Today in Oldies Music History: June 28

Today In Oldies Music History: June 28

--

Births

1902: Richard Rodgers
1924: George Morgan
1936: Cathy Carr
1943: Bobby Harrison (Procol Harum)
1945: Dave Knights (Procol Harum)

Deaths

none

Events

1957: Jerry Lee Lewis makes his US television debut, performing "Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On on NBC's Steve Allen Show and making himself a superstar overnight.
1965: Dick Clark's latest rock n' roll variety show, Where The Action Is, premieres on ABC-TV, featuring performances by Jan & Dean, Dee Dee Sharp and Linda Scott, and also introducing a new house band called Paul Revere and the Raiders. Meanwhile, over on CBS, influential DJ Murray The K's variety special It's What's Happening, Baby! features performances by The Supremes, The Ronettes, The Drifters, The Miracles, The Temptations, Little Anthony and the Imperials, Martha and the Vandellas, The Righteous Brothers, Tom Jones, The Dave Clark Five, Patti Labelle and the Bluebelles, and Gary Lewis and the Playboys.
1968: At NBC Studios in Hollywood, Elvis Presley tapes the "gospel medley" portion of what would later be known as his "'68 Comeback Special," as well as a controversial "bordello" scene that was never broadcast: NBC censors had no objections, but the sponsor, Singer Sewing Machines, didn't want to upset viewers.
1968: Aretha Franklin is featured on the cover of Time magazine, under a banner headed "The Sound Of Soul."
1973: Helen Reddy begins her own NBC-TV "summer replacement" series called, naturally enough, The Helen Reddy Show.
1973: Following its highly successful "Fifties revival" oldies show the year before, Madison Square Garden holds a British Invasion-themed version, featuring Gerry and the Pacemakers, Herman's Hermits, The Searchers, and Wayne Fontana.
1975: Tim Buckley gives what is to be his last concert in Dallas, tragically overdosing on heroin and morphine the next day.
1980: Roy Orbison begins an amazing Eighties comeback by making the country music charts with "That Lovin' You Feeling Again," a duet with Emmylou Harris.
1988: Berry Gordy sells Motown to MCA for $61 million, effectively ending the golden era of independent record label ownership.
1990: At today's concert in Liverpool, Paul McCartney plays John Lennon-written Beatles songs for the first time: "Strawberry Fields Forever," "Help!" and Lennon's solo "Give Peace A Chance."
1993: Wilson Pickett pleads guilty to drunk driving in New Jersey after hitting an elderly pedestrian in April of the previous year. He is sentenced to a year in jail and five years' probation, as well as a $5,000 fine and 200 hours of community service.
1997: George Harrison secretly undergoes surgery to have a cancerous lump removed from his throat. Though it turns out to be benign, the ex-Beatle will eventually succumb to the disease in 2001.

Releases

1965: The Beach Boys, Summer Days (And Summer Nights!)
1969: Crosby, Stills & Nash, Crosby, Stills & Nash
1969: Neil Diamond, "Sweet Caroline"
1972: Pink Floyd, Obscured By Clouds
1975: David Bowie, "Fame"

Recording

1962: The Drifters, "Up On The Roof"
1966: Elvis Presley, "There Is So Much World To See"
1968: The Beatles, "Good Night"

Charts

1969: Henry Mancini's "Love Theme From Romeo & Juliet" hits #1
1975: The Eagles' LP One Of These Nights hits #1

Certifications

1968: The Rascals' "A Beautiful Morning" is certified gold