May in Rock-n-Roll History

1955 - Leonard Chess signs Chuck Berry to a recording contract after he came highly recommended by Muddy Waters.

1955 - Ray Charles reaches the top of the US R&B chart for the first time with "I Got A Woman".

1956 - For the first time in the history of Billboard's record charts, the same five songs appear in both the Pop and R&B Top Ten. They are: Elvis Presley's "Heartbreak Hotel" (#1 Pop, #6 R&B), Carl Perkins' "Blue Suede Shoes" (#4 Pop, #3 R&B), Little Richard's "Long Tall Sally" (#9 Pop, #1 R&B), The Platters' "Magic Touch" (#10 Pop, #7 R&B) and Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers' "Why Do Fools Fall in Love" (#7 Pop, #4 R&B).

1956 - Gene Vincent records "Be Bop A Lula" It sold 2 million copies.

1958-59 - The Alan Freed Show premiers on TV with Guy Mitchell, The Del-Vikings, Screamin' Jay Hawkins, The Clovers, June Valli, Martha Carson and the Alan Freed Rock and Roll Orchestra.
One year later Alan Freed is in trouble when a brawl breaks out following his show and some of the estimated 5,000 teens in attendance are injured. Freed is charged with incitement of a riot and destruction of property.

1959 - The first Grammy Awards are given out and “Volare” is Record of the Year - It beat out Peggy Lee's "Fever", "Catch a Falling Star" by Perry Como, "Witchcraft" from Frank Sinatra and "The Chipmunk Song" by David Seville.

1960 - “G.I.Blues” Elvis’ first post-Army movie is released. He ends his film career with “Change of Habit” in 1969.

1960 - Dick Clark testifies before a Congressional Committee investigating "payola", and eventually was cleared. Alan Freed and eight other DJ are accused of taking radio payola.
In the aftermath of the payola scandal, Billboard magazine reports that many radio stations are adopting what they called a "better music" format and banning Rock and Roll.

1961 - After topping the Billboard chart a month earlier, The Marcels version of "Blue Moon" hits #1 in the UK. Since 1934, the song was recorded by over 50 major artists and featured in at least 8 motion pictures.


1962 - The Shirelles get a Gold record for "Soldier Boy", originally recorded in one take and intended as an album filler.

1964 - Moody Blues group forms.
1964-65 Gerry and the Pacemakers debut on US television, the Ed Sullivan Show, with "Don't Let The Sun Catch You Crying" 1964.
Ed Sullivan (1965) vows The Rolling Stones would never be invited back never again appear on his Sunday night variety show. He received "thousands of calls complaining" about The Stones.

1967 - Elvis Presley marries Priscella Beaulieu in Las Vegas (it lasts 5 years)

1969 - The Who released the double album rock opera "Tommy".

1971 - Ike and Tina Turner receive their only Gold record for their version of "Proud Mary", which climbed to #4 in the US.

1973 - Led Zeppelin opened their US tour. It is billed as the 'biggest and most profitable Rock and Roll tour in the history of the United States.' The group grossed over $3 million.

1976 - Soviet youths defy police and dance The Twist in Moscow's Red Square during May Day celebrations.


1978 - FM, a film about the struggles of a radio station, debuts in Los Angeles. The soundtrack features Steely Dan, Steve Miller, The Eagles, Neil Young, Billy Joel and Warren Zevon. More people bought the soundtrack than saw the film.

1980 - Pink Floyd's hit single "Another Brick in the Wall (Part II)", with its chorus of kids chanting "We Don't Need No Education", is banned by the South African government. Black children, upset about inferior education, adopt the song as their anthem. The government says the song is "prejudicial to the safety of the state."

1984 - Tina Turner's "What's Love Got to Do With It" is released and climbs to #1 and wins Grammys for record and song of the year. Tina becomes a solo star leaving her husband and former band mate, Ike Turner, with nothing more than 36 cents and a gas station credit card.

1993 - IRS seize Jerry Lee Lewis’ home for 1.6 million in unpaid taxes.

1994 - Randy Bachman led 1,322 guitarists who had gathered in Vancouver to play Bachman-Turner Overdrive's "Takin' Care of Business", for 68 minutes and 40 seconds.

2