January 27 Music History Report

BIRTHDAYS

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756) composer/pianist (died 1791) age 35 – unknown (more than 100 causes have been considered)

Elmore James [born Elmore Brooks] (1918) blues guitarist/singer/songwriter [“King of the Slide Guitar”] (died 1963) age 45 – heart attack

David Seville [born Ross Bagdasarian Sr.] (1919) singer/pianist [“Witch Doctor”] and creator and voice of Alvin and the Chipmunks [“The Chipmunk Song (Christmas Don’t Be Late)”] (born 1972) age 52 – heart attack

Bobby “Blue” Bland [born Robert Brooks] (1930) blues and R&B singer (died 2013) age 83 – ongoing illness

Rudi Maugeri (1931) Crew Cuts lead and baritone singer [“Sh-Boom”] (died 2004) age 73 – pancreatic cancer

Nick Mason (1944) Pink Floyd drummer/songwriter/co-founder

Nedra Talley (1946) The Ronettes singer/co-founder [“Be My Baby”]

Brian Downey (1951) Thin Lizzy drummer/songwriter/co-founder

Seth Justman (1951) The J. Geils Band keyboardist/songwriter/co-founder [current]

G.E. Smith [born George Haddad] (1952) Hall & Oates lead guitarist and “Saturday Night Live” musical director

Richard Young (1955) Kentucky Headhunters guitarist/songwriter/co-lead singer/co-founder [current]

Janick Gers (1957) Iron Maiden guitarist/songwriter [current]

Gillian Gilbert (1961) New Order keyboardist/guitarist/songwriter [current] [“Blue Monday”/”Bizarre Love Triangle”]

Margo Timmins (1961) Cowboy Junkies lead singer/songwriter/co-founder [current] [“Sweet Jane”]

Tracy Lawrence (1968) country singer/songwriter/guitarist [“Sticks and Stones”]

Mike Patton (1968) Faith No More lead singer/songwriter [current] [“Epic”]

Luke Bell (1990) country singer/songwriter (died 2022) age 32 – unknown causes

DEATHS

Mahalia Jackson (1972) gospel singer [“The Queen of Gospel”] [“Move on Up a Little Higher”/”His Eye is on the Sparrow”/”Precious Lord, Take My Hand”] (born 1911) age 60 – heart failure and diabetes complications

Gene McFadden (2006) McFadden & Whitehead singer/songwriter [“Ain’t No Stoppin’ Us Now”] (born 1949) age 56 – liver cancer and lung cancer

Pete Seeger (2014) The Weavers singer/guitarist/banjoist/songwriter/co-founder and solo guitarist/banjoist/songwriter (born 1919) age 94 – natural causes

Floyd Sneed (2023) Three Dog Night drummer (born 1942) age 80 – unknown causes

CHARTS

In 1962, “Peppermint Twist” by Joey Dee & the Starlighters hits No. 1 – 3 weeks (only No. 1 single)

In 1973, “Superstition” by Stevie Wonder hits No. 1 – 1 week (second of eight No. 1 singles – 10 years after the first one – “Fingertips – Part 1 & 2”)

In 2018, “Havana” by Camila Cabello featuring Young Thug hits No. 1 – 1 week (only No. 1 single for both Cabello and Young Thug)

NEW RELEASES

(Albums)

In 1974, Reprise Records releases the 10th studio album from Gordon Lightfoot, “Sundown”; Billboard 200: 1 (2 weeks); 1 million copies U.S.; “Carefree Highway,” “Sundown”

(Singles)

1956, “Heartbreak Hotel,” Elvis Presley

1964, “Hello, Dolly!,” Louis Armstrong

1984, “Time After Time,” Cyndi Lauper

1986, “Addicted to Love,” Robert Palmer