Streaming Oldies - Listen On Demand - MEMORIES FROZEN IN TIME

THIS WEEK IN ROCK & ROLL HISTORY
February 7 – 13

BIRTHS ... DEATHS ... EVENTS
With
Photos – Rock & Roll Trivia – Videos

'All Those Years Ago'

THE ROCK & ROLL MEMORY MAGAZINE

ALL DEATHS ARE NOTED IN BOLD CHERRY

SUNDAY February 7

The late King Curtis ('Soul Twist') was born in 1934

David Bryan (keyboards with Bon Jovi – 'Bad Medicine') is 48

Garth Brooks ('Friends In Low Places') is 48

Alan Lancaster (bass guitar with Status Quo – 'Pictures Of Matchstick Men') is 61

Jimmy Greenspoon (keyboards with Three Dog Night – 'Eli's Coming') is 62

Sammy Johns ('Chevy Van') is 64

Dora Bryan (born Dora Mary Broadbent – British actress but mentioned here for her 1963 Top 20 British novelty hit, 'All I Want For Christmas Is A Beatle') is 86

A thousand people attended Buddy Holly's funeral in Lubbock, Texas---1959

The Jive Five recorded 'My True Story'---1961

Five years to the day after Buddy Holly was buried following a plane crash, the Beatles landed in New York City two days prior to appearing on 'The Ed Sullivan Show'---1964
Rock Factoid: Screaming teenagers created a mob scene outside their hotel. England's New Musical Express reported manager Brian Epstein had rejected an offer of over $15,000 for a concert at Madison Square Garden. Radio stations across America played nothing but Beatle songs. The British had recaptured America and all it had taken was an army of four.

Crawdaddy, the first American magazine devoted to rock & roll, was first published---1966

The Bee Gees returned to England after living in Australia for nine years---1967

The Beatles finished filming the 'Penny Lane' video---1967

This Is Tom Jones, a weekly variety show, debuted on ABC---1969

The Who recorded 'Pinball Wizard'---1969

Stephen Stills became the first rock performer to record on digital equipment in Los Angeles' Record Plant Studio---1979

Matt Monro ('My Kind Of Girl') died (cancer)---1985

A bill sponsoring 'Tutti-Frutti' as the official Georgia state song failed to pass---1989

Bobby Troup (jazz pianist who wrote 'Route 66' and 'The Girl Can't Help It' and the actor who played the role of Dr. Joe Early on 'Emergency!') died (heart attack)---1999

'Lonesome' Dave Peverett (guitarist and vocalist with Foghat – 'Slow Ride') died (pneumonia and complications from kidney cancer)---2000

Dale Evans ('Happy Trails' with husband Roy Rogers, a song she wrote) died (congestive heart failure)---2001

Malcolm Roberts ('May I Have The Next Dream With You') died (heart attack)---2003

MONDAY February 8

The late Terry Melcher (Rip Chords – 'Hey Little Cobra' and producer for the Byrds – 'Mr. Tambourine Man' and 'Turn, Turn, Turn' in addition to several of Paul Revere & The Raiders early hits) was born in 1942

The late 'England' Dan Seals ('I'd Really Love To See You Tonight' as part of England Dan & John Ford Coley, and 'Bop' as a solo artist) was born in 1948

Vince Neil (lead singer with Mötley Crüe – 'Smokin' In The Boys Room') is 49

Fito De La Parra (born Adolfo De La Parra – drummer with Canned Heat – 'Goin' Up The Country') is 64

Paul Wheatbread (drummer with Gary Puckett – 'Young Girl' and the house drummer on ABC's Where The Action Is) is 64

Creed Bratton (guitarist with the Grass Roots – 'Midnight Confession's) is 67

Folksinger Tom Rush ('No Regrets') is 69

Ray Sharpe ('Linda Lu') is 72

Larry Verne ('Please Mr. Custer') is 74

Buddy Holly signed a recording contract with Decca Records. The contract left off the 'E' in his last name (Holley) and he dropped it from his stage name as well---1956

Hearings began into payola in the US radio and record industries. Alan Freed and Dick Clark were among those who testified---1960

