www.classicbands.com

Home Page
Chart Facts
Biographies
Who Sang That Hit?
Classic Rock Videos
The Stars' Real Names
Some Cool Music Links
Questions or Comments
Rock and Roll Interviews
The Best Selling Records
How They Got Their Name
This Week In Rock History
The 100 Most Played Songs
The History Of Banned Rock
Top Twenty Songs From '56 to '85
Classic Rock's Fascinating Facts
Rock and Roll's Unsolved Mysteries
Died and Gone To Rock and Roll Heaven
Their Hits, Their Stories, Where Are They Now?

This Week In
Rock and Roll History

March 9th to March 15th

Classic Rockers In The News - Rock & Roll Birthdays - Number One Records



1955 - ClassicBands.com

March 10
RCA Records placed a half page ad in Billboard magazine claiming that Elvis Presley was 'the new singing rage!'

March 14
Singer Jimmy Dean interviews Elvis Presley on his Washington, DC television show.

March 15
Fats Domino records "Ain't It A Shame" which will top the US R&B standings and reach #10 on the Pop chart by July. Pat Boone's cover version, "Ain't That A Shame" would rise to #1 on the Pop chart the same month.

1956 - ClassicBands.com

March 10
Bobby Darin makes his first television appearance on The Stage Show, where he sings "Rock Island Line". It would take two more years before he had his first US Top 40 hit, "Splish Splash", which he would follow with twenty-one more.

March 13
Elvis Presley's first album is released by RCA. The self-titled disc would sell over a million copies and become The King's first Gold record.

1957 - ClassicBands.com

March 9
Fats Domino had the number 1 record on the Billboard R&B singles chart with "I'm Walkin'", which had just replaced his own, "Blue Monday". Domino would keep the Top 40 hits coming for the next 5 years before fading to the oldies tours.

March 12
Buddy Holly And The Crickets record "Maybe Baby", which would be released the following year and climb to #17 in the US and #4 in the UK.

1958 - ClassicBands.com

March 11
After finding out that her husband, Jerry Lee Lewis, has married his 13 year old cousin, Jane Mitcham files for divorce.

March 12
Jazz singer Billie Holiday, who had pled guilty to a narcotics-possession charge in 1956, is given a year's probation by a Philadelphia court.

March 13
The Quarry Men, with both John Lennon and Paul McCartney playing guitar, perform at the Morgue Skiffle Cellar in Oakhill Park.

March 14
Perry Como's "Catch A Falling Star" becomes the first recipient of a Gold record awarded by the Recording Industry Association of America. The achievement represented sales of one million discs. The first known Gold record was presented as a one time award to The Glenn Miller Orchestra in 1942 for "Chattanooga Choo Choo".

March 15
Elvis Presley performs at Russwood Park in Memphis, in his last concert before joining the US Army.

1959 - ClassicBands.com

March 11
RCA sends a Gold record to Elvis Presley as his single "A Fool Such As I" reaches the one million sales mark.

March 12
An American Bandstand viewer's pole lists 15 year old Fabian Forte as the Most Promising New Talent. The young man is currently enjoying success with "Turn Me Loose", which will crack the US Top 10 in April.

March 13
Friday the 13th proved unlucky for The Kingston Trio when they were involved in an emergency airplane landing in Indiana and nearly killed. Their song, "The Tijuana Jail" was rising up the charts, stopping at number 12 a couple weeks later.

March 14
Elvis Presley led the Billboard Hot 200 chart with "For LP Fans Only". It was the first album ever issued without the artist's name to be found anywhere on the cover - front or back.

1960 - ClassicBands.com

March 10
Record Retailer, a publication that featured a chart showing the Top 50 records by sales, is launched in the UK. Their first number one was "Poor Me" by Adam Faith.

1961 - ClassicBands.com

March 9
The Beatles make their first of over 300 appearance at Liverpool's Cavern Club. The group had played the venue in the past as The Quarry Men.

March 12
At RCA's Nashville studios, Elvis Presley records his entire upcoming album, "Something For Everybody", in less than twelve hours.

March 13
Ricky Nelson records "Travelin' Man", which would go on to become his second and final US number one hit as well as reaching number two in the UK.

1962 - ClassicBands.com

March 10
Bruce Channel's "Hey! Baby" sat at the top of the Pop chart in America and at number 2 in the UK.

