BIRTHDAYS
Eddie Floyd (1937) soul and R&B singer [“Knock on Wood”]
Harold Melvin (1939) Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes singer/founder [“Bad Luck”/”If You Don’t Know Me By Now”] (died 1997) age 57 – stroke-related complications
Clint Warwick (1940) The Moody Blues bassist/co-founder (died 2004) age 63 – liver disease
Carly Simon (1945) singer/songwriter/pianist [“You’re So Vain”/”Nobody Does It Better”/”Coming Around Again”]
Allen Lanier (1946) Blue Öyster Cult keyboardist/guitarist/songwriter/co-founder (died 2013) age 67 – chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Ian McDonald (1946) Foreigner and King Crimson multi-instrumentalist/songwriter/co-founder (died 2022) age 75 – cancer
Brian “Tim” Finn (1952) Split Enz and Finn Brothers singer/keyboardist/songwriter/co-founder, Crowded House multi-instrumentalist and solo singer/multi-instrumentalist
David Paich (1954) Toto keyboardist/songwriter/co-founder [current] and Boz Scaggs keyboardist/songwriter
George Michael [born Georgios Panayiotou] (1963) Wham! singer/songwriter/co-founder and solo singer/songwriter (died 2016) age 53 – natural causes
John McCrea (1964) Cake lead singer/songwriter/guitarist/pianist/co-founder [“The Distance”]
Zim Zum [born Timothy Linton] (1969) Marilyn Manson guitarist/songwriter
Sean Kelly (1971) Sixpence None the Richer guitarist [“Kiss Me”]
Michael Kroeger (1972) Nickelback bassist/co-founder [current]
Mario Calire (1974) The Wallflowers and Ozomatli drummer
DEATHS
Johnny Mercer (1976) singer/lyricist/songwriter [“Summer Wind”/”Days of Wine and Roses”/”Moon River”/”Autumn Leaves”/”That Old Black Magic”], also co-founder of Capitol Records (born 1909) age 66 – brain tumor
Jimmy Soul (1988) soul singer [“If You Wanna Be Happy”] (born 1942) age 45 – drug-related heart attack
Hillel Slovak (1988) Red Hot Chili Peppers guitarist/songwriter/co-founder (born 1962) age 26 – heroin overdose
Michael Jackson (2009) The Jackson Five singer/songwriter and solo singer/songwriter (born 1958) age 50 – propofol and benzodiazepine intoxication and cardiac arrest
CHARTS
In 1966, “Paperback Writer” by The Beatles hits No. 1 – 2 weeks (12th of 19 No. 1 singles
In 1977, “Got to Give It Up (Part 1)” by Marvin Gaye hits No. 1 – 1 week (third and final No. 1 single)
In 1988, “Foolish Beat” by Debbie Gibson hits No. 1 – 1 week (first of two No. 1 singles)
NEW RELEASES
(Albums)
In 1973, Columbia Records releases the fifth studio album from Chicago, “Chicago VI”; Billboard 200: 1 (5 weeks); 2 million copies U.S.; “Feelin’ Stronger Every Day,” “Just You ‘N’ Me”
In 1975, Warner Bros. Records releases the fourth solo album from Gary Wright, “Dream Weaver”; Billboard 200: 7; “Dream Weaver,” “Love is Alive”
In 1984, Warner Bros. releases the sixth studio album (and soundtrack album to the film of the same name) from Prince & the Revolution, “Purple Rain”; Billboard 200: 1 (24 weeks); 25 million copies (13 million copies U.S.; Rolling Stone 500: 76; Grammy Awards: Best Rock Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group, Best Album of Original Score Written for a Motion Picture or Television Special, Grammy Hall of Fame Inductee (2011); Academy Award: Best Original Song Score; “Let’s Go Crazy,” “Darling Nikki,” “When Doves Cry,” “I Would Die 4 U,” “Baby I’m a Star,” “Purple Rain”
(Singles)
1970, “25 or 6 to 4,” Chicago
1975, “Feel Like Making Love,” Bad Company
COMINGS/GOINGS
In 1980, Daryl Hall and John Oates recorded together for the first time as a group known as Whole Oats.
In 1984, singer Patti Scialfa joins Bruce Springsteen’s E Street Band.
In 1993, Weezer signs a recording contract with DGC Records.
NOTEWORTHY
In 1967, on a television show entitled “One World” that was broadcast to a worldwide audience estimated at 400 million, The Beatles debut a new song, “All You Need is Love.”
In 1983, for the first time in the history of the Billboard Hot 100 singles charts, there were more foreign-based artists on the chart than U.S.-based artists.
The Journalism Gypsy 