This Day In Music - July 18

 This Day In Music – 18 July

Couple of specials to check out here, Golden Earring, Melissa, Hank Ballard, etc...

1909 - Harriet Nelson is born Peggy Lou Snyder in Des Moines, Iowa. Before starring on the long-running sitcom The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet, alongside husband Ozzie Nelson, Harriet works as a singer and actress under contract with RKO Studios.

1910 - Jazz pianist Joe "Fingers" Carr is born Louis Ferdinand Busch in Louisville, Kentucky. He will eventually become an A&R man and studio pianist for Capitol Records, playing on tracks from Peggy Lee, Jo Stafford, and Tennessee Ernie Ford - https://youtu.be/1IfFcjuZlQs .

1924 - American singer Earl T. Beal from The Silhouettes born. The doo wop/R&B groups single 'Get A Job' was a No.1 hit on the Billboard R&B singles chart and pop singles chart in 1958 (peaked at No. 44 in 🇦🇺). The doo-wop revival group Sha Na Na derived their name from the song's lyrics. 'Get A Job' is included in the soundtracks of the film American Graffiti, Trading Places and Stand By Me. Beal died on 22 March 2001 - https://youtu.be/SzWkqfQ17Eo .

1938 - Ian Stewart, an original member of The Rolling Stones who becomes an unofficial member in 1963, is born in Pittenweem, Fife, Scotland. Stewart died of a heart attack in his doctor's Harley Street waiting room on 12th December 1985.

1939 - American singer and songwriter Dion Dimucci, better known as Dion, is born in The Bronx, New York. Best known for his 1961 US No.1, 🇦🇺 No. 4 & UK No.11 single 'Runaround Sue'. He had 39 Top 40 hits in the late 1950s and early 1960s as a solo performer, with the Belmonts or with the Del Satins. His song, ‘The Wanderer’ went to No. 1 on the 🇦🇺 chart, immediately after ‘Runaround Sue’ - https://youtu.be/CdhWVdYpQKk .

1940 - American saxophonist, songwriter, Mike Terry born. His baritone sax solos feature on the hits of Martha and the Vandellas ('Heat Wave', 1963), and The Supremes ('Where Did Our Love Go', 1964). As a member of the Funk Brothers, he performed on thousands of Motown recordings from 1960-1967, including at least seven US No.1 hits. Terry was the musical arranger of the 1966 hit 'Cool Jerk' by The Capitols, and later became a record producer. He died age 68 on October 30, 2008 - https://youtu.be/dfl3EYFjHJU

1941 - Martha Reeves of Martha & the Vandellas is born in Eufaula, Alabama. American R&B and pop singer and former politician, (1964 US No.2 & 🇦🇺 No. 62 and the 1969 UK No.4 single with The Vandellas 'Dancing In The Street', plus ten US & six UK other top 40 singles) - https://youtu.be/CdvITn5cAVc .

1943 - Robin McDonald born in Nairn, Scotland. Guitarist from Billy J Kramer and the Dakotas who had the 1964 UK No.1, US No.7 and 🇦🇺 No. 8 single 'Little Children' - https://youtu.be/RRE3jeAYzMw .

1945 - Danny McCullock born in Shepherd's Bush, West London, England. Bass guitarist for The Animals who had the 1964 🇦🇺, UK & US No.1 single 'House Of The Rising Sun' - https://youtu.be/VixdIglCZXk .

1948 - Cornelis Johannes "Cesar" Zuiderwijk (drummer for Golden Earring) is born in The Hague, 🇳🇱. They had the 1974 UK No.7, 🇦🇺 No. 8 & US No.13 single 'Radar Love'. Some research sourced suggest his birth year is 1950. Zuiderwijk is known to add a drum solo to each performance, which he concludes by launching himself over his drum kit. In September 1992, Zuiderwijk and his Golden Earring bandmates joined at least a thousand other drummers to play "Radar Love" on the Maasvlakte in Rotterdam - https://youtu.be/i6UbfJYJW8c .

1949 - Wally Bryson of The Raspberries, (1972 US No.5 & 🇦🇺 No.41 single 'Go All The Way') born in Manhattan, New York City - https://youtu.be/jfgnc6Ey0q0 .

1950 - 🇦🇺 - Warren Sparke the drummer for Melissa, Stevie Wright and Hard Rain and Linda Barnes Band was born. Melissa formed in Sydney in 1969 under the name Molten Hue. The original line-up was Robert Gunn (flute, vocals), Rick Barrett (guitar) Ken Frazier (bass) and Warren "Wal" Sparkes (drums). They started out playing a psychedelia and acid-rock, and they were one of the first Australian bands to play rock in the style of American West Coast acts like Jefferson Airplane, Country Joe & The Fish or The Steve Miller Band. Their debut 45 "Mississippi Mamma", produced by Rory Thomas from The Questions, was a pacy progressive blues-rock number. Melissa had a strong following on the Sydney suburban dance circuit, and they performed with major acts like Tully and Mecca at 'underground' happenings and concerts at venues like the Paddington Town Hall and the Arts Factory in Darlinghurst. One of the highlights of the group's brief career was a support slot in Sydney on the Sydney leg of the first Australian tour by Elton John in October 1971 - https://youtu.be/kKpavRr__zI .

