1927 - Al Martino is born on this day.

1938 - Colin Cooper of the Climax Blues Band is born today.

1941 - Martin  Murray of the Honeycombs is born.

1943 - Dino Valenti of Quicksilver Messenger Service is born today.

1945- Kevin Godley of 10CC is born on this day.

1949 - David Hope of Kansas is born today.

1951 - Singer songwriter John Cougar Mellencamp is born.

1953 - Tico Torres of Bon Jovi is born on this day.

1959 - Tenor Mario Lanza dies.

1959 - David Taylor of Edison Lighthouse (”Love  Grows Where My Rosemary Goes”) is born today.

1959 - Simon Cowell is born.

1967 - Toni Braxton is born on this day.

1967 - The Beatles rejected the offer of a million dollars to play Shea Stadium from promoter Sid Bernstein who originally promoted them in the US.

1967 - Cass Elliott of the Mamas and the Papasspent the night in a London jail after being accused of stealing from a hotel. 

1968 - Thom York of Radiohead is born today.

1968 - Jose’ Feliciano sings the national anthem at the  baseball World Series.

1976 - 2006 American Idol winner Taylor Hicks is born.

1976 - Dennis Edwards leaves the Temptations after four years.

1977 - Guitarist Steve Hackett announced he was leaving Genesis.

1982 - Jimmy Page of led Zeppelin was given a 12-month  conditional discharge after being found guilty of possession of cocaine.

2008 - Lisa Marie Presley give birth to twins Finley and Harper.

#1 Songs This Week:

1946 - Eddy Howard: “To Each His Own”

1951 - Tony Bennett: “Because of You”

1963 - Jimmy Gilmer & the Fireballs: “Sugar Shack”

1975 - Neil Sedaka: “Bad Blood”

1978 - John Travolta & Olivia Newton-John: ‘Grease, OST,’ UK LP

1982 - John Cougar (Mellencamp): “Jack and Diane”

1989 - Janet Jackson: “Miss You Much”

1989 - Paula Abdul: ‘Forever Your Girl,’ LP

1989 - Tears for Fears: ‘The Seeds of Love,’ UK LP

1991 - Mariah Carey: “Emotions”

1995 - Alanis Morrissette: ‘Jagged Little Pill,’ LP

2001 - Ja Rule: ‘Pain Is Love,’ LP

2001 - Kylie  Minogue: ‘Fever,’ UK LP

2002 - Faith Hill: ‘Cry,’ LP

2006 - Justin Timberlake: “SexyBack”

2007  - Bruce Springsteen: ‘Magic,’ UK LP

2007 - Rascal Flatts: ‘Still Feels Good,’ LP

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

1933 - Soul singer Cissy Houston, mother of Whitney Houston is born on this day.

1935 - Johnny Mathis is born today.

1942 - Dewey Martin of The Dillards and Buffalo Springfield is born.

1942 - Frankie Lymon (”Why Do Fools Fall In Love?”) is born on this day.

1943 - Marilyn McCoo of the 5th Dimension is born today.

1943 - Sylvia Peterson of the Chiffons is born.

1947 - Marc Bolan of  T Rex is born on this day.

1952 - John Lombardo of 10,000 Maniacs is born today.

1955 - James Dean dies in a car crash in California at the age of 24.

1964 - Robby Takac of the Goo Goo Dolls is born.

1964 - Trey Anastasio of Phish is born on this day.

1969 - Christine Hinton the girlfriend of David Crosby was killed in an auto accident near San Francisco.

1977 - Mary Ford died of cancer after being in a diabetic coma for 54 days.

#1 Songs This Week:

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

1953 - Les Paul & Mary Ford: “Vaya con Dios (May God Be With You)”

1957 - Jimmie Rodgers: “Honeycomb”

1966 - The Association: “Cherish”

1971 - David Cassidy: “How Can I Be Sure”

1978 - Exile: “Kiss You All Over”

1978 - John Travolta & Olivia Newton-John: “Summer Nights,” UK

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

1989 - Tina Turner: ‘Foreign Affair,’ UK LP

1995- Mariah Carey: “Fantasy”

1995 - Hootie & the Blowfish: ‘Craqced Rear View,’ LP

1995 - Simply Red: “Fairground,” UK

2000 - Madonna: “Music”

2006 - Justin Timberlake: ‘Future Sex/Love Sounds,’  LP

2007 - Foo Fighters: ‘Echoes Silence Patience & Grace,’ UK LP

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

1902 - TV show host Ed Sullivan is born on this day.

1938 - Ben E King, Benjamin Earl Nelson of the Drifters and solo artist is born today.

1943 - Nick Nicholas of Steppenwolf is born.

1950 - Paul Burgess of 10CC is born on this day.

1955 - Johnny Horton marries Hank Williams’ widow Billie Jean.

1955 - George Lynch of  Dokken is born.

