July 10th

Musical birthdays today include Mavis Staples (86), operatic soprano Helen Donath (85), pop singer & producer Ian Whitcomb (84), Sixto Rodriguez (83), Arlo Guthrie (78), Greg Kihn (76), John Whitehead (76), folk singer Cheryl Wheeler (73), ex-Max Webster frontman Kim Mitchell (73), former Triumph guitarist & singer Rik Emmett (71), Pet Shop Boys co-founder Neil Tennant (71), former New Grass Revival banjo player Béla Fleck (67), country singer Ken Mellons (60), Rebekah del Rio (58), Rascall Flatts lead singer Gary LeVox (55), Take That vocalist Jason Orange (55), former Deadsy guitarist Elijah Blue Allman (49), Brand New frontman Jesse Lacey (47), Jessica Simpson (45), and The Shaky Hands guitarist Alex Arrowsmith (42). 
 
Shoutout to the Great Beyond for composer Carl Orff, born on this day in 1895... for bluesman Blind Boy Fuller [né Fulton Allen], born in 1907... for jazz trumpeter Lee Morgan, who would have been 87 today... for former Rainbow & Black Sabbath lead singer Ronnie James Dio, who would have been 83... for Runaways drummer Sandy West, who would have been 66... for hymn composer Phoebe Knapp, who died on this date in 1908... for Jelly Roll Morton [né Ferdinand LaMothe], who died in 1941... for John Hammond, who passed away in 1987... and for jazz singer Maria Cole, who left us today in 2012. 
 
Also on July 10th: 'Your Hit Parade' premieres on NBC-TV. The program, which features vocalists covering the top hits of the week, has been on radio since 1935. It moves to CBS in 1958 but is cancelled the following year, unable to cope with the rising popularity of Rock 'n' Roll (1950)... Kitty Wells scores her third and final Billboard Country № 1 with 'Heartbreak U.S.A.' (1961)... 200,000 Liverpudlians take to the streets to celebrate The Beatles return to Liverpool for the northern premiere of the group's first film 'A Hard Day's Night.' The group are honoured in a public ceremony in front of Liverpool Town Hall, and as they stand on a balcony waving the large crowd gathered below, John Lennon gives a few Nazi 'Sieg Heil' salutes. Not everyone appreciates his sense of humour. The soundtrack album of the film is released in Britain today as well (1964)... The Rolling Stones go to № 1 on the Billboard singles chart with ('I Can't Get No) Satisfaction' (1965)... Eric Clapton announces that Cream will disband after their current tour despite the fact that Wheels of Fire has just been certified as the first ever Platinum-selling double album... The Nice are banned indefinitely from appearing at London's Royal Albert Hall after burning an American flag on stage. Two years later, Keith Emerson, leader of the group, will join Greg Lake and Carl Palmer in Emerson, Lake and Palmer (1968)... The funeral of Brian Jones takes place in his home town at Hatherley Road Parish Church, Cheltenham. Canon Hugh Evan Hopkins read Jones' own epitaph, 'Please don't judge me too harshly'. Former bandmates Bill Wyman, Keith Richards and Charlie Watts attend the obsequies (1969)... Harry Nilsson's eighth album, Son of Schmilsson, is released. It features George Harrison under the name George Harrysong and Ringo Starr, listed as Richie Snare, on some of the tracks. Peter Frampton also played guitar on most of the album (1972)... One hit wonders The Starland Vocal Band top the US singles chart with 'Afternoon Delight' (1976)... Chuck Berry is found guilty of tax evasion and sentenced to five months in US federal prison (1979)... Bob Marley & the Wailers play a show in Dublin that opens what will prove to be their final tour of Ireland and the UK (1980)... Coldplay's debut album Parachutes is released (2000)... Dolly Parton kicks off her first major concert tour in 10 years with a show at Irving Plaza in NYC (2002)... The four members of Led Zeppelin are voted the UK's ideal supergroup after 3,500 music fans were asked to create their fantasy band for Planet Rock Radio. Jimmy Page won best guitarist, followed by Guns N' Roses' Slash and Deep Purple's Ritchie Blackmore. John Paul Jones was named top bassist, with John Bonham, who died in 1980, winning best drummer and Robert Plant beat the late Freddie Mercury to best singer (2005)...  The drum skin used on the cover of The Beatles' Sgt Pepper album sells for £541,250 at a Christie's Memorabilia auction in London. Other items on the block include John Lennon's lyrics for 'Give Peace a Chance' which go  for £421,250, and a pair of tinted prescription sunglasses belonging to Lennon, which he wore for the cover of the single 'Mind Games', and which bring £39,650 (2008).

July 9th

Musical birthdays today include Yellow Magic Orchestra bassist Haruomi Hosono (78), original Soft Cell vocalist Marc Almond (68), Simple Minds lead singer Jim Kerr (66), Courtney Love (61), Anthrax bassist Frank Bello (60), Modest Mouse frontman Isaac Brock (50), Jack White (50), rock & jazz violinist Lucia Micarelli (42), and Hedley lead singer Jacob Hoggard (41).

Shoutout to the Great Beyond for classical violinist Eduard Sõrmus, born on this day in 1878... for easy listening pop singer Ed Ames, born in 1927... for country singer Lee Hazelwood, born in 1929... for Argentine popular singer Mercedes Sosa, who would have been 89... for Americana musician Root Boy Slim [né Foster MacKenzie III], who would have been 79... for original AC/DC lead singer Bon Scott, who would have been 78... for former Jimi Hendrix Experience drummer Mitch Mitchell, who would have been 76... for Commodores keyboardist & founding member Milan Williams, who died on this date in 2006... and for Motörhead guitarist Michael 'Würzel' Burston, who left us in 2011.

