1955: LaVern Baker wrote a letter to Michigan Representative Charles Digges, Jr. requesting that the Copyright Act of 1909 be updated. It was common practice for Caucasian artists to remake African-American songs, which, although it benefitted African-American songwriters, put African-American artists such as Baker at a disadvantage. Georgia Gibbs and others consistently knocked Baker off the charts with their versions of her songs.
Saturday, February 25, 2017
Friday, February 24, 2017
This Date in Rock Music History: February 25
1956: One of the great R&B records of all-time--"The Great Pretender" by the Platters, remained at #1 for the eighth week on that chart.
Thursday, February 23, 2017
This Date in Rock Music History: February 24
1956: Police in Cleveland, Ohio invoked a 1931 ordinance barring people under the age of 18 from dancing in public unless accompanied by an adult.
1958: For the fourth week the Silhouettes shadowed the #1 spot on the R&B chart with "Get A Job".
1960: Carl Dobkins, Jr., dressed in full military attire live from Fort Dix in New Jersey, where he was serving in the national guard, appeared on The Perry Como Show on NBC-TV.
Dion's latest was hot...
1962: Pretty solid Top 5 here: "Duke Of Earl" from Gene Chandler, Dion moved to second with "The Wanderer", Sue Thompson with "Norman", former #1 "The Twist" from Chubby Checker and Bruce Channel shot up from 13 to 5 with "Hey! Baby".
1965: The Beach Boys recorded "Help Me Rhonda" at Universal and Radio Recorders Studios in Hollywood, California.
1967: The Bee Gees signed a management deal with Robert Stigwood.
1968: The Beatles remained at #1 on the Album chart for the eighth week with the Soundtrack to "Magical Mystery Tour", the movie in which they starred in. John Wesley Harding by Bob Dylan was second with Blooming Hits from Paul Mauriat & His Orchestra jumping to #3. Axis: Bold As Love from the Jimi Hendrix Experience moved from #24 all the way up to #4. The rest of the Top 10: Diana Ross and the Supremes Greatest Hits, the Rolling Stones with Their Satanic Majesties Request, Herb Alpert's Ninth by Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass, The Turtles! Golden Hits at #8, Are You Experienced? from the Jimi Hendrix Experience and Cream took position #10 with Disraeli Gears.
1968: "Love Is Blue" was #1 for a third week for Paul Mauriat.
1969: The Jimi Hendrix Experience, which adopted England as its second home, played its final British concert before breaking up at the Royal Albert Hall in London. The show was recorded, and some songs performed in London were later released as the album Hendrix in the West.
1970: The Jackson 5 released the single "ABC".
1973: The Byrds (with Roger McGuinn, Gene Parsons, Clarence White and John York in their final lineup) were in concert for the final time at the Capitol Theatre in Passaic, New Jersey.
1973: "Love Train" by the O'Jays has the distinction of being on three prestigious lists. It is one of The Top 500 Songs of the Rock Era*, one of The Most Important Songs of the Rock Era* and one of The Top 100 R&B Songs of the 1970's*. "Love Train" remained #1 again on this date on the R&B chart.
1973: Roberta Flack reached #1 for the second time in her career with "Killing Me Softly With His Song". Eric Weissberg & Steve Mandell were second with "Dueling Banjos" while previous #1 "Crocodile Rock" by Elton John fell to #3. Carly Simon's former #1 "You're So Vain" was still hanging around after 13 weeks while the Spinners were up to #5 with their latest--"Could It Be I'm Falling In Love". The rest of the Top 10: Steely Dan with "Do It Again", newcomer Edward Bear with "Last Song", which rose from 13 to 7, Lobo's "Don't Expect Me To Be Your Friend", the O'Jays rode from 15 to 9 with "Love Train" and John Denver spent a second week at #10 with "Rocky Mountain High".
1975: Led Zeppelin released the album Physical Graffiti.
1975: Elton John released his single "Philadelphia Freedom".
"In the Gallery" was helping Dire Straits become a sensation...
1979: Rod Stewart owned the top album for a third week--Blondes Have More Fun. The Bee Gees were close behind with Spirits Having Flown. Cruisin' by the Village People amazingly was third while the Blues Brothers dropped with Briefcase Full of Blues. The rest of the Top 10: Billy Joel proved he was a star with staying power with the album 52nd Street, the debut from Dire Straits came in #6, Totally Hot from Olivia Newton-John, the Doobie Brothers entered the Top 10 with Minute By Minute, the self-titled Toto at #9 and Love Tracks by Gloria Gaynor ranked 10th.
1987: Ray Charles posthumously received a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Grammys. The Grammy voters, realizing that they had snubbed him while he was alive, heaped all kinds of praise on him now that he was dead, also adding a record-tying eight posthumous Grammy Awards onto the festivities.
1990: Johnnie Ray, singer-songwriter and pianist, died of liver failure in Los Angeles at the age of 63.
1990: "Here We Are" by Gloria Estefan was #1 for the fifth week on the AC chart.
1990: Paula Abdul racked up her fifth week at #1 on the Album chart with Forever Your Girl. Janet Jackson's Rhythm Nation 1814 was second.
1993: Eric Clapton won six Grammy Awards, including Record of the Year, for "Tears In Heaven".
1995: Neil Tennant of the Pet Shop Boys left a hospital in London after two weeks of treatment by an AIDS specialist.
1996: Nineteen weeks after it left the #1 position on the Album chart, Alanis Morissette's landmark Jagged Little Pill returned to the top.
1996: "One Sweet Day" by Mariah Carey and Boyz II Men made history with a 13th week at #1. That tied "End Of The Road" by Boyz II Men for third in the Rock Era for the most weeks at #1. Only "I'll Make Love To You" by Boyz II Men and "I Will Always Love You" by Whitney Houston, each with 14 weeks, were ahead of Carey & the Boyz at this juncture.
1997: Third Eye Blind had a hot new single on the desks of radio station Music Directors on this date--"Semi-Charmed Life".
1960: Carl Dobkins, Jr., dressed in full military attire live from Fort Dix in New Jersey, where he was serving in the national guard, appeared on The Perry Como Show on NBC-TV.
1962: Pretty solid Top 5 here: "Duke Of Earl" from Gene Chandler, Dion moved to second with "The Wanderer", Sue Thompson with "Norman", former #1 "The Twist" from Chubby Checker and Bruce Channel shot up from 13 to 5 with "Hey! Baby".
1965: The Beach Boys recorded "Help Me Rhonda" at Universal and Radio Recorders Studios in Hollywood, California.
1967: The Bee Gees signed a management deal with Robert Stigwood.
1968: The Beatles remained at #1 on the Album chart for the eighth week with the Soundtrack to "Magical Mystery Tour", the movie in which they starred in. John Wesley Harding by Bob Dylan was second with Blooming Hits from Paul Mauriat & His Orchestra jumping to #3. Axis: Bold As Love from the Jimi Hendrix Experience moved from #24 all the way up to #4. The rest of the Top 10: Diana Ross and the Supremes Greatest Hits, the Rolling Stones with Their Satanic Majesties Request, Herb Alpert's Ninth by Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass, The Turtles! Golden Hits at #8, Are You Experienced? from the Jimi Hendrix Experience and Cream took position #10 with Disraeli Gears.
1968: "Love Is Blue" was #1 for a third week for Paul Mauriat.
1969: The Jimi Hendrix Experience, which adopted England as its second home, played its final British concert before breaking up at the Royal Albert Hall in London. The show was recorded, and some songs performed in London were later released as the album Hendrix in the West.
1970: The Jackson 5 released the single "ABC".
1973: The Byrds (with Roger McGuinn, Gene Parsons, Clarence White and John York in their final lineup) were in concert for the final time at the Capitol Theatre in Passaic, New Jersey.
