This Date in Rock Music History: August 15

1958:  Buddy Holly and Maria Elena Santiago were married at Buddy's parents' home in Lubbock, Texas.















1960:  "It's Now Or Never" became Elvis Presley's 14th #1 song in just four years.

1962:  Pete Best, drummer of the Beatles, played his last performance, the second of two shows with the group at the Cavern Club in Liverpool, England.  He was told by manager Brian Epstein that he was being dismissed from the group the following morning (August 16).  (Note:  Some websites don't have the timeline right regarding the firing of drummer Pete Best by the Beatles and the move to Ringo Starr, saying John Lennon invited Starr on August 15, 1962.  The phone call was made August 14, according to the book 'The Complete Beatles Chronicle:  The Definitive Day-By-Day Guide to the Beatles' Entire Career' by Mark Lewisohn.  Pete Best played his final two shows at the Cavern Club on August 15, and was told by Brian Epstein he was being fired the following day (August 16), according to the book 'The Beatles:  The Authorized Biography' by Hunter Davies.) 1964:  The news on this date wasn't that the Four Tops released their first single--they did that on July 10.  On this date, "Baby I Need Your Loving" debuted on the chart.
1964:  The Dave Clark Five signed a movie deal with MGM Studios.









1964:  Dean Martin took over at #1 with "Everybody Loves Somebody", moving the Beatles' "A Hard Day's Night" down to 3.  The Supremes had the song in the middle with "Where Did Our Love Go".  The 4 Seasons edged up with "Rag Doll" while the Drifters found themselves at #5 with "Under The Boardwalk".  The rest of the Top 10:  "Wishin' And Hopin'" by Dusty Springfield, "The Little Old Lady From Pasadena" by Jan & Dean, Bobby Freeman entered the Top 10 with "C'mon And Swim", the Jelly Beans remained at 9 with "I Wanna' Love Him So Bad" and---listen to this move--#60 to #10 for "The House Of The Rising Sun" by the Animals.  You might say it was a hot song.








1964:  A Hard Day's Night by the Beatles continued to set the pace on the Album chart with Getz/Gilberto in second by Stan Getz & Joao Gilberto.  Louis Armstrong's Hello, Dolly! was #3 followed by Barbra Streisand and Funny Girl.  The rest of the Top 10:  The Original Cast with Hello, Dolly!, the Beatles jumped up from #125 to #6 with Something New, the Beach Boys hit the Top 10 with All Summer Long, The Pink Panther came in at #8 from Henry Mancini & His Orchestra, The Dave Clark Five Return!  was #9 while Cotton Candy by Al Hirt was #10.








1965:  The Beatles set an attendance record for the largest audience ever for a concert, as they played before 56,000 at Shea Stadium in New York City.  Mick Jagger and Keith Richard of the Rolling Stones were in the audience.  Brenda Holloway, the King Curtis Band, the Young Rascals and Sounds Incorporated opened for them.  The Beatles were paid $160,000 for the show.  They played the following, though from the moment they first hit the stage, you could not hear a note for the deafening noise:  ("Twist And Shout", "She's A Woman", "I Feel Fine", "Dizzy Miss Lizzie", "Ticket To Ride", "Everybody's Trying To Be My Baby", Can't Buy Me Love", "Baby's In Black", "Act Naturally", "I Wanna' Be Your Man", "A Hard Day's Night", "Help!", and "I'm Down").

1966:  Bobby Darin began recording "If I Were A Carpenter" at Gold Star Studio in Los Angeles.  He wrapped it up November 31.
1966:  The Beatles appeared before 32,000 at D.C. Stadium in Washington, D.C.
1969:  Led Zeppelin performed with backing acts Jethro Tull and Sweet Smoke at the Hemisfair Arena Convention Center in San Antonio, Texas.

1969:  One of the seminal events of the Rock Era occurred on this date.  The Woodstock Music & Art Fair, or informally Woodstock, began in Bethel, New York.  A crowd of over 500,000 people heard music from 32 acts over the weekend.  On this famous date in the Rock Era, Joan Baez, Arlo Guthrie, Melanie, Richie Havens, Tim Hardin, Ravi Shankar, Bert Sommer and Sweetwater performed.
1970:  The Kinks, Fairport Convention, Alexis Korner and Fotheringay were among the performers at the Yorkshire Folk, Blues & Jazz Festival in England.  Pink Floyd was scheduled but did not appear.