Also on July 9th: CBS Radio begins its first series of summer symphonic concerts from Lewisohn Stadium in NYC (1931)... Elvis records 'Blue Moon of Kentucky', the B-side for his first single, at Sun Studio in Memphis, TN. Presley recorded the A-side ‘That’s Alright’ four days earlier (1954)... Bill Haley & His Comets go to № 1 on the US singles chart with '(We're Gonna) Rock around the Clock'. The song's success is generally considered the beginning of the Rock Era in popular music (1955)... Jersey City, NJ passes a city ordnance banning rock and roll shows within the town limits. The measure reads in part: 'Rock and roll music encourages juvenile delinquency and inspires young females in lewd bathing suits to perform obscene dances on the city's beaches' (1956)... Johnny Cash signs his first contract with Columbia Records, the label with which he will remain for the next 30 years (1958)... Bob Dylan records 'Blowin' In the Wind' at Columbia Recording Studio A in NYC during an afternoon session (1962)... The Jimi Hendrix Experience open for The Monkees at Convention Hall in Miami, FL. It having become apparent that the Experience are not suitable to the headliners' mainly teenybopper audience, tour promoter Dick Clark and Hendrix’s manager Chas Chandler concoct a story after the show saying that the conservative Daughters of the American Revolution group have complained about Jimi’s act and that as  result the Experience are leaving the tour after just six shows (1967)... Tammy Wynette hits № 1 on the Billboard Country chart with 'D-I-V-O-R-C-E' (1968)... 
Working at Abbey Road studios, The Beatles record ‘Maxwell's Silver Hammer.’ John Lennon is back at work, having recovered from a car crash in Scotland; a bed has been installed in the studio for Yoko, who was more seriously injured in the accident, including losing the child she had been carrying (1969)... Paul McCartney and Wings play their very first show in the small French town of Chateauvillon. The band includes Denny Laine, Denny Seiwell, Henry McCullough and Paul's wife, Linda. It is Macca's first time on the road since the Beatles gave up touring in 1966. The band are travelling in a converted London double-decker bus with a psychedelic interior (1972)... The Sex Pistols open for the Pretty Things at London's Lyceum (1976)... Declan MacManus AKA Elvis Costello quits his job as a data entry clerk at Elizabeth Arden cosmetics to devote himself to music full-time (1977)... 'Every Breath You Take' by The Police is the № 1 single on both sides of the Atlantic... In Britain, Wham! are atop the album chart with their debut LP Fantastic! (1983)... At Soldier Field in Chicago, The Grateful Dead play what proves to be their final concert with Jerry Garcia (1995)...  David Bowie is forced to cancel a string of European shows after emergency heart surgery. The 57 year-old singer had an operation last month in Germany, where he was on tour, to treat 'an acutely blocked artery'. The star's cancellation last month of 11 dates was originally attributed to a shoulder injury (2004)... Happy Mondays' frontman Shaun Ryder is in trouble after smoking several cigarettes on stage during a concert at he Ritz in Manchester. Smoking has been banned in all enclosed public places in England since the 1st of July of this year, and anyone flouting the law faces a £50 fine. Performers were only exempt from the smoking ban if 'the artistic integrity of their act required it' (2007). 

 

July 8th

Musical birthdays today include bluegrass singer & banjo player Alice Gerrard (91), original Allman Brothers Band drummer Jai 'Jaimoe' Johanson (81), New Orleans bluesman Larry Garner (73), ex-Quiet Riot guitarist Carlos Cavazo (68), Depeche Mode co-founder & keyboardist Andy Fletcher (64), Joan Osborne (61), Beck [né Bek Campbell] (55), Angels & Airwaves guitarist David Kennedy (49), Arctic Monkeys guitarist Jamie Cook (40), and classical pianist Benjamin Grosvenor (33). 

Shoutout to the Great Beyond for composer George Antheil, born on this day in 1900... for jazzman Louis Jordan, born in 1908... for singer & trumpeter Billy Eckstine, born in 1914... for pianist & Chuck Berry sideman Johnnie Johnson, born in 1924... for Jerry Vale, born in 1930... for Steve Lawrence, who would have been 90 today... for Toby Keith, who would have been 64... for songwriter Walter Kittredge, who died on this date in 1905... for jazz trumpeter Charlie Shavers, who died in 1971... for Crimson Glory lead singer Midnight [né John McDonald], who passed away in 2009... and for New Orleans jazz singer 'Uncle' Lionel Batiste, who left us today in 2013. 


Also on July 8th: Mussorgsky's opera Boris Godunov premieres in Saint Petersburg at the Mariinsky Theatre (1874)... Johnny Cash makes his Grand Ole Opry debut (1956)... The first Gold record album presented by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) is awarded to the soundtrack LP of the film version of 'Oklahoma'. The honour signifies that the album has reached one million dollars in sales. The first Gold single issued by the RIAA was 'Catch a Falling Star' by Perry Como in March, a Gold single representing sales of one million records (1958)... The Dave Clark Five movie 'Catch Us If You Can' premiere in London. The film was renamed 'Having a Wild Weekend' for its US release. Songs featured by the group in the movie include 'Catch Us If You Can,' 'Having a Wild Weekend' and 'I Can't Stand It' (1965)... One of the more curious double bills in rock history is announced, as The Monkees kick off a 29-date US tour with Jimi Hendrix as their opening act (1967)... In Australia, Marianne Faithfull collapses on the set of the film 'Ned Kelly' after taking a drug overdose. While recovering in hospital in Sydney, she is fired from the production (1969)... The Everly Brothers Show starts an eleven-week run in prime time on ABC- TV (1970)... Overenthusiastic fans at a Mott the Hoople gig at London's Royal Albert Hall cause minor injuries to some 20 people and damage two private boxes, prompting a temporary ban on rock gigs at the venue. The group pay£1,467 for damages to property (1971)... Bill Withers goes to № 1 on the US singles chart with 'Lean on Me'. In Britain, Donny Osmond is on top of the chart with his version of Paul Anka's 'Puppy Love' (1972)... Led Zeppelin's fifth album Houses of the Holy is the № 1 album on both sides of the Atlantic (1973)... At London's Lyceum Ballroom, The B-52's make their UK debut with The Tourists as their opening act (1979)... The Go-Go's release Beauty on the Beat (1981)...  Bob Dylan’s summer European tour comes to an end with a show at Slane Castle, County Meath in Ireland. Dylan is joined on stage by Van Morrison and they duet on 'It’s All Over Now Baby Blue'. U2’s Bono, who was sent to interview Dylan for the Irish rock magazine Hot Press, ends up joining Dylan on 'Blowin’ in the Wind' and 'Leopard Skin Pillbox Hat'. Carlos Santana also turns up on stage and plays guitar on the last seven songs of the set (1984)... Take That's former manager Nigel Martin Smith starts a new business, as an undertaker. It is reported that he was unhappy with a service he recently used after the death of an elderly aunt, so he decided to buy a local funeral home in Manchester (1999)... 
Michael Jackson lashes out against the music industry's treatment of artists, alleging that the business is rife with racism. Speaking at a civil rights conference in New York, Jackson claims that there is a 'conspiracy' among record companies to exploit black artists. A spokesman for Jackson's record label qualifies the remarks as 'ludicrous, spiteful and hurtful' (2002)... Queen guitarist Brian May makes a 'substantial' donation to save hedgehogs from slaughter in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland. Although the exact amount is not revealed, it is said to be enough to pay for the rescue of hundreds of hedgehogs from the Uists, where Scottish Natural Heritage has been culling the animals for the past four years. May's money will go towards funding cash rewards for islanders so that hundreds more hedgehogs can be saved (2006).