While on tour as the opening act for Helen Shapiro, the Beatles were thrown out of the ABC Ballroom in Carlisle for wearing leather jackets---1963

The Temptations released 'The Way You Do The Things You Do'---1964

The publisher of 'Louie Louie' offered $1,000 to anyone who could find suggestive lyrics in the song (No one ever did)---1964

The Beach Boys released 'Fun, Fun, Fun'---1964
Rock Factoid: It's a true story! Shirley England's father owned a radio station in Utah. He also owned a T-Bird.
“What really happened? I did take my dad's car, and I was going to go to the library and ended up at a place called Shore's Drive In ... a hamburger shop on 33rd South and 27th East." … Shirley England
Shirley's dad found out about her "cruising to the hamburger stand" and DID take the T-Bird away. As luck would have it, the Beach Boys happened to be at the radio station the next day.
"So I was kind of complaining to the staff at the radio station that I was in a bit of trouble, and the Beach Boys heard it." … Shirley England
Later, as the station general manager was driving the band back to the airport, they wrote the lyrics to Fun, Fun, Fun in the car.

The Supremes released 'Stop! In The Name Of Love'---1965

The Dave Clark Five began filming 'Catch Us If You Can' (a/k/a 'Having A Wild Weekend')---1965
Rock Factoid: Learning the script wasn't a major problem for guitarist Lenny Davidson. He is the only member of the band who didn't speak a single word of dialogue in the movie.

Peter & Gordon split up---1967

George Harrison recorded the vocals to finish the production of 'The Inner Light'---1968
Rock Factoid: The lyrics were based on Chapter 47 in the Laozi's Dao De Jing, the foundational book of Daoism.
Rock Factoid #2: The song became the first Harrison composition to be released on a Beatles single when it was issued as the B-side of Lady Madonna

Eric Clapton, Rick Grech, Ginger Baker and Steve Winwood formed Blind Faith---1969

Finally recognizing the fact the Fab Four were unlikely to reunite, the Beatles Fan Club went out of business---1972

Max Yasgur (owner of the dairy farm which became famous as the site of the 1969 Woodstock concert) died (heart attack)---1973

Queen released 'Killer Queen'---1975

The Who (minus the late Keith Moon) reunited for their 25th anniversary at a London awards ceremony---1988

Del Shannon ('Runaway') died (self-inflicted gunshot wound)---1990

Bob Wooler died (heart attack)---2002
Rock Factoid: If you're wondering who Wooler was, you're obviously not from Liverpool. Wooler was a Liverpool DJ and compère {master of ceremonies) at the Cavern. Well known for his opening line of, "Hello Cavern dwellers, welcome to the best of cellars," it was Wooler who talked Cavern owner Ray McFall into hiring the Beatles in 1961, and later went with the band – at their request – to their initial meeting with Brian Epstein.
It is no stretch of the imagination to say Bob Wooler was as instrumental in the Beatles' success as anyone else associated with the group. Without his support, they might have remained a Liverpool legend but would never have achieved their international fame.

Keith Knudsen (drummer with the Doobie Brothers – 'Takin' It To The Streets') died (pneumonia)---2005

Elton Dean (saxophone with Long John Baldry's Bluesology – 'Mister Frantic' – and Soft Machine – 'Fletcher's Blemish') died (heart and liver disease)---2006
Rock Factoid: Reginald Dwight, piano player with Bluesology, later combined Dean's and Baldry's first names for his own stage name: Elton John.

TUESDAY February 9

The late Ernest Tubb ('Walking The Floor Over You') was born in 1914

James 'Travis' Tritt ('Here's A Quarter (Call Someone Who Cares')) is 47

Holly Johnson (lead singer with Frankie Goes To Hollywood ('Relax') is 50

Major Harris ('Love Won't Let Me Wait') is 63

Barbara Lewis ('Baby, I'm Yours') is 67

Carole King ('It's Too Late') is 68

Mark Mathis (guitarist with the Newbeats – 'Bread And Butter') is 68

Brian Bennett (drummer with the Shadows – 'Dance On') is 70

Barry Mann (sang 'Who Put The Bomp' and later became a prolific songwriter) is 71

George Jones released the classic country hit, 'White Lightning' (written by the Big Bopper)---1959

John Lennon and Paul McCartney had previously performed at the Cavern Club in Liverpool as part of the Quarrymen, but this was the date they first took the stage there as the Beatles. It also marked George Harrison's debut at the club. Three years later to the day, the group stood on another stage – in New York City---1961

Neil Sedaka recorded 'Breaking Up Is Hard To Do' (the original version)---1962

The Beatles performed on The Ed Sullivan Show---1964
Rock Factoid: The performance set a U.S. rating record (72.7%). In front of a studio audience of just 738, the performance set broadcasting history by being beamed to 23,240,000 homes, reaching an estimated 73 million people.

