1899 - Duke Ellington is born on this day.

1928 - Carl Gardner of the Coastersis born today.

1931 - Lonnie Donegan (”My Old Man’s a Dustpan”) is born.

1942 - Klaus Vroonman of Manfred Mann is born on this day.

1043 - Duane Allen of the Oak Ridge Boys is born.

1947 - Tommy James of the Shondells is born today.

1960 - Phil King of Lush is born.

1967 - Aretha Franklin’s “Respect” is released in the US.

1968 - Carnie Wilson of Wilson Phillips is born on this day.

1972 - The mayor of New York, John Lindsay, made personal appeal to US Immigration Authorities to deport John Lennon and Yoko Ono.

1973 - Mike Hogan of the Cranberries is born today.

1980 - Ronnie James Dio, who replaced Ozzy Osbourne, played his first gig with Black Sabbath.

1988 - Steven Tyler broke his knee at a concert in Anchorage, Alaska delaying the Aerosmith Nine Lives concert tour.

#1 Songs This Week:

1940 - Glenn Miller: “Tuxedo Junction”

1953 - Patti Page: “Doggie in the Window”

1962  - The Shirelles: “Soldier Boy”

1965 - Herman’s Hermits: Mrs. Brown You’ve Got a Lovely Daughter”

1995 - Various: ‘Lion King  (OST),’ UK LP

1974 - Grank Funk: “The Loco-Motion”

1979 - Peaches & Herb: “Reunited”

1980 - Blondi: “Call Me”

1986 - Robert Palmer: “Addicted to Love”

1996 - George Michael: “Fastlove,” UK

2001 - S Club 7: “Don’t Stop,” UK

Tags: this day in rock & roll, This Day in Rock & Roll History, today in rock

1941 - Ann-Margret is born.

1945 - John Wolters of Dr Hook is born on this day.

1953 - Kim Gordon of Sonic Youth is born today.

1968 - Daisy Berkowitz of Marilyn Manson is born.

1968 - Howard Donald of Take That is born on this day.

1968 - The musical ‘Hair’ opened at the Baltimore Theatre in New York.

1980 - Tommy Caldwell of the Marshall Tucker Band died of injuries from a car accident in his hometown of Spartanburg, South Carolina.

1988 - B W Stevenson (”My Maria”) died today after heart surgery.

1990 - Axl Rose of Guns n Roses married Erin Everly, daughter of Don of the Everyly Brothers.  They divorced in January of 1991 after a stormy nine months of marriage.

1999 - Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
#1 Songs This Week:

1958 - David Seville: “Witch Doctor”

1964 - The Beatles: “Can’t Buy Me Love”

1967 - Frank Sinatra & Nancy  Sinatra: “Somethin Stupid”

1972 - Roberta Flack: “The First Ever I Saw Your Face”

1973 - Faces: ‘Ooh La La,’ UK LP

1973 - Pink Floyd: ‘Dark Side of the Moon,’ LP

1978 - Bee Gees: “Night Fever”

1982 - Joan Jett & the Blackhearts: “I Love Rock ’n’ Roll”

1990 - ‘The Very Best of Leo Sayer,’ UK LP

Tags: This Day in Rock & Roll History, this day in rock history, today in rock

1932 - Coundown king Casey Kasem is born today.

1944 - Cuba Gooding of Main Ingredient (”Everybody Loves a Fool”) is born on this day.

1947 - Soul singer Ann Peebles is born today.

1947 - Peter Ham of Badfinger is born.

1948 - Kate Pierson of the B-52’s is born on this day.

1949 - Clive Taylor of Amen Corner is born today.

1949 - Herb Murrell of the Stylistics is born.

1951 - Paul Frehley of Kiss is born on this day.

1959 - Marco Pirroni of Adam and the Ants is born today.

1959 - Sheena Easton is born on this day.

1971 - Jay DeMarcus of Rascal Flatts is born.

1972 - Phil King of Blue Oyster Cult died today.

1979 - Will Boyd of Evanescence is born today.