July 7th

Musical birthdays today include bandleader Doc Severinsen (98), Ringo Starr (85), former Kinks bassist Jim Rodford (84), Village People vocalist David 'Scar' Hodo (78), ex-Family drummer Rob Townshend (78), Vonda Shepherd (62), former Subject to Change lead singer Cree Summer (59), Outlawz rapper E.D.I. Mean (51), Guillemots frontman Fyfe Dangerfield (45), The Used drummer Dan Whitesides (45), and Angels & Airwaves drummer Ilan Rubin (37). 

Shoutout to the Great Beyond for Gustav Mahler, born on this day in 1860... for zither player Anton Karas, born in 1906... for Gian Carlo Menotti, born in 1911... for blues pianist Pinetop Perkins, born in 1913... for Mary Ford, born in 1924... for country singer Charlie Louvin, born in 1927... for saxophonist Hank Mobley, born in 1930... for keyboardist & Weather Report co-founder Joe Zawinul, born in 1932... for jazz singer Pam Bricker, who would have been 70... for blues singer Jackie Neal, who would have been 57... for jazz trumpeter Fats Navarro, who died on this date in 1950... for The Gits lead singer Mia Zapata, who was murdered today in 1993 at the age of 28... for folk singer Fred Neil, who passed away in 2001... and for Syd Barrett, who left us today in 2006. 

Also on July 7th: Haydn conducts the premiere of his 92nd Symphony at the Sheldonian Theatre of Oxford University, which is also awarding him an honorary doctorate in music (1791)... Johnny Cash arrives at Lackland AFB in San Antonio, TX to begin Air Force basic training (1950)... Elvis makes his radio debut when Memphis station WHBQ plays the acetate of 'That's All Right' (1954)... The Rolling Stones make their UK TV debut on 'Thank Your Lucky Stars' (1963)... The Kinks hit № 1 in the UK for the third and last time with 'Sunny Afternoon' (1966)... The Beatles record 'Here Comes the Sun' (1969)... Bjorn Ulvaeus and Agnetha Faltskog of Abba are married in Verum, Sweden. 3000 fans surge forward when the couple emerge from the church, arrived, and in the chaos a police horse steps on the brides foot, causing her slight injury (1971)... Led Zeppelin play what proves to be their final concert when they appear at the Eissporthalle, West Berlin at the end of their current European tour. The set includes 'Black Dog', 'The Rain Song', 'Hot Dog', 'All My Love', 'Trampled Under Foot', 'Since I’ve Been Loving You', 'Kashmir', 'Stairway To Heaven' and 'Rock And Roll'. They finish the show with a 17-minute version of 'Whole Lotta Love' (1980)... Bruce Springsteen's Born in the USA arrives at № 1 on the US album chart, where the record spends a total of 139 weeks. Tops on the singles chart is Prince's 'When Doves Cry' (1984)... The New Musical Express reports that in June, CDs outsold vinyl discs over a month in Britain for the first time. The № 1 album in the country is Emergency on Planet Earth by Jamiroquai (1989)... British newspapers report that to attract young people to their mobile vans, UK ice cream sellers are now playing pop hits to announce their arrival instead of the traditional chimes. The Spice Girls and Oasis are among the groups most frequently played (1999)... The Live Earth concerts take place worldwide with The Police closing the days events in New Jersey. The concerts were organised by former US Vice-President Al Gore, as part of his campaign to 'heal the planet'. Rock stars from around the world perform to hundreds of thousands of fans to promote awareness of climate change. Concerts are held in Washington, Rio de Janeiro, Johannesburg, London, Hamburg, Tokyo, Shanghai and Sydney. Madonna brings London's Live Earth concert to a close, playing a song she wrote for the event. Other major acts on the bill were Snow Patrol, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Genesis, The Beastie Boys, James Blunt, The Foo Fighters, Duran Duran, UB40, Snoop Dogg, Enrique Iglesias, Crowded House and Joss Stone (2007)... Michael Jackson's family and fans say farewell to the pop superstar at an emotional memorial service. The singer's coffin is placed in front of the stage during the event at the Staples Center in Los Angeles after an earlier private funeral. Jackson's daughter Paris, 11, fights back tears to describe him as "the best father you could ever imagine". Stevie Wonder, Lionel Richie and Mariah Carey pay tribute before the family joins them for a sombre finale on stage. Motown boss Berry Gordy, who signed the Jackson Five, ends his tribute with the words: "Michael, thank you for the joy, thank you for the love. You will live in my heart forever" (2009)... Paul McCartney joins Ringo Starr onstage at a concert at Radio City Music Hall in NYC to help celebrate the former Beatle drummer's 70th birthday. With Ringo's All Starr Band joined by Yoko Ono, Joe Walsh, Angus Young and Steven Van Zandt, Paul belts out 'Birthday' and Ringo delivers 'With A Little Help From My Friends' (2010). 
 
 
 

July 6th

Musical birthdays today include classical pianist Vladimir Ashkenazy (88), soul singer Gene 'Duke of Earl' Chandler (87), country rock fiddler Byron Berline (81), classical violinist Anthony Marwood (70), Wu-Tang Clan rapper Inspectah Deck  (56), 50 Cent (50), country singer Emily West (44), and Kate Nash (38). 

Shoutout to the Great Beyond for operatic soprano Dorothy Kirsten, born on on this day in 1910... for jazz drummer Louie Bellson, born in 1924... for original Shadows bassist Terry 'Jet' Harris, who would have been 85... for jazz and R&B singer Phyllis Hyman, who would have been 75.. for Nanci Griffith, who would have been 72... for bassist and Bill Evans sideman Scott Faro, killed in an auto accident today in 1961 at the age of 25... for Louis Armstrong, who died on this date in 1971... for conductor Otto Klemperer, who died in 1973... for soul producer & songwriter [best remembered for 'The Hustle'] Van McCoy, who passed away in 1979... for Roy Rogers, who died in 1998... for classical pianist Władysław Szpilman [the subject of the Roman Polanski film 'The Pianist'], who passed away in 2000... for Byrds bassist Skip Battin, who died in 2003... and for bossa nova pioneer João Gilberto,who died two years ago... and for film score composer Ennio Morricone and for Charlie Daniels, both of whom left us four years ago today.

