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This Week In
Rock and Roll History

January 29th to February 4th

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



1954 - ClassicBands.com

February 1
Backed by his Jazz ensemble, Big Joe Turner records the original version of "Shake, Rattle and Roll". The tune will top the Billboard R&B chart next June, but did not cross over to the Pop chart. Some of the original lyrics, that would have been considered highly sexual at the time, were changed when Bill Haley recorded the song five months later.

1955 - ClassicBands.com

January 30
Although more than half a million jukeboxes were scattered around North America, US manufacturer AMI finally introduces the pay-for-play devices in the UK. Company president John Haddock says he intended to target the ever growing coffee house market first.

February 2
Petula Clark scores her first major hit on the UK chart with a song called "Majorca". The single will kick off a string of Top Twenty hits in the UK and Europe, but it will be ten years before she gains any attention in the United States.

February 4
The Blue Moon Boys, consisting of Elvis Presley, Scotty Moore, Bill Black and DJ Fontana, headline at an amusement park in New Orleans.

1956 - ClassicBands.com

January 30
Elvis Presley records a cover version of Carl Perkins "Blue Suede Shoes" which will reach number 20 on the US Pop chart in April.

February 2
The Coasters sign with Atlantic Records, where they will record ten US Top 40 hits.

February 4
James Brown And The Famous Flames record "Please, Please, Please" at King Studios in Cincinnati. The single would go on to become a Billboard #5 R&B hit, selling over a million copies, but nine subsequent releases would fail to live up to the success of their debut. It would take over two years for the group to return to the charts with the #1 R&B hit, "Try Me".

February 4
A Harlem vocal group called The Cadillacs enter the Billboard Pop Chart with "Speedo", which will top out at #17 and become a Doo-Wop classic.

1957 - ClassicBands.com

January 31
Decca Records announced that Bill Haley And His Comets' "Rock Around The Clock" had sold over a million copies in the UK, mostly on 10 inch 78's.

February 1
20-year-old Don Everly and his 2-year-younger brother Phil sign a recording contract with Cadence Records. During their career, The Everly Brothers will have 35 Billboard Hot 100 singles.

February 2
Fats Domino sings "Blueberry Hill" and "Blue Monday" on Perry Como's television show.

February 2
Tab Hunter topped the Cashbox Best Sellers chart with "Young Love".

1958 - ClassicBands.com

January 29
A band called The Champs release "Tequila", an instrumental that will hit number one in mid-March. The group included sax player Jim Seals and drummer Dash Crofts, who would go on to score several hits in the seventies, including "Summer Breeze" as Seals and Crofts.

February 1
Elvis Presley crams in one more trip to a recording studio before joining the US Army. The session will produce "Wear My Ring Around Your Neck", which will reach #3 in the US and the UK.

February 3
The Royal Teens' biggest hit, "Short Shorts" enters the US record charts on its way to number 3. The song was originally an instrumental warm up number that the group added silly lyrics to. The tune was recorded in about twenty minutes of left over studio time and released after a record label executive took a liking to it.

1959 - ClassicBands.com

February 2
Frankie Avalon releases his biggest hit, "Venus", which will reach number one in the US and number sixteen in the UK.

February 2
Former Mouseketeer Annette Funicello sees her first hit, "Tall Paul" enter the Billboard Pop chart, where it will reach #7.

February 3
February 3rd, 1959 was for many, "the day the music died", when Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and The Big Bopper were all killed. Their plane took off a little after 1 AM from Clear Lake, Iowa, when a cold North-East wind gave way to a blinding snow storm which drastically reduced visibility. Encased in a sea of snow with only white below, pilot Roger Peterson seemed to become disoriented and flew the plane into the ground. One wing hit the frozen earth and the small plane tumbled over and over, killing the three musicians and the plane's young pilot.

1961 - ClassicBands.com

January 30
The Shirelles became the first girl group to have the number one song on the Billboard Hot 100 when "Will You Love Me Tomorrow" reached the top. They would go on to place ten more hits in the Top 40. The song reached #4 in the UK.

January 31
At 24 years old, Bobby Darin becomes the youngest performer at that time to headline a TV special as Bobby Darin & Friends airs on NBC.