1950 - Glenn Hughes born in New York City. The leather guy in from the American disco group, The Village People. They had the hit singles 'Macho Man' (🇦🇺 #2), 'In the Navy' (🇦🇺 #9), 'Go West and the 1978 US No.2 hit 'YMCA' (🇦🇺 #1). The group's name refers to New York City's Greenwich Village, at the time known for its large gay population. Hughes died on 4th March 2001 - https://youtu.be/2smOQTXvZOs .

1950 - Richard Branson, in full Sir Richard Charles Nicholas Branson, born in Shamley Green, Surrey, England. Founder of Virgin Records and the Virgin Empire. Branson and Nik Powell had initially run a small record shop called Virgin Records and Tapes on Notting Hill Gate, London, specializing in krautrock imports. After making the shop into a success, they turned their business into a fully-fledged record label. The name Virgin, according to Branson arose from Tessa Watts, a colleague of his, when they were brainstorming business ideas. She suggested Virgin – as they were all new to business – like "virgins". The original Virgin logo (known to fans as the "Gemini" or "Twins" logo) was designed by English artist and illustrator Roger Dean: a young naked woman in mirror image with a large, long-tailed lizard and the word "Virgin" in Dean's familiar script. The first release on the label was the progressive rock album Tubular Bells by multi-instrumentalist Mike Oldfield, who was discovered by Tom Newman and brought to Simon Draper, who eventually persuaded Richard and Nik make it their first release in 1973. The fledgling label garnered unprecedented acclaim for this release - https://youtu.be/JyglJkgYmWw .

1953 - 18-year-old truck driver Elvis Presley made his first ever recording when he paid $3.98 at the Memphis recording service (later renamed Sun Studios) singing two songs, 'My Happiness' and 'That's When Your Heartaches Begin'. The so-called vanity disc was a gift for his mother. It would surface 37 years later as part of an RCA compilation called 'Elvis - the Great Performances' - https://youtu.be/54CQg1Mbrzo .

1955 - Terry Chambers born in Swindon, Wiltshire, England. Drummer for XTC, (1982 UK No.10 & 🇦🇺 No.11 single 'Senses Working Over Time') - https://youtu.be/hzGfKu6_loI .

1957 - Keith Levene born Julian Keith Levene in Muswell Hill, London, England. Guitarist for Public Image Ltd, (1983 UK No.5 & No.2 🇦🇺 single 'This Is Not A Love Song') - https://youtu.be/Az_GCJnXAI0 .

1960 - Hank Ballard and the Midnighters released "The Twist." The song did not become a hit until later in the year when Chubby Checker covered it - https://youtu.be/2qoY93CkwlA .

1960 - Elvis Presley's "It's Now Or Never" was released - https://youtu.be/QkMVscR5YOo .

1960 - Brenda Lee went to No.1 on the US singles chart with 'I'm Sorry', recorded when she was just 15. It made No. 8 in 🇦🇺 and No.12 in the UK. Seeking publicity, the 4' 11 tall singer was once billed as a 32-year- old midget and had the nickname Little Miss Dynamite - https://youtu.be/BGLR25EJtfE .

1962 - Jack Steven Irons born in Los Angeles, California. An American drummer and multi-instrumentalist. He is best known as the founding drummer of the American rock band Red Hot Chili Peppers, and as a former member of Pearl Jam, with whom he recorded two studio albums.

1964 - The Rolling Stones score their first American hit when their cover of Buddy Holly's "Not Fade Away" peaks at #48 on the Hot 100 and #41 in 🇦🇺 - https://youtu.be/6dZSOXZcQfQ .

1964 - The Four Seasons started a two-week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Rag Doll', the group's fourth No.1 and a No.2 hit on the 🇦🇺 & UK charts. Co-writer Bob Gaudio said that he got the inspiration for the song from a young girl in tattered clothes that cleaned his car windows at a stop light - https://youtu.be/vOCn2F0ZtMY .

1966 - Bobby Fuller (of The Bobby Fuller Four) is found dead, soaked in gasoline, in his automobile outside of his apartment in Hollywood, California. The details of the 23-year-old singer's death are murky - it is unclear whether it was a murder, suicide, or accident - but the official cause of death is reported as asphyxia due to inhalation of gasoline. Police labelled it a suicide, but the possibility of foul play has always been mentioned. Had the 1966 US No.9 single 'I Fought The Law' (🇦🇺 No. 29), written by Sonny Curtis of Buddy Holly's Crickets - https://youtu.be/OgtQj8O92eI .

