The number one album today in 1980 was Billy Joel’s “Glass Houses”:
Birthdays start with a pioneer in the transition from blues to rock and roll, Screamin’ Jay Hawkins:
Dion DiMucci, better known by his first name:
Lonnie Mack:
Martha Reeves, who led the Vandellas (and is this first song appropriate today):
Danny McCullock of the Animals:
Cesar Zuiderwijk, drummer for Golden Earring:
Phil Harris, drummer for one-hit-wonder Ace:
Two Beatles anniversaries of note today: The movie “Yellow Submarine” premiered in London …
… six years before John Lennon was ordered to leave the U.S. within 60 days. (He didn’t.)
Birthdays today start with pianist Vince Guaraldi. Who? The creator of the Charlie Brown theme (correct name: “Linus and Lucy”):
Today is also the birthday of Johann Sebastian Bach’s illegitimate brother, P.D.Q. Bach. Actually, it’s the birthday of Peter Schickele, whose P.D.Q. Bach performance was one of the first, and most hysterical, live performances I’ve ever seen:
One of the lesser known members of the Spencer Davis Group: Spencer Davis:
Brian Glascock, drummer for the Motels:
Mike Vale, bass player for Tommy James and the Shondells …
… was born the same day as two members of Black Sabbath: bass player Mike Vale and drummer Mick Tucker:
Nicolette Larson, former girlfriend of Neil Young (who wrote her biggest song) …
… was born the same day as Phoebe Snow:
Bruce Crump, drummer for Molly Hatchet:
Two before-their-time deaths happened today: Jazz singer Billie Holliday at 44 in 1959 …
… and saxophone player John Coltraine in 1967:
This is a slow day in rock music, save for one particular birthday and one death.
It’s not Tony Jackson of the Searchers …
… or Tom Boggs, drummer for the Box Tops …
… or Alan Fitzgerald, keyboardist and singer for Night Ranger:
It’s Stewart Copeland, drummer for The Police …
… as well as the musical director for the CBS-TV series “The Equalizer” …
… and the writer of the theme of the ’80s movie “Rumble Fish”:
The Police were icons in the ’80s. A group of similar stature in the ’70s was Styx, whose first drummer, John Panozzo, died today in 1996:
Today in 1963, Paul McCartney was fined 17 pounds for speeding. I’d suggest that that may have been the inspiration for his Wings song “Hell on Wheels,” except that the correct title is actually “Helen Wheels,” supposedly a song about his Land Rover:
Today in 1984, John Lennon released “I’m Stepping Out.” The fact that Lennon stepped out of planet Earth at the hands of assassin Mark David Chapman 3½ years before this song was released was immaterial.
Birthdays today start with David Pack of Ambrosia:
Guitarist Jeff Carlisi of .38 Special:
Guitarist Joe Satriani:
Today in 1967, the Who opened the U.S. tour of … Herman’s Hermits.
Today in 1986, Paul McCartney released his “Press” album:
Other than Woody Guthrie, who was not a member of the rock or pop music worlds, the only birthday of today is Jos Zoomer, drummer for Vandenberg:
Today in 1984, Philippe Wynne, former member of the Spinners, died of a heart attack while performing in Oakland:
So let’s check out coverland:
The short list of birthdays begins with Roger McGuinn of the Byrds:
Stephen Jo Bladd was the drummer for the J. Geils Band:
Mark “Animal” Mendoza of Twisted Sister:
Bobby Rock was the drummer for Nelson:
Today is the anniversary of the Rolling Stones’ first public performance, at the Marquee Club in London in 1962. They were known then as the “Rollin’ Stones,” and they had not recorded a song yet.
If you’re going to record just one song that gets on the charts, ending at number one would be preferable, whether in 1969, or in the year 2525:
Birthdays start with Christine McVie of Fleetwood Mac:
John Wetton played bass for Asia and King Crimson:
Eric Carr replaced Peter Criss on drums for Kiss:
Phil Kramer of Iron Butterfly:
Robin Wilson of the Gin Blossoms:
Today in 1969, David Bowie released “Space Oddity” …
… and the Rolling Stones released “Honky Tonk Woman”:
Today in 1987, Heart’s “Alone” was alone at number one, where it stayed for three weeks:
Birthdays begin with Thurston Harris, who did one of the versions of …
Bonnie Pointer is one of the Pointer sisters, but she was only briefly one of the Pointer Sisters:
Richie Sambora of Bon Jovi:
Suzanne Vega:
Two anniversaries today in 1965: The Beatles’ “Beatles VI” reached number I, where it stayed for VI weeks …
… while the Rolling Stones’ “Satisfaction” was their first number one single:
Who is Ronald James Padavona? You know him better as Ronnie James Dio, whose death in 2010 ended a career of remarkable breadth:
Willie Ford of the Dramatics:
Rik “The Rocket” Emmett of Triumph was born …
… one year before Neil Tennant, one of the Pet Shop Boys:
Today in 1955, “Rock Around the Clock” was played around the clock because it hit number one:
One year later, Dick Clark made his first appearance on ABC-TV’s “American Bandstand”:
Today in 1972, Paul McCartney and Wings began their first tour of France:
Birthdays begin with Ronald Belford. Who, you ask? Bon Scott of AC/DC:
Debbie Sledge was one of the Sister(s) Sledge:
Peter Marc Almond sang for Soft Cell:
Jim Kerr led Simple Minds and was married to Chrissie Hynde of the Pretenders:
Steve Prestegard.com: The Presteblog 