1962 - ClassicBands.com

January 29
Warner Brothers Records signed Peter, Paul and Mary to their first recording contract. Their self-titled album would stay in the US Top 10 for ten months, remained in the Top 20 for two years and did not drop off the Hot 100 album chart until three-and-a-half years after its release. Their only single to make it all the way to number one was 1969's, Leaving On a Jet Plane, written by John Denver.

February 3
Gene Chandler's "The Duke Of Earl" tops the Cashbox Best Sellers chart for the first of a five week stay.

1963 - ClassicBands.com

January 31
The Beach Boys record "Surfin' USA", which will climb to number three in the US by mid-April. Although it was credited as being composed by Brian Wilson, the tune was a note-for-note cover of Chuck Berry's "Sweet Little Sixteen". Following a lawsuit, Berry was granted writing credit and royalties from the record.

February 2
The Beatles kick off their first countrywide tour of the UK, supporting headliner Helen Shapiro. John, Paul, Ringo and George will split wages of £80 ($225) a week.

1964 - ClassicBands.com

February 1
Beatlemania comes to America when "I Want To Hold Your Hand" becomes the first of twenty Billboard number one hits for The Beatles. It would stay on top for seven weeks, with world wide sales of fifteen million copies.

February 1
Matthew Walsh, the Governor of Indiana declares the song "Louie Louie" by the Kingsmen ( which was currently #6 on the Hot 100) to be pornographic. He asks the Indiana Broadcasters Association to ban the record, although stations claim it's impossible to accurately figure out the lyrics from "the unintelligible rendition as performed by the Kingsmen." Although much has been written about the controversy, Indiana was the only state to actually ban the record from radio play.

February 2
In response to a storm of controversy, Max Firetag, the publisher of The Kingsmen's hit, "Louie Louie", offers $1,000 to anyone who can find suggestive lyrics in the song. The reward is small change considering that the disc cost less than $50 to record and has sold millions of copies.

1965 - ClassicBands.com

January 29
The British press is informed that P.J. Proby has been fired from a tour of England for splitting his pants onstage. Mary Whitehouse, a self-appointed guardian of British morals, spread the word that Proby's actions were "indecent, vulgar, poisoning the minds of our teenagers." In fact, Proby's pants had split at the knee, and he later claimed the whole incident was an excuse to fire him and make way for Tom Jones, whose manager, Gordon Mills, had paid promoters to get rid of him.

January 30
Following her 1963 #8 hit "The Nitty Gritty", Shirley Ellis reaches #3 on the Billboard Pop chart and #4 on the R&B chart with a novelty tune called "The Name Game".

February 1
At the Arthur Smith Studios in Charlotte, North Carolina, James Brown records "Papa's Got A Brand New Bag", which will reach #8 on the Billboard Pop chart and #1 on the R&B chart the following August and later win a Grammy Award for Best Rhythm and Blues Recording.

1966 - ClassicBands.com

January 29
"I Fought The Law" by The Bobby Fuller Four is released. It will enter the Hot 100 two weeks later and eventually reach #9 during an eight week chart run.

1967 - ClassicBands.com

January 31
While taking a break from the filming of the Strawberry Fields Forever promotional video at Knole Park, Sevenoaks, Kent, John Lennon buys an 1843 poster from an antiques shop in Surrey which will provide him with many of the lyrics for "Being For The Benefit Of Mr. Kite".

February 3
Joe Meek, a British Pop and Rock producer, kills his landlady before shooting himself in the head. He is best remembered for the instrumental hit, "Telstar", which he wrote for the Tornadoes.

1968 - ClassicBands.com

February 1
Exactly nine months after marrying Elvis Presley, Priscilla Beauleiu Presley gives birth to Elvis' only child, Lisa Marie, at the Baptist Memorial Hospital in Memphis.

February 2
Simon and Garfunkel record "Mrs. Robinson", which will become their second US number one and win a Grammy Award for Record Of The Year.

February 3
The Beatles record Paul McCartney's "Lady Madonna" at Abbey Road studios in just three takes. The Fats Domino inspired tune will reach #1 in the UK and #4 in the US. Domino himself would release a cover version of the song that topped out at #100 on the Billboard chart later in the year.

February 3
An Oxford, Ohio group called the Lemon Pipers saw their only Billboard chart-maker, "Green Tambourine", reach #1. It made #7 in the UK.

1969 - ClassicBands.com

January 29
The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour debuts on CBS-TV, where it would run until 1972.

