of the Rock Era*.  America released "A Horse With No Name".
1972:  Aretha Franklin sang a moving version of "Precious Lord, Take My Hand" at the funeral for Mahalia Jackson at the Arie Crown Theatre in Chicago, Illinois.  Over 6,000 people packed the Theatre to pay respects, including Chicago Major Richard J. Daley, Coretta Scott King, Sammy Davis, Jr. and Ella Fitzgerald. 
1973:  Charlie Freeman, guitarist who played for Rita Coolidge and Delaney & Bonnie, died at age 31 after a lifetime of drug use and alcohol abuse.








1976:  "Mamma Mia" by ABBA knocked Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody" from the #1 position in the U.K. after nine weeks. Ironically, the members of Queen were subconsciously aware of the takeover when they put these words into "Bohemian Rhapsody"--"Mamma Mia, Mamma Mia, Mamma Mia let me go."

















1977:  The Climax Blues Band released the single "Couldn't Get It Right".
1976:  The Best of Roy Orbison ruled the U.K. Album chart.
1976:  John Denver & Olivia Newton-John's duet "Fly Away" resumed the #1 position on the Adult chart.
1976:  "Sing A Song" by Earth Wind & Fire returned to #1 on the R&B chart.








        
                     Barry Manilow's "New York City Rhythm"...

1976:  Earth, Wind & Fire prevailed for a third week at #1 on the Album chart with Gratitude.  Bob Dylan moved from 23-2 with Desire, leaping over Paul Simon's Still Crazy After All These Years.  Chicago IX - Chicago's Greatest Hits was fourth with Helen Reddy's Greatest Hits fifth.  It must have been a time for collections, because History, America's Greatest Hits, was seventh.  In between, Trying To Get the Feeling by Barry Manilow.  The rest of the Top 10:  Family Reunion by the O'Jays, Alive!  from Kiss and The Hissing of Summer Lawns by Joni Mitchell.






1976:  The Ohio Players definitely rode "Love Rollercoaster" to the peak, skipping over Barry Manilow's "I Write The Songs".  Donna Summer was third with "Love To Love You Baby" while Hot Chocolate was up to #4 with the great song "You Sexy Thing".  The O'Jays remained the same with "I Love Music" while the former #1 "Convoy" by C.W. McCall moved back up to #6.  The rest of the Top 10:  "Sing A Song" from Earth, Wind & Fire, Paul Anka achieved his 46th career hit with "Times Of Your Life", David Ruffin was at 9 with "Walk Away From Love" and Paul Simon moved in with "50 Ways To Leave Your Lover".
1978:  Greg Herbert, a latter member of Blood, Sweat & Tears, died from drugs at age 30 in Amsterdam while the group was on a European tour.
1979:  The Clash began their first tour of the United States, with Bo Diddley opening, at the Commodore Ballroom in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.  (Note:  some websites state that the concert was at the Pacific National Exhibition Stadium in Vancouver, but it was at the Commodore Ballroom, according to the official website for the Clash.)
1981:  "Fantastic Voyage" by Lakeside took over from Kool & the Gang's "Celebration" as the #1 R&B song.
1981:  Eddie Rabbitt remained king of the Adult Contemporary chart for the third week with "I Love A Rainy Night".
1981:  A hot new Canadian act first debuted on the chart with a single that had released several weeks before--"Turn Me Loose".  It was the great group Loverboy.

1981:  Former Randy Meisner was hot with his solo hit "Hearts On Fire", which moved from 65 to 50.
1981:  Neil Diamond's "Hello Again" was the highest-debuting song at #32.








