BIRTHDAYS
William “Benny” Benjamin (1925) The Funk Brothers [Motown] drummer [“Money (That’s What I Want)”/”Do You Love Me”/”My Girl”/”Going to a Go-Go”] (died 1969) age 43 – stroke
Manny Charlton (1941) Nazareth lead guitarist/multi-instrumentalist/songwriter/co-founder [“Love Hurts”/”Holiday”/”Hair of the Dog”] (died 2022) age 80 – unknown causes
Bruce Woodley (1942) The Seekers guitarist/songwriter/co-founder [current] [“Georgy Girl”/”I’ll Never Find Another You”/”A World of Our Own”]
Jim McCarty (1943) The Yardbirds drummer/co-founder [current]
Tom Dawes (1944) The Cyrkle lead singer/lead guitarist/co-founder [“Red Rubber Ball”/”Turn-Down Day] (died 2007) age 63 – stroke {also wrote well-known jingles for Alka-Seltzer [“Plop, Plop …”] and 7-Up [“The Uncola”]}
José “Chepito” Areas (1946) Santana percussionist
Alpharita “Rita” Marley (1946) I-Threes singer
Steve Goodman (1948) country singer/guitarist/songwriter (“City of New Orleans”/”You Never Even Called Me by My Name”/”Go, Cubs, Go”) (died 1984) age 36 – leukemia
Mark Clarke (1950) Billy Squier and Uriah Heep bassist
Verdine White (1951) Earth, Wind & Fire bassist/songwriter/co-founder
Ken Greer (1954) Red Rider guitarist/co-founder [“Lunatic Fringe”]
Thurston Moore (1958) Sonic Youth lead guitarist/songwriter/co-founder [“Bull in the Heather”]
DEATHS
Willie Mae “Big Mama” Thornton (1984) R&B singer/songwriter [“Hound Dog”/”Ball ‘n’ Chain”] (born 1926) age 57 – heart and liver disorders
Charlie Rich (1995) country singer/songwriter/pianist/guitarist [“Behind Closed Doors”/”The Most Beautiful Girl”] (born 1932) age 62 – pulmonary embolism
Erik Braunn [born Rick Davis] (2003) Iron Butterfly guitarist [“In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida”] (born 1950) age 52 – cardiac arrest
Michael Johnson (2017) country singer/songwriter/guitarist/pianist [“Bluer Than Blue”] (born 1944) age 72 – unknown causes
Peter Green [born Peter Greenbaum] (2020) Fleetwood Mac guitarist/singer/harmonica player/songwriter/co-founder and John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers guitarist/songwriter (born 1946) age 73 – unknown illness
CHARTS
In 1953, “I’m Walking Behind You” by Eddie Fisher hits No. 1 – 2 weeks (second of four No. 1 singles)
In 1970, “(They Long to Be) Close to You” by the Carpenters hits No, 1 – 4 weeks (first of three No. 1 singles; originally offered to Herb Alpert, who turned it down because he didn’t like the line “so they sprinkled moon dust in your hair”)
In 1981, “The One That You Love” by Air Supply hits No. 1 – week (only No. 1 single)
In 2015, “Cheerleader” by OMI hits No. 1 – 6 weeks (only No. 1 single)
NEW RELEASES
(Albums)
In 1966, Atco Records releases the debut studio album from The Troggs, “From Nowhere” (known as “Wild Thing” in the U.S.; Billboard 200: 52; “Wild Thing”
In 1970, Fantasy Records releases the fifth studio album from Creedence Clearwater Revival, “Cosmo’s Factory”; Billboard 200: 1 (9 weeks); 4 million copies U.S.; Rolling Stone 500: 265; “Travelin’ Band,” “Who’ll Stop the Rain,” “Up Around the Bend,” “Run Through the Jungle,” “Lookin’ Out My Back Door,” “I Heard It Through the Grapevine”
In 1980, Atlantic Records releases the seventh studio album from AC/DC, “Back in Black”; Billboard 200: 4; 50 million copies – estimated to be the No. 2 best-selling album of all time (22 million copies U.S.); “You Shook Me All Night Long,” “Hell’s Bells,” “Back in Black,” “Rock and Roll Ain’t Noise Pollution,” “Shoot to Thrill,” “Have a Drink on Me” [first album with lead singer Brian Johnson]
In 1983, Megaforce Records releases the debut studio album from Metallica, “Kill ‘Em All”; Billboard 200: 66; 3 million copies U.S.; “Whiplash,” “Seek & Destroy,” “Jump in the Fire”
In 1989, Capitol Records releases the second studio album from the Beastie Boys, “Paul’s Boutique”; Billboard 200: 14; 2 million copies U.S.; Rolling Stone 500: 156; “Hey Ladies,” “Shadrach”
In 1989, Epic Records releases the 18th studio album from Alice Cooper, “Trash”; Billboard 200: 20; 2 million copies (1 million copies U.S.); “Poison,” “Bed of Nails.” “House of Fire”
In 1995, Columbia Records releases the debut studio album from The Presidents of the United States of America, “The Presidents of the United States of America”; Billboard 200: 6; 3 million copies U.S.; “Kitty,” “Lump,” “Peaches”
In 2000, S-Curve Records releases the debut studio album from the Baha Men, “Who Let the Dogs Out”; Billboard 200: 5; 3 million copies U.S.; “Who Let the Dogs Out,” “You All Dat”
(Singles)
1966, “You Can’t Hurry Love,” The Supremes
1966, “Walk Away Renée,” The Left Banke
1966, “Black is Black,” Los Bravos
1970, “Lookin’ Out My Back Door,” Creedence Clearwater Revival
1970, “In the Summertime,” Mungo Jerry
1973, “China Grove,” The Doobie Brothers
1974, “Can’t Get Enough of Your Love, Babe” Barry White
1975, “Fame,” David Bowie
1989, “Hey Ladies,” Beastie Boys
1997, “2 Become 1,” Spice Girls
COMINGS/GOINGS
In 1969, Neil Young joined David Crosby, Stephen Stills, and Graham Nash for the first time on stage at the Fillmore East in New York City. The quartet would soon begin recording together.
In 1980, drummer Eric Carr makes his debut as the replacement for Peter Criss in KISS at a concert at the Paladium in New York City.
NOTEWORTHY
In 1965, Bob Dylan appeared on stage at the Newport Jazz festival in Newport, Rhode Island, with an electric guitar, backed by the Butterfield Blues Band. It was his first-ever nonacoustic set, which resulted in the crowd turning hostile. He only played three songs before storming off the stage but was coaxed back by Peter Paul, and Mary to play two additional songs.
The Journalism Gypsy 