1970:  CCR's double-sided hit "Lookin' Out My Back Door" and "Long As I Can See the Light" moved from 56 to 23 on this date.








1970:  The Carpenters made it four weeks at #1 with "Close To You".  Bread's "Make It With You" was second followed by Stevie Wonder with "Signed, Sealed, Delivered ("I'm Yours)".  Eric Burdon & War maintained with "Spill The Wine" and Mungo Jerry moved from 12 to 5 with "In The Summertime".  The rest of the Top 10:  Edwin Starr and "War" at #6, Freda Payne's "Band Of Gold" at song #7, Three Dog Night was on their way down with "Mama Told Me (Not To Come)", Alive & Kicking was at 9 with "Tighter, Tighter" while the Temptations had song #10--"Ball Of Confusion".









1970:  The Carpenters made it six weeks in a row at #1 on the Adult Contemporary chart with "Close To You".  They were the talk of the summer.
1971:  Thomas Wayne ("Tragedy" in 1959) was killed in a car crash at the age of 31.

1972:  Elvis  Presley and wife Priscilla signed a Marital Termination Agreement.  (Note:  there are numerous false dates floating around on the Internet.  The only true ones are these:  The couple separated on February 23, 1972, as shown above, on  August 15, according to the book 'Understanding Elvis:  Southern Roots Vs. Star Image' by Susan Doll and auction documents shown above, the couple signed the Marital Termination Agreement, on August 18, Elvis formally filed for divorce, according to the books 'Elvis Presley, Reluctant Rebel:  His Life and Our Times' by Glen Jeansonne, David F. Luhrssen, and Dan Sokolovic, and the Susan Doll book quoted above, and the divorce was finalized in Los Angeles Superior Court in Santa Monica, California on October 9, 1973.)

 

1980:  The George Harrison book I Me Mine went on sale at bookstores.  The book is a collection of lyrics and also includes Harrison's religious views.

1981:  Stevie Wonder, Grover Washington, Jr. and Evelyn "Champagne" King performed at the Black Family Fair at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California.
1981:  Kenny Rogers placed "I Don't Need You" at #1 on the Adult Contemporary chart--one of The Top Adult Contemporary Songs of the 80's*.









1981:  Precious Time landed at #1 on the Album chart for Pat Benatar.  4 by Foreigner moved to #2 followed by the previous #1 Long Distance Voyager by the Moody Blues.  Rick James fell with Street Songs and Journey entered the Top 10 at #5 with Escape.  The rest of the Top 10:  Share Your Love from Kenny Rogers, Mistaken Identity by Kim Carnes, REO Speedwagon remained at 8 after 36 weeks with Hi Infidelity, Don't Say No, the great album from Billy Squier, was at #9 and Air Supply held steady with The One That You Love.








1981:  Diana Ross & Lionel Richie moved to #1 with "Endless Love".  Joey Scarbury made it all the way to #2 with "Theme From 'Greatest American Hero' (Believe It Or Not)" while Kenny Rogers inched up with "I Don't Need You".  Rick Springfield's former #1 "Jessie's Girl" was now at 4.  The rest of the Top 10:  "Elvira" from the Oak Ridge Boys, the Pointer Sisters held still with "Slow Hand", Manhattan Transfer had song #7--"Boy From New York City", Marty Balin's solo hit "Hearts" was at #8, Juice Newton had "Queen Of Hearts" at 9 and Ronnie Milsap cleared the Top 10 with "(There's) No Gettin' Over Me".
1983:  Johnny Ramone, guitarist for the Ramones, had brain surgery after being beaten up in a fight.  (Note:  numerous websites falsely report that Joey Ramone had brain surgery on this date.  The websites simply copied information from the book 'Rock's Movers and Shakers:  An A-Z of People Who Made Rock Happen' by Dafydd Rees and Luke Crampton without checking facts.  It was Johnny who had the surgery, according to an interview with Joey Ramone on 'MTV'.)
1987:  Keith Richards began recording his first solo album Talk Is Cheap at Le Studio in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
1987:  Kenny G performed at the Newport Jazz Festival in Newport, Rhode Island.
1987:  Madonna began a tour of the U.K. at Roundhay Park in Leeds, West Yorkshire, England.
1987:  Michael Jackson edged up to #1 in the U.K. with "I Just Can't Stop Loving You".
1987:  Steve Winwood was still at #1 for a third week on the Adult Contemporary chart with "Back In The High Life Again".