1981:  Blondie moved into the top spot with "The Tide Is High", edging out John Lennon's "(Just Like) Starting Over".  Kool & the Gang had their sights set on the prize with "Celebration", which stormed from 12 to 3.  Eddie Rabbitt moved up with "I Love A Rainy Night" and newcomers Air Supply were at #5 with "Every Woman In The World".  The rest of the Top 10:  Rod Stewart's "Passion", Neil Diamond's smash "Love On The Rocks", Dolly Parton moved from 18-9 with "9 to 5", Diana Ross remained ninth with "It's My Turn" and Barry Manilow scored his 18th career hit and 11th Top 10 song with "I Made It Through The Rain".
1984:  The Soundtrack to "Footloose", one of The Top 100 Soundtracks of the Rock Era*, was released.
1985:  Barbara Cowsill of the Cowsills ("The Rain, The Park & Other Things") died of emphysema at age 56 in Scottsdale, Arizona.  (Note:  some websites state that Barbara died of cancer, but according to the book 'Rock Obituaries - Knocking On Heaven's Door' by Nick Talevski and 'People' magazine, Barbara died of emphysema.)
1986:  Little Richard co-starred in the movie Down and Out in Beverly Hills, which opened in theaters.

          The incredible song "Homeless" from 'Graceland'...

1987:  The landmark album Graceland by Paul Simon took over at #1 in the U.K.








    
          The Bangles became the top self-contained female group of the Rock Era...

1987:  Over across the pond, the #1 album was Slippery When Wet by Bon Jovi for a fourth week.  The Bangles were up to #2 after 53 weeks with Different Light.  
1987:  A brand new #1 on the Adult Contemporary chart--"At This Moment" from Billy Vera & the Beaters.








One of the best videos of the Rock Era no doubt helped Genesis.

1987:  Billy Vera & the Beaters remained #1 for a second week with the great song "At This Moment".  "Open Your Heart" by Madonna was second, getting the best of Robbie Nevil's "C'est La Vie".  Genesis had a bonafide smash with "Land Of Confusion".  The rest of the Top 10:  Cyndi Lauper with "Change Of Heart", Janet Jackson's former #5 "Control", Glass Tiger remained seventh with "Someday", Gregory Abbott tumbled with "Shake You Down", Bon Jovi was impressive with a 15-9 leap for "Livin' On A Prayer" and Samantha Fox was all about "Touch Me (I Want Your Body)".
1988:  The Red Hot Chili Peppers performed at The Mean Fiddler in London.
 
1988:  Herb Alpert performed the national anthem of the United States at Super Bowl XXII at Jack Murphy Stadium in San Diego, California.  Chubby Checker performed at halftime.

1993:  Michael Jackson and 3,500 local children performed at halftime of Super Bowl XXVII at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California.  Garth Brooks sang the U.S. national anthem.
1998:  Yanni broke the gross revenue record for the MCI Center in Washington, D.C. with proceeds of $860,300.  Janet Jackson broke that record on July 9, 1998 with $875,000.
1998:  18-year-old Usher rose to #1 in the U.K. with "You Make Me Wanna'".




1998:  Some pretty solid albums in the Top 10.  The Soundtrack to "Titanic" was #1 again with Celine Dion's Let's Talk About Love second.  Listeners just wanted to get "My Heart Will Go On" (which was on both albums) any way they could.  The self-titled debut by the Backstreet Boys was fourth with My Way from Usher fifth.  Other albums of note:  The Spice Girls were up from 13 to 6 with the "Spiceworld" Soundtrack, Chumbawamba with Tubthumper, Matchbox 20 placed the great album Yourself or Someone Like You at #8 and Garth Brooks' Sevens was #9.
1999:  Cher sang the U.S. national anthem at Super Bowl XXXIII at Pro Player Stadium in Miami, Florida.
2001:  KISS announced that Peter Criss was leaving the group and would be replaced by Eric Singer for the remainder of the farewell tour.  Criss performed with the group for the final time on October 7, 2000.


2007:  Thirty-six years after his death, Jim Morrison's poetry was used to help fight global warming.  The previously unreleased "Woman In The Window", written and recorded by Morrison shortly before his death in 1971, was set to music and used to promote the Global Cool campaign.








2010:  Beyonce won six Grammy Awards, a record for females, at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.  The star won Song of the Year, Best Female Pop Vocal Performance, Best Female R&B Vocal Performance, Best R&B Song, Best Contemporary R&B Album and Best Traditional R&B Vocal Performance.