1973: Roberta Flack reached #1 for the second time in her career with "Killing Me Softly With His Song". Eric Weissberg & Steve Mandell were second with "Dueling Banjos" while previous #1 "Crocodile Rock" by Elton John fell to #3. Carly Simon's former #1 "You're So Vain" was still hanging around after 13 weeks while the Spinners were up to #5 with their latest--"Could It Be I'm Falling In Love". The rest of the Top 10: Steely Dan with "Do It Again", newcomer Edward Bear with "Last Song", which rose from 13 to 7, Lobo's "Don't Expect Me To Be Your Friend", the O'Jays rode from 15 to 9 with "Love Train" and John Denver spent a second week at #10 with "Rocky Mountain High".
1975: Led Zeppelin released the album Physical Graffiti.
1975: Elton John released his single "Philadelphia Freedom".
1976: The Eagles' Greatest Hits became the first album to be certified platinum (one million sales) by the RIAA.
1978: Barry Manilow starred in The Second Barry Manilow Special on ABC-TV with guest Ray Charles.
1979: One of the main New Wave acts to cross into the mainstream, this group first appeared on the radio as their debut single "Roxanne" entered the charts.
1979: One of the main New Wave acts to cross into the mainstream, this group first appeared on the radio as their debut single "Roxanne" entered the charts.
"In the Gallery" was helping Dire Straits become a sensation...
1979: Rod Stewart owned the top album for a third week--Blondes Have More Fun. The Bee Gees were close behind with Spirits Having Flown. Cruisin' by the Village People amazingly was third while the Blues Brothers dropped with Briefcase Full of Blues. The rest of the Top 10: Billy Joel proved he was a star with staying power with the album 52nd Street, the debut from Dire Straits came in #6, Totally Hot from Olivia Newton-John, the Doobie Brothers entered the Top 10 with Minute By Minute, the self-titled Toto at #9 and Love Tracks by Gloria Gaynor ranked 10th.
1979: Anne Murray had the #1 Adult Contemporary song for a third week with "I Just Fall In Love Again".
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1979: Rod Stewart spent a third week at #1 with "Do Ya Think I'm Sexy?" The Bruce Springsteen-penned song "Fire" by the Pointer Sisters rose to #2 with Olivia Newton-John a solid #3 with "A Little More Love". Gloria Gaynor's "I Will Survive" edged closer while "Y.M.C.A." by the Village People was #5. The rest of the Top 10: The Bee Gees shot up from 19 to 6 with "Tragedy", Chic's former #1 "Le Freak" was still at #7 after 18 weeks, Nicolette Larson's "Lotta' Love", Barry Manilow had his 14th hit ("Somewhere In The Night"), with an impressive nine of those reaching the Top 10 and Leif Garrett had #10--"I Was Made for Dancin'".
1981: Peter Noone of Hermans Hermits and Stephen Bishop appeared on Laverne & Shirley on ABC-TV.
1982: Double Fantasy by the late John Lennon won the Grammy for Album of the Year.
1982: Sheena Easton captured the Grammy for Best New Artist.
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1981: Peter Noone of Hermans Hermits and Stephen Bishop appeared on Laverne & Shirley on ABC-TV.
1982: Double Fantasy by the late John Lennon won the Grammy for Album of the Year.
1982: Sheena Easton captured the Grammy for Best New Artist.
1982: Kim Carnes won Record of the Year at the Grammy Awards for "Bette Davis Eyes". The writers of the song--Jackie DeShannon and Donna Weiss, won the Grammy for Song of the year.
1987: Ray Charles posthumously received a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Grammys. The Grammy voters, realizing that they had snubbed him while he was alive, heaped all kinds of praise on him now that he was dead, also adding a record-tying eight posthumous Grammy Awards onto the festivities.
1987: The Fat Man, Fats Domino, was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Grammys.
1988: Alice Cooper announced he would run for Governor of Arizona as a member of the "Wild Party". Yeah, good one there Alice.
1990: Bob Dylan, David Crosby, Roger McGuinn and Chris Hillman sang "Mr. Tambourine Man" in Los Angeles as a tribute to the late Roy Orbison. 1988: Alice Cooper announced he would run for Governor of Arizona as a member of the "Wild Party". Yeah, good one there Alice.
1990: Johnnie Ray, singer-songwriter and pianist, died of liver failure in Los Angeles at the age of 63.
1990: "Opposites Attract" by Paula Abdul was #1 for a third week. Janet Jackson was second with "Escapade". Roxette moved to #3 with "Dangerous".
1990: "Here We Are" by Gloria Estefan was #1 for the fifth week on the AC chart.
1990: Paula Abdul racked up her fifth week at #1 on the Album chart with Forever Your Girl. Janet Jackson's Rhythm Nation 1814 was second.
1993: Eric Clapton won six Grammy Awards, including Record of the Year, for "Tears In Heaven".
1995: Neil Tennant of the Pet Shop Boys left a hospital in London after two weeks of treatment by an AIDS specialist.
1996: "One Sweet Day" by Mariah Carey and Boyz II Men made history with a 13th week at #1. That tied "End Of The Road" by Boyz II Men for third in the Rock Era for the most weeks at #1. Only "I'll Make Love To You" by Boyz II Men and "I Will Always Love You" by Whitney Houston, each with 14 weeks, were ahead of Carey & the Boyz at this juncture.
1997: Third Eye Blind had a hot new single on the desks of radio station Music Directors on this date--"Semi-Charmed Life".
1998: The genius John Fogerty was given a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Orville H. Gibson award ceremony in New York City.
1998: Elton John was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace in London.
1998: Tommy Lee, drummer of Motley Crue, was arrested in Malibu, California and charged with abusing his wife Pamela Anderson and his son Dylan. After he was convicted, the loser was thrown in jail for six months. Not near long enough.
1998: Tommy Lee, drummer of Motley Crue, was arrested in Malibu, California and charged with abusing his wife Pamela Anderson and his son Dylan. After he was convicted, the loser was thrown in jail for six months. Not near long enough.
1999: Lauryn Hill received five Grammy awards for her debut solo album The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill.
2002: Bon Jovi, Christina Aguilera, N' Sync, Kiss and Moby performed at the closing ceremonies of the Winter Olympics.
2002: Paul McCartney performed "Yesterday" at a concert tribute to the late George Harrison in Liverpool, England.
2002: Arthur Lyman, who gave us one of The Top 100 Instrumentals of the Rock Era* ("Yellow Bird" from 1961) died of throat cancer in Honolulu, Hawai'i at the age of 70.
2002: Sting, the Very Best of was the #1 album in the U.K.
2002: Arthur Lyman, who gave us one of The Top 100 Instrumentals of the Rock Era* ("Yellow Bird" from 1961) died of throat cancer in Honolulu, Hawai'i at the age of 70.
2002: Sting, the Very Best of was the #1 album in the U.K.
2004: Estelle Axton, co-founder of Stax records, which included Booker T. & the MG's, Otis Redding and Isaac Hayes, died of natural causes at age 85 in Memphis, Tennessee. (Note: some naïve website owners, believe that the dates of newspaper reports are the dates that something occurred, falsely report that Estelle died on February 25. As most people know, newspapers report news that happened the previous day, and according to the newspapers 'USA Today', 'The Los Angeles Times' and 'The Sun-Sentinel', as well as 'Billboard', the correct date of death is Tuesday, February 24.)
2006: In today's episode of Dangerous Inmates Run Rap Music, Black Rob was arrested on a fugitive warrant in New Jersey after he did not turn himself in to begin a sentence for burglary.
2008: Larry Norman of the group People ("I Love You" from 1968) died of heart failure at age 60 in Salem, Oregon.
