Today in Oldies Music History: March 7

Today In Oldies Music History: March 7

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Births

1917: Lee Young (Nat King Cole Trio)
1923: Mahlon Clark (Lawrence Welk)
1942: Bohannon
1943: Chris White (The Zombies)
1944: Townes Van Zandt
1945: Arthur Lee (Love)
1946: Peter Wolf (The J. Geils Band)
1946: Matthew Fisher (Procol Harum)
1952: Ernie Isley (The Isley Brothers)

Deaths

1966: Mike Millward (The Fourmost)
1999: Marvin Inabnett (The Four Preps)
2000: Pee Wee King
2003: Adam Faith

Events

1917: "The Dixie Jass Band One Step," by Nick LaRocca's Original Dixieland Jass Band (Victor 18255), becomes the first jazz recording released for sale in the US.
1955: In a little-noted but fateful development, Carl Perkins' "Blue Suede Shoes" becomes the first country song to cross over to the Billboard R&B charts.
1962: The Beatles appear on the BBC for the first time, recording for the radio show Here We Go, also marking the band's first full live performance caught on tape, and the first performance in what would become their trademark collarless suits designed by Beno Dorn.
1964: Final proof that the "British Invasion" has established the UK as a rock powerhouse: today, for the first time, the UK Top Ten chart has not one American act on it.
1966: Brian Wilson releases his first solo single, "Caroline, No," the first release of the historic Pet Sounds sessions. Two months later, the PS album would appear with "Caroline, No" on it, but credited to the Beach Boys.
1967: Actress Sandra Dee officially files for divorce from singer Bobby Darin.
1973: Columbia A&R giant John Hammond suffers a non-fatal heart attack at an early show by one of his proteges, Bruce Springsteen.
1976: Elton John becomes only the second rock act (after the Beatles) to be honored with a statue in Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum in London.
1983: The Songwriter's Hall of Fame inducts Neil Sedaka and Stevie Wonder into their ranks during their annual New York ceremony.
1987: The first Beatles albums are released on compact disc: Please Please Me, With The Beatles, A Hard Day's Night, Beatles For Sale, and Help!. This marks the first time the band's official UK albums have been available as standard Beatles albums in the US, many being presented for the first time in America in their original mono mixes.
1994: The US Supreme Court rules that raunchy rap group 2 Live Crew's "Pretty Woman," a parody of Roy Orbison's 1964 hit, does not violate federal copyright laws.
2001: The National Endowment for the Arts, in conjunction with the RIAA, announces its Top Ten songs of the 20th century. At #1: Judy Garland's rendition of "Over The Rainbow." Also making the list: Bing's "White Christmas" (#2), Aretha's "Respect" (#4), Don McLean's "American Pie" (#5), and the Righteous Brothers' "You've Lost That Lovin' Feeling" (#9).
2001: Ex-Trammps member Jerry Collins is convicted of attempted murder after being found of bashing his wife's head into a sink and also pistol-whipping her. He is sentenced to a maximum of 35 years.
2001: Ed Townshend, singer/songwriter of the 1957 hit "For Your Love," sues the R&B group K-Ci and JoJo, claiming they use his song in their recent hit "Just For Your Love."
2006: Rod Stewart is ordered to pay $3 million to Harrah's in Las Vegas after defaulting on a show in 2000.

Releases

none

Recording

1939: Guy Lombardo and his Royal Canadians, "Auld Lang Syne"
1957: The Tune Weavers, "Happy Happy Birthday Baby"
1966: Bob Dylan, "Absolutely Sweet Marie"
1966: Tina Turner, "River Deep Mountain High"
1967: The Beatles, "Lovely Rita"
1968: Elvis Presley: "Wonderful World," "Edge Of Reality," "A Little Less Conversation"

Charts

1964: The Beatles' "From Me To You" enters the charts
1970: Simon and Garfunkel's LP Bridge Over Troubled Water hits #1

Certifications

1969: Tommy Roe's "Dizzy" is certified gold
1973: Eric Weissberg and Steve Mandel's "Dueling Banjos" is certified gold