This Date in Rock Music History: March 24

1956:  Les Baxter had the #1 song with "Poor People Of Paris".

1958:  Elvis Presley was sworn in as a private in the U.S. Army. 
1962:  Mick Jagger and Keith Richards made their professional live debut, performing onstage as Little Boy Blue & the Blue Boys.
1962:  Sam Cooke's "Twistin' The Night Away" wrestled the #1 spot on the R&B chart away from Gene Chandler's "Duke Of Earl".
1962:  Connie Francis reached #1 on the Easy Listening chart with "Don't Break The Heart That Loves You".






1962:  Bruce Channel's "Hey!  Baby" was #1 for the third week.
1965:  Bill Wyman was knocked unconscious by an electrical shock from a microphone stand.  It was the first date of the Rolling Stones anniversary tour in Odense, Denmark.
1965:  The Beatles shot the interior temple scenes for the movie Help!  at Twickenham Studios in England.

1966:  The New York State Assembly passed a bill making it a misdemeanor to sell bootlegs.

1973:  Lou Reed was bitten on his rear end by a fan during a concert in Buffalo, New York.  The male fan was ejected from the show. 
1973:  Alice Cooper owned the top U.K. album with Billion Dollar Babies.

1973:  Pink Floyd released the album Dark Side of the Moon in the U.K.  They had released the album in the United States on March 17.
1973:  The O'Jays rode the "Love Train" all the way to #1, displacing the longtime top song "Killing Me Softly With His Song" by Roberta Flack.  Deodato edged up with one of The Top 100 Instrumentals of the Rock Era*--"Also Sprach Zarathustra (2001)" while Gladys Knight & the Pips had another smash with "Neither One Of Us (Wants To Be The First To Say Goodbye)".  The rest of the Top 10:  Newcomer Edward Bear with "Last Song", Dr. Hook & the Medicine Show were stuck on 6 with "The Cover Of The 'Rolling Stone'", Eric Weissberg & Steve Mandell teamed for "Dueling Banjos", Anne Murray was at #8 with "Danny's Song", the Stylistics reached the Top 10 with "Break Up To Make Up" and the Four Tops had their 32nd hit but only seventh Top 10 song with "Ain't No Woman (Like The One I've Got)".
1975:  Chicago released the album Chicago VIII. 










1975:  Grand Funk released the single "Bad Time".
1978:  The British courts granted British record companies the rights to seize bootleg and pirate recordings. 













1979:  Poco controlled the Adult Contemporary chart for a third week with "Crazy Love".

1979:  Spirits Having Flown by the Bee Gees remained as the top album for a fourth week.  Minute By Minute from the Doobie Brothers was right behind and the excellent debut from Dire Straits moved to challenge.  Rod Stewart's Blondes Have More Fun fell while Love Tracks from Gloria Gaynor was #5.









1979:  The Bee Gees were as hot as nearly anyone has been at any one time in the Rock Era.  The group scored their fifth consecutive #1 song and ninth in the last five years with "Tragedy".  Gloria Gaynor slipped to second with "I Will Survive" while the Doobie Brothers were up from 6 to 3 with "What A Fool Believes".  Donna Summer with Brooklyn Dreams remained fourth with "Heaven Knows" and Peaches & Herb had a second straight big hit with "Shake Your Groove Thing".  The rest of the Top 10:  Rod Stewart's former #1 "Do Ya Think I'm Sexy", Dire Straits enjoyed their first hit with "Sultans Of Swing", the Pointer Sisters were on their way down with "Fire", Bobby Caldwell and "What You Won't Do For Love" while Olivia Newton-John stopped off at #10 with "A Little More Love".












1980:  Kenny Rogers & Kim Carnes released the single "Don't Fall In Love With A Dreamer".
1982:  Iron Maiden released the album The Number of the Beast.  (Note:  some websites claim the album was released on March 24, 1980, but according to Garry Bushell and Ross Halfin's book 'Running Free, The Official Story of Iron Maiden', the correct date is March 24, 1982.)










1983:  Eddy Grant released "Electric Avenue".








