September 28 Music History Report

BIRTHDAYS

Ed Sullivan (1901) television host [“The Ed Sullivan Show”] (died 1974) age 73 – esophageal cancer

Koko Taylor [born Cora Walton] (1928) blues singer [“Wang Dang Doodle”] (died 2009) age 80 – intestinal surgery complications

Ben E. King (1938) Drifters lead singer/songwriter [“Save the Last Dance for Me”/”There Goes My Baby”] and solo singer/songwriter [“Spanish Harlem”/”Stand By Me”] (died 2015) age 76 – coronary problems

Nick St. Nicholas [born Klaus Kassbaum] (1943) Steppenwolf bassist

Paul Burgess (1950) 10cc drummer [current]

Kenneth “Keni” Burke (1953) The Five Stairsteps singer/songwriter/multi-instrumentalist/co-founder [“O-o-h Child”] and solo singer/songwriter/multi-instrumentalist

George Lynch (1954) Dokken guitarist/songwriter

Moon Unit Zappa (1967) “spoken word” artist [“Valley Girl” with Frank Zappa], also actress

Sean Levert (1968) LeVert singer/songwriter/co-founder (died 2008) age 39 – sarcoidosis

Jeezy [born Jay Jenkins] (1977) rapper [“Soul Survivor” (with Akon)]

Hilary Duff (1987) singer/songwriter, also actress

DEATHS

Miles Davis (1991) jazz trumpeter/bandleader/composer (born 1928) age 65 – stroke, pneumonia, and respiratory failure

Frankie Ford [born Vincent Guzzo] (2015) singer/pianist [“Sea Cruise”] (born 1939) age 76 – long illness

Coolio [born Artis Ivey Jr.] (2022) rapper/songwriter [“Gangsta’s Paradise” (featuring (L.V.)/”Fantastic Voyage”/”1, 2, 3, 4 (Sumpin’ New)”] (born 1963) age 59 – unknown causes

CHARTS

In 1957, “That’ll Be the Day” by The Crickets hits No. 1 – 1 week (only No. 1 single)

In 1968, “Hey Jude”/b-side “Revolution” by The Beatles hits No. 1 – 9 weeks (16th of 19 No. 1 singles; “Revolution” Reached No. 12 as an A-side)

In 1974, “Rock Me Gently” by Andy Kim hits No. 1 – 1 week (only No. 1 single)

In 2013, “Wrecking Ball” by Miley Cyrus hits No. 1 – 3 weeks (only No. 1 single)

NEW RELEASES

(Albums)

In 1976, Tamla Records releases the 18th studio album from Stevie Wonder, “Songs in the Key of Life”; Billboard 200: 1 (14 weeks); 5 million copies U.S.; Grammy Awards: Album of the Year, Best Pop Vocal Performance, Male, Best R&B Vocal Performance, Male, Grammy Hall of Fame (2002); Rolling Stone 500: 57; “I Wish,” “Another Star,” “Sir Duke,” “As”

In 1978, Chrysalis Records releases the third studio album from Blondie, Parallel Lines”; Billboard 200: 6; 1 million copies U.S.; “Picture This,” “Hanging on the Telephone,” “Heart of Glass,” “Sunday Girl,” “One Way or Another”

In 1987, Mute Records releases the sixth studio album from Depeche Mode, “Music for the Masses”; Billboard 200: 35; 1 million copies U.S.; “Strangelove”

In 1999, Wind-up Records releases the second studio album from Creed, “Human Clay”; Billboard 200: 1 (2 weeks); 11 million copies U.S.; “Higher,” “What If,” “With Arms Wide Open,” “Are You Ready?”

(Singles)

1956, “Love Me Tender,” Elvis Presley

1958, “To Know His is to Love Him,” The Teddy Bears

1964, “I’m Into Something Good,” Herman’s Hermits

1967, “I Heard It Through the Grapevine,” Gladys Knight and the Pips

1972, “Papa was a Rollin’ Stone,” The Temptations

1987, “Welcome to the Jungle,” Guns ‘N Roses

1990, “I’m Your Baby Tonight,” Whitney Houston

COMINGS/GOINGS

In 1968, singer Janis Joplin’s manager, Albert Grossman, announces her departure from Big Brother and the Holding Company.

NOTEWORTHY

In 1963, “She Loves You” by The Beatles is played by New York disc jockey Murry the K during his show on WINS-AM, which is thought to be the first time a song by The Beatles is played on the radio in the United States.