This Date in Rock Music History: August 18

1956:  One of the great early songs of the Rock Era, "My Prayer" from the Platters, was #1 on the R&B chart.
1958:  The Kalin Twins had the top U.K. song with "When".






1958:  Domenico Modugno posted the second #1 in the history of Billboard magazine with "Nel Blu Dipinto Di Blu (Volare)".  The Elegants moved from 14 to 2 with "Little Star".







1962:  Ringo Starr debuted with the Beatles as their new drummer at a concert at the Horticultural Society Dance in Birkenhead, England. 
1962:  Bobby Vinton posted his fourth week at #1 on the Easy Listening chart with "Roses Are Red (My Love)".
1964:  The Beatles arrived in San Francisco to begin their first tour of America and were met by 9,000 frenzied fans.  The Beatles were driven into a protective enclosure so that photographers could take pictures.  The fans, however, pressed against the fencing, and the Beatles barely managed to get out before it came down on them.
1965:  The Beatles were in concert at Atlanta Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia before a sellout crowd of 35,000.  Fans paid $5.50 for the highly sought-after tickets.
1966:  Vocalist and harmonica player Paul Jones left the group Manfred Mann.
1969:  Mick Jagger was accidentally shot in the hand during the filming of the movie Ned Kelly in Australia.
1969:  Edward Bear ("Last Song") opened for Led Zeppelin at the Rock Pile in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.






1973:  The Pointer Sisters released their first single "Yes We Can Can" in February, but on this date, the news was that it finally became their first hit, debuting on the charts.

 
1973:  Marvin Gaye started a long run at #1 on the R&B chart with "Let's Get It On".














1973:  Grand Funk had a solid hit with "We're An American Band", which moved from 59 to 29.





1973:  Diana Ross hit #1 again with "Touch Me In The Morning", jumping over both "Live And Let Die" from Wings and "Brother Louie" by the Stories.  Maureen McGovern fell with "The Morning After" and Marvin Gaye had his 45th hit with "Let's Get It On" at #5.  The rest of the Top 10:  Jim Croce's former #1 "Bad, Bad Leroy Brown", Gilbert O'Sullivan followed up his #1 "Alone Again (Naturally)" with "Get Down" at #7, Helen Reddy moved from 15 to 8 with "Delta Dawn", Charlie Daniels had "Uneasy Rider" and Chicago moved into the Top 10 with their great song "Feelin' Stronger Every Day".








1975:  The seeds of one of the greatest comebacks of the Rock Era were planted on this day.  Monday, the day for new releases, fell on this date and the Four Seasons released the single "Who Loves You", which would become their first Top 10 song in eight years.
1976:  Marvin Gaye faced two consecutive five-day prison terms in the Los Angeles county jail for contempt of court after missing alimony and child support payments.
1977:  The Police performed as a trio for the first time after guitarist Henri Padovani left the group when they played at Rebecca's in Birmingham, England.  (Note:  several websites report the show was August 17.  'Billboard' magazine and the book 'Sting:  Back on the Beat' by Christopher Sandford both state that it was on August 18.)

1977:  Funeral services were held for Elvis Presley at Graceland near Memphis, Tennessee.  Only 150 people were invited but tens of thousands gathered outside the gates.
1979:  With a hit song behind him, Nick Lowe ("Cruel To Be Kind" from 1979) married Carlene Carter in Los Angeles.
1979:  The Who, AC/DC, Nils Lofgren and the Stranglers shared a bill at Wembley Stadium in London.








1979:  Moon Martin had the highest-debuting song with "Rolene".
1979:  Chic made it four weeks at #1 on the R&B survey with "Good Times".
1979:  The Commodores were flying up the chart with "Sail On"--up from 68 to 37 on this date.








           
                                                                  The Knack were rocking towards the top...


1979:  Chic somehow reached #1 with "Good Times" while the Knack moved into position with "My Sharona".  Barbra Streisand had song #3--"The Main Event/Fight".  Donna Summer slipped from the top with "Bad Girls" while Earth, Wind & Fire moved from 19 to 5 with their great song "After The Love Has Gone".  The rest of the Top 10:  Dr. Hook with one of the biggest of their 21 career hits--"When You're In Love With A Beautiful Woman", Anita Ward with "Ring My Bell", the Charlie Daniels Band surged from 21 to 8 with "The Devil Went Down To Georgia", Raydio edged up with "You Can't Change That" and Elton John landed his 16th Top 10 hit with "Mama Can't Buy You Love".








                                                                          "Surrender" from 'Live at Budokan'...