 

1987:  U2 continued to own the top song with "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For".  Madonna moved to challenge with "Who's That Girl", George Michael's "I Want Your Sex" was third, followed by Suzanne Vega's "Luka" and "La Bamba" by Los Lobos.  The rest of the Top 10:  "Heart And Soul" from T'Pau, Richard Marx moved from 12-7 with "Don't Mean Nothing", the Jets were stationary at 8 with "Cross My Broken Heart", promising newcomer Debbie Gibson entered the Top 10 with "Only In My Dreams" and Gloria Estefan was at 10 with "Rhythm's Gonna' Get You".








1988:  Steve Winwood released the single "Don't You Know What The Night Can Do".  (Note:  some websites naively say the song was released August 20.  "Don't You Know What The Night Can Do" debuted on the Singles chart on August 20.  It is physically impossible for a song to be released by a record company, mailed to radio stations, listened to and added to radio station playlists, reported to trade papers, and printed and published by the trade papers, all in one day.)












1991:  Debbie Gibson sang "Lost In Your Eyes" for the International Special Olympics All-Star Gala on ABC-TV.
1991:  Paul Simon gave a free concert at New York City's Central Park.
1992:  INXS hit #1 in the U.K. with the album Welcome To Whoever You Are.







1992:  Boyz II Men reached #1 with one of the top songs not only since then but of the Rock Era--"End Of The Road".

1995:  The album Live at Red Rocks 8.15.95 was recorded as the Dave Matthews Band performed at the popular concert spot in Morrison, Colorado.
1998:  Ian Gillan, lead singer of Deep Purple, hit a security guard with a microphone during a concert at Pine Knob near Pontiac, Michigan.  (Note:  many websites falsely report that Gillan was charged with assault and battery on this date.  The incident occurred August 15.  Gillan was formally charged with assault and battery on September 1, according to the newspaper 'The Sun Journal'.)
1998:  Boyzone reached #1 in the U.K. with "No Matter What".
1999:  Westlife had the #1 U.K. song with "If I Let You Go".
2004:  3 of a Kind owned the top U.K. song with "Baby Cakes".

2008:  Producer Jerry Wexler died at his home in Sarasota, Florida at the age of 91 from congestive heart failure.  Wexler coined the term 'rhythm and blues' while writing for Billboard in the late 1940's, and produced Aretha Franklin, Ray Charles, Wilson Pickett and Bob Dylan, among others.
2012:  Bob Birch, singer who also played bass, bassoon and saxophone and worked with Elton John, Stevie Wonder, Donna Summer, Barry Manilow, Lionel Richie, Cher, George Michael, Sheryl Crow, Tina Turner, Eric Clapton, Don Henley, the Spice Girls, Sting, Phil Collins, the Backstreet Boys, Bruce Hornsby, B.B. King, Steve Porcaro, John Mayer, Keith Emerson, Ronnie Montrose, Jose Feliciano and LeAnn Rimes, just to name a few, commited suicide in Detroit, Michigan at the age of 56.  
2012:  Bill Tillman, singer, saxophonist and flutist with Blood, Sweat & Tears who also worked with Chuck Berry, Roy Orbison and the Coasters, died after a fall in Houston, Texas at the age of 65.