Also on July 6th: In Paris, 19-year-old composer Lili Boulanger becomes the first woman to win the Prix de Rome award (1913)... At a Woolton, Liverpool Parish Church Fete, John Lennon and Paul McCartney meet for the first time. As Lennon's group The Quarrymen are setting up for their evening performance, McCartney, eager to impress Lennon, picks up a guitar and plays Eddie Cochran's ‘Twenty Flight Rock’ and Gene Vincent's ‘Be-Bop-A-Lula’. John is impressed, and even more so when Paul shows Lennon and Eric Griffiths how to tune their guitars, something they have been paying someone else to do for them (1957)... James Brown peaks at № 2 on the US album chart with Live At The Apollo. Recorded on the night of October 24, 1962 at Brown's own expense, it will spend a total of 66 weeks in the Top 40 Billboard Album listing (1963)... The Beatles' film 'A Hard Day's Night' has its UK premiere at the Pavilion Cinema in London (1964)... Pink Floyd make their first appearance on Top Of The Pops to promote their new single ‘See Emily Play’. A badly damaged home video recording of the show recovered by the British Film Institute will be given a public screening in London in January 2010 at an event called 'Missing Believed Wiped' devoted to recovered TV shows. It is the first time any footage of the performance has been seen since its original broadcast (1967)... The Rolling Stones score their fifth US № 1 single with 'Jumpin' Jack Flash' (1968)... 
Queen release their debut single 'Keep Yourself Alive' in the UK. The track fails to chart (1973)... The B-52's self-titled debut album is released by WB Records (1979)...  The Jacksons kick off the North American leg of their 'Victory' tour at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City (1984)... Boy band East 17 are dropped by their record company when their latest album drops off the charts after selling fewer than 20,000 copies (1999)... George Harrison's widow Olivia puts the couple's home up for sale for £20 million, saying she can't bear to live with the memories of the attack by schizophrenic Michael Abram who broke into the house in 1999 (2002)... The Dixie Chicks perform a concert at Dallas' American Airlines Center despite an anonymous threat that group member Natalie Maines will be shot on stage for her comments about President George W. Bush, and the Iraq war. Maines has a police escort to and from the show and then directly to the airport (2003)... On the 40th anniversary of the UK premiere of 'A Hard Day's Night', a private reunion of the cast and crew is hosted in London by DVD producer Martin Lewis. The screening is attended by Paul McCartney, actors Victor Spinetti [the television director], John Junkin [the band's road manager], David Janson [the small boy whom Ringo meets on his 'walkabout'] and many of the crew members (2004).

 

July 5th

Musical birthdays today include Huey Lewis (75), guitarist Michael Monarch (75), former Aerosmith lead guitarist Jimmy Crespo (70), ex-Clash drummer Terry Chimes (70), Marc Cohn (67), Evaporators keyboardist Nardwuar the Human Serviette [né John Ruskin] (57), Wu-Tang Clan rapper Rza (56), Cardigans drummer Bengt Lagerberg (52), D12 rapper Bizarre [né Rufus Johnson] (49), rapper & Eminem collaborator Royce da 5'9" (48), ex-Westlife vocalist Shane Filan (46), Turtle island Quartet violinist Mads Tolling (45), Lifehouse lead singer Jason Wade (45), Lady A guitarist Dave Haywood (43), Arctic Monkeys bassist Nick O'Malley (40), Owl City creator Adam Young (39), and former Deadbeat Darling frontman Joseph King (36). 

Shoutout to the Great Beyond for harpsichord virtuoso Wanda Landowska, born on this day in 1877... for songwriter Mack David, born in 1912... for bluesman Smiley Lewis, born in 1913... for Robbie Robertson, who would have been 82 today... for rapper Mac Dre [né Andre Hicks], who would have been 55... for trumpeter Harry James, who died on this date in 1983... for pop singer Shirley Goodman, who passed away in 2005... and for operatic soprano Régine Crespin, who left us today in 2007. 

Also on July 5th: Polish pianist and diplomat in exile Jan Paderewski is buried within the US Marine Memorial at Arlington National Cemetery. His remains will be repatriated to his native country in 1992 (1941)... Working together for the first time in a recording studio with Scotty Moore and Bill Black, Elvis experiments during a break with an up-tempo version of 'That's All Right.' Producer Sam Phillips has them repeat the jam and records it. It becomes Presley's first release on Sun Records (1954)... Paul McCartney meets his future Wings collaborator Denny Laine for the first time when the latter's group Denny and the Diplomats opens for The Beatles at a gig in the West Midlands (1963)... Marty Balin and Paul Kantner meet for the first time at a jam session in Haight-Ashbury and decide to form a band, which will evolve into the Jefferson Airplane... Maria Callas gives her final performance, in a production of Tosca at Covent Garden (1965)... As The Beatles make their way to the airport in Manila, they are greeted by angry mobs, the Philippine government having retaliated for the band's perceived snub of First Lady Imelda Marcos yesterday by refusing police protection for them. The Fab Four manage to board their plane after a few minor scuffles... On the recommendation of Keith Richards' girlfriend, Chas Chandler of The Animals goes to see Jimi Hendrix play at the Cafe Wha in Greenwich Village. After the gig, Chandler suggests to Hendrix that he come to England ~ the guitarist concurs, and also agrees to have Chandler become his manager (1966)... Fantasy Records release Creedence Clearwater Revival's eponymous debut album (1968)... The Rolling Stones give a free concert in London's Hyde Park before an estimated crowd of 250,000 as a tribute to Brian Jones. Mick Jagger reads a section of Shelley's 'Adonais' and releases 3,500 butterflies; the show also marks Mick Taylor's debut with the Stones, as well as the first public performance of King Crimson, who are among the opening acts [which also include Family, The Third Ear Band, Screw and Alexis Korner's New Church](1969)... Pink Floyd, Captain Beefheart, Steve Miller and Roy Harper all appear at The Knebworth Festival, England ~ tickets cost £3.50. The Floyd premiere their new album Wish You Were Here with the help of Spitfires, pyrotechnics and an exploding plane which flies into the stage (1975)...  The manufacturing of Some Girls, the new album by The Rolling Stones, is halted at EMI's pressing plant after complaints from celebrities including Lucille Ball who are featured in mock advertisements on the album sleeve (1978)... Janet Jackson has the № 1 album in the US with Control (1986)... More than 100 Grateful Dead fans are injured when a wooden deck collapses at a campground lodge in Wentzville, MO. Hundreds of people were on or under the deck sheltering from a downpour. More than 4,000 Deadheads are staying at the campground while attending Grateful Dead concerts in the St. Louis suburb (1995)... Pink Floyd's David Gilmour says that artists who saw album sales soar after the Live 8 concerts should donate their profits to charity, adding: "This is money that should be used to save lives." UK sales figures released two days after the London concert showed Pink Floyd’s Echoes: The Best of Pink Floyd had risen by 1343%, The Who's Then and Now by 863% and Annie Lennox ~ Eurythmics' Greatest Hits by 500% (2005). 
 