1979:  The Knack continued to possess the #1 album with Get the Knack.  Bad Girls from Donna Summer was #2 followed by Supertramp's Breakfast In America, still in the Top 3 after 21 weeks.  Candy-O by the Cars was fourth.  The rest of the Top 10:  Teddy from Teddy Pendergrass, I Am by Earth, Wind & Fire, Discovery from ELO at 7, the Who couldn't get past #8 with "The Kids Are Alright" Soundtrack, Cheap Trick At Budokan was #9 and Charlie Daniels Band reached #10 with Million Mile Reflections.









1979:  Maxine Nightingale had one of the top Adult Contemporary songs of the 70's as "Lead Me On" prevailed at #1 for a seventh week.
1982:  The City of Liverpool, England named four streets after the Beatles--John Lennon Drive, Paul McCartney Way, Ringo Starr Drive and George Harrison Close.
1983:  The Police, Joan Jett & the Blackhearts and R.E.M. were at Shea Stadium in New York City.
1984:  Prince enjoyed eight weeks at #1 on the R&B chart with his classic "When Doves Cry".










1984:  Lionel Richie had the top AC song with "Stuck On You" for the third straight week.

1986:  Bon Jovi released the album Slippery When Wet in the United States on Mercury Records.
1990:  Romeo Beresford (Jazzie B) from Soul II Soul was injured in a seven-car pileup while en route from Detroit, Michigan to Chicago, Illinois.
1990:  "Vision Of Love" gave Mariah Carey a #1 song on the R&B chart for a second week.
1990:  Mariah Carey's "Vision Of Love" was #1 on the Adult Contemporary chart for the third week.









1990:  Ah, back in the days when she wore the Triple Crown (#1 on the Popular chart, #1 on the Adult Contemporary chart and #1 on the R&B chart), something Mariah Carey can't come close to these days.  "Vision Of Love" was #1 overall for the third straight week. 
1993:  U2 performed at the National Stadium at Cardiff Arms Park in Cardiff, Wales.
1999:  Johnny Byrne, guitarist with Rory Storm and the Hurricanes, died from motor neurone disease in Liverpool, Merseyside, England at the age of 59. 
1999:  Two acts who love to wear makeup settled out of court.  Alice Cooper claimed that the KISS song "Dreamin'" was copied from his 1971 song "Eighteen".
2000:  Joey Molland of Badfinger fell off stage and fractured his leg during the Classic Rock Festival in Darrington, Washington. 
2001:  Coldplay, the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Nelly Furtado headlined the V2001 Festival at Hylands Park in Chelmsford, England.
2002:  The Sugababes sang their way to #1 in the U.K. with "Round Round".
2003:  Tony Jackson, bass guitarist and vocalist with the Searchers, died in Nottingham, England at the age of 63 from complications of diabetes, heart disease and cirrhosis of the liver due to a lifetime of heavy alcohol drinking.  (Note:  some websites report Jackson died at the age of 65.  According to the newspapers 'The Guardian' and 'The Telegraph', he died at age 63.)






2004:  Ashlee Simpson had the top album with Autobiography.
2005:  Kanye West called for an end to homophobia in the hip-hop world.
2008:  Pervis Jackson of the Spinners died of cancer at the age of 70 in Detroit, Michigan.










2012:  Scott McKenzie, who wrote an anthem for a generation ("San Francisco (Be Sure To Wear Flowers In Your Hair)", co-wrote "Kokomo" for the Beach Boys, and also worked with the Mamas and the Papas, died in Los Angeles at age 73. 




Born This Day:
1939:  Johnny Preston ("Running Bear" from 1959) was born in Port Arthur, Texas; died of heart failure in Beaumont, Texas on March 4, 2011.
1943:  Carl Wayne of Carl Wayne & the Vikings and the lead singer with the Move and the Hollies in later years, was born in Birmingham, Warwickshire, England; died August 31, 2004 weeks after being diagnosed with oesophageal cancer in Pyrford, Surrey, England.  (Note:  'Allmusic.com' says he died in Moseley, England, but according to the newspaper 'The Independent', he died in Pyrford.) 
1945:  Sarah Dash of Labelle was born in Trenton, New Jersey.
1945:  Barbara Harris of the Toys ("A Lover's Concerto" from 1965) was born in Elizabeth City, North Carolina.
1949:  Nigel Griggs, bass guitarist of Split Enz, was born in Hatfield, Hertfordshire, United Kingdom.
1950:  Dennis Elliott, drummer of Foreigner from 1976-1992, was born in Peckham, London.
1951:  John Rees, bassist of Men at Work

1952:  Patrick Swayze ("She's Like The Wind") was born in Houston, Texas; died of pancreatic cancer on September 14, 2009.
1957:  Ron Strykert, co-founder, songwriter and lead guitarist of Men At Work
1969:  Erik Schrody of House of Pain was born in Valley Stream, New York.
1983:  Mika was born in Beirut, Lebanon.

