January 23 – Today in Music History
1938 Eugene Church (lead singer of the Fellows) is born in St. Louis, Missouri. Known for the 1958 R&B hit “Pretty Girls Everywhere.”
1940 Pop singer Joe Dowell is born in Bloomington, Indiana, but grows up in Bloomington, Illinois.He died on February 4, 2016 in Bloomington, Illinois, after suffering a heart attack in the prior weekend. He was 76.[
1944 Jerry Lawson borm in Ft Lauderdale, Florida.Lead singer, producer, musical arranger, performer, best known as the original lead singer of The Persuasions. a-cappella group, worked with Joni Mitchell, Stevie Wonder, Don McLean.
1948 Anita Pointer born in Oakland, California. US singer with the group of sisters, The Pointer Sisters, (1981 US No.2 single, ‘Slow Hand’, 1984 UK No.2 single ‘Automatic’).
1949 Glenn Wheatley born in Nambour, Queensland. Bass guitarist with the Masters Apprentices. He was instrumental in re-launcing John Farnham’s career in the late 80’s. He aslo managed L.R.B. & Delta Goodrem.
1950 Danny Federici born in Flemington, New Jersey. American musician, best known as the organ, glockenspiel, and accordion player and a founding member for Bruce Springsteen’s E Street Band. In 2014, Federici was posthumously inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of the E Street Band.(1984 US No.2 & 1985 UK No.4 single ‘Dancing In The Dark’). Federici died on April 17, 2008 at the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York City, having suffered for three years with melanoma. Springsteen’s album, Working on a Dream, is dedicated to him.
1950 Patrick Simmons born in San Jose, California. Guitarist/Vocalist with US Band The Doobie Brothers, (1979, US No.1 single ‘What A Fool Believes’, 1993 UK No.7 single ‘Long Train Runnin’).
1950 Bill Cunningham born in Memphis, Tennessee. US Bass Player with the Box tops, formed in 1967. Billy left them in 1969. (1967 US No.1 & UK No.5 single ‘The Letter’).
1953 Robin Zander born in Rockford, IIIinois. Lead Vocalist with Cheap Trick, (1979 UK No.29 & US No.17 single ‘I Want You To Want Me’, 1988 US No.1 single ‘The Flame’).
1954 Richard Finch born in Indianapolis, Indiana. American composer, producer, engineer, and song arranger. He is best known as the co-founder, producer and former bass guitar player of KC and the Sunshine Band. Along with Harry Wayne Casey, he co-wrote six No. 1 Billboard Hot 100 hits.
1955 Reggie Calloway (of the R&B duo Calloway) is born in Cincinnati, Ohio.
1956 Rock ‘n’ Roll fans in Cleveland aged under 18 were banned from dancing in public (unless accompanied by an adult), after Ohio Police introduced a law dating back to 1931.
1957 Bill Haley & his Comets attend the Australian premiere of their movie Don’t Knock The Rock while on tour there.
1959 Earl Falconer born in Birmingham,England. UK Bass Player with UB40, (1983 UK No.1 & US 1988 US No.1 single ‘Red Red Wine’ and over 30 other Top 40 hits).
1961 “Angel Baby” by Rosie & The Originals peaked at #5 on the US singles chart.
1961 “Exodus” by Ferrante & Teicher peaked at #2 on the US singles chart.
1962 Tony Bennett records “I Left My Heart in San Francisco.”
1964 The Temptations release “The Way You Do The Things You Do.”
1965 Downtown’ made Petula Clark the first UK female singer to have a No.1 on the US singles chart since Vera Lynn in 1952. The song was also a No.2 hit in the UK.
1966 Stevie Wonder appeared at The Cavern Club, Liverpool, England.
1967 Pink Floyd spent the first of three days recording the Syd Barrett songs Arnold Layne and Candy And A Current Bun at Sound Techniques Studios, Chelsea, London. According to Roger Waters, Arnold Layne was based on a real person – a transvestite whose primary pastime was stealing women’s clothes and undergarments from washing lines in Cambridge.
