July 1st

Musical birthdays today include soul singer & producer Syl Johnson (83), Twyla Tharp (78), Debbie Harry (73), Strawbs bassist John Ford (71), singer-songwriter & activist Anne Feeney (68), B-52's frontman Fred Schneider (68), classical pianist Nikolai Demidenko (64), Evelyn 'Champagne' King (59), Faith No More keyboardist Roddy Bottum (56), Brazilian pop singer Marisa Monte (52), Missy Elliott (48), Sufjan Stevens (44), and Bianca 'Young B' Dupree (28).  

Shoutout to the Great Beyond for saxophonist & Count Basie sideman Earle Warren, born today in 1914... for Willie Dixon, born in 1915... for bluesman James Cotton, who would have been 84 today... for Delaney Bramlett, who would have been 80... for country singer Keith Whitley, who would have been 65... for composer Erik Satie, who died on this date in 1925... for Steppenwolf bassist Rushton Moreve, killed in a motorcycle accident today in 1981 at the age of 32... for Residents guitarist Philip 'Snakefinger' Lithman, who died in 1987... for original Be-Bop Deluxe guitarist Ian Parkin and DJ Wolfman Jack [né Robert Smith], both of whom died in 1995... for jazz flautist Herbie Mann, who passed away in 2003... for Luther Vandross, who died in 2005... and for operatic soprano Evelyn Lear, who left us today in 2012. 

Also on July 1st: Johann Strauss' Blue Danube Waltz is performed in America for the first time at a summer concert of the Theodore Thomas Orchestra in NYC's Reservoir Square [today's Bryant Park] (1869)... The music division of the Library of Congress in Washington DC is founded (1897)... Arabella, the final collaboration between Richard Strauss and librettist Hugo von Hoffmansthal, premieres at the Dresden Opera (1933)... Elvis appears on NBC- TV's 'The Steve Allen Show' and performs 'Hound Dog', to a live member of the species. TV critic John Crosby slams Presley's performance, calling him an 'unspeakable, untalented and vulgar young entertainer' (1956)... The Dave Brubeck Quartet continue the Time Out sessions, and record the group's signature tune 'Take Five' (1959)... The Beatles record their new single 'She Loves You'/'I'll Get You' at EMI Studios in London in less than four hours (1963)... The Band release their debut album Music from Big Pink (1968)... John & Yoko and family are involved in a car accident in Golspie in the Scottish Highlands that lands both parents in hospital. Lennon will later have the car crushed into a cube and exhibited on his lawn at Tittenhurst Park (1969)... Neil Diamond has the № 1 song on the US singles chart with 'Song Sung Blue' (1972)... 10cc have the № 1 song in Britain with 'I'm Not in Love'. The instrumental break features the repeated spoken phrase: "Be quiet, big boys don't cry...", which was spoken by Kathy Warren, the receptionist at Strawberry Studios in Stockport, where the track was recorded (1975)... Sony introduce the Walkman cassette player (1979)... 'O Canada' is officially adopted as the Canadian national anthem (1980)... A New Jersey-based quintet consider but reject the idea of changing their name to 'Johnny Electric' just before signing their first contract with Phonogram Mercury Records ~ they decided to stick with 'Bon Jovi' (1983)... Rolling Stone Ron Wood is commissioned to paint a group portrait of diners who are regulars at the restaurant The Ivy in London's West End. Elton John and Pet Shop Boy Neil Tennant are two pop stars to be included in the canvas (2001)... One week after Michael Jackson's death, The King of Pop occupies the top 9 positions on the Billboard album chart with both originals from his back catalogue, and greatest hits collections in various guises (2009).