 

1984:  Lionel Richie began a six-week stay at #1 in the U.K. with his great song "Hello".
1984:  Christine McVie's solo hit "Got A Hold On Me" was #1 for the third straight week on the Adult Contemporary chart.
1984:  "Jump" by Van Halen held on to #1 for the fifth week in the United States.
1984:  Thriller had already broken the Rock Era record set by Fleetwood Mac's Rumours, and this week Michael Jackson added to his total with a 34th week at #1 on the Album chart.  
1990:  Sinead O'Connor was on top of the U.K. Album chart with I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got.
1990:  Taylor Dayne reached #1 on the AC chart with "Love Will Lead You Back".








1990:  Canadian Allanah Myles had the top song with "Black Velvet".
1990:  Forever Your Girl by Paula Abdul was the #1 album for the eighth week.  Janet Jackson came in second with Rhythm Nation 1814 while Phil Collins was stuck at 3 with ...But Seriously.  Michael Bolton's excellent Soul Provider moved up and Cosmic Thing from the B-52's was fifth.  The rest of the Top 10:  The great Nick of Time from Bonnie Raitt, storming into the list after 50 weeks of release, Girl You Know It's True from Milli Vanilli, Alannah Myles with her self-titled album, Cry Like a Rainstorm - Howl Like the Wind from Linda Ronstadt and Storm Front by Billy Joel slipped to #10.
1991:  The Black Crowes were dropped as the opening act on ZZ Top's tour for repeatedly criticizing Miller Beer.  Miller Beer happened to be sponsoring the tour.  Some people don't have all their marbles.
1992:   A Chicago judge ruled in the Milli Vanilli class-action suit that $3.00 cash rebates would be given to anyone that could prove that they bought the group's music before November 27, 1990 (the date the lip syncing scandal broke).

1997:  Harold Melvin of Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes ("If You Don't Know Me By Now" and "The Love I Lost") died at age 57 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, reportedly from a second stroke.

1998:  Amway Corp. announced that it had agreed to pay $9 million to settle a lawsuit over the company's use of songs by top artists in videotaped sales pitches. 

2001:  The stretch of Highway 19 in Macon, Georgia where Duane Allman died in a motorcycle crash (October 29, 1971) was renamed Duane Allman Boulevard.

2002:  Jacoby Shaddix of Papa Roach became the father of son Makaile Cielo Shaddix.

2003:  David Lee Roth began a week as a substitute morning disc jockey on Arrow 93.1 in Los Angeles.
2003:  Madonna had to re-edit her "American Life" clip when war broke out in Iraq.  The video featured her lobbing grenades at a fashion show.








                                         "Sunrise" from Norah Jones' new album

2004:  Norah Jones' second album Feels Like Home topped the Album charts for a fifth consecutive week.
2005:  Anthrax announced the lineup that was in place for the album Among the Living would reform for a national tour.
2007:  Henson Cargill ("Skip A Rope" from 1967) died at the age of 66 following complications from surgery in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

2009:  Uriel Jones, drummer for Motown on songs like "I Heard It Through The Grapevine" by Marvin Gaye, "For Once In My Life" by Stevie Wonder, "Cloud Nine" by the Temptations and "I Second That Emotion" by Smokey Robinson & the Miracles, died at age 74 from complications after suffering a heart attack in Dearborn, Michigan.
2010:  Johnny Maestro of the Crests ("16 Candles") and Brooklyn Bridge ("The Worst That Could Happen") died of cancer in Cape Coral, Florida at the age of 70.
2013:  Deke Richards (real name Dennis Lussier), songwriter and producer, who co-wrote "Love Child" for the Supremes and "ABC" for the Jackson 5, and produced the Supremes, the Jackson 5, Bobby Darin and Martha and the Vandellas, among others, died in Bellingham, Washington at the age of 68 from esophageal cancer.


