7/15-7/22
7/17/1928- Vince Guaraldi, jazz pianist best known for composing music for the tv adaptions of the comic “Peanuts” is born in San Francisco.
7/18/1929- Shock Rocker Screamin’ Jay Hawkins is born in Cleveland.
7/17/1939- Musician Spencer Davis is born in Wales. He founded the Spencer Davis Group (with Steve Winwood on vocals) that was a key ingredient in the British Invasion.
7/18/1939- Doo Wop sensation Dion is born in the Bronx.
7/20/1940- Billboard ‘s first record chart is released. Combining all the top sellers from all major recording labels. The 1st no. song is “I’ll never smile again” by Frank Sinatra and the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra.
7/18/1941- Martha Reeves, who soared to stardom for Motown as lead vocalist for Martha and the Vandellas is born in Alabama.
7/19/1941- Multiple Grammy winner and San Antonio resident Vikki Carr (Vicenta Martinez Cardona) is born in El Paso. She was one of Johny Carson’s favorite guests, appearing 30 times on his show.
7/22/1941- Legendary and innovative funk musician George Clinton is born outside Charlotte. In addition to his work with both Parliament and Funkadelic, he greatly influenced the west coast hip hop sounds of the 80’s to the 00’s.
7/22/1944- Vocalist and keyboardist Rick Davies of Supertramp is born in England.
7/20/1945- Singer/songwriter Kim Carnes is born in LA.
7/19/1947- Queen guitarist and songwriter Brian May is born in England.
Eagles guitarist Bernie Leadon is born in Minneapolis.
Carlos Humberto Santana Barragan is born in San Francisco.
7/15/1946- Multi-genre music legend Linda Ronstadt is born in Tucson. She has sold over 100 million records.
7/22/1947- Don Henley is born in East Texas just outside of Gilmer.
/21/1948- Singer/songwriter Yusuf Islam, better known by his stage name Cat Stevens is born in London. His life from once being 70’s folk/pop icon to a devout Muslim is a strange saga.
7/15/1952- 8 year old Gladys Knight appears on Ted Mack’s Amateur Hour (early version of Star Search or American Idol) and wins the top prize.
Johnny Thunder, the guitarist for Punk and Glam band New York Dolls is born in Queens.
7/16/1952- Renowned rummer Stewart Copeland of The Police is born in Virginia.
7/19/1952- Guitarist and founding member of Lynyrd Skynyrd Allen Collins is born in Jacksonville. Though he survived the 1977 plane crash that killed half the band, his bad fortune continued. His wife died in 1980 of a hemorrhage during while in labor and in 1986 he was paralyzed after a drunk driving accident that killed his girlfriend. He never played again on stage and died in 1990.
7/19/1954- Exactly one year after entering Sun Records (then Memphis Recording Service) to record 3 songs as a present for his mother, Elvis records his debut track apart from the Blue Moon Boys. Of course, it was produced by Legendary Sun founder Sam Phillips.
7/15/1956- Alternative/Synth and post-punk pioneer Ian Curtis of Joy Division is born in Manchester.
Famed instrumental guitarist Joe Satriani is born in Long Island.
7/21/1958- Eddie Cochran releases the first teenage angst rock tune “Summertime Blues”, which he wrote and produced. He had just begun to build his resume when he died in a car wreck while touring in England in 1960. And yes thats Jayne Mansfield in this video.
7/17/1959- Billie Holliday, suffering from cirrhosis and under arrest for narcotics, dies in a NYC hospital. The Jazz/Swing singer was 44 years old.
7/15/1960- Chubby Checker’s “Twist” is released. It would reach no. 1 two different times, once in 1960 and later in 1962, a feat unmatched until Mariah Carey’s “All I want for Christmas is you” joins him in 2020.
7/16/1962- The Beach Boys sign with Capitol Records. The Surf Music craze and the sounds of California music are about to be unleashed.
7/18/1962- Drummer Jack Irons who played for Red Hot Chili Peppers and was Pearl jam’s first drummer is born in LA.
7/20/1963- Jan and Dean’s “Surf City” hits no. 1 on the U.S. singles charts. Is co-written by Brian Wilson with the Beach Boys on the backing vocals.
7/18/1964- The Four Seasons hit no. 1 on the U.S. singles charts for the 4th time in 2 years with “Rag Doll.”
7/20/1964- Christopher John Boyle is born in Seattle. He would adopt his mother ‘s maiden name, Cornell, after his folks divorced when he was a teenager. He would go on to become regarded as on e of the best rock singers of all time.
The Beatles release both “If I Fell” and “And I love her” off the just released Album and Film “A Hard Day’s Night.”
7/16/1965- The Righteous Brothers release “Unchained Melody”, a song covered a few times in the 50’s. Though not a smash song upon release, it found worldwide success 25 years later when it was used in the film “Ghost.”
7/17/1965- James Brown cracks the Billboard charts for the 1st time with “Papa’s got a brand-new bag.”
7/20/1965- Bob Dylan goes electric and completes his transformation from folk singer to rock star with the release of this revolutionary song off his 6th album “Highway 61 Revisited”…
The Lovin Spoonful releases their debut single. In their 3 plus years together their brand of Folk/Rock produced many lasting songs.
7/16/1966- Ginger Baker, Jack Bruce and 20-year-old Eric Clapton form the original power trio, Cream. In their 28-month existence, the band would sell 15 million records and spawn garage bands with their fusion Rock, Blues and Psychedelic.
7/18/1966- The Beach Boys release two monster singles from “Pet Sounds” that was released earlier in May, “Wouldn’t it be nice” and “God only knows.”