1969 Elvis Presley recorded ‘Suspicious Minds’ It Made No.1 in the America & Australia. No.2 in the UK.
1969 Working at Apple studios in London, The Beatles (with Billy Preston on keyboards) recorded ten takes of a new song called ‘Get Back’.
1970 Folk singer Judy Collins is denied permission by the court to sing as part of her testimony at the trial of the Chicago Seven; others denied the same privilege are Pete Seeger, Phil Ochs, Arlo Guthrie and Country Joe McDonald.
1971 “It’s Impossible” by Perry Como peaked at #10 on the US singles chart.
1971 Steel Mill played their final show when they appeared at the Upstage Club, Asbury Park, New Jersey. Singer Bruce Springsteen formed new bands during the rest of the year known under such names as the Bruce Springsteen Jam, Dr. Zoom and the Sonic Boom, and finally the Bruce Springsteen Band.
1971 George Harrison became the first solo Beatle to have a No.1 when ‘My Sweet Lord’ went to the top of the UK single charts. The song from his ‘All Things Must Pass’ album stayed at No.1 for five weeks. The track returned to the top of the UK charts in 2002, following his death.
1971 Dawn started a three week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with ‘Knock Three Times’, the group’s first No.1, which was also an UK No.1.
1971 “Your Song” by Elton John peaked at #8 on the US singles chart.
1974 Sampsa Astala born in Vantaa, Finland) is the lead singer of the glam rock band Stala & So. and the former drummer for the Finnish metal band Lordi. His former stage name, that he used in his time in Lordi, Kita, comes from the Finnish word meaning “jaws”, “gap”, or “maw”. His current stage name, Stala, comes from his own surname, Astala.
1974 Alvin Stardust made his first live appearance since changing his name from Shane Fenton.
1975 Nick Harmer born in Landstuhl, Germany. Bass guitarist with Death Cab for Cutie who scored the 2008 US No.1 album ‘Narrow Stairs’.
1976 C.W. McCall performed his novelty hit “Convoy” on NBC-TV’s Midnight Special.
1976 “Face The Music” album by Electric Light Orchestra was certified Gold by the RIAA. Including “Evil Woman” & “Strange Magic”.
1976 The Sex Pistols played at Watford College, Watford, England. The first of 65 gigs for band in 1976.
1977 Patti Smith broke her vertebra when she fell off the stage at a gig in Tampa, Florida.
1977 Carole King’s album, Tapestry, became the longest-running album to hit the charts, as it reached its 302nd week on the US Album List. Pink Floyd’s “Dark Side of the Moon” surpassed it in 1980.
1978 Terry Kath, guitarist with Chicago accidentally shot himself dead while cleaning (with what he believed) was an unloaded gun. Kath’s last words were “Don’t worry it’s not loaded” as he put the gun to his head and pulled the trigger. The guitarist and singer was killed instantly.
1978 Vic Ames – US Singer with the Ames Brothers (Died in a car accident on this this day). Born on 20th May, 1926.
1978 “Blue Bayou” single by Linda Ronstadt was certified Gold by the RIAA
1979 “Toto” album by Toto was certified Platinum by the RIAA. Including ‘Hold The Line’, ‘Georgy Peorgy’ & ‘I’ll Supply The Love’.
1979 “Instant Replay” single by Dan Hartman was certified Gold by the RIAA
1979 “September” single by Earth, Wind & Fire was certified Gold by the RIAA
1980 Appearing at the Liverpool Philharmonic, England, Marvin Gaye, with Edwin Starr as support.
1980 Carole King’s landmark album, “Tapestry”, became the longest-running album ever to hit the charts, as it reached its 302nd week on the album lists.
1982 Hall and Oates recieved their first platinum record for their album, “Private Eyes.” Also including “I Can’t Go for That (No Can Do)”.Also including Its predecessor, “Voices,” went platinum in its wake.
