1929 - Johnny Ace (”Pledging My Love”) is born today.

1935 - Leonard Lee of Shirley and Lee (”Let the Good Times Roll”) is born.

1945 - Little Eva is born on this day.  She was babysitting for Carole King when she and Gerry Goffen asked her to sing a song they had written together.  The result: the 1962 #1 song “Loco-Motion.”

1947 - Carolo Santanna of Paper Lace is born today.

1948 - Derv and Lincoln Gordon of The Equals (1968, “Baby Come Back”) are born.

1948 - Ian Paice of Deep Purple is born on this day.

1953 - Colin Hay of Men at Work is born today.

1954 - Billy Hinsche of Dino, Desi and Billy is born on this day.

1956 - Johnny Ray records “Just Walkin in the Rain.”

1957 - Buddy Holly records “Peggy Sue.”

1965 - Charlie Watts of the Rolling Stones bought the house that once belonged to the Archbishop of Canterbury.

1966 - Neil Diamond makes his TV debut on “American Bandstand.”

1967 - Keith Richards was found guilty of allowing the smoking of marijuan in his house.  He was fined and sentenced to 1-year in jail.  Mick Jagger was also fined and sentenced to 3 months in jail on drug charges.  The two were released on bond the following day.

1967 - Graham Nash writes “The Marrakesh Express” in Yukoslavia while on tour with the Hollies.  He later records it with Crosby, Still & Nash.

1979 - Tim McCord of Evanescence is born on this day.

1995 - Ringo Starr and the Monkees’ Pizz Hut TV commercial debuts.

1997 - German pianist Horst Jankowski (”A Walk in the Black Forest”) died of cancer today.

1999 - Michael Jackson suffered severe bruising when a bridge collapsed and he fell over 50 feet. He was performing on stage in Munich Olympic Stadium and singing “Earth Song” at the time of the collapse.

1999 - Leif Garrett is arrested in Los Angeles for drug possession.

2000 - Eight men were trampled to death at the Rothskilde Festival near Copenhagen.  Police said the victims fell and/or slipped in the mud in front of the stage.

2002 - Rosemary Clooney died of lung cancer today.

#1 Songs This Week:

1952 - Percy Faith: “Delicado”

1961 - Gary US Bonds: “Quarter to Three”

1961 - Del Shannon: “Runaway,” UK

1966 - Frank Sinatra: “Strangers in the Night”

1968 - Small Faces: ‘A Small Nut Gone Flake,’ UK LP

1971 - Carole King: “It’s Too Late/I Feel the Earth Move”

1974 - Gordon Lightfoot: “Sundown”

1978 - Andy Gibb: “Shadow Dancing”

1981 - Kim Carnes: “Bette Davis Eyes”

1986 - Billy Ocean: “There’ll Be Sad Songs (To Make You Cry)”

1988 - Michael: “Dirty Diana”

1991 - Cher: ‘Love Hurts,’ UK LP

1991 - Jason Donovan: “Any Dream Will Do,” UK

1991 - Paula Abdul: “Rush Rush”

1991 - Skid Row: ‘Slave to the Grind,’ UK LP

1998 - Brandy & Monica: “The Boy is Mine”

2003 - Beyonce: ‘Dangerously in Love,’ UK & US

2003 - Monica: ‘After the Storm,’ LP

2006 - Taylor Hicks: “Do I Make You Proud”

2008 - Ne-Yo: “Closer, ” UK

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

1936 - Cathy Carr (”Ivory Towers”) is born today.

1943 - Bobby Harrison of Procul Harum is born on this day.

1945 - David Knights of Procul Harum is born today.

1962 - The Drifters record “Up On The Roof.”

1963 - Andy Couson of All About Eve is born.

1968 - Aretha Franklin appears on the cover of  Time magazine.

1977 - Elton John achieved a lifetime achievement when he became Chairman of  Watford Football Club.

1977 - Mark Stoermer of The Killers is born on this day.

