Rock & Roll History – January 4th
1946 – The late Arthur Conley – ‘Sweet Soul Music’) was born.
1954 – Elvis Presley recorded ‘Casual Love’ and ‘I’ll Never Stand In Your Way’ in his second recording session in Memphis, Tennessee. Studio manager Sam Phillips heard the session and asked Elvis to leave his phone number.
1963 – Eydie Gorme released ‘Blame It On The Bossa Nova’.
1965 – Gary Lewis & The Playboys released ‘This Diamond Ring’.
1967 – The Doors released their eponymous debut album.
1970 – George Harrison recorded the second guitar solo and Paul McCartney, Harrison and Ringo Starr re-recorded vocals for McCartney’s song,‘Let It Be’.
Rock Factoid: John Lennon was not present, having already announced to the others that he was finished with the band. It was the final recording session for the Beatles as a group until the ‘Anthology’ series in 1995.
1970 – The Who’s Keith Moon accidentally ran over his chauffeur, Neil Boland, killing him. Moon’s car was under attack from unruly teenagers, and when Boland jumped out to get them to move, Moon, in a panic, got behind the wheel to drive the car away himself. Tragically, Moon didn’t realize that as the Bentley moved forward, Boland wound up underneath the car and was dragged down the road. Boland was pronounced dead at the hospital that night.
Rock Factoid: Moon was initially charged with Boland’s death, as well as drunk driving and driving without a license or insurance. Six weeks later, it was ruled that the death was an accident, clearing Moon, although he would later plead guilty to the driving charges. The tragedy would continue to haunt Moon until his own death in 1978.
1986 – Phil Lynott (bass guitar/lead singer/songwriter with Thin Lizzy – ‘The Boys Are Back In Town’) died at the age of 35 from kidney, liver and heart failure.
1998 – Singer John Gary (‘Yellow Bird’) died of prostate cancer at the age of 65.
2006 – The body of Barry Cowsill was identified with dental records by Dr. Louis Cataldie, head of the Louisiana state hurricane morgue in Carville. Cowsill’s body was discovered December 28 on the Cartres Street Wharf but was not identified until Cataldie made his announcement. The 51-year-old former bassist of the Cowsills (‘Hair’) died as a result of Hurricane Katrina in 2005.
2011 – Grady Chapman (lead singer with The Robins – ‘Sweet Pea’) died of congestive heart failure at the age of 81.
2011 – Gerry Rafferty (Scottish singer/songwriter/guitarist with Stealers Wheel – ‘Stuck In The Middle With You’ and ‘Baker Street’ as a solo artist) died at the age of 63 of liver failure.
2011 – Singer/songwriter Sammy Johns (‘Chevy Van’) died of liver failure at the age of 66.
Compiled by Ray Lemire ©2016 RayLemire.com. All Rights Reserved.