January 30
With Billy Preston sitting in on keyboards, The Beatles performed in public for the last time when they played a 42 minute rooftop concert above Apple Corps headquarters. The show was stopped by the police after neighbors complained about the noise. It had been 2½ years since the Beatles had played Candlestick Park, San Francisco, on August 29th, 1966.

February 1
A pre-Stevie Nicks - Lindsey Buckingham - Christine McVie edition of Fleetwood Mac took a guitar-based instrumental called "Albatross" to the top of the UK chart. It also made the Top 5 in Norway, Ireland, Sweden and Netherlands, but only rose to #104 in the US.

February 2
Yoko Ono divorced her first husband, Tony Cox, paving the way for a marriage to John Lennon six weeks later.

February 3
The Beatles hired Allen Klein to be their new manager. John Lennon, George Harrison and Ringo Starr all agreed, but Paul McCartney would not sign the agreement because he thought Klein had a bad reputation.

1970 - ClassicBands.com

January 31
The Jackson 5 score the first of four straight Billboard number one hits with "I Want You Back". The song reached #2 in the UK.

January 31
Slim Harpo, who had a US Top 40 hit with "Baby Scratch My Back", died of a heart attack while recording in London. He was 46.

1971 - ClassicBands.com

January 31
Bobby Darin walks off the Jackie Gleason Show set when he is not allowed to sing "Long Line Rider", a song about the poor treatment of prisoners in America.

February 4
The Osmonds, a vocal group of five brothers fronted by 13 year old Donny Osmond, receive their first Gold record for $1 million worth of sales of "One Bad Apple".

1972 - ClassicBands.com

January 31
Less than a day after an incident now known as "Bloody Sunday" in which British soldiers killed twelve Irish civil rights demonstrators, Paul McCartney writes and records "Give Ireland Back To The Irish". After some resistance from EMI, the song will finally be released on February 25th, but was immediately banned by the BBC, Radio Luxembourg and the Independent Television Authority. Despite the lack of air-play, the song would reach #1 on the singles charts in the Republic of Ireland and Spain, also climbing to #16 on the UK singles chart and #21 in the US.

1973 - ClassicBands.com

January 29
Johnny Rivers received a Gold record for the Billboard #6 hit single, "Rockin' Pneumonia and the Boogie Woogie Flu". Huey "Piano" Smith And The Clowns had a #52 hit with it in 1957.

January 30
After recently changing their name from Wicked Lester, Gene Simmons, Paul Stanley, Ace Frehley and Peter Criss make their first appearance as KISS at the Popcorn Club in Queens, New York.

February 2
The Midnight Special premieres on NBC-TV with Helen Reddy as host. Wolfman Jack would later take over for an eight-and-a-half-year run.

1974 - ClassicBands.com

February 2
Keith Emerson's hands are injured during an Emerson, Lake & Palmer performance when a rigged piano explosion goes off too soon.

February 2
Barbra Streisand's "The Way We Were" topped the Billboard hit parade, becoming her first number one.

1975 - ClassicBands.com

January 30
The Bee Gees begin recording "Jive Talkin", which will become their second US chart topper and their fourteenth Billboard Top 20 hit. Barry Gibb's inspiration for the song came when his wife commented on the sound their car made while crossing a bridge over Biscayne Bay into Miami. She noted, "It's our drive talkin'."

February 1
Elvis Presley arranges for daughter Lisa Marie to meet her favorite singer, Elton John, for her seventh birthday.

February 1
It had been eleven years since Neil Sedaka had a hit on the Billboard Pop chart, but now he was back with the second number one song of his career, "Laughter In The Rain".

1977 - ClassicBands.com

January 29
Rose Royce, the former backing band for The Temptations, went to #1 on the US singles chart with "Car Wash".

January 31
Elton John won awards for Favorite Male Artist and Favorite Single ("Don't Go Breaking My Heart" with Kiki Dee), at the fourth American Music Awards held in California.

February 4
One of the best selling albums of all time, Fleetwood Mac's, "Rumors" was released. The LP spent 31 weeks at the top of the US album chart on the strength of the singles, "Go Your Own Way", "Dreams", "Don't Stop" and "You Make Loving Fun", all of which hit the US Top 10. The album eventually sold over 18 million copies.