1997 - ‘Dark Side of the Moon’ by Pink Floyd spent its 1056th week as #1 on the LP chart.  It is said that if the album is played while watching “The Wizard of Oz,” and is started exactly when the MGM lion roars for the third time, very unusual connections can be made.

1997 - George Harrison underwent surgery on hs neck to remove a cancerous growth.

2007 - Rod Stewart receives 10 stitches in his leg after slipping onstage in Manchster, England.

#1 Song This Week:

1951 - Nat King Cole: “Too Young”

1959 - Bobby Darin: “Dream Lover,” UK

1964 - Beach Boys: “I Get Around”

1966 - Frank Sinatra: “Strangers in the Night”

1969 - Henry Mancini: “Love  Theme from Romeo and Juliet”

1970 - The Jackson 5: “The Love You Save”

1975 - Eagles: ‘One of These Nights’ LP

1975 - Wings: ‘Venus and Mars,’ UK LP

1979 - Anita Ward: “Ring My Bell”

1980 - Paul McCartney: “Coming Up”

1980 - Roxy Music: ‘Flesh and Blood,’ UK LP

1982 - The Human League: “Don’t You Want Me”

1985 - Sister Sledge: ‘Frankie,” UK

1986 - Wham!: “The Edge of Heaven,” UK

1988 - Michael Jackson: “Diry Diana”

1989 - Milli Vanilli: “Baby Don’t Forget My Number”

1992 - Sir Mix-a-Lot: “Baby Got Back”

1997 - Puff Daddy & Faith Evans featuring 112: “I’ll Be Missing You,’ UK & US

1997 - Radiohead: ‘OK Computer,’ UK LP

2000 - Enrique Eglesias: “Be With You”

2005 - Carrie Underwood: “Inside Your Heaven”

Tags: This Day in Rock & Roll Music, ths day in rock history, today in rock and roll

1885 - Chichester Bell and Charles Tainter applied for a patent on their invention, the gramaphone.

1944 - Bruce Johnson of the Beach Boys is born on this day.

1951 - Gilson Lavis of Squeeze is born today.

1961 - Margo  Timmins of Cowboy Junkies is born.

1961 - Roy Orbison records “Candy Man.”

1970 - The group Smile changed their name to Queen and performed under that name for the first time.

1971 - The Fillmore East in New York  closes.

1976 - John Lennon receives his “green card”  from the US Immigration and Naturalization board.

1989 - Tom Jones was awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

1993 - Lyle Lovett married Julia Roberts.

1996 - During a free concert by the Fugess, a man from Harlem starting shooting a gun, injuring 22 people.

2002 - One day before beginning a tour, the Who’s John Entwhistle was found dead in his room at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. The medical examiner determined that he died of a heart attack induced by an undetermined amount of cocaine.

#1 Songs This Week:

1952 - Al Martino: “Here Is My Heart”

1954 - David Whitfield featuring Mantovani: “Cara Mia,”UK

1962 - Ray Charles: “I Can’t Stop Loving You”

1964 - Peter & Gordon: “A World Without Love”

1965 - The Four Tops: “I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch)”

1970 - The Jackson Five: “The Love You Save”

1973 - George Harrison: “Give Me Peace (Give Me Peace on Earth)”

1981 - Michael Jackson: “One Day in Your Life,” UK

1981 - Motorhead: “No Sleep Til Hammersmith,” UK

1981 - Kim Carnes: ‘Mistaken Identity,’ LP

1982 - The Human League: “Don’t You Want Me”

1987 - Whitney Houston: ‘Whitney,’ LP

1989 - Milli Vanilli: “Baby Don’t Forget My Number”

1998 - The Corrs: ‘Talk on Corners,’ UK LP

1992 - Mariah Carey: “I’ll Be There”

1996 - Bone Thugs-n-Harmony: “Crossroads”

1999 - the Chemical Brothers: ‘Surrender,’ UK LP

2004 - Usher: “Burn”

2004 - Beastie Boys: ‘To The 5 Boroughs,’ LP

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

1935 - Soul singer Eddie Floyd (”Knock on Wood”) is born on this day.

