Waky Week in Rock History

Today's Birthdays Wednesday 2/22/12

The Drifters Bobby Hendricks is 74.


Today In History Wednesday 2/22/12

In 1956
James Brown received a write up in "Billboard."  A review of his debut single "Please, Please, Please" said the track had a, quote, "dynamic, religious fervor" running through it, and that Brown and his band, quote, "let off plenty of steam."

Elvis Presley's "Heartbreak Hotel" entered the music charts, becoming his first single to chart.

In 1963
The Beatles formed Norther Music Publishing Company.  In addition, the song "Please Please Me" was spending its first week at number one on the UK pop singles chart.

In 1965
The Beatles began filming their second movie, "Help!"

In 1967
The Beatles were in the studio working on the song "A Day in the Life."

In 1968
Genesis released its first single, "The Silent Sun."

Marc Bolin's Tyrannosaurus Rex -- later shortened to T. Rex -- launched a concert tour in Manchester, England.  David Bowie opened the show with a silent, one-man mime act.

In 1969
The Beatles began work on the album "Abbey Road."

In 1975
Grand Funk Railroad's "Some Kind Of Wonderful" peaked at number three on the pop singles chart.

In 1979
"Rolling Stone" magazine reported that Journey had entered into a deal with Budweiser, becoming one of the first corporate sponsorship agreements between a company and a rock act.

In 1980
After a dispute with manager Malcolm McLaren, Adam Ant was forcibly separated from the original Ants.  Adam formed a new Ants group while McLaren turned the original band into Bow Wow Wow.

In 1986
MTV recognized the 20th anniversary of the Monkees by airing 22 hours of the group's TV shows.

In 1989
Jethro Tull won the first heavy metal Grammy, causing uproar in the music industry.

In 1993
Iron Maiden frontman Bruce Dickinson announced that he was leaving the band to pursue a solo career.  He returned to the group in 1999.

In 1994
Jefferson Starship violinist Papa John Creach died of heart failure.  He was 76.

In 2000
Eric Clapton and Stevie Wonder were among the artists who attended a gathering at a Los Angeles church in honor of the late Curtis Mayfield, who had died the previous December.

In 2001
The Beatles topped the British "Sunday Mirror" list of the biggest money earners of 2000, raking in 50-million-dollars.  The impressive figure is particularly noteworthy since the group broke up 30 years earlier.

In 2002
Little Richard received an NAACP Image Award.

In 2003
Simon and Garfunkel and Johnny Mathis were among those receiving Lifetime Achievement Awards at a ceremony during Grammy Week, held on the night before the Grammy Awards.

Paul McCartney performed at a private 50th birthday bash for CNN's senior vice president in San Diego.  The party also served as a fundraiser for the Adopt-a-Minefield campaign.

In 2004          
Los Angeles proclaimed it "George Harrison Day" in the city.  The ceremony included comments from Billy Preston, the unveiling of a plaque at the base of the George Harrison tree, and a performance by a Beatles tribute band.

Bobby Vinton collapsed on stage during a show in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.  But the 68-year-old performer refused to go to the hospital, and recovered backstage.

In 2007
Van Morrison was recognized for his contributions to the film industry at the "Oscar Wilde: Honouring Irish Writing in Film" event in Los Angeles.

Peter Frampton gave the Musicians Hall of Fame in Nashville the guitar on which he wrote the hits "Baby, I Love Your Way" and "Show Me The Way."

Former King Crimson drummer Ian Wallace died.  He had been battling esophageal cancer for the past six months.  Wallace was 60.

In 2008
Asia drummer Carl Palmer underwent an angioplasty procedure in the UK.

Styx's Tommy Shaw was among those added to the Alabama Music Hall of Fame, while former Steppenwolf lead guitarist Larry Byrom received the Studio Musician Award at the induction and awards event.  Shaw and Byrom also performed at the gala, which took place in Montgomery.

In 2009
Elton John hosted his 17th Annual Elton John AIDS Foundation Academy Awards Viewing Party at the Pacific Design Center in Los Angeles.

Eric Clapton and Jeff Beck played their first-ever co-headlining concert with the first of a two-night stand in Saitama, Japan.

In 2011          
Leon Russell and Allen Toussaint were announced as some of the 2011 inductees into the Songwriters Hall of Fame.  They were formally welcomed at an event four months later.

New releases included the CD and DVD "Jeff Beck: Rock 'N Roll Party Honoring Les Paul."

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Metro Source Entertainment/kt/acc 



Copyright © 2012
Metro Networks Inc. 

