August 24 Music History Report

BIRTHDAYS

Mason Williams (1938) guitarist/singer/songwriter/composer [“Classical Gas”]

David Freiberg (1938) Quicksilver Messenger Service bassist/guitarist/co-founder [current], Jefferson Starship bassist/guitarist/singer/keyboardist/co-founder [current], and Jefferson Airplane singer

Ernest Wright Jr. (1941) Little Anthony and the Imperials singer/songwriter/co-founder

Jimmy Soul [born James McCleese] (1942) soul singer [“If You Wanna Be Happy”] (died 1988) age 45 – drug-related heart attack

Marshall Thompson (1942) The Chi-Lites singer/co-founder [current] [“Have You Seen Her”/”Oh Girl”]

John Cipollina (1943) Quicksilver Messenger Service lead guitarist/co-founder [“Fresh Air”/”Dino’s Song”] (died 1989) age 45 – alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency

Ken Hensley (1945) Uriah Heep keyboardist/singer/guitarist/songwriter/co-founder [“Lady in Black”/Easy Livin'”/”Stealin'”] and solo keyboardist/singer/guitarist/songwriter (died 2020) age 75 – short illness

Malcolm “Molly” Duncan (1945) Average White Band tenor saxophonist/co-founder [“Pick Up the Pieces”] and session saxophonist (died 2019) age 74 – cancer

James Fox (1947) James Gang drummer/organist/founder/(namesake) [“Funk #49″/”Walk Away”]

Jean-Michel Jarre (1948) composer/multi-instrumentalist

Danny Joe Brown (1951) Molly Hatchet lead singer/songwriter/pianist/harmonica player/co-founder (died 2005) age 53 – renal failure

Mike Derosier (1951) Heart drummer

Jeffrey Daniel [born Jeffrey Daniels] (1957) Shalamar singer/songwriter/guitarist/co-founder [current] [“Dancing in the Sheets”]

Mark Bedford (1961) Madness bassist/songwriter [current] [“Our House”/”It Must Be Love”]

Andreas Kisser (1968) Sepultura guitarist/songwriter [current]

Kristyn Osborn (1970) SHeDAISY singer/songwriter/co-founder

DEATHS

Louis Prima (1978) singer/songwriter/bandleader/trumpeter [“Just a Gigolo”/”Jump, Jive an’ Wail”/”That Old Black Magic”] (born 1910) age 67 – cerebral hemorrhage

Charlie Watts (2021) The Rolling Stones drummer and solo drummer/composer (born 1941) age 80 – throat cancer

Bernie Marsden (2023) Whitesnake guitarist/songwriter/co-founder and solo guitarist/singer/songwriter (born 1951) age 72 – unknown causes

CHARTS

In 1959, “The Three Bells” by The Browns hits No. 1 – 4 weeks (only No. 1 single)

In 1974, “(You’re) Having My Baby” by Paul Anka (with Odia Coates) hits No. 1 – 3 weeks (second and final No. 1 single for Anka)

In 1985, “The Power of Love” by Huey Lewis & the News hits No. 1 – 2 weeks (first of three No. 1 singles)

In 2019, “Bad Guy” by Billie Eilish hits No. 1 – 1 week (first No. 1 single; first person born in the 21st century to have a No. 1 single)

NEW RELEASES

(Albums)

In 1981, Rolling Stones Records releases the 18th U.S. studio album from the Rolling Stones, “Tattoo You”; Billboard 200: 1 (9 weeks); 4 million copies U.S.; Grammy Award: Best Album Package; Rolling Stone 500: 213; “Start Me Up,” “Hang Fire,” “Little T&A,” “Waiting on a Friend”

In 1983, Mercury Records releases the seventh studio album from Rainbow, “Bent Out of Shape”; Billboard 200: 34; “Street of Dreams”

In 1987, Mercury Records release the ninth studio album from John Mellencamp, “The Lonesome Jubilee”; Billboard 200: 6; 3 million copies U.S.; “Paper in Fire,” “Cherry Bomb”

In 1993, Virgin Records releases the second studio album from Cracker, “Kerosene Hat”; Billboard 200: 59; “Low,” “Get Off This”

In 1999, RCA Records releases the debut studio album from Christina Aguilera, “Christina Aguilera”; Billboard 200: 1 (1 week); 10 million copies (9 million copies U.S.); Grammy Award: Best New Artist; “Genie in a Bottle,” “What a Girl Wants,” “I Turn to You,” “Come on Over (All I Want is You)”

(Singles)

1965, “A Lover’s Concerto,” The Toys

1971, “One Fine Morning,” Lighthouse

1979, “I Wanna Be Your Lover,” Prince

NOTEWORTHY

In 1963, Little Stevie Wonder became the first artist to score a No. 1 single (“Fingertips – Part 2”) and a No.1 1 album (“Recorded Live: The 12 Year Old Genius”) on the U.S. charts at the same time. “Fingertips – Part 2” was also the first live recording to hot the top of the charts.

In 1979, The Cars perform for an audience of more than 500,000 at a free concert in New York City’s Central Park.

In 1981, Mark David Chapman is sentenced to 20 years to life for the murder of John Lennon.