Born This Day:
1937:  Billy Stewart ("Summertime" from 1966) was born in Washington, D.C.; died January 17, 1970 along the Neuse River near Smithfield, North Carolina.
1938:  Don Covay, who wrote "Chain Of Fools" for Aretha Franklin, and songs for the Rolling Stones, Gladys Knight & the Pips, Wilson Pickett, Steppenwolf, Chubby Checker, Bobby Womack, Solomon Burke, and others, and worked with Jimi Hendrix and Little Richard, was born in Orangeburg, South Carolina; died in his sleep after suffering a second stroke on January 31, 2015 in Valley Stream, New York.  (Note:  some websites report that Covay died on January 30, but the correct date is January 31, according to the newspaper 'The New York Times'.)
1941:  Michael Masser, songwriter who wrote "Greatest Love Of All", "Saving All My Love For You", "Didn't We Almost Have It All" and "All At Once" for Whitney Houston, "THeme From 'Mahogany'", "Touch Me In the Morning" and "Last Time I Saw Him" by Diana Ross, "Tonight, I Celebrate My Love" for Roberta Flack & Peabo Bryson, "If Ever You're In My Arms Again" for Bryson, "Nothing's Gonna' Change My Love For You" for Glenn Medeiros, "Miss You Like Crazy" for Natalie Cole, and many others, was born in Chicago, Illinois; died July 9, 2015 in Rancho Mirage, California, the result of deteriorating health after suffering a stroke three years before.
1947:  Mike Kellie, drummer of Spooky Tooth, was born in Birmingham, England.

1948:  Lee Oskar, famed harmonica player of War, was born in Copenhagen, Denmark.











1949:  Nick Lowe, member of Brinsley Schwatz, solo star ("Cruel To Be Kind" from 1979) and producer, was born in Walton-on-Thames, Surrey, England.  (Note:  some websites claim Lowe was born in Woodchurch, Suffolk, England, but according to both 'Billboard' and the newspaper 'The Examiner', he was born in Walton-on-Thames.)

 

 

 

 

 

1951:  Dougie Thomson, bassist for Supertramp, was born in Glasgow, Scotland.
1960:  Nena (real name Gabriele Susanne Kerner), lead singer of the group which bears her name ("99 Luftballons" from 1982), was born in Hagen, Germany.
1970:  Sharon Corr of the Corrs ("Breathless") was born in Dundalk, Ireland.
1974:  Chad Butler, drummer for Switchfoot, was born in Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
1982:  Nivea was born in Savannah, Georgia.

This Date in Rock Music History: March 23

1959:  Brook Benton had the #1 song on the R&B chart with "It's Just A Matter Of Time".

1959:  "Venus" by Frankie Avalon spent a third week at #1.  
1961:  Elvis Presley recorded "Can't Help Falling In Love" at Radio Recorders in Hollywood, California.
1961:  Elvis Presley scored his seventh #1 in the U.K. with "Wooden Heart".
1963:  Ruby and the Romantics reached #1 on the R&B chart with "Our Day Will Come".  


1963:  Ruby and the Romantics had the #1 song with "Our Day Will Come".   Skeeter Davis had a solid #2 with her great song "The End Of The World".  Bobby Darin's "You're The Reason I'm Living" remained third while the Chiffons were on the move from 10-4 with "He's So Fine" and previous #1 "Walk Like A Man" from the Four Seasons fell to the #5 spot.  The rest of the Top 10:  "Rhythm Of The Rain" by the Cascades, the Orlons stormed to #7 with "South Street", Eydie Gorme and "Blame It On The Bossa Nova", Johnny Mathis held steady with "What Will Mary Say" and Roy Orbison collected his 13th hit and 6th Top 10 with "In Dreams".
1964:  John Lennon's first book In His Own Write was published.  (Note:  several websites claim the book was published on April 27.  The correct date is March 23, according to 'The Beatles Bible' as well as the books 'Read the Beatles:  Classic and New Writings on the Beatles' by June Skinner Sawyers and 'The Art And Music Of John Lennon' by Peter Doggett.)
1968:  Paul Mauriat had a hold on #1 on the Adult chart for the sixth consecutive week with "Love Is Blue".







1968:  The late Otis Redding was still at #1 with "(Sittin' On) The Dock Of The Bay", one of The Top 500 Songs of the Rock Era*.  Another one,  "Love Is Blue" by Paul Mauriat, which had spent five weeks at #1, now climbed back to #2.
1969:  Anita Bryant and the Lettermen appeared at a "Rally for Decency" in Miami that drew 30,000 people following Jim Morrison's indecent exposure onstage.
1970:  Although the Beatles had decided to abandon tracks recorded for the Let It Be album, business manager Allen Klein invited Phil Spector over to remix the recordings.  Spector's tampering with the original recordings further alienated Paul McCartney from the band.
1972:  The film of The Concert for Bangladesh featuring George Harrison, Bob Dylan and Eric Clapton premiered in New York City.  The documentary was previewed the previous night at the DeMille Theater.
1972:  Pink Floyd began the first of eight days recording performances at Pompei, Italy's Roman Amphitheater.
1973:  John Lennon was ordered by immigration authorities to leave the United States within 60 days.  He began fighting to win his 'Green Card', which was given to him on July 27, 1976.