1939 - Harold Melvin (”If You Don’t Know Me By Now”) is born today.

1940 - Clint Warwick of the Moody Blues is born.

1945 - Carly Simon is born on this day.

1946 - Allen Lanier of Blue Oyster Cult is born today.

1946 - Ian McDonald of King Crimson and Foreigner is born.

1952 - Tim Finn of Split Enz and Crowded House  is born on this day.

1954 - David Paich of Toto is born today.

1963 - Georgios Panayiotou (George Michael) is born.

1969 - The Hollies reocrd “He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother.” Elton John plays piano on the session.

1969 - Sly & The Family Stone record “Hot Fun in The Summertime.”

1972 - Mike Kroeger of Nickelback is born on this day.

1988 - Hillel Slovak of the Red Hot Chili Peppers died of a herion overdose shortly after the group returned from a European tour.

1988 -  - Billy Soul (”If You Wanna Be Happy for the Rest of Your Life”) dies of a heart attack.

2006 - Nicole Kidman marries country singer Keith Urban in Sydney, Australia.

2007 - Hank Medress of the Tokens died of lung cancer at the age of 68.

#1 Songs This Week:

1951 - Nat King Cole: “Too Young”

1958 - Sheb Wooley: “Purple People Eater”

1962 - Ray Charles: “I Can’t Stop Loving You”

1964 - Roy Orbison: “It’s Over,” UK

1966 - Beatles: “Paperback Writer”

1967 - The Association: “Windy”

1972 - Neil Diamond: “Song Sung Blue”

1977 - Marvin Gaye: “Got To Give It Up”

1977 - The Muppets: ‘The Muppet Show,’ UK LP

1979 - Anita Ward: “Ring My Bell”

1980 - Paul McCartney: “Coming Up (Live at Glasgow)”

1983 - ‘Flashdance,’ OST, LP

1983 - The Police: ‘Synchronicity,’ UK LP

1986 - Patti LaBell & Michael McDonald: “On My Own”

1988 - Debbie Gibson: “Foolish Beat”

1988 - Van Halen: ‘OU812,’ LP

1991 - Paula Abdul: Rush Rush”

1994 - Stone Temple Pilots: ‘Purple,’ LP

2000 - Eminem: ‘The Marshall Matters LP,’ UK LP

2000 - Enrique Iglesias: “Be With You”

2003 - Clay Aiken: “Ths Is The Night”

Tags: This Day in R?ock & Roll History;today in rock.this day in rock and roll, this day in rock and roll, today in rock history

1944 - Arthur Brown (”Fire”) is born on this day.

1944 - Chris Wood of Traffic is born today.

1944 - Jeff Beck is born.

1944 - Mick Fleetwood of Fleetwood Mac is born on this day.

1945 - Colin Blunstone of the Zombies is born today.

1948 - Patrick Moraz of Yes and the Moody Blues is born on this day.

1949 - John Illsley of Dire Straits is born.

1957 - Jeff Cease of the Black Crowes is born on this day.

1961 - Curt Smith of Tears for Fears is born today.

1964 - Sam Cooke starts a two week engagement at the Copacabana in New York.  A 72-foot billboard is built in Times Square to advertise the gig.

1965 - John Lennon’s second book of poetry “A Spaniel in the Works,” is published.

1966 - The Richard Carpenter Trio (with Karen on the drums) wins “The Battle of the Bands” at the Hollywood Bowl.

1966 - The Supremes record “Love Is Like An Itching in My Heart.”

1970 - Glenn Madeiros (”She Ain’t Worth It”) is born today.

1973 - Mario Calire of The Wallflowers is born.

1992 - Donnie Osmond started a year-long run in the musical ‘Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat’ in Toronto, Canada.

2004 - A Fender Stratocaster that Eric Clapton nicknamed “Blackie” sold for $959,500 at a Christie’s auction making it the most expensive guitar in the world.  Clapton donated the proceeds to Clapton’s Crossroads addiction clinic founded in 1998. 