Wings made their concert debut (at Nottingham University in England)---1972

Charlie Rich recorded 'The Most Beautiful Girl'---1973

Willie Nelson recorded 'Blue Eyes Crying In The Rain'---1975

Percy Faith ('Theme From A Summer Place') died (cancer)---1976

Bill Haley ('Rock Around The Clock') died (heart attack)---1981

Prince released 'Little Red Corvette'---1983

Mick Jagger's solo album ('Wandering Spirit') was released and promptly sank like a "stone" (pun intended)---1993

Paul McCartney released his 'Off The Ground' album---1993

Brian Connolly (lead singer with Sweet – 'Ballroom Blitz') died (kidney and liver failure)---1997

Tyrone Davis ('Can I Change My Mind') died (stroke)---2005

WEDNESDAY February 10

The late Jerry Goldsmith (film score composer who was nominated for 18 Academy Awards) was born in 1929

The late Kenny Rankin ('Peaceful') was born in 1940

The late Ral Donner ('You Don't Know What You've Got') was born in 1943

The late Nathaniel Mayer ('Village Of Love') was born in 1944

The late Cliff Burton (bass guitar with Metallica – 'Master Of Puppets') was born in 1962

Nigel Olsson (drummer with Elton John's Band – 'Someone Saved My Life Tonight') is 61

Jimmy Merchant (Frankie Lymon & The Teenagers – 'Why Do Fools Fall In Love') is 70

Roberta Flack ('First Time Ever I Saw Your Face') is 71

Don Wilson (guitarist with the Ventures - 'Walk—Don't Run') is 77

Little Richard recorded 'Long Tall Sally'---1956

The Beatles finished the recording of 'A Day In The Life' with one of the most famous chords in music history---1967
Rock Factoid: John Lennon, Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, George Martin and Mal Evans simultaneously played an E-major chord on three different pianos. The sound of the final chord was manipulated to ring out for as long as possible (nearly a minute) by increasing the sound level to the tape as the vibration faded out.
Near the end of the chord, the recording levels were turned so high that listeners can hear the sound of papers rustling, the squeaking of Starr's shoe as he shifts position, and someone saying "Shhh!," advising the band members and production staff to keep quiet.
Rock Factoid #2: The piano chord was a replacement for a failed vocal experiment: The Beatles had originally recorded an ending of their voices humming the chord, but even after multiple overdubs, realized they wanted something with more impact.

Roy Orbison released 'Dream Baby (How Long Must I Dream)'---1967

The Rolling Stones began the recording of 'Gimme Shelter'. In a sign of things to come, Brian Jones was not invited to the session---1969

Carole King released the 'Tapestry' album---1971

Liverpool's Cavern Club, the home of hundreds of Beatles appearances in the early sixties, was served notice it would be closed down by British Rail, who needed the site to complete their new underground railway---1973

Producer Phil Spector was seriously burned in a car crash---1974

Dave Alexander (bass guitar with the Stooges – 'We Will Fall') died (pulmonary edema)---1975

Van Halen released their 'Van Halen' album---1978

Dire Straits recorded 'Sultans Of Swing'---1978

In an interview with Oprah Winfrey, Michael Jackson claimed he suffered from Vitiligo, a skin condition that accounted for his loss of pigmentation. The singer also claimed he'd only had two minor plastic surgery operations---1993

Folksinger Dave Van Ronk ('Bird On The Wire') died (cardio-pulmonary failure while undergoing post-operative treatment for colon cancer)---2002

THURSDAY February 11

The late John Mills (Mills Brothers – 'Queen Of The Senior Prom') was born in 1889