March 13
Cliff Richard is named Show Business Personality of 1961 at the Variety Club of Great Britain Awards. Helen Shapiro is voted Most Promising Newcomer Of The Year, an honor she shared with actress Rita Tushingham.

1963 - ClassicBands.com

March 9
The Beatles appeared at the East Ham Granada in London as a support act for Tommy Roe and Chris Montez.

March 11
The English Rock group, Manfred Mann, give their first concert in London.

March 14
Gerry Marsden of Gerry And The Pacemakers is fined 60 pounds for trying to evade British customs with a German-bought guitar.

March 14
Cliff Richard And The Shadows were at the top of the UK singles chart with "Summer Holiday", their seventh UK #1 record.

1964 - ClassicBands.com

March 9
Capitol Records releases a song called "Letter To The Beatles" by The Four Preps. The lyrics describe a boy lamenting the fact that he's lost his girlfriend to The Fab Four. On its first day, the record shot to #85 on the Billboard Hot 100 and it looked like The Preps were going to have another hit on their hands. Unfortunately they had included a few bars from "I Want To Hold Your Hand" without permission and Capitol was forced to withdraw the single to avoid a lawsuit. These days you can still find the song on YouTube.

March 10
Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel record "The Sounds Of Silence" as an acoustic duo. It wasn't until record company producers added electric guitar, bass and drums, without the knowledge of Paul and Art, that the song would become a hit in late 1965.

March 14
For the first time in British recording history, all Top Ten singles in the UK are by British acts. #1 - "Anyone Who Had A Heart" by Cilla Black, #2 - "Bits and Pieces" by The Dave Clark Five, #3 - Little Children by Billy J Kramer, #4 - "Diane" by The Bachelors, #5 - "Not Fade Away" by The Rolling Stones, #6 - "Just One Look" by The Hollies, #7 - "Needles and Pins" by The Searchers, #8 - "I Think Of You" by The Merseybeats, #9 - "Boys Cry" by Eden Kane, #10 - "Let Me Go Lover" by Kathy Kirby.

March 14
Billboard Magazine reports that Beatle records have claimed 60-percent of the US singles market and that the album "Meet the Beatles" had reached a record 3.5 million copies sold.

1965 - ClassicBands.com

March 13
Freddie And The Dreamers' "I'm Telling You Now" enters Billboard's Hot 100, where it will stay for eleven weeks, eventually climbing to #1 for two weeks starting April 10. It will be the biggest hit of the band's brief career.

March 13
The Beatles topped the Billboard Hot 100 for the seventh time with "Eight Days A Week". Paul McCartney would later say the name of the song came from a chauffeur who drove him one day. "I said, 'How've you been?'. 'Oh working hard,' he said, 'Working eight days a week.'"

March 13
Eric Clapton quit The Yardbirds due to musical differences with the other band members. Clapton wanted to continue in a bluesier vein, while the rest of the band preferred the more commercial style of their first Pop hit, "For Your Love".

1966 - ClassicBands.com

March 12
The Levi Strauss Company began selling bell-bottom blue jeans in the US. Don't you wish you could still fit into yours?

March 15
Winners of the eighth annual Grammy Awards are announced. Record of the Year is "A Taste of Honey" by Herb Albert And The Tijuana Brass. Album of the Year is Frank Sinatra's "September of My Years". Song of the Year is "The Shadow of Your Smile" by Paul Francis Webster and Johnny Mandel. Roger Miller won six awards, giving him a total of 11 in two years.

March 15
Sandy Posey records "Born A Woman", which will rise to number 12 in the US and become the first of her four Top 40 hits.

1967 - ClassicBands.com

March 10
Sonny And Cher guest star on an episode of NBC-TV's The Man From U.N.C.L.E.

March 11
The Supremes enjoy their ninth Billboard number one record with "Love Is Here and Now You're Gone", a #17 hit in the UK.

March 11
Northern Songs, who publish The Beatles' tunes, announce that in the 18 months since "Yesterday" made its appearance, 446 other artists have also recorded it.

1968 - ClassicBands.com

March 9
Grammy Awards are presented to The Fifth Dimension for "Up, Up and Away" - Record of the Year and Best Performance by a Vocal Group. The Beatles' "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" is named Album of the Year, Best Contemporary Album, Best Engineered Record and Best Album Cover, Graphic Arts.

