1890 - Jelly Roll Morton is born on this day.

1937 - Country singer Wanda Jackson is born.

1939 - Jay Siegel of the Tokens is born today.

1945 - Ric Lee of Ten Years After is born.

1951 - Alan Greenwood of Foreigner is born on this day.

1953 - Tom Petty is born today.

1954 - Lavern Baker records “Tweedle Dee.”

1955 - Harry Belafonte records “The Banana Boat Song.”

1964 - Jim Sonfield of Hootie & the Blowfish is born.

1969 - John Lennon and Yoko Ono release their ‘Wedding Album’ lp.

1971 - Snoop Doggy Dog (Calvin Broadus) is born on this day.

1977 - Ronnie Van Zandt, Steve Gaines and Cassie Gaines of Lynyrd Skynyrd were all killed along with their manager Dean Kilpatrick when their rented plane ran out of gas and crashed in a deeply wooded swamp in Gilsburg, Missouri.

#1 Songs This Week:

1943 - Bing Crosby: “Sunday, Monday or Always”

1958 - Tommy Edwards: “It’s All in the Game”

1960 - Roy Orbison: “Only the Lonely,” UK

1962 - Bobby ‘Boris’ Pickett & the Cryptkickers: “Monster Mash”

1962 - Peter, Paul & Mary (self-titled), LP

1973 - Rolling Stones: “Angie”

1979 - The Eagles: ‘The Long Run,’ LP

1983 - Bonnie Tyler: “Total Eclipse of the Heart”

1984 - Wham!: “Freedom,” UK

1990 - The Christians: ‘Some Friendsly, UK LP

1990 - James Ingram: “I Don’t Have The Heart”

2002 - Nelly featuring Kelly Rowland: “Dilemma”

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

1934 - David Guard of the Kingston Trio is born today.

1944 - George McCrae (”Rock Your Baby is born on this day.

1944 - Peter Tosh of the Wailers is born today,

1945 - Jannie C Riley (”Harper Valley PTA”) is born.

1946 - Keith Reid of Procul Harum is born on this day.

1947 - Wilbur Hart of the Delfonics is born today.

1956 - Nico DeFranco of the DeFranco Family is born.

1967 - Jose Feliciano records “Light My Fire.”

1958 - Brenda Lee records “Rockin Around the Christmas Tree.”

1972 - Michael Pras of the Fugees is born on this day.

1985 - Jazz trumpet Don Cherry died of liver failure at age 58.

1997 - Guitarist Glen Buxton of the Alice Cooper Band died of pneumonia at the age of 49.

#1 Songs This Week:

1944 - The Mills Brothers: “You Always Hurt The One You Love”

1955 - The Four Aces: “Love Is A Many Splendored Thing”

1960 - Brenda Lee: “I Want To Be Wanted”

1961 - Helen Shapiro: “Walkin Back To Happiness”, UK

1963 - Buck Owens: “Love’s Gonna Live Here”

1967 - “Sound of Music (OST),’ UK LP

1974 - Bachman Turner Overdrive: “Not Fragile,” LP

1974 - Billy Preston: “Nothing from Nothing”

1974 - Rod Stewart: ‘Smiler,’ UK LP

1979 - Herb Alpert: “Rise”

1985 - A-Ha: “Take On Me”

1986 - Cyndi Lauper: “True Colors”

1995 - Nirvana: ‘The Muddy Banks of the Wishkah,’ LP

2000 - Christina Aguilera: “Come On Over Baby (All I Want Is You)”

2003 - Ludacris: ‘Chicken and Beer,’ LP

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1933 - County piano player Floyd Cramer is born on this day.

1941 - Alan Howard of the Tremeloes is born today.

1941 - Jim Seals of Seals & Croft is born.

1942 - Gary Puckett of Gary Puckett & the Union Gap is born today.

1946 - Jim Tucker of the Turtles is born on this day.

1947 - David St. Hubbins of Spinal Tap is born today.

1956 - Mickey and Sylvia record “Love is Strange.”

1958 - Country singer Alan Jackson is born.

1960 - Dion leaves the Belmonts for a solo career.

1963 - The Beatles record “I Wana Hold Your Hand.”