1974:  Cher scored her third solo #1 with "Dark Lady".  That sent "Seasons In The Sun" by Terry Jacks backwards, but John Denver was up to #3 with one of his biggest career hits--"Sunshine On My Shoulders".  Eddie Kendricks was next with "Boogie Down" and husband and wife Carly Simon & James Taylor had #5 with "Mockingbird".  The rest of the Top 10:  Elton John moved from 12 to 6 with "Bennie And The Jets", Blue Swede with their remake of "Hooked On A Feeling", Paul McCartney & Wings moved to #8 with "Jet", Mocedades gave us the beautiful "Eres Tu (Touch The Wind)" and Kool & the Gang were on their way down with "Jungle Boogie".
1977:  Elvis Presley appeared at the Activities Center on the campus of Arizona State University in Tempe, Arizona, the first day of a 49-date U.S. tour that would be his last ever.
1978:  Bill Kenny of the Ink Spots died of a respiratory illness in New Westminster, British Columbia, Canada at age 63.
1979:  Van Halen released their second album Van Halen II on Warner Brothers Records.  (Note:  some websites report that the album was released March 25.  It was released on March 23, according to 'Guitar World' magazine.) 











1981:  Blondie had the #1 song in the country with "Rapture".
1985:  Billy Joel and Christie Brinkley were married in New York on a yacht moored on the Hudson River near the Statue of Liberty.  
1985:  Julian Lennon appeared in concert for the first time in San Antonio, Texas.








 
1985:  John Fogerty had the #1 album with Centerfield.  Phil Collins closed in with  No Jacket Required in just its second week for the great album.  Bruce Springsteen remained third with Born in the U.S.A. while Wham! dropped from the top spot with Make It Big.  The Soundtrack to "Beverly Hills Cop" came in fifth.  The rest of the Top 10:  Private Dancer from Tina Turner, Madonna fell down with Like a Virgin, REO Speedwagon dropped with Wheels Are Turnin', Foreigner's Agent Provacateur and Bryan Adams held on to #10 with his amazing album Reckless.









1985:  REO Speedwagon remained at the top for a third week with "Can't Fight This Feeling".  Madonna was bidding for another #1 with "Material Girl" (she wouldn't make it) and Phil Collins was up to 3 with his solo hit "One More Night".  After a concerted try at the top, Glenn Frey was down with "The Heat Is On".  The rest of the Top 10:  John Lennon's son, Julian, with "Too Late For Goodbyes", Teena Marie at #6 with "Lovergirl", Tina Turner and the title track from Private Dancer, Survivor moved from 14 to 8 with "High On You", Journey had their 19th hit with "Only The Young" and Frankie Goes to Hollywood closed the list with "Relax".
1987:  The Soul Train Music Awards debuted on television.  The big winners of the night were Janet Jackson, Luther Vandross and Cameo.  It was the first awards ceremony to honor black producers, songwriters and recording artists in the music business.
1990:  Fleetwood Mac began their Behind the Mask world tour with 14 dates in Australia, beginning at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre in Brisbane.
1991:  Hi-Five climbed to the top in R&B land with "I Like The Way (The Kissing Game)".

 

 

 
                       The great harmonies of Wilson Phillips...

1991:  Timmy T. had a huge #1 with "One More Try", taking over from "Someday" by Mariah Carey.  Gloria Estefan was up to #3 with "Coming Out Of The Dark" while Tracie Spencer followed with "This House".  The rest of the Top 10:  "Get Here" from Oleta Adams, Tara Kemp moved nicely with "Hold You Tight", Wilson Phillips had another big hit with "You're In Love", moving from 14-7, Londonbeat had people dancing with "I've Been Thinking About You", Madonna moved in with "Rescue Me" and Enigma jumped from 19-10 with "Sadeness Part 1".

1991:  For a fourth week, Mariah Carey's incredible debut album was #1.  
1992:  Janet Jackson signed with Virgin Records for $16 million.
1992:  The United States Supreme Court upheld a judgement awarding Bette Midler $400,000.  Midler had sued an advertising agency that used a Midler sound-alike in a commercial.
1996:  The Beatles debuted at #12 with their first release in 20 years--"Real Love".