2010:  Taylor Swift captured four Grammys, including Album of the Year for Fearless.
2012:  Michael Andre Lewis (Mandre), keyboardist who played for the Who, Diana Ross, Jimi Hendrix, Marvin Gaye, Sly & the Family Stone and Frank Zappa, died in Shreveport, Louisiana at the age of 63.






Born This Day:

1928:  Chuck Willis ("C.C. Rider" from 1957) was born in Atlanta, Georgia; died during surgery in Chicago, Illinois of peritonitis while at the peak of his career on April 10, 1958. 
1930:  Al De Lory, pianist who co-wrote "Mr. Custer" for Larry Verne, and arranged and produced "Gentle On My Mind" and "Wichita Lineman" as producer for Glen Campbell for over 25 years, was born in Los Angeles; died February 5, 2012 in Nashville, Tennessee at the age of 82.  De Lory also worked with the Beach Boys, Doobie Brothers, Tina Turner and the Crystals and produced the Turtles.
1946:  Terry Kath, founding member and guitarist of Chicago, was born in Chicago, Illinois; died January 23, 1978 in Woodland Hills, California when he pointed a pistol at himself at a party, told friends the gun wasn't loaded and pulled the trigger. 

1951:  Harry Wayne Casey, founder, songwriter, lead singer and keyboardist of K.C. and the Sunshine Band, and also a producer, was born in Opa-Locka, Florida.  (Note:  the 'Rolling Stone' wannabe 'Allmusic.com' (why anyone would also want to be consistently wrong as 'Rolling Stone' is a question for the ages) and other websites insist that Casey was born in Hialeah, Florida, but according to the respected sources, such as the newspaper 'The New York Times', 'Turner Classic Movies' and the Hit Parade Hall of Fame, Casey was born in Opa-Locka, and worked at a record store in Hialeah.)
1951:  Phil Manzanera, lead guitarist of Roxy Music and also a producer, was born in London.
1954:  Adrian Vandenburg, guitarist of Whitesnake ("Here I Go Again" from 1987), was born in The Hague, the Netherlands.  (Note:  several places are cited as birthplaces by various websites, including Den Haag, Zuid-Holland, the Netherlands and Enschede, Overijssel, the Netherlands.  According to our best research, the most credible source is Peavey Guitars, which made a line of guitars named after Vandenburg.  According to the Peavey Vandenberg Guitars website, Vandenburg was born in The Hague.)   
1956:  Johnny Rotten (real name John Lydon), lead singer of the Sex Pistols, was born in London.  (Note:  'Allmusic.com' and other websites claim he was born in Finsbury Park, London, and other websites say he was born in Holloway, London, but according to Lydon's official website, he was born in London, and grew up in Finsbury Park.  This was confirmed by the newspaper 'The Guardian'.)
1965:  Jimmy Ryser, guitarist for John Mellencamp, was born in Cleveland, Ohio.
1966:  Al Doughty (real name Alan Jaworski), bassist of Jesus Jones ("Right Here, Right Now"), was born in Plymouth, England.
1967:  Jason Cooper, drummer of the Cure, was born in London.
1967:  Chad Channing, original drummer for Nirvana, was born in Santa Rosa, California.

1981:  Justin Timberlake, lead singer of *NSync and solo star, was born in Memphis, Tennessee.

Friday, January 29, 2016

This Date in Rock Music History: January 30



  1956:  Elvis Presley recorded "Blue Suede Shoes" at the RCA studios in New York City for what would be his first album.

New Featured Top Track*: Fleetwood Mac's "Sisters Of The Moon"

This supergroup put out several albums with all kinds of great songs that the public never got to hear on the radio.  That's unfortunate, but very good for Inside The Rock Era, for we are proud to feature great cuts like this one from Tusk:

"Sisters Of The Moon"
Fleetwood Mac

Thursday, January 28, 2016

This Date in Rock Music History: January 29

1955:  The Penguins had the first #1 R&B song of the year, "Earth Angel", and it remained in that spot for the third straight week.

1962:  Peter, Paul & Mary signed a recording contract with Warner Brothers Records.