02-22-2012 02:34:17

Today's Birthdays Tuesday 2/21/12

Former Talking Heads guitarist/keyboardist Jerry Harrison is 63.
Uriah Heep bassist Paul Newton is 64.
Love guitarist Johnny Echols is 65.


Today In History Tuesday 2/21/12

In 1964          
The Rolling Stones released the single "Not Fade Away" in the UK.

The Hollies released the single "Just One Look."

More Beatles merchandise made its way to the U.S., as 24 thousand rolls of Beatles wallpaper was shipped from the UK.  Days earlier, a hefty shipment of Beatles wigs made their way overseas.

In 1966
The Beatles released the single "Nowhere Man" backed with "What Goes On."

In 1968
McGraw-Hill paid 150-thousand-dollars for the U.S. publishing rights to Hunter Davies' authorized biography of The Beatles.

In 1970
Eddie Holman's "Hey There Lonely Girl" peaked at number two on the pop singles chart.

Simon & Garfunkel's "Bridge Over Troubled Water" hit number one on the UK album chart.

The Jackson Five made their debut on "American Bandstand."  The group performed the hits "ABC" and "I Want You Back."

In 1971         
The Fifth Dimension were a guest on "The Ed Sullivan Show."  The group performed a medley of hits, including "Wedding Bell Blues," "Aquarius," and "Up, Up And Away."

In 1973
The Temptations released the album "Masterpiece."

In 1975
John Lennon released the album "Rock and Roll."  It was his last studio effort before his five-year self-imposed hiatus, during which he devoted himself to raising his son, Sean.

David Bowie released the album "Young Americans" released.

In 1976
Neil Sedaka's "Breaking Up Is Hard To Do" peaked at number eight on the pop singles chart.

The Four Seasons' "December '63" hit number one on the UK pop singles chart.

In 1981
AC/DC's "Back In Black" peaked at number 37 on the pop singles chart.

The Police's "Don't Stand So Close To Me" entered the top 40 chart.

In 1982
Legendary rock disc jockey Murray "The K" Kauffman died of cancer in Los Angeles.  He was a key figure in The Beatles' arrival in America, and had been dubbed "The Fifth Beatle."  Kauffman was 60.

In 1987          
The rereleased Ben E. King single "Stand By Me" hit number one on the UK chart.

The Genesis single "Tonight, Tonight, Tonight" broke into the Top 40 chart.

In 1990
Bonnie Raitt took four Grammy Awards including Best Album with her "Nick Of Time."

In 1992
John Mellencamp made his acting, directing, and screenwriting debut with the opening of "Falling From Grace."

In 1994
Frank Sinatra had reportedly agreed to record with Elton John for his next "Duets" album.

In 1995
Bruce Springsteen and the E. Street Band performed for a video for the Jonathan Demme film "Murder Incorporated."  It was the first time Springsteen and the E Street Band had played together in seven years.

In 2001
Steely Dan, U2, Metallica, and Eric Clapton were among the winners at the 43rd Annual Grammy Awards.

In 2003
Ringo Starr announced that he was launching a new label called Pumkinhead through which he planned to help developing artists.

In 2006          
Sales of Led Zeppelin's album "Led Zeppelin 4" reached the 23-million mark in the U.S., making the disc tied with Pink Floyd's "The Wall" as the third-best selling album of all time behind "The Eagles: Their Greatest Hits 1971-1975" and Michael Jackson's "Thriller."

In 2007
Van Halen's proposed tour with original frontman David Lee Roth was indefinitely postponed.  The band eventually launched its trek in the fall.

The makers of the movie "Dreamgirls" issued a public apology to Motown great Berry Gordy in full page ads that ran in "Variety" and "The Hollywood Reporter" saying the film is a work of fiction that pays homage to Motown.  The movie, an adaptation of the Broadway musical loosely based on The Supremes, and had drawn criticism for the portrayal of the Gordy-like character.

Paul McCartney's estranged wife, Heather Mills, was announced as a contender on ABC's "Dancing With the Stars."

In 2010
Loverboy was a headliner at the The Vancouver Victory Ceremony for the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, British Columbia, while Devo performed at a medal presentation event in Whistler.

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Copyright © 2012
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02-21-2012 01:55:23

Today's Birthdays Monday 2/20/12

Steely Dan's Walter Becker is 62.
J. Geils Band guitarist J. Geils is 66.
Buffy Sainte-Marie is 71.
The Fleetwoods' Barbara Ellis is 72


Today In History Monday 2/20/12

In 1949
Ricky Nelson joined the cast of his parents' radio show.

