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

February 7th to February 13th

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



1914 - ClassicBands.com

February 13
ASCAP, the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers is founded in New York City.

1942 - ClassicBands.com

February 10
"Chattanooga Choo Choo" by Glen Miller and his Orchestra becomes the first recording to be awarded a Gold record. It was actually just a master copy of the disc sprayed with gold lacquer by RCA as a publicity stunt. The actual award recognized today as a Gold Record would not be initiated for another sixteen years when the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) borrowed the idea and trademarked the Gold Record. The first Gold single was awarded to Perry Como in 1958 for "Catch A Falling Star" and the first Gold album was given to Gordon McRae for the soundtrack to Oklahoma.

1955 - ClassicBands.com

February 13
The Country and Western duo of Buddy Holly and Bob Montgomery open for Elvis Presley at a show in Lubbock, Texas.

1956 - ClassicBands.com

February 10
Little Richard records "Long Tall Sally", which will go on be his highest charting record in the US, climbing to number 6 by next April.

1957 - ClassicBands.com

February 7
Iraq bans the films Rock Around The Clock and Bus Stop, saying they are "dangerous to teenagers and youths."

February 9
After nine weeks, Guy Mitchell's "Singing The Blues" is pushed out of Billboard's top spot by Elvis Presley's "Too Much".

February 13
Cuban officials announce a ban on all Rock and Roll programs on television, calling the music "offensive to public morals and good customs." They would soften their stance a couple of days later, but strict guide lines were put in place.

1958 - ClassicBands.com

February 9
A report by the American Research Bureau cites Dick Clark's American Bandstand as the top-ranked daytime television program, drawing an average of 8,400,000 viewers per day.

February 10
Elvis attains his ninth US number one single with the double-sided hit "Don't" / "I Beg of You".

February 10
Frank Sinatra's "Come Fly With Me" rose to the top of the US album chart, where it would stay for the next five weeks.

1959 - ClassicBands.com

February 7
Buddy Holly is buried in Lubbock, Texas. His tombstone reads "Holley", the correct spelling of his given surname and includes pictures of a guitar. Buddy's pallbearers were Joe Mauldin, Jerry Allison, Niki Sullivan, Bob Montgomery, Sonny Curtis and Phil Everly.

February 8
Johnny Cash performs his #1 Billboard Country chart hit, "Don't Take Your Guns To Town" on The Ed Sullivan Show

February 9
Lloyd Price reached number one on the Billboard Pop chart with "Stagger Lee", an up-dated version of an old Folk song called "Stack-O-Lee". Wilson Pickett would take the song to number 22 in 1967.

February 10
Link Wray performs his controversial instrumental hit "Rumble" on American Bandstand. Because of its title, many radio stations refused to play the record, but it still managed to sell over a million copies and reach #16 on the Billboard Pop chart.

February 13
The Skyliners appear on American Bandstand, performing their new release "Since I Don't Have You". The song would climb to #12 in the US.

1960 - ClassicBands.com

February 8
Bobby Rydell's "Wild One" makes its debut on the Billboard chart, where it will reach number 2.

February 8
"Teen Angel" by Mark Dinning hit number 1 in the US. The song had been written for him by his sister Jean, who also recorded as one of The Dinning Sisters. Some radio stations banned the song and in the UK, where it barely made the top 40, it was called "the death record".

February 12
Pat Boone is awarded a Gold LP for "Pat's Great Hits."

1961 - ClassicBands.com

February 12
The Miracles' "Shop Around" becomes Motown's first million-selling single. In the following ten years, The Miracles will have six more million sellers.

February 13
Frank Sinatra launched his own record label, Reprise Records. Although he vowed that he would never sign any Rock artists, the label later became the home of Neil Young, Jimi Hendrix, Joni Mitchell, Randy Newman and The Beach Boys.

February 13
Lawrence Welk gave hope to Rock and Roll hating parents when his instrumental "Calcutta" went to the top of the Billboard chart.

1962 - ClassicBands.com

February 9
Neil Sedaka records "Breaking Up Is Hard To Do", which will become his 5th US top ten hit and first number one.

February 10
Henry Mancini had the #1 album in the US with the soundtrack to the film Breakfast At Tiffany's.

1963 - ClassicBands.com

February 8
The Four Tops are inked to Berry Gordy's Motown label and receive a $400 signing bonus.