Paul Kantner Has Died


Paul Kantner, guitarist and co-founder of Jefferson Airplane, died of multiple organ failure today at the age of 74.  Kantner had suffered several health problems in recent years, including a heart attack last March.


Kantner and Jefferson Airplane were known for the psychedelic hits "White Rabbitt" and "Somebody To Love". 


San Francisco of course now is widely recognized as a major contributor to the Rock Era, but Jefferson Airplane became the first act from the City by the Bay to achieve major international success.  The Airplane performed at all three of the most famous American rock festivals--the Monterey Pop Festival in 1967, and Woodstock and the notorious Altamont show in 1969, and also headlined the first Isle of Wight Festival in 1968.  The group's Surrealistic Pillow album in 1967 represents one of the key recordings in the Summer of Love (1967).  

 When the group broke up, Kantner, vocalist Grace Slick, David Freiberg (vocals, keyboards and bass), drummer John Barbata and fiddler Papa John Creach, all members of the Airplane, started the group Jefferson Starship in 1974, along with guitarist Craig Chaquico and Pete Sears, who played bass and keyboards.  Vocalist Marty Balin, also a key part of Jefferson Airplane, joined Starship while the group was still working on their debut album, Dragon Fly.

Kantner was with Jefferson Starship for over five decades, often times being the only original member of Jefferson Airplane in the group. 




Dragon Fly failed to get the group major attention, but Red Octopus in 1975 represented the new lineup's breakthrough, containing the great song "Miracles", which went to #3. 






The Starship continued their success with Spitfire the following year, and another hit, "With Your Love".





The group released another fine album in 1978, Earth.  The single "Count On Me" led the way, going to #8.






The album also contained "Runaway", at #12 one of The Top Unknown/Underrated Songs of the Rock Era*.

But Slick and Balin both left the group, leaving Kantner looking for a new lead singer.  He found him in Mickey Thomas, who had sang lead for Elvin Bishop on the song "Fooled Around And Fell In Love".  When Barbata was seriously injured in a car accident, he had to be replaced as well, and the group chose Aynsley Dunbar, who had previously drummed for Journey.


The new lineup utilized a harder sound to their music than before, releasing the album Freedom at Point Zero.  The lead single was the great song "Jane", which stalled at #14.






Starship fans also know another great song on the album, unreleased as a single--"Rock Music".  Both songs are also among The Top Unknown/Underrated Songs of the Rock Era*.






Slick rejoined the group for the album Modern Times, which yielded the minor hit "Find Your Way Back".  But after the next album, Nuclear Furniture, Kantner left the band because of disputes over the group's direction.  Kantner took legal action to keep the remaining members from using the name Jefferson Starship, so the called themselves simply Starship, and had be success with "We Built This City", "Sara", "Nothing's Gonna' Stop Us Now" and "It's Not Over ('Til It's Over).  

In 1992, Kantner later reformed Jefferson Starship, which over the last 24 years has included most of the original members of Jefferson Airplane, Jefferson Starship and Starship at one time or another.  The group was still intact at the time of Kantner's death.

Rest in peace, Paul, and thanks for providing great music in our lifetimes!  

Captured Live: The Beatles--"Can't Buy Me Love"


Wednesday, January 27, 2016

This Date in Rock Music History: January 28

1956:  Elvis Presley appeared on national television for the first time on The Dorsey Brothers Stage Show on CBS, performing "Shake, Rattle And Roll," "Flip, Flop And Fly" and "I Got A Woman".  Comedian and Stage Show producer Jackie Gleason said afterward, "He can't last. I tell you flatly, he can't last."
1956:  The Platters controlled the R&B chart with the classic song "The Great Pretender", #1 for a fourth week.


Tuesday, January 26, 2016

This Date in Rock Music History: January 27


  1956:  One of the most historic days of the Rock Era--Elvis Presley released the single "Heartbreak Hotel".  RCA had just purchased Elvis's contract from Sun Records for $35,000.  It seems the investment paid off.