March 9
Bob Dylan started a ten-week run at the top of the UK album chart with "John Wesley Harding". The LP would reach #2 in the US.

March 13
The Byrds received a Gold record for their "Greatest Hits" album.

1969 - ClassicBands.com

March 12
Paul McCartney married photographer Linda Eastman in a small civil ceremony at the Marylebone Registry Office, in the City of Westminster in central London. Contrary to the popular rumor of the day, she was not related to the Eastmans of Eastman-Kodak fame. Paul's brother, Mike, served as the best man, but none of the other Beatles were in attendance. Linda would die of cancer on April 17th, 1998 at the age of 56.

March 15
Tommy Roe led both the Billboard Hot 100 and the Cashbox Best Sellers list with "Dizzy", a record that would sell 6 million copies. His first chart topper was "Sheila" in 1962.

March 15
Blood, Sweat And Tears' first hit, "You've Made Me So Very Happy", tops out at number two on the Billboard Pop chart. They would have two more second place finishes with "Spinning Wheel" and "And When I Die", but never enjoyed a number one record on the Hot 100.

1970 - ClassicBands.com

March 9
Having recently changed their name from Earth to Black Sabbath, Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler and Bill Ward make their concert debut at The Roundhouse in the North London district of Camden Town.

March 11
The Grammy Award winners are announced. The Fifth Dimension's "Aquarius / Let the Sunshine In" is Record of the Year. Blood, Sweat And Tears' self titled LP is Album of the Year and Joe South's "Games People Play" is Song of the Year. Crosby, Stills And Nash were named Best New Artist. Blood, Sweat And Tears were nominated for a then-record eleven Grammy Awards (They won three).

March 14
The Supremes, with Jean Terrell singing lead vocals, enjoy their first hit without Diana Ross, when "Up the Ladder to the Roof" enters the Hot 100, where it will peak at number 10.

1971 - ClassicBands.com

March 11
TV's fictional Rock band, The Partridge Family, featuring David Cassidy on vocals, receives a Gold record for "Doesn't Somebody Want to be Wanted". It's the second of their five US Top 20 hits.

March 13
The L.A. duo of Brewer And Shipley entered the Billboard Hot 100 with "One Toke Over The Line". The song, which featured The Grateful Dead's Jerry Garcia on steel guitar, would reach #10 despite being banned by several radio stations for its drug references. Brewer and Shipley maintained that the word "toke" meant "token", as in ticket, hence the line "waitin' downtown at the railway station, one toke over the line."

1972 - ClassicBands.com

March 9
Carole King, James Taylor and Carly Simon did their part to keep Richard Nixon out of office when they appeared at a fund-raiser for George McGovern. Joining them were Barbra Streisand, Quincy Jones, Mama Cass Elliot, Burt Lancaster, Jon Voight, Britt Ekland and Jack Nicholson. Their efforts were in vain, as McGovern lost the November 7th election to Nixon by nearly 18 million votes.

March 10
The group America receive a Gold record for their self-titled debut album.

March 14
Carole King's "Tapestry" LP is named Album Of The Year at the 14th Grammy Awards. The disc had been 1971's best selling record.

March 15
Los Angeles radio station KHJ is raided by L.A. police after calls from listeners who feared there'd been a take over at the station. DJ Robert W. Morgan had played Donny Osmond's "Puppy Love" over and over for 90 minutes straight. The police left without making any arrests. The record would eventually rise to number three on Billboard's Hot 100, one position shy of the original Paul Anka recording.

1973 - ClassicBands.com

March 10
Pink Floyd's "Dark Side Of The Moon" was released in America where it would spent over 741 weeks on the Billboard chart.

March 15
Elton John had the #1 album in the US with "Don't Shoot Me I'm Only The Piano Player", which contained two hit singles, "Crocodile Rock" and "Daniel". According to Philip Norman's 1990s authorized biography, Groucho Marx jokingly pointed his index fingers at Elton, as if holding a pair of six-shooters. John is reported to have put up his hands and said, "Don't shoot me, I'm only the piano player", so naming the album.

1974 - ClassicBands.com

March 11
Janis Joplin's manager, Albert Grossman, was awarded $112,000 on her life insurance policy. The insurance company had argued that Joplin's drug overdose death in 1970 was a suicide, not an accident.