#1 Songs This Week:

1957 - Pat Boone: “Love Letters in the Sand”

1960 - Connie Francis: “Everybody’s Somebody’s Fool”

1965 - The Byrds: “Mr Tambourine Man”

1965 - The Hollies: “I’m Alive,” UK

1967 - The Monkees: ‘Headquarters,’ LP

1968 - Herb Alpert: “This Guy’s In Love With You”

1969 - Beatles: “The Ballad of John and Yoko,” UK

1983 - George Harrison : “Give Me Love (Give Me Peace on Earth)”

1977 - The Jacksons: “Show You The Way To Go”

1978 - Andy Gibb: “Shadow Dancing”

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

1987 - Whitney Houston: “I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)”

1989 - Paul McCartney: ‘Flowers in the Dirt,’ UK LP

1989 - Richard Marx: “Satisfied”

1989 - Soul II Soul featuring Caron Wheeler: “Back to Life,” UK

1990 - New Kids on the Block: “Step by Step”

1990 - New Kids on the Block: ‘Step by Step,’ LP

1994 - All-4-One: “I Swear”

1995 - Pink Floyd: ‘Pulse,’ LP

1998 - Brandy & Monica; “The Boy Is Mine”

2001 - Christina Aguilera, L’il Kim, Mya and Pink: “Lady Marmalade”

2001 - Blink 182: ‘Take Off Your..,’ LP

2004 - AFI: ‘Decemberunderground,’ LP

2007 - Rihanna featuring Jay-Z: “Umbrella”

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

1929 - June Carter Cash is born on this day.

1937 - Niki Sullivan, one of the three original members of Buddy Holly’s bac-up group The Crickets is born today.

1940 - Stuart Sutcliffe who played bass for the Beatles for 18 months is born.

1956 - Randall Darius Jackson, music producer and judge on American Idol is born on this day.

1959 - Eddie Cochran records “Somethin Else.”

1960 - Paul Anka became the youngest performer ever (at 20) to perform at the Copacabana (at that time) nightclub in New York.

1962 - Steve Shelley of Sonic Youth is born today.

1965 - Paul ‘Bonehead’ Arthurs of Oasis is born.

1967 - Aretha Franklin records “Chain of Fools.”

1968 - Elvis Presley records “If I Can Dream.”

1970 - Chubby Checker was arrested in Niagra Falls after police discovered marijuana an other drugs in his car.

1973 - B.W. Stevenson records “My Maria.”

1984 - Aimee Anne Duffy (Duffy), the Welsh singer who had the 2008 #1 hit “Mercy,” is born on this day.

1987 - Alice Cooper falls off a Vancouver stage and breaks six ribs.

1990 - 13-year old Keith Sorrentino filed a $500,000 lawsuit against Madonna claiming he had nightmares and bed-wetting problems after an incident in front of her home where he claimed she flung him to the ground.

1994 - The stage musical “Copacabana” (based on Barry Manilow’s song) opens in London.

2000 - The Experience Music Project was unveiled in Seattle by Paul Allen, co-founder of Microsoft.  The museum contains over 80,000 Hendrix memorabilia including a smashed guitar from the 1967 Monterey Pop Festival.

#1 Songs This Week:

1954 - Kitty Kallen: “Little Things Mean a Lot”

1957 - Lonnie Donnigan: “Gamblin Man/Puttin on the Style,” UK

1959 - Johnny Horton: “The Battle of New Orleans”

1960 - Eddie Cochran: “Three Stops to Heaven,” UK

1961 - Gary US Bonds: “Quarter to Three”

1962 - Ray Charles: ‘Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music,’ LP

1962 - ‘West Side Story,’ OST, UK LP

1966 - Beatles: “Paperback Writer”

1967 - The Young Rascals: “Groovin”

1969 - Henry Mancini: ”Love Theme from ‘Romeo and Juliet’” 

1973 - George Harrison: ‘Living in the Material World,’ LP

1974 - Gordon Lightfoot: “Sundown”

1979 - Donna Summer: “Hot Stuff”

1981 - Kin Carnes: “Bette Davis Eyes”