1982 “Leather And Lace” by Stevie Nicks & Don Henley peaked at #6 on the US singles chart.
1982 “Someone Could Lose A Heart Tonight” by Eddie Rabbitt peaked at #15 on the US singles chart.
1984 “In Heat” album by Romantics, The was certified Gold by the RIAA. Including ‘Talking In Your Sleep’.
1985 “Like A Virgin” album by Madonna was certified Gold, Platinum, and Multi Platinum 2.00 by the RIAA
1986 the first annual induction ceremony for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is held in New York. Among those inducted are Chuck Berry, James Brown, Ray Charles, Fats Domino, the Everly Brothers, Buddy Holly, Jerry Lee Lewis and Elvis Presley.
1986 Ray Charles was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame at the first induction dinner, held in New York City.
1988 “Tell It To My Heart” by Taylor Dayne peaked at #7 on the US singles chart.
1988 “Crazy” by Icehouse peaked at #14 on the US singles chart.
1988 Johnny Hates Jazz went to No.1 on the UK album chart with their debut LP ‘Turn Back The Clock’.
1988 Michael Jackson went to No.1 on the US singles chart with ‘The Way You Make Me Feel’ which was also a No.3 hit in the UK.
1988 Tiffany started a two-week run at No.1 on the US album chart with Tiffany.
1988 Johnny Hates Jazz went to No.1 on the UK album chart with their debut LP ‘Turn Back The Clock’.
1988 “Candle In The Wind” by Elton John peaked at #6 on the US singles chart.
1988 Nirvana recorded a 10-song demo with Seattle producer Jack Endino. Sub Pop records boss Jonathan Poneman hears the tape and offers to put out a Nirvana single.
1989 “Baby I Love Your Way” single by Will To Power was certified Gold by the RIAA
1990 Allen Collins guitarist from Lynyrd Skynyrd died of pneumonia after being ill for several months. Collins who was one of the founding members also co-wrote most of the band’s songs (including Free Bird), with late front man Ronnie Van Zant. He survived a plane crash in 1977 that killed two other band members. Collins was behind the wheel in a car accident in 1986 that killed his girlfriend and left him paralyzed from the waist down. He later pleaded no contest to vehicular manslaughter as well as driving under the influence of alcohol.
1990 Allen Collins guitarist from Lynyrd Skynyrd died of pneumonia after being ill for several months. Collins who was one of the founding members also co-wrote most of the band’s songs (including Free Bird), with late front man Ronnie Van Zant. He survived a plane crash in 1977 that killed two other band members. Collins was behind the wheel in a car accident in 1986 that killed his girlfriend and left him paralyzed from the waist down. He later pleaded no contest to vehicular manslaughter as well as driving under the influence of alcohol.
1990 David Bowie announced his forthcoming and final world tour, ‘Sound And Vision’ 1990, during which he will invite each local audience to decide on a ‘greatest hits’ running order, organised through local radio stations.
1991 John Sebastian, owner and general manager of KLSK FM in Albuquerque, New Mexico, played Led Zeppelins ‘Stairway To Heaven’ for twenty-four solid hours to inaugurate a format change to Classic Rock. Police showed up with guns drawn: once after a listener reported that the DJ had apparently suffered a heart attack, and later because of suspicion that, this being eight days into the Gulf War, the radio station had been taken hostage by terrorists dispatched by Zeppelin freak Saddam Hussein.
1993 Genesis went to No.1 on the UK album chart with ‘Live-The Way We Walk Volume II’.
1994 Take That went to No.1 on the UK album chart with ‘Everything Changes’.
1994 Rage Against The Machine headlined the Rock For Choice benefit at The Palladium, Hollywood, California. Also appearing: Screaming Trees, Eddie Vedder, Mary’s Danish, 7 Year Bitch and Green Apple Quick Step.
1995 Mreal McCoy & M.C. Sar went to No.1 in the Australian Singles Chart with ‘Another Night’. Staying at the top spot for 8wks.