July 4th

Musical birthdays today include operatic soprano Zdisława Donat (89), bluegrass guitarist Peter Rowan (83), Jeremy Spencer (77), singer-songwriter Tonio K. [né Steven Krekorian] (75), John Waite (73), INXS guitarist Kirk Pengilly (67), Seven Witches frontman Jack Frost [né John Dempsey] (57) ex-Barenaked Ladies pianist Andy Creeggan (54), Sunny Day Real Estate drummer William Goldsmith (53), Sigur Rós drummer Orri Pál Dýrason (48), former BBMak guitarist Stephen McNally (46), and ex-Armor for Sleep frontman Ben Jorgensen (42). 

Shoutout to the Great Beyond for Stephen Foster, born on this day in 1826... for Mitch Miller, born in 1911...  For Bill Withers, who would have been 87 today... for Animals keyboardist Dave Rowberry, who would have been 84... for Canned Heat frontman Alan Wilson, who would have been 82... for choral composer William Byrd, who died on this date in 1623... for New Orleans jazz cornettist Buddie Petit, who died in 1931... for singer-songwriter Jimmie Spheeris, killed in a motorcycle accident today in 1984 at the age of 34... for Barry White, who passed away in 2003... and for Bill Pinckney, the last original member of The Drifters, who left us in 2007. 

Also on July 4th: 'Hail to the Chief' is played as an honorific for the President of the United States for the first time when the US Marine Band perform the tune at the groundbreaking ceremonies for the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal, presided over by John Quincy Adams (1828)... At the Park Street Church in Boston, MA, the tune of 'God Save the Queen' is sung for the first time with the text 'My Country 'Tis of Thee' by Samuel Francis Smith (1831)... The US Marine Band under the direction of John Phillip Sousa play at the dedication ceremony of the Statue of Liberty (1886)... The Everly Brothers hold the UK № 1 position with 'All I Have to Do Is Dream.' The duo's first chart-topper was recorded in just two takes and features Chet Atkins on guitar (1958)... The Beach Boys hit № 1 in the US for the first time with 'I Get around' (1964)... As their world tour reaches the Phillipines, The Beatles play two concerts at Rizal Memorial Football Stadium in Manila to over 80,000 fans. After the second show, the band fail to appear at a palace reception hosted by President Marcos' family, who were not informed that the Beatles had declined their invitation. The Philippine media misrepresent this as a deliberate snub, and when Brian Epstein tries to make a televised statement, his comments are disrupted by static (1966)... Elvis donates a Rolls Royce to a women's charity in Los Angeles ~ the car will bring $35,000 when it is auctioned off (1968)... The Doors appear at the Willingdon Juvenile Detention Home for Girls in Vancouver, CA (1969)... Despite having a Top 5 hit in the US with 'Rikki Don't Lose That Number' and a Platinum album with Pretzel Logic, Steely Dan's Walter Becker and Donald Fagan announce that their concert today in Santa Monica, CA will be their final live performance. It will be 18 years before the pair appear on stage together again (1974)... The Clash make their live debut as the opening act for The Sex Pistols at the Black Swan pub in Sheffield (1976)... After being divorced by his first wife Thelma Mayfair last year, Ozzy Osbourne marries Sharon Arden, the daughter of music business manager Don Arden (1982)... Former The Mamas & the Papas vocalist John Phillips receives a liver transplant at the Los Angeles Medical Center (1992)... The Smashing Pumpkins play an acoustic show at the London strip club Raymond's Revue Bar (1993)... George Michael takes part in a live telephone interview on CNN, defending his new single 'Shoot the Dog'. Americans were upset by the controversial video, which showed President George W. Bush in bed with Tony Blair... Tony Bennett has to abandon a show at the Royal Albert Hall after a fire breaks out in the building. The audience are evacuated the hall begins to fill with smoke (2002)... U2 win their court fight for the return of items of memorabilia, including a Stetson hat which they accused a former stylist of stealing. Judge Matthew Deery of the Dublin Circuit Court orders Lola Cashman to return the items, which also include earrings, within seven days. Ms Cashman worked as U2's stylist during the 1980s and wrote an unauthorised book called ‘Inside the Zoo’. Judge Deery says that he found Ms Cashman's version of how she had been given the items at the end of a US tour 'highly dubious', particularly her description of Bono running around in his underpants backstage (2005). 
 

July 3rd

Musical birthdays today include operatic mezzo-soprano Brigitte Fassbaender (86), French rocker Eddy Mitchell [né Claude Moine] (83), country singer Johnny Lee (79), original Yardbirds lead guitarist Anthony 'Top' Topham (78), Little Feat guitarist Paul Barrere (77), original Free bassist Andy Fraser (73), country singer Aaron Tippin (67), ex-Ratt lead singer Steven Pearcy (66), former Depeche Mode keyboardist Vince Clarke (65), Barenaked Ladies keyboardist Kevin Hearn (56), Audra McDonald (55), former Boyzone vocalist Shane Lynch (48), and rapper Kid Sister (45). 

Shoutout to the Great Beyond for composer Leoš Janáček, born on this day in 1854... for George M. Cohan, born in 1878... for Mississippi John Hurt, born in 1893... for former composer Ruth Crawford Seeger, born in 1901... for New Orleans jazz clarinetist Pete Fountain and for jazz guitarist Tommy Tedesco, both of whom were born in 1930... for Fontella Bass, who would have been 85... for Heatwave lead singer Johnnie Wilder, Jr., who would have been 75... for Laura Branigan, who would have been 67... for Brian Jones, who died on this date in 1969... for Jim Morrison, who died in 1971... for Rudy Valée, who passed away in 1986... for former Morphine lead singer and multi-instrumentalist Mark Sandman, who died in 1999... and for rock & country session saxophonist Homer 'Boots' Randolph, who left us today in 2007. 