March 12
John Lennon and Harry Nilsson are thrown out of the Troubador nightclub in Los Angeles for heckling the Smothers Brothers. Nilsson, a good friend of Tom Smothers, thought he was helping the act because Tom had struggled through weak material at an earlier date.

1975 - ClassicBands.com

March 15
The Doobie Brothers have the first of their two Billboard #1 singles with "Black Water", a song that was issued as the "B" side of "Another Park, Another Sunday". Four years later, they would duplicate the feat with "What A Fool Believes".

March 15
Olivia Newton-John enjoyed her second US #1 album with "Have You Ever Been Mellow", which included the title track and "Please Mr. Please".

1976 - ClassicBands.com

March 9
Queen's breakthrough album, "A Night at the Opera", is certified Gold.

March 13
The Four Seasons score their fifth and final US #1 hit with "December 1963 (Oh What A Night"). It was also their only UK #1. Since 1962, the group had placed 31 songs in Billboard's Top 40.

March 13
Johnny Taylor's "Disco Lady" begins a six week stay at the top of the Billboard R&B chart. It is the first number one song to contain the word "Disco" in the title.

1977 - ClassicBands.com

March 9
The Jacksons TV show aired for the final time on CBS-TV, finishing dead last in the ratings.

March 12
The Sex Pistols were involved in a fight at London's Speakeasy Club, resulting in one of the show's engineers needing 14 stitches in his head.

1978 - ClassicBands.com

March 11
Meat Loaf's "Bat Out Of Hell" album began a 416 week run on the UK chart and would go on to sell over 2 million copies.

March 11
French singer Claude Francois, who scored a 1976 UK hit with "Tears On The Telephone", was electrocuted when he changed a light bulb while standing in his bathtub.

1979 - ClassicBands.com

March 10
Believe it or not, James Brown played the Grand Ole Opry. Some Country artists such as Jean Shepard complained, but others like Barbara Mandrell said that Brown should have been invited five years earlier.

March 10
Gloria Gaynor's "I Will Survive" found its way from B-side obscurity to the top of the Billboard Hot 100. It was also a #1 in the UK.

1980 - ClassicBands.com

March 13
Pink Floyd's "The Wall" goes Platinum a few weeks into its fifteen week stay at number one on the Billboard chart. The two-record set is mostly the brainchild of bassist Roger Waters, who emerges as the group's creative leader.

1981 - ClassicBands.com

March 14
Eric Clapton is admitted to United Hospital in St. Paul, Minnesota after a serious attack of bleeding ulcers. He is forced to cancel a 60 date tour of the United States.

1982 - ClassicBands.com

March 11
Jimy Sohns, lead singer of the Shadows of Knight is arrested for distributing cocaine. The band's biggest hit was a cover version of "Gloria", originally recorded by Van Morrison And Them.

March 15
Bob Dylan is inducted into the Songwriters Hall Of Fame during a ceremony held at New York's Hilton Hotel.

1983 - ClassicBands.com

March 15
Bonnie Tyler had her only UK #1 single with "Total Eclipse Of The Heart", which will also top the charts in the United States, Australia and Canada, selling over six million copies.

1985 - ClassicBands.com

March 9
Mick Jagger releases a solo single called "Just Another Night" which will reach #12 in the US and #32 in the UK.

March 9
REO Speedwagon returned to Billboard's top spot with "Can't Fight This Feeling". The song made #16 in the UK. It had been a little over five years since the band's first number one hit, "Keep On Loving You".

1986 - ClassicBands.com

March 15
Although they never had a number one hit under their original name, Jefferson Airplane, the newest incarnation of this band, Jefferson Starship enjoyed the second of three Billboard chart toppers with "Sara" featuring Mickey Thomas on vocals. The song reached #66 in the UK.

1987 - ClassicBands.com

March 13
Bob Seger receives a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

March 14
Huey Lewis And The News scored their third number one record in the US with a Bruce Hornsby composition, "Jacob's Ladder", one of six singles released from the album "Fore".

1988 - ClassicBands.com

March 10
30 year old Andy Gibb, younger brother of Bee Gees Robin, Maurice and Barry, died from a viral infection in his heart. Andy hadn't had a chart hit since 1981, but did have a stint as host of the Solid Gold TV show. Shortly before his death and just after he declared bankruptcy, Andy had signed a record deal and was working on a new album for Island Records that was never completed.