1996:  Celine Dion scored her 12th hit and second #1 song with "Because You Loved Me".  The Tony Rich Project were runners up with "Nobody Knows".  Alanis Morisette had the only new Top 10 with "Ironic".
1996:  Alanis Morissette held on to #1 on the Album chart with Jagged Little Pill for a third week.  It wasn't close to done.
2000:  Sir Elton John's musical Aida opened on Broadway.  (Note:  some websites report the musical opened on March 24.  'The New York Times' review appeared the morning of March 24, and people who aren't aware that newspapers are printed and delivered the day after the news can make that mistake.)

 
2000:  Tina Turner kicked off the American portion of her farewell tour at the Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
2002:  ZZ Top bassist Dusty Hill married actress Charleen McCrory in Houston.
2004:  Usher released the album Confessions, allegedly inspired by his break-up with TLC's Chili.
2008:  Neil Aspinall, head of Apple Corporation's music empire for the Beatles from 1970-2007, died at a hospital in Manhattan, New York at the age of 66.  Aspinall was a long-time friend of both Paul McCartney and George Harrison.  Aspinall led the legal battle with Apple Computers over the use of the Apple name and a royalties dispute between the Beatles and EMI Records.  (Note:  some websites incorrectly report that Aspinall died March 24.  The correct date is March 23, according to the newspaper 'The New York Times'.)
2011:  The members of Deep Purple met with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev before their concert in Moscow.

Born This Day:
 

1949:  Ric Ocasek, singer, songwriter, guitarist and founder of the Cars, was born in Baltimore, Maryland.
1950:  Phil Lanzon, keyboardist of Uriah Heap

 

 

 

 

 

 

1953:  Chaka Khan (real name Yvette Marie Stevens), lead singer of Rufus ("Tell Me Something Good" from 1974) and solo star, was born in Great Lakes, Illinois.  (Note:  some websites claim Chaka was born in Chicago, Illinois, but according to 'Billboard' and other reliable sources, she was born in Great Lakes.)
1965:  Marti Pellow (real name Mark McLoughlin), vocalist for Wet Wet Wet (remake of "Love Is All Around"), was born in Clydebank, Scotland.  (Note:  some websites report that Pellow was born in 1966, and some sites say he was born in Glasgow.  According to his official website, he was born in 1965 in Clydebank.)
1967:  John Strohm, singer and guitarist of the Lemonheads, was born in Bloomington, Indiana.
1968:  Damon Albarn, singer/songwriter of Blur and a producer, was born in London.  (Note:  some websites report Albarn was born in Whitechapel, London, or in Stepney, or in Leytonstone.  Whitechapel is a district, not a city, and Albarn was born in London, according to 'Billboard' magazine.)

This Date in Rock Music History: March 22

1957:  Elvis Presley released the single "All Shook Up".1956:  Carl Perkins broke four ribs and a shoulder when the car he was traveling in was involved in an accident that sadly claimed the life of his brother Jay.










1963:  The Beatles released the album Please Please Me in the U.K.

1964: Barbra Streisand opened in the Broadway play I Can Get it For You Wholesale at the Sam S. Schubert Theatre.

1965: Bob Dylan's first album featuring his electric guitar Bring it All Back Home was released on Columbia Records.








1967: The Who played their first U.S. show at the Paramount Theater in New York City.
1969:  The Temptations reached #1 on the R&B chart with "Run Away Child, Running Wild".
1969:  Glen Campbell's album Wichita Lineman, featuring the great title track, was #1 on the Album chart.  Cream's farewell album Goodbye was second while The White Album by the Beatles, which had held on to #1 for 10 weeks, was still hanging around at #3.








1969:  There were fun times in music as Tommy Roe held on to #1 with "Dizzy", one of The Top 10 Bubblegum Songs of the Rock Era*.  CCR was in their favorite place of #2 with "Proud Mary".
1971: Police arrested all members of the Allman Brothers Band for heroin and marijuana possession in Jackson, Mississippi.
1973: Traffic and Spooky Tooth (Mick Jones, Gary Wright) appeared at The Hard Rock in Manchester, England.








1974: The Eagles released their third LP, On the Border.
1975: Barry Manilow made his first appearance on American Bandstand.
1975:  The Bay City Rollers ruled in the U.K. with their remake of the Four Seasons' song "Bye Bye Baby".