Also on July 3rd: Victor Borge makes his American debut on NBC Radio (1945)... As the headline act at the festival, Miles Davis and Thelonious Monk record the album At Newport 1958, with John Coltrane sitting in (1958)... A private party is held at the Speakeasy Club in London, England for The Monkees. The guests include John Lennon, George Harrison, Paul McCartney, Dusty Springfield, Eric Clapton, Lulu and all the members from Manfred Mann, The Who and Procol Harum (1967)... At an impromptu gathering at Joni Mitchell's house in Laurel Canyon, Los Angeles, David Crosby, Stephen Stills and Graham Nash play together for the very first time (1968)... On the last night of a 60 date tour, David Bowie announces he is about to retire from live performing, although it eventually transpires that it is 'Ziggy Stardust' the stage persona who is being retired, and not Bowie himself (1973)... Brian Wilson plays his first live show with The Beach Boys in seven years when they appear at Anaheim Stadium in CA... When rain stops play during the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships, Cliff Richard launches into a spontaneous concert in which he leads spectators through some of his old hits. It is later revealed that Sir Cliff had planned the moment as a publicity stunt (1976)... The Human League have the № 1 single in both the US and the UK with 'Don't You Want Me' (1982)... U2 road crew member Greg Carroll is killed in a motorcycle accident in Dublin while running an errand for Bono. The song 'One Tree Hill' on the Joshua Tree album is dedicated to Carroll... Mikhail Baryshnikov becomes a US citizen in a ceremony at Ellis Island (1986)... Harvard professor Ronald Ferguson accuses the culture of hip-hop and rap music of stalling academic progress among young American blacks. He claims that time spent learning intricate rhyming lyrics detracts from reading (2000)... Sir Elton John becomes the first pop/rock singer to receive an honorary doctorate from the Royal Academy of Music... Three diners at Britney Spears' newly opened restaurant in Manhattan suffer food poisoning. The trio of NYU students who had the striped bass at the pop diva's eatery file official complaints with the City Department of Health and vow never to eat there again (2002). 

July 2nd

Musical birthdays today include E Street Band keyboardist Roy Bittan (76), Huey Lewis and the News guitarist Johnny Colla (73), bassist & Bob Geldof sideman Pete Briquette (71), Porcupine Tree bassist Colin Edwin (55), Monie Love (55) ex-Evanescence drummer Rocky Gray (51), and Michelle Branch (42).

Shoutout to the Great Beyond for composer Christoph Willibald Gluck, born today in 1716... for Beach Boys patriarch, manager & publisher Murry Wilson, born in 1917... for country singer Marvin Rainwater, born in 1925... for jazz pianist Ahamd Jamal, born in 1930... for singer-songwriter Tom Springfield, born in 1934... for original Temptations vocalist Paul Williams, who would have been 83 today... for Mexican pop singer Jenni Rivera, who would have been 55... for Betty Grable, who died on this date in 1973... for bassist and Oscar Peterson sideman Ray Brown, who passed away in 2002... and for Beverly Sills, who left us today in 2007. 

Also on July 2nd: Vivaldi is hired by the Pieta School for Girls in Venice to compose and perform two concertos each month (1723)... The George & Ira Gershwin musical 'Show Girl' opens on Broadway with Duke Ellington conducting the orchestra (1929)... Elvis records 'Hound Dog' at RCA Studios in NYC. It is his first session with The Jordanaires, and produces the definitive version on the 31st take (1956)... Jimi Hendrix is honourably discharged from the U.S. Army after the broken ankle that he suffered in his final training jump with the 101st Airborne division is ruled a disqualifying injury (1962)... Frank Sinatra is at № 1 on both sides of the Atlantic with 'Strangers in the Night'... David Bowie and The Lower Third appear at The Lion Hotel in Warrington, Merseyside ~ they are paid £30 for the gig ~ as the opening act for Eric Clapton Jack Bruce, Steve Winwood and harmonica player Paul Jones, who are billing themselves as The Powerhouse (1966)... As work on Abbey Road continues, Paul records ‘Her Majesty’ by himself, and then goes through 15 takes of ‘Golden Slumbers/Carry That Weight’ with George and Ringo . John is absent, still in hospital in Scotland following his car accident yesterday... Bassist Noel Redding and drummer Mitch Mitchell quit the Jimi Hendrix Experience after the conclusion of the three-day Denver Pop Festival. Mitchell would return to team with Hendrix and bassist Billy Cox to form the short-lived Gypsy Sun and Rainbows, who play the Woodstock Festival (1969)... Queen appear at Surrey College just outside of London. It is the group's first gig with the line-up of Freddie Mercury, Brian May, Roger Taylor and John Deacon (1971)... Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band play the first of six sold out nights, inaugurating the brand new Brendan Byrne Arena [now the Izod Center] in E. Rutherford, NJ (1981)... Michael Jackson becomes the first artist to have five № 1 singles from one album when ‘Dirty Diana’ goes to the top of the US charts. The other four chart-toppers from the LP Bad were the title track, ‘I Just Can't Stop Loving You’, ‘The Way You Make Me Feel’ and ‘Man in the Mirror'... Boosted by her performance at the 'Nelson Mandela's 70th Birthday Tribute Concert' at Wembley Stadium, Tracy Chapman's eponymous debut album goes to № 1 on the UK album chart, matching its stateside performance (1988)... Axl Rose causes a riot to break out during a Guns N' Roses gig after leaping into the crowd to take a camera away from a fan who is photgraphing the concert at the Riverpoint Amphitheater in Maryland Heights, MO. Over 50 people were injured in the ensuing melee, and 15 fans were arrested (1991)... Liverpool Airport in the suburb of Speke is renamed John Lennon Airport. Yoko Ono is present to unveil a new logo that includes her late husband's famous self- portrait and the words, 'Above Us Only Sky' taken from his song 'Imagine' (2001)... Some of the world's biggest music stars united in concerts around the globe to put pressure on political leaders ahead of the G8 summit to tackle poverty in Africa. Concerts in 10 cities, including London, Philadelphia, Paris, Berlin, Johannesburg, Rome and Moscow take place before hundreds of thousands of people. A TV audience of several hundred million also watch the gigs. In London, Pink Floyd, The Who, Madonna, U2, Coldplay, Sting, The Scissor Sisters, Keane, and Paul McCartney perform; Philadelphia fans see Destiny's Child, Jay-Z and Bon Jovi; in Vancouver, Bryan Adams and Neil Young headline, while Björk sings in Tokyo and Green Day play in Berlin (2005)... The gravestone of the late Joy Division frontman Ian Curtis is stolen. Cheshire Police say his memorial stone was taken from the plot where he is buried in Macclesfield Cemetery. Officers are appealing for anyone with information on its whereabouts, detectives say. The stone has the inscription ‘Ian Curtis 18-5-80’ and the words ‘Love Will Tear Us Apart’ (2008). 
 