1963 - Bobby Goldsboro records: “See the Funny Little Clown.”

1968 - Ziggy Marley of Ziggy Marley & the Melodymakers is born on this day.

1969 — Paul Kanter of Jefferson Airplane was busted for marijuana possession and fined $350.

1972 - Rapper Eminem is born today.

1972 - Wyclef Jean of the Fugees is born.

1972 - Bill  Williams (”I’m Gonna Sit Right Down and Write Myself a Letter”) dies of diabetes,

1977 - Chris Kirkpatrick of ‘NSync is born on this day.

1978 - Neil Diamond and Barbra Streisand record “You Don’t Bring Me Flowers.”

1991 - Tennessee Ernie Ford dies of liver failure.

1995 - Sting’s former accountant Keith Moore was sentenced to 6 years in jail for embezzling from Sting’s 108 bank accounts.

1996 - Lush drummer Chris Acland commits suicide at age 30.

2002 - Derek Bell of  the Chieftains dies of cardiac arrest in Phoenix, Arizona.

2004 - Michael Jackson’s longtime lawyer Steve Cochran leaves his defense team but “agrees to collaborate” during Jackson’s fight against child abuse charges.

2006 - Stevie Wonder receives a Lifetime Achievement  Award from the National Civil Rights Museum in Memphis.

2007 - The state of California announces that Dionne Warwick owes nearly $2.67 million in back taxes.

2007 - Singer Teresa Brewer dies of supranuclear palsey at the age of 76.

2008 - Levi Stubbs of the Four Tops dies of cancer at hs Detroit home at the age of 72.

2008 - Madonna and Guy announce their 7-year marriage is over because they had drifted apart.

#1 Songs This Week:

1945 - Perry Como: “Til the End of Time”

1951 - Tony Bennett: “Because of You”

1953 - Frankie Laine: “Hey Joel,” UK

1960 - The Drifters: “Save the Last Dance for Me”

1961 - Dion: “Runaround Sue”

1964 - Manfred Mann: “Do Wah Diddy Diddy”

1970 - The Jackson Five: “I’ll Be There”

1976 - Chicago: “If You Leave Me Now”

1984 - Stevie  Wonder: “I Just Called to Say I Love You”

1987 - Bruce Springsteen: ‘Tunnel of Love,’ UK LP

1987 - Lisa Lisa and Cold Cut: “Lost in Emotion”

1987 - Bee Gees: “You Win Again,” UK

1992 - Boyz II Men: “End of the Road”

1992 - Prince: ‘Symbol,’ UK LP

1992 - Tasmin Archer: “Sleeping Satellite,” UK

1998 - Billie: “Girlfriend,” UK

2003 - Beyonce’ featuring Sean Paul: “Baby Boy”

2004 - Usher and Alicia Keys: “My Boo”

2004 - REM: ‘Around the Sun,’ LP

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

1925 - Mickey Baker of Mickey & Sylvia (”Love Is Strange”) is born.

1935 - Barry McGuire (”Eve of Destruction”) is born on this day.

1938 - Marv Johnson (”Come to Me,” Motown’s first single) is born today.

1942 - Don Stevenson of Moby Grape is born.

1943 - Barry Sadler (”Green Beret”) is born today.

1946 - Richard Carpenter of The Carpenters is born on this day.

1947 - Chris De Burgh (”The Lady in Red”) is born today.

1953 - Tito Jackson of the Jackson Five is born.

1955 - Fats Domino records “I’m In Love Again.”

1955 - Buddy & Bob (Buddy Holly) opened for Elvis Presley at the “Big D Jamboree”  held at Lubbock’s Cotton Club, Texas.  Nashville talent scout Eddie Crandall was in the audience and arranged for Holly to audition to cut demos on the Decca label.

1959 - Jim Reeves records “He’ll have to go.

1961 - Elvis Presley records “Good Luck Charm.”

1963 - The Rip Chords record “Hey Little Cobra.”

1966 - Little Richard records “Good Golly Miss Molly.”

1966 - The Monkees record “I’m a Believer.”

1958 - Jackie Wilson records “Lonely Teardrops.”