February 9
Ray Hildebrand and Jill Jackson, who were billed as Paul and Paula, had the top tune in the US with "Hey Paula". It made #8 in the UK.

February 11
The Beatles spent ten hours at Abbey Road studios recording the tracks that would make up the bulk of their first album. Late in the session, despite suffering from a severe cold, John tackles "Twist And Shout" as an afterthought. When it was released as a single in the US, it rose to #2.

1964 - ClassicBands.com

February 9
The Beatles made their first appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show, which was watched by over 73 million people (60% of the viewing audience). The Fab Four performed "All My Loving", "Till There Was You", "She Loves You", "I Saw Her Standing There" and "I Want to Hold Your Hand". Also performing on the show is a future member of The Monkees, Davy Jones, who appeared as part of the cast of Oliver.

February 10
American newspapers report that "millions of teenage boys are spending extra time in front of the mirror trying to make their hair look like Paul McCartney's", following an appearance of the Beatles on The Ed Sullivan Show the previous night.

1965 - ClassicBands.com

February 8
The Dave Clark Five begin filming the movie Catch Us If You Can. Although they perform the soundtrack music, the members of the group (unlike The Beatles) do not play themselves, but appear as a team of freelance movie stuntmen and extras, led of course, by Dave Clark.

February 11
Ringo Starr marries his pregnant girlfriend, Maureen Cox in London, England. She gave birth to son Zak the following September. John Lennon, his wife Cynthia, Brian Epstein and George Harrison attended, but Paul McCartney was away on vacation in Tunisia.

February 12
18 year old Donovan Leitch appears on the UK music show Ready Steady Go!, where he performs his debut single "Catch The Wind". The tune will reach #4 in his homeland and #23 in the US.

February 13
Gary Lewis records "Count Me In", which will climb to #2 on the Billboard chart by next May.

February 13
Jr. Walker & the All Stars enter the US charts for the first time with "Shotgun" which will make it to #1 on the R&B chart and #4 on the Pop chart.

1966 - ClassicBands.com

February 12
The Rolling Stones tape a performance for The Ed Sullivan Show, which will be shown the following night.

1967 - ClassicBands.com

February 8
English duo Peter and Gordon announce their split up. Between 1964 and 1967, they placed ten songs on the Billboard Top 40. After working for Apple, Peter Asher moved to Los Angeles and produced records for Diana Ross, Linda Ronstadt and Cher. He was won Rolling Stone Magazine's "Producer of the Year" awards twice. Gordon Waller would turn to acting and played the part of Pharaoh in the musical Joseph and His Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. The duo reunited on stage in August, 2005.

February 10
The Beatles and George Martin added the orchestral crescendos to "A Day In The Life", using a 40-piece orchestra. Martin would later recall that when he told some of Britain's finest musicians that they were to play twenty-four bars of cacophonous, improvised crescendo, "they all looked at me as though I were completely mad."

February 11
The Monkees saw their second album, "More of The Monkees" leap from position 122 to number 1. The Fabricated Four only provided the vocals and were backed by some of the finest studio musicians around, like Glen Campbell and Neil Sedaka. The L.P. contained the hits, "I'm a Believer" and "(I'm Not Your) Steppin' Stone" and was produced by Carole King, Carole Bayer Sager, Tommy Boyce and others. After being pressured by the press, The Monkees announced they'll play their own instruments on all future recordings.

February 11
The Turtles release their biggest hit, "Happy Together", which will reach #1 in the US and #12 in the UK.

February 12
London police bust Keith Richards, Mick Jagger and Marianne Faithful on drug charges.

1968 - ClassicBands.com

February 10
The Beatles close Beatles USA, their American fan club and business office and fire their US press agents, severing all American business connections. They also withdraw from the late Brian Epstein's NEMS Enterprises and turn all business affairs over to their newly formed record company, Apple.

February 10
The Bubble Gum music craze gets its start when "Simon Says" by The 1910 Fruitgum Company enters the US record charts, where it will reach number 4. Over the next year and a half, the group will have four more US Top 40 hits.

February 10
French orchestra leader Paul Mauriat pushed all Rock records aside and reached Billboard's top spot with a harpsichord and violin laden instrumental called "Love Is Blue". Mauriat was no stranger to US success as he had written the music to Peggy March's 1963 number one hit "I Will Follow Him".

February 12
Jimi Hendrix was presented with a key to the city of Seattle. He also played a free show for students at Garfield High School, where he is given an honorary diploma. Hendrix was thrown out of the school at the age of 16, apparently for holding the hand of a white girl in class.

February 12
Chynna Phillips, who would one day make up one third of Wilson-Phillips, is born to John and Michelle Phillips of the Mamas & the Papas.

1969 - ClassicBands.com

February 7
The TV program, This Is Tom Jones began its two year run, featuring Jones duetting with different guests each week. An album of the same name was released later in the year.

February 8
George Harrison's tonsils are removed at London's University College Hospital and are then destroyed so that they can not be sold.

February 13
The Doors' "Touch Me" and Sly and the Family Stone's "Everyday People" are awarded Gold records.

1970 - ClassicBands.com

February 7
Ian Anderson of Jethro Tull married record company secretary Jennie Franks.

February 7
Shocking Blue, a three man, one woman band from Holland, had the top single in America with "Venus". It made #8 in the UK.

February 11
John Lennon pays £1,344 in fines for protesting the South African rugby team playing in Scotland.

1971 - ClassicBands.com

February 8
Frank Zappa's concert at London's Royal Albert Hall is cancelled after a representative of the venue found obscene lyrics in the score of "200 Motels". In 1975, Zappa lost a lawsuit against the Hall for breach of contract.

February 13
Six weeks after its chart debut, "One Bad Apple" by The Osmonds reaches number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. It was the first of ten Top 40 hits for the group.

1972 - ClassicBands.com

February 9
Paul McCartney's Wings make their concert debut at Nottingham University in England.

February 10
Britain's most popular Glam-rock act, T-Rex kicks off their first headlining tour of the US in support of their current hit "Bang A Gong".

February 13
Led Zeppelin is forced to cancel a concert in Singapore when officials won't let them off the plane because of their long hair.

1973 - ClassicBands.com

February 13
During a concert in Las Vegas, Elvis Presley is suddenly taken ill. He is quickly attended to by Dr. Sidney Bowers, who was later presented with a white Lincoln Continental in appreciation for his services.

1974 - ClassicBands.com

February 7
Soul artist Barry White is awarded four Gold records for the singles "Never, Never Gonna Give Ya Up" (#7), "Love's Theme" (#1 by the Love Unlimited Orchestra, conducted by White), and the albums "Under the Influence of Love Unlimited" (#3) and "Sonte Gon'" (#20).

February 12
Stevie Wonder jammed with Johnny Winter and Dr. John at the opening of the Bottom Line club in New York. Also appearing were James Taylor, Carly Simon and Mick Jagger.

1975 - ClassicBands.com

February 8
The Ohio Players top the Billboard singles chart with "Fire" and the Hot 200 album chart with an LP of the same name.

February 9
Cher's solo weekly TV show premieres on CBS with guest Elton John.

February 10
Producer Phil Spector is involved in a car accident and suffers multiple head and body injuries. He eventually made a full recovery.

1976 - ClassicBands.com

February 7
Paul Simon had his only solo number 1 hit in the US when "50 Ways to Leave Your Lover" made it to the top for the first of 3 weeks.

February 9
Percy Faith, who led his orchestra to the top of the US chart with "Theme From A Summer Place" in 1960, died of cancer at the age of 62.

February 12
37 year old Sal Mineo, a singer and actor who reached number nine on the Billboard chart in 1957 with "Start Movin' In My Direction", was stabbed to death by an unknown assailant. Over three years later, a man named Lionel Williams was tried and convicted for the murder.

1978 - ClassicBands.com

February 13
Al Green is honored when Al Green Day is declared in Los Angeles.

1979 - ClassicBands.com

February 9
A Birmingham, England band called UB40 play their first ever gig at a pub in their hometown. The Reggae group took their name from the UK unemployment benefit form.

February 10
Rod Stewart enjoyed his third Billboard number one hit with "Da Ya Think I'm Sexy?". The record also went to the top in ten other countries.

February 11
The TV movie Elvis, starring Kurt Russell, airs on ABC-TV with an estimated audience of 43 million viewers.

1980 - ClassicBands.com

February 8
David Bowie and his wife Angie are divorced after nearly ten years of marriage. David is awarded custody of their nine-year old son, Zowie (now known as Joe), while Angie received a £30,000 ($51,000) settlement.

1981 - ClassicBands.com

February 7
Pink Floyd began The Wall Tour in the US when they gave their first live performance of the new double album in Los Angeles. A 30 foot high wall made of Styrofoam blocks was constructed across the 160 foot stage in the first half of the show, and then, following the intermission, it was thoroughly destroyed.

February 7
A Jersey City sextet called Kool And The Gang, which featured Robert "Kool" Bell on lead vocals, had the top tune in America with "Celebration".

February 7
The TV mini-series Elvis And Me, based on Priscilla Presley's book, begins on ABC.

February 9
Rock and Roll pioneer, Bill Haley died of a heart attack at the age of 55. He was still a big star in Europe and in Mexico where his "Twist" album was the best selling LP of all time for many years. Haley was getting ready to release a new Country and Western album when he passed away in Harlingen, Texas. He had been suffering from a brain tumor and had given his last concert in South Africa in April of 1980. During his career, Bill Haley sold over 60 million records.

February 13
Steve Winwood's "Arc Of A Diver" becomes the first album to be released in Britain in the new "1+1" format, which contains the artist's music on one side, while the other is left blank for the consumer to record on.

1982 - ClassicBands.com

February 13
A 300 pound stone that marks the grave of Lynyrd Skynyrd singer Ronnie Van Zant was stolen from an Orange Park, Florida cemetery. Police found it two weeks later in a dry river bed.

1983 - ClassicBands.com

February 11
The Recording Industry Association of America awards Bob Seger his seventh consecutive US platinum award for the album, "The Distance".

February 13
Marvin Gaye performs a unique, sensual version of the American National Anthem at the NBA All-Star Game in Los Angeles.

1984 - ClassicBands.com

February 7
Michael Jackson is noted in the Guinness Book of Records when his album "Thriller" passes the 25 million sales mark.

1986 - ClassicBands.com

February 11
Boy George, lead singer of Culture Club, guest-stars on an episode of The A-Team. George played a singer mistakenly booked into a Country dance hall.

1987 - ClassicBands.com

February 7
Aretha Franklin and George Michael topped the UK singles chart with "I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)". The song gave Aretha her first UK #1 almost 20 years after her first hit.

1988 - ClassicBands.com

February 8
The Who (minus the late Keith Moon) reunite for their 25th anniversary at the televised British Phonographic Industry Awards in London. Their three song medley of "My Generation / Substitute / Who Are You" runs past their time slot, forcing Rick Astley to accept his award for Best British Single, off the air.

February 13
Michael Jackson buys a ranch in Santa Ynez, California that he names Neverland.

1989 - ClassicBands.com

February 11
Future American Idol judge Paula Abdul enjoys the first of her six US number one hits with "Straight Up", a #3 hit in the UK.

February 12
Tiny Tim declares himself a New York City mayoral candidate.

February 13
Michael Jackson fired his manager, who reportedly was seeking a $60 million settlement to prevent him revealing Jackson's life style to the press.

1990 - ClassicBands.com

February 8
50 year old Del Shannon died of a self-inflicted gun shot wound at his home in Santa Clarita, California . He had just appeared at the annual Buddy Holly memorial concert in Fargo, North Dakota and had recently completed recording a new album with the help of Tom Petty and Jeff Lynne called "Rock On!" Shannon was rumored to take Roy Orbison's place in The Traveling Wilburys at the time of his death. He would be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame in 1999.

1992 - ClassicBands.com

February 12
At the 11th annual BRIT awards in London, Queen's "These Are The Days Of Our Lives" is named Best British Single and the late Freddie Mercury is honored for Outstanding Contribution to British Music. For the fourth time in the last five years, U2 is the Best International Group.

1993 - ClassicBands.com

February 10
Oprah Winfrey interviews Michael Jackson on her prime-time special on ABC-TV. In the interview, Jackson claims that he has a disorder that destroys the pigmentation of the skin. He also claims he's had very little plastic surgery.

1997 - ClassicBands.com

February 10
Brian Connolly, vocalist for Sweet, who reached #3 in 1973 with "Little Willy", died of kidney failure at the age of 52.

February 13
Michael Jackson and wife Deborah Rowe become parents for the first time when their son, Prince Michael Jackson is born.

1999 - ClassicBands.com

February 12
Miss Toni Fisher, who scored a Billboard #3 hit in 1959 with "The Big Hurt", died of a heart attack at the age of 67.

February 13
Blondie tops the UK chart with "Maria", giving them a British number one single in the '70s, '80s and '90s.

2000 - ClassicBands.com

February 7
While battling cancer, Lonesome Dave Peverett, lead singer of Savoy Brown and Foghat died from double-pneumonia at the age of 56.

February 11
The Isley Brothers had their Valentine's Super Love Jam concert cut an hour short after police officers returned fire on a spectator seen shooting into the crowd. The suspect was killed and three other people were injured.

February 11
Diana Ross is granted a divorce from her husband Arne Naess, a shipping magnate that she married in October, 1985.

February 12
Screamin' Jay Hawkins died at the age of 70, after complications from surgery. He recorded "I Put A Spell On You" in 1956.

February 13
Oliver, who is best remembered for a pair of 1969 hits, "Good Mornin' Starshine" (#3) and "Jean" (#2) died of cancer at the age of 54. His real name was William Oliver Swofford.

2002 - ClassicBands.com

February 11
Elton John performs at the National Basketball Association All-Star Game in Philadelphia.

February 13
64 year old Waylon Jennings died of complications from diabetes. At 21, he was a member of Buddy Holly's band who gave up his plane seat to the Big Bopper just before the doomed flight took off on February 3rd, 1959.

2003 - ClassicBands.com

February 11
The British Phonographic Industry reported that the year 2002 saw the largest sales decline in decades, with the most severe slump in a single year since the birth of the CD market in the early 1980s. Piracy, illegal duplication and distribution of CD's by international criminals were blamed for the decrease.

February 12
Former Doors drummer John Densmore took legal action against The Doors keyboard player Ray Manzarek and guitarist Robby Krieger for breach of contract, trademark infringement and unfair competition. The band had reformed with ex-Cult singer Ian Astbury and former Police drummer Stewart Copeland. Densmore said "It shouldn't be called The Doors if it's someone other than Jim Morrison singing." He would win the lawsuit in July, 2005 and the new ensemble were forced to stop calling themselves The Doors.

2004 - ClassicBands.com

February 9
Diana Ross began serving a two day jail sentence for an Arizona drunk driving conviction at the Greenwich Police Department in upscale Greenwich, where she lives. The former lead singer for the Supremes was arrested December 30th, 2002, after tests showed she had a blood-alcohol level of 0.20 percent. Arizona's legal limit for drivers is 0.08.

2005 - ClassicBands.com

February 8
Keith Knudsen, long-time Doobie Brothers drummer, died of pneumonia. The 56 year old had been battling cancer and had been in the hospital for more than a month. Knudsen was part of the band during their prime hit making years and recorded "Black Water", "Taking it to the Streets", "China Grove" and "Listen to the Music".

February 8
Burton Cummings and Randy Bachman, core members of The Guess Who, were inducted into the Canadian Songwriters Hall Of Fame. The band placed 13 songs in the Top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100 between 1965 and 1974. Cummings added 2 more as a solo artist and Bachman contributed 7 others with Bachman-Turner Overdrive.

February 9
Tyrone Davis, best known for his hits "Turn Back The Hands of Time" and "Can I Change My Mind", died from complications following a stroke. He was 66.

February 10
Roger Daltrey of The Who was awarded the CBE by Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace for services to the music industry.

February 12
Sammi Smith, best known for the 1971 Billboard number 8 hit, "Help Me Make It Through the Night", died at the age of 61. She won a Grammy award for her rendition of the song written by Kris Kristofferson, establishing him as a leading Nashville songwriter.

February 13
At the 47th Grammy awards, Ray Charles's duets album "Genius Loves Company" won eight trophies, including Album of the Year and Record of the Year. Former Beach Boy's leader Brian Wilson won his first ever Grammy for Best Rock Instrumental for "Mrs. O'Leary's Cow" from his CD "Smile", the album he was forced to delay for nearly 40 years because of emotional problems. Led Zeppelin received a Lifetime Achievement Award. Guitarist Jimmy Page was on hand along with bassist John Paul Jones and the children of late drummer John Bonham. Other classic rockers who took home statues were Rod Stewart - Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album for "Stardust...The Great American Songbook Volume III" and Bruce Springsteen - Best Solo Rock Vocal Performance for "Code Of Silence" from his album "The Essential Bruce Springsteen".

2006 - ClassicBands.com

February 8
Sly Stone made his first major public appearance since his 1993 induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame when he appeared at the Grammy Awards in Los Angeles. The 61 year old Sly joined in briefly during a multi-artist tribute to his music.

February 12
Lenny Dee, a solo organist who reached #19 on the Billboard chart in 1955 with the million selling "Plantation Boogie", died at the age of 83. He was a one-time performer with Jimmy Dorsey and appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show, The Tonight Show with Jack Paar and The Lawrence Welk Show.

February 12
"The Greatest Songs Of The Fifties" became Barry Manilow's second Billboard chart topping album. His first had come in 1977 with "Barry Manilow Live".

2007 - ClassicBands.com

February 7
A Vietnamese court reduced Gary Glitter's child molestation sentence, cutting his three-year term by three months as part of a nationwide Lunar New Year prison amnesty. The 62 year-old Glitter was convicted in March '06 of molesting two Vietnamese girls, aged 10 and 11.

February 11
Artists who won awards at the 49th annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles included Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, Peter Frampton, Tony Bennett, Stevie Wonder, George Benson and Ike Turner.

February 12
Eldee Young, bass player with the Ramsey Lewis Trio on the 1965 instrumental smash "The In Crowd" and who later formed Young-Holt Unlimited and reached #3 with "Soulful Strut" in 1968, died of an apparent heart attack in Thailand, where he was performing. He was 71.

February 12
Over 50 years after he first appeared on the US charts with a cover version of The Charms' "Two Hearts", Pat Boone was receiving major US radio airplay for his new CD "Pat Boone R&B Classics - We Are Family". His rendition of "Papa's Got a Brand New Bag" was the track most in-demand by listeners.

2008 - ClassicBands.com

February 7
Caesars Palace in Las Vegas announced that Cher has been signed to perform approximately 200 shows over the next three years, beginning May 6. The 61 year old singer signed to perform 90-minute concerts, four nights a week on Tuesday, Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday. Tickets for shows range between $95 and $250.

February 10
The Eagles won a Grammy Award for Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal for "How Long". It was the band's fifth Grammy Award.

February 11
An appellate court upheld a 37-month federal prison sentence that was handed to Ronald Isley of The Isley Brothers for income tax evasion. The three-judge panel rejected the 66-year-old R&B singer's argument that his sentence was unreasonable due to his age, poor health and lack of proof that the federal prison system can provide him adequate health care.

2009 - ClassicBands.com

February 11
Estelle Bennett, one of The Ronettes, the singing trio whose 1963 hit "Be My Baby" epitomized the famed "wall of sound" technique of its producer, Phil Spector, was found dead in her Englewood, New Jersey apartment. She was 67.

February 12
A full frontal nude photo of Madonna, taken in 1979 before she became famous, sold at auction for $37,500. The black and white picture was taken at a time when Madonna Louise Veronica Ciccone was a 20-year-old dancer trying to make ends meet in New York.







Our Featured Interview

What was it like being married to John Lennon
when the Beatles' fame was still rising?

Be sure to read Gary James' interview with
Cynthia Lennon

our featured interview
In The News


    Michael Jackson’s doctor charged with manslaughter

    Bob Marley bash axed over noise

    Steven Tyler auditioned for Zeppelin

    Men at Work lifted "Down Under" riff

    Mackenzie Phillips: Incest "not consensual"

    Leif Garrett busted for drug possession

    Bon Jovi plans full album shows on Circle' World Tour

    Wayne Newton "abandons mouldy plane at airport"

    Milli Vanilli star says today's Pop acts are fakers



Top


Rock and Roll Birthdays


February 7th

1934 - King Curtis ("Soul Twist")
1946 - Sammy Johns ("Chevy Van")
1948 - Jimmy Greenspoon - keyboards for Three Dog Night ("One Man Band")
1949 - Alan Lancaster - bassist for Status Quo ("Pictures Of Matchstick Men")

February 8th

1936 - Larry Verne ("Mr. Custer")
1942 - Terry Melcher - vocalist for The Rip Chords ("Hey, Little Cobra")
1943 - Creed Bratton - guitarist for The Grass Roots ("Sooner Or Later")
1946 - Paul Wheatbread - drummer for Gary Puckett and the Union Gap ("Young Girl")
1946 - Fito De La Parra - drummer for Canned Heat ("On The Road Again")
1950 - Dan Seals - vocalist / guitarist for England Dan and John Ford Coley ("I'd Really Love To See You Tonight")

February 9th

1939 - Barry Mann ("Who Put The Bomp?")
1942 - Carole King ("It's Too Late")
1943 - Barbara Lewis ("Hello Stranger")
1951 - Dennis Thomas - saxophonist for Kool and The Gang ("Celebration")