July 1st

Musical birthdays today include soul singer & producer Syl Johnson (89), Twyla Tharp (84), Debbie Harry (80), Strawbs bassist John Ford (77), singer-songwriter & activist Anne Feeney (74), B-52's frontman Fred Schneider (74), classical pianist Nikolai Demidenko 70), Evelyn 'Champagne' King (65), Faith No More keyboardist Roddy Bottum (62), Brazilian pop singer Marisa Monte (58), Missy Elliott (54), Sufjan Stevens (50), and Bianca 'Young B' Dupree (34).  

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 90 today... for Delaney Bramlett, who would have been 86... for country singer Keith Whitley, who would have been 71... 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).

June 30th

Musical birthdays today include cellist Michael Van Biel (88), songwriter & producer Tony Hatch (86), pop singer & songwriter Eddie Rambeau (82), ex-Little River Band lead singer Glenn Shorrock (81), Sweet lead guitarist Andy Scott (76), jazz bassist Stanley Clarke (74), ex-Dire Straits guitarist & film score composer Hal Lindes (72), Helix lead singer Brian Vollmer (70), Tommy Keene (67), Dead Can Dance co-founder Brendan Perry (66), All about Eve lead singer Julianne Regan (63), Yngwie Malmsteen (62), Down frontman Phil Anselmo (57), Franz Ferdinand drummer Andy Knowles (43), Cheryl Cole (42).


Shoutout to the Great Beyond for Mississippi Sheiks guitarist Bo Carter, born on this day in 1893... for Lena Horne, born in 1917... for conductor James Lohghran, born in 1931... for folksinger Dave Van Ronk, who would have been 88 today... for folksinger Mark Spoelstra, who would have been 84... for Supremes vocalist Florence Ballard, who would have been 81... for Lee De Forrest, inventor of the Audion tube [which made commercial radio possible], who died on this date in 1961... for country singer Chet Atkins and saxophonist Joe Henderson, both of whom passed away in 2001... and for classical and Broadway singer Harve Presnell, who left us today in 2010. 

Also on June 30th: Charles Mingus records Mingus Plays Piano, his only full album-length solo outing on the instrument... James Brown's Live at the Apollo is released (1963)... The Beatles play the first of three concerts at the Nippon Budokan Hall in Tokyo. The first concert is filmed with The Beatles wearing black suits. The following day's performance was also filmed, with The Beatles wearing white suits. There is a heavy police presence, with 3,000 uniformed officers observing each concert played in front of 10,000 fans (1966)... George Harrison knocks Paul McCartney from the top of the US singles chart [where his former bandmate was ruling with 'My Love'] with 'Give Me Love, Give Me Peace On Earth'. His second US № 1, it is the opening track on his album Living in the Material World (1973)... Four days after divorcing Sonny Bono, Cher marries Greg Allman, only to split from him 10 days later. They will be reconciled and carry on a tempestuous 3-year marriage before divorcing... The Jackson Five announce that they were leaving Motown Records for the Epic label. The brothers are forced to change their name to The Jacksons since Motown own the rights to the original name (1975)... Police raid the Malibu, CA home of Neil Diamond searching for drugs ~ they find less than half an ounce of marijuana (1976)... United Artists Records release The Buzzcocks single 'Love You More' ~ at 1 minute 29 seconds, it is the second shortest single ever released. Maurice Williams and the Zodiacs 1960 hit 'Stay' remains the shortest chart single at 1 minute 28 seconds (1978)... One-hit wonder Anita Ward has the № 1 song in America and Britain with 'Ring My Bell' (1979)... Police are called in to control over 4,000 Bobby Brown fans trying to see their idol at the HMV Record store in London's Oxford Street; six fans are hospitalised and one has to be given artificial respiration at the scene... The Stone Roses play at Leeds Polytechnic. The gig almost does not take place after a security man who fails to recognise Ian Brown refuses to let the lead singer backstage (1989)... New Kids On The Block start a three week run at № 1 on the US singles chart with 'Step By Step'. The album of the same name is at № 1 in the UK (1990)... Garth Brooks is given a star on Hollywood's Walk Of Fame. The singer has buried the master tapes of his 'Hits' album under the star (1995)... Kinks founder member Dave Davies is left paralysed on the right-hand side of his body after suffering a stroke. The 57-year-old guitarist and brother of fellow Kinks star Ray was on an appearance tour to promote his solo material when he collapsed (2004)... R.E.M. play a five-night series of shows at Dublin's Olympia Theatre. Dubbed ‘working rehearsals’ by the band, many songs from their forthcoming album ‘Accelerate’ will be performed publicly for the first time, some of them still works in progress (2007).

June 29th

Musical birthdays today include composer Vyacheslav Artyomov (85), Deep Purple drummer Ian Paice (77), Dokken frontman Don Dokken (72), ex-Men at Work lead singer Colin Hay (72), Go-Betweens frontman Robert Forster (68), DJ & music broadcaster Mark Radcliffe (67), Bad Religion lead guitarist Greg Hetson (64), classical violinist Anne-Sophie Mutter (62), former Static-X guitarist Tripp Eisen (57), Matthew Good (54), Flight of the Conchords co-founder Bret McKenzie (49), Phantom Planet bassist Sam Farrar (47), ex-Pussycat Dolls vocalist Nicole Scherzinger (47), former Danity Kane vocalist Aundrea Fimbres, (42), and Suburban Legends drummer Derek Lee Rock (41).