1966 - Kenny Wilson of Marilyn Manson is born today.

1984 - Melody Thornton of the Pussycat Dolls is born.

1987 - Hilary Duff is born on this day.

1991 - Jazz trumpet artist Miles Davis died of a stroke and pneumonia.

#1 Songs This Week:

1949 - Frankie Laine: “That Lucky Old Sun”

1954 - Rosemary  Clooney: “Hey There”

1968 - The Beatles: “Hey Jude”

1968 - Mary Hopkins: Those Were The Days,” UK

1968 - The Rascals: ‘Time Peace/The  Rascals Greatest Hits,’ LP

1974 - Bad Company: ‘Bad Company,’ LP

1974 - Andy Kim: “Rock Me Gently”

1980 - The Police: “Don’t Stand So Close To Me,” UK

1980 - Queen: “Another One Bites the Dust”

1985 - Kate Bush: ‘Hounds of Love,’ UK LP

1991 - Garth Brooks: ‘Ropin’ the Wind,’ LP

1995 - Mariah  Carey: “Fantasy”

1997 - LeAnn Rimes: ‘You Light Up My Life Inspirational Songs,’ LP

2003 - Muse: ‘Absolution,’ UK LP

2003 - John Mayer: ‘Heavier Things,’ LP

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

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

1930 - Singer songwriter Ray Charles is born on this day.

1938 - Ben E King is born on this day.

1943 - Julio Iglesias is born today.

1943 - Steve Boone of the Lovin Spoonful is born.

1945 - Ron Bushey of Iron Butterfly is born today.

1948 - Jerry Corbetta of Sugarloaf (”Green-Eyed Lady”) is born on this day.

1949 - Bruce Springsteen is born on this day.

1953 - The Spaniels record “Good Night Sweetheart.”

1958 - Fats Domino records “Whole Lotta Loving.”

1969 - Paul McCartney is rumored dead for the first time in the Illinois Univerity newspaper The Morning Star.

1970 - Ani DeFranco is born today.

1974 - Robbie McIntosh  founding member of the Average White Band died of a heroin overdose at a Hollywood party.

1991 - Guitarist Izzy Stradlin leaves Guns ‘n Roses and is replaced by Gilby Clarke.

1992 - Actress Darryl Hannah breaks up with Jackson Browne claiming he assaulted her.

1998 - Elvis Presley is posthumously inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.

#1 Songs This Week:

1957 - The Crickets: “That’ll Be The Day”

1961 - The Shadows: ‘The Shadows,’ UK LP

1965 - The Walker Brothers: “Make It Easy On Yourself,” UK

1972 - Mac Davis: “Baby. Don’t Get Hooked on Me”

1978 - 10CC: “Dreadlock Holiday,” UK

1989 - Milli Vanilli: “Girl I’m Gonna Miss You”

1989 - Eurythmics: ‘We Too Are One,’ UK LP

1995 - Shaggy: “Boombastic”

2001 - Jay-Z: ‘The Blueprint,’ LP

2001 - Kylie Minogue: “Can’t Get You Out Of My Head,” UK

2006 - Beyonce: ‘B’Day,’ LP

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

1920 - R & B singer Percy Mayfield is born on this day.

1926 - Joe Jones (”You Talk Too Much”) is born.

1929 - Buck Owens (”Tiger By The Tail”) is born on this day.

1940 - Rod Bernard (”This Should Go On Forever”) is born.

1949 - Mark Knopfler of Dire Straits is born today.

1953 - The Four Lads record “Istanbul (Not Constantinople).”

1957 - Frankie Lymon officially splits with the Teenagers.

1958 - The Crests record “16 Candles.”

1960 - Pete Best auditioned to become the drummer for the Silver Beatles and was asked to travel to Hamburg, Germany for the band’s next set of dates.  While in  Germany, the band dropped ‘Silver’ and became the Beatles.

1961 - Roy Hay of Culture Club is born.

1964 - The Beatles’ movie “A Hard Day’s Night” opened in 500 movie theaters in the United States to rave reviews.

1965 - The Jefferson Airplane has their first concert at the opening of the Matrix Club in San Francisco.

1970 - Janis Joplin performs for the last  time at Harvard University.

1977 - Henri Padovani, guitarist with the group after nine months leaving the group as a trio.

1982 - Joe Tex died of a heart attack today.

1985 - Syu Sakamoto died when JAL flight 123 crashed and burned on a thickly wooded mountain about 60 miles out of  Tokyo.  He had the hit “Sukiyaki” and was the first Japanese artist to hit the top of the US singles chart.