Born This Day:

1933: Bobby Helms ("My Special Angel" and of course "Jingle Bell Rock") was born in Bloomington, Indiana; died June 19, 1997 of emphysema in Martinsville, Indiana.
1933: Bill Pinkney of the Drifters was born in Dalzell, South Carolina; was the last surviving original member of the group when he died of a heart attack July 4, 2007 Daytona Beach, Florida.  (Note:  some websites claim Pinkney was born in Sumpter, South Carolina, but according to the official website for the South Carolina Statehouse, he was born in Dalzell.)
1942: Peter York, drummer of the Spencer Davis Group, was born in Redcar, North Riding of Yorkshire, England.  (Note:  some websites report York was born in MIddlesbrough, and some say he was born in Nottingham, but according to  the newspaper 'The Nottingham Post', he was born in Redcar and went to high school in Nottingham.  Redcar is about 12 kilometers north of Middlesbrough)
1944: Frederick Knight ("I've Been Lonely For So Long" from 1972) was born in Bessemer, Alabama.  (Note:  some websites claim he was born in Birmingham, Alabama.  According to the official website for Stax Records, as well as the book 'Soul of the Man:  Bobby "Blue" Bland' by Charles Farley, Knight was born in Bessemer.)










1946: Jimmy Webb, great songwriter of "By The Time I Get To Phoenix", "MacArthur Park", and many others, was born in Elk City, Oklahoma.
1950: Tom Aldrich, drummer of Black Oak Arkansas, Ozzy Osbourne and Whitesnake, was born in Jackson, Mississippi.
1972: Michael Graham of Boyzone was born in Raheny, County Dublin, Ireland.
1973:  Stuart Richardson, bass guitarist with Lostprophets, was born in Tonypandy, Wales.  (Note:  Some websites claim Richardson was born on February 15, others in 1974, and some websites state that Richardson was born in Ferndale, Wales, but the 'BBC' reports that he was born on August 15, 1973 in Tonypandy.)
1984:  David Welsh, guitarist for the Fray, was born in Tucson, Arizona.
1989: Joe Jonas of the Jonas Brothers was born in Casa Grande, Arizona.

Elvis Week 2011, Part Five: Special Comeback

In previous segments of Elvis Week 2011, we've seen how Elvis Presley grew out of humble and shy beginnings to burst onto the scene in 1956 with an unforgettable debut year.  We've seen that Elvis used his charm, his good looks and his inimitable style to become not only a sex symbol but the greatest star the world had ever seen to that point.  Elvis was not only the biggest rock star; after the death of Buddy Holly, he essentially had the stage to himself.  

By 1963, Presley had racked up 68 hits, 32 Top 10 songs, 13 #1's, 22 Platinum records, eight Gold records, seven #1 albums and a string of successful movies.  But cracks were beginning to show in the gigantic financial empire that Elvis had built.    

Finally in 1968, after seven years away from the stage, Colonel Parker remembered the importance of live performances and Elvis starred in a much-publicized comeback television special.  There's an obvious response that I'm going to give to this move.  Duh.  The special on NBC-TV (called Elvis) aired December 3, 1968 and later became known as the '68 Comeback Special.  Elvis appeared in tight black leather, singing and playing in the style that originally made him famous.  He was energetic, alive, and enthused.  Parker had originally planned an hour of Christmas songs for the special, but director and co-producer Steve Binder was in charge of this show.  

The special drew 42% of the viewing audience on that night and was the highest-rated show of the year for NBC.  Jon Landau of Eye magazine said, "There is something magical about watching a man who has lost himself find his way back home.  He sang with the kind of power people no longer expect (of Elvis).  He moved his body with a lack of pretension and effort that must have made Jim Morrison green with envy." (1)  Dave Marsh called the performance one of "emotional grandeur and historical resonance."  

Elvis was back in the forefront and was about to begin what would turn out to be the last phase of his career.  Thanks to the renewed attention, "If I Can Dream", a single written for the special, landed at #12 and the soundtrack album reached the Top 10.  These were hardly Elvis-like numbers but they were a significant improvement from the previous six years.  According to friend Jerry Schilling, the special made Presley realize what "he had not been able to do for years, being able to choose the people, being able to choose what songs he would sing and not being told what songs would be on the soundtrack album."  Binder said that Elvis told him, "Steve, it's the greatest thing I've ever done in my life.  I will never again sing a song I don't believe in.'  