1984 - Duran Duran: “The Reflex”

1988 - Debbie Gibson: “Foolish Beat”

1990 - Elton John: “Sacrifice/Helping Hands,” UK (his first)

1992 - Luciano Pavarotti: ‘The Essential Collection,’ UK LP

1993 - Janet Jackson: “That’s The Way Love Goes”

1996 - Metallica: ‘The Load,’ LP

1999 - Jennifer Lopez: “If You Had My Love”

2002 - Nelly: “Hot in Here”

2008 - Coldplay: “Viva La Vida”

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

1936 - Kris Kristofferson is born on this day.

1943 - Jimmy Castor is born today.

1944 - Peter Asher of Peter and Gordon is born.

1947 - Howard Kaylan of the Turtles is born on this day.

1948 - Todd Rundgren is born today.

1949 - Alan Osmond of the Osmonds is born.

1953 - Cyndi Lauper is born on this day.

1956 - Derek Forbes is born today.

1957 - Gary Beers of INXS is born.

1959 - Alan Anton of Cowboy Junkies is born on this day.

1961 - Jimmy Somerville of the Bronski Beat is born today.

1963 - 13  year-old Stevie Wonder entered the US charts as Little Stevie Wonder with “Fingertips Part 1 and 2.”

1964 - Mike Edwards of Jesus Jones is born.

1965 - Tom Cunningham of Wet, Wet, Wet is born on this day.

1969 - Judy Garland was found died of a barbituate overdose at the age of 47.  She was found on the floor of her rented Chelsea in London.

1970 - Steven Page of Barenaked Ladies is born today.

1981 - Mark Chapman pleaded guilty to killing John Lennon.  He was later sentenced to 20 years to life.

 1992 - Three members of MC Hammer’s crew were wounded in a drive by shooting.  Three days later Joseph Mack, a dancer in Hammer’s entourage was shots onstage during a concert in Nevada.

#1 SongsThis Week:

1947 - Perry Como: “Chi-Baba Chi-Baba (My Bambino Go To Sleep)”

1952 - Al Martino: “Here Is My Heart” 

1958 - Vic Damone: “On the Street Where You Live,” UK

1964 - Peter & Gordon: “A World Without Love”

1967 - The Young Rascals: “Groovin”

1968 - Herb Alpert: “This Guy’s In Love With You”

1970 - The Jacksons: “The Love You Save”

1974 - Gary Glitter: “Always Yours,” UK

1974 - Gordon Lightfoot: ‘Sundown,’ LP

1980 - Don McLean: “Crying” UK

1980 - Paul McCartney: “Coming Up (Live at Glasgow)”

1985 - Bryan Adams: “Heaven”

1985 - ‘Beverly Hills Cop,’ OST, LP

1989 - Richard Marx: “Satisfied”

1991 - N.W.A.: ‘EFIL4ZAGGIN, LP

1991 - Paula Abdul: “Rush Rush”

1997 - Hanson: ‘Middle of Nowhere,’ UK LP

1997 - Wu - Tang: ‘Wu-Tang Forever,’ LP

1997 - Puff Daddy & Faith Evans featuring 112: “I’ll Be Missing You”

2003 - Clay Aiken: “This Is The Night”

2003 - Evanescence: ‘Fallen,’ UK LP

2003 - Luther Vandross: ‘Dance With My Father,’ LP

2008 - Coldplay: “Viva La Vida”

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

1936 - O.C. Smith (”Little Green Apples”) is born on this day.

1944 - Ray Davies of the Kinks is born today.

1944 - Miguel Vicens of Los Bravos (”Black is Black”) is born.

1945 - Chris Britton of the Troggs (”Wild Thing”) is born on this day.

1948 - Joey Molland of Badfinger is born today.

1948 - Columbia Records annouces the first mass production of the 33 and 1/3 long playing record.  Skeptics failed to see the wisdom of the company as the 78 rpm was at its all time high.

1949 - Greg Munford of Strawberry Alarm Clock is born.

1950 - Joey Kramer of Aerosmith is born on this day.