#1 Songs This Week:

1942 - Kay Kyser: “Jingle Jangle Jingle”

1958 - Domenico Modugno: “Volare (Nel Blu Dipinto di Blu)”

1964 - Dean Martin - “Everybody Loves Somebody”

1972 - Alice Cooper: “School’s Out,” UK

1974 - Paper Lace: “The Night Chicago Died”

1978 - The Commodores: “Three Times a Lady”

1989 - Richard Marx: “Right Here Waiting”

1991 - Bryan Adams: “Everything I Do (I Do For You),” UK & US

1995 - Bones Thugs N’  Harmony:  ‘1999 Eternal,’ LP

1996 - the Spic egirls: “Wannabe,” UK

2000 - Robbie Williams: “Rock DJ,” UK

2001 -  Alicia Keyes: “Fallin”

2001 - Atomic Kitten: “Right Now”

2006 - ‘Letoya (self-titled),’ LP

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

1912 - Woody Guthrie is born on this day.

1926 - Lowman Pauling of the Five Royales is born today.

1948 - Tommy Mattola of Sony music and former husband of Mariah Carely is born.

1952 - Chris Cross is born on this day.

1964 - Rolling Stones: “It’s All Over Now,” UK

1966 - Ellen Reid of Crash Test Dummies is born today.

1971 - Nick McCabe of the Verve is born.

1973 - A drunk driver killed Clarence White of the Byrds while he was loading equipment after a gig in Palmdale, California.

1975 - Taboo of the Black Eyes Peas is born on this day.

1978 - Ruben Studdard of American Idol is born today.

1984 - Phillipe Wynne, lead singer of the Detroit Spinners died of a heart attack while performing at Ivey’s nightclub in Oakland, California at age 43.

1992 - Olivia Newton-John reveals that she has breast cnacer.

#1 Songs This Week:

1947 - The Harmonicats: “Peg ‘O My Heart”

1956 - Gogi Grant: “The Wayward Wind”

1960 - Brenda Lee: “I’m Sorry”

1962 - Bobby Vinton: ‘Roses Are Red My Love”

1975 - Paul McCartney & Wings: “Listen To What The Man Said”

1979 - Donna Summer: “Bad Girls”

1986 - Genesis: “Invisible Touch”

1986 - Madonna: “Papa Don’t Preach,” UK

1991 - EMK: “Unbelievable”

2002 - Red Hot Chili Peppers: ‘By the Way,’ UK LP

2006 - Nelly  Furtado featuring Timbaland: “Promiscuos”

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

1928 - Delaney Bramlet of Delaney  and Bonnie is born on this day.

1930 - Bobby Day (”Over and Over”) is born.

1945 - Deborah Harry of Blondie is born today.

1946 - June Montiero of The Toys (”A Lover’s Concerto”) is born.

1948 - John Ford of The Strawbs is born on this day.

1952 - John Schneider of the B-52s is born today.

1952 - Actor Dan Akroyd, Elwood Blues, of the Blues Brothers is born.

1956 - Brenda Lee records “Jambalaya” at the age of 11.

1956 - Elvis Presley performed “Hound Dog” to a real hound dog while dressed in a tuxedo on the Steve Allen TV show.  Critic John Crosby said:”‘unspeakable, untalented and vulgar young entertainer”.

1963 - Roddy Bottum of Faith No More is born on this day.

1968 - John Lennon puclicly declares his love for Yoko at the opening of his first art exhibition in London.

1972 - Hair closes in the US after a,729 performances.

1976 - Connie Francis receives a $2.5 settlement from the motel where she was sexually assaulted two years earlier.

1981 - Rushton Moreve was killed in a motorcycle at the age of 32.  He was the bass player for Steppenwolf (”Born to Be Wild”) and co-wrote “Magic Carpet Ride.”

1995 - DJ Wolfman Jack died of a heart attack. 

1998 - Barbra Streisand married actor James Brolin.

2001 - Rolling Stone Ron Wood was commissioned to paint a portrait of regulars who dine at the west end London Restaurant The Ivy. 

2005 - Four Tops singer Renaldo “Obie” Benson died at age 69 in a Detroit hospital  from lung cancer.

2008 - Mel Galley of Whitesnake  died at the age of 60 of cancer of the esophagus.

#1 Songs This Week:

1950 - Anton Karas: “The Third Man Theme”

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

1963 - The Essex: “Easier Said Than Done”

1967 - The Association: “Windy”

1967 - The Beatles: ‘Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band,’ LP

1972 -Neil Diamond: “Song Sung Blue”

1972 - Slade: “Take Me Back ‘Ome,” UK

1973 - Billy Preston: “Will It Go Round in Circles”

1975 - 10CC: “I’m Not In Love,” UK

1984 - Prince: “When Doves Cry”

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

1989 - Prince: ‘Batman,’ LP

1990 - MC Hammer: “Please Hammer Don’t Hurt ‘Em”

1995 - Hootie & the Blowfish: ‘Cracked Rear View,’ LP

1995 - Bon Jovi: ‘These Days,’ UK LP

2001 - Kylie Minogue: “Spinning Around,” UK

2006 - Busta Rhymes: “The Big Bang”

2008 - Katy Perry: “I Kissed a Girl”

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