Thursday, September 29, 2011

Sept 29 - Today in Rock-n-Roll History...

1956, Bill Haley had five songs in the Top 30; 'Rockin Through The Rye', 'Saints Rock n' Roll', 'Rock Around The Clock', 'Razzle Dazzle', and 'See You Later Alligator'.

1967, Working at Abbey Road in London, The Beatles mixed the new John Lennon song ‘I Am the Walrus’ which included the sound of a radio being tuned through numerous stations, coming to rest on a BBC production of William Shakespeare's "King Lear". Lennon composed the song by combining three songs he had been working on. When he learned that a teacher at his old primary school was having his students analyse Beatles' lyrics, Lennon added a verse of nonsense words.

1969, The Doors appeared at Lincoln Center's 7th New York Film Festival, New York City.

1973, Grand Funk Railroad went to No.1 on the US singles chart with 'We're An American Band', the group's first of two US chart toppers.

1976, Enjoying his own birthday celebrations singer Jerry Lee Lewis accidentally shot his bass player Norman Owens in the chest. Lewis had been blasting holes in an office door. Owens survived and sued Lewis.

1979, The Police had their first No.1 single with 'Message In A Bottle' the group's third Top 20 hit. 

1980, Elvis Costello supported by The Stray Cats appeared at the Rainbow, London, England.

1984, Prince and the Revolution started a two week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Let's Go Crazy'.

1989, While travelling on his motorbike from Los Angeles, Bruce Springsteen stopped by Matt's Saloon in Prescott, Arizona and jammed with the house band. Bruce played a bunch of rock and roll classics, including Elvis Presley’s 'Don’t Be Cruel,' and Chuck Berry’s 'Sweet Little Sixteen' and 'Route 66.” Bruce also donated $100,000 to a barmaid's hospital bill.

1991, Metallica kicked off their 138 date Wherever We May Roam world tour at the Civic Center in Peoria, Illinois. 

1992, American singer, songwriter Paul Jabara died from lymphoma related to AIDS at the age of 44. He wrote Donna Summer's Oscar and Grammy Award-winning hit ‘Last Dance’ and Barbra Streisand's ‘The Main Event/Fight’ and co-wrote the Weather Girls hit, ‘It's Raining Men’ with Paul Shaffer.

2004, Keith Moon's five-piece drum kit, custom-made for The Who drummer in 1968, sold for £120,000 pounds ($215,772) in London to an American collector, setting a world auction record for a set of drums.

2011, Tony Bennett became the oldest living person to top the US album chart when the 85-year-old's 'Duets II' album went to No.1. The record, which featured collaborations with Amy Winehouse and Lady Gaga, was also his first US No.1 in his 60 year career. The previous oldest performer to top the chart was Bob Dylan in 2009 with 'Together Through Life'. At the time he was 67-years old.

Happy Rock-n-Roll Birthdays to...

1907, Gene Autry, America's singing cowboy.

1935, Jerry Lee Lewis.

1937, Joe 'Guitar' Hughes, US blues guitarist.

1948, Mark Farner, Grand Funk Railroad.

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