BIRTHDAYS
Igor Stravinsky (1882) composer/pianist/conductor (died 1971) age 88 – heart failure
Clyde “Red” Foley (1910) country singer/songwriter/guitarist/banjoist [“Peace in the Valley”] (died 1968) age 58 – respiratory failure
Cliff Gallup (1930) Gene Vincent and His Blue Caps guitarist/co-founder (died 1988) age 58 – heart attack
Barry Manilow [born Barry Pincus] (1943) singer/songwriter/pianist [“Mandy”/”Weekend in New England”/Copacabana (At the Copa)”]
Gregg Rolie (1947) Santana lead singer/keyboardist/songwriter/co-founder [“Black Magic Woman”/”Oye Come Va”/”Evil Ways”] and Journey lead singer/keyboardist/songwriter/co-founder
Paul Young (1947) Mike + The Mechanics lead singer/songwriter/co-founder [“The Living Years”/”All I Need is a Miracle”] and solo singer/songwriter (died 2000) age 53 – cardiac arrest
Russell Smith (1949) Amazing Rhythm Aces lead singer/songwriter/guitarist/co-founder and solo singer/songwriter/guitarist (died 2019) age 70 – cancer
Philip Chevron [born Philip Ryan] (1957) The Pogues lead singer/guitarist/songwriter/co-founder [“The Irish Rover”] (died 2012) age 56 – esophageal cancer
Jello Biafra [born Eric Boucher] (1958) Dead Kennedys lead singer/songwriter/co-founder [“Let’s Lynch the Landlord”]
Michael Monroe (1962) Hanoi Rocks lead singer/saxophonist/harmonica player/songwriter/co-founder
Eric Stefani (1967) No Doubt keyboardist/guitarist/songwriter/co-founder [“Spiderwebs”/”Don’t Speak”]
Kevin “KT” Thornton (1969) Color Me Badd baritone singer/co-founder [“I Wanna Sex You Up”]
Kendrick Lamar [born Kendrick Duckworth] (1987) rapper/songwriter
DEATHS
Kate Smith (1986) singer [“God Bless America”] (born 1907) age 79 – respiratory arrest
Karl Mueller (2005) Soul Asylum bassist/co-founder (born 1963) age 41 – throat cancer
CHARTS
In 1978, “Shadow Dancing” by Andy Gibb hits No. 1 – 7 weeks (third and final No. 1 single; first solo artist to have his or her first three singles reach No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart)
In 1989, “I’ll Be Loving You (Forever)” by New Kids on the Block hits No. 1 – 1 week (first of three No. 1 singles)
In 2000, “Try Again” by Aaliyah hits No. 1 – 1 week (only No. 1 single)
In 2006, “Hips Don’t Lie” by Shakira featuring Wyclef Jean hits No. 1 – 2 weeks (only No. 1 single for Shakira and second and final No. 1 single for Jean)
NEW RELEASES
(Albums)
In 1969, RCA Records releases the 15th studio from Elvis Presley, “From Elvis in Memphis”; Billboard 200: 13; 500,000 copies U.S.; Rolling Stone 500: 190; “In the Ghetto”
In 1976, Reprise Records releases the 11th studio album from Gordon Lightfoot, “Summertime Dream”; Billboard 200: 12; 1 million copies U.S.; “The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald”
In 1977, Atlantic Records releases the third studio album from Crosby, Stills & Nash, “CSN”; Billboard 200: 2; 4 million copies U.S.; “Just a Song Before I Go,” “Fair Game”
In 1982, A&M Records releases the fifth studio album from Joe Jackson, “Night and Day”; Billboard 200: 4; 1 million copies U.S.; “Steppin’ Out,” “Breaking Us in Two”
In 1983, A&M Records releases the fifth and final studio album from The Police, “Synchronicity”; Billboard 200: 1 (17 weeks); 8 million copies; Grammy Awards: Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group With Vocal; Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group With Vocal; Song of the Year; Grammy Hall of Fame (2009); Rolling Stone 500: 455; “Every Breath You Take,” “King of Pain,” “Synchronicity II,” “Wrapped Around Your Finger,” “Walking in Your Footsteps”
In 2008, Parlophone Records and Capitol Records releases the fourth studio album from Coldplay, “Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends”; Billboard 200: 1 (2 weeks); 6 million copies (2 million copies U.S.); “Viva la Vida,” “Violet Hill”
(Singles)
1964, “Where Did Our Love Go,” The Supremes
1966, “Bus Stop,” The Hollies
1968, “Classical Gas,” Mason Williams
1976, “X Offender,” Blondie
1997, “Semi-Charmed Life,” Third Eye Blind
COMINGS/GOINGS
In 1966, guitarist Peter Green joins John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers, replacing Eric Clapton.
NOTEWORTHY
In 1933 in Ponoroc, Mississippi, Vernon Presley married Gladys Smith, who would give birth to a son, Elvis Aaron Presley, a year and a half later.
In 1967, Liberty Records places an advertisement in New Musical Express magazine looking for new talent, specifically looking for “talented artists/composers/singers/musicians.” Answering the ad individually were Bernie Taupin and Reginald Dwight (later known as Elton John), who would become a singing/songwriting team.
In 1978, a five-piece band hailing from Boston had its first single from its eponymously named debut album hit the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart (the first of what would be many hit singles). The single was “Just What I Needed” and the band’s name was The Cars.
The Journalism Gypsy 