2011: Eddie Serrato, drummer with Question Mark & the Mysterians ("96 Tears") died of a heart attack in Detroit, Michigan at the age of 65.
2008: Larry Norman of the group People ("I Love You" from 1968) died of heart failure at age 60 in Salem, Oregon.
2011: Eddie Serrato, drummer with Question Mark & the Mysterians ("96 Tears") died of a heart attack in Detroit, Michigan at the age of 65.
Born This Day:
1932: Michel LeGrand, jazz composer who wrote the music to the great Dusty Springfield song "Windmills Of Your Mind" from 1969, was born in Bécon les Bruyères, France, a suburb of Paris.
1942: Paul Jones (real name Paul Pond), singer and harmonica player of Manfred Mann, was born in Portsmouth, Hampshire, England.
1944: Nicky Hopkins of Quicksilver Messenger Service and a session pianist on The White Album by the Beatles, Volunteers by Jefferson Airplane and more than a dozen Rolling Stones albums, among others, was born in Perivale, London; died September 6, 1994 in Nashville, Tennessee of complications of intestinal surgery, presumably related to his battle with Crohn's Disease.
1947: Rupert Holmes, who had the great album Partners In Crime and also wrote "Timothy" for the Buoys, was born in Northwich, Cheshire, England.
1947: Lonnie Turner, bassist of the Steve Miller Band, was born in Berkeley, California.
1959: Colin Farley of the Cutting Crew "(I Just) Died In Your Arms"
1962: Michelle Shocked was born in Dallas, Texas.
1974: Chad Hugo, who along with partner Pharrell Williams, has produced for Britney Spears, 'N Sync, Nelly, Jay-Z and Mystikal, wad born in Portsmouth, Virginia.
1974: Noah "Wuv" Bernardo, Jr., drummer and founding member of P.O.D.
1974: Chad Hugo, who along with partner Pharrell Williams, has produced for Britney Spears, 'N Sync, Nelly, Jay-Z and Mystikal, wad born in Portsmouth, Virginia.
1974: Noah "Wuv" Bernardo, Jr., drummer and founding member of P.O.D.
This Date in Rock Music History: February 23
1959: Lloyd Price logged a third week at #1 on the R&B chart with "Stagger Lee".
1959: "Stagger Lee" by Lloyd Price made it to a third week at #1 on the Singles chart. "Donna" from the late Ritchie Valens was next with "16 Candles" from the Crests down a spot.
1963: "Hey Paula" by Paul & Paula took over at #1 on the R&B chart.
1963: The Rooftop Singers stayed up there for the fifth week on the Easy Listening chart with "Walk Right In".
1959: "Stagger Lee" by Lloyd Price made it to a third week at #1 on the Singles chart. "Donna" from the late Ritchie Valens was next with "16 Candles" from the Crests down a spot.
1963: "Hey Paula" by Paul & Paula took over at #1 on the R&B chart.
1963: The Rooftop Singers stayed up there for the fifth week on the Easy Listening chart with "Walk Right In".
Wednesday, February 22, 2017
This Date in Rock Music History: February 22
1956: A handsome singer with a great voice first was heard on the radio this week as he debuted on the chart with his first single--Elvis Presley and "Heartbreak Hotel". And history was made.
1958: The movie The Big Beat, an Alan Freed project starring Fats Domino, the Diamonds and the Del-Vikings, debuted in Detroit, Michigan.
1962: Elvis reigned on the U.K. chart with the double-sided "Rock-A-Hula Baby"/"Can't Help Falling In Love".
1963: The Beatles began the Northern Music Publishing Company with Dick James. However, the initial deal maintained that James and his partner, Charles Silver, always had one more share than John Lennon, Paul McCartney, and manager Brian Epstein combined. This fact would have a devastating effect on Lennon and McCartney in later years.
1963: "Please Please Me" by the Beatles achieved #1 in the U.K.
1964: Meet the Beatles! was #1 on the Album chart for the second week while Introducing...the Beatles moved from 22 to 3.
1964: The song that really got the Beach Boys' careers kick started--"Fun, Fun, Fun", moved from #69 to #27.
1964: "I Want To Hold Your Hand" by the Beatles spent a fourth week at #1 with "She Loves You" by the Beatles second. The Four Seasons moved impressively from 11 to 3 with their latest--"Dawn (Go Away)". Lesley Gore's #2 smash "You Don't Own Me" was behind that trio while the instrumental "Java" from Al Hirt was up to #6. The rest of the Top 10: Major Lance with "Um" five times, the Rip Chords and "Hey Little Cobra", the Rivieras warmed up as "California Sun" moved from 14-8, the Tams had "What Kind Of Fool (Do You Think I Am" and Diane Renay moved from 21 to 10 with "Navy Blue".
1965: The Beatles flew to the Bahamas to begin filming their second movie, Help! (Note: Several websites report that the group began filming on this date. The truth is that the Beatles flew there on February 22, and began filming at New Providence Island in the Bahamas on February 23, according to the book 'The Beatles Diary Volume 1: The Beatles Years' by Barry Miles.)
1967: The Beatles recorded the piano chord for "A Day In The Life" at EMI Studios on Abbey Road in London. John Lennon, Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr and Mal Evans, road manager of the group, all simultaneously played an E major chord on separate pianos, hitting the chord as hard as possible. As the sound diminished, faders were increased, to the point that at the end of the chord, the studio air conditioners can be heard. It took nine takes to achieve the desired sound. Take seven was the longest at 59 seconds, but take nine was judged to be the best. Producer George Martin then used three overdubs to thicken the sound.
1968: Genesis released their first single "The Silent Sun".
1969: The Beatles began recording the album Abbey Road with the track "I Want You (She's So Heavy)".
1969: Sly & the Family Stone took over at #1 on the R&B chart with "Everyday People".
Harrison's great song highlights 'The White Album'.
1969: For the eighth week in a row, The White Album by the Beatles was #1. Wichita Lineman by Glen Campbell was second on this day with the Soundtrack to "Yellow Submarine" third. TCB from Diana Ross & the Supremes with the Temptations fell while the Greatest Hits by the Association was #5. The rest of the Top 10: the great self-titled Blood, Sweat & Tears, In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida from Iron Butterfly, Elvis by Elvis Presley, Crimson & Clover from Tommy James & the Shondells entered the Top 10 and another one from Diana Ross & the Supremes & the Temptations, called Diana Ross & the Supremes Join the Temptations, was #10.
1969: "Proud Mary" by CCR moved from 21 to 9 on this date.
1971: Three Dog Night released the single "Joy To The World".
1971: George Harrison released the single "What is Life".
1974: Alvin Lee performed a solo concert at the Rainbow Theatre in London.
1975: "Nightingale" by Stanley, Idaho's Carole King was the new #1 Adult song.
1975: AWB by the Average White Band was the new #1 album with Bob Dylan's excellent Blood on the Tracks moving up to challenge. Former #1 Heart Like a Wheel from Linda Ronstadt was third, followed by Miles of Aisles and Jethro Tull's War Child. The rest of the Top 10: B.T. Express with Do It ('Til You're Satisfied), Elton John's 1969 album Empty Sky became a Top 10 album six years later, what with Elton's huge mid-70's success, Rufusized by Rufus Featuring Chaka Khan, Barry Manilow II was #9 and Grand Funk edged up with All the Girls in the World Beware!!!
1975: "Lady Marmalade" was the toast of the town as Labelle reached #1 on the R&B chart.
1975: B.J. Thomas had a lot on his mind, and succinct titles weren't part of it. His new song "(Hey Won't You Play) Another Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song" moved from #81 to #44.
Grand Funk had a great sound with this one...