February 10th

1933 - Don Wilson - guitarist for The Ventures ("Walk, Don't Run")
1939 - Roberta Flack ("The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face")
1940 - Jimmy Merchant - vocalist for Frankie Lymon And Teenagers ("Why Do Fools Fall in Love")
1943 - Ral Donner ("You Don't Know What You've Got Until You Lose It")
1949 - Nigel Olsson - drummer for the Elton John band ("Honky Cat")

February 11th - ClassicBands.com

1935 - Gene Vincent ("Be Boppa Lula")
1940 - Bobby "Boris" Pickett ("The Monster Mash")
1941 - Sergio Mendes ("The Fool On The Hill")

February 12th - ClassicBands.com

1914 - Lorne Greene ("Ringo")
1935 - Gene McDaniels ("A Hundred Pounds Of Clay")
1939 - Ray Manzarek - keyboardist for The Doors ("Light My Fire")
1946 - Joe Schermie - bassist for Three Dog Night ("One Man Band")
1952 - Michael McDonald - keyboardist for The Doobie Brothers ("What A Fool Believes")

February 13th - ClassicBands.com

1919 - "Tennessee" Ernie Ford ("Sixteen Tons")
1942 - Peter Tork - bassist for The Monkees ("Last Train To Clarksville")
1950 - Peter Gabriel - lead vocalist and flautist for Genesis
1952 - Ed Gagliardi - bassist for Foreigner ("Cold As Ice")






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  
February 7th to February 13th

Click The Titles In Red To Hear The Song
YearSongArtist
1956 The Great Pretender The Platters
1957 Young Love Sonny James
1958 The Stroll The Diamonds
1959 Smoke Gets In Your Eyes The Platters
1960 Teen Angel Mark Dinning
1961 Calcutta Lawrence Welk and His Orchestra
1962 The Duke Of Earl Gene Chandler
1963 Hey Paula Paul And Paula
1964 I Want To Hold Your Hand The Beatles
1965 You've Lost That Lovin' Feeling The Righteous Brothers
1966 Lightning Strikes Lou Christie
1967 I'm A Believer The Monkees
1968 Love Is Blue Paul Mauriat and His Orchestra
1969 Touch Me The Doors
1970 Venus Shocking Blue
1971 One Bad Apple The Osmonds
1972 Let's Stay Together Al Green
1973 Crocodile Rock Elton John
1974 The Way We Were Barbra Streisand
1975 Boogie On Reggae Woman Stevie Wonder
1976 50 Ways To Leave Your Lover Paul Simon
1977 Torn Between Two Lovers Mary MacGregor
1978 Stayin' Alive The Bee Gees
1979 Da Ya Think I'm Sexy? Rod Stewart
1980 Coward Of The County Kenny Rogers
1981 The Tide Is High Blondie
1982 Centerfold The J. Geils Band
1983 Down Under Men At Work
1984 Karma Chameleon Culture Club
1985 Easy Lover Philip Bailey with Phil Collins


  In The United Kingdom  

February 7th to February 13th

Click The Titles In Red To Hear The Song
1956 Sixteen Tons Tennessee Ernie Ford
1957 Singing The Blues Guy Mitchell
1958 Jailhouse Rock Elvis Presley
1959 One Night / I Got Stung Elvis Presley
1960 Why Anthony Newley
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 You've Lost That Lovin' Feeling The Righteous Brothers
1966 Michelle The Overlanders
1967 I'm A Believer The Monkees
1968 Everlasting Love Love Affair
1969 Blackberry Way The Move
1970 Wand'rin' Star Lee Marvin
1971 My Sweet Lord George Harrison
1972 Telegram Sam T Rex
1973 Blockbuster The Sweet
1974 Tiger Feet Mud
1975 January Pilot
1976 Mamma Mia ABBA
1977 Don't Cry For Me Argentina Julie Covington
1978 Figaro Brotherhood Of Man
1979 Heart Of Glass Blondie
1980 Too Much Too Young The Specials
1981 Woman John Lennon
1982 A Town Called Malice The Jam
1983 Down Under Men At Work
1984 Relax Frankie Goes To Hollywood
1985 I Know Him So Well Elaine Paige and Barbara Dickson




Top




Recomend us to Stumbleupon.com



ClassicBands.com         Over 13 Million Visitors Since November, 2000