Five Best: Byrds

Great folk-rock here from L.A.  Besides being a top group of the 60's, they were really a springboard for future success for their members, and a key part of The American Rock Family Tree*.  David Crosby of course went on to huge success with Crosby, Stills & Nash.  Chris Hillman was a part of the Souther-Hillman-Furay Band with J.D. Souther and Richie Furay.  James McGuinn, Gene Clark and Hillman later recorded as a trio, while Mike Clarke later joined the Flying Burrito Brothers and Firefall.  With Honorable Mention to "Mr. Spaceman", here are the Five Best from the Byrds:

1.  Turn!  Turn!  Turn!

2.  Mr. Tambourine Man

3.  Eight Miles High

4.  My Back Pages

5.  So You Want To Be A Rock & Roll Star

This Date in Rock Music History: August 17

1959:  Elvis Presley made history when he had the #1 song for the second straight week with "A Big Hunk O' Love".  Elvis had long ago easily set the record for most weeks at #1 and no one knew it at the time, but this second week at #1 with "A Big Hunk O' Love" is that one that gave him 60 total weeks at the top in his career, one more than the Beatles would register in their amazing career.  Presley would end up with 80.
1959:  Brook Benton remained at #1 on the R&B chart with "Thank You Pretty Baby".

1960:  The Beatles performed outside of their native England for the first time (and performing under their new name for the first time), taking up a three-month residency at Indra Club in Hamburg, Germany.
1963:  "Blowin' In The Wind" remained at #1 for a third week on the Adult Contemporary chart for Peter, Paul & Mary.  









1963:  "Fingertips -Pt. 2" by Little Stevie Wonder took another week at #1 but the classic message song "Blowin' In The Wind" by Peter, Paul & Mary was #2.  Elvis Presley had #3--"(You're The) Devil In Disguise" and "Wipe Out" by the Surfaris was #4.  The rest of a solid Top 10:  "Judy's Turn To Cry" by Lesley Gore, the Four Seasons had #6 with "Candy Girl", Allan Sherman moved from 17 to 7 with "Hello Mudduh, Hello Fadduh!", the Tymes fell with "So Much In Love", Kai Winding's instrumental "More" was at 9 and the Angels shot up from 31 to 10 with "My Boyfriend's Back".
1965:  Smokey Robinson & the Miracles recorded "Going To A Go-Go" at the Hitsville Studios in Detroit, Michigan.
1966:  The Hollies wrapped up the recording of "Stop!  Stop!  Stop!" at Abbey Road Studios in London.

1966:  The Beatles gave two performances at Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto, Ontario, Canada on their final concert tour.  The first show at 4 p.m. drew 15,000, while 17,000 saw the evening show at 8 p.m.  The McCoys, Bobby Hebb, the Cyrkle, and the Ronettes opened for the Fab Four.
 1967:  Twin Falls, Idaho's Gary Puckett & the Union Gap recorded their first single "Woman, Woman".









1968:  Wheels of Fire by Cream was the top album for a second week.  Time Peace/The Rascals' Greatest Hits moved to #2 followed by Aretha Now from Aretha Franklin.  The Soundtrack to "The Graduate" by Simon & Garfunkel fell to #4 while The Beat of the Brass from Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass was #5.  The rest of the Top 10:  Disraeli Gears from Cream in its 37th week, Bookends by Simon & Garfunkel at #7, Realization by Johnny Rivers, Honey from Andy Williams at #9 and Are You Experienced? by Jimi Hendrix Experience.
1968:  "Classical Gas", one of The Top 100 Instrumentals of the Rock Era*, moved to #1 on the Easy Listening chart.








                                                       Donovan with his 1968 smash "Hurdy Gurdy Man"
...
1968:  "People Got To Be Free", the powerful song from the Rascals, moved from 5 to 1 on this date.  That meant the Doors had to relinquish their spot with "Hello, I Love You" and Mason Williams dropped as well with "Classical Gas" after peaking at #2.  A rock classic made its move--Steppenwolf from 11 to 4 with "Born To Be Wild" and Jose Feliciano's remake of "Light My Fire" moved from 20 to 5.  The rest of the Top 10:  "Stoned Soul Picnic" by the 5th Dimension, the Vogues had song #7--"Turn Around, Look At Me", Cream edged up with "Sunshine Of Your Love", Hugh Masekela's instrumental "Grazing In The Grass" was #9 and Donovan slid down with "Hurdy Gurdy Man".
1969:  Steppenwolf performed on The Ed Sullivan Show.