1975: The Average White Band received more good news as their single "Pick Up The Pieces" went to #1. The Eagles were ready to make their move with "Best Of My Love" while Grand Funk's great song "Some Kind Of Wonderful" moved to #3. The Doobie Brothers were next with "Black Water" and Olivia Newton-John proved she was for real as "Have You Never Been Mellow" vaulted from 18 to 5. The rest of the Top 10: America's "Lonely People", Frankie Valli was up to #7 with "My Eyes Adored You", former #1 "You're No Good" by Linda Ronstadt tumbled, John Lennon's "#9 Dream" was, um, #9 and Stanley, Idaho's Carole King took "Nightingale" to #10.
1976: Florence Ballard of the Supremes died of cardiac arrest from a blood clot of one of her coronary arteries at the age of 32 in Detroit, Michigan. (Note: some websites erroneously report her death as February 21. According to the books 'Motown: The Golden Years: More than 100 Rare Photographs' by Bill Dahl and 'The Encyclopedia of Sixties Cool: A Celebration of the Grooviest People' by Chris Strodder, Ballard entered Mt. Carmel Mercy Hospital in Detroit on February 21, and died the next morning.)
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1978: The members of the Police appeared as blondes in a commercial for Wrigley's chewing gum and decided to keep their new looks.
1979: Journey entered into a sponsorship with Budweiser.
1980: Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow appeared at The Royal Highland Exhibition Hall in Edinburgh, Scotland.
1986: Two new acts both reached the Top 10 on this date. The Dream Academy was at #7 with "Life In A Northern Town" while Mike + the Mechanics placed "Silent Running" at #8.
1988: Stevie Wonder received the 1998 MusiCares Person of the Year award.
1989: In one of the biggest blunders ever by the Grammy Awards, they included a Heavy Metal category and then gave the Grammy to Jethro Tull. Do the Grammy people even have a clue what music is?
2002: Little Richard received an NCAACP Image Award.
1960: Dinah Washington & Brook Benton were at #1 on the R&B chart for a third week with "Baby (You've Got What It Takes)", on the way to having one of The Top R&B Songs of All-Time*.
1960: Percy Faith had a relatively brief climb to #1 (seven weeks) with "The Theme from 'A Summer Place'".1962: Elvis reigned on the U.K. chart with the double-sided "Rock-A-Hula Baby"/"Can't Help Falling In Love".
1963: The Beatles began the Northern Music Publishing Company with Dick James. However, the initial deal maintained that James and his partner, Charles Silver, always had one more share than John Lennon, Paul McCartney, and manager Brian Epstein combined. This fact would have a devastating effect on Lennon and McCartney in later years.
1963: "Please Please Me" by the Beatles achieved #1 in the U.K.
1964: Meet the Beatles! was #1 on the Album chart for the second week while Introducing...the Beatles moved from 22 to 3.
1964: The song that really got the Beach Boys' careers kick started--"Fun, Fun, Fun", moved from #69 to #27.
The Four Seasons were one of the pre-Beatles acts that stayed strong...
1964: "I Want To Hold Your Hand" by the Beatles spent a fourth week at #1 with "She Loves You" by the Beatles second. The Four Seasons moved impressively from 11 to 3 with their latest--"Dawn (Go Away)". Lesley Gore's #2 smash "You Don't Own Me" was behind that trio while the instrumental "Java" from Al Hirt was up to #6. The rest of the Top 10: Major Lance with "Um" five times, the Rip Chords and "Hey Little Cobra", the Rivieras warmed up as "California Sun" moved from 14-8, the Tams had "What Kind Of Fool (Do You Think I Am" and Diane Renay moved from 21 to 10 with "Navy Blue".
1965: The Beatles flew to the Bahamas to begin filming their second movie, Help! (Note: Several websites report that the group began filming on this date. The truth is that the Beatles flew there on February 22, and began filming at New Providence Island in the Bahamas on February 23, according to the book 'The Beatles Diary Volume 1: The Beatles Years' by Barry Miles.)
1967: The Beatles recorded the piano chord for "A Day In The Life" at EMI Studios on Abbey Road in London. John Lennon, Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr and Mal Evans, road manager of the group, all simultaneously played an E major chord on separate pianos, hitting the chord as hard as possible. As the sound diminished, faders were increased, to the point that at the end of the chord, the studio air conditioners can be heard. It took nine takes to achieve the desired sound. Take seven was the longest at 59 seconds, but take nine was judged to be the best. Producer George Martin then used three overdubs to thicken the sound.
1968: Genesis released their first single "The Silent Sun".
1969: The Beatles began recording the album Abbey Road with the track "I Want You (She's So Heavy)".
1969: Sly & the Family Stone took over at #1 on the R&B chart with "Everyday People".
Harrison's great song highlights 'The White Album'.
1969: For the eighth week in a row, The White Album by the Beatles was #1. Wichita Lineman by Glen Campbell was second on this day with the Soundtrack to "Yellow Submarine" third. TCB from Diana Ross & the Supremes with the Temptations fell while the Greatest Hits by the Association was #5. The rest of the Top 10: the great self-titled Blood, Sweat & Tears, In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida from Iron Butterfly, Elvis by Elvis Presley, Crimson & Clover from Tommy James & the Shondells entered the Top 10 and another one from Diana Ross & the Supremes & the Temptations, called Diana Ross & the Supremes Join the Temptations, was #10.
1969: "Proud Mary" by CCR moved from 21 to 9 on this date.
1971: Three Dog Night released the single "Joy To The World".
1971: George Harrison released the single "What is Life".
1974: Alvin Lee performed a solo concert at the Rainbow Theatre in London.
1975: "Nightingale" by Stanley, Idaho's Carole King was the new #1 Adult song.
1975: AWB by the Average White Band was the new #1 album with Bob Dylan's excellent Blood on the Tracks moving up to challenge. Former #1 Heart Like a Wheel from Linda Ronstadt was third, followed by Miles of Aisles and Jethro Tull's War Child. The rest of the Top 10: B.T. Express with Do It ('Til You're Satisfied), Elton John's 1969 album Empty Sky became a Top 10 album six years later, what with Elton's huge mid-70's success, Rufusized by Rufus Featuring Chaka Khan, Barry Manilow II was #9 and Grand Funk edged up with All the Girls in the World Beware!!!
1975: "Lady Marmalade" was the toast of the town as Labelle reached #1 on the R&B chart.
1975: B.J. Thomas had a lot on his mind, and succinct titles weren't part of it. His new song "(Hey Won't You Play) Another Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song" moved from #81 to #44.
Grand Funk had a great sound with this one...
1975: The Average White Band received more good news as their single "Pick Up The Pieces" went to #1. The Eagles were ready to make their move with "Best Of My Love" while Grand Funk's great song "Some Kind Of Wonderful" moved to #3. The Doobie Brothers were next with "Black Water" and Olivia Newton-John proved she was for real as "Have You Never Been Mellow" vaulted from 18 to 5. The rest of the Top 10: America's "Lonely People", Frankie Valli was up to #7 with "My Eyes Adored You", former #1 "You're No Good" by Linda Ronstadt tumbled, John Lennon's "#9 Dream" was, um, #9 and Stanley, Idaho's Carole King took "Nightingale" to #10.
1976: Florence Ballard of the Supremes died of cardiac arrest from a blood clot of one of her coronary arteries at the age of 32 in Detroit, Michigan. (Note: some websites erroneously report her death as February 21. According to the books 'Motown: The Golden Years: More than 100 Rare Photographs' by Bill Dahl and 'The Encyclopedia of Sixties Cool: A Celebration of the Grooviest People' by Chris Strodder, Ballard entered Mt. Carmel Mercy Hospital in Detroit on February 21, and died the next morning.)
1979: Journey entered into a sponsorship with Budweiser.