1968 - Working at Abbey Road studios The Beatles recorded 'Cry Baby Cry' and 'Helter Skelter'. One take of 'Helter Skelter' lasted 27' 11'', the longest Beatle recording ever - https://youtu.be/Lb6TyIIb1fI .

1969 - During sessions at Abbey Road studios, London, Ringo Starr recorded his vocal to 'Octopus's Garden', for the Abbey Road album. Starr had written the song when he 'quit' The Beatles the previous year and was staying on actor Peter Seller's yacht in the Mediterranean - https://youtu.be/Dmx5sLusykY .

1973 - Bruce Springsteen played the first of four nights at Max's Kansas City in New York City, New York, supported by Bob Marley and The Wailers who were on their first ever North American tour.

1974 - The US Justice Department ordered John Lennon out of the country by September 10th. The Immigration and Naturalization Service denied him an extension of his non-immigrant visa because of his guilty plea in England to a 1968 marijuana possession charge. The US Court of Appeal would overturn the deportation order in 1975 and Lennon was granted permanent resident status the following year.

1975 - Daron Malakian (guitarist, vocalist for System Of A Down) is born in Los Angeles, California. The group had 4 Top 40 hits in 🇦🇺, the biggest being Chop Suey!, peaking at #14 in 2002.

1978 - Def Leppard make their live debut, performing to an audience of 150 at the Westfield School in Sheffield, England.

1980 - Closer, the second and final album from Joy Division, is released just two months after the suicide of founding member and singer Ian Curtis. Its claustrophobic, synth-laden sound, combined with Curtis's nihilistic lyrics make it a defining moment in England's post-punk scene.

1982 - Willie Nelson was at No.1 on the country album chart with Always on My Mind, which became the Billboard No.1 country album of the year. The track 'Always on My Mind', originally recorded by B.J. Thomas in 1970, has since been recorded by dozens of performers including Elvis Presley, Brenda Lee, John Wesley Ryles and Pet Shop Boys. It peaked at No. 41 on the 🇦🇺 charts - https://youtu.be/yoPYQ-FmQB4 .

1988 -The Beach Boys single "Kokomo" was released, eventually reaching No. 1 in 🇦🇺 - https://youtu.be/wmKEc8Q4Ie4 .

1988 - Ike Turner is sentenced to one year in a Santa Monica, California, jail for six grams of crack found in his car during a traffic stop in August 1987.

1988 - Christa Päffgen aka Nico (of The Velvet Underground) dies at age 49 while vacationing in Ibiza, Spain. While riding a bicycle, the German singer-songwriter suffers a heart attack and falls and hits her head, causing a severe cerebral haemorrhage.

1991 - The very first Lollapalooza music festival is held in select locations throughout North America. Bands and artists include Jane's Addiction, Siouxsie and the Banshees, Nine Inch Nails, Living Colour, Ice-T, Butthole Surfers, Rollins Band, Violent Femmes and Fishbone. The festival, dreamed up by Perry Farrell and Stephen Perkins of Jane's Addiction, along with booking agents Don Muller and Marc Geiger, is the first of its kind in North America. Farrell's vision for Lollapalooza is for an event that showcases not only non-mainstream music acts, but also art and politics - kind of a one-stop shop for a generation sick of prefab pop and hair metal, and ready to reject their parents' politics and aesthetics. The first show of the original Lollapalooza tour is held at Compton Terrace in Tempe, Arizona. The tour travels to 20 more cities before coming to an end on August 28 in Enumclaw, Washington - https://youtu.be/M6rrTROoZIw .

1992 - "Achy Breaky Heart," a #1 country hit from Billy Ray Cyrus, peaks at #4 on the US Billboard Hot 100, but hit #1 on the 🇦🇺 charts - https://youtu.be/byQIPdHMpjc .

1995 - The oldest known musical instrument in the world was found in the Indrijca River Valley in Slovenia. The 45,000-year-old relic was a bear bone with four artificial holes along its length.

2002 - The Rolling Stones crew chief, 54-year-old Royden Magee, who had worked with the band for 30 years, died during a rehearsal in Toronto. A spokesman for the band said Magee had said that he was not feeling well and went to another room to take a nap. The Stones had just finished dinner and resumed rehearsing when they got word that Magee had collapsed and stopped breathing. He was taken by ambulance to nearby Sunnybrook Hospital. He was pronounced dead on arrival. The members of the band said they were devastated by his death.

2005 - The iTunes Music Store reached 500 million songs sold.

2013 - 🇦🇺 - During her The Truth About Love Tour Pink broke two records at the Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne, Australia becoming the artist who had performed the most shows at the venue, with 18 sold out shows and the first artist to sell more than 250,000 tickets at the venue - https://youtu.be/ivPEKaBHjYA .

2014 - Shakira becomes the first person to accumulate 100 million likes on Facebook.

2018 - Billy Joel plays his 100th concert at Madison Square Garden, becoming the first musician to hit that mark at the storied venue. New York State declares "Billy Joel Day" in his honour.

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