1978 - ClassicBands.com

January 31
Blood Sweat & Tears saxophone player Greg Herbert died of an accidental drug overdose in Amsterdam during the band's European tour. He was just 30 years old.

February 3
The TV movie Dead Man's Curve, which was based on the lives of Jan and Dean, airs on ABC.

February 3
Harry Chapin meets with US President Jimmy Carter and the pair announce the creation of The Presidential Commission on Domestic and International Hunger and Malnutrition.

February 4
With movie theater promos showing John Travolta's character Tony Manero walking down the street to the beat of The Bee Gees "Stayin' Alive", the tune shot to the top of the Billboard Pop chart.

1979 - ClassicBands.com

February 1
Blondie's "Heart Of Glass" is certified Platinum in the UK, where it tops the Pop chart. The song will also rise to number one in the US the following April.

February 2
While celebrating his freedom after serving seven weeks in jail for assault, Sid Vicious (born Simon Ritchie) died of a drug overdose after injecting heroin that his mother had bought for him. The 21 year old had been the bass player for one of Britain's most influential Punk-Rock bands, The Sex Pistols, which had broken up a year earlier.

February 3
A sold-out concert at the Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake, Iowa, is held commemorating the 20th anniversary of the crash that killed Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and The Big Bopper. Wolfman Jack hosted the show which featured performances by Del Shannon, Jimmy Clanton and The Drifters.

1980 - ClassicBands.com

February 2
Despite controversy over the song's lyrics, which reference teen pregnancy and promote contraception, the English ska band The Specials topped the UK chart with "Too Much Too Young".

1981 - ClassicBands.com

January 31
Jazz drummer Cozy Cole, who had a US #3 hit with "Topsy, Part II" in 1958, died of cancer at age 73.

January 31
Blondie tops the Cashbox Best Sellers list and The Billboard Hot 100 with "The Tide Is High", a song written and recorded in 1967 by John Holt and his Kingston, Jamaica band, The Paragons.

1982 - ClassicBands.com

January 30
Hall And Oates' "I Can't Go for That" hit number one on the Billboard Pop chart and the R&B chart simultaneously, one week after reaching number one on the Disco chart. It becomes only the fourth single by a white act to reach the top of the R&B chart since 1965. The record was also a #8 hit in the UK.

February 4
Alex Harvey, leader of the 1970s glam rockers, The Sensational Alex Harvey Band, died after suffering two heart attacks. His death came on the eve of his 47th birthday.

February 4
The inaugural British Phonographic Industry Awards are held at the Grosvenor House Hotel in London. Soft Cell's "Tainted Love" is given the nod as Best British Single, Adam And The Ants win Best British Album for "Kings Of The Wild Frontier" and John Lennon is honored posthumously for Outstanding Contribution to British Music.

1983 - ClassicBands.com

January 29
Stevie Nicks of Fleetwood Mac marries Kim Anderson at her Los Angeles home. They would divorce the following year.

January 29
Men At Work top the UK and US singles charts with "Down Under" and the UK and US album charts with "Business As Usual". This feat had not been accomplished since Rod Stewart did it in 1971.

February 1
Air Supply's third album, "Now And Forever" is certified Platinum.

February 4
Karen Carpenter died of heart irregularities caused by anorexia nervosa, just short of her 33rd birthday. She had reportedly began to make progress in fighting her condition when she collapsed at her parents' home in Downey, California. A made-for-TV Carpenters biography aired in 1989 and Karen's only solo album was released in 1996. It consisted of songs she had recorded without brother Richard in 1979 and 1980.

1985 - ClassicBands.com

January 31
The mother of the group The Cowsills, Barbara Cowsill, passes away at the age of 56. She and her family were the real life inspiration for The Partridge Family TV show.

February 1
The Eagles' Glenn Frey makes his acting debut on an episode of US TV's Miami Vice that was based on his song, "Smuggler's Blues".

1986 - ClassicBands.com

February 1
Diana Ross married Norwegian shipping magnate Arne Naess in Geneva, Switzerland, with Stevie Wonder performing at the reception. The couple were divorced in 2000.

1987 - ClassicBands.com

January 31
Paul Simon's "Graceland" went to number 1 on the UK album chart. The LP would stay on the list for 101 weeks.

February 1
After the United Nations and the African National Congress removed him from their blacklist, Paul Simon kicks off his "Graceland" tour in Rotterdam. He had been banned after he broke the cultural boycott on recording in South Africa.

