June 4th

Musical birthdays today include former Average White Band saxophonist Roger Ball (74), Michelle Phillips (74), saxophonist Anthony Braxton (73), ex-Winger guitarist/keyboardist Paul Taylor (68), Eldra 'El' DeBarge (65), R&B singer & producer Al. B Sure! [né Albert Brown III] (50), ex-Cradle of Filth bassist Dave Pybus (48), Dave Matthews Band bassist Stefan Lessard (44), ex-Visions of Atlantis lead singer Maxi Nil (37), Saturdays vocalist Mollie King (31), and Half Noise drummer Zac Farro (28). 

Shoutout to the Great Beyond for early Québecoise recording star La Bolduc [née Mary Travers], born on this day in 1894... for jazzman & film score composer Oliver Nelson, who would have been 86 today... for Freddy Fender, who would have been 81...  for Peter and Gordon singer Gordon Waller, who would have been 73... for former Paul McCartney & Wings guitarist Jimmy McCulloch, who would have been 65.. for Lords of the New Church frontman Steven 'Stiv' Bators, who died on this date in 1990... for ex-Herman's Hermits guitarist Derek Leckenby, who died in 1994... for Small Faces co-founder & bassist Ronnie Lane, who passed away in 1997... for bluegrass fiddler & banjo player John Hartford, who died in 2001... and for former Jefferson Airplane drummer Joey Covington, who was killed in a road accident two years ago  today at the age of 67. 

Also on June 4th: Georg Philipp Telemann takes up the position of cantor at the Gymnasium Johanneum in Hamburg (1721)... In Los Angeles, Johnny Mercer, Buddy DeSylva and Glenn Wallich found Capitol Records. The label will become home to such artists as Frank Sinatra, The Beatles, The Beach Boys, Eddie Cochran, Gene Vincent, Bobby Darin, Dean Martin, Glen Campbell, Steve Miller, Dr. Hook, Bob Seger, Tina Turner and Heart, among many others. Wallichs is also credited with pioneering the technique of promoting records by sending copies of new releases to disc jockeys (1942)... The Jimi Hendrix Experience, Procol Harum, Denny Laine and The Chiffons all appear at The Saville Theatre, London. Both Paul McCartney and George Harrison are in the audience to see Hendrix perform the title track from Sgt Pepper, which was released 3 days previously (1967)... In Glenrowan, Australia, hundreds of people sign a petition protesting against the casting of Mick Jagger in the role of the Australian folk hero Ned Kelly in the film of the same name. The film, directed by Tony Richardson, will be released in October 1970... Columbia releases Johnny Cash's album Live at San Quentin (1969)... Elvis begins a  five day stint of recording at RCA's studio B in Nashville, starting each day at 6pm and working until dawn (1970)... The Rolling Stones become the first western group to receive royalties for sales of their records in the USSR (1975)... The Sex Pistols appear at The Lesser Free Trade Hall in Manchester. The show is now often regarded as the birth of the punk rock movement, and the catalyst for the 'Summer of Punk'. In the audience are Morrissey, future Joy Division members Bernard Sumner and Peter Hook, and Mark E Smith who will found The Fall. Tickets cost £1 (1976)... The Jam's debut single 'In the City' enters the UK Top 40, the first of 18 consecutive singles of theirs to do so (1977)... The Police are at № 1 on both sides of the Atlantic and in 14 other countries with 'Every Breath You Take' (1983)... Columbia releases Bruce Springsteen's album Born in the USA (1984)...  The opening show of the first Conspiracy of Hope tour takes place at the Cow Palace in San Francisco, CA. The benefit concerts on behalf of Amnesty International are being held to increase awareness of the organization on the 25th anniversary of its foundation. The six shows are headlined by U2 and Sting, and also feature Bryan Adams, Peter Gabriel, Lou Reed, Joan Baez, and The Neville Brothers (1986)... The US Postal Service announce the results of a poll conducted to see which picture of Elvis Presley should be used on a commemorative stamp. The young Elvis won out over the older and larger 'Vegas Elvis' (1992)... Wet Wet Wet start a 4-month run at  № 1 on the UK singles chart with 'Love Is All Around', from the film 'Four Weddings & A Funeral'. The song was written by Reg Presley of The Troggs and was a Top 10 for his band in 1967... Philip Glass' opera 'Beauty and the Beast' has its world premiere at the Teatro de la Maestranza in Seville, Spain (1994)... Crowded House announce that they have disbanded (1996)... Wyclef Jean is one of ten people arrested for disorderly conduct in a New York rally protesting cuts in education. Jean is subdued and led away in handcuffs following an attempt to perform, which is forbidden by the event’s permit. P. Diddy, Alicia Keys, Jay-Z, LL Cool J, Erykah Badu, Foxy Brown and the Wu-Tang Clan are also at the rally to show their support and to protest a proposed $1.2 billion cut in the budget for New York’s public education system (2002). 

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