1953 - Nils Lofgren is born today.

1966 - Jimmy Page made his debut with the Yardbirds at the Marquee Club in London.

1975 - Ritche Blackmore left Deep Purple to start his own group Rainbow. His replacement is Tommy Bolin.

1976 - Michael Einziger of Incubus is born on this day.

1979 - Angus MacLise, Velvet Underground’s first drummer died of tuberulosis at the ae of 34.

1980 - German orchestra leader Bert Kaempfert died at the age of 56.

1981 - Brandon Flowers of the Killers is born today.

1990 - Little Richard receives a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

1998 - Bobby Brown was arrested on charges of sexual battery after an incident at the Beverly Hills Hilton.

2001 - Blues artist John Lee Hooker died in his sleep at the age of 81. 

#1 Songs This Week:

1950 - Anton Karas: “The Third Man Theme”

1960 - Connie Francis: “Everybody’s Somebody’s Fool”

1964 - Peter & Gordon: “A World Without Love”

1970 - The Jackson 5: “The Love You Save”

1975 - Captain & Tennille: “Love Will Keep Us Together”

1978 - Andy Gibb: “Shadow Dancing”

1980 - Don McLean: “Crying,” UK

1981 - Kim Carnes: “Bette Davis Eyes”

1986 - Genesis: ‘Invisible Touch,’ UK LP

1987 - Whitney Houston: “I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)”

1998 - Master P:  ‘Da Last Don,’ LP

1998 - Brandy & Monica: The Boy Is Mine”

2004 - Usher: “Burn”

2008 - Disturbed: ‘Indestructible,’ LP

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

1910 - Col Tom Parker, Elvis Presley’s manager is born on this day.  Prior to entering the music business, he ran a troupe of dancing chickens.

1940 - Billy Davis Jr of the Fifth Dimension and solo artist is born today.

1942 - Larry Taylor of Canned Heat is born.

1943 - Georgie Fame (”Ballad of Bonnie & Clyde”) is born today.

1955 - Mick Jones of the Clash is born on this day.

1956 - Singer songwriter and actor Chris Isaak is born today.

1961 - Elvis Presley records “His Latest Flame” and “Little Sister.”

1961 - Terri Dunn of Berlin is born.

1966 - Par Wiksten of the Wannadies is born on this day.

1969 - Colin Greenwood of the Radioheads is born today. 

1973 - Rolling Stone Keith Richard and his girlfriend Anita Pallenberg were arrested at their Chelsea, London home on drug and gun charges.

1973 - Country singer Gretchen Wilson is born.

1974 - Cher divorced Sono Bono after 10 years of marriage. Four days later she married Gregg Allman.  They separated after 10 days, got back together and remained married for 3 years.  They had a son  Elijah Blue Allman.

1979 - Elvis Presley’s father, Vernon, died at the age of 63.

1979 - Nathan Followill of Kings of Leon is born on this day.

#1 Songs This Week:

1956 - Gogi Grant: “The Wayward Wind”

1961 - Gary US Bonds: “Quarter to Three”

1963 - Kyu Saamoto: “Sukiyaki”

1965 - The Byrds: “Mr Tambourine Man’

1966 - Frank Sinatra: “Strangers in the Night”

1969 - Henry Mancini: “Love Theme from’Romeo and Juliet’”

1971 - Carole King: “It’s Too Late/I Feel the Earth Move”

1971 - Emerson Lake & Palmer: ‘Tarkus,’ UK LP

1976 - The Real Thing: “You to Me Are Everything, ” UK

1977 - Bill Conti: “Gonna Fly Now (”Theme from Rocky)”

1982 - Charlene: “I’ve Never Been To Me,” UK

1985 - Bryan Adams: “Heaven”

1988 - Michal Jackson: “Dirty Diana”

1988 - Bros: “I Owe You Nothing,” UK

1990 - New Kids on the Block: “Step by Step”

1995 - Bryan Adams: “Have You Ever Really Loved a Woman”

2002 - Nelly: “Hot in Here”

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