7/17/1928- Vince Guaraldi, jazz pianist best known for composing music for the tv adaptions of the comic “Peanuts” is born in San Francisco.
7/18/1929- Shock Rocker Screamin’ Jay Hawkins is born in Cleveland.
7/17/1939- Musician Spencer Davis is born in Wales. He founded the Spencer Davis Group (with Steve Winwood on vocals) that was a key ingredient in the British Invasion.
7/18/1939- Doo Wop sensation Dion is born in the Bronx.
7/20/1940- Billboard ‘s first record chart is released. Combining all the top sellers from all major recording labels. The 1st no. song is “I’ll never smile again” by Frank Sinatra and the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra.
7/18/1941- Martha Reeves, who soared to stardom for Motown as lead vocalist for Martha and the Vandellas is born in Alabama.
7/19/1941- Multiple Grammy winner and San Antonio resident Vikki Carr (Vicenta Martinez Cardona) is born in El Paso. She was one of Johny Carson’s favorite guests, appearing 30 times on his show.
7/22/1941- Legendary and innovative funk musician George Clinton is born outside Charlotte. In addition to his work with both Parliament and Funkadelic, he greatly influenced the west coast hip hop sounds of the 80’s to the 00’s.
7/22/1944- Vocalist and keyboardist Rick Davies of Supertramp is born in England.
7/20/1945- Singer/songwriter Kim Carnes is born in LA.
7/19/1947- Queen guitarist and songwriter Brian May is born in England.
Eagles guitarist Bernie Leadon is born in Minneapolis.
Carlos Humberto Santana Barragan is born in San Francisco.
7/15/1946- Multi-genre music legend Linda Ronstadt is born in Tucson. She has sold over 100 million records.
7/22/1947- Don Henley is born in East Texas just outside of Gilmer.
/21/1948- Singer/songwriter Yusuf Islam, better known by his stage name Cat Stevens is born in London. His life from once being 70’s folk/pop icon to a devout Muslim is a strange saga.
7/15/1952- 8 year old Gladys Knight appears on Ted Mack’s Amateur Hour (early version of Star Search or American Idol) and wins the top prize.
Johnny Thunder, the guitarist for Punk and Glam band New York Dolls is born in Queens.
7/16/1952- Renowned rummer Stewart Copeland of The Police is born in Virginia.
7/19/1952- Guitarist and founding member of Lynyrd Skynyrd Allen Collins is born in Jacksonville. Though he survived the 1977 plane crash that killed half the band, his bad fortune continued. His wife died in 1980 of a hemorrhage during while in labor and in 1986 he was paralyzed after a drunk driving accident that killed his girlfriend. He never played again on stage and died in 1990.
7/19/1954- Exactly one year after entering Sun Records (then Memphis Recording Service) to record 3 songs as a present for his mother, Elvis records his debut track apart from the Blue Moon Boys. Of course, it was produced by Legendary Sun founder Sam Phillips.
7/15/1956- Alternative/Synth and post-punk pioneer Ian Curtis of Joy Division is born in Manchester.
Famed instrumental guitarist Joe Satriani is born in Long Island.
7/21/1958- Eddie Cochran releases the first teenage angst rock tune “Summertime Blues”, which he wrote and produced. He had just begun to build his resume when he died in a car wreck while touring in England in 1960. And yes thats Jayne Mansfield in this video.
7/17/1959- Billie Holliday, suffering from cirrhosis and under arrest for narcotics, dies in a NYC hospital. The Jazz/Swing singer was 44 years old.
7/15/1960- Chubby Checker’s “Twist” is released. It would reach no. 1 two different times, once in 1960 and later in 1962, a feat unmatched until Mariah Carey’s “All I want for Christmas is you” joins him in 2020.
7/16/1962- The Beach Boys sign with Capitol Records. The Surf Music craze and the sounds of California music are about to be unleashed.
7/18/1962- Drummer Jack Irons who played for Red Hot Chili Peppers and was Pearl jam’s first drummer is born in LA.
7/20/1963- Jan and Dean’s “Surf City” hits no. 1 on the U.S. singles charts. Is co-written by Brian Wilson with the Beach Boys on the backing vocals.
7/18/1964- The Four Seasons hit no. 1 on the U.S. singles charts for the 4th time in 2 years with “Rag Doll.”
7/20/1964- Christopher John Boyle is born in Seattle. He would adopt his mother ‘s maiden name, Cornell, after his folks divorced when he was a teenager. He would go on to become regarded as on e of the best rock singers of all time.
The Beatles release both “If I Fell” and “And I love her” off the just released Album and Film “A Hard Day’s Night.”
7/16/1965- The Righteous Brothers release “Unchained Melody”, a song covered a few times in the 50’s. Though not a smash song upon release, it found worldwide success 25 years later when it was used in the film “Ghost.”
7/17/1965- James Brown cracks the Billboard charts for the 1st time with “Papa’s got a brand-new bag.”
7/20/1965- Bob Dylan goes electric and completes his transformation from folk singer to rock star with the release of this revolutionary song off his 6th album “Highway 61 Revisited”…
The Lovin Spoonful releases their debut single. In their 3 plus years together their brand of Folk/Rock produced many lasting songs.
7/16/1966- Ginger Baker, Jack Bruce and 20-year-old Eric Clapton form the original power trio, Cream. In their 28-month existence, the band would sell 15 million records and spawn garage bands with their fusion Rock, Blues and Psychedelic.
7/18/1966- The Beach Boys release two monster singles from “Pet Sounds” that was released earlier in May, “Wouldn’t it be nice” and “God only knows.”
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