1969:  The highly successful Woodstock Music and Art Fair came to a close with a third and final day of performances.  It defined a generation and there was a heck of a show on Day Three.  Jimi Hendrix, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, Blood, Sweat & Tears, the Band, Johnny & Edgar Winter, Joe Cocker, Ten Years After, Country Joe and the Fish, Sha-Na-Na, the Paul Butterfield Blues Band and the Grease Band performed.
1973: Paul Williams, who left the Temptations in 1971, was found dead by police in Detroit, Michigan.  His death was ruled a suicide.
1974:  Patrick Moraz replaced Rick Wakeman in the group Yes.
1974:  Fleetwood Mac won an injunction against another band touring under the same name.
1974:  The Rolling Stones moved from 79 to 34 with "It's Only Rock 'N Roll (But I Like It)".








                                                                         ABBA was set to conquer the world...

1974:  Paper Lace rose to the final rung on the chart with "The Night Chicago Died".  Roberta Flack swapped places with her hit "Feel Like Makin' Love", Paul Anka was up 10 with "(You're) Having My Baby" and Rufus was up big (10-4) with "Tell Me Something Good".  The rest of the Top 10:  Dave Loggins with "Please Come To Boston", Chicago's "Call On Me" was #6, ABBA remained at 7 with "Waterloo", Jim Stafford's "Wildwood Weed" was at 8, Donny & Marie Osmond entered the Top 10 with "I'm Leaving It All Up To You" and Blue Magic was at #10 with "Sideshow".








1974:  461 Ocean Boulevard by Eric Clapton was the new #1 album, taking over from John Denver's Back Home Again.  Elton John's Caribou fell to 3, ahead of Before the Flood by Bob Dylan & the Band.  The rest of the Top 10:  On Stage from the short-lived duo Loggins & Messina, Stevie Wonder climbed from 79 to 6 with Fulfillingness' First Finale, Bachman-Turner Overdrive was still going strong in their 31st week with Bachman-Turner Overdrive II, Pretzel Logic, the great album from Steely Dan, was #8, Bridge of Sighs by Robin Trower entered the Top 10 and Paul McCartney & Winds had #10 after 35 weeks--the former #1 album Band On the Run.








1977:  The day after Elvis Presley's death, U.S. President Jimmy Carter said:


"Elvis Presley's death deprives our country of a part of itself.  He was unique, irreplaceable.  More than twenty years ago, he burst upon the scene with an impact that was unprecedented and will probably never be equaled.  His music and his personality, fusing the styles of white country and black rhythm and blues, permanently changed the face of American popular culture.  His following was immense.  And he was  asymbol to people the world over of the vitality, rebelliousness and good humor of this country."


1977:  FTD Florists reported that the number of flowers to be delivered to Graceland in Memphis,Tennessee (the home and final resting place of Elvis Presley, who died August 16) exceeded the record for any event in the company's history.
1979:  John Lennon and Bob Dylan starred in the PBS documentary Eat the Document.  Footage of Dylan's 1966 tour in the U.K. was originally slated to air on ABC-TV, but the network rejected the cut.  The film was released in 1970, and shown at the Academy of Music in New York City on February 8 of 1971, but has rarely been seen since.
1979:  The New York Post reported that Anita Pallenberg (the wife of Keith Richards of the Rolling Stones) was linked to a witches coven in South Salem, New York where Richards owned a house.  A local youth claimed he had been invied by Pallenberg to take part in "pot-smoking sex orgies" and a policeman said he was attacked by a group of black-hooded people.  There were "ritualistic stakes" and residents claimed that small animals had been "sacrificed" near the house.
1984:  Motley Crue made its live debut in the U.K. at the Monsters of Rock festival in Castle Donington, England.










1985:  Godley & Creme moved into the Top 40 with "Cry".
1985:  Reckless by Bryan Adams continued to set the pace on the Album chart with Tears For Fears poised to strike from the #2 position with Songs From the Big Chair.  Phil Collins was still in the Top 3 after 24 weeks with No Jacket Required.  Sting had #4--The Dream of the Blue Turtles and Bruce Springsteen placed at 5 after 61 weeks with Born in the U.S.A.  The rest of the Top 10:  Motley Crue with Theatre of Pain, Dire Straits at 7 with Brothers In Arms, the Power Station's self-titled album, Around the World in a Day from Prince & the Revolution and Night Ranger experienced the Top 10 with 7 Wishes.