1980: Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow appeared at The Royal Highland Exhibition Hall in Edinburgh, Scotland.
1986: "Sara" by Starship took over as the #1 Adult Contemporary song.
1986: Two new acts both reached the Top 10 on this date. The Dream Academy was at #7 with "Life In A Northern Town" while Mike + the Mechanics placed "Silent Running" at #8.
1988: Stevie Wonder received the 1998 MusiCares Person of the Year award.
1989: In one of the biggest blunders ever by the Grammy Awards, they included a Heavy Metal category and then gave the Grammy to Jethro Tull. Do the Grammy people even have a clue what music is?
1989: Tracy Chapman won the Grammy for Best New Artist.
1989: Bobby McFerrin won Record and Song of the year for "Don't Worry, Be Happy" at the Grammys.
1992: TLC appeared on the radio for the first time as their debut single "Ain't 2 (sic) Proud 2 (sic) Beg" first appeared on the charts.
1992: TLC appeared on the radio for the first time as their debut single "Ain't 2 (sic) Proud 2 (sic) Beg" first appeared on the charts.
1992: Paul Young reached #1 on the AC chart with "What Becomes Of The Brokenhearted".
1992: Shakespear's Sister took over at #1 for an eight-week run at the top with "Stay".
1992: It was obvious by now that Garth Brooks had himself a classic, with the #1 album for the 13th week--Ropin' the Wind.
1993: Radiohead released their debut album--Pablo Honey.
1993: Bruce Dickinson, lead singer of Iron Maiden, announced he was leaving the band to pursue a solo career. He returned in 1999.
1993: Bruce Dickinson, lead singer of Iron Maiden, announced he was leaving the band to pursue a solo career. He returned in 1999.
1994: Papa John Creach, the violinist with Jefferson Airplane and Hot Tuna, died of heart failure in Los Angeles at age 76.
1997: Blur's self-titled album topped the U.K. chart.
1997: No Doubt had the #1 U.K. song--"Don't Speak".
1997: "Wannabe" by the Spice Girls reached #1 after just five weeks. That ended an 11-week run at the top for Toni Braxton's "Un-Break My Heart", tied for the seventh-longest stint in the Rock Era.
"Love Thing" helped the Spice Girls make a splash.
1997: Tragic Kingdom by No Doubt returned to #1 on the Album chart for the ninth week. Other albums of note: Secrets from Toni Braxton was #3, Celine Dion was still at #5 after 48 weeks with Falling Into You, newcomers the Spice Girls debuted at #6 with their first album Spice and Jewel was headed back up after 52 weeks with the sensational Pieces of You.
1999: And the Beat Goes On..., the story of Sonny & Cher, premiered on ABC-TV.
1997: Blur's self-titled album topped the U.K. chart.
1997: No Doubt had the #1 U.K. song--"Don't Speak".
1997: "Wannabe" by the Spice Girls reached #1 after just five weeks. That ended an 11-week run at the top for Toni Braxton's "Un-Break My Heart", tied for the seventh-longest stint in the Rock Era.
"Love Thing" helped the Spice Girls make a splash.
1997: Tragic Kingdom by No Doubt returned to #1 on the Album chart for the ninth week. Other albums of note: Secrets from Toni Braxton was #3, Celine Dion was still at #5 after 48 weeks with Falling Into You, newcomers the Spice Girls debuted at #6 with their first album Spice and Jewel was headed back up after 52 weeks with the sensational Pieces of You.
1999: And the Beat Goes On..., the story of Sonny & Cher, premiered on ABC-TV.
2000: Stevie Wonder, Eric Clapton and Lauryn Hill were among the people gathered at a church in Los Angeles to honor Curtis Mayfield, the late singer-songwriter who died in December.
2001: The Beatles were the top money-earners of 2000, bringing in $50 million. This despite the fact that they hadn't been together for 30 years.
2002: Little Richard received an NCAACP Image Award.
2004: Bobby Vinton collapsed onstage while performing at the American Music Theatre in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. He recovered backstage and refused hospitalization.
2005: After lead singer Josh Homme was found coughing up blood in his hotel room in Paris, France, Queens of the Stone Age canceled their European tour. Homme was suffering from a serious lung infection.
2005: Brian "Head" Welch, founding member of Korn, left the group.
2006: Sheryl Crow had minimally invasive surgery in Los Angeles after being diagnosed with breast cancer.
2008: Jaheim had the #1 album with Ghetto Classics.
2009: Earth, Wind & Fire performed at the White House in Washington, D.C. for a dinner of United States Governors.
2010: Sam Moore of Sam & Dave ("Soul Man") received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists.
2011: Adele released the album 21 in the United States. The singer and album would go on to revitalize rock and bring it out of years of mediocrity.
2011: The Monkees announced that Michael Nesmith has rejoined the group and they were getting back together for a tour in honor of the group's 45th anniversary.
2012: The Spice Girls reunited for a spectacular performance at the Closing Ceremony of the 2012 Summer Olympics in London.
2009: Earth, Wind & Fire performed at the White House in Washington, D.C. for a dinner of United States Governors.
2010: Sam Moore of Sam & Dave ("Soul Man") received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists.
2011: Adele released the album 21 in the United States. The singer and album would go on to revitalize rock and bring it out of years of mediocrity.
2011: The Monkees announced that Michael Nesmith has rejoined the group and they were getting back together for a tour in honor of the group's 45th anniversary.
2012: The Spice Girls reunited for a spectacular performance at the Closing Ceremony of the 2012 Summer Olympics in London.
Born This Day:
1923: Norman "Hurricane" Smith, engineer of all the EMI studio recordings by the Beatles until 1965 and an artist ("Oh Babe, What Would You Say" in 1972), was born in Edmonton, Middlesex; died March 3, 2008 in East Sussex, England.
1927: Guy Mitchell (real name Albert Cernik), who had one of the biggest hits early in the Rock Era ("Singing The Blues" from 1955), was born in Detroit, Michigan; died July 1, 1999 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Note: several websites report that Mitchell was born on February 27, but according to 'The BBC', the newspaper 'The Guardian', and the books 'Encyclopedia of Music in the 20th Century' by Lol Henderson and Lee Stacey and 'The Dude Martin Band Story' by Jim Goggin, he was born on February 22. Some websites say he died on July 2. The official website for Mitchell, the newspaper 'The Los Angeles Times' and the two books listed above also confirm that Mitchell died on July 1)
1936: Ernie K. Doe ("Mother-In-Law") was born in New Orleans, Louisiana; died of kidney and liver failure after years of alcoholism on July 5, 2001 in New Orleans.
1923: Norman "Hurricane" Smith, engineer of all the EMI studio recordings by the Beatles until 1965 and an artist ("Oh Babe, What Would You Say" in 1972), was born in Edmonton, Middlesex; died March 3, 2008 in East Sussex, England.
1927: Guy Mitchell (real name Albert Cernik), who had one of the biggest hits early in the Rock Era ("Singing The Blues" from 1955), was born in Detroit, Michigan; died July 1, 1999 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Note: several websites report that Mitchell was born on February 27, but according to 'The BBC', the newspaper 'The Guardian', and the books 'Encyclopedia of Music in the 20th Century' by Lol Henderson and Lee Stacey and 'The Dude Martin Band Story' by Jim Goggin, he was born on February 22. Some websites say he died on July 2. The official website for Mitchell, the newspaper 'The Los Angeles Times' and the two books listed above also confirm that Mitchell died on July 1)
1936: Ernie K. Doe ("Mother-In-Law") was born in New Orleans, Louisiana; died of kidney and liver failure after years of alcoholism on July 5, 2001 in New Orleans.
1938: Bobby Hendricks, a lead singer of the Drifters, was born in Columbus, Ohio.