1975: Led Zeppelin, who had debuted at #3 the previous week, took over at #1 on the Album chart with Physical Graffiti.  Olivia Newton-John was #2 with Have You Never Been Mellow with Bob Dylan's Blood on the Tracks coming in third.  One of the career best for the Doobie Brothers, What Were Once Vices Are Now Habits, held down #4 after 45 weeks of release.








1975:  Earth, Wind & Fire had the new #1 on the R&B chart with their great song "Shining Star".
1975:  B.J. Thomas scored another #1 on the Adult chart with "(Hey Won't You Play) Another Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song".
1975:  Elton John roared from #35 to #11 with "Philadelphia Freedom".









1975:  Frankie Valli completed one of the most amazing comeback stories of the Rock Era when he climbed the final step of the ladder to #1 with "My Eyes Adored You".  He had not had a Top 10 hit in seven years.  LaBelle moved to #2 with "Lady Marmalade" while Minnie Riperton was up with "Lovin' You".  Previous #1 "Black Water" from the Doobie Brothers fell and former #1 "Have You Never Been Mellow" by Olivia Newton-John was on its way down.  The rest of the Top 10:  "Express" from B.T. Express, Joe Cocker scored one of his only Top 10's with "You Are So Beautiful", Phoebe Snow moved from 11-8 with "Poetry Man", Ringo Starr burst into the group with "No No Song" and Sugarloaf remained at #10 with "Don't Call Us, We'll Call You".  














1977:  Stevie Wonder released the single "Sir Duke".

1977: John Denver's television special Thank God I'm a Country Boy was shown on ABC.
1978: The Police signed a recording contract with A&M Records.
1979: Chaka Khan gave birth to a son, Damien Milton Patrick Holland.








1980:  Pink Floyd posted their only #1 song on this date--"Another Brick In The Wall", holding off "Longer" by Dan Fogelberg, although many stations favored the latter.  Queen finally came off their perch after four weeks with "Crazy Little Thing Called Love".  Andy Gibb had his sixth straight Top 10 to begin his career ("Desire"), one of the top feats for a newcomer in the Rock Era.  The rest of the Top 10:  the Spinners were up to 6 with the medley "Working My Way Back To You/Forgive Me Girl", Donna Summer's "On the Radio", Rupert Holmes and "Him", Shalamar edged up with "The Second Time Around", Kool & the Gang had another Top 10 with "Too Hot" and Linda Ronstadt moved up with "How Do I Make You".







1980:  Promising newcomers Air Supply were rewarded for a great song by reaching #1 on the Adult Contemporary chart with "Lost In Love".









    
   Linda Ronstadt from 'Mad Love' with "Hurts So Bad"...

1980:  It was evident that the album The Wall by Pink Floyd was going to be one of The Top 100 Albums of the Rock Era*, spending a 10th week at #1.  Damn the Torpedoes from Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers was at #2 for seven of those with Linda Ronstadt jumping to #3 in just the second week of release for Mad Love.  Rush's excellent Permanent Waves was third while Heart's rocker Bebe Le Strange gained the #5 position.  The rest of the Top 10:  The superb Phoenix from Dan Fogelberg, the Whispers with their self-titled album, Fun and Games from Chuck Mangione, Bob Seger moved from 20 to 9 in just his second week with his third consecutive smash album in a row--Against the Wind and Michael Jackson stood pat at #10 with Off the Wall.
1986:  Starship controlled the AC chart with "Sara".






1986:  Janet Jackson's "What Have You Done for Me Lately" topped the R&B chart.
1986:  Newcomer Whitney Houston was on her way--her debut album, which had been out for a full year, was #1 for a third straight week.  








1986:  Heart had the first #1 song of their career with "These Dreams", although anyone who didn't place "Magic Man" at #1 bordered on lunacy.  Starship relinquished their spot with "Sara".
1992: Polygram Records announced that Tears For Fears had split up.









1994: Singer, songwriter and producer Dan Hartman died of an AIDS-related brain tumor in Westport, Connecticut. Hartman wrote "Free Ride" while he was with the Edgar Winter Group, had hits "Instant Replay" and "I Can Dream About You", and collaborated with Tina Turner, Dusty Springfield, Joe Cocker, Bonnie Tyler, Paul Young, James Brown and Steve Winwood.







