Rock 'n' Roll History for
July 29


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1960 - ClassicBands.com

July 29
The US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) rejected proposals that it set up specific controls over radio and TV programs.

1963 - ClassicBands.com

July 29
With the US charts full of Hot Rod songs, Capitol Records sends disc jockeys a list of car terms and phrases to help promote The Beach Boys' "Little Deuce Coupe".

July 29
Peter, Paul And Mary's version of Bob Dylan's "Blowin' In The Wind" is released. It will enter the Hot 100 two weeks later on its way to #2. In 1999, the song was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame, and in 2004 it was ranked #14 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.


1965 - ClassicBands.com

July 29
The Beatles second feature film, Help! premiered at the London Pavilion Theatre in the West End of London. Critics didn't like the movie as much as A Hard Day's Night and even John later commented that "The best stuff is on the cutting room floor."

July 29
The Supremes begin a three week engagement at the 400 seat Copacabana in New York City. The trio played two shows a night and three on the weekends. Performances from the engagement would make up the group's first live album, "The Supremes At The Copa", which would be released on November 1st the same year. That LP would be a huge success, climbing to #11 on the Billboard 200 chart and #6 on the Top R&B Albums chart.

1966 - ClassicBands.com

July 29
Bob Dylan received serious neck injuries when he crashed his Triumph 55 motorcycle while riding near Woodstock, New York. He had just come off a British tour using The Band as his backup group. During his nine month recovery, "Bob Dylan's Greatest Hits" was released and The Band began work on their first album, "Music From Big Pink", that would be issued in the summer of 1968.

July 29
Cream take to the stage for the very first time at Manchester's Twisted Wheel. The low-key affair was sparsely attended and featured the band playing mostly Blues covers.

1967 - ClassicBands.com

July 29
An edited version of The Doors' "Light My Fire" reaches number one in the US. Eventually, many radio stations would start playing the full six minute and fifty second album cut, which features a longer instrumental break. Despite its American success, the record could only manage #49 on the UK chart when it was first released, but reached #7 when it was re-issued in 1991. The Doors did not have a bass player, so bassist Larry Knechtel was brought in to double Ray Manzarek's keyboard bass line for the recording. Knechtel also played bass on five other tracks on the album "The Doors".

1968 - ClassicBands.com

July 29
Gram Parsons left The Byrds on the eve of a tour of South Africa, refusing to play to segregated audiences.

1970 - ClassicBands.com

July 29
The Rolling Stones' contract with Decca Records expires and they begin talking about forming their own label. Showing their contempt for the record company and to fill a contractual obligation, the band hands over one final disc called "C***sucker Blues". They also inform their business manager, Allen Klein, that he is fired and that "neither he nor his company, ABKCO Industries, have any authority to negotiate recording contracts on their behalf."

1972 - ClassicBands.com

July 29
As a follow-up to their million selling hit, "Treat Her Like a Lady", The Cornelius Brothers And Sister Rose score a Cashbox number one with "Too Late To Turn Back Now". The record will rise to #2 on the Billboard chart and earn a second Gold disc for the Dania Beach, Florida trio.

July 29
Gilbert O'Sullivan started a five week run at #1 on the US singles chart with "Alone Again (Naturally)". O'Sullivan would later say that the song is not autobiographical, as he did not cry when his father died, and his mother was still alive at the time the song was written.


1973 - ClassicBands.com

July 29
Led Zeppelin, who were in the middle of a very successful US tour, are the victims of one of the largest cash thefts in New York City history. $180,000 is taken from the band's safe deposit box at the Drake Hotel. The money is mostly cash receipts from the first of two nights at Madison Square Garden.

1974 - ClassicBands.com

July 29
32 year old Cass Elliot, a one-time member of The Mamas And Papas, died in London following an appearance at the Palladium. A post-mortem the following day said that she died as a result of choking on a sandwich and from inhaling her own vomit. It's later revealed that she suffered a heart attack. Her biggest solo hit was 1968's "Dream a Little Dream of Me", which reached number 12 and was actually backed by the rest of The Mamas And Papas. Cass Elliot's body was cremated and her ashes were buried in Maryland.

1978 - ClassicBands.com

July 29
"Macho Man", a song that extols the virtues of working out, becomes Village People's first Billboard chart entry. It will top out at #25.