1989 - ClassicBands.com

March 11
38 Special's biggest hit, "Second Chance" enters the Billboard charts where it will reach #6 on the Hot 100 and #1 on the Adult Contemporary Chart. The Jacksonville, Florida based band featured Donny Van Zant on vocals and Don Barnes on guitar.

March 15
The Rolling Stones signed a $70 million contract to play 50 North American dates. At that point, it was the largest contract in Rock history.

1990 - ClassicBands.com

March 10
According to Billboard magazine, New Kids On The Block receive 125,000 calls a day to their 1-900 number.

March 14
Michael Jackson was voted artist of the decade at the annual Soul Train Awards.

1991 - ClassicBands.com

March 11
Janet Jackson signs a $30 million deal with Virgin Records. It's the largest record deal ever until brother Michael signs with Sony a week later.

1992 - ClassicBands.com

March 14
A Jay And The Americans concert on Long Island was interrupted by a bomb threat. No threat was found.

1993 - ClassicBands.com

March 11
Eric Clapton hit number 1 in the US with his "Unplugged" album that had been in the Top Ten for six months. The additional attention created by his six Grammys at the annual awards ceremony pushed sales of his 'live' album even higher. "Unplugged" beat out "Achtung Baby", "The Beauty And The Beast" soundtrack and albums by Annie Lennox and kd lang for album of the year.

1995 - ClassicBands.com

March 15
Madonna is signed to star as Eva Peron in the film version of the musical, Evita, based on the life of Evita Duarte, a B-picture Argentinean actress who eventually became the wife of Argentinean president and dictator Juan Peron. Madonna will win a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress In A Motion Picture for her role.

1996 - ClassicBands.com

March 9
George Burns, who scored a Billboard hit in 1980 with "I Wish I Was Eighteen Again", passed away at the age of 100.

March 11
Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr turn down a $225 million offer to do a reunion tour.

1997 - ClassicBands.com

March 10
R&B singer LaVern Baker, who placed 7 songs in the US Top 40 in the mid-1950s and early 1960s, including "Tweedlee Dee" and "I Cried A Tear", died of heart failure at the age of 67.

March 11
The investiture ceremony where Paul McCartney was knighted by Britain's Queen Elizabeth II took place at Buckingham Palace. Sir Paul told reporters: "Proud to be British, wonderful day and it's a long way from a little terrace in Liverpool."

1999 - ClassicBands.com

March 13
It had been nearly fifteen years since Cher led the US hit parade with "Dark Lady", but she was back on top with her fourth solo number one, "Believe". It was also #1 in the UK.

March 15
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inducts Dusty Springfield, Paul McCartney, Billy Joel, Bruce Springsteen, Curtis Mayfield, Del Shannon and producer George Martin.

2001 - ClassicBands.com

March 12
In a poll conducted by the Recording Industry Association of America, music fans voted Judy Garland's "Over The Rainbow" as the Song Of The Century. The Rolling Stones' "Satisfaction" came in at #16 and The Beatles' "I Want To Hold Your Hand" was #26.

2002 - ClassicBands.com

March 11
Connie Francis launches a 40 million dollar lawsuit against her record label for unpaid royalties and inappropriate licensing of her recordings.

March 15
A rare autographed copy of The Beatles album "Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band", sold at auction for 34,000 Pounds. (about 59,000 US dollars)

March 15
Marshall Leib of The Teddy Bears died of a heart attack at the age of 63. Leib, along with Carol Connors and Phil Spector, scored a Billboard chart topper in 1958 with "To Know Him Is To Love Him".

March 15
Yoko Ono unveiled a 7 foot bronze statue of John Lennon overlooking the check-in hall of John Lennon Airport in Liverpool. The re-naming of the airport featured a sketch of Lennon's face with the words 'Above Us Only Skies'.

2003 - ClassicBands.com

March 13
A jury awarded concert promoter Marcel Avram $5.3 million in his suit against Michael Jackson over the cancellation of two planned 1999 concerts. Avram filed suit against Jackson in 2000 in Santa Barbara County Superior Court, claiming the singer had pulled out of New Years shows planned for Sydney and Honolulu. On the witness stand, Jackson insisted that Avram cancelled the shows over concerns they would not be profitable.

