“Philosophers of all ages have dwelt upon the importance of music as both an outlet for the spirit and emotions and as discipline for the mind. It is generally recognized that music gives access to regions in the subconscious that can be reached in no other way.”
~Sophie Lewis Hutchinson Drinker
The late Alexander ‘Skip’ Spence (drummer with Jefferson Airplane before they achieved major success, and later a singer/songwriter/guitarist with Moby Grape – ‘Omaha’) was born in 1946.
Rock Factoid: Once described as “one of psychedelia’s brightest lights,” Spence’s career was plagued by serious drug addictions and alcoholism, coupled with mental health problems. By the time he died of lung cancer two days before his 53rd birthday in 1999, he had spent much of his life in third party care, as a ward of the State of California, and either homeless or in transient accommodations.
The late Lennie Baker (saxophone/vocalist with Sha Na Na – ‘At The Hop’) was born in 1946.
Mike Vickers (guitar/saxophone/flute with Manfred Mann – ‘Do Wah Diddy Diddy’) is 76
Rock Factoid: Vickers conducted the orchestra for the 1967 live recording of the Beatles’ ‘All You Need Is Love’, which was shown on live TV across the world when communications satellite technology was celebrated by a worldwide link-up. He has another Beatles connection. As shown in the photo above, Vickers was responsible for programming the Moog synthesizer on several songs (‘Here Comes The Sun’, ‘Because’, ‘I Want You (She’s So Heavy)’, and ‘Maxwell’s Silver Hammer’) for the ‘Abbey Road’ album.
Rock Factoid #2: Vickers compositions include ‘Jet Set’, the opening music for the sports series This Week in Baseball from 1977-1998.
1939 – Gene Autry recorded ‘Back In The Saddle Again’.
Yes, I know it doesn’t have anything to do with rock and roll but what the heck.
1959 – Buddy Knox was inducted into the Army Reserve, leading his record label to rush him into the studio to record no less than twenty follow-ups to his hit ‘Party Doll’. The strategy didn’t work. None made the charts.
1963 – Bobby Bare recorded ‘Detroit City’.
1963 – The soundtrack for Elvis Presley’s ‘It Happened At The Worlds Fair’ was released.
Rock Factoid: The album peaked at #4 on the Billboard Top Pop Albums chart despite the fact it contained just under 21 minutes of music.
1965 – The Byrds recorded ‘I’ll Feel A Whole Lot Better’. It was released as the B-side to ‘All I Really Want To Do’.
1966 – Liverpool’s Cavern Club was sold after going into bankruptcy.
1969 – The Beatles completed the recording of George Harrison’s ‘Old Brown Shoe’ before Harrison and John Lennon recorded the massed overdubbed guitars played relentlessly over the same chord pattern for the three-minute finale of ‘I Want You (She’s So Heavy)’.
1970 – Steel Mill (featuring 20-year old Bruce Springsteen) played in the Main Gym at Ocean County College in New Jersey. Tickets cost $2.00.
1975 – John Lennon’s ‘Stand By Me’ was released in England.
1975 – John Lennon was at the Grand Ballroom of the Hilton Hotel in New York City, recording an appearance for the ATV / ITC TV special Salute to Sir Lew Grade: The Master Showman. It was the final live performance of Lennon’s career.
1981 – Yes bassist Chris Squire and drummer Alan White began rehearsals with Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page, leading to rumors of a new band dubbed XYZ (Ex-Yes and Zeppelin). Led Zeppelin singer Robert Plant hesitated on joining the group, citing his dislike for the complexity of the music and because he was still deeply hurt by the recent death of his long-time friend and Led Zeppelin drummer, John Bonham. Without a firm commitment from Plant, the project never materialized.
1995 – Oasis drummer Tony McCarrol was told by phone that he was being fired from the group. McCarrol sued for millions in unpaid royalties but settled out of court for $935,000.
1996 – Bernard Edwards (bass guitar and producer with Chic – ‘Good Times’) died of pneumonia.
1996 – Mike Leander (producer – ‘Jesus Christ Superstar’ and arranger of The Beatles’ ‘She’s Leaving Home’) died of cancer.
2006 – A sale of clothing belonging to Sir Elton John raised more than $700,000 for the singer’s Aids charity. Over 10,000 pieces were sold during a five-day sale in New York City at the specially-created shop, Elton’s Closet, at New York’s Rockefeller Center.
Compiled by Ray Lemire ©2017 RayLemire.com. / Streamingoldies.com. All Rights Reserved.