1981 - Ringo Starr married Barbara Bach.

1984 - Patrick Stump, lead singer of Fall Out Boy is born on this day.

#1 Songs This Week:

1963 - Little Peggy March: “I Will Follow Him”

1967 - Sandie Shaw: “Puppet on a String,” UK

1983 - Michael Jackson: “Beat It”

1985 - USA for Africa: ‘We Are The World,’ LP

1986 - Robert Palmer: “Addicted to Love”

1994 - Chicago: ‘Chicago VII,’ LP

1997 - Depeche Mode: ‘Ultra,’ UK LP

2003 - Madonna: ‘American Life,’ UK LP

2003 - Kelly Clarkson: ‘Thankful,’ LP

1991 - Amy Grant: “Baby Baby”

Tags: this day in rock, this day in rock & roll, today in rock music

1938 - Duane Eddy is born on this day.

1938 - Mauric Williams (& the Zodiacs) is born today.

1942 - Bobby Rydell is born.

1945 - Tony Murray of the Troggs is born on this day.

1960 - Roger Taylor of Duran Duran is born today.

1967 - Cass Elliott of the Mamas and the Papas gave birth to a daughter, Owen Vanessa, in Los Angeles.

1976 - Jose Antonio Pasillos II is born on this day.

1982 - As he was standing outside his $50,000 Porsche on Hollywood Boulevard, Rod Stewart was mugged while he was out shopping for the day.

1997 - Ernest Stewart, keyboard player with KC and the Sunshine Band died of an asthma attack.

2002 - TLC member Lisa Lopes was killed in a car crash in Honduras at the age of 30.

#1 Songs This Week:

1954 - Perry Como: “Wanted”

1960 - Anthony Newley: “Do You Mind,” UK

1962 - Elvis Presley: “Good Luck Charm”

1966 - Dusty Springfield - “You Don’t Have To Say You Love Me,” UK

1969 - ‘Hair’ (Original Cast), LP

1975 - B J Thomas (Hey Won’t You Play) Another Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song”

1980 - Blondie: “Call Me”

1981 - Sheena Easton: “Morning Train (9 to 5)”

1986 - Bryan Freey and Roxy Music: “Street Life - 20 Greatest Hits,’ UK LP

1987 - Cutting Crew: “(I Just) Died in Your Arms”

1995 - Montell Jordan: “This Is How We Do It”

2001 - Janet Jackson: “All For You”

2008 - Leona Lewis: ‘Spirit,’ LP

Tags: This Day in Rock & Roll Music, This Day in Rock and Roll History, today in rock

1918 - Ella Fitzgerald is born on this day.

1933 - Songwriter and producer Jerry Lieber (& Stoller) is born today.

1945 - Bjorn Ulvaeus of Abba is born.

1945 - Stu Cook of Creedence Clearwater Revival is born on this day.

1945 - Michael Kogel of Los Bravos (”Black is Black”) is born on this day.

1946 - Ronnie Gilbert of the Blue Magoos is born.

1950 - Steve Ferrone of the Average White Band is born today.

1965 - Eric Avery of Jane’s Addiction is born.

1970 - Pacific Gas & Electric are shot but unhurt as they leave a concert in North Carolina.

1974 - Jim Morrison’s wife, Pamela, dies of a heroin overdose.

1977 - Elvis Presley made the last recordings of his life at a concert in Saginaw, Michigan.  Three songs appeared on the pothumously released album “Moody Blue.”

1979 - “Rock & Roll High School,” the Ramones movie, opens.

1981 - Wings disband when guitarist Denny Laine quits.

1987 - Doc McGee, Bon Jovi’s manager, was convicted of drug charges from a 1982 seizure of 40,000 pounds of marijuana that had been smuggled from Colombia into North Carolina.