2004 - ClassicBands.com

March 11
Edmund Sylvers, the lead singer of The Sylvers on their 1975, number one hit, "Boogie Fever", died after a ten month battle with cancer. He was just 47 years old.

March 12
Rosalind Morganfield, the 34 year old daughter of Blues artist Muddy Waters, surrendered to police after a warrant was issued accusing her of being involved in the 1996 murder of 19 year old Timothy Jason Harrington during a drug deal.

2005 - ClassicBands.com

March 10
Michael Jackson arrived at the Santa Moria court an hour late, still dressed in his pajamas after being treated for a back injury.

March 10
53-year-old Danny Joe Brown, the original lead singer of Molly Hatchet, died from renal failure due to complications from diabetes. Brown was the front man for the band's self-titled album in 1978, which went Platinum. In 1979, the next album, "Flirtin' With Disaster" sold over 2 million copies.

March 14
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame celebrated its twentieth anniversary with a ceremony at New York's Waldorf Astoria Hotel that saw Bruce Springsteen ushering in U2 and Rod Stewart inducting Soul singer Percy Sledge. Neil Young welcomed The Pretenders into the Hall, while Justin Timberlake introduced The O'Jays.

2006 - ClassicBands.com

March 15
A crew of workers with the Louisiana State Museum recovered what was left of three pianos in Fats Domino's New Orleans home, which was submerged in almost 10 feet of water when Hurricane Katrina caused a levee break near his neighborhood last August. Museum officials were hoping the Domino family would donate a black Steinway baby grand for inclusion in a traveling exhibit about hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

2007 - ClassicBands.com

March 9
Brad Delp, the lead singer for the band Boston, was found dead in his home in southern New Hampshire. He was 55.

March 12
Levon Helm, the former drummer for The Band, filed a lawsuit against a Manhattan advertising firm over the use of the group's song, "The Weight" in a television commercial for cell phones. Helm received a royalty payment for the use of the song, but didn't feel he was adequately compensated.

2008 - ClassicBands.com

March 10
Pop diva Madonna, rocker John Mellencamp, singer/songwriter Leonard Cohen, British Invasion pioneers The Dave Clark Five and instrumental Rock legends The Ventures were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame during a ceremony at New York's Waldorf-Astoria Hotel.

March 12
Seven years of trying to secure the rights to use the Lennon-McCartney catalog paid off for TV's American Idol, when over 31 million viewers tuned in to the show. The following day, the top five Google searches were also Beatle related.

2009 - ClassicBands.com

May 12
Bob Dylan mingled unnoticed among 14 other tourists at John Lennon's childhood home in Liverpool. The Folk legend strolled around the place where the late former Beatle grew up with his aunt Mimi and uncle George and later said that he was "enthralled" to see the bedroom where Lennon wrote some of his earliest songs.

2010 - ClassicBands.com

March 10
An anti-abortion activist was arrested after allegedly making threats on Elton John's life. The man was upset when the singer suggested that Jesus Christ was gay in a Parade magazine interview in February, and he wrote an angry online response, entitled Why Elton John Must Die.

March 10
Pink Floyd won a court battle with EMI that prevents the record company from selling single downloads and ringtones on the Internet from the group's albums. Pink Floyd's back catalogue is second in sales to only the Beatles.

March 15
Former ABBA vocalist Anni-Frid Reuss ruled out a reunion with her old band mates by saying that it's "too late for that" at the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame induction ceremony in New York. Anni-Frid joined her ex-husband Benny Andersson at the gala where they were inducted by The Bee Gees' Robin and Barry Gibb.

2011 - ClassicBands.com

March 9
Eric Clapton sold off more than 70 of his guitars at a charity auction in New York. A 1948 Gibson hollow body raised the highest price at $83,000, far above its estimated value of $30,000.

March 14
Jon Bon Jovi openly criticized Apple co-founder Steve Jobs for introducing iTunes, saying "Steve Jobs is personally responsible for killing the music business," as he reminisced about going to a record store and buying vinyl discs.

March 12
A man was charged with burglary after security guards discovered him in Madonna's luxurious London mansion while she was in America to attend her grandmother's funeral.

