Music Almanac: January 17, 2018

Birthdays 

• 1927 - Eartha Kitt (d. 2008)
• 1929 - Grady Martin (Nashville A-Team) (d. 2001)
• 1931 - Lolita (born Edith Einzinger) (d. 2010)
• 1936 - Elsbeary Hobbs (Drifters) (d. 1996)
• 1943 - Chris Montez (75)
• 1944 - Françoise Hardy (74)
• 1945 - William Hart (Delfonics) (73)
• 1949 - Mick Taylor (Rolling Stones) (69)
• 1953 - Sheila Hutchinson (Emotions) (65)
• 1954 - Cheryl Bentyne (Manhattan Transfer) (64)
• 1955 - Steve Earle (63)
• 1956 - Paul Young (62)
• 1958 - Jez Strode (Kajagoogoo) (60)
• 1959 - Susanna Hoffs (Bangles) (59)
• 1960 - John Crawford (Berlin) (58)
• 1961 - Dave Collard (JoBoxers) (57)
• 1963 - Kai Hansen (Gamma Ray, Helloween) (55)
• 1964 - Andy Rourke (Smiths) (54)
• 1966 - Shabba Ranks (52)
• 1967 - Richard Hawley (Longpigs, Pulp) (51)
• 1969 - Tiësto (born Tijs Verwest) (49)
• 1971 - John Wysocki (Staind) (47)
• 1971 - Kid Rock (born Robert Ritchie) (47)
• 1971 - Lil John (born Jonathan Smith) (47)
• 1978 - Ricky Wilson (Kaiser Chiefs) (40)
• 1980 - Zooey Deschanel (She & Him) (38)
• 1981 - Ray J (born William Norwood, Jr.) (37)
• 1982 - Alex Varkatzas (Atreyu) (36)
• 1982 - Amanda Wilkinson (36)
• 1984 - Calvin Harris (34)
• 1986 - Jermemiah Fraites (Lumineers) (32)

Deaths

• 1956 - Blind Alfred Reed - Starvation (reported) (75)
• 1970 - Billy Stewart - Car crash (32)
• 1998 - Junior Kimbrough (born David Kimbrough) - Heart attack (67)
• 1998 - Cliffie Stone (Country Music Hall of Fame member) - Heart attack (80)
• 2011 - Don Kirshner - Heart Failure (76)
• 2012 - Johnny Otis (90)
• 2016 - Dale Griffin (Mott the Hoople) (67)
• 2016 - Mic Gillette (Tower of Power, Cold Blood) - Heart attack (64)

On This Day

• 1957 - The film Don't Knock the Rock with Bill Haley debuts.
• 1966 - The series The Monkees was purchased by NBC for the fall season.
• 1969 - The book Ode to a High Flying Bird by Charlie Watts was released. It was a tribute to Charlie Parker.
• 1971 - Marvin Gaye sang the national anthem at Super Bowl V.
• 1972 - Part of Bellevue Boulevard in Memphis was renamed Elvis Presley Drive.
• 1974 - Dino Martin, the son of Dean Martin, was arrested for trying to sell two AK-47 machine guns to an undercover agent.
• 1979 - Dolly Parton, Linda Rondstadt and Emmylou Harris announced they would be recording an album.
• 1981 - Motley Crue was formed with Nikki Sixx, Tommy Lee and Greg Leon. Mick Mars and Vince Neil joined later.
• 1981 - Volunteer Jam VII was held in Nashville with the Charlie Daniels Band, Ted Nugent, Dobie Gray, Molly Hatchet, Delbert McClinton, Crystal Gayle, Bobby Bare, Jimmy Hall (Wet Willie)
• 1994 - Donny Osmond and Danny Bonaduce fight in a charity boxing match. 
• 2003 - Lou Rawls was arrested in Albuquerque, NM for battery after getting into a shoving match with his girlfriend.
• 2006 - Sugarland announced that Kristen Hall was leaving the group.
• 2006 - Isaac Hayes suffered a stroke.
• 2008 - Reba McEntire and Kelly Clarkson opened their 2 Worlds 2 Voices Tour in Dayton, OH. 
• 2009 - During rehearsals for the inauguration concert, James Taylor fell, hitting his face on a guitar. He required 50 stitches. 
• 2014 - Madonna apologized for using a common racial slur to refer to her son on an Instagram post. 