1988 - ClassicBands.com

January 31
Herb Alpert performs the US national anthem and Chubby Checker entertains during halftime at Superbowl XXII. (22)

February 1
The Cars, who had placed 15 songs on the Hot 100 between 1978 and 1987, announce their break up.

1989 - ClassicBands.com

January 29
Billy Joel sings the national anthem at Superbowl XXIII. (23)

January 30
George Michael has a big night at the 16th American Music Awards, winning Favorite Album for "Faith" and Favorite Male Artist in both the Pop / Rock and Soul / R&B categories.

February 2
George Michael accepts an apology and an undisclosed cash settlement from The Sun newspaper to settle a libel suit after the publication printed an article that claimed that Michael was drunk and abusive at a party hosted by Andrew Lloyd Webber.

February 4
A Rock and Roll oddity took place when a group that no longer existed had the top tune on the Billboard chart. "When I'm With You" had been recorded in 1983 by a group called Sheriff, but they split up in 1985. The music director at a Las Vegas radio station began playing the song in late 1988 and the record soon surpassed its original number 61 chart position. A couple of members of the group combined with three ex-Heart players and formed Alias, while the others had minor success in Canada as Frozen Ghost.

1990 - ClassicBands.com

January 30
Bob Dylan is awarded France's highest cultural honor when he is named Commandeur dans l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres by The Minister of Culture, Jack Lang.

1992 - ClassicBands.com

February 1
Elton John and George Michael teamed up to score a US number one with a song recorded live at Wembley Stadium the previous March, "Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me". Elton had originally released the song on his "Caribou" album in 1974.

February 3
Michael Jackson holds a press conference in New York City to announce his upcoming world tour will be sponsored by Pepsi. Proceeds from the journey will go to his Heal The World foundation, dedicated to helping children.

1994 - ClassicBands.com

January 29
Former Supremes singer Mary Wilson was injured when her Jeep hit a freeway median and flipped over while driving outside of Los Angeles. Her 14-year old son was killed in the accident.

January 29
Natalie Cole sings the national anthem at Superbowl XXVIII. (28)

1996 - ClassicBands.com

January 29
Country superstar Garth Brooks refused to accept his American Music Award for Favorite Overall Artist, saying that Hootie and the Blowfish had done more for music that year than he did.

1997 - ClassicBands.com

January 31
David Bowie released part of his holdings in intellectual property for sale on the stock market, becoming the first Rock star to offer Wall Street stock options on his career.

February 2
Boy George was roughed up by two bouncers after he tried to jump the queue outside The Ministry Of Sound in London where George had been a guest DJ.

1999 - ClassicBands.com

January 31
Cher sings the national anthem at Superbowl XXXIII. (33)

2000 - ClassicBands.com

February 4
Doris Kenner-Jackson of The Shirelles, whose soaring harmonies can be heard on "Soldier Boy" and a number of other hits in the early 1960s, died of breast cancer at the age of 58.

2001 - ClassicBands.com

February 1
A collection of Elton John's private photos were removed from display at a museum in Atlanta. The exhibition, which included snaps of nude men, was said to be too explicit. Some school trips to the museum had been cancelled.

2002 - ClassicBands.com

February 3
Paul McCartney and Barry Manilow sing at a pre-game concert before Super Bowl XXXVI (36) in New Orleans. U2 provided the half-time entertainment.

2003 - ClassicBands.com

February 3
Legendary music producer Phil Spector was arrested for investigation of murder after police found a woman shot to death at his Los Angeles mansion. The 62 year old Spector, whose Wall Of Sound technique transformed 1960s Pop music, was freed after posting $1 million bond. The body of 40-year-old Lana Clarkson, a TV and film actress, was found in a pool of blood with a gunshot to the face at the marble entrance to Spector's home.

2004 - ClassicBands.com

January 31
Barry Manilow was taken to a Palm Springs, California hospital after suffering chest pains. He was released after a brief stay and a series of tests.

February 1
Justin Timberlake caused a huge uproar when he tugged at Janet Jackson's outfit and revealed her left breast live on US TV during the half-time show of Superbowl XXXVIII (38). Four days later, that scene would become the most searched for image in the history of the internet.