March 14
Ronnie Hammond, the lead singer of The Atlanta Rhythm Section, died of heart failure at the age of 60. He led the band to two Billboard Top Ten hits, "So Into You" in 1977 and "Imaginary Lover" in 1978.

2012 - ClassicBands.com

March 12
Mike Hossack, drummer for The Doobie Brothers on their hits "Blackwater", "Listen to the Music" and "China Grove, died of cancer at the age of 65. He left the band in 1973, but returned in 1987 to record the albums "Cycles", "Brotherhood" and 2010's "World Gone Crazy".

March 15
The Temptations joined a class action lawsuit against Universal Music, seeking revenue from digital downloads and ringtones.

March 15
Lisa Marie Presley announced that she would release her first new album, in five years, "Storm and Grace".

2013 - ClassicBands.com

March 12
Former Iron Maiden drummer Clive Burr died at the age of 56 after a long battle with multiple sclerosis.

March 13
Bob Dylan was voted into the century-old American Academy of Arts and Letters.

March 15
Elton John was forced to cancel a concert in Birmingham, Alabama, just hours before the show due to medical reasons.









Our Featured Interview

They had 18 Billboard Top 40 hits
between 1979 and 1996, and enjoyed
the best selling single in America
with "Open Arms" this week in 1982.


Be sure to read Gary James'
interview with Neal Schon
of Journey

In The News


    Adam Lambert and Queen announce summer tour

    Lennon and McCartney's 'Help!' piano hits auction block

    Paul Simon, Sting stage 'Little Experiment' at M.S.G.

    Kiss' Paul Stanley says Ace Frehley 'Threw Away Incredible Potential'

    Former Pearl Jam accountant sentenced to prison for embezzlement

    Bruce Springsteen documentary premiering on HBO

    Aretha Franklin set for First Lady's 'Women of Soul' concert

    Steve Martin & Edie Brickell's partnership becomes a tour & musical


Rock and Roll Birthdays


March 9th - ClassicBands.com

1933 - Lloyd Price ("Personality")
1942 - Mark Lindsay - lead singer of Paul Revere and The Raiders ("Kicks")
1945 - Robin Trower - guitarist for Procol Harum ("Conquistador")
1945 - Ron Wilson - drummer for The Surfaris ("Wipe Out")
1948 - Jeffrey Osborne ("On The Wings Of Love")
1951 - Frank Rodriguez - organist for ? and The Mysterians ("96 Tears")

March 10th - ClassicBands.com

1935 - Dexter Tisby - vocalist for The Penguins ("Earth Angel")
1940 - Dean Torrence of Jan and Dean ("Dead Man's Curve")
1947 - Tom Scholz - guitarist for Boston ("More Than A Feeling")
1950 - Beverly Bremers ("Don't Say You Don't Remember")

March 11th - ClassicBands.com

1903 - Lawrence Welk ("Calcutta")
1947 - Mark Stein - keyboards and vocals for Vanilla Fudge ("You Keep Me Hangin' On")
1944 - Rick Rothwell - drummer for Wayne Fontana & The Mindbenders ("The Game Of Love")
1950 - Bobby McFerrin ("Don't Worry, Be Happy")
1951 - Katie Kissoon of Mac & Katie Kissoon ("Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep")
1957 - Cheryl Lynn ("Got To Be Real")
1961 - Bruce Watson - guitarist for Big Country ("In A Big Country")

March 12th - ClassicBands.com

1938 - Lew DeWitt of The Statler Brothers ("Flowers On The Wall")
1940 - Al Jarreau ("Moonlighting")
1948 - James Taylor ("Fire and Rain")
1949 - Mike Gibbins - drummer for Badfinger ("No Matter What You Are")
1956 - Steve Harris - bassist for Iron Maiden ("Bring Your Daughter To The Slaughter")
1957 - Marlon Jackson - guitarist for The Jackson Five ("ABC")

March 13th - ClassicBands.com

1933 - Mike Stoller - record producer and songwriter
1939 - Neil Sedaka ("Breaking Up Is Hard To Do")

March 14th - ClassicBands.com

1922 - Les Baxter ("Poor People Of Paris")
1931 - Phil Phillips ("Sea Of Love")
1933 - Quincy Jones - record producer ("We Are The World")
1943 - Jim Pons - bassist for The Turtles ("Happy Together")
1945 - Walt Parazaider - sax player for Chicago ("Saturday In The Park")
1945 - Michael Martin Murphy ("Wildfire")
1947 - Jim O’Rourke - guitarist for John Fred And His Playboy Band ("Judy In Disguise")
1950 - Rick Dees ("Disco Duck")

