Category: Music

Birthdays start with the indescribable George Clinton of Parliament Funkadelic:

Rick Davies played keyboards for Supertramp:

Estelle Bennett was the older sister of Ronnie Spector, and both were part of the Ronettes:

Don Henley of the Eagles:

It figures after yesterday’s encyclopedia of music knowledge that there are no interesting moments in rock history today and only three birthdays of note: Larry Tolbert, drummer of Raydio …

… Taco Ocheriski, an ’80s one-hit wonder …

… and Yusaf Islam, formerly known as Cat Stevens:

(Stevens, or Islam, either put himself in the Foot in Mouth Hall of Shame or revealed the cancer within his own soul when he approved of the fatwa an imam put on author Salman Rushdie for daring to write The Satanic Verses. Some radio stations refused to play Stevens’ music after that. I thought that was a poor decision at the time; my suggestion was to play Cat Stevens songs, followed immediately by a record from another Stevens — Ray’s “Ahab the Arab.” Needless to say, that would not fly today.)

So here’s another in our series of same-song-by-different-artists:

Today in 1968, Iron Butterfly’s “In-a-Gadda-da-Vita” reached the  charts. It is said to be the first heavy metal song to chart. It charted at number 117.

At the other end of the charts was South African trumpeter Hugh Masekela:

Quite a selection of birthdays today, starting with T.G. Sheppard:

John Lodge, bassist for the Moody Blues:

Kim Carnes:

The incomparable Carlos Santana:

Jay Jay French of Twisted Sister:

Michael Anthony of Van Halen:

David Bowie might remember today for two reasons. In 1974, his “Diamond Dog” tour ended in New York City …

… six years before he appeared in Denver as the title character of “The Elephant Man.”

As far as I know, Deep Purple never performed Greg Kihn’s “The Breakup Song.” They could have, though, because today in 1976, they broke up.

Birthdays start with George Frayne. You might know him better as Commander Cody:

Alan Gorrie of the Average White Band:

Bernie Leadon, part of the first lineup of the Eagles …

… was born the same day as Brian May of Queen:

Keith Godchaux played keyboards for the Grateful Dead:

Allen Collins played guitar for Lynyrd Skynyrd and the Rossington–Collins Band:

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: