BIRTHDAYS
Lou Rawls (1933) singer [“Love is a Hurtin’ Thing”/”You’ll Never Find Another Love Like Mine”] (died 2006) age 72 – cancer
Billy Paul (1934) soul singer [“Me and Mrs. Jones”] (died 2016) age 81 – pancreatic cancer
Sandy Nelson (1938) The Teddy Bears drummer/co-founder [“To Know Him is to Love Him”] and solo drummer (died 2022) age 83 – stroke complications
Dianne “Dee Dee” Lennon (1939) The Lennon Sisters singer/co-founder
John Densmore (1944) The Doors drummer/songwriter/co-founder
Eric Bloom (1944) Blue Öyster Cult lead singer/songwriter [current]
Bette Midler (1945) singer/songwriter/ukulele player [“The Rose”/”Wind Beneath My Wings”/”Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy”], also actress
Gilbert O’Sullivan [born Raymond O’Sullivan] (1946) singer/songwriter/pianist [“Alone Again (Naturally)”]
John “Jaco” Pastorius (1951) jazz bassist/composer (died 1987) age 35 – brain hemorrhage from beating
Chris Poland (1957) Megadeth guitarist
Sam Reid (1963) Glass Tiger keyboardist/co-founder [current] [“Don’t Forget Me (When I’m Gone)”]
Greg Upchurch (1971) 3 Doors Down drummer [current]
Isaiah “Ikey” Owens (1974) The Mars Volta keyboardist/co-founder (died 2014) age 39 – heart attack
Brad Delson (1977) Linkin Park lead guitarist/co-founder [current]
Tyler Joseph (1988) twenty one pilots lead singer/rapper/songwriter/multi-instrumentalist/co-founder [current]
DEATHS
Irving “Lee” Dorsey (1986) R&B singer/songwriter [“Ya Ya”/”Working in the Coal Mine”] (born 1924) age 61 – emphysema
Billy Lyall (1989) Pilot co-lead singer/songwriter/flautist/keyboardist [“Magic”] and Bay City Rollers keyboardist (born 1953) age 36 – AIDS-related causes
CHARTS
In 1958, “To Know Him is to Love Him” by the Teddy Bears hits No. 1 – 3 weeks (only No. 1 single)
In 1973, “Top of the World” by The Carpenters hits No. 1 – 2 weeks (second No. 1 single)
In 1990, “I’m Your Baby Tonight” by Whitney Houston hits No. 1 – 1 week (eighth No. 1 single)
In 2007, “No One” by Alicia Keys hits No. 1 – 5 weeks (third of four No. 1 singles)
In 2012, “Diamonds” by Rihanna hits No. 1 – 3 weeks (12 of 14 No. 1 singles)
NEW RELEASES
(Albums)
In 1972, Columbia Records releases the second studio album from Loggins and Messina, “Loggins and Messina”; Billboard 200: 16; “Your Mama Don’t Dance,” “Thinking of You”
In 1973, ABC Records releases the fifth and final studio album from Jim Croce, “I Got a Name”; Billboard 200: 2; 500,000 copies U.S.; 500,000 copies U.S.; “I Got a Name,” “Workin’ at the Car Wash Blues,” “I’ll Have to Say I Love You in a Song”
In 1973, WWA/Vertigo Records releases the fifth studio album from Black Sabbath, “Sabbath Bloody Sabbath”; Billboard 200: 11; 1 million copies U.S.; “Sabbath Bloody Sabbath”
In 1975, A&M Records releases the fifth studio album from Styx, “Equinox”; Billboard 200: 58; 500,000 copies U.S.; “Lorelei,” “Suite Madame Blue”
In 1975, Albert Records releases the second album from AC/DC, “T.N.T.”; 9 million copies; “It’s a Long Way to the Top (If You Wanna Rock ‘n’ Roll),” “T.N.T.,” “Rocker,”
In 1977, Columbia Records releases the fifth studio album from Aerosmith, “Draw the Line”; Billboard 200: 11; 2 million copies; “Draw the Line,” “Kings and Queens”
In 1978, Warner Bros. Records releases the eighth studio album from The Doobie Brothers, “Minute by Minute”; Billboard 200: 1 (5 weeks); 4 million copies (3 million copies U.S.); Grammy Awards: Record of the Year, Song of the Year, Best Arrangement Accompanying Vocals, Best Pop Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group; “What a Fool Believes,” “Minute By Minute”
(Singles)
1965, “Tell Her No,” The Zombies
1971, “Happy Xmas (War is Over),” John Lennon
1972, “Peaceful Easy Feeling,” The Eagles
1975, “All By Myself,” Eric Carmen
1980, “Same Old Lang Syne,” Dan Fogelberg
1992, “Ordinary World,” Duran Duran
COMINGS/GOINGS
In 1968, Janis Joplin performs with Big Brother & the Holding Company for the final time at a Dog Family benefit show in San Francisco.
NOTEWORTHY
In 1958, in an article about Ricky Nelson, Life magazine uses the phrase “teen idol” to describe the singer, who appears on the publication’s cover. It is the first time the phrase is used in a major publication.
In 1961, Brian Epstein met with Decca Records to discuss a deal for a new band he was interested in called The Beatles. Decca A&R man Mike Smith went to the Cavern in Liverpool to hear the group play, then arranged an audition for the group with Decca on January 1, 1962. In one of the classic business blunders of all-time, Decca Records turned the group down after their audition in favor of Brian Poole and the Tremeloes, telling Epstein that “The Beatles have no future in show business.”
The Journalism Gypsy 