This Day In Music - July 31

 This Day In Music – 31 July

TBA – - Gren Fernandez was born. Lead / Rhythm guitarist and vocalist for Nowra (NSW) based cover band The Rock Addicts and the Sydney cover band, Atomic Rock.

1846 - France's army gives legitimacy to Belgian Adolphe Sax's latest invention, the saxophone, by including it in their marching band.

1918 - Jazz pianist Hank Jones is born in Vicksburg, Mississippi. In addition to releasing over 60 albums, he also accompanies Marilyn Monroe as she famously sings "Happy Birthday, Mr. President," to John F. Kennedy on May 19, 1962 - https://youtu.be/OaP5MN9DthM .

1942 - Daniel Boone was born in Birmingham, England as Peter Charles Green. A British singer and songwriter who scored an international hit with the upbeat pop single "Beautiful Sunday". In 1971, Peter Green joined Larry Page's Penny Farthing record label (Penny Farthing Records) as a singer/songwriter and changed his stage name from Peter Lee Stirling to Daniel Boone, after the American folk-hero. "Beautiful Sunday" peaked at No.15 on the US Hot 100 on 16–23 September 1972. The song also made the charts in New Zealand, France, Japan, South Africa, and Germany, where it held the No.1 position from May 1972 to late June 1972. It peaked at No.9 in - https://youtu.be/p9sZMKnRj6Q .

1943 - Seventies singer-songwriter Lobo is born Roland Kent LaVoie in Tallahassee, Florida. In 1964, while attending the University of South Florida, LaVoie joined a band called the Sugar Beats and met producer Phil Gernhard. He recorded a regional hit, a cover of Johnny Rivers' song, "What Am I Doing Here?". By 1971, LaVoie had started calling himself Lobo (Spanish for wolf). Phil Gernhard was then an executive for Big Tree Records, and the company released his first single, "Me and You and a Dog Named Boo" in March 1971. The first major hit for the label, it reached No. 5 in the US, No. 4 in the UK & No.8 in , launching a successful series of singles - https://youtu.be/aTbBvPoxUkk .

1945 - Gary Lewis is born Gary Harold Lee Levitch in Newark, New Jersey. Had the 1965 US No.1 & No.8 single with The Playboys, 'This Diamond Ring' plus 11 other US Top 40 hits - https://youtu.be/07LyClUlhqM .

1947 - Karl Green born in Manchester, England. Guitarist with English beat rock band, Herman's Hermits who scored the 1964 UK No.1 ( No.27 ) single 'I'm Into Something Good', the 1965 & US No.1 single 'Mrs Brown You've Got A Lovely Daughter' and the 1969 No.1, ‘My Sentimental Friend’ - https://youtu.be/HSWisXwv_sI .

1948 - - Russell Norman Morris AM born in Richmond, Victoria. An Australian singer-songwriter and guitarist who had five Australian Top 10 singles during the late 1960s and early 1970s. Morris' career started in September 1966, when he was 18 years old with the formation of the Melbourne group Somebody's Image. It wasn't long before the band came to the notice of Go-Set staff writer Ian Meldrum and the group had a local hit version of the Joe South song "Hush", which peaked at No.15 on the national chart. Meldrum's support and hard work promoting the band helped them to secure a firmer recording deal with EMI Records. The result was their third single "Hide And Seek" which peaked at No.32 in Melbourne. Morris' debut solo single was a near seven-minute production called "The Real Thing", released in March 1969. It was written by Johnny Young, produced by Molly Meldrum and engineered by John L Sayers. The backing track was performed by members of Melbourne soul band The Groop, which included Brian Cadd, Richard Wright (drums) and Don Mudie (bass) as well as Zoot guitarist Roger Hicks and backing vocalists Ronnie Charles (The Groop), the Chiffons (including Maureen Elkner) and Marcie and The Cookies' Sue Brady and Judy Condon. At around six minutes and thirty seconds, it was the longest pop single recorded in Australia at that time, although The Beatles' "Hey Jude" at nearly 7 minutes had appeared the year before and was an obvious influence on the song's extended structure. The single reached 's No.1 spot in June 1969, and number one in Chicago, Houston and New York City, despite international distribution difficulties. It was the biggest selling Australian single of 1969. In 2000, Morris' "The Real Thing" and "Wings of an Eagle" featured prominently in the Australian-made movie The Dish. In 2002 he took a place of honour among his peers as part of the hugely successful Long Way to the Top concert tour. On 1 July 2008, the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) recognised Morris' status when he was inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame - https://youtu.be/ERapX9UDAlM .

1951 - Carlo Karges born in Hamburg, Germany. From German group Nena who had the 1984 & UK No.1 & US No.2 single '99 Red Balloons'. The track made them a One Hit Wonder - https://youtu.be/hiwgOWo7mDc .

1953 - Hugh McDowell born in Hampstead, London, England. Cellist with Wizzard and Electric Light Orchestra who had the 1979 UK No.3 & & US No.4 single 'Don't Bring Me Down' plus 20 other Top 40 hits. ELO have sold over 50 million records worldwide. McDowell died of cancer on 6 November 2018 aged 65 - https://youtu.be/lvBOZCrJsAI .

1955 - Elvis Presley performed 3 shows at Fort Homer Hesterly Armory in Tampa, Florida, (2 matinee and 1 evening). A full-scale riot broke out after the show when Elvis announced to the 14,000 strong crowd, "Girls, I'll see you backstage." Fans chased Elvis into the dressing room, tearing off his clothes and shoes - https://youtu.be/XA5HErVE9oI .

1958 - Bill Berry born in Duluth, Minnesota. Drummer with R.E.M. (1991 No.8 single 'Losing My Religion', plus their 1993 No.6 single ‘Everybody Hurts’ as well as the 1992 No.2 album 'Automatic For The People'). Berry quit the band in 1997 - https://youtu.be/5rOiW_xY-kc .