Shoutout to the Great Beyond for Nelson Eddy, born on this day in 1901... for Broadway composer Frank Loesser [best remembered for Guys and Dolls], born in 1910... for film score composer Bernard Herrmann, born in 1911... for Eva Boyd AKA Little Eva, who would have been 81 today... for classical pianist Jan Paderewski, who died on this date in 1941... for Eric Dolphy, who passed away in 1964... for Tim Buckley, who died of a drug overdose today in 1975 at the age of 28... for Little Feat founder & frontman Lowell George, who died in 1979... and for Rosemary Clooney, who left us today in 2002.  

Also on June 29th: 13-year-old Franz Liszt gives a demonstration of inventor Sebastian Erard's new and improved piano-forte at London's Drury Lane Theatre (1824)... In London, Edison collaborator and envoy George Edward Gouraud plays a section of a piano arrangement of Handel's oratorio Israel into Egypt for a wax cylinder phonograph ~ the result is the oldest known surviving example of recorded classical music... Wagner's first opera Die Feen [The Fairies], written when the composer was 21, premieres at the Hoftheater in Munich five years after his death (1888)... A free concert is held in London's Hyde Park with Pink Floyd, Jethro Tull, Tyrannosaurus Rex and Roy Harper on the bill. The one-day event is the first free festival to be held in Hyde Park. The concert was organised to coincide with the release of Pink Floyd's second album, A Saucerful of Secrets... The Small Faces start a six week run at № 1 on the UK album chart with Ogden's Nut Gone Flake (1968)... Peter Frampton breaks his arm and cracks several ribs when he is involved in a car crash in the Bahamas (1978)... Bruce Springsteen kicks off the first leg of his Born in the USA Tour with a three night run at the Civic Center in St. Paul, MN. Springsteen & the E Street Band will play a total of 156 shows and close on October 2, 1985 in Los Angeles (1984)...  David Bowie and Mick Jagger record a version of the Martha and the Vandellas 1964 hit 'Dancing In The Street.' for the forthcoming 'Live Aid' fundraising event. The single goes on to become a № 1 UK hit. The original plan was to perform a track together live, with Bowie performing at Wembley Stadium and Jagger at John F. Kennedy Stadium in Philadelphia, until it was realized that the satellite link-up would cause a half-second delay that would make this impossible unless either Bowie or Jagger lip-synched their contribution, something neither artist was willing to do... John Lennon's 1965 Rolls-Royce Phantom V limousine, complete with psychedelic paintwork, sells for a record sum of $3,006,385 at a Sotheby's auction in NYC (1985)... Oasis make their Top of the Pops debut performing their new single 'Shakermaker' (1994)... George Martin receives a knighthood, and Van Morrison an OBE (1996)... Eminem's mother files a a $10 million defamation of character lawsuit, after taking exception to the line 'My mother smokes more dope than I do' from her son's single 'My Name Is' (2000)... Canada Post issues the limited edition Joni Mitchell stamp. She is being recognised in a series along with three other iconic Canadian recording artists: Paul Anka, Gordon Lightfoot, Anne Murray (2007).

June 28th

Musical birthdays today include original Procol Harum bassist David Knights (80), operatic baritone Thomas Hampson (70), ex-Inspiral Carpets keyboardist Clint Boon (66), producer and former Nine Inch Nails keybordist Charlie Clouser (62), Bobby Bare, jr. (59), Elmer 'Chayanne' Arce (56), Danielle Brisebois (55), and Killers bassist Mark Stoermer (47).

Shoutout to the Great Beyond for Richard Rodgers, born today in 1902... for saxophonist & big band arranger Jimmy Mundy, born in 1907... for bluesman David 'Honeyboy' Edwards, born in 1915... for cornet player & bandleader Red Nichols, who died on this date in 1965... for Mills Brothers vocalist Harry Mills, who passed away in 1982... for punk singer-songwriter Kevin 'GG' Allin, who died of a drug overdose on this day in 1993 at the age of 36... and for rock impresario and longtime Kiss manager Bill Aucoin, who left us today in 2010. 

Also on June 28th: 'Blue Tango' by Leroy Anderson is recorded in a Decca session with the composer conducting. It is the title track for a collection of light orchestral pieces that goes on to become the first million-selling instrumental album of the LP era (1951)... John Coltrane and Don Cherry collaborate in the first of two sessions that will make up the album The Avant-Garde. The tapes will remain in the vaults of Atlantic Records until 1966, when the label releases the album without Coltrane's input or approval (1960)... Motown release Come and Get These Memories, the debut album from Martha and the Vandellas (1963)... The Small Faces play the Marquee Club in Wardour St. in London. Admission is 7s & 6d, or the equivalent of $1... Merle Haggard records 'The Bottle Let Me down' at Capitol Studios in Los Angeles (1966)... The Beatles record 'Good Night', John's lullaby for his 5-year-old son Julian, with Ringo on lead vocals... Pink Floyd release their second album A Saucerful Of Secrets. It is the last Pink Floyd album on which Syd Barrett appears and the only studio album to which all five band members contribute. The sleeve was designed by Hipgnosis, a new company formed by the band's friends Storm Thorgerson and Aubrey 'Po' Powell, who were paid £110 for their efforts (1968)... The Eagles have their first US № 1 album with One of These Nights. The record has also yielded three top 10 singles with 'Lyin' Eyes', 'Take It to the Limit' and the title track (1975)... Elton John achieves a lifelong ambition when he becomes chairman of the Watford Football Club (1977)... Paul McCartney's 'Coming Up' becomes one of the few live recordings to reach the top of Billboard's Hot 100. American disc jockeys preferred it to the studio version on the flip side of the single (1980)... Burt Bacharach appears at The Royal Albert Hall, London. Oasis guitarist Noel Gallagher joins him on-stage for a version of 'This Guy's In Love With You' (1996)... Radiohead have the UK's № 1 album with OK Computer... Dark Side of the Moon' begins its 1056th week on the US album chart. It has long been rumoured that if the album is played while watching The Wizard of Oz movie, and started exactly when the MGM lion roars for the third time during the movie's intro, fascinating connections can be made between the two (1997)... The Spice Girls confirmed they will reform for a world tour to take place in December 2007 and January 2008 with the original line-up, who have not performed on stage since 'Ginger Spice' Geri Halliwell quit in May 1998. The 11 dates announced include a London show on 15 December, eight days after the first date in Los Angeles. Other dates included Cologne, Madrid Beijing, Hong Kong, Sydney and Cape Town. The tour is being put together by Simon Fuller, whose '19' company masterminded the group's global success more than a decade ago (2007).