BIRTHDAYS
Freddie Scott (1933) soul and R&B singer/songwriter [“Hey Girl”] (died 2007) age 74 – natural causes
Barbra Streisand (1942) singer/songwriter/actress/director [“The Way We Were”/”Evergreen (Love Theme From ‘A Star is Born’)”/”You Don’t Bring Me Flowers” (with Neil Diamond)/”]
Richard Sterban (1943) Oak Ridge Boys bass singer [current]
Bernard “St. Clair” Lee (1944) Hues Corporation singer [“Rock the Boat”] (died 2011) age 66 – natural causes
Doug “Cosmo” Clifford (1945) Creedence Clearwater Revival drummer/songwriter/co-founder and Creedence Clearwater Revisited drummer/songwriter/co-founder
Hubert Ann Kelley (1947) Hues Corporation singer [“Rock the Boat”]
Steve York (1948) Manfred Mann Chapter Three bassist/co-founder
Rob Hyman (1950) The Hooters co-lead singer/multi-instrumentalist/songwriter/co-founder [current]
Nigel Harrison (1951) Blondie bassist
Captain Sensible [born Raymond Burns] The Damned bassist/guitarist/co-founder [current]
Jack Blades (1954) Night Ranger co-lead singer/bassist/songwriter/co-founder [current], Damn Yankees and Shaw/Blades co-lead singer/bassist/songwriter/co-founder and solo singer/bassist/songwriter
Boris Williams (1957) The Cure drummer
David J [born David Haskins] (1957) Bauhaus and Love and Rockets bassist/multi-instrumentalist/co-founder
Billy Gould (1963) Faith No More bassist/keyboardist/songwriter/co-founder [current] [“Epic”]
Paul Ryder (1964) Happy Mondays bassist/co-founder (died 2022) age 58 – ischemic heart disease and diabetes
Patty Schemel (1967) Hole drummer and Juliette and the Licks drummer/co-founder
Shannon Larkin (1967) Ugly Kid Joe and Godsmack drummer/songwriter
Aaron Comess (1968) Spin Doctors drummer/multi-instrumentalist/co-founder [current]
Brian Marshall (1973) Creed bassist/songwriter/co-founder and Alter Bridge bassist/songwriter/co-founder [current]
Kelly Clarkson (1982) singer/songwriter [“Before Your Love”/”Stronger (What Doesn’t Kill You)”], also actress
Tyson Ritter (1984) All-American Rejects lead singer/multi-instrumentalist/co-founder [current]
DEATHS
Pete Ham (1975) Badfinger lead singer/songwriter/guitarist/keyboardist/co-founder (born 1947) age 27 – suicide by hanging
Billy Paul [born Paul Williams] (2016) soul and R&B singer [“Me and Mrs. Jones”] (born 1934) age 81 – pancreatic cancer
Harold Reid (2020) The Statler Brothers bass singer/songwriter/co-founder [“Flowers on the Wall”/”Bed of Rose’s”] (born 1939) age 80 – kidney failure
Andrew Woolfolk (2022) Earth, Wind & Fire flautist/saxophonist/percussionist (born 1950) age 71 – long illness
Mike Pinder (2024) The Moody Blues keyboardist/songwriter/co-founder (born 1941) age 82 – dementia
CHARTS
In 1961, “Runaway” by Del Shannon hits No. 1 – 4 weeks (only No. 1 single)
In 1965, “Game of Love” by Wayne Fontana and & The Mindbenders hits No. 1 – 1 week (only No. 1 single)
NEW RELEASES
(Albums)
In 1968, Buddah Records releases the debut studio album from the 1910 Fruitgum Company, “Simon Says”; Billboard 200: 162; “Simon Says”
In 1970, Reprise Records releases the fifth studio album from Gordon Lightfoot, “Sit Down Young Stranger”; Billboard 200: 12; 500,000 copies U.S.; “If You Could Read My Mind”
In 1976, RCA Victor Records releases the 24th studio album from Waylon Jennings, “Ol’ Waylon”; Billboard 200: 15; 1 million copies; “Luckenbach, Texas (Back to the Basics of Love)”
In 1983, EMI Records releases the debut studio album from Corey Hart, “First Offense”; Billboard 200: 31; 1 million copies (500,000 copies U.S.); “Sunglasses at Night,” “It Ain’t Enough”
In 1989, MCA Records releases the debut solo studio album from Tom Petty, “Full Moon Fever”; Billboard 200: 3; 5 million copies U.S.; “Free Fallin’,” “I Won’t Back Down,” “Runnin’ Down a Dream,” “A Face in the Crowd,” “Yer So Bad”
(Singles)
1959, “There Goes My Baby,” Drifters
1967, “Light My Fire,” The Doors
1968, “This Guy’s in Love With You,” Herb Alpert
COMINGS/GOINGS
In 1971, Fleetwood Mac announces that guitarist Bob Welch as the replacement for Jeremy Spencer.
NOTEWORTHY
In 1961, Bob Dylan earns $50 by playing harmonica during singer Harry Belafonte’s recording of “Midnight Special,” marking Dylan professional recording debut.
In 1976, as talk of a rumored reunion of The Beatles is making headlines, “Saturday Night Live” executive producer Lorne Michaels goes on camera during an airing of the show to offer the band members $3,000 (which, at the time, was union scale) to reunite on the show to play three songs live. Paul McCartney and John Lennon are watching at Lennon’s New York City apartment and consider showing up to the studio by taking a cab, but pass up the opportunity due to being too tired. It was also noteworthy as it was the last time McCartney and Lennon were together. George Harrison appears on the show in November of that year and requests payment for making an appearance. Michaels eventually offers him $250 for saying the show’s catchphrase, “Live from New York – It’s ‘Saturday Night!'”
In 1984, the Talking Heads’ concert film, “Stop Making Sense,” is released in the United States.
The Journalism Gypsy 