February 26 Music History Report

BIRTHDAYS

Antoine “Fats” Domino (1928) singer/songwriter/pianist (died 2017) age 89 – natural causes

J.R. “Johnny” Cash (1928) The Highwaymen and Million Dollar Quartet singer/songwriter/guitarist/co-founder and solo singer/songwriter/guitarist (died 2003) age 71 – diabetes complications

Paul Cotton (1943) Poco guitarist/co-lead singer/songwriter [“Heart of the Night”] (died 2021) age 78 – unknown causes

Bob “The Bear” Hite (1943) canned Heat lead singer/songwriter/co-founder [“Going Up the Country”/”Let’s Work Together”] (died 1981) age 38 – accidental heroin overdose

Mitch Ryder [born William Levise Jr.] (1945) Mitch Ryder & the Detroit Wheels lead singer/guitarist/co-founder [“Devil With A Blue Dress On”/”Good Golly Miss Molly”] and solo singer/guitarist

Sandie Shaw [born Sandra Goodrich] (1947) singer [“Puppet on a String”]

Jonathan Cain [Jonathan Friga] (1950) The Babys and Journey keyboardist/guitarist/songwriter and Bad English keyboardist/songwriter/co-founder [“When I See You Smile”/”Price of Love”]

Michael Bolton [born Michael Bolotin] (1953) singer/songwriter/guitarist [“How am I Supposed to Live Without You”/”When a Man Loves a Woman”]

Jeremy “Jaz” Coleman (1960) Killing Joke lead singer/keyboardist/songwriter/co-founder

John “John Jon” Foster (1960) Bronski Beat singer

Tim Commerford (1968) Rage Against the Machine and Audioslave bassist/co-founder and Prophets of Rage bassist/co-founder [current]

Tim Brown (1969) The Boo Radleys bassist/co-founder

Erykah Badu [born Erica Wright] (1971) singer/songwriter

Corinne Bailey Rae [born Corinne Bailey] (1979) singer/songwriter/guitarist [“Put Your Records On”]

CHARTS

In 1966, “These Boots Were Made for Walkin'” by Nancy Sinatra hits No. 1 – 1 week (only No. 1 single)

In 1977, “New Kid in Town” by the Eagles hits No. 1 – 1 week (third of five No. 1 singles)

In 2011, “Born This Way” by Lady Gaga hits No. 1 – 6 weeks (third and final No. 1 single)

NEW RELEASES

(Albums)

In 1970, Apple Records releases a collection of non-album and B-side singles from The Beatles, “Hey Jude” [also known as “The Beatles Again”]; Billboard 200: 2; 3 million copies U.S.; “Can’t Buy Me Love,” “Paperback Writer,” “Lady Madonna,” “Revolution,” “Hey Jude,” “The Ballad of John and Yoko”

In 1981, Columbia Records releases the seventh studio album from Judas Priest, “Point of Entry”; Billboard 200: 39; 11 million copies (500,000 copies U.S.); “Heading Out to the Highway”

In 2002, Blue Note Records releases the debut studio album from Norah Jones, “Come Away With Me”; Billboard 200: 1 (4 weeks); 27 million copies (11 million U.S.); Grammy Awards: Album of the Year; Best Pop Vocal Album; Record of the Year; Song of the Year; Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical; Producer of the Year, Non-Classical; Best New Artist; “Don’t Know Why,” “Feelin’ the Same Way,” “Come Away With Me,” “Turn Me On”

(Singles)

1962, “Johnny Angel,” Shelly Fabares

1965, “(You’re My) Soul and Inspiration,” The Righteous Brothers

1968, “Cry Like a Baby,” The Box Tops

1973, “The Cisco Kid,” War

COMINGS/GOINGS

In 2004, Sixpence None the Richer announces their breakup.

NOTEWORTHY

In 1955, Billboard reports that the 45 RPM single format was outselling the 78 RPM format for the first time.