Rock 'n' Roll History for
June 8
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1959
- ClassicBands.com
June 8
"I Only Have Eyes For You" by the six man, Chicago vocal group,
The Flamingos, enters the Billboard chart where it will reach #11.
June 8
The Clovers record "Love Potion Number Nine" at Capitol Studios in New York City. The song would rise to #23 on both the Billboard Hot 100 and the R&B chart.
1961
- ClassicBands.com
June 8
The musical–drama film Wild In The Country starring Elvis Presley, debuts in Memphis, Tennessee. The film received mixed to negative reviews from critics, with Bosley Crowther of The New York Times saying, "Nonsense, that's all it is. Sheer nonsense." The movie showcased Presley as an actor and not a singer, therefore RCA elected not to release a soundtrack album. The title track was issued as a single, and climbed to #26 on the Hot 100.
1962
- ClassicBands.com
June 8
30-year-old Country singer Skeeter Davis records "The End of the World" at RCA Victor Studios, in Nashville, Tennessee. After the song was released the following December, it would rise to #2 on the Hot 100, becoming her biggest hit. It also reached #2 on the Hot Country Singles chart, #1 on the Easy Listening chart, and #4 on the Hot R&B Singles chart. It was also a hit in the UK, where it climbed to #18.
1963
- ClassicBands.com
June 8
The Essex, a five piece group made up of US Marines, release their first single, "Easier Said Than Done". The song will climb to #1 on both the US Pop and R&B charts, #41 in the UK, and receive a Gold Record from the R.I.A.A. for selling over one million copies. The band's follow-up tune, "A Walkin' Miracle", would reach #12 the following September.
June 8
The Crystals' "Da Doo Ron Ron" peaks at #3 on the Billboard Pop chart. The effort is the brain child of Phil Spector, who uses a multi-track recording system to build the song layer upon layer to achieve a result that will become known as a "wall of sound". Backing musicians include Glen Campbell on guitar, Hal Blain on drums, Leon Russell on piano and Nino Tempo on sax.
1964
- ClassicBands.com
June 8
Liberty Records release "Little Old Lady From Pasadena" by Jan & Dean. The initial instrumental tracks had been recorded at United Western Recorders on March 21st by members of The Wrecking Crew, which included Hal Blaine and Earl Palmer (drums), Jimmy Bond (upright bass), Ray Pohlman (electric bass), Bill Pitman, Billy Strange and Tommy Tedesco (guitars) and Leon Russell (keyboards). The song would peak at #3 on the Billboard Hot 100 during the first week of August.
1969
- ClassicBands.com
June 8
Although he is actually dismissed from the band, a press release is issued saying
Brian Jones has quit The Rolling Stones. One month later, he will be found dead in his swimming pool.
1970
- ClassicBands.com
June 8
Deep Purple had their van and equipment impounded by East German police while on an European tour, after mistakenly driving too close to the border.
1971
- ClassicBands.com
June 8
Jerry Lee Lewis marries his fourth wife, 29-year-old Jaren Elizabeth Gunn Pate, a divorcee who worked as a secretary for the Memphis sheriff's department. The pair would split just two weeks later, but never divorced. They would remain married, seeing each other only occasionally until she was found dead, floating in her backyard swimming pool on June 8th, 1982.
1974
- ClassicBands.com
June 8
Keyboard player Rick Wakeman left the Progressive Rock band
Yes following completion of the album "Tales From Topographic Oceans". Wakeman openly expressed his bewilderment and disillusionment with the album and the band. Wakeman rejoined Yes in 1976, but split from the group again in 1980.
June 8
Paul McCartney and Wings had the top spot on the Billboard singles chart with "Band On The Run", a song on which Paul played bass, guitar and drums. The song was a #3 hit in the UK.
1991
- ClassicBands.com
June 8
Bruce Springsteen marries Patti Scialfa at their Beverly Hills mansion. It was the second marriage for Springsteen, who divorced model Julianne Phillips in 1988, and the first for Scialfa, who used to sing in Springsteen's E Street Band.
June 8
Paula Abdul started a two-week run at #1 on the US album chart with "Spellbound".
1998
- ClassicBands.com
June 8
The surviving Beatles are seen together for the first time in nearly 30 years at a memorial service for Linda McCartney held at St. Martin-in-the-Fields in London, England.
2003
- ClassicBands.com
June 8
Billy Joel won a Tony award for the orchestration of his musical, Movin' Out.
2007
- ClassicBands.com
June 8
A British judge sentenced George Michael to 100 hours of community service and banned him from driving for two years for driving under the influence of drugs.
2016
- ClassicBands.com
June 8
Cher filed a lawsuit against SAIL Venture Partners and related firms, claiming they defrauded her out of more than $800,000 in investments which went bad.
June 8
Janis Joplin's childhood home in Port Arthur, Texas was put up for sale. Although surrounding houses usually sold for between $70,000 and $80,000, the asking price for the five-bedroom, three-bathroom house was $500,000. "You're obviously paying for the fame of the home," said the listing realtor.
June 8
Brian Rading, a founding member of Canada's Five Man Electrical Band, died after a long battle with throat cancer at the age of 69. He played bass on the band's 1971, Billboard #3 hit, "Signs".
2018
- ClassicBands.com
June 8
Danny Kirwan, guitarist for Fleetwood Mac from 1968 to 1972, passed away at the age of 68.
2020
- ClassicBands.com
June 8
Bonnie Pointer, an original member of The Pointer Sisters, passed away at the age of 69. Bonnie left the group in 1977 for a solo career and scored a Billboard #11 hit with "Heaven Must Have Sent You" two years later.
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