1965 - Jimi Hendrix signed his first recording contract for $1 and a 1% Royalty on all his recordings.

1965 - Country Joe & the Fish give out their first record, “Fire in the City/Superbird,” at a protest in Oakland.

1971 - Rick Nelson is booed off the stage at Madison Square Garden when he performed new material.  He wrote “Garden Party” as a result.

1973 - Keith Richards was found guilty of trafficking marijuana in Nice, France.  He was given a 1-year suspended sentence , a 5,000 franc fine and banned from France for 2 years.

1973 - Elvis Presley is hospitalized in Memphis for two weeks for “pneumonia.”

1976 - Ike and Tina Turner split up.

1988 - Def Leppard become the first act in history to sell 7 million copies of two consecutive LP’s: ‘Pyromania’ and ‘Hysteria.’

1999 - Terry Gilkeyson (”Marianne”) dies of complications from an aneurism.

2006 - Freddy Fender (”Before the Next Teardrop Falls”) dies of lung cancer.

#1 Songs This Week:

1940 - Bing Crosby: “Only Forever”

1957 - Elvis Presley: “Jailhouse Rock/Treat Me Nice”

1966 - The Four Tops: “Reach Out I’ll Be There”

1972 - Lieutenant Pigeon: “Moldy Old Dough,” UK

1977 - Debby Boone: “You Light Up My Life”

1979 - Herb Alpert:  ”Rise”

1983 - Genesis: ‘Genesis,’ UK LP

1988 - Bon Jovi: ‘New Jersey,’ LP

1988 - Chris De Burgh: ‘Flying Colors,’ UK LP

1988 - UB 40: “Red Red Wine”

1994 - REM: ‘Monster,’ LP

1994 - Take That:  “Sure,” UK

1995 - Mariah Carey: ‘Daydream,’ LP

1996 - Los Lobos: “Macarena (Bayside Boys Mix)”

2000 - Radiohead: ‘Kid A,’ LP

2000 - U2: ” Beautiful Day,” UK

2004 - Ciara featuring Petey Pablo: Goodies”

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

1930 - Robert Parker (”Barefootin”) is born today.

1940 - Cliff Richard (Harry Webb) is born on this day.

1942 - Billy Harrison of  Them is born today.

1945 - Colin Hodgkinson of Whitesnake is born.

1946 - Dan McCafferty of Nazareth is born on this day.

1946 - Justin Hayward of  The Moody Blues is born today.

1948 - Marcia Barrett of Boney M is born today.

1957 - The Everly Brothers classic  “Jailhouse Rock” is released.

1959 - Connie Francis records “Among My Souvenirs.”

1966 - Grace Slick makes her first appearance with Jefferson Airplane at the Fillmore West, San Francisco.

1972 - Joe Cocker is arrested for drug possession after a concert in Adelaide, Australia.

1974 - Natalie Maines of the Dixie Chicks is born.

1977 - Bing Crosby dies.

1978 - Usher is born on this day.

1889 - Leonard Bernstein dies of pneumonia.

#1 Songs This Week:

1947 - Francis Craig: “Near You”

1952 - Patti Page: “I Went To Your Wedding”

1957 - Everly Brothers: “Wake Up Little Susie”

1959 - Bobby Darin: “Mack the Knife,” UK

1962 - Bobby ‘Boris’  Picket & the Crypt Kickers: “The Monster Mash” 

1967 - Bobbie Gentry: ‘Ode to Billie Joe,’ LP

1973 - The Rolling Stones: “Angie”

1988 - UB40: “Red Red Wine”

1989 - Motley Crue: ‘Dr Feelgood,’ LP

1989 - Tracy Chapman: ‘Crossroads,’ UK LP

1990 - James Ingram: “I Don’t Have The Heart”

2001 - Jennifer Lopez featuring Ja Rule: “I’m Real”

2006 - Ludacris: ‘Release Therapy,’ LP

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

1902 - Gibson Mandolin Company is formed.

1910- - Ivory Joe White (”Since I Met You Baby” is born today.

1939 - The real Eleanor Rigby died in her sleep of unknown causes.  Her tombstone is just a few feel form the place John Lennon and Paul Lennon met.

