December 27 Music History Report

BIRTHDAYS

Winfield “Scotty” Moore III (1931) The Blue Moon Boys guitarist/co-founder and Elvis Presley guitarist (died 2016) age 84 – long illness

Mike Pinder (1941) The Moody Blues keyboardist/songwriter/co-founder

Les Maguire (1941) Gerry & the Pacemakers pianist/saxophonist [“Don’t Let the Sun Catch You Crying”/”Ferry Across the Mersey”]

Peter Sinfield (1943) King Crimson guitarist/songwriter/co-founder

Mick Jones (1944) Foreigner guitarist/songwriter/co-founder [current] and Spooky Tooth guitarist/songwriter

Larry Byrom (1948) Steppenwolf lead guitarist/songwriter

Les Taylor (1948) Exile lead singer/guitarist

Terry Bozzio (1950) Missing Persons drummer/songwriter/co-founder and Frank Zappa drummer

Karla Bonoff (1951) singer/songwriter/guitarist/pianist [“Personally”]

David Knopfler (1952) Dire Straits guitarist/keyboardist/songwriter/co-founder [“Sultans of Swing”]

Youth [born Martin Glover] (1960) Killing Joke bassist/songwriter/co-founder [current]

Matt Slocum (1972) Sixpence None the Richer lead guitarist/cellist/songwriter/co-founder [current] [“Kiss Me”/”There She Goes”]

Hayley Williams (1988) Paramore lead singer/songwriter/pianist/keyboardist/co-founder [current] [“Ain’t It Fun]

DEATHS

Hoagy Carmichael (1981) composer/pianist/singer/bandleader [“Georgia on My Mind”/”Stardust”/”Heart and Soul”], also actor (born 1899) age 82 – heart failure

Delaney Bramlett (2008) Delaney & Bonnie & Friends guitarist/co-founder (born 1939) age 69 – gall bladder surgery complications

Stevie Wright (2015) The Easybeats lead singer/songwriter/co-founder [“Friday on My Mind”] (born 1947) age 68 – pneumonia

CHARTS

In 1952, “I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus” by Jimmy Boyd hits No. 1 – 2 weeks (only No. 1 single)

In 1969, “Someday We’ll Be Together” by Diana Ross and the Supremes hits No. 1 – 1 week (12th and final No. 1 single)

In 1975, “Let’s Do It Again” by The Staple Singers hits No. 1 – 1 week (second and final No. 1 single)

In 1980, “(Just Like)” Starting Over” by John Lennon hits No. 1 – 5 weeks (second and final solo No. 1 single)

NOTEWORTHY RELEASES

(Albums)

In 1967, Columbia Records releases the eighth studio album from Bob Dylan, “John Wesley Harding”; Billboard 200: 2; 1 million copies; Rolling Stone 500: 301; “All Along the Watchtower”

(Singles)

1975, “December 1963 (Oh, What a Night),” Four Seasons

COMINGS/GOINGS

In 1975, Faces disbands.