1985:  Tears for Fears remained at #1 for a third week with "Shout".  Huey Lewis & the News moved up strong with "The Power Of Love" while Corey Hart was at #3 with "Never Surrender".  Sting was on his way down with "If You Love Somebody Set Them Free".  The rest of the Top 10:  Aretha Franklin's "Freeway Of Love", Paul Young at #6 with "Everytime You Go Away", John Parr's "St. Elmo's Fire" was at #7, DeBarge dropped with "Who's Holding Donna Now", Bryan Adams had his fourth hit from Reckless--"Summer Of '69) and Tina Turner blasted into the Top 10 with "We Don't Need Another Hero".
1986:  42 people were beaten or stabbed at a Run D.M.C. concert in Long Beach, California.  What a nice family-friendly event.
1987:  Gary Chester, member of the Coasters and a session drummer, died of cancer at the age of 62.  Chester played on songs such as "It's My Party", "Under The Boardwalk", "Brown Eyed Girl" and "Walk On By".
1991:  Peabo Bryson enjoyed the #1 R&B hit with "Can You Stop The Rain".







1991:  It was one of the best times of the year for music.  Natalie Cole remained at #1 on the Album chartfor a fourth week with her tribute to Dad Nat King Cole--Unforgettable With Love.  Bonnie Raitt moved up to the runner-up position with Luck of the Draw while Van Halen's ninth album, For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge, fell to 3.  C&C Music Factory was at 4 with Gonna' Make You Sweat and Boyz II Men moved up with Cooleyhighharmony.  The rest of the Top 10:  R.E.M. with Out of Time, Paula Abdul's Spellbound, the Soundtrack to "Robin Hood:  Prince of Thieves", Garth Brook's No Fences at #9 after 48 weeks and Time, Love & Tenderness from Michael Bolton.








1991:  Bryan Adams was right on target for three weeks in a row at #1 with his song from the great movie Robin Hood--"(Everything I Do) I Do It For You".
1993  Michael Jackson announced that he was negotiating to perform two concerts in Beijing, China.  But alas, the over-controlling government there refused to allow it, and MJ never performed in China.
1995:  Dave Gahan of Depeche Mode attempted suicide at a hotel on Sunset Strip in Los Angeles.  He was hospitalized and recovered.








1996:  It was the talk of the land--Los Del Rio remained at #1 for a third week with "Macarena".
1996:  Alanis Morissette was still at #2 on the Album chart after 60 weeks with Jagged Little Pill.  Other albums of note:  Falling Into You from Celine Dion at #2, E. 1999 Eternal by Bone Thugs-N-Harmony at #6, Secrets from Toni Braxton coming in at #7, Load by Metallica dropping to #8 and Tragic Kingdom by No Doubt at #9.

1998:  Carlos Santana received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
2002:  Alanis Morissette, Nickelback, Elvis Costello, Rihanna and the Chemical Brothers headlined the 2002 V Festival at Hylands Park in Chelmsford and Weston Park in South Staffordshire, England.
2002:  Darius had the top U.K. song with "Colourblind".








Born This Day:

1919:  Frieda Lipschitz, who adopted the stage name Georgia Gibbs ("Dance With Me Henry") was born in Worcester, Massachusetts; died December 9, 2006 of pneumonia after battling leukemia in Manhattan, New York.
1933:  Mark Dinning ("Teen Angel" from 1959) was born in Manchester, Oklahoma; died of a heart attack March 22, 1986 in Jefferson City, Missouri.  (Note:  'Allmusic.com claims Dinning was born in Drury, but there are no reputable sites that say that.)
1944:  John Seiter, drummer of Spanky and Our Gang, was born in St. Louis, Missouri.
 1947:  Gary Talley, lead guitarist of the Box Tops, was born in Memphis, Tennessee.

1949:  Sib Hashian, drummer of Boston, was born in Boston, Massachusetts.  (Note:  some websites report he was born in Lynnfield, where he currently lives, but according to the newspaper 'The Star-Daze', he was born in Boston.)
1953:  Kevin Rowland, lead singer and songwriter of Dexy's Midnight Runners, was born in Wolverhampton, West Midlands, England
1955:  Colin Moulding, bassist of XTC, was born in Swindon, Wiltshire, England.
1962:  Gilby Clarke, guitarist for Guns N' Roses, was born in Cleveland, Ohio.
1965:  Steven Gorman, drummer of the Black Crowes, was born in Muskegon, Michigan.
1969:  Donnie Wahlberg of New Kids on the Block was born in Boston, Massachusetts.  (Note:  some websites report Wahlberg was born in Dorchester, Massachusetts.  Dorchester is a neighborhood within the city of Boston, not a city.)