          
                                                  "Discoteque" from U2...

1997:  U2 debuted at #1 on the Album chart with Pop.  LeAnn Rimes moved up to challenge with Unchained Melody/The Early Years.  Celine Dion was moving back up after 52 weeks with Falling Into You and Jewel's masterpiece, Pieces of You, was fourth after 56 weeks.  The rest of the Top 10:  No Doubt with Tragic Kingdom, Spice from the Spice Girls, Live was back with Secret Samadhi, the Wallflowers grabbed position #8 with Bringing Down the Horse, Erykah Badu's Baduizm and LeAnn Rimes had a second entry with her breakthrough album Blue.
1997: Puff Daddy started a six-week run at #1 with "Can't Nobody Hold Me Down".
1999: Britney Spears' album ...Baby One More Time was certified triple platinum.






2000: With Angus Young present, the Spanish town of Leganes unveiled a sign designating a street "Calle de AC/DC".









2001: "Butterfly" by Crazy Town was #1.
2003: Guns N' Roses gave the Offspring a cease and desist letter after they announce plans to call their new album Chinese Democrazy (You Snooze You Lose). Chinese Democracy was the long-awaited album from Guns N' Roses.








2005: Rod Price, founding member of Foghat, died after falling down a stairway at his home in Wilton, New Hampshire after suffering a heart attack. He was 57.
2006: The High School Musical Soundtrack returned to #1 on the Album chart.
2006: Aerosmith canceled their North American tour as Steven Tyler entered the hospital for throat surgery.
2008: Mariah Carey reached #1 with "Touch My Body", her 18th #1 song. That tied Elvis Presley's record for the most #1 songs by a solo artist in the Rock Era. It was Carey's 79th week at #1, just short of Elvis's all-time record there.  (Note:  websites which claim that Carey has the most #1's among solo performers are forgetting Elvis's double-sided #1, in fact the biggest double-sided hit of the Rock Era--"Don't Be Cruel"/"Hound Dog".  Both "Don't Be Cruel" and "Hound Dog" reached #1.)
2009:  Lady Gaga had the #1 song in the U.K. with "Poker Face".

2013:  My Chemical Romance announced they were breaking up after 12 years together.









Born This Day:

1930: Stephen Sondheim, winner of eight Tony Awards, an Academy Award and numerous Grammys, was born in New York City.










1936: Roger Whittaker ("The Last Farewell" from 1975) was born in Nairobi, Kenya.
1941: Jeremy Clyde of Chad & Jeremy ("A Summer Song") was born in Dorney, England.









1943:  George Benson, ten-time Grammy Award winner, was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
1943:  Keith Relf, lead vocalist with the Yardbirds, was born in Richmond, Surrey, England; died of electrocution playing a guitar that was not properly grounded at the age of 33 on May 14, 1975.
1946:  Harry Vanda (member of the Easybeats and the producer of AC/Dc) was born in The Hague, Netherlands.
1947:  Patrick Olive of Hot Chocolate was born in Grenada.







1948: Andrew Lloyd Webber, songwriter, producer with Tim Rice and creator of the masterpiece play Phantom of the Opera, Cats, Les Miserables and many others, was born in London.
1948: Randy Jo Hobbs, bass guitarist with the McCoys ("Hang On Sloopy"), Montrose and the Johnny Winter Group, was born in Winchester, Indiana; died August 5, 1993 of heart failure in a hotel in Dayton, Ohio.  (Note:  'Billboard" reports Hobbs was born in Winchester; 'Allmusic.com' reports he was born in Union City.  We have to go with the credible music site.)







1957: Stephanie Mills ("Never Knew Love Like This Before") was born in Brooklyn, New York.
1963: Susanne Sulley, vocalist of the Human League, was born in Sheffield, Yorkshire, England.
1979: Aaron Wright North, lead guitarist and co-founder of Nine Inch Nails, was born in Los Angeles.
1980: Shannon Bex, singer with Danity Kane, was born in Bend, Oregon.
1981: Shawn Mims was born in Manhattan, New York.  (Note:  some websites claim Mims was born in Old Westbury, New York, while others say he was born in Washington Heights, Manhattan, New York.  Washington Heights is not a city; rather, it is a neighborhood, and neighborhoods are not official places of birth.  According to his agent, Richard De La Font, Mims was born in Manhattan.)