1959 - - Craig Bloxom was born in Inglewood, Los Angeles, USA and moved to Australia in 1965. Bassist and vocalist for Spy vs Spy, an Australian ska/pub rock band from Sydney formed in 1981. They became known for tackling political issues through their music, including racism, homelessness and contemporary drug culture. They were named after a comic strip, "Spy vs. Spy" in the US Mad magazine. They had their highest charting success in February 1987 with their No.26 single "Don't Tear It Down" on the Australian singles chart, whilst the associated album A.O. Mod. TV. Vers. peaked at No. 12 on the albums chart - https://youtu.be/gOeJshHFpPI .

1959 - Cliff Richard charts his first UK No.1 hit with "Living Doll," which becomes the top-selling single of 1959 in Britain (it peaked at No.3 in ). The first of 14 UK No.1's, the song was one of three from the film, Serious Charge - https://youtu.be/40Wv9rItIt4 .

1963 - - Harry Travers, drummer with Sydney based bands The Last Stand, Mandrake and The Score born.

1963 - Norman Cook also known by his stage name Fatboy Slim, born in Bromley, Kent, England. English DJ, musician, multi-instrumentalist and record producer/mixer who with The Housemartins had the a cappella cover version of 'Caravan of Love' (originally by Isley-Jasper-Isley) which was a UK No.1 single. He was a member of Beats International who had the 1990 UK No.1 'Dub Be Good To Me'). Freak Power, who scored the hit 'Turn On Tune In Cop Out' and as Fatboy Slim, had the 1999 UK No.1 single 'Praise You' (No.31 in ) - https://youtu.be/yPGMhNikbYI .

1964 - Country singer Jim Reeves was killed in a plane crash when the single engine aircraft flying from Arkansas to Nashville crashed in thick fog. 40-year-old Reeves was one of the first country singers to cross-over into the pop market with his 1960 US No.2 & No.3 single 'He'll Have To Go', and 1966 UK No.1 single 'Distant Drums' - https://youtu.be/bpi8Bek6jdM .

1964 - Jim Corr born in Dundalk, Louth, Ireland. Guitarist, keyboards & vocals, with Irish band The Corrs, who had the 1996 No.9 single 'Runaway'. Forgiven, Not Forgotten was the first of 4 Top 5 albums, reaching No.1. The Corrs have sold 40 million albums worldwide - https://youtu.be/vzerbXFwGCE .

1969 - Elvis Presley comes to Vegas! Making his first live concert appearance since March 25, 1961, he plays the International Hotel in Las Vegas, the first of 57 shows that help revive his career and earn him $1.5 million.

1971 - James Taylor's "You've Got A Friend" hits No.1 in the US (No.13 in ). The song was written by Carole King and included on her landmark album Tapestry in February 1971. James Taylor played guitar on the track and decided to record his own version, which he released as a single in April. When "You've Got A Friend" hits the top spot, the Tapestry album is the No.1 album in America, enjoying its seventh week at the top. The single drops off the top the following week, but Tapestry keeps going, spending a total of 15 weeks at No.1 as King becomes a household name and an inspiration to many young women who decide to pick up guitars and write songs. Taylor's version wins a Grammy for Song of the Year, but King gets the trophy because she wrote it. She also wins the award for Album of the Year for Tapestry - https://youtu.be/xEkIou3WFnM .

1978 - English musician, Will Champion born in Southampton, Hampshire, England. Drummer with Coldplay who had the 2000 No.3 & UK No.4 single 'Yellow', the 2000 UK No.1 & No.2 album Parachutes and the 2005 worldwide No.1 album X&Y (incl ). In December 2009, Rolling Stone readers voted the group the fourth-best artist of the 2000s - https://youtu.be/yKNxeF4KMsY .

1980 - The Eagles split up after Glenn Frey and Don Felder go at it on stage. The group wraps up their The Long Run tour with a benefit concert in Long Beach for California Senator Alan Cranston. Before the show, Felder and Frey exchange words, releasing years of pent-up tension that come to a head when they go on stage. During the show, they exchange threats, and when they finish up, Felder smashes his guitar and takes off. The show becomes known in Eagles lore as "Long Night at Wrong Beach." Frey quits the group, but their manager, Irving Azoff, doesn't make an announcement in hopes they can patch things up. The announcement never comes, but when Frey and Henley release solo albums in 1982, it becomes clear the Eagles are grounded. The band doesn't get back together until 1994 for their Hell Freezes Over album and tour, a wildly lucrative reunion - https://youtu.be/1d5-TleZXCk .

1982 - Survivor's 'Eye Of The Tiger' was at No.1 on the US album chart and peaked at No.1 on the singles chart. The song, which was commissioned by actor Sylvester Stallone for the theme for the movie Rocky III, received an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Song and go on to sell over five million copies - https://youtu.be/btPJPFnesV4 .

1985 - The Eurythmics had the No.1 UK and No.2 spot on the singles charts with 'There Must Be An Angel, (Playing With My Heart). The song which was the Eurythmics' first (and to date only) UK No.1 single features a harmonica solo by Stevie Wonder - https://youtu.be/RCdneDxFRYQ .

1999 - Christina Aguilera scored her first US No.1 single with 'Genie In A Bottle', also No.1 in the UK & No.2 in . The song spent 5 weeks at No.1 on the US chart and won Aguilera the Best New Artist Grammy for the year - https://youtu.be/kIDWgqDBNXA .

2007 - The iTunes Music Store reached 3 billion songs sold.

2015 - Led Zeppelin released remastered versions of 1976's Presence, 1979's In Through the Out Door and 1982's Coda - https://youtu.be/yYDh7lyqwms .