This Date in Rock Music History: August 16

1957:  Ricky Nelson recorded "Be-Bop Baby" at Master Recorders in Hollywood, California.
1957:  The Everly Brothers recorded "Wake Up Little Susie" in Nashville, Tennessee.
1957:  Buddy Holly & the Crickets played at none other than the Apollo Theater in the neighborhood of Harlem in Manhattan, New York for one week beginning on this date.  The tour was set up by Norman Petty, working with promoter Irving Feld.  (Note:  contrary to the movie 'The Buddy Holly Story' and numerous websites, which indicate that the Apollo didn't know the group was white, and did not discover this until they showed up, management at the Apollo did indeed know.  The Schiffman family, which owned the theatre, were aware that the Crickets were white.  Frank Schiffman's sons, Bobby and Jack, had seen the Crickets in Washington, D.C. during the first leg of the tour, according to the book 'Buddy Holly:  A Biography' by Ellis Amburn.  Unlike the other theatres which booked the Crickets only to be shocked that they were white, the Apollo booked them because black record-buyers were sending "That'll Be The Day" to the top of the R&B charts.)
1960:  Elvis Presley began filming of the movie Flaming Star.
1962:  Twelve-year-old Stevie Wonder released his first 45, "I Call It Pretty Music (But The Old People Call It The Blues)".  Marvin Gaye was the drummer.










1962:  Ringo Starr officially took over as the new drummer of the Beatles, replacing Pete Best, who was fired.  Although he had sat in for Best in the past in Liverpool, England and Hamburg, Germany, Starr made his first official appearance with the group August 18 in Port Sunlight, England.  (Note:  some websites say Best was fired August 14, but he was told of the decision on August 16, according to 'The Beatles Bible', 'Huffington Post' and the newspaper 'The Examiner'.)
1964:  The Beatles performed at the Opera House in Blackpool, Lancashire, England.  High Numbers opened for them.  You say "Who"?  You're right, High Numbers became the Who.  The Kinks were also on the bill.








 

1966:  The world was introduced to a new band as on this date, the Monkees released their first single "Last Train To Clarksville".
1966:  The Byrds played at the Fillmore in San Francisco, California.
1966:  During their last tour, the Beatles performed at John F. Kennedy Stadium in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
1968:  The Beatles made 14 takes in recording "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" for their upcoming White Album.  But guitarist George Harrison, the songwriter, wasn't happy with the result so the group would try again later.
1968:  The Jackson 5 made their live debut opening for the Supremes at the Forum in Los Angeles.
1969:  Joni Mitchell opened for Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young at the Auditorium Theatre in Chicago, Illinois.  Crosby, Stills and Nash, which formed at a party at Joni's house the previous year, performed for the first time with Neil Young. 
1969:  Led Zeppelin and Joe Cocker were in concert at the Convention Hall in Asbury Park, New Jersey.

1969:  Creedence Clearwater Revival, The Who, Jefferson Airplane, Santana, Sly & the Family Stone, Janis Joplin, Canned Heat, John Sebastian, Mountain, Country Joe McDonald, the Incredible String Band, the Keef Hartley Band and Quill performed at Woodstock in Bethel, New York.
1969:  Three Dog Night's great song "Easy To Be Hard" rose from 77 to 40.









1969:  Zager & Evans made it six fantastic weeks at #1 with "In the Year 2525".  In nearly any other time in the Rock Era, "Crystal Blue Persuasion" wouldThave been #1 but not against this competition; Tommy James & the Shondells peaked at #2 and fell to 3 on this date.  The Rolling Stones were ready for a charge up to the top with "Honky Tonk Women", while Neil Diamond enjoyed one of his biggest hits--"Sweet Caroline" at #4.  The rest of the Top 10:  "A Boy Named Sue" by Johnny Cash, "Put A Little Love In Your Heart" by Jackie DeShannon, Kenny Rogers & the First Edition said "Ruby, Don't Take Your Love To Town", Steve Wonder was still at 8 with "My Cherie Amour", Jr. Walker & the All Stars fell with "What Does It Take (To Win Your Love)" and Andy Kim finished the list with "Baby, I Love You".
1969:  Zager & Evans even took over the Adult Contemporary chart with "In The Year 2525".
1969:  Blood, Sweat & Tears spent its seventh week at #1 on the Album chart.  
1970:  Yes, Mungo Jerry and Ginger Baker's Air Force performed at the final day of the Yorkshire Folk, Blues & Jazz Festival at Krumlin, Yorkshire, England.
1970:  Elvis Presley collected his 16th #1 in the U.K. with "The Wonder Of You"; the Kinks had the #2 song with "Lola".
1974:  The Ramones gave their first public performance at the CBGB in New York City.
1974:  Chicago starred in the ABC-TV special Meanwhile Back at the Ranch.  Anne Murray and Charlie Rich were guests.
1975:  Peter Gabriel announced that he was splitting from Genesis to start a solo career.
1975:  The Stylistics had the top U.K. song with "Can't Give You Anything (But My Love)".