#1 Songs This Week:

1954 - Johnny Ray: “Such a Night,” UK

1956 - Elvis Presley: “Heartbreak Hotel”

1965 - Herman’s Hermits: “Mrs Brown You’ve Got a Lovely Daughter”

1970 - Jackson Five: “ABC”

1976 - The Bellamy Brothers: “Let Your Love Flow”

1987 - Aretha Franklin & George Michael: “I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)”

1987 - Madonna: “La Isla Bonita,” UK

1987 - U2: ‘The Joshua  Tree,’ LP

1989 - Madonna: “Like a Prayer”

1992 - Kriss Kross: “Jump”

1993 - Silk: “Freak Me”

1998 - Next: “Too Close”

Tags: This Day in Rock & Roll History, This Day in Rock and Roll History, today in rock

1933 - Freddie Scott (”Hey Girl”) is born.

1942 - Barbra Streisand is born on this day.

1945 - Doug Clifford of Creedence Clearwater Revival is born today.

1945 - Robert Knight (”Love on a Mountain Top”) is born.

1947 - Glenn Cornick of Jethro Tull is born on this day.

1948 - Steve York of Manfred Mann is born.

1958 - Boris Williams of the Cure is born on this day.

1961 - Bob Dylan was paid $50 for his first recording job.  He played harmonica on  the “Calypso King” track of Harry Belafonte’s ‘Midnight Special’ album.

1963 - Billy Gould of Faith No More is born today.

1968 - Aaron Comess of the Spin Doctors is born.

1963 - 18-year old Brenda Lee marries her husband Ronnie.  They are still married after 46 years.

1968 - The Beatles new record company Apple Records turned down the opportunity to sign a new artist named David Bowie.

1970 - Grace Slick is inadverently invited to Tricia Nixon’s White House party.  She and her escort Abby Hoffman were turned away by guards and told to leave.

1974 - Brian Marshall of Creed is born on this day.

1979 - “Georgia on My Mind” by Ray Charles was declared the state song of Georgia.

1982 - American Idol Kelly Clarkson is born today.

1992 - Wilson Pickett was arrested after running into an 86-year old man and yelling death threats while driving his car across the mayor’s front lawn in Englewood, New Jersey. He was charged with driving with open bottles of alcohol in his car.

#1 Songs This Week:

1950 - Anton Karas: “The Third Man Theme”

1955 - Perez Prado: “Cherry Pink and Apple Blossom White,”

1959 - Buddy Holly:”It Doesn’t Matter Anymore,” UK

1965 - Wayne Fontana & the Mindbenders: “Game of Love”

1966 - The Young Rascals: “Good Lovin”

1968 - Louis Armstrong:”What A Wonderful World/Cabaret,” UK

1971 - Crosby Stills Nash & Young: ‘4 Way Street,’ LP

1971 - Three Dog Night: “Joy to the World”

1974 - MFSB & The Three Degress: “The Sound of Philadelphia”

1976 - Led Zeppelin: ‘Presence,’ UK LP

1976 - Paul MCCartney & Wings: ‘Wings at the Speed of Sound,’ LP

1977 - Glenn Campbell: “Southern Nights”

1978 - Bee Gees: “Night Fever”

1982 - Paul McCartney & Stevie Wonder: “Ebony and Ivory,” UK

1988 - Whitney Houston: “Where Do Broken Hearts Go”

Tags: This Day in Rock & Roll History, this day in rock and roll, today in rock

1936 - Singer/songwriter Roy Orbison is born on this day.

1939 - Ray Peterson  (”Tell Laura I Love Her”) is born today.

1940 - Dale Houston of Dale & Grace (”I’m Leaving It All Up To You”) is born.

1956 - Elvis Presley played the first night of a two-week engagement at the Frontier Hotel in Las Vegas.  He was met with a cool reception as he was not the regular Las Vegas act type.

1960 - Steve Clark of Def Leppard is born.

1963 - Jan & Dean record “Surf City.”

1964 - Simon Matthews of Jesus Jones is born on this day.

1968 - Stan Frazier of Sugar Ray is born today.

1974 - Cass Elliott of the Mamas & the Papas collapses before a scheduled performance on the NBC “Tonight Show.”

