BIRTHDAYS
Sergei Rachmaninoff (1873) pianist/composer/conductor (died 1943) age 70 – melanoma
Debbie Reynolds [born Mary Reynolds] (1932) singer [“Tammy”], also actress (died 2016) age 84 – stroke
Rudy Isley (1939) The Isley Brothers singer/songwriter/co-founder (died 2023) age 84 – heart attack
Tom Shipley (1941) Brewer & Shipley singer/guitarist/co-founder [current] [“One Toke Over the Line”]
Philip Margo (1942) The Tokens drummer [“The Lion Sleeps Tonight”] (died 2021) age 79 – stroke
Alan Blakley (1942) Brian Poole & the Tremeloes guitarist/songwriter/co-founder (died 1996) age 54 – cancer
John Barbata (1945) The Turtles, Jefferson Airplane and Jefferson Starship drummer
Ronnie Lane (1946) The Faces and The Small Faces bassist/songwriter/co-founder (died 1997) age 51 – multiple sclerosis
Robin Scott (1947) M lead singer/songwriter/founder [“Pop Muzik”]
Jimmy Cliff [born James Chambers] (1948) reggae singer/songwriter
Billy Currie (1950) Ultravox keyboardist/songwriter [current]
Henry Gross (1951) Sha-Na-Na singer/songwriter/lead guitarist/co-founder and solo singer/guitarist/songwriter [“Shannon”]
Jeff Porcaro (1954) Toto drummer/songwriter/co-founder (died 1992) age 38 – insecticide poisoning (and maybe heart attack)
Mark White (1961) ABC guitarist/keyboardist/songwriter/co-founder
Susan Boyle (1961) singer
Peter O’Toole (1965) Hothouse Flowers bassist/songwriter/co-founder [current]
Jesse Tobias (1972) Morrissey guitarist [current]
Hillary Scott (1986) Lady A co-lead singer/songwriter/co-founder [current]
DEATHS
Scott Joplin (1917) pianist/composer [“King of Ragtime Writers”] [“Maple Leaf Rag”] (born 1867) age 49 – syphilitic dementia
Marvin Gaye [born Marvin Gay Jr.] (1984) singer/songwriter (born 1939) age 44 – murdered (by his father)
Nigel Preston (1992) The Cult drummer/co-founder (born 1963) age 28 – drug overdose
Paul Atkinson (2004) The Zombies guitarist/co-founder (born 1946) age 58 – liver and kidney disease
Adam Schlesinger (2020) Fountains of Wayne bassist/multi-instrumentalist/songwriter/composer/co-founder [“Stacy’s Mom”] (born 1967) age 52 – COVID-19 complications
Ellis Marsalis Jr. (1934) jazz pianist (died 2020) age 85 – COVID-19 complications
C.W. McCall [born William Fries Jr.] (1928) country singer/songwriter [“Convoy”] (died 2022) age 93 – cancer complications
CHARTS
In 1989, “Eternal Flame” by The Bangles hits No. 1 – 1 week (second and final No. 1 single)
In 2006, “Temperature” by Sean Paul hits No. 1 – 1 week (third of four No. 1 singles)
NEW RELEASES
(Albums)
In 1966, Atlantic Records releases the debut album from Sam and Dave, “Hold On, I’m Comin'”; Billboard 200: 45; “Hold On, I’m Comin'”
In 1976, Mercury Records releases the fourth studio album from Rush, “2112”; Billboard 200: 61; 3 million copies U.S.; “A Passage to Bangkok,” “The Twilight Zone,” “Overture”
In 1986, RCA Records releases the debut studio album from Bruce Hornsby and the Range, “The Way It Is”; Billboard 200: 3; 3 million copies U.S.; Grammy Award: Best New Artist; “The Way It Is,” “Mandolin Rain,” “Every Little Kiss”
In 1987, A&M Records releases the second studio album from Suzanne Vega, “Solitude Standing”; Billboard 200: 11; 1 million copies U.S.; “Luka”
(Singles)
1957, “Bye Bye Love,” The Everly Brothers
1967, “Somebody to Love,” Jefferson Airplane
1982, “Rosanna,” Toto
1982, “Hurts So Good,” John Cougar
1988, “Fast Car,” Tracy Chapman
COMINGS/GOINGS
In 1981, The Go-Go’s sign a recording deal with I.R.S. Records.
In 1983, lead guitarist Kirk Hammett officially becomes a member of Metallica.
In 1984, David Lee Roth leaves Van Halen to pursue a solo career. He would return briefly to the band in 1996 to record songs for the “Best of – Volume I” album, then return again in 2007.
In 2008, lead singer Scott Weiland quits Velvet Revolver, which leads to the group disbanding.
In 2016, Guns N’ Roses announces that original lead guitarist Slash and original bassist Duff McKagan are returning to the group for an international tour.
NOTEWORTHY
In 1970, the movie “Woodstock” has its premiere in Hollywood, California.
The Journalism Gypsy 