March 15th - ClassicBands.com

1940 - Phil Lesh - bassist for The Grateful Dead ("Truckin")
1941 - Mike Love - vocalist for The Beach Boys ("Good Vibrations")
1944 - Sly Stone - keyboards / lead vocals for Sly and The Family Stone ("Everyday People")
1944 - David Costell - bassist for Gary Lewis and The Playboys ("This Diamond Ring")
1946 - Howard Scott - guitar / vocals for War ("Cisco Kid")
1955 - Dee Snider - lead vocalist for Twisted Sister ("We're Not Gonna Take It")
1955 - Bunny DeBarge - vocalist for DeBarge ("Who's Holding Donna Now")






Who sang that song that you have stuck in your head?
How high did it climb on the charts and in what year?
You can find out in our Who Sang That Hit? Section 		Explore the facts behind the deaths
of some of the music world's biggest stars
Read all about Rock and Roll's Unsolved Mysteries

Top



This Week's Best Selling Singles

  In The USA  
March 9th to March 15th

YearSongArtist
1956 Lisbon Antigua Nelson Riddle and His Orchestra
1957 Young Love Sonny James
1958 Tequila The Champs
1959 Venus Frankie Avalon
1960 The Theme From A Summer Place Percy Faith And His Orchestra
1961 Pony Time Chubby Checker
1962 Hey! Baby Bruce Channel
1963 Walk Like A Man The Four Seasons
1964 I Want To Hold Your Hand The Beatles
1965 Eight Days A Week The Beatles
1966 The Ballad Of The Green Berets SSgt. Barry Sadler
1967 Ruby Tuesday The Rolling Stones
1968 Love Is Blue Paul Mauriat And His Orchestra
1969 Dizzy Tommy Roe
1970 Bridge Over Troubled Water Simon And Garfunkel
1971 One Bad Apple The Osmonds
1972 Without You Nilsson
1973 Killing Me Softly With His Song Roberta Flack
1974 Seasons In The Sun Terry Jacks
1975 My Eyes Adored You Frankie Valli
1976 All By Myself Eric Carmen
1977 Love Theme From A Star Is Born Barbra Streisand
1978 Emotion Samantha Sang
1979 I Will Survive Gloria Gaynor
1980 Longer Dan Fogelberg
1981 Woman John Lennon
1982 Open Arms Journey
1983 Billie Jean Michael Jackson
1984 99 Red Balloons Nena
1985 Careless Whisper Wham! featuring George Michael


  In The United Kingdom  

March 9th to March 15th

1956 Memories Are Made Of This Dean Martin
1957 Young Love Tab Hunter
1958 Magic Moments Perry Como
1959 As I Love You Shirley Bassey
1960 Poor Me Adam Faith
1961 Walk Right Back / Ebony Eyes The Everly Brothers
1962 Rock-A-Hula Baby / Can't Help Falling In Love Elvis Presley
1963 Wayward Wind Frank Ifield
1964 Anyone Who Had A Heart Cilla Black
1965 It's Not Unusual Tom Jones
1966 These Boots Are Made For Walkin' Nancy Sinatra
1967 Release Me Engelbert Humperdinck
1968 Cinderella Rockerfella Ester and Abi Ofarim
1969 Where Do You Go To My Lovely Peter Sarstedt
1970 Wand'rin' Star Lee Marvin
1971 Baby Jump Mungo Jerry
1972 Without You Nilsson
1973 Cum On Feel The Noize Slade
1974 Jealous Mind Alvin Stardust
1975 If Telly Savalas
1976 I Love To Love Tina Charles
1977 Chanson D'Amour Manhattan Transfer
1978 Wuthering Heights Kate Bush
1979 Tragedy The Bee Gees
1980 Together We Are Beautiful Fern Kinney
1981 Jealous Guy Roxy Music
1982 The Lion Sleeps Tonight Tight Fit
1983 Total Eclipse Of The Heart Bonnie Tyler
1984 99 Red Balloons Nena
1985 You Spin Me Around (Like A Record) Dead Or Alive




Top




ClassicBands.com