Inspired by the success of the Comeback Special and the feel of the live performance once again, Presley threw himself into a prolific series of recording sessions at American Sound Studio.  One of the albums which resulted was the critically-acclaimed album From Elvis in Memphis, released in January, 1969.  The album represented his first secular, non-soundtrack album in eight years. Music critic Dave Marsh called it, "A masterpiece in which Presley immediately catches up with pop music trends that had seemed to pass him by during the movie years. He sings country songs, soul songs and rockers with real conviction, a stunning achievement."  The gem on the album was "In the Ghetto", a heartfelt and realistic portrayal of life in the inner city.  The #3 smash was Elvis' first big hit since "Bossa Nova Baby" in 1963.   





.Elvis chalked up three more Top 10 songs ("Suspicious Minds", his first #1 song in seven years), "Don't Cry Daddy" and "Burning Love" as well as the highly underrated "Kentucky Rain") from the American Sound sessions.





Afterwards, an extended residency in Las Vegas and several profitable tours reminded people what a great live performer he was.  After all, it was the wild, crazed reactions of his fans at Overton Park in Memphis that launched his career  in the first place.  Offers came in from around the world.  The London Palladium offered Parker $28,000 for a one-week engagement at their hotel.  ""That's fine for me," Parker said, "Now how much can you get for Elvis?" (2)  By this time, Parker had contracts with Presley that called for Parker to get 50% of the singer's earnings on recordings, films and merchandise.  He would soon get half of the profit from his live appearances as well.  





The International Hotel was the newest and grandest in Las Vegas, and in May, the Hotel announced that it had signed Presley.  Elvis would perform 57 shows over a four-week period.  But Moore, Fontana and the Jordanaires did not go along for fear they would lose the lucrative work they had in Nashville as session musicians.  This speaks volumes about Parker's management ability, style and people skills.  The engagement did, however, represent tremendous exposure, and Elvis was able to get guitarist James Burton and two gospel groups, the Imperials and Sweet Inspirations, to accompany him in Las Vegas.  





Elvis' last performance in Las Vegas (in 1956) hadn't gone over well and he was nervous about the gig.  But one thing Parker was good at was promotion, and he convinced hotel owner Kirk Kerkorian





The album From Memphis To Vegas/From Vegas To Memphis On Stage included recordings from the International in 1970.  In February, Elvis performed six shows at the spacious Houston Astrodome that broke all attendance records.  By now, Elvis was performing in a jumpsuit, which would be his trademark attire for the remainder of his career.  RCA released the single "The Wonder of You" in April, which became Elvis' 37th Top 10 hit and was a #1 song on the Adult Contemporary chart and in Great Britain.





MGM filmed rehearsals and concerts at the International in August and produced the documentary Elvis:  That's the Way It Is.  The album That's the Way It Is, which accompanied the documentary marked a shift away from country, away from R&B, to pure rock.  Elvis went on subsequent tours of the South in September and the West Coast in November.  The U.S. Junior Chamber of Commerce named Presley one of its annual Ten Most Outstanding Young Men of the Nation on January 16, 1971.  That same year, the City of Memphis named the stretch of Highway 51 South on which Graceland was located as Elvis Presley Boulevard.  Later in the year, Presley was given a Lifetime Achievement Award (then called the Bing Crosby award) at the Grammy Awards.  

MGM once again filmed Presley shows in April, 1972, this time for the special Elvis on Tour, which captured a Golden Globe award for Best Documentary.  Elvis won a second Grammy gospel award for Best Inspirational Performance for his album He Touched Me.  Another brief tour concluded with a record four sold-out shows at Madison Square Garden in New York City.  The album that captured that experience, Elvis:  As Recorded at Madison Square Garden on July 10 became of the best-selling LP's of Presley's career.  The single "Burning Love", which was released August 14 and peaked at #2, became his 38th and last Top 10 song.  





Another famous television special, Aloha From Hawai'i, was the first concert ever to be broadcast on satellite January 14, 1973.  The broadcast was seen by an estimated 1.5 billion viewers.  The double album connected with the show became the last #1 album of his lifetime and went on to sell five million copies.  