1943 -  Dennis Daiziel of the Honeycombs is born on this day.

1945 - Alan Cartwright of Procol Harum is born today.

1945 - Jerry Lacroix of  Blood, Sweat and Tears is born.

1946 - John Prine is born today.

1952 - Sharon Osbourne, wife of Ozzy Osbourne, is born on this day.

1955 - David Lee Roth of Van Halen is born.

1955 - Country singer Tanya Tucker is born on this day.

1959 - Barry Gordy’s first release under Motown Records “Bad Girls” by the Miracles enters the charts.

1959 - Brenda Lee is hospitalized in Nashville with a thyroid deficiency.

1960 - Eric Martin of Mr Big is born today.

1961 - Martin Kemp of Spandau Ballet is born.

1967 - Walter Malinin of Pet Shop Boys is born on this day.

1978 - Joe Perry and Steve Tyler from Aerosmith were injured when a cherry bomb was thrown onstage during a show in Philadelphia.   They performed the rest of the tour behind a fence.

1979 - Fleetwood Mac were awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of  Fame.

1979 - “The Rose,” a movie loosely based on the life of Janis Joplin  and starring Bette Midler and Kris Kristofferson premiers in Los Angeles.

1999 - Singer songwriter actor Hoyt Axton died of a heart attack in Victor, Montana at the age of 61.

2007 - Art Todd (”Chanson D’Amour” with wife Dotty) dies of congestive heart failure.

#1 Songs This Week:

1942 - Glenn Miller: “(I’ve Got a Gal in) Kalamazoo”

1955 - Mitch Miller: “Yellow  Rose of Texas”

1960 - Larry Verne: “Mr Custer”

1963 - Brian Pooe and the Tremeloes: “Do You Love Me,” UK

1970 - Black Sasbbath: ‘Paranoid,’ UK LP

1970 - Neil Diamond: “Cracklin’ Rosie”

1972 - Michael Jackson: Ben”

1981 - Police: ‘Ghost in the Machine,’ UK

1985 - Ready for the World: “Oh Sheila”

1990 - George Michael: “Praying  for Time”

1992 - Garth Brooks: ‘The Chase,’ LP

1992 - REM: ‘Automatic for the People,’ UK LP

2004 - Robbie Williams: “Radio,” UK

2005 - Kanye West featuring Jamie Foxx: “Gold Digger”

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

1937 - Pat Burke of the Foundations (”Build Me Up  Buttercup”) is born on this day.

1940 - John Lennon is born today.

1944 - John Entwistle of the Who is born.

1948 - Jackson Browne is born on this day.

1958 - Eddie Cochran record “C’mon Everybody.”

1959 - Bobby Darin becomes the youngest singer ever to appear at the Copa Room at the Sands Hotel in Las Vegas.

1964 - The Beach Boys record “Dance Dance Dance” with Glen Campbell on the lead guitar intro.

1973 - Elvis and Priscilla Presley’s divorce became final.  She received property, $725,000 cash and $4,200 per month support.

1975 - Sean Taro Ono Lennon is born to John Lennon and Yoko Ono.

1980 - Gary Glitter declares bankruptcy.

1988 - Cliff Gallup, guitarist with Gene Vincent and His Blue Caps dies of a heart attack.

2003 - Ambros Kappos was charged with three counts of stalking and harrassing singer Sheryl Crow.

#1 Songs This Week:

1944 - Dinah  Shore: “I’ll Walk Alone”

1957 - The Everly Brothers: “Wake Up Little Susie”

1961 - Ray Charles: “Hit the Road Jack”

1965 - The Beatles: “Yesterday”

1971 - Rod Stewart: “Maggie May,” UK &  US

1976 - Dr Feelgood: “Stupidity,” UK

1976 - Walter Murphy and the Big Apple Band: “A Fifth of Beethoven,” UK & US

1987 - Whitesnake: “Here I Go Again”

1993 - Nirvana: ‘In Utero,’ LP

1993 - Take That: “Relight My Fire,” UK

1999 - Mariah Carey featuring Jay-Z: “Heartbreaker”

2006 - Razorlight: “America,” UK

2007 - Soulja BoyTell ‘Em: “Crank That (Soulja Boy)”

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

1948 - Millie Small (”My Boy Lollipop”) is born today.