The late Josh White ('Lay Some Flowers On My Grave') was born in 1914

The late Gene Vincent ('Be-Bop-A-Lula') was born in 1935

The late Bobby 'Boris' Pickett ('Monster Mash') was born in 1938

Sheryl Crow ('If It Makes You Happy') is 48

Sergio Mendes ('Fool On The Hill') is 69

Songwriter Gerry Goffin is 71
Rock Factoid: Goffin wrote 'Up On The Roof,' 'Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow,' 'Pleasant Valley Sunday,' 'Every Breath I Take,' 'Go Away Little Girl' (and many more) with partner and then-wife Carole King) is 70

The Beatles recorded all the tracks for their first album with producer George Martin at Abbey Road in one 10-hour stretch---1963
Rock Factoid: In today's era of 64-track (and more) recording, it may be hard to believe but the Please Please Me album was recorded on a two-track tape recording machine, with most of the instrumentation on one track and the vocals on the other.
Rock Factoid #2: Martin would later say, "I had considered recording them at the Cavern in Liverpool, but we didn't have time to arrange that. What we did instead was have them record a straightforward performance of their stage repertoire – a broadcast, more or less."

The Beatles played their first American concert (in Washington, DC)---1964

Ringo Starr married his first wife, Maureen Cox---1965

Cher recorded 'Bang Bang'---1966

The Turtles released 'Happy Together'---1967

The Monkees, stung by repots they didn't play their own instruments on any of their records, admitted it was true but announced all future recordings would feature just them---1967

The Beatles recorded 'Hey Bulldog'---1968

John Lennon, accompanied by Yoko Ono, Klaus Voorman, Alan White and Mal Evans, appeared on BBC-TV's Top Of The Pops to perform 'Instant Karma'---1970

The Magic Christian, starring Peter Sellers and Ringo Starr, debuted in New York City---1970

David Bowie appeared as Ziggy Stardust for the first time---1972

Willie Nelson released 'You Were Always On My Mind'---1982

Four people were shot (two fatally) at an Isley Brothers concert in Los Angeles---2000

Estelle Bennett (Ronettes – 'Be My Baby') died (colon cancer)---2009

FRIDAY February 12

The late Lorne Greene ('Ringo') was born in 1915

The late Joe Schermie (bass guitar with Three Dog Night – 'Joy To The World') was born in 1946

Michael McDonald ('What A Fool Believes' with the Doobie Brothers and 'I Keep Forgettin'' as a solo artist) is 58

Steve Hackett (guitarist with Genesis – 'Dancing With The Moonlit Knight' and later with GTR – 'When The Heart Rules The Mind') is 60

Stan Knight (guitarist with Black Oak Arkansas – 'Jim Dandy') is 61

Rick Frank (drummer with Elephant's Memory, the backing band for John Lennon on his 'Sometime In New York City' album – 'New York City') is 68

Ray Manzarek (keyboards with the Doors – 'Light My Fire') is 71

Gene McDaniels ('Tower Of Strength') is 75

'Screamin' Jay Hawkins recorded the original version of 'I Put A Spell On You'---1956

The Coasters recorded 'Young Blood'---1957

The Monotones released 'Book Of Love'---1958

The Miracles' 'Shop Around' became Motown's first million-selling single---1961

Buck Owens recorded 'Act Naturally'---1963

The Beatles played two 25-minute concerts at Carnegie Hall---1964

The Rolling Stones released '19th Nervous Breakdown' / 'Sad Day' in the U.S.---1966

Simon & Garfunkel released 'Homeward Bound'---1966

Redlands, the country home of Rolling Stone's guitarist Keith Richards (located in West Wittering, Chichester, West Sussex) was raided by a force of twenty police officers---1967

Yes released 'Roundabout'---1972

New York’s legendary 'The Bottom Line' opened at 15 West Fourth Street between Broadway and Washington Square Park in New York City's Greenwich Village---1974
Rock Factoid: Faced with massive debt, the club closed in 2004, but in that thirty year period, it was a showcase for anyone who was anyone in the music industry.