Featured Unknown/Underrated Song: "Wake Up Everybody" from Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes

Great song here from Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes.  Teddy Pendergrass joined in 1970 as drummer and lead singer.  This song stalled at #12 in 1976:

"Wake Up Everybody"
Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes

Written by John Whitehead, Gene McFadden and Victor Carstarphen,

Wake up everybody, no more sleepin' in bed
No more backward thinkin' time for thinkin' ahead
The world has changed so very much from what it used to be
So there is so much hatred war an' poverty

Wake up all the teachers, time to teach a new way
Maybe then they'll listen to whatcha have to say
'Cause they're the ones who's coming up and the world is in their hands
When you teach the children, teach 'em the very best you can

The world won't get no better
If we just let it be
The world won't get no better
We gotta change it, yeah, just you and me

Wake up all the doctors, make the ol' people well
They're the ones who suffer an' who catch all the hell
But they don't have so very long before the judgment day
So won'tcha make them happy before they pass away?

Wake up all the builders, time to build a new land
I know we can do it if we all lend a hand
The only thing we have to do is put it in our mind
Surely things will work out, they do it every time

The world won't get no better
If we just let it be
The world won't get no better
We gotta change it, yeah, just you and me

Monday, January 25, 2016

This Date in Rock Music History: January 26

1956:  Buddy Holly recorded at Decca Records for the first time, using the name Buddy and the Two Tones, laying down "Blue Days, Black Nights", "Don't Come Back Knockin'", "Love Me" and "Midnight Shift" at Owen Bradley's Barn Studio in Nashville, Tennessee.
1957:  "Blue Monday" by Fats Domino was #1 on the R&B chart.
1960:  Frankie Avalon appeared on The Arthur Murray Party on NBC-TV as a dancer.
1961:  Elvis Presley had his sixth #1 song in the U.K. with "Are You Lonesome Tonight".
1963:  The hard-working Beatles performed two concerts, one at the El Rio Club and Dance Hall in Macclesfield, Cheshire, England with Wayne Fontana and the Jets opening.  The group then drove 20 miles to King's Hall, Stoke-on-Trent in Staffordshire for a night concert.
1963:  The Rooftop Singers moved to #1 on the Easy Listening chart with "Walk Right In".

1963:  "Walk Right In" made the fifth-biggest leap to #1 (11-1) of the Rock Era.  "Hey Paula" by Paul & Paula also had a nice move (10-2) and those two outdistanced previous #1 "Go Away Little Girl" from Steve Lawrence.  "Tell Him" by the Exciters came in fourth and Bobby Vee ranked #5 with "The Night Has A Thousand Eyes".











1964:  Barbra Streisand released the single "People".
1966:  Eric Burdon sang lead vocals for Manfred Mann at a concert in London.











1969:  When creative genius appears, get out of the way.  On this day, while recording "Let It Be" and "The Long And WInding Road" for their album Let It Be at Apple Studios in London, the Beatles also recorded several covers, including "Shake Rattle And Roll", "Kansas City", "Miss Ann", "Blue Suede Shoes", "Tracks Of My Tears", "You Really Got A Hold On Me" and "Lawdy Miss Clawdy".  Drummer Ringo Starr wrote the song "Octopus's Garden" and the group came up with the idea of performing live on the roof of their headquarters.  Not bad for a day's work.
















1970:  Simon & Garfunkel released the single "Bridge Over Troubled Water".












1970:  Three Dog Night released the single "Celebrate".
1970:  Chicago released their second album, ironically called Chicago II.
1970:  Australia's first rock festival, the Ourimbah Rock Festival, drew a crowd of 11,000.
1970:  Elvis Presley played two shows at the International Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada.











  1974:  Dolly Parton first appeared on the charts as her first single, "Jolene" debuted.
1974:  The Doobie Brothers opened their first tour of England at the Rainbow Theatre in London.










1974:  "Love's Theme", one of The Top 10 Instrumentals of the Rock Era* from Barry White's Love Unlimited Orchestra, was #1 on the Adult chart.
1974:  Ringo Starr officially achieved his first #1 solo song with "You're Sixteen", although many radio stations had "It Don't Come Easy" at #1 in 1971.  That sent previous #1 "Show And Tell" from Al Wilson down, while Barbra Streisand's hot song "The Way We Were" was up to #3. 






