September 27 Music History Report

BIRTHDAYS

Don Cornelius (1936) “Soul Train” host and producer (died 2012) age 75 – suicide by gunshot

Don Nix (1941) solo/session guitarist/saxophonist/composer/arranger

Randy Bachman (1943) The Guess Who and Bachman-Turner Overdrive lead guitarist/songwriter/co-founder and solo singer/guitarist/songwriter

Meat Loaf [born Marvin Lee Aday] (1947) singer/songwriter, also actor (died 2022) age 74 – unknown causes

Greg Ham (1953) Men at Work keyboardist/multi-instrumentalist/songwriter/co-founder (died 2012) age 58 – heart attack

Shaun Cassidy (1958) singer/songwriter/guitarist/pianist [“Da Doo Ron Ron”/”That’s Rock ‘n’ Roll”]

Stephan Jenkins (1964) Third Eye Blind lead singer/guitarist/songwriter/co-founder [“Semi-Charmed Life”/”How’s It Going to Be”]

Mark Calderon (1970) Color Me Badd singer/co-founder [“I Wanna Sex You Up”/All 4 Love”]

Carrie Brownstein (1974) Sleater-Kinney lead singer/guitarist/founder

Brad Arnold (1978) 3 Doors Down lead singer/drummer/co-founder [“Krytonite”/”When I’m Gone”/”Here Without You”]

Lil Wayne [born Dwayne Carter Jr.] (1982) hip-hop singer/songwriter

Avril Lavigne (1984) singer/songwriter [“Complicated”/”Girlfriend”]

DEATHS

Jimmy McCulloch (1979) Wings lead guitarist/bassist (born 1953) age 26 – morphine and alcohol poisoning-related heart failure

Cliff Burton (1986) Metallica bassist (born 1962) age 24 – bus crash

Jamie Lyons (2006) The Music Explosion lead singer/co-founder [“Little Bit O’ Soul”] (born 1949) age 57 – heart failure

George “Wydell” Jones Jr. (2008) The Edsels lead singer/songwriter/co-founder [“Rama Lama Ding Dong”] (born 1936) age 71 – cancer

R.B. Greaves III (2012) singer [“Take a Letter Maria”/”(There’s) Always something There to Remind Me”] (born 1943) age 68 – prostate cancer

Marty Balin [born Martyn Buchwald] (2018) efferson Airplane and Jefferson Starship co-lead singer/guitarist/keyboardist/songwriter and solo singer/guitarist/keyboardist/songwriter (born 1942) age 76 – unknown causes

CHARTS

In 1975, “I’m Sorry”/[b-side “Calypso”] by John Denver hits No. 1 – 1 week (fourth and final No. 1 single)

In 2008, “So What” by Pink hits No. 1 – 1 week (second of four No. 1 singles)

NEW RELEASES

(Albums)

In 1994, Minty Fresh Records releases the debut studio album from Veruca Salt, “American Thighs”; Billboard 20: 69; “Seether”

In 1994, Warner Bros. Records releases the ninth studio album from R.E.M., “Monster”; Billboard 200: 1 (2 weeks); 6 million copies (4 million copies U.S.); “What’s the Frequency, Kenneth?,” “Crush With Eyeliner,” “Bang and Blame”

In 1994, MCA Records releases the soundtrack album to the movie “Pulp Fiction,” “Music from the Motion Picture Pulp Fiction”; Billboard 200: 21; 3 million copies U.S.; “Jungle Boogie,” Kool & the Gang; “Let’s Stay Together,” Al Green; “Son of a Preacher Man,” Dusty Springfield; “Girl, “You’ll Be a Woman Soon,” Urge Overkill; “Flowers on the Wall,” The Statler Brothers; “You Never Can Tell,” Chuck Berry

In 1994, RCA Records releases the debut studio album from Dave Matthews Band, “Under the Table and Dreaming”; Billboard 200: 11; 6 million copies U.S.; “What Would You Say,” “Ants Marching,” “Satellite”

(Singles)

1964, “Leader of the Pack,” The Shangri-Las

1973, “The Way We Were,” Barbra Streisand

1980, “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin’,” Hall & Oates

1982, “Truly,” Lionel Richie

1988, “Listen to Your Heart,” Roxette

1989, “We Didn’t Start the Fire,” Billy Joel