At a concert the same month, four men rushed onto the stage in an apparent attack.  Security men rushed to protect Elvis, but the singer, skilled in karate, sent one of the men off the stage by himself.  Although the men were shown to be merely overexuberant fans, Presley became obsessed with the idea that someone was trying to kill him.  A physician was unable to calm him despite administering large doses of medication.  Finally, Presley realized that the idea was too wild.


By this time, however, Elvis and Priscilla had become distant and the Presleys separated on February 23.  Five months later, Presley's new girlfriend, Linda Thompson, moved in with him and Elvis and his wife divorced on August 18.  


Presley's music and performances were better than they had been in nearly a decade, but his life was falling apart.  Join us tomorrow on Inside the Rock Era as I present Part Six of the Elvis Week 2011 special--"Deterioration and Death".

1--Marcus, Greil. Elvis Presley:  The Ed Sullivan Shows.  DVD Booklet Image Entertainment

2--Gordon, Robert. The King on the Road. Bounty Books; 2005, page 205.

This Date in Rock Music History: August 14

1957:  Nat King Cole canceled his television show on NBC after a year-long search for a sponsor was fruitless.






  
1962:  John Lennon phoned Ringo Starr asking him to become the drummer of the group.  Starr made his debut with the Beatles three days later.  (Note:  some websites don't have the timeline right, saying Lennon invited Starr on August 15.  The phone call was made August 14, according to the book 'The Complete Beatles Chronicle:  The Definitive Day-By-Day Guide to the Beatles' Entire Career' by Mark Lewisohn.  Pete Best played his final two shows at the Cavern Club on August 15, and was told by Brian Epstein he was being fired the following day (August 16), according to the book 'The Beatles:  The Authorized Biography' by Hunter Davies.)

1964:  Johnny Burnette, who had the original hit with "You're Sixteen", drowned at the age of 30 in a boating mishap at Clear Lake in California.  (Note:  some websites incorrectly report his death as being either August 1 or August 17.  Here's the truth, according to the local newspaper 'The Lake County Record-Bee':  Burnette's body was found on August 16 by a Lake County Sheriff, but the coroner determined that he drowned on August 14.) 
1965:  The Beatles recorded an appearance for telecast on The Ed Sullivan Show at Studio 50 on CBS-TV in New York City.  The group performed "I Feel Fine", "I'm Down", Act Naturally", "Ticket to Ride", "Yesterday" and "Help!".
1965:  Help! was the #1 album in the U.K.

1965:  Beatles VI may have been the #1 album and Herman's Hermits On Tour #2, but the Rolling Stones turned heads as Out of Our Heads moved from 93 to 3 on this date.
1965:  There was a brand new #1 R&B song and it was "Papa's Got A Brand New Bag" from James Brown.
1965:  The song "Help!" moved from #41 to 14.









1965:  "I Got You Babe" moved into the #1 slot for Sonny & Cher.  "Satisfaction" by the Rolling Stones was still at 2 while Gary Lewis & the Playboys crept up to #3 with "Save Your Heart For Me".  Herman's Hermits were down after just one week at #1 with "I'm Henry VIII, I Am".  The rest of the Top 10:  "What's New Pussycat?" by Tom Jones, the Righteous Brothers jumped from 15 to 6 with "Unchained Melody", the Four Tops entered the Top 10 with "It's The Same Old Song", "Don't Just Stand There" from Patty Duke was song #8, the Beach Boys catapulted from #28 to #9 with "California Girls" and Billy Joe Royal was in the #10 position with "Down In The Boondocks".  
1966:  Little Anthony & the Imperials, the Shadows and the Castiles (featuring vocalist Bruce Springsteen) were at the Surf 'n See Club in Seabright, New Jersey.












1967:  The Association released the classic single "Never My Love".
1968:  "Fire" by the Crazy World of Arthur Brown became the top song in the U.K.
1970:  Stephen Stills was arrested on cocaine possession charges at a motel in La Jolla, California.
1970:  Elton John and Manfred Mann were among the acts at the opening day of  the Yorkshire Folk, Blues & Jazz Festival in Krumlin, Yorkshire, England.
1970:  Status Quo were in concert at the Magic Circus in Barnstaple, Devon, England.