      
        One of Wings' finest albums yielded "Nineteen Hundred and Eighty-Five"...

1974:  The late Jim Croce was 1-2 on the Album chart with You Don't Mess Around with Jim #1 for a third week and I Got A Name second.  The Singles 1969-1973 from the Carpenters was next, followed by Elton John's Goodbye Yellow Brick Road and The Joker by Steve Miller Band.  The rest of the Top 10:  John Denver's Greatest Hits, Bette Midler at #7 with her self-titled release, Paul McCartney & Wings were up to #8 with Band on the Run, the Soundtrack to "Jonathan Livingston Seagull" from Neil Diamond and Charlie Rich had #10--Behind Closed Doors
1975:  BBC television aired the David Bowie documentary Cracked Actor.
















1976:  Maxine Nightingale released the single "Right Back Where We Started From".
1977:  Peter Green, the first lead guitarist of Fleetwood Mac, and founder of the group was committed to a mental hospital in England.  Green, who left the group in May, 1970, had threatened accountant Clifford Adams with an air rifle when Adams attempted to deliver a $51,000 royalty check to Green.
1980:  The Clash appeared at the Deeside Leisure Centre in Queensferry, Flintshire, Wales.  
1980:  Prince made his television debut on Dick Clark's American Bandstand on ABC.  







1980:  Teri Desario with K.C. (of the Sunshine Band) took the Barbara Mason song "Yes I'm Ready" to #1 on the Adult Contemporary chart.
1980:  Michael Jackson ruled on the R&B chart for a fourth week with "Rock With You".
1980:  The great album Phoenix by Dan Fogelberg entered the Top 10.







  1980:  Michael Jackson's "Rock With You" couldn't be beaten for a second week as the Captain & Tennille stayed at  2 with "Do That To Me One More Time".  Kenny Rogers advanced with "Coward Of The County" while former #1 "Escape (The Pina Colada Song)" by Rupert Holmes was fourth and Smokey Robinson had a big solo hit with "Cruisin'".  The rest of the Top 10:  Stevie Wonder's "Send One Your Love", Cliff Richard and "We Don't Talk Anymore", Queen commanded an 18-8 move for "Crazy Little Thing Called Love", the Eagles advanced into the Top 10 with "The Long Run" and the great song "Sara" from Fleetwood Mac moved from 15-10. 
1985:  Foreigner had the #1 album in the U.K. with Agent Provocateur





Foreigner came up with such an incredible song that Madonna would have to step aside soon...

1985:  Madonna had the #1 song for a fifth week with "Like A Virgin" but the fast-closing "I Want To Know What Love Is" from Foreigner was up to #2.  Chicago's "You're The Inspiration" trailed those two, with "Easy Lover" from Phil Collins & Phillip Bailey fourth and Wham! moved from 10-5 with "Careless Whisper".  The rest of the Top 10:  "All I Need" from Jack Wagner, Bryan Adams slipped with "Run To You", Don Henley with "The Boys Of Summer", Billy Ocean moved from 16 to 9 with "Loverboy" and Prince scored his ninth career hit and fourth consecutive Top 10 from Purple Rain--"I Would Die 4 (sic) U (sic)".





1986:  Allen Collins, guitarist of Lynyrd Skynyrd, crashed his car in Jacksonville, Florida, paralyzing him from the waist down and killing his girlfriend Debra Jean Watts.
1989:  Bon Jovi performed at Reunion Arena in Dallas, Texas.









1989:  Donnie Elbert ("Where Did Our Love Go" from 1971) died of a stroke at age 52 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
1989:  Rolf Harris ("Tie Me Kangaroo Down, Sport") was made a member of the Order of Australia.  The honor was stripped in 2014 when Harris was found guilty of having sex with underage girls.
1991:  Cher filmed a video for the troops of Desert Storm during the Gulf War, with assistance from Paul Simon, Janet Jackson, Van Halen and Bonnie Raitt.
1991:  Queen rose to #1 in the U.K. with "Innuendo".
1991:  Enigma had the top U.K. album with MCMXC.