1975:  Make it two weeks for J-J-J "Jive Talkin'" by the Bee Gees.  The Eagles had a great song at #2 with "One Of These Nights", Olivia Newton-John remained at 3 with "Please Mr. Please" and Elton John moved up with "Someone Saved My Life Tonight".  Hamilton, Joe Frank & Reynolds moved from 15-5 with "Fallin' In Love" while "Rhinestone Cowboy" was up to 6 for Glen Campbell.  The rest of the Top 10:  "Why Can't We Be Friends" for War, "How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You)" by James Taylor, Melissa Manchester's "Midnight Blue" at 9 and Mike Post & "The Rockford Files" at 10.  







          
                                                                                       "After the Thrill is Gone"...

1975:  Amongst amazing competition, the Eagles spent their fifth straight week at #1 on the Album chart with One of These Nights.













1976:  Gordon Lightfoot released this song on this date--"The Wreck Of The Edmund Fitzgerald".
1976:  Cliff Richard began a tour of the Soviet Union in Leningrad.

1977:  Elvis Presley died of coronary arrhythmia at the age of 42 in Memphis, Tennessee.
1979:  The Who's movie Quadrophenia premiered at the Plaza Cinema in London.  (Note:  several websites report that the movie premiered on May 2 or November 2.  According to the official website of the Who, as well as  the book 'Roger Daltrey:  The Biography' by Stafford Hildred and Tim Ewbank, 'Quadrophenia' premiered on August 16.  It opened in theaters November 2.)
 







1980:  Olivia Newton-John's "Magic" remained at #1 for a fifth week on the Adult Contemporary chart.
1980:  Cozy Powell, drummer of Rainbow, announced he was leaving the group just after the group headlined the Monsters of Rock at Castle Donington, England.










1980:  Diana Ross conquered the AC chart again as "Upside Down" reached #1.
1983:  Paul Simon married Carrie Fisher in New York City.
1985:  Madonna marred Sean Penn in Malibu, California.










1986:  Rick Allen, drummer of Def Leppard, played his first concert with the group since losing his left arm in a traffic accident at the Monsters of Rock Festival at Castle Donington, England.










1986:  Sun Valley, Idaho's Peter Cetera stayed at #1 on the Adult Contemporary chart for the fifth week in a row with "Glory Of Love".
1986:  The fastest-rising song on this date, 22 years after its initial release--"Twist And Shout" by the Beatles

1987:  Thousands of people remembered Elvis Presley on the 10th anniversary of his death by going to his grave in Memphis, Tennessee.
1994:  Crosby, Stills and Nash released the album After the Storm.
1995:  Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys performed in concert for the first time with daughters Carnie and Wendy Wilson of Wilson Phillips.
1997:  Over 30,000 fans came to Graceland in Memphis, Tennessee to pay respects to Elvis Presley on the 20th anniversary of his passing.
1997:  Will Smith rose to #1 on the U.K. chart with "Men In Black".
2000:  Alan Caddy, lead guitarist and a founding member of the Tornadoes, and session musician with Dusty Springfield, the Spencer Davis Group, Kiki Dee and Pretty Things, died at the age of 60 in London.
2000:  INXS had to cancel their tour of New Zealand because of poor ticket sales.  It was the first venture for the band since the death of lead singer Michael Hutchence.
2000:  'N Sync were given the keys to the city of Orlando, Florida.






2003:  A car sponsored by 3 Doors Down made its debut at the Cabela 250 NASCAR Busch Series at Michigan International Speedway.  The car finished 11th.
2003:  Marc Anthony's wife, Dayanara Muniz, gave birth to son Ryan at North Shore University Hospital in Manhassat, New York.










2003:  A new postage stamp by the United States Postal Service was unveiled before a large crowd at the Mancini Musicale at UCLA in Los Angeles. 
2005:  Talk about an identity crisis.  Sean Combs, who changed his name to Sean "Puffy" Combs, then Puff Daddy and P. Diddy, announced he was changing his name to "Diddy".
2005:  Vassar Clements, a virtuoso fiddler who worked with the Byrds, Bonnie Raitt, Kris Kristofferson and Emmylou Harris, died of lung cancer at the age of 77 at his home in Nashville, Tennessee.  (Note:  several websites claim Clements died in Goodlettsville, Tennessee, but according to the newspaper 'The Chicago Tribune' and the official website for Clements, he died in Nashville.)
2005:  Madonna suffered three cracked ribs and broke her collarbone and hand in a horse riding accident on her birthday outside her country home in London. 