Bob Dylan released the 'Blood On The Tracks' album---1975
Rock Factoid: Most of the lyrics on the album revolve around heartache, anger, and loneliness. Seen as inspired by Dylan's personal turmoil at the time, particularly his divorce with his wife Sara, the album remains one of Dylan's most enduring and popular works.
Dylan finds the popularity of this album hard to understand.
"A lot of people tell me they enjoy that album. It's hard for me to relate to that. I mean, people enjoying the type of pain, you know?"
Rock Factoid #2: The epic 'Lily, Rosemary And The Jack Of Hearts', nearly nine minutes in length, was recorded in one take. That is not unusual as most of Dylan's songs are recorded live (and if a mistake is made, the song is started again). What made 'Lily' unique is the first take was the only take.

Sal Mineo ('Start Movin’') was stabbed to death---1976

The Police recorded their debut single ('Fall Out'). Written by drummer Stewart Copeland and one of the only Police recordings featuring original guitarist Henry Padovani, it proceeded to go nowhere---1977

Tiny Tim announced his candidacy for mayor of New York City---1989
He lost.

'Miss' Toni Fisher ('The Big Hurt') died (heart attack)---1999

'Screamin' Jay Hawkins ('I Put A Spell On You') died (aneurysm)---2000

Oliver (born William Oliver Swofford – 'Good Morning Starshine') died (cancer)---2000

Sammi Smith ('Help Me Make It Though The Night') died (cancer)---2005

SATURDAY February 13

The late 'Tennessee' Ernie Ford ('Sixteen Tons') was born in 1919

The late Boudleaux Bryant (wrote hundreds of songs with wife Felice, including 'Rocky Top' {State song of Tennessee} and many of the Everly Brothers' hit songs) was born in 1920

Edward John Gagliardi (bass guitar with Foreigner – 'Feels Like The First Time') is 58

Peter Gabriel (lead vocalist with Genesis – 'The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway' {from 1966-75} and 'Sledgehammer' as a solo artist) is 60

Roy Dyke (drummer with the Remo Four – 'Peter Gunn Theme' and later with Ashton, Gardner & Dyke – 'Resurrection Shuffle') is 65

Peter Tork (born Peter Halsten Thorkelson) of the Monkees ('Last Train To Clarksville') is 68

Earl 'Fatha' Hines and His Orchestra recorded their classic version of William Handy's 'Boogie Woogie On St. Louis Blues'---1940

Elvis Presley, billed as 'The Be-Bop Western Star of the Louisiana Hayride,' appeared at the Fair Park Coliseum in Lubbock, Texas---1955

Rock Factoid: There was another future star on the stage that day. He was part of a country music act called Buddy and Bob. Don't know what happened to 'Bob', but 'Buddy' Holly went on to bigger things.
If you have sharp eyes, you can see Bob Montgomery (white shirt) and Buddy Holly (with glasses) in the far right of the photo.

Gary Lewis recorded 'Count Me In'---1965

'The Rolling Stones, Now!', the band's third U.S. album, was released---1965

The Beatles released 'Strawberry Fields Forever' / 'Penny Lane'---1967
Rock Factoid: Both songs were nostalgic looks back at the Beatles' past in Liverpool and were recorded during the 'Sgt. Pepper' sessions. Both had been intended for inclusion on that album.
Producer George Martin still regrets to this day the decision to release both songs as a double-sided single instead of saving them for the album.
"Both songs, and in particular, 'Penny Lane', were filled with the imagery the boys were creating with 'Pepper'. As wonderful as the album was, I still kick myself for not insisting they not be used on a single. Those two songs would have been the icing on the cake for the album. It was a dreadful decision."

Black Sabbath released their self-titled debut album---1970

Led Zeppelin's concert in Singapore was cancelled after city officials refused to let them off their plane because their hair was too long---1972

Jefferson Starship recorded 'Miracles'---1975

The 300-pound gravestone on the grave of Lynyrd Skynyrd singer Ronnie Van Zant was stolen from an Orange Park, FL, cemetery. Police found it two weeks later in a dry river bed---1982

Waylon Jennings ('Luckenbach, Texas') died (complications from diabetes)---2002

Compiled by Ray Lemire ©2005-2010 Ray Lemire. All Rights Reserved.
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