 
                                                                         "The Story in Your Eyes"...

1971:  The Moody Blues reached #1 on the Album chart with Every Good Boy Deserves Favour.

1971:  "Mercy Mercy Me" was deservedly the #1 R&B song by Marvin Gaye.
1971:  "If Not for You" took Olivia Newton-John to #1 on the Adult Contemporary chart.

1971:  The Bee Gees posted their first #1 song with "How Can You Mend A Broken Heart".  "Mr. Big Stuff" by Jean Knight proved to be formidable while John Denver's "Take Me Home, Country Roads" at #3 got the ball rolling for his great career.  Tommy James edged up with "Draggin' The Line" and James Taylor's former #1 "You've Got A Friend" was at 5.  The rest of the Top 10:  The Raiders from Boise, Idaho were at #6 with "Indian Reservation", Chicago's double-sided hit "Beginnings"/"Colour My World" was at #7, Tom Clay moved up to 8 with "What The World Needs Now is Love/Abraham, Martin And John", Marvin Gaye was at 9 with "Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology") and the Five Man Electrical Band form Canada moved up big with "Signs".







1971:  Stanley, Idaho's Carole King spent a ninth consecutive week at #1 with Tapestry.

1976:  "Getaway" was the new #1 R&B song for Earth, Wind & Fire.

                                                             The Beach Boys had their biggest hit in years...

1976:  It was a great summer for music as Elton John & Kiki Dee had arguably the top song of the summer--"Don't Go Breaking My Heart".  The Bee Gees had another smash with "You Should Be Dancing" and Wings flew up to 3 with "Let 'Em In".  Lou Rawls moved from 9 to 4 with "You'll Never Find Another Love Like Mine", jumping over "Rock And Roll Music" from the Beach Boys.  Gary Wright was still in the Top 10 with "Love Is Alive" after 18 weeks from his great album The Dream Weaver.  The rest of the Top 10:  England Dan & John Ford Coley were gaining notoriety with "I'd Really Love To See You Tonight", which moved from 19-7, K.C. and the Sunshine Band climbed from 26 to 8 with "(Shake, Shake, Shake) Shake Your Booty", Manhattans were at 9 with "Kiss And Say Goodbye" and Vicki Sue Robinson reached the Top 10 with "Turn the Beat Around".








1976:  Peter Frampton returned to #1 for the third time on the Album chart with Frampton Comes Alive!, moving George Benson's great album Breezin' to #2.  Spitfire from Jefferson Starship was third followed by Beautiful Noise by Neil Diamond and the self-titled Fleetwood Mac, in its 55th week on the chart.

1978:  Ambrosia released their single "How Much I Feel".

1981:  They may look like death warmed over but on this date, the Rolling Stones released the single "Start Me Up".













1982:  Jennifer Holliday's stirring "And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going" logged a fourth week atop the R&B chart.
1982:  "Eye Of The Tiger" spent its fourth week at #1 for Survivor, holding off John Cougar's "Hurts So Good" again.  The Steve Miller Band had a solid #3 hit with "Abracadabra" while Fleetwood Mac had their 14th hit with "Hold Me".  The rest of the Top 10:  Chicago was still at 5 with "Hard To Say I'm Sorry", Air Supply reached #6 with "Even The Nights Are Better", REO Speedwagon had song #7--"Keep The Fire Burnin'", Toto's Grammy Award winning "Rosanna" was at 8, the Go-Go's had a Top 10 hit with "Vacation" and Crosby, Stills & Nash and their first big hit in five years with "Wasted On The Way".

1988:  Elite guitarist Roy Buchanan died at the age of 48 after hanging himself in a Fairfax, Virginia jail.

1989:  New Jersey by Bon Jovi became the first United States album to be released in the Soviet Union.








1992:  Tony Williams of the Platters died from diabetes and emphysema at age 64 in Daly City, California.

1993:  Freddie Mercury had a solo #1 in the U.K. with "Living On My Own".
1993:  "Dreamlover" by Mariah Carey moved from 40 to 13.