1975 - Peter Ham of Badfinger committed suicide by hanging himself in the garage of his Surrey, England home.

1987 - Carole King sued record company owner Lou Adler for breah of contract saying she was owed over $400,000 in royalties. She also asked for the rights to all her old recordings.

#1 Songs This Week:

1964 - Peter and Gordon: “World Without Love,” UK

1969 - Beatles: “Get Back,” UK

1977 - Thelma Houston: “Don’t Leave Me This Way”

1979 - Blondie: “Heart of Glass”

1988 - Iron Maiden: ‘Seventh Son of a Seventh Son,’ UK LP

1994 - Prince: “The Most Beautiful Girl in the World,” UK

Tags: this day in rock, This Day in Rock & Roll History, today in rock history

1922 - Jazz great Charlie Mingus is born on this day.

1936 - Singer/songwriter Glen Campbell is born today.

1943 - Mel Carter (Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me”) is born on this day.

1948 - Larry Groce (”Junk Food Junkie” is born today.

1950 - Peter F rampton is born.

1951 - Paull Carrack of Ace is born on this day.

1963 - Allen Lewis, Jerry Lee Lewis’ 3-year-old son drowns.

1969 - John Lennon officially changes his middle name from Winston to Ono in a ceremony on the rooftop of the Apple Building.

1978 - John Bellushi and Dan Akroyd made their first appearance as the Blues Brothers on Saturday night live. 

1981 - Eric Clapton is hospitalized with injuries from a auto accident.

1993 - The Who’s ‘Tommy’ opened on Broadway at the St James Theatre.

#1 Songs This Week:

1958 - David Seville: “Witch Doctor”

1961 - Del Shannon: “Runaway”

1963 - Little Peggy March: “I Will Follow Him”

1969 - The Fifth Dimension: “Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In”

1970 - Jackson Five: “ABC”

1972 - Deep Purple: ‘Machine Head,’ UK LP

1976 - Johnny Taylor: “Disco Lady”

1980 - Blondie: “Call Me”

1983 - Dexy’s Midnight Runners: “Come On Eileen”

1989 - Madonna: “Like a Prayer”

1991 - Amy Grant: “Baby Baby”

1994 - R Kelly: “Bump n Grind”

2001 - Destiny’s Child: “Survivor,” UK

Tags: This Day in Rock & Roll History, this day in rock and roll, today in rock

1939 - Ernie Maresca who brought us “Shout Shout Knock Yourself Out” is born on this day.

1947 - Alan Wagner of the Foundations (”Build Me Up Buttercup”) is born on this day.

1947 - James Osterberg better known as Iggy Pop is born today.

1959 - Johnny Mathis records “Misty.”

1961 - The world’s first Country Music Fest is held in the 13,000 seat coliseum in Jacksonvile Florida.  It featured Faron Young and Earl Scruggs.

1982 - Joe Strummer of Clash disappeared resulting in the group’s cancellation of a tour.  He as found three weeks later living in Paris, France.

2000 - Neal Matthews of the Jordanaires died of a heart attack.

2001 - Peter Buck of R.E.M. was charged by police at Heathrow Airport with being drunk and assaulting British Airways crew.

#1 Songs This Week:

1962 - Elvis Presley: “Good Luck Charm”

1965 - Beatles: “Ticket to Ride,” UK

1973 - Alice Cooper: ‘Billion Dollar Babies,’ LP

1973 - Tony Orlando & Dawn: “Tie A Yellow Ribbon”

1979 - Amii Stewart: “Knock on Wood”

1983 - David Bowie: ‘Let’s Dance,’ UK LP

1984 - Phil Collins: “Them From Against All Odds”

1984 - ‘Footloose,’ OST LP

1990 - Fleetwood Mac: ‘Behind the Mask,’ UK LP

1990 - Sinead O’Connor: “Nothing Compares to You”

1990 - Sinead O’Connor: ‘I Do Not Want What I Have Not Got,’ LP

Tags: This Day in Rock & Roll History, this day in rock and roll, today in rock