In 1958          
The Big Gold Record Stars tour began in Orlando, Florida.  The Everly Brothers headlined the trek, which also featured Buddy Holly and the Crickets, Bill Haley and his Comets, and Jerry Lee Lewis.

In 1959
The Platters made their debut on "American Bandstand," performing their hit "Smoke Gets In Your Eyes."

In 1961
The Miracles' "Shop Around" peaked at number two on the pop singles chart.

Elvis Presley's "Surrender" broke into the Top 40.

In 1964
The Beach Boys were in the studio, where they worked on several songs including "Fun, Fun, Fun" and "Don't Worry Baby."

In 1965
Gary Lewis and the Playboys' "This Diamond Ring" hit number one on the pop singles chart.

Peter & Gordon's "I Go To Pieces" peaked at number nine on the pop singles chart.

Dobie Gray's "The 'In' Crowd" peaked at number 13 on the pop singles chart.

Herman's Hermits' "Can't You Hear My Heartbeat" broke into the Top 40.
 
The Moody Blues' "Go Now" broke into the Billboard Hot 100.

In 1966
The Supremes appeared on "The Ed Sullivan Show."

In 1969
The film "Goodbye Cream," documenting Cream's farewell concert at London's Royal Albert Hall on November 26th, 1968, had its premiere in Baltimore, Maryland.  It received bad reviews, primarily because of poor sound quality and bad editing.

In 1970
John Lennon released the single "Instant Karma" in the U.S.

In 1971
Gordon Lightfoot's "If You Could Read My Mind" peaked at number five on the pop singles chart.

The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band's "Mr. Bojangles" peaked at number nine on the pop singles chart.

Janis Joplin's "Me and Bobby McGee," The Temptations' "Just My Imagination," Tom Jones' "She's A Lady," and The Partridge Family's "Doesn't Somebody Want To Be Wanted" broke into the Top 40.

Santana released the single "Oye Como Va."
 
Marvin Gaye released the single "What's Going On."

In 1974
Cher filed for separation from husband Sonny Bono.  They had been married for ten years.

Steely Dan released the album "Pretzel Logic."

In 1975
Alice Cooper released the album "Welcome To My Nightmare."

In 1976
Kiss members set their footprints in concrete outside Grauman's Chinese Theater on Hollywood Boulevard.

In 1984
The Who's Roger Daltrey starred in a TV version of Shakespeare's "A Comedy of Errors," which aired on public television.

In 1988
Dusty Springfield's collaboration with the Pet Shop Boys, "What Have I Done To Deserve This?" peaked at number two on the pop singles chart.

Foreigner's "Say You Will" peaked at number six on the pop singles chart.

In 2001          
Carlos Santana received the 2001 Patrick Lippert Award in recognition of his charitable work.

Peter Frampton won the Best Guitar Performance award at the 2001 Orville H. Gibson Guitar Awards.

In 2003
The Supremes, The Dixie Cups, Dionne Warwick, Johnny Nash, The Del Vikings, Clarence "Frog Man" Henry, and the late Jackie Wilson were among the honorees at the Rhythm & Blues Foundation's 2003 Pioneer Awards ceremony.

Tom Jones received the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2003 Brit Awards in London.

In 2004
Brian Wilson debuted the long-awaited album "Smile" in a concert in London.

In 2005
Brian Wilson was among the performers at the pre-race concert at the Daytona 500 in Florida.

In 2008
Paul McCartney received the honorary Outstanding Contribution to Music award at the 2008 Brit Awards, the UK's equivalent to the Grammys.
         
The Band's Levon Helm and the Staple Singers' Mavis Staples were among the honorees at the 2008 Folk Alliance Awards.  Helm got the nod for Traditional Artist, while Staples was one of the Lifetime Achievement Award recipients.

Aretha Franklin topped the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals' 2008 Worst Dressed List for the fur jacket she wore to the Grammys.

Bette Midler launched her new show "The Showgirl Must Go On" in Las Vegas, beginning a two-year run at the Colosseum at Caesars Palace.


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Copyright © 2012
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02-20-2012 01:13:27

Today's Birthdays Friday 2/17/12

Bobby Lewis is 79.  He's best known for the 1961 hit "Tossin' and Turnin'."


Today In History Friday 2/17/12

In 1955
Little Richard sent his first audition tape to Specialty Records.

In 1960          
The Everly Brothers signed a ten year contract worth one-million-dollars with Warner Brothers Records.

Elvis Presley's album "Elvis" was certified Gold.  It was his first Gold certification.

In 1964
Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass played their first concert in Los Angeles.

In 1966
Brian Wilson began working on the Beach Boys' "Good Vibrations."