1943: Mick Green, guitarist of Johnny Kidd & the Pirates, was born in Matlock, Derbyshire, England; died January 11, 2010 of heart failure in Essex.
1943: Louise Lopez of Odyssey ("Native New Yorker"
1945: Oliver ("Jean" and "Good Morning Starshine") was born in North Wilkesboro, North Carolina; died from lung cancer February 12, 2000 in Shreveport, Louisiana.
1953: John Sparks, guitarist of Dr. Feelgood
1973: Scott Phillips, co-founder and drummer of Creed, was born in Valdosta, Georgia.
1974: James Blunt ("You're Beautiful" from 2006) was born in Tidworth, Wiltshire, England.
1979: Tom Higgenson, vocalist and guitarist of the Plain White T's
This Date in Rock Music History: February 21
1952: Jerry Lee Lewis married his first wife at the age of 17.
1958: The first Flying V guitar, by Gibson, was shipped from a factory in Kalamazoo, Michigan.
1961: The hard-working Beatles performed three concerts in one day, their usual lunchtime gig at the Cavern Club, then at the Cassanova Club later that evening before a final show at Litherland Town Hall in Liverpool, England.
1964: The Echoes, a new group from New York City, recruited an unknown piano player named Billy Joel. Joel had seen the Beatles on The Ed Sullivan Show, and was inspired to start a rock & roll career and find a band. (Note: Joel's website and WINS Radio in New York City list the year as 1963, but of course the Beatles' debut appearance was in February of 1964, and Billy himself confirmed to 'Billboard' in an interview that he joined the Echoes in 1964.)
1966: The Rascals released the single "Good Lovin'".
1966: The Lovin' Spoonful released the single "Daydream".
1966: The Beatles released the single "Nowhere Man".
1970: The Jackson 5 made their television debut on American Bandstand.
1970: Simon & Garfunkel rose to #1 in the U.K. with their album Bridge Over Troubled Water. The album went to #1 eight different times and spent a total of 41 weeks at the top.
1970: Dionne Warwick had one of her biggest career hits with "I'll Never Fall In Love Again", which remained at #1 on the Adult chart for a third week.
1970: Sly & the Family Stone made it three weeks at #1 on the R&B chart with "Thank You".
1970: Elvis Presley had been recording for 15 years and on this date, "Kentucky Rain" was one of the hottest songs, moving from 96 to 40.
And "Travelin' Band" sounds as good now as it did in 1970...
1970: Sly & the Family Stone remained on top with "Thank You". Eddie Holman was a surprising second with "Hey There Lonely Girl" while Simon & Garfunkel moved from 13 to 3 in just their third week with "Bridge Over Troubled Water". The former #1 "I Want You Back" by the Jackson 5 was now fourth with CCR's great double-sided hit "Travelin' Band"/"Who'll Stop The Rain" moving from 9 to 5. The rest of an excellent Top 10: "No Time" from the Guess Who, B.J. Thomas and his #1 classic "Raindrops Keep Fallin' On My Head", the Temptations remained in the #8 position with "Psychedelic Shack", the Shocking Blue's former #1 "Venus" and Brook Benton headed into the Top 10 with "Rainy Night In Georgia".
1970: Led Zeppelin II was the top album for the sixth week, but former #1 Abbey Road by the Beatles had good staying power, remaining second. The top new entry in the Top 10 was Chicago II, which moved from 44 to 9 in its second week.
1973: The Edgar Winter Group released the single "Frankenstein".
Fleetwood Mac had kicked it up a notch for this album...
1976: Desire by Bob Dylan was #1 for a third week on the Album chart, holding off Still Crazy After All These Years by Paul Simon, although Paul's was the better album. Gratitude from Earth, Wind & Fire held on to third with Station to Station by David Bowie another pretender to the crown. Chicago IX, the group's Greatest Hits package, was at #5. The rest of the Top 10: Peter Frampton's solo release Frampton Comes Alive! was on fire, moving from 22-6, the self-titled Fleetwood Mac, which had fallen off the chart on October 4, was back with a vengeance, moving from 15-7, ELO's new release Face the Music, Rufus Featuring Chaka Khan and Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes moved into the Top 10 with Wake Up Everybody.
1976: The Four Seasons had the top U.K. song with "December, 1963 (Oh What A Night)".
ELO with one of their biggest hits...
1976: Paul Simon told of all the ways people took the easy way out with "50 Ways To Leave Your Lover", the #1 song for a third week. Rhythm Heritage was a factor with "Theme From 'S.W.A.T.'" and Hot Chocolate was a steady third with "You Sexy Thing". Donna Summer's "Love To Love You Baby" was next, followed by another hormone-driven song, "Love Machine" from the Miracles. The rest of the Top 10: Barry Manilow and "I Wrote The Songs", Eric Carmen vaulted from 14 to 7 with his first solo hit "All By Myself", Neil Sedaka was back with "Breaking Up Is Hard To Do", the Eagles' latest smash "Take It To The Limit", one of The Top 500 Songs of the Rock Era*, moved into the Top 10 and ELO remained at #10 with "Evil Woman".
1977: The Eagles released the single "Hotel California" (Please click on "Skip Ad" after five seconds...) (Note: some websites naively list March 12 as the release date. "Hotel California" debuted on the Singles chart on February 26. It is physically impossible for a song to debut on the Singles chart if it has not been released as a single.)
1977: Neil Diamond's live concert television special aired on NBC.
1978: Johnny Mathis & Deniece Williams released the single "Too Much, Too Little, Too Late".
1980: Janet Vogel of the Skyliners ("Since I Don't Have You") committed suicide at age 37.
1980: Fleetwood Mac began a 16-show tour of Australia and New Zealand at the Entertainment Centre in Perth. The group had kicked off their worldwide Tusk tour on October 26, 1979 at the Minidome in Pocatello, Idaho.
She don't remember the Queen of Soul? You've got to be kidding!
1981: Dolly Parton completed the climb to #1 with "9 To 5". Eddie Rabbitt was one step away with "I Love A Rainy Night" while former #1 "Celebration" by Kool & the Gang was now third and John Lennon's posthumous release "Woman" was #4. The rest of the Top 10: Blondie with "The Tide Is High", REO Speedwagon's "Keep On Loving You", Styx entered the Top 10 with "The Best Of Times", Delbert McClinton with "Giving It Up For Your Love", Dan Fogelberg moved in to #9 with "Same Old Lang Syne" and Steely Dan remained in the #10 spot with "Hey Nineteen".
"Tough Guys"...
1981: REO Speedwagon, which had toiled for ten years with little success, finally was rewarded as Hi Infidelity became the #1 album. Double Fantasy from John Lennon dropped while "The Jazz Singer" Soundtrack by Neil Diamond remained in the #3 spot. Pat Benatar's excellent Crimes of Passion was fourth with Styx rising a spot with Paradise Theater. The rest of the Top 10: the Police with Zenyatta Mondatta, Blondie's Autoamerican, Kenny Rogers' Greatest Hits captured the #8 position, AC/DC was at #9 after 27 weeks with Back In Black and Stevie Wonder closed the list with Hotter Than July.
1982: Murray "the K" Kaufman, the disc jockey who is believed to have been the first DJ in America to play a Beatles song and who promoted the Beatles' first tour, died of cancer in Los Angeles at age 60.
1986: Pat Boone was a guest star on The Fall Guy on ABC-TV.
1987: Sylvester Stone (of Sly & the Family Stone) was thrown in jail on drug charges.
1987: Bobby Rydell and Fabian appeared on The Facts of Life on NBC-TV.
1987: Ben E. King had the new #1 song in the U.K. as "Stand By Me", which was featured in the movie of the same name, was re-released.