1949 - Robert Farrell of Boney M is born on this day.

1949 - Thomas McClary of the Commodores is born today.

1951 - David Hidalgo of Los Lobos is born.

1951 - Kevin Cronin of REO Speedwagon is born on this day.

1961 - Tim Burgess of  T”Pau is born today.

1965 - Gary Lewis & the Playboys record “She’s Just My Style” and “Sure Gonna Miss Her.”

1991 - Michael Jackson gives away the bride at Elizabeth Taylor’s eighth wedding held at Neverland Ranch.

1996  - Country singer Tim McGraw married Faith Hill.

2000 - Manhattan Supreme Court sentenced rapper Busta Rhymes was given 5 years of probation after he pleaded guilty to a gun possession charge.

#1 Songs This Week:

1947 - Francis Craig: “Near You”

1954 - Rosemary Clooney: “Hey There”

1961 - Jerry Keller: “Here Comes Summer,” UK

1964 - Roy Orbison: “Hey Pretty Woman”

1973 - Cher: “Half-Breed”

1973 - Slade: ‘Slades,’ UK LP

1979 - Robert John: “Sad Eyes”

1984 - David Bowie: ‘Tonight,” UK LP

1990 - Maxi Priest: “Close To You”

1996 - Celine Dion: ‘Falling Into You,’ LP

1998 - Monica: “The First Night”

2001 - Alicia Keyes: “Fallin’”

2002 - Elvis Presley: ‘Elvis 30 #1 Hits,’ LP

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

1924 - Jose Jimenez (”The Astronaut”) is born today.

1936 - George Jones, Jr of the Edsels is born.

1938 -  Carlo Mastrangelo of Dion and the Belmonts is born on this day.

1939 - Abraham Reichstadt (”Cinderella Rockafella”) is born today.

1942 - Richard Street of the Temptations is born.

1943 - Steve Miller is born on this day.

1948  - Brian Johnson of AC/DC is born.

1948 - Lucius Ross of Funkadelic is born today.

1949 - BW Anderson (”My Maria”) is born on this day.

1950 - Eddie Clarke of Motorhead is born.

1954 - Bob Geldorf of the Boomtown Rats is born on this day.

1958 - Cliff Richard and the Shadows play their first gig together at Victor Hall, Hanley, England.

1960 - Paul Heard of M People is born on this day.

1961 - Neil Sedaka records “Happy Birthday Sweet Sixteen.”

1962 - David Bryson of Counting Crows is born today.

1962 - The Beatles release their first single: “Love Me Do.”

1966 - Jimi Hendrix, Mitch Mitchell and Noel Redding played together for the first time and formed the Jimi Hendrix Experience.

1970 - Papa John Creach joins the Jefferson Airplane.

1975 - James Burgon Valentine of Maroon 5 is born.

1995 - Eddie Kendricks of the Temptations died of lung cancer.

#1 Songs This Week:

1943 - Bing Crosby: “Sunday, Monday or Always”

1959 - Bobby Darin: “Mack the Knife”

1960 - Larry Verne: “Mr Custer”

1961 - Cliff Richard and the Shadows: “Kon-Tiki,” UK

1966 - The Association: “Cherish”

1970 - Neil Diamond: “Cracklin’ Rosie”

1974 - Mike Oldfield: “Tubular Bells,”  UK

1974 - Olivia Newton-John: “I Honestly Love You”

1974 - Beach Boys: ‘Endless Summer,’ LP

1982 - Musical Youth: “Pass the Dutchie,” UK

1985 - Midge Ure: “If I Was,” UK

1986 - Janet Jackson: “When I Think Of You”

1991 - Bryan Adams: “Waking Up the Neighbors,” UK

1991 - Guns ‘n’ Roses: ‘Use Your Illusion II,’ LP

1996 - Deep Blue Something: “Breakfast at Tiffany’s,” UK

1997 - Elton John: “Candle in the Wind 1997/The Way You Look Tonight”

2003 - Beyonce’: “Baby Boy”

2003 - Outkast: ‘Speakerboxxx/The Love Below,’ LP

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