Born This Day:

1915:  Al Hibbler, who had a hit with his version of "Unchained Melody" in 1955, was born in Tyro, Mississippi; died April 24, 2001 in Chicago, Illinois.  (Note:  the book 'Encyclopedia of Arkansas Music' by Ali Welky and Mike Keckhaver states that Hibbler always claimed Como as his birthplace.  We can find no other corroboration for this.  The newspaper 'The Arkansas Times', as well as the books 'Undaunted by Blindness' by Clifford E. Olstrom and 'Blues:  A Regional Experience' by Bob L. Eagle and Eric S. LeBlanc, all say Hibbler was born in Tyro.  Some websites also claim Hibbler was born in Little Rock, Arkansas.  Hibbler moved with his family to Little Rock at the age of 12, where he attended a school for the blind.)1922:  Ernie Freeman, who gave us the great instrumental "Raunchy", was born in Cleveland, Ohio; died of a heart attack May 15, 1981  in Hollywood, California.  (Note:  some websites report Freeman died on May 16, with some saying he died in Hawai'i, and others saying he died in Los Angeles.  Although Freeman lived in Hawai'i in the 70's, he died on May 16 at his home in Hollywood, California, according to the book 'Blues:  A Regional Experience' by Bob L. Eagle and Eric S. LeBlanc.)
1927:  Fess Parker ("The Ballad Of Davy Crockett"), who starred in the television series Daniel Boone, was born in Fort Worth, Texas; died of natural causes March 18, 2010 in Santa Ynez, California.

1928:  Eydie Gormé, who gave us "Blame It On The Bossa Nova", and was the wife of Steve Lawrence and cousin of Neil Sedaka, was born in the Bronx, New York; died August 10, 2013 in Las Vegas, Nevada following a brief undisclosed illness.  (Note:  Some websites report she was born in 1931, but according to CBS News and the newspapers 'USA Today', 'The Los Angeles Times' and "The Guardian', she was born in 1928.  Some websites say she was born in Manhattan, but she was born in the Bronx, according to the newspaper 'The Los Angeles Times' and 'Playbill'.)
1934:  Kathy Lester ("Love Letters" from 1962) was born in Hope, Arkansas.
1942:  Barbara George ("I Know (You Don't Love Me No More)") was born in New Orleans, Louisiana; died August 10, 2006 in Chauvin, Louisiana.  (Note:  one credible source states she was born in 1943, but we believe that to be a misprint, for every other reliable source reports she was born in 1942.  Some websites say Barbara was born in Smithridge, Louisiana.  'Billboard' reports that George was born August 16, 1942 in New Orleans.)
1944:  Russ Titelman, producer of James Taylor, Eric Clapton and Randy Newman, was born in Los Angeles.
1945:  Gary Loizzo, singer and guitarist of the American Breed, and later an engineer and producer, was born in Chicago, Illinois.
1946:  Gordon "Snowy" Fleet, drummer of the Easybeats ("Friday On My Mind" from 1967), was born in Liverpool, Lancashire, England.  (Note:  the notorious 'Allmusic.com' claims Fleet was born in Bootle, Merseyside, England.  Given that when Fleet was born (1946), Bootle was not in Merseyside but in the county of Lancashire, one tends not to trust that source.  Although there are no credible sources for his birthplace, our best research indicates that he was born in Liverpool.)
1948:  Barry Hay, lead singer of Golden Earring, was born in Faizabad, India.  (Note:  some websites claim Hay was born in Faisabad, India.  There is no such city in India--the correct spelling is Faizabad.) 
1953:  James "J.T." Taylor, vocalist of Kool & the Gang, was born in Laurens, South Carolina.  (Note:  several websites report Taylor was born in Morristown, New Jersey.  Although there are no credible sources for either, our best research indicates he was born in Laurens.
1957:  Tim Farriss of INXS was born in Perth, Western Australia.
1958:  Madonna was born in Bay City, Michigan.  (Note:  some websites report that she was born in Rochester, Michigan.  She was raised in an area now known as Rochester Hills, but she was born in Bay City, according to the book 'Madonna:  An Intimate Biography' by J. Randy Taraborrelli.)1972:  Emily Erwin of the Dixie Chicks was born in Pittsfield, Massachusetts.
1980:  Vanessa Carlton ("A Thousand Miles" from 2002) was born in Milford, Pennsylvania.
1980:  Bob Hardy, bassist with Franz Ferdinand, was born in Dewsbury, West Yorkshire, England.  (Note:  some websites report Bob was born in Bradford, West Yorkshire, England.  Our best information indicates that he was born in Dewsbury and later lived in Bradford.)