1991:  Surface had themselves a #1 song with "The First Time". 
1991:  "Because I Love You" by Stevie B was #1 on the Adult Contemporary chart for a second week.
1993:  Rage Against the Machine performed at the Underworld in Camden, London.







1995:  Joni Mitchell appeared at the Gene Autry Western Heritage Museum theater in Los Angeles.
1997:  James Brown, ZZ Top and the Blues Brothers performed during the halftime show of Super Bowl XXXI at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans.
2003:  Billy Joel was admitted to a hospital after crashing his car into a tree in Sag Harbor, New York.
2005:  In today's edition of Inmates Run Rap Music, Irv Gotti, boss of The Inc. Record Company, surrendered to the FBI, which accused the label of funneling drug money and using their company as part of a criminal empire.




2010:  Lady Antebellum released the album Need You Now.











2011:  Gladys Horton of the Marvelettes died from complications of a stroke in Los Angeles at age 65.  (Note:  some websites claim Gladys died on January 27, but the correct date is January 26, according to the newspaper 'The New York Times', 'NPR', and 'Billboard'.  Further, some websites show she died in Sherman Oaks.  Sherman Oaks is a neighborhood of Los Angeles, not a city.  Neighborhoods are not nor never have been official "places of death".)
2014:  Daft Punk captured five Grammy Awards including Album of the Year (Random Access Memories) and Song of the Year ("Get Lucky") at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.

Born This Day:
1939:  Marshall Lieb of the Teddy Bears ("To Know Him Is To Love Him") was born in Los Angeles; died of a heart attack  March 15, 2002 in Northridge, California.




1943:  Jean Knight ("Mr. Big Stuff") was born in New Orleans, Louisiana.
1944:  Merrilee Rush ("Angel Of The Morning" from 1968) was born in Seattle, Washington.
1945:  Ashley Hutchings, vocalist, songwriter, arranger and bassist of Fairport Convention, and later a producer, was born in Southgate, Middlesex, England.  
1946:  Deon Jackson ("Love Makes the World Go Round" was born in Ann Arbor, Michigan; died April 18, 2014 in Chicago, Illinois.
1948:  Corky Laing, drummer of Mountain ("Mississippi Queen"), was born in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
1949:  Derek Holt, bassist of Climax Blues Band ("Couldn't Get It Right") was born in Stafford, England.
1950:  Paul Pena, who wrote "Jet Airliner" for Steve Miller, was born in Hyannis, Massachusetts; died October 1, 2005 in San Francisco, California from complications of diabetes and pancreatitis.
1951:  David Briggs, guitarist of the Little River Band and later an engineer and producer, was born in Melbourne, Australia.

1957:  Eddie Van Halen, elite guitarist and songwriter of Van Halen, was born in Amsterdam, the Netherlands.  (Note:  some websites claim Van Halen was born in Nijmegan, the Netherlands.  According to the New Netherland Institute, the book 'Eddie Van Halen:  Know the Man, Play the Music' by Malcolm Dome and Rod Fogg, and 'Billboard', Eddie was born in Amsterdam; the family later moved to Nijmegan.)1958:  Norman Hassan, vocalist and conga player of UB40, was born in Birmingham, England.)






1958:  Anita Baker was born in Toledo, Ohio.









1963:  Andrew Ridgeley, singer-songwriter and guitarist of Wham!  was born in Windlesham, Surrey, England.
1963:  Jazzie B (real name Beresford Romeo) of Soul II Soul ("Back To Life") was born in Hornsey, London.  (Note:  'AllMusic.com' lists his birthplace as Finsbury Park, but it was in Hornsey, London, according to the newspaper 'The Telegraph'.)
1964:  Susannah Melvoin, vocalist with Prince, Eric Clapton, Roger Waters and Mike Oldfield and songwriter for Madonna, Clapton and Prince, was born in Los Angeles.

Sunday, January 24, 2016

This Date in Rock Music History: January 25

1958:  "Jailhouse Rock" by Elvis Presley became the first single to debut on the U.K. chart at #1.
1960:  Sam Cooke recorded "Chain Gang" at the RCA Recording Studios in New York City.