BIRTHDAYS
Leonard Bernstein (1918) composer/conductor/pianist (died 1990) age 72 – mesothelioma-related heart attack
Wayne Shorter (1933) jazz saxophonist (died 2023) age 89 – unknown causes
Walter Williams (1943) The O’Jays baritone singer/co-founder [current]
Keith Tippett [born Keith Tippetts] (1947) King Crimson pianist (died 2020) age 72 – heart attack
Gene Simmons [born Chaim Witz] (1949) KISS bassist/co-lead singer/songwriter/co-founder and solo bassist/singer/songwriter, also actor
Henry Paul (1949) Outlaws and BlackHawk guitarist/singer/songwriter [current]
Willy DeVille [born William Borsey Jr.] (1950) Mink DeVille singer/multi-instrumentalist/songwriter/co-founder and solo singer/multi-instrumentalist/songwriter (died 2009) age 58 – pancreatic cancer
Rob Halford (1951) Judas Priest lead singer/songwriter [current]
Geoff Downes (1952) The Buggles pianist/keyboardist/drummer/songwriter/co-founder [“Video Killed the Radio Star”] and Yes and Asia keyboardist/songwriter [current]
Elvis Costello [born Declan McManus] (1954) Elvis Costello and the Attractions and Elvis Costello and the Imposters lead singer/multi-instrumentalist/songwriter/co-founder [current] and solo singer/multi-instrumentalist/songwriter
Marty Jourard (1954) The Motels saxophonist/keyboardist/co-founder [current] [“Only the Lonely”/”Suddenly Last Summer”/”Remember the Nights”]
Billy Ray Cyrus (1961) country singer/songwriter/guitarist/pianist [“Achy Breaky Heart”/”Old Town Road” (with Lil Nas X)], also actor
Vivian Campbell (1962) Dio guitarist/songwriter/co-founder and Def Leppard guitarist/songwriter [current]
Candida Doyle (1963) Pulp keyboardist/songwriter
Shock G [born Gregory Jacobs] (1963) Digital Underground rapper/lead vocalist/co-founder [“The Humpty Dance”/”I Get Around”] (died 2021) age 57 – unknown causes
Nigel Durham (1965) Saxon drummer
Terminator X [born Norman Rogers] (1966) Public Enemy DJ and solo DJ
Jeff Tweedy (1967) Wilco lead singer/guitarist/songwriter/bassist/harmonica player/co-founder [current]
Spider One [Michael Cummings] (1968) Powerman 5000 singer/rapper/songwriter/co-founder [current]
Jo Dee Messina (1970) country singer/songwriter/guitarist/pianist
DEATHS
Rob Fisher (1999) Naked Eyes keyboardist/songwriter/co-founder [“(There’s) Always Something There to Remind Me”/”Promises, Promises”] (born 1956) age 42 – cancer surgery complications
Douglas “Allen” Woody (2000) Allman Brothers Band bassist/songwriter and Gov’t Mule bassist/songwriter/co-founder (born 1955) age 44 – unknown causes
Aaliyah [born Aaliyah Haughton] (2001) singer/actress (born 1979) age 22 – plane crash
CHARTS
In 1958, “Little Star” by The Elegants hits No. 1 – 1 week (only No. 1 single)
In 1962, “The Loco-Motion” by Little Eva hits No. 1 – 1 week (only No. 1 single)
In 1973, “Brother Louie” by Stories hits No. 1 – 1 week (only No. 1 single)
In 1979, “My Sharona” by The Knack hits No. 1 – 6 weeks (only No. 1 single)
In 2012, “Whistle” by Flo Rida hits No. 1 – 2 weeks (third of three No. 1 singles)
NEW RELEASES
(Albums)
In 1966, Motown Records releases the ninth studio album from The Supremes, “The Supremes A’ Go-Go”; Billboard 200: 1 (2 weeks); 4 million copies; “Love is Like an Itching in My Heart,” “You Can’t Hurry Love”
In 1971, Decca Records and Track Records releases the fifth studio album from The Who, “Who’s Next”; Billboard 200: 4; 3 million copies U.S.; Rolling Stone 500: 28; “Baba O’Riley,” “Bargain,” “Behind Blue Eyes,” “Won’t Get Fooled Again”
In 1975, Columbia Records releases the third studio album from Bruce Springsteen, “Born to Run”; Billboard 200: 3; 6 million copies U.S.; Rolling Stone 500: 18; “Thunder Road,” “Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out,” “Backstreets,” “Born to Run”
In 1976, Epic Records releases the debut studio album from Boston, “Boston”; Billboard 200: 3; 25 million copies (17 million copies U.S.); “More Than a Feeling,” “Foreplay/Long Time,” “Rock & Roll Band,” “Smokin’; “Peace of Mind”
In 1986, Warner Bros. Records releases the seventh solo studio album from Paul Simon, “Graceland”; Billboard 200: 3; 16 million copies (5 million copies U.S.); Rolling Stone 500: 81; Grammy Awards: Album of the Year, Record of the Year’ “The Boy in the Bubble,” “Graceland,” “You Can Call Me Al”
In 1987, Elektra Records releases the sixth studio album from The Cars, “Door to Door”; Billboard 200: 26; 500,000 copies U.S.; “You Are the Girl,” “Double Trouble,” “Strap Me In,” “Coming Up You”
In 1988, Elektra Records releases the fourth studio album from Metallica, “…And Justice for All”; Billboard 200: 8; 8 million copies U.S.; “Harvester of Sorrow,” “Eye of the Beholder,” “One”
In 1992, Duck Records and Reprise Records releases the sixth live solo album from Eric Clapton, “Unplugged”; Billboard 200: 1 (3 weeks); 26 million copies (10 million copies U.S.); Grammy Awards: Best Male Rock Vocal Performance, Album of the Year, Best Rock Song; “Tears in Heaven,” “Layla (Acoustic)”
In 1998, Ruffhouse Records and Columbia Records releases the debut solo studio album from Lauryn Hill, “The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill”; Billboard 200: 1 (2 weeks); 19 million copies (8 million copies U.S.); Rolling Stone 500: 312; Grammy Awards: Best New Artist, Best R&B Song, Best Female R&B Vocal Performance, Best R&B Album, Album of the Year; “Doo Wop (That Thing),” “Ex-Factor,” “Everything is Everything”
(Singles)
1962, “Monster Mash,” Bobby “Boris” Picket and the Crypt-Keepers
COMINGS/GOINGS
In 1970, Emerson, Lake and Palmer makes the live debut at the Plymouth Guild Hall in Plymouth, England.
In 1999, bassist Paul “Guigsy” McGuigan quits Oasis and is later replaced by Andy Bell.
The Journalism Gypsy 