1993:  Soul Asylum reached the Top 10 with "Runaway Train".











1995:  The song "Dreaming of You" by Selena was released posthumously.

1995:  The Grateful Dead canceled their fall tour after leader Jerry Garcia's death.

1999:  Leif Garrett pleaded guilty to drug possession charges to get into a rehab program.

1999:  The Backstreet Boys sold 765,000 tickets for their upcoming North American tour in one day.

1999:  Ronan Keating owned the top U.K. song with "When You Say Nothing At All".

2000:  A Rage Against the Machine concert at the Staples Center turned to general rage and Los Angeles police had to fire pepper spray and rubber bullets to clear the crowd.

2001:  The Red Hot Chili Peppers canceled an appearance at the Heat Wave Festival in Israel after it was recommended that U.S. citizens not travel to that country.








2001:  Michelle Branch released the album The Spirit Room.

 2002:  A very touching tribute to John Lennon was unveiled in the tiny Scottish village of Durness.  Lennon spent his holidays there from age seven to 15, which formed the inspiration for the song "In My Life".  The lyrics to the song are inscribed on three stones.

2004:  A warrant was issued for the arrest of Bobby Brown in George after he did not complete any of the conditions of his probation from a prior drunk driving conviction.

2004:  Charlie Watts, drummer for the Rolling Stones, delivered the sad news that he was being treated for throat cancer.

2004:  Rick James was cremated following a funeral in Buffalo, New York.

2005:  Edith Wong, promoter of the Police, the Go-Gos, the Knack and the Motels at her Madame Wong's clubs in Los Angeles, died at the age of 88.
2005:  Faith Hill scored her third straight #1 album with Fireflies.
2006:  Rapper Lil Wayne was arrested on drug charges in Atlanta, Georgia.
2008:  Jackson Browne sued Republican presidential contender John McCain for using Browne's song "Running On Empty" in a political advertisement without permission.
2008:  Lita Roza (enjoyed a U.K. hit with Patti Page's song "How Much Is That Doggie In The Window?" from 1953) died in Liverpool, Merseyside, England.
2009:  An arrest warrant was issued in Massachusetts for Bobby Brown after he did not appear at a court hearing for child maintenance payments.  Brown had fallen $45,000 behind in payments for two teenage children he had with former girlfriend Kim Ward.

2009:  U2 broke an attendance record at Wembley Stadium as 88,000 came to see the supergroup.  Rod Stewart held the previous venue record for a 1995 concert in which he drew 83,000.
2015:  Bob Johnston, who produced the albums Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme and Sounds of Silence by Simon & Garfunkel, Highway 61 Revisited and Blonde on Blonde for Bob Dylan and On Folsom Prison for Johnny Cash, died in Nashville, Tennessee.  Johnston also produced for Aretha Franklin, the Byrds, Patti Page, and Leonard Cohen, among others.  (Note:  some websites claim Johnston died August 16.  He died August 14, according to 'CNN'.)

Born This Day:

1940:  Dash Crofts of Seals & Crofts was born in Cisco, Texas.

1941:  David Crosby was born in Los Angeles.

1946:  Larry Graham, bassist of Sly & the Family Stone and Graham Central Station, was born in Beaumont, Texas.












1953:  James Horner, who wrote music for over 100 movies, including Beautiful Mind , Avatar, Field of Dreams, The Lady In Red, Patriot Games, Star Trek II:  The Wrath of Khan, Star Trek III:  The Search for Spock, and Aliens just to name a few, was born; died June 22, 2014 in Los Padres National Forest in California when the plane he was piloting crashed.  Horner won the Academy Award for Best Original Song, shared with lyricist Will Jennings, for "My Heart Will Go On", and another Oscar for Original Dramatic Score.
1956:  Sharon Bryant of Atlantic Starr was born in Westchester County, New York.
1966:  Tanya Donelly, singer and guitarist of Throwing Muses, was born in Newport, Rhode Island.
1970:  Kevin Cadogan, guitarist and songwriter for Third Eye Blind, was born in Oakland, California.