1997 Associates Singer with The Associates, Billy MacKenzie committed suicide, aged 39.
1997 Richard Berry, the rhythm and blues pioneer whose song “Louie Louie” launched a generation of garage bands and provoked a federal obscenity probe, dies at the age of 61.
1998 US soul singer Johnny Funches from The Dells died. Had the 1956 hit ‘Oh What a Night’ and 1968 US No.10 single ‘Stay In My Corner’. The Dells formed in 1952 after all attending high school together.
1999 Eagle-Eye Cherry’s debut single, “Save Tonight,” peaks at #5 on the Hot 100.
2000 Britney Spears went to No.1 on the UK singles chart with ‘Born To Make You Happy’, the singers second UK No.1 and fourth single from her debut album Baby One More Time.
2000 Santana started a three week run at No.1 on the US album chart with ‘Supernatural’, the album which went on to win eight Grammy awards spent a total of nine weeks at No.1 during this year.
2001 An English coroner criticised the rap singer Eminem’s lyrics as depressing during an inquest into the death of a schoolboy who threw himself in front of a train. The 17-year old boy had printed out the lyrics to Eminem’s track ‘Rock Bottom’ before his death.
2001 Mark Oliver was found guilty by a London court of stealing luggage belonging to Victoria Beckham from Heathrow Airport. Police issued a list of the £23,000 worth of clothes, which included 14 pairs of shoes, and a mini- skirt worth £2,000.
2003 R Kelly was arrested on new child pornography charges. The singer was detained in Miami after police said digital sex pictures were discovered at his home in Florida last June. The singer was already facing 21 charges relating to producing child pornography and appearing in a video having sex with an underage girl. He was charged with a further 12 counts of possession of child pornography.
2005 One of the biggest charity concerts since Live Aid raised £1.25 million ($2 million) for victims of the tsunami disaster in Asia. The concert held at The Millennium Stadium, Cardiff featured Eric Clapton, Manic Street Preachers, Keane, Charlotte Church, Snow Patrol, Embrace, Feeder, Craig David and Liberty X, who appeared before 60,000 fans at the sold-out concert.
2005 Former Happy Mondays dancer Bez, won the £50,000 Celebrity Big Brother prize, after gaining 54% of the final viewer vote. The “Madchester” pop legend danced his way to becoming the sixth member of the indie-dance band in the late-1980s after playing maracas with them.
2010 Powered by the single “TiK ToK,” Kesha’s debut album, Animal, hits #1.
2014 Justin Bieber was arrested after racing his yellow Lamborghini against another sports car on a Miami Beach street. Police said the singer did not co-operate when pulled over also charged him with resisting arrest without violence and having an expired driving licence. The 19-year-old singer was granted bail set at $2,500 (£1,500).
2015 Pop singer Mandy Moore and alt rocker Ryan Adams announce their split after nearly six years of marriage, with Moore filing the divorce proceedings.
2016 Scottish musician Jimmy Bain died aged 68 while in his cabin on Def Leppard’s “Hysteria on the High Seas” cruise. The cause of death was determined to be lung cancer. Bain was best known for playing bass guitar in the bands Rainbow and Dio, he also worked with Thin Lizzy frontman Phil Lynott, co-writing on his solo albums as well as Ian Hunter, Gary Moore and John Cale.
2017 African-American soul and R&B singer, songwriter and record producer Bobby Freeman died of natural causes aged 76. He scored the 1958 US & UK No.5 single ‘Do You Want To Dance’. The song has been covered (as ‘Do You Wanna Dance’) by Del Shannon, The Beach Boys, Johnny Rivers, Bette Midler, John Lennon, Cliff Richard, Marc Bolan & T.Rex, the Mamas & The Papas and the Ramones.
2018 Trumpet player Hugh Masekela, one of the most popular musicians in his native South Africa, dies at 78 after a battle with prostate cancer. In 1968, he had a #1 US hit with “Grazing In The Grass.”