Today in Oldies Music History: February 26

Today In Oldies Music History: February 26

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Births

1928: Fats Domino
1932: Johnny Cash
1943: Paul Cotton (Poco)
1945: Mitch Ryder
1947: Sandie Shaw
1945: Bob "Bear" Hite (Canned Heat)

Deaths

1977: Bukka White
1977: Sherman Garnes (Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers)
1990: Cornell Gunter (The Coasters)
2008: Buddy Miles

Events

1954: Due to public outrage over the lascivious nature of several recent "race" recordings, the US Congress tries but fails to pass a bill forbidding distribution of any "obscene, lewd, lascivious, or filthy publication, picture, disc, transcription, or other article capable of producing sound."
1955: For the first time, sales of the newer, smaller 45rpm records outpace those of the old 78rpm variety.
1955: LaVern Baker sends a formal appeal letter to the US Congress to appeal a 1954 decision denying black artists a revision of the 1909 Copyright Act, a move which would make it harder for white pop artists to record exact copies of R&B hits and thus steal their thunder. Her appeal is turned down.
1964: Elvis Presley begins filming his sixteenth movie, Roustabout, in Hollywood.
1967: Having spent so much time in the saddle, Elvis delays an already-postponed trip to Hollywood to begin filming what will be his twenty-fifth film, Clambake. Barbara Little, girlfriend of Memphis Mafioso George Klein, suggests calling her doctor, George Nichopoulos, to help with the singer's saddlesores. Thus begins a professional acquaintance that would last until Elvis' death.
1975: Harry Chapin's Broadway revue, The Night That Made America Famous, opens at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre.
1985: Chuck Berry is the recipient of the annual Lifetime Achievement Award at tonight's Grammys.
1997: Despite having broken up 27 years earlier, the Beatles are awarded three Grammys for their multimedia Anthology juggernaut and "new single" "Free As A Bird," including "Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group" and both short- and long-form categories of "Best Music Video."
2002: The Bee Gees play what is to be their final concert, performing at Miami Beach's Love and Hope Ball, a benefit for the Diabetes Research Institute Foundation.
2002: CCR's John Fogerty, Elton John, The Eagles, Stevie Nicks, and Billy Joel, among others, perform at the multi-venue Los Angeles charity benefit Four Concerts for Artists' Rights, proceeds of which benefit a labor-friendly musicians' organization called the Recording Artists Coalition.

Releases

1966: The Rolling Stones, "19th Nervous Breakdown"

Recording

1962: Al Hirt, "Java"
1964: The Beatles: "And I Love Her," "I Should Have Known Better"
1965: Elvis Presley: "Golden Coins," "Animal Instinct"

Charts

1966: Nancy Sinatra's "These Boots Are Made For Walkin'" hits #1
1972: Joe Tex' "I Gotcha" hits #1
1977: The Eagles' "New Kid In Town" hits #1

Certifications

1976: The Eagles, Their Greatest Hits (1971–1975)