1987: Lionel Richie, one of the most successful Adult Contemporary artists of all-time, remained at #1 for the third straight week with "Ballerina Girl".
1987: The Bangles were off and running with "Walking Down Your Street"--their latest moved from 95 to 71.
"Wanted Dead or Alive"...
1987: Bon Jovi held off everyone for a seventh week at #1 on the Album chart with their breakthrough album Slippery When Wet. The Way It Is from Bruce Hornsby & the Range at 4, Different Light at #5 after 56 weeks for the Bangles, Invisible Touch from Genesis at #7 and Fore! by Huey Lewis & the News at #10 were other noteworthy albums.
1990: Bonnie Raitt was the winner of four awards at the Grammys, including Album of the Year for Nick of Time.
1990: In yet another blunder by the Grammy Awards, Milli Vanilli won the Best New Artist award. It was later admitted that they were not the vocalists on the album, and their award was vacated. (Note: several websites report that the duo won the award on February 22. The Grammy Awards were presented on February 21, according to the newspaper 'The New York Times'.)
1995: Joan Osborne released the single "One Of Us".
1995: Bruce Springsteen performed live with the E Street Band for the first time in seven years at the Tramps nightclub in New York City.
1998: Celine Dion owned the #1 U.K. song with "My Heart Goes On", which became the world's best-selling single of the year.
Rob Thomas and Matchbox 20 with "' A.M.'...
1998: Yield by Pearl Jam debuted at #2 on the Album chart. Matchbox 20 (#6) was still in the Top 10 after 49 weeks with Yourself or Someone Like You, Savage Garden (#8) was hanging in there after 43 weeks and Will Smith entered the Top 10 with Big Wilie Style.
2001: U2 captured Grammys for Record and Song of the Year with "Beautiful Day".
2003: Ringo Starr started the record label Pumkinhead (correct spelling), geared towards new artists.
2004: Charlotte Church turned 18, thus gaining control of a trust fund of her earnings that had reached $30 million.
2009: The Fray had the #1 album with their self-titled debut.
2012: Fun. released the album Some Nights.
Born This Day:
1933: Nina Simone (real name Eunice Waymon) was born in Tryon, North Carolina; died of cancer in Carry le Rouet, France on April 21, 2003.
1938: Bobby Charles ("See You Later, Alligator") was born in Abbeville, Louisiana; died January 14, 2010.
1943: David Geffen, music industry executive, founder of Asylum Records who signed the Eagles, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, Joni Mitchell and Jackson Browne and also founder of his own Geffen Records who signed Donna Summer, Aerosmith, Toni Braxton, Mary J. Blige, Enya, Guns N' Roses, Don Henley and Sonic Youth, was born in Brooklyn, New York. (Note: some websites list his birthplace as Borough Park, New York, others as New York City. Borough Park is the name of a neighborhood--neighborhoods are not official places of birth. Geffen was born in Brooklyn, according to 'CNN'.)
1946: Paul Newton, original bassist of Uriah Heap, was born in Andover, Hampshire, England.
1949: Jerry Harrison, songwriter, keyboardist and guitarist of the Talking Heads, was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
1951: Vince Welnick, keyboardist of the Tubes and the Grateful Dead, was born in Phoenix, Arizona; committed suicide in Forestville, California on June 2, 2006 after battling depression for 10 years. (Note: some websites list his birthday as February 22--it was February 21, according to his official website.)
1956: Lester Hunt, songwriter and guitarist who joined the Climax Blues Band in 1985, was born in Stretford, Manchester, England.
1958: Mary Chapin-Carpenter was born in Princeton, New Jersey.
1961: Ranking Roger (real name Roger Charlery), vocalist of the Beat, General Public and the Fine Young Cannibals, was born in Birmingham, England.
1967: Michael Ward, guitarist of the Wallflowers, was born in Los Angeles.
1986: Charlotte Church was born in Llandaff, Cardiff, Wales.
1989: Corbin Bleu of High School Musical was born in Brooklyn, New York.
1961: The hard-working Beatles performed three concerts in one day, their usual lunchtime gig at the Cavern Club, then at the Cassanova Club later that evening before a final show at Litherland Town Hall in Liverpool, England.
1964: The Echoes, a new group from New York City, recruited an unknown piano player named Billy Joel. Joel had seen the Beatles on The Ed Sullivan Show, and was inspired to start a rock & roll career and find a band. (Note: Joel's website and WINS Radio in New York City list the year as 1963, but of course the Beatles' debut appearance was in February of 1964, and Billy himself confirmed to 'Billboard' in an interview that he joined the Echoes in 1964.)
1966: The Rascals released the single "Good Lovin'".
1966: The Lovin' Spoonful released the single "Daydream".
1966: The Beatles released the single "Nowhere Man".
1968: McGraw-Hill publishing company outbid eight other competitors for the rights in the United States to Hunter Davies' authorized biography of the Beatles. McGraw-Hill paid $150,000.
1970: The Jackson 5 made their television debut on American Bandstand.
1970: Simon & Garfunkel rose to #1 in the U.K. with their album Bridge Over Troubled Water. The album went to #1 eight different times and spent a total of 41 weeks at the top.
1970: Dionne Warwick had one of her biggest career hits with "I'll Never Fall In Love Again", which remained at #1 on the Adult chart for a third week.
1970: Sly & the Family Stone made it three weeks at #1 on the R&B chart with "Thank You".
1970: Elvis Presley had been recording for 15 years and on this date, "Kentucky Rain" was one of the hottest songs, moving from 96 to 40.
And "Travelin' Band" sounds as good now as it did in 1970...
1970: Sly & the Family Stone remained on top with "Thank You". Eddie Holman was a surprising second with "Hey There Lonely Girl" while Simon & Garfunkel moved from 13 to 3 in just their third week with "Bridge Over Troubled Water". The former #1 "I Want You Back" by the Jackson 5 was now fourth with CCR's great double-sided hit "Travelin' Band"/"Who'll Stop The Rain" moving from 9 to 5. The rest of an excellent Top 10: "No Time" from the Guess Who, B.J. Thomas and his #1 classic "Raindrops Keep Fallin' On My Head", the Temptations remained in the #8 position with "Psychedelic Shack", the Shocking Blue's former #1 "Venus" and Brook Benton headed into the Top 10 with "Rainy Night In Georgia".
1970: Led Zeppelin II was the top album for the sixth week, but former #1 Abbey Road by the Beatles had good staying power, remaining second. The top new entry in the Top 10 was Chicago II, which moved from 44 to 9 in its second week.
1973: The Edgar Winter Group released the single "Frankenstein".
Fleetwood Mac had kicked it up a notch for this album...
1976: Desire by Bob Dylan was #1 for a third week on the Album chart, holding off Still Crazy After All These Years by Paul Simon, although Paul's was the better album. Gratitude from Earth, Wind & Fire held on to third with Station to Station by David Bowie another pretender to the crown. Chicago IX, the group's Greatest Hits package, was at #5. The rest of the Top 10: Peter Frampton's solo release Frampton Comes Alive! was on fire, moving from 22-6, the self-titled Fleetwood Mac, which had fallen off the chart on October 4, was back with a vengeance, moving from 15-7, ELO's new release Face the Music, Rufus Featuring Chaka Khan and Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes moved into the Top 10 with Wake Up Everybody.
1976: The Four Seasons had the top U.K. song with "December, 1963 (Oh What A Night)".
1976: Art Garfunkel scored a #1 on the Adult chart this week with "Break Away".
1976: Rufus Featuring Chaka Khan moved to #1 on the R&B chart with their sweet song "Sweet Thing".ELO with one of their biggest hits...
