The number one single today in 1956 was this artist’s first, but certainly not last:
The number one single today in 1962:
I’m unaware of whether the soundtrack of “West Side Story” got any radio airplay, but since I played it in both the La Follette and UW marching bands, I note that today in 1962 the soundtrack hit number one and stayed there for 54 weeks:
Today in 1957, Alan Freed hosted the first prime-time rock and roll TV show — called, in a blast of original inspiration, “Rock ‘n Roll Show”:
The number one single today in 1961:
The number one single today in 1967:
Today in 1970, Ohio National Guard soldiers shot and killed four Kent State University students, prompting this song:
Today is the 52nd anniversary of what I used to consider the greatest radio station on the planet in its best format:
The number one single today in 1965:
Today in 1970, the Jimi Hendrix Experience played the first of its 13-show U.S. tour at the Milwaukee Auditorium:
The number one single today in 1960:
The number one British album today in 1966 was the Rolling Stones’ “Aftermath”:
The number one single today in 1966:
Today in 1970, Twiggs Lyndon, the road manager of the Allman Brothers Band, was arrested for murder following the fatal stabbing of a club manager during an argument over a contract.
At the murder trial, Lyndon’s attorneys claimed temporary insanity, saying that touring with the Allman Brothers would make anyone insane.
Lyndon was acquitted.
The number one single today in 1977:
The number one single today in 1983:
Today in 2005, the Dave Matthews Band paid $200,000 to settle a lawsuit brought by a group of tourists on a Chicago River boat tour, after the driver of the band’s bus unloaded its waste tank onto the boat.
Birthdays begin with Johnny Horton:
Willie Nelson:
Don’t fall asleep listening to Santo and Johnny, because Johnny Farina’s birthday is today:
Robert Velline, better known as Bobby Vee, whose career began upon Buddy Holly’s death:
Wayne Kramer of MC5:
Chris Henderson played guitar for 3 Doors Down:
Two deaths of note today: McKinley Morganfield, better known as Muddy Waters, in 1983 …
… and Darrell Sweet, drummer for Nazareth, before a show in New Albany, Ind., in 1999:
Today in 1976, after a concert in Memphis, Bruce Springsteen scaled the walls of Graceland … where he was arrested by a security guard.
Today in 2003, a $5 million lawsuit filed by a personal injury lawyer against John Fogerty was dismissed.
The lawyer claimed he suffered hearing loss at a 1997 Fogerty concert.
The judge ruled the lawyer assumed the risk of hearing loss by attending the concert. The lawyer replied, “What?”
Birthdays start with Jean “Toots” Thielemans, whose harmonica skills got noticed by Mr. William Joel:
Carl Gardner sang for the Coasters:
Who is Carol LoTempo? You may have known her as April Stevens:
Manfred Mann bassist Klaus Voorman:
Tommy James of the Shondells, whose dog Sam ate purple flowers:
Those of us from the ’80s may not know the name of Debora Iyall, until the words “Romeo Void” are mentioned:
One death of note today in 1990: Floyd Butler of the Friends of Distinction:
Today in 1968, “Hair: The American Tribal Love-Rock Musical,” opened on Broadway.
“Hair” closed in 1972 after 1,729 performances.
The number one album today in 1973 would be on the charts for 741 weeks:
The number one single today in 1979:
Today in 1982, the California State Assembly consumer protection committee heard testimony that if you play Led Zeppelin’s “Stairway to Heaven” backwards, you hear “I sing because I live with Satan. The Lord turns me off, there’s no escaping it. Here’s to my sweet Satan, whose power is Satan. He will give you 666. I live for Satan.”
Can anyone with auditory dyslexia confirm this?
Birthdays begin with John Wolters, drummer for Dr. Hook:
Eddie Jobson played keyboards and violin for Roxy Music:
Two deaths of note from car crashes today: Tommy Caldwell, bass player for the Marshall Tucker Band, in 1980 …
… and Steve Currie of T. Rex in 1981:
The number one single today in 1963 was recorded by a 15-year-old, the youngest number one singer to date:
The number one British single today in 1967 was that year’s Eurovision song contest winner:
The number one single today in 1985:
The number one single today in 1991:
Birthdays begin with DJ, “American Top 40” host and the voice of Shaggy, Casey Kasem:
Jerry Mercer, drummer for April Wine:
Cuba Gooding (Sr.) of the Main Ingredient:
Ann Peebles:
Kate Pierson of the B-52s:
Herb Murrell of the Stylistics:
Paul “Ace” Frehley of Kiss:
Adam and the Ants guitarist Marco Pirroni (which I guess makes him either an Italian beer or one of the Ants) …
… was born the same day as Shirley Orr, who you knew as Sheena Easton:
Will Boyd played bass for Evanescence:
One death of note today in 2000: One-hit-wonder Vicki Sue Robinson:
Imagine having tickets to today’s 1964 NME winner’s poll concert at Wembley Empire Pool in London:
The number one British single today in 1966:
The number one album today in 1969 was the soundtrack to the musical “Hair: The American Tribal Love-Rock Musical,” better known as “Hair”:
The number one British single today in 1980:
The number one British album today in 1982 was Bryan Ferry and Roxy Music’s “Street Life — 20 Greatest Hits”:
Birthdays begin with guitarist Duane Eddy:
Maurice Williams, whose Zodiacs asked you to:
Composer Giorgio Moroder was all over the mid-’70s to early ’80s:
Bobby Rydell:
Given how proficient Moroder was with synthesizers, he should have worked at some point with Gary Wright:
Stevie Nicks:
One death of note today in 1997: Ernest Stewart, keyboard player for KC and the Sunshine Band:
Steve Prestegard.com: The Presteblog 