Ssgt. Barry Sadler album "The Ballad of the Green Berets" and the title single were certified Gold.

In 1967
The Beatles were in the studio, where they recorded seven takes of the song "Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite."

In 1968
Big Brother and the Holding Company played their first concert in New York, at the Anderson Theater.  After the gig they were signed by Columbia Records.

In 1969
Bob Dylan joined Johnny Cash in the recording studio.  Only a few of the tracks they cut were ever officially released.

In 1970
Bee Gee Maurice Gibb made his debut in the London stage musical "Sing a Rude Song."
         
Joni Mitchell announced that she was retiring from live performances during a concert at London's Royal Albert Hall.  Later in the year she changed her mind.

In 1971
James Taylor was a guest on "The Johnny Cash Show."

Elton John's self-titled album was certified Gold.

In 1972
Pink Floyd debuted "Dark Side of the Moon" at the Rainbow Theater in London.

Jonathan Edwards' single "Sunshine" was certified Gold.

In 1975
John Lennon released the album "Rock 'n' Roll."

In 1976
Bette Midler received the Woman of the Year award from Harvard University's Hasty Pudding Theatrical Society.

The Eagles released the album "Their Greatest Hits."

In 1979          
Dire Straits' single "Sultans Of Swing" broke into the Top 40 chart.

In 1982
The J. Geils Band made an appearance on "The Joe Franklin Show."

Simon & Garfunkel released the album "The Concert In Central Park."

In 1983
Dave Mason, Linda Ronstadt, Chaka Khan, and Helen Reddy were among the hosts of a skating part in Los Angeles that served as a fundraiser for California Governor Jerry Brown's presidential campaign.

In 1984
Ratt released the album "Out Of The Cellar."

In 1987
Sly Stone was arrested in Los Angeles for failure to appear in courts in California and Florida.  He was involved in a narcotics case in Los Angeles, and accused of violating probation after a cocaine-related arrest in Fort Myers, Florida.

In 1988
A 12-year-old Motley Crue fan set his legs on fire when he tried imitating the stunt in the video "Live Wire."

Neil Young's album "Live Rust" was certified Platinum, while Aerosmith's video "Aerosmith's Video Scrapbook" and Simon & Garfunkel's album "The Concert In Central Park" were certified Gold.

In 1989
Whitesnake's David Coverdale married actress Tawny Kitaen.

Joan Jett & the Blackhearts' album "Up Your Alley" was certified Platinum, while Joe Satriani's album "Surfing With The Alien" was certified Gold.

In 1990          
Aerosmith made a guest appearance on NBC's "Saturday Night Live," and participated in a "Wayne's World" sketch.

Phil Collins' single "I Wish It Would Rain Down" broke into the Top 40 chart.

In 2004
The Eagles' Don Henley lashed out the music industry in an editorial published in the "Washington Post," claiming that the business used to be, quote, "important and vital to our culture," that labels signed "cutting-edge artists," and radio would play "an incredible variety of music," but those practices don't happen anymore.

The Rolling Stones topped "Heat" magazine's "Rick List" of UK musicians, with estimated earnings from 2003 at 105-point-five-million-dollars.

In 2005
Paul McCartney was among the winners at the 2005 NME Shockwaves Awards.

A reunited revamped hybrid of the Jefferson Airplane and Starship, featuring founding Airplane members Paul Kantner and Marty Balin and Jefferson Starship's David Freiberg, began a tour with a show in Falls Church, Virginia.

In 2006
The Cowsills' Billy Cowsill died in Calgary, Alberta, Canada following years of poor health.  His death came the day before a planned memorial for his late brother Barry.  Barry's body had been discovered on a New Orleans pier roughly seven weeks earlier.  Barry is thought to have died in Hurricane Katrina four months before his remains were found.

In 2008
Michael McDonald, Kool and the Gang, and Chubby Checker were among the artists who helped mark the 50th Daytona 500 with performances during the pre-race festivities.

In 2009         
Conflicting reports began to surface regarding Gerry Rafferty's whereabouts.  The UK's "Guardian" cited an unnamed source who said the singer was in Southern England, but a couple days later Britain's "Daily Mail" quoted an attorney claiming to represent Rafferty, who said he'd seen the singer in London the previous week.  Meanwhile, an unnamed lawyer told Scotland's "Glasgow Evening Times" that Rafferty was living in Italy.  The status reports -- all of which said he was OK -- came six months after the singer disappeared from a London-area hospital where he was reportedly getting treatment for alcoholism.

It was "Otis Redding Day" in Athens, Georgia.

New CD releases included Morrissey's "Years Of Refusal."