Marriages

• 1934 - Elva Connes (Mrs. Miller) and John Miller
• 2009 - Bobby Rydell and Linda

Recorded

• 1936 - Bill & Charlie Monroe cut their first sides for Bluebird Records.
• 1945 - Red Foley became the first country artist to record in Nashville.
• 1970 - Absolutely Live - Doors (recorded at New York's Felt Forum)

Released

• 1964 - Rolling Stones - Rolling Stones (EP)
• 1969 - Lady Samantha - Reginald Kenneth Dwight (U.K. Single, Elton John)
• 1973 - Behind Closed Doors - Charlie Rich

Awards

• 1983 - American Music Awards
• Pop/Rock Male Artist - John Cougar, Rick Springfield (tie)
• Pop/Rock Female Artist - OIivia Newton-John
• Pop/Rock Band, Duo or Group - Daryl Hall & John Oates
• Pop/Rock Album - Always On My Mind - Willie Nelson
• Pop/Rock Single - Truly - Lionel Richie
• Soul/R&B Male Aritst - Lionel Richie
• Soul/R&B Female Artist - Diana Ross
• Soul/R&B Band, Duo or Group - Kool & the Gang
• Soul/R&B Album - Jump To It - Aretha Franklin
• Soul/R&B Single - Sexual Healing - Marvin Gaye
• Country Male Artist - Kenny Rogers
• Country Band, Duo or Group - Barbara Mandrell
• Country Album - Always On My Mind - Willie Nelson
• Country Single - Love Will Turn You Around - Kenny Rogers
• Award of Merit - Kenny Rogers
• 2000 - American Music Awards
• Pop/Rock Male Artist - Will Smith
• Pop/Rock Female Artist, Country Female Artist - Shania Twain
• Pop/Rock Band, Duo or Group - Backstreet Boy
• Pop/Rock Album - Supernatural - Santana
• Pop/Rock New Artist - Britney Spears
• Soul/R&B Male Aritst - R. Kelly
• Soul/R&B Female Artist - Lauryn Hill
• Soul/R&B Band, Duo or Group - TLC
• Soul/R&B Album - The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill - Lauryn Hill
• Soul/R&B New Artist - Tyrese
• Country Male Artist - Garth Brooks
• Country Band, Duo or Group - Brooks & Dunn
• Country Album - Double Live - Garth Brooks
• Country New Artist - Montgomery Gentry
• Adult Contemporary Artist - Phil Collins
• Rap/Hip-Hop Artist - DMX
• Alternative Artist - Red Hot Chili Peppers
• Latin Artist - Ricky Martin
• Achievement Award - Mariah Carey
• Award of Merit - Gloria Estefan
• Artist of the Decade - Garth Brooks

Broadcasts

• 1976 - Saturday Night Live (NBC) - Blues Brothers (first appearance)
• 1992 - Michael Jackson: The Legend Continues (CBS)
• 1999 - The Simpsons (Fox) - Cyndi Lauper
• 1999 - This is Garth Brooks (NBC) - Garth Brooks

Number Ones – U.S. Singles

• 1976 - I Write the Songs - Barry Manilow (1 week)
• 1987 - Shake You Down - Gregory Abbott (1 week)
• 1998 - Truly Madly Deeply - Savage Garden (2 weeks)
• 2009 - Just Dance - Lady Gaga Featuring Colby O'Donis (3 weeks)
• 2015 - Uptown Funk - Mark Ronson Featuring Bruno Mars (14 weeks)

Number Ones – U.S. Albums 

• 1948 - Glenn Miller Masterpieces, Vol. II - Glenn Miller & His Orchstra (1 week (1 previous week))
• 1970 - Led Zeppelin II - Led Zeppelin (1 week (1 previous week))
• 1976 - Gratitude - Earth, Wind & Fire (3 weeks)
• 1987 - Slippery When Wet - Bon Jovi (7 weeks (1 previous week))
• 1998 - Let's Talk About Love - Celine Dion (1 week)

Number Ones – U.S. R&B Singles

• 1976 - Wake Up Everybody (Part 1) - Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes (2 weeks)
• 1987 - Stop to Love - Luther Vandross (2 weeks)

Number Ones – U.S. Country Singles

• 1953 - Jambalaya (On the Bayou) - Hank Williams (1 week (13 previous weeks))
• 1981 - I Love a Rainy Night - Eddie Rabbitt (1 week)
• 1987 - What Am I Gonna Do About You - Reba McEntire (1 week)
• 1998 - Just to See You Smile - Tim McGraw (6 weeks)
• 2009 - Already Gone - Sugarland (1 week)

Number Ones – U.S. Adult Contemporary Singles

• 1976 - Let It Shine / He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother - Olivia Newton-John (2 weeks)
• 1981 - I Love a Rainy Night - Eddie Rabbitt (3 weeks)

Number Ones – U.K. Singles

• 1998 - Never Ever - All Saints (1 week)
• 2004 - All This Time - Michelle (3 weeks)
• 2009 - Just Dance - Lady Gaga (3 weeks)

Number Ones – U.K. Albums 

• 1976 - A Night at the Opera - Queen (2 weeks (2 previous weeks)
• 1987 - The Whole Story - Kate Bush (2 weeks)
• 2004 - Life For Rent - Dido (2 weeks (8 previous weeks))
• 2009 - Only By the Night - Kings of Leon (1 week)
• 2015 - In the Lonely Hour - Sam Smith (1 week (4 previous weeks))