BIRTHDAYS
Berry Gordy Jr. (1929) producer/songwriter/founder of Motown Records and Tamla Records
Gary Troxel (1939) The Fleetwoods singer/songwriter/co-founder [“Come Softly to Me”]
Bruce Channel [born Bruce McMeans] (1940) singer/songwriter [“Hey! Baby”]
Clem Curtis (1940) The Foundations lead singer/co-founder [“Build Me Up Buttercup”] (died 2017) age 76 – lung cancer
Randy Newman (1943) singer/songwriter/pianist/composer/arranger [“Short People”/”I Love L.A.”///”Mama Told Me Not to Come”]
Ronald “R.B.” Greaves (1943) singer/songwriter [“Take a Letter Maria”] (died 2012) age 68 – prostate cancer
Beeb Birtles [born Gerard Bertelkamp] (1948) Little River Band guitarist/bassist/songwriter [“Reminiscing”]
Paul Shaffer (1949) multi-instrumentalist/bandleader/composer, also actor
Kristine Arnold (1956) Sweethearts of the Rodeo singer/co-founder [current]
Michael Camacho (1957) Sly Fox co-lead singer/songwriter/co-founder [“Let’s Go All the Way”]
Matt Cameron (1962) Temple of the Dog drummer and Soundgarden and Pearl Jam drummer [current]
apl.de.ap [born Allan Lindo] (1974) The Black Eyed Peas singer/co-founder [current]
Chamillionaire [born Hakeem Seriki] (born 1979) rapper
Tyler Glenn (1983) Neon Trees lead singer/keyboardist/songwriter/co-founder [current] [“Animal”/”Everybody Talks”]
Trey Songz [born Tremaine Neverson] (1984) rapper/singer/songwriter, also actor
DEATHS
Jerry Edmonton (1993) Steppenwolf drummer/co-founder [“Born to Be Wild”/”Magic Carpet Ride”/”The Pusher”] (born 1946) age 47 – car accident
CHARTS
In 1960, “Are You Lonesome Tonight” by Elvis Presley hits No. 1 – 6 weeks (15th of 18 No. 1 singles)
In 1964, “Leader of the Pack” by The Shangri-Las hits No. 1 – 1 week (only No. 1 single)
In 1987, “(I’ve Had) The Time of My Life” by Bill Medley & Jennifer Warnes hits No. 1 – 1 week (only No. 1 solo single for both)
In 1992, “I Will Always Love You (From ‘The Bodyguard’)” by Whitney Houston hits No. 1 – 14 weeks (10th of 11 No. 1 singles)
In 1998, “Lately” by Divine hits No. 1 – 1 week (only No. 1 single)
In 2009, “Empire State of Mind” by Jay-Z featuring Alicia Keys hits No. 1 – 5 weeks (fourth and final No. 1 single for both Jay-Z and Alicia Keys)
NEW RELEASES
(Albums)
In 1977, Casablanca Records releases the sixth studio album from Parliament, “Funkentelechy Vs. the Placebo Syndrome”; Billboard 200: 13; 1 million copies U.S.; “Bop Gun (Endangered Species),” “Flash Light,” “Funkentelechy”
In 1978, Atlantic Records releases the debut live album from The Blues Brothers, “Briefcase Full of Blues”; Billboard 200: 1 (1 week); 3 million copies U.S.; “Rubber Biscuit,” “Soul Man”
(Singles)
1984, “I Would Die 4 U,” Prince and the Revolution
NOTEWORTHY
In 1974, John Lennon appears on stage with Elton John during a concert at New York City’s Madison Square Garden concert. Lennon joins John in singing “Whatever Gets You Through the Night,” “Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds,” and “I Saw Her Standing There.” The appearance, which is Lennon’s final one on stage, occurs after Lennon had promised John that he would make a stage appearance with him if John’s version of “Whatever Gets You Through the Night” became a No. 1 hit, which it had done two weeks earlier. Later that same night, Lennon and his estranged wife, Yoko Ono, reconcile backstage after being separated for a year during what is known as Lennon’s “Lost Weekend.”
The Journalism Gypsy 