In 2010
The Eagles were named the Most Successful Group of the Decade by the Recording Industry Association of America.  They earned 48 gold and platinum certifications between 2000 and 2009, which was the most of any band in the time frame.  Beyonce, who received a total of 64 certifications, was the top artist overall.


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Kathy Taylor/acc  



Copyright © 2012
Metro Networks Inc. 

02-17-2012 02:31:23

Today's Birthdays Thursday 2/16/12

The New Seekers' Lyn Paul is 63.
James Ingram is 60.
Duran Duran and Power Station guitarist Andy Taylor is 51.
Slayer drummer Dave Lombardo is 47.


Today In History Thursday 2/16/12

In 1963         
The Beatles' "Please Please Me" hit number one on the UK pop singles chart.

Paul Anka married Marie Ann Dezogheb in a ceremony in Paris.

In 1964
The Beatles made their second appearance on "The Ed Sullivan Show," performing live from the Deauville Hotel in Miami Beach, Florida.

In 1968
It was declared "Aretha Franklin Day" in Detroit, Michigan.

John Lennon and George Harrison traveled to India to study transcendental meditation with the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi.

Elvis Presley's album "How Great Thou Art" was certified Gold.  The album features the hit "Crying in the Chapel."

In 1971
Aretha Franklin recorded the song "Spanish Harlem."

The member of the Hell's Angels who was tried and acquitted in the stabbing death of a concertgoer at the Rolling Stones infamous 1969 Altamont concert sued the band for invasion of privacy because of the documentary film of the event.

In 1972
While serving as a guest host on "The Mike Douglas Show," John Lennon performed with Chuck Berry.
         
Rick Nelson began his first tour of Britain.

In 1974
Elton John released the single "Bennie and the Jets."

Bob Dylan's album "Planet Waves" hit number one on the Billboard album chart.

In 1980
Led Zeppelin's "Fool in the Rain" peaked at number 21 on the pop singles chart.

In 1984
Jerry Lee Lewis surrendered to federal authorities to answer income tax evasion charges.  He was later acquitted.

In 1985
Bruce Springsteen's album "Born In The U.S.A." hit number one on the UK album chart.  It was the first time Springsteen topped the chart in Britain.

In 1990
Ike Turner was sentenced to four years in prison on cocaine charges in Santa Monica, California.

Pink Floyd's album "Dark Side Of The Moon" was certified multi-Platinum.

In 1991
Stevie Wonder, Dionne Warwick, and Aretha Franklin were among the performers at a tribute concert at the Shirne Auditorium in Los Angeles honoring the Reverend James Cleveland, who had died a week earlier.

Queen's album "Innuendo" hit number one on the UK album chart.

In 1992
Mick Jagger had to spend the night at a Tokyo airport hotel because he didn't have the proper papers to get into the country.  Japanese immigration officials were hesitant to issue him a visa because of Jagger's conviction on marijuana possession charges in London more than 20 years earlier, but the next day they granted him one.

In 1993          
The Faces reunited for a performance at the Brit Awards.  The group performed "Stay With Me" and "Sweet Little Rock 'N' Roller."  Faces singer Rod Stewart received a Lifetime Achievement award at the Brits.

In 1994
Bette Midler testified in a case in which she was being sued by Martha Raye.  The actress claimed Midler's 1991 movie "For the Boys" was based on her life.  Midler said under oath that the film wasn't about Raye.

In 1999
It was declared "Rolling Stones Day" in Minnesota.

In 2003
Art Garfunkel appeared on the NBC drama "American Dreams."

In 2004
Doris Troy, best remembered for the 1963 hit "Just One Look," died in her sleep in Las Vegas.  She was 64.

Paul McCartney called the UK tabloid "The Sun" to deny a story that his wife Heather and daughter Stella didn't get along.

In 2006
Elton John was awarded an undisclosed sum after winning a libel suit against a British newspaper.  He donated the money to his Elton John AIDS Foundation.

In 2007
The Doors, performing as Riders on the Storm, were without a lead singer, as frontman Ian Astbury announced that he was no longer a member of the group and would be reactivating his former band, The Cult.

In 2008          
Rockabilly pioneer Charlie Ryan, who wrote the classic "Hot Rod Lincoln," died of heart disease.  He was 92.

In 2010
Eric Clapton, Paul Simon, Sonic Youth, and Bette Midler were among the performers at a special tribute event in Brooklyn, New York honoring Yoko Ono.

In 2011
Rod Stewart and wife Penny Lancaster celebrated the birth of their son, Aiden.  He's the second child for the couple, and the rocker's eighth kid.

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Kathy Taylor/acc 


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