1976: Paul Simon told of all the ways people took the easy way out with "50 Ways To Leave Your Lover", the #1 song for a third week. Rhythm Heritage was a factor with "Theme From 'S.W.A.T.'" and Hot Chocolate was a steady third with "You Sexy Thing". Donna Summer's "Love To Love You Baby" was next, followed by another hormone-driven song, "Love Machine" from the Miracles. The rest of the Top 10: Barry Manilow and "I Wrote The Songs", Eric Carmen vaulted from 14 to 7 with his first solo hit "All By Myself", Neil Sedaka was back with "Breaking Up Is Hard To Do", the Eagles' latest smash "Take It To The Limit", one of The Top 500 Songs of the Rock Era*, moved into the Top 10 and ELO remained at #10 with "Evil Woman".
1977: The Eagles released the single "Hotel California" (Please click on "Skip Ad" after five seconds...) (Note: some websites naively list March 12 as the release date. "Hotel California" debuted on the Singles chart on February 26. It is physically impossible for a song to debut on the Singles chart if it has not been released as a single.)
1977: Neil Diamond's live concert television special aired on NBC.
1978: Johnny Mathis & Deniece Williams released the single "Too Much, Too Little, Too Late".
1980: Janet Vogel of the Skyliners ("Since I Don't Have You") committed suicide at age 37.
1980: Fleetwood Mac began a 16-show tour of Australia and New Zealand at the Entertainment Centre in Perth. The group had kicked off their worldwide Tusk tour on October 26, 1979 at the Minidome in Pocatello, Idaho.
1981: Prince appeared on Saturday Night Live on NBC.
1981: Phil Collins debuted at #1 on the U.K. Album chart with Face Value.
1981: Ronnie Milsap crossed over for a great #1 Adult Contemporary song--"Smoky Mountain Rain".She don't remember the Queen of Soul? You've got to be kidding!
1981: Dolly Parton completed the climb to #1 with "9 To 5". Eddie Rabbitt was one step away with "I Love A Rainy Night" while former #1 "Celebration" by Kool & the Gang was now third and John Lennon's posthumous release "Woman" was #4. The rest of the Top 10: Blondie with "The Tide Is High", REO Speedwagon's "Keep On Loving You", Styx entered the Top 10 with "The Best Of Times", Delbert McClinton with "Giving It Up For Your Love", Dan Fogelberg moved in to #9 with "Same Old Lang Syne" and Steely Dan remained in the #10 spot with "Hey Nineteen".
"Tough Guys"...
1981: REO Speedwagon, which had toiled for ten years with little success, finally was rewarded as Hi Infidelity became the #1 album. Double Fantasy from John Lennon dropped while "The Jazz Singer" Soundtrack by Neil Diamond remained in the #3 spot. Pat Benatar's excellent Crimes of Passion was fourth with Styx rising a spot with Paradise Theater. The rest of the Top 10: the Police with Zenyatta Mondatta, Blondie's Autoamerican, Kenny Rogers' Greatest Hits captured the #8 position, AC/DC was at #9 after 27 weeks with Back In Black and Stevie Wonder closed the list with Hotter Than July.
1982: Murray "the K" Kaufman, the disc jockey who is believed to have been the first DJ in America to play a Beatles song and who promoted the Beatles' first tour, died of cancer in Los Angeles at age 60.
1986: Pat Boone was a guest star on The Fall Guy on ABC-TV.
1987: Sylvester Stone (of Sly & the Family Stone) was thrown in jail on drug charges.
1987: Bobby Rydell and Fabian appeared on The Facts of Life on NBC-TV.
1987: Ben E. King had the new #1 song in the U.K. as "Stand By Me", which was featured in the movie of the same name, was re-released.
1987: Lionel Richie, one of the most successful Adult Contemporary artists of all-time, remained at #1 for the third straight week with "Ballerina Girl".
1987: The Bangles were off and running with "Walking Down Your Street"--their latest moved from 95 to 71.
"Wanted Dead or Alive"...
1987: Bon Jovi held off everyone for a seventh week at #1 on the Album chart with their breakthrough album Slippery When Wet. The Way It Is from Bruce Hornsby & the Range at 4, Different Light at #5 after 56 weeks for the Bangles, Invisible Touch from Genesis at #7 and Fore! by Huey Lewis & the News at #10 were other noteworthy albums.
1990: Bonnie Raitt was the winner of four awards at the Grammys, including Album of the Year for Nick of Time.
1990: In yet another blunder by the Grammy Awards, Milli Vanilli won the Best New Artist award. It was later admitted that they were not the vocalists on the album, and their award was vacated. (Note: several websites report that the duo won the award on February 22. The Grammy Awards were presented on February 21, according to the newspaper 'The New York Times'.)
1995: Joan Osborne released the single "One Of Us".
1995: Bruce Springsteen performed live with the E Street Band for the first time in seven years at the Tramps nightclub in New York City.
1998: Celine Dion owned the #1 U.K. song with "My Heart Goes On", which became the world's best-selling single of the year.
Rob Thomas and Matchbox 20 with "' A.M.'...
1998: Yield by Pearl Jam debuted at #2 on the Album chart. Matchbox 20 (#6) was still in the Top 10 after 49 weeks with Yourself or Someone Like You, Savage Garden (#8) was hanging in there after 43 weeks and Will Smith entered the Top 10 with Big Wilie Style.
2001: U2 captured Grammys for Record and Song of the Year with "Beautiful Day".
2003: Ringo Starr started the record label Pumkinhead (correct spelling), geared towards new artists.
2004: Charlotte Church turned 18, thus gaining control of a trust fund of her earnings that had reached $30 million.
2009: The Fray had the #1 album with their self-titled debut.
2012: Fun. released the album Some Nights.
Born This Day:
1933: Nina Simone (real name Eunice Waymon) was born in Tryon, North Carolina; died of cancer in Carry le Rouet, France on April 21, 2003.
1938: Bobby Charles ("See You Later, Alligator") was born in Abbeville, Louisiana; died January 14, 2010.
1943: David Geffen, music industry executive, founder of Asylum Records who signed the Eagles, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, Joni Mitchell and Jackson Browne and also founder of his own Geffen Records who signed Donna Summer, Aerosmith, Toni Braxton, Mary J. Blige, Enya, Guns N' Roses, Don Henley and Sonic Youth, was born in Brooklyn, New York. (Note: some websites list his birthplace as Borough Park, New York, others as New York City. Borough Park is the name of a neighborhood--neighborhoods are not official places of birth. Geffen was born in Brooklyn, according to 'CNN'.)
1946: Paul Newton, original bassist of Uriah Heap, was born in Andover, Hampshire, England.
1949: Jerry Harrison, songwriter, keyboardist and guitarist of the Talking Heads, was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
1951: Vince Welnick, keyboardist of the Tubes and the Grateful Dead, was born in Phoenix, Arizona; committed suicide in Forestville, California on June 2, 2006 after battling depression for 10 years. (Note: some websites list his birthday as February 22--it was February 21, according to his official website.)
1956: Lester Hunt, songwriter and guitarist who joined the Climax Blues Band in 1985, was born in Stretford, Manchester, England.
1958: Mary Chapin-Carpenter was born in Princeton, New Jersey.
1961: Ranking Roger (real name Roger Charlery), vocalist of the Beat, General Public and the Fine Young Cannibals, was born in Birmingham, England.
1967: Michael Ward, guitarist of the Wallflowers, was born in Los Angeles.
1969: James Dean Bradfield, lead guitarist and lead singer of the Manic Street Preachers, was born in Pontypool, Wales.
1970: Eric Wilson, bassist of Sublime, was born in Long Beach, California. (Note: some websites list his birthday as February 22, and others say he was born in 1969. There are no credible sources for any date, but our best research indicates he was born on February 21, 1970.)1989: Corbin Bleu of High School Musical was born in Brooklyn, New York.