July 29
Columbia Records releases "Whenever I Call You Friend" by Kenny Loggins and Melissa Manchester. The song would peak at #5 on the Billboard Hot 100 and the Cashbox Best Sellers list, but did not chart in the UK.

1981 - ClassicBands.com

July 29
As an alternative to Prince Charles and Lady Diana's nuptials, Ian Dury And The Blockheads play a pair of London concerts that they dub Not the Royal Wedding.

1986 - ClassicBands.com

July 29
Singer and songwriter Paul Davis, who's credits include "Sweet Life", "I Go Crazy" and " '65 Love Affair", was shot in the stomach during an attempted robbery outside a hotel in Nashville. Davis was reported in critical condition, but eventually recovered.

July 29
Gordon Mills, the manager of Engelbert Humperdinck, Tom Jones and Gilbert O'Sullivan, died of stomach cancer. He was 51.

July 29
Michigan Governor James Blanchard declared it Four Tops Day in the state. The Democratic governor, who served between 1983 and 1991, honored the legendary vocal quartet who hailed from Detroit and helped to define The Motown Sound of the 1960s.


1987 - ClassicBands.com

July 29
Ben and Jerry's Ice Cream introduces their Cherry Garcia flavor, named after The Grateful Dead's leader.

1990 - ClassicBands.com

July 29
Elton John checked into a suburban Chicago clinic to cure bulimia and an addiction problem. He will take over a year off from touring and recording, but when he returns he will top the US chart with a re-issue of his 1974 hit, "Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me".

1993 - ClassicBands.com

July 29
Ed Guzman, percussionist for Rare Earth, passed away due to complications of diabetes. The band placed six songs on the Billboard Top 40, including "Get Ready" (#4 in 1970) and "I Just Want To Celebrate" (#7 in 1971).

2005 - ClassicBands.com

July 29
John Lennon's handwritten lyrics for "All You Need is Love", gathered from his music stand after The Beatles' final television appearance in 1967, sold at an auction in London for $1 million to an anonymous bidder.

2008 - ClassicBands.com

July 29
Phil Spector's defense team lost a series of pre-trial motions, including a bid to exclude a videotape of testimony from a witness who had since died.

2011 - ClassicBands.com

July 29
Gene McDaniels, most often remembered for his 1961 Top Ten hits "A Hundred Pounds Of Clay" and "Tower Of Strength", died at the age of 76 after a short illness. Gene also wrote Roberta Flack's 1974 number one smash, "Feel Like Makin' Love".

July 29
Legendary Rocker Chuck Berry threw out the first pitch at the St. Louis Cardinals baseball game on the same day an eight foot statue of him by sculptor Harry Weber was unveiled in the Delmar Loop in St. Louis, Missouri.

2013 - ClassicBands.com

July 29
Celebrating the 50th performance of his show, Rod Stewart: The Hits at The Colosseum at Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas, Rod Stewart announced that he will extend his contract for two more years starting next November.

2014 - ClassicBands.com

July 29
Neil Young filed a petition for dissolution of marriage from his wife Pegi in the couple's hometown of San Mateo, California. They married in 1978 and had two children together, Ben and Amber. Pegi began singing backing vocals on Young's tours in the 1990s, and last performed with him at the annual Bridge School benefit in October, 2013.

2015 - ClassicBands.com

July 29
The Eagles play their final concert with co-founder Glen Frey at the CenturyLink Center in Bossier City, La. The guitarist and songwriter would die on January 18th, 2016 at the age of 67 from complications from rheumatoid arthritis, acute ulcerative colitis and pneumonia.


2022 - ClassicBands.com

July 29
Jimy Sohns, the lead vocalist on The Shadows Of Knight's 1966, #10 hit, "Gloria", passed away at the age of 75 following complications of a stroke.

July 29
A woman who accused Bob Dylan of sexual abuse in 1965, dropped her lawsuit. The plaintiff had alleged that the musician had given her drugs and alcohol at his apartment at New York's Chelsea hotel and then "sexually molested and abused" her. Dylan vehemently denied the allegations made against him, and his lawyers branded them "untrue, absurd" and an extortion attempt. The initial suit claimed the offense occurred in April and May of 1965, but was later amended to "the spring" of that year, after it was noted Dylan's tour schedule and other commitments meant he wasn't in New York City during that time.



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