BIRTHDAYS
Ella Fitzgerald (1917) jazz singer (died 1996) age 79 – diabetes-related heart failure
Albert King (1923) blues guitarist/singer/songwriter [“Born Under a Bad Sign”] (died 1992) age 69 – heart attack
Jerry Leiber (1933) songwriter [with Mike Stoller] [“Hound Dog”/”Kansas City”/”Down in Mexico”/”Stand By Me”/”On Broadway”/”Jailhouse Rock”] (died 2011) age 78 – cardio-pulmonary failure
Mike Kennedy [born Michael Kogel] (1944) Los Bravos lead singer/co-founder [“Black is Black”]
Björn Ulvaeus (1945) ABBA guitarist/singer/songwriter/co-founder
Stu Cook (1945) Creedence Clearwater Revival bassist/songwriter/co-founder and Creedence Clearwater Revisted bassist/songwriter/co-founder [current]
Michael Brown (1949) The Left Banke keyboardist/songwriter/co-founder [“Walk Away Renee”/”Pretty Ballerina”] (2015) age 65 – heart failure
Steve Ferrone (1950) Average White Band drummer and Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers drummer
David Sikes (1955) Giuffria and Boston bassist
Andy Bell (1964) Erasure lead singer/co-founder [“Chains of Love”]
Eric Avery (1965) Jane’s Addiction bassist/co-founder
Steve Rollin [born Steve Gibson] (1966) Tag Team rapper/songwriter/co-founder [“Whoomp! (There It Is)”]
DEATHS
Dexter Gordon (1990) jazz tenor saxophonist (born 1923) age 67 – kidney failure and cancer of the larynx
Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes (2002) TLC singer/songwriter/co-founder and solo singer/songwriter/pianist (born 1971) age 30 – car crash
Bobby “Boris” Pickett (2007) Bobby “Boris” Pickett and the Crypt-Kickers singer/songwriter [“Monster Mash”] (born 1938) age 69 – leukemia
Susan Jacks [born Susan Pesklevits] (2022) The Poppy Family singer/guitarist/songwriter/co-founder [“Which Way You Goin’ Billy?”] and solo singer/guitarist/songwriter (born 1948) age 73 – kidney infection
Harry Belafonte [born Harold Bellanfanti Jr.] (2023) singer/songwriter [“The Banana Boat Song”], also actor (born 1927) age 96 – congestive heart failure
CHARTS
In 1960, “Stuck on You” by Elvis Presley hits No. 1 – 4 weeks (13th of 18 No. 1 singles)
In 1970, “ABC” by the Jackson Five hits No. 1 – 2 weeks (second of four No. 1 singles)
In 1992, “Jump” by Kris Kross hits No, 1 – 8 weeks (only No. 1 single)
In 1998, “Too Close” by Next hits No. 1 – 6 – 5 weeks (only No. 1 single)
In 2015, “See You Again” by Wiz Khalifa featuring Charlie Puth hits No. 1 (second and final No. 1 single for Khalifa; only No. 1 single for Puth)
NEW RELEASES
(Albums)
In 1966, Decca Records releases the debut studio album from The Who, “The Who Sings My Generation”; Rolling Stone 500: 237; “My Generation,” “The Kids Are Alright”
In 1968, MGM Records releases the second studio album from Eric Burdon & the Animals, “The Twain Shall Meet”; Billboard 200: 78; “Sky Pilot”
In 1970, MGM Records releases the debut studio album from Eric Burdon and War, “Eric Burdon Declares ‘War'”; Billboard 200: 18; “Spill the Wine”
In 1975, A&M Records releases the sixth studio album from Nazareth, “Hair of the Dog”; Billboard 200: 17; 1 million copies U.S.; “Hair of the Dog,” “Love Hurts”
In 1979, Casablanca Records releases the seventh studio album from Donna Summer, “Bad Girls”; Billboard 200: 1 (6 weeks); 2 million copies U.S.; “Hot Stuff,” “Bad Girls,” “Dim All the Lights”
(Singles)
1971, “It’s Too Late,” Carole King
1974, “Rikki Don’t Lose That Number,” Steely Dan
1988, “New Sensation,” INXS
COMINGS/GOINGS
In 1975, guitarist Johnny Thunders and drummer Jerry Nolan quit the New York Dolls while the band is on tour in Florida. They would reunite with the original lineup again in 2004.
In 1981, guitarist Denny Laine quits Wings, which turns Paul McCartney into a solo artist.
In 1994, after a period of 14 years, The Eagles reunite for the first of two reunion concerts at the Shoreline Amphitheater on Mountain View, California, that would form the live/studio album, “Hell Freezes Over.”
NOTEWORTHY
In 1979, the movie “Rock ‘n’ Roll High School,” starring the Ramones, debuts at movie theaters in Texas and New Mexico.
The Journalism Gypsy 