February 3
Gene Hughes, who sang lead vocal on The Casinos' "Then You Can Tell Me Goodbye" in 1967, died in Nashville at the age of 67. He had been injured in an car crash and suffered several setbacks during his recovery.

February 3
58 year old saxophonist, Cornelius Bumpus, formerly of the Doobie Brothers and Steely Dan, suffered a fatal heart attack while on a commercial flight from New York.

2005 - ClassicBands.com

January 29
David Lerchey, a founding member of The Dell-Vikings who reached the Billboard Top 40 with "Come Go With Me" (#4), "Whispering Bells" (#9) and "Cool Shake" (#12), all in 1957, died of cancer at the age of 67.

February 1
59 year old Eric Clapton became a father for the fifth time when his 29-year-old wife, Melia McEnery, gave birth to a baby girl.

2007 - ClassicBands.com

February 1
Mike Clark, owner / manager of Atlanta's Southern Tracks Recording Studio, died after an 8 month illness. He was 63. For many years he played drums with such popular 1960's artists as Tommy Roe, Billy Joe Royal, Joe South, Ray Stevens and Roy Orbison and was inducted into the Georgia Music Hall of Fame in 1999.

February 2
67 year old Billy Henderson of The Spinners passed away from complications of diabetes. The group placed 18 songs on Billboard's Top 40, including 7 Top 10 hits.

February 2
Joe Hunter of The Funk Brothers was found dead in his Detroit apartment. The 79 year old pianist had just returned five days earlier from a European tour with fellow band member Jack Ashford.

February 3
Wayne Fontana, of "Game Of Love" fame, was arrested at his home in Glossop, Derbyshire, England and charged with arson with intent to endanger life. The 61 year-old, who was already set to appear in court in March on traffic offenses, was accused of pouring gasoline over a bailiff's car and setting it on fire. The following November, he would be sentenced to 11 months in jail, but was allowed to walk free from court immediately after already serving the equivalent of his term while held under the Mental Heath Act.

February 4
Billy Joel sang the United States National Anthem during the Super Bowl XLI (41) pre-game show and Prince performed during the halftime festivities.

2008 - ClassicBands.com

January 30
Madonna topped Forbes magazine's list of the 20 top grossing females. The 49 year old material girl banked $72 million between June 2006 and June 2007, while Barbra Streisand and Celine Dion followed, taking home $60m and $45m respectively.

February 1
A news report revealed that Spain was the European leader in illegal music downloads. Spanish computer users illegally downloaded more than 1.2 billion tracks in 2007, according to authors and publishers society, SGAE.

February 1
Paul McCartney said recent media reports that he had heart surgery last year are "entirely untrue". The 65-year-old former Beatle says that during a routine medical examination over a year ago, "there was a minor irregularity which I needed to have tests for and which I have now been assured is completely fine."

2009 - ClassicBands.com

January 30
After a two year battle, James Brown's family reached a settlement over the late Soul singer's estate that would divide Brown's remaining assets and give his beneficiaries the ability to make money by using his music and likeness. Half of Brown's assets were to go to his charitable trust to educate his grandchildren and needy students in Georgia and South Carolina. The rest would be split between his surviving spouse, Tomi Rae Hynie and some of Brown's adult children.

January 31
Dewy Martin, drummer and backing vocalist for Buffalo Springfield on their 1967 hit "For What It's Worth", died from hardening of the arteries at the age of 68.

February 2
Fifty years after Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and The Big Bopper played their final gig at the Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake, Iowa, the Day the Music Died became the Day the Music Went On and On. A tribute concert at the original Surf raved on for six hours with a line-up of Rock acts that included Graham Nash, Los Lobos, Los Lonely Boys, Wanda Jackson, Delbert McClinton, Joe Ely, Peter And Gordon, Dave Mason, Bobby Vee and Holly's original band mates, The Crickets.

2010 - ClassicBands.com

January 29
Sly Stone filed a $50 million lawsuit against his former manager Jerry Goldstein, alleging fraud and 20 years of stolen royalties.

January 29
Pete Townshend's 2003 child pornography scandal came back to haunt him just days before he was to perform during the half-time show at The Super Bowl in Miami, Florida. Protect Our Children officials distributed flyers to local homes, warning parents that The Who's guitarist admitted using his credit card to view images on a child porn website. Townshend was placed on a British sex offenders list following his arrest, but was not convicted after protesting that he was only researching a book.

February 3
Mackenzie Phillips, daughter of Mamas and Papas' founder John Phillips, told TV host Oprah Winfrey that her decade-long sexual affair with her father was not consensual, even though she eventually agreed to having sex with her father.

February 3
Former teen star Leif Garrett, who shot to fame at the age of 15 with his 1970s single "I Was Made For Dancin'", was arrested at an L.A. train station on suspicion of possession of a controlled substance. The 48-year-old later pleaded no contest and entered a drug rehab program.

2011 - ClassicBands.com

January 30
Motley Crue frontman Vince Neil said that he was ready to serve his 15-day jail term for a driving under the influence conviction, insisting he's learned his lesson. "I just have to move on and get past it and get it behind me." Neil was to surrender to authorities at the Clark County Detention Center on February 15th.

February 1
In an interview with Rolling Stone magazine, Elton John urged his longtime friend and tour mate Billy Joel to get serious about overcoming his alcoholism that has plagued him for years. Joel reacted by saying "Elton is just being Elton."







Our Featured Interview

He had a string of U.K. hits in the mid 1960s
and reached #23 in the U.S. with "Niki Hoeky",
but he made national headlines for being
kicked off a U.K. tour this week in 1965.


Be sure to read Gary James'
Interview With P.J. Proby

In The News


    Adam Lambert is Queen's new frontman

    Bee Gees' Robin Gibb says he's not on his 'last legs'

    George Harrison's son Dhani is engaged

    Black Sabbath reunion hits speed bump: drummer threatens to quit

    Bruce Springsteen & E Street Band to perform at Grammys

    Soul Train host Don Cornelius dies of gunshot wound

    Stars shining for Macca tribute

    Sammy Hagar blasts new Van Halen album

    Elton slams Madonna once again

    Sinead O'Connor marriage back on

    Lisa Marie Presley opens new Elvis exhibit

    Bruce Springsteen playing exclusive concert for Sirius XM subscribers

    Paul McCartney to receive Walk of Fame Star 20 years after being chosen



Top


Rock and Roll Birthdays


January 29th

1947 - David Byron - lead singer for Uriah Heep ("Easy Livin'")
1950 - Peter McCann ("Do You Wanna Make Love")
1952 - Tommy Ramone (Thomas Erdelyi) - drummer for The Ramones

January 30th

1928 - Ruth Brown ("Lucky Lips")
1936 - Horst Jankowski ("A Walk In The Black Forest")
1941 - Joe Terranova of Danny and The Juniors ("At The Hop")
1942 - Marty Balin - vocalist for Jefferson Airplane ("Somebody To Love")
1940 - Sandy Yagoda of Jay and The Americans ("This Magic Moment")
1947 - Steve Marriott - guitarist for The Small Faces and Humble Pie
1949 - William King - trumpet for The Commodores ("Easy")
1951 - Phil Collins ("Groovy Kind Of Love")

January 31st

1928 - Chuck Willis ("C.C. Rider")
1946 - Terry Kath of Chicago ("25 or 6 to 4")
1951 - Harry Wayne Casey of K.C. and The Sunshine Band ("Shake Your Booty")
1956 - Johnny Rotten (John Lydon) - vocalist for The Sex Pistols ("God Save The Queen")

February 1st

1934 - Bob Shane - vocalist for The Kingston Trio ("Tom Dooley")
1937 - Don Everly - guitart / vocals for The Everly Brothers ("Wake Up Little Suzy")
1937 - Ray Sawyer - vocalist for Dr. Hook ("The Cover Of The Rolling Stone")
1948 - Rick James ("Super Freak")
1951 - Rich Williams - guitarist for Kansas ("Dust In The Wind")
1968 - Lisa Marie Presley - Elvis' daughter

February 2nd

1940 - Alan Caddy - lead guitarist for The Tornados ("Telstar")
1942 - Graham Nash - guitar / vocals for Crosby, Stills and Nash ("Suite Judy Blue Eyes")
1943 - Peter Macbeth - bassist for The Foundations ("Build Me Up Buttercup")
1946 - Howard Bellamy of The Bellamy Brothers ("Let Your Love Flow")
1946 - Whistling Jack Smith ("I Was Kaiser Bill's Batman")
1947 - Peter Lucia - drummer for Tommy James and the Shondells ("Crimson and Clover")
1948 - Alan McKay - guitarist for Earth Wind and Fire ("Shining Star")
1949 - Ross Valory - bassist for Journey ("Don't Stop Believing")

February 3rd

1939 - Johnny Bristol ("Hang On In There Baby")
1940 - Angelo D'Aleo - vocalist for The Belmonts ("A Teenager in Love")
1943 - Dennis Edwards - vocalist for The Temptations ("I Can't Get Next To You")
1945 - Johnny Cymbal ("Mr. Bass Man") who was also Derek ("Cinnamon")
1947 - Melanie Safka ("Brand New Key")
1947 - Dave Davies - guitarist for The Kinks ("Well Respected Man")

February 4th

1941 - John Steel - drummer for The Animals ("Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood")
1944 - Florence LaRue Gordon of The Fifth Dimension ("Stoned Soul Picnic")
1947 - Margie Ganser - vocalist for The Shangri-Las ("Leader of the Pack")
1947 - Mary Ann Ganser - vocalist for The Shangri-Las ("Give Him a Great Big Kiss")
1948 - Alice Cooper ("Eighteen")
1950 - James Dunn - vocalist for The Stylistics ("You Make Me Feel Brand New")
1951 - Phil Ehart - drummer for Kansas ("Carry on Wayward Son")






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
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This Week's Best Selling Singles

  In The USA  
January 29th to February 4th

Click The Titles In Red To Hear The Song
YearSongArtist
1956 The Great Pretender The Platters
1957 Young Love Tab Hunter
1958 At The Hop Danny And The Juniors
1959 Smoke Gets In Your Eyes The Platters
1960 Running Bear Johnny Preston
1961 Will You Love Me Tomorrow The Shirelles
1962 The Duke Of Earl Gene Chandler
1963 Walk Right In The Rooftop Singers
1964 I Want To Hold Your Hand The Beatles
1965 Downtown Petula Clark
1966 The Sounds Of Silence Simon And Garfunkel
1967 I'm A Believer The Monkees
1968 Green Tambourine The Lemmon Pipers
1969 Crimson And Clover Tommy James And The Shondells
1970 Venus Shocking Blue
1971 Lonely Days The Bee Gees
1972 American Pie Don McLean
1973 Crocodile Rock Elton John
1974 You're Sixteen Ringo Starr
1975 Laughter In The Rain Neil Sedaka
1976 Convoy C.W. McCall
1977 I Wish Stevie Wonder
1978 Stayin' Alive The Bee Gees
1979 Da Ya Think I'm Sexy? Rod Stewart
1980 Do That To Me One More Time Captain And Tennille
1981 The Tide Is High Blondie
1982 Centerfold The J. Geils Band
1983 Down Under Men At Work
1984 Karma Chameleon Culture Club
1985 I Want To Know What Love Is Foreigner


  In The United Kingdom  

January 29th to February 4th

Click The Titles In Red To Hear The Song
1956 Sixteen Tons "Tennessee" Ernie Ford
1957 The Garden Of Eden Frankie Vaughan
1958 Jailhouse Rock Elvis Presley
1959 One Night Elvis Presley
1960 Starry Eyed Michael Holliday
1961 Are You Lonesome Tonight Elvis Presley
1962 The Young Ones Cliff Richard And The Shadows
1963 Diamonds Jet Harris And Tony Meehan
1964 Needles And Pins The Searchers
1965 Go Now The Moody Blues
1966 Michelle The Overlanders
1967 I'm A Believer The Monkees
1968 Everlasting Love Love Affair
1969 Albatross Fleetwood Mac
1970 Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Goes) Edison Lighthouse
1971 My Sweet Lord George Harrison
1972 I'd Like To Teach The World To Sing The New Seekers
1973 Blockbuster The Sweet
1974 Tiger Feet Mud
1975 January Pilot
1976 Mama Mia ABBA
1977 Don't Give Up On Us David Soul
1978 Upton Top Ranking Althia And Donnie
1979 Heart Of Glass Blondie
1980 Too Much Too Young The Specials
1981 Imagine John Lennon
1982 Oh Julie Shakin' Stevens
1983 Down Under Men At Work
1984 Relax (Don't Do It) Frankie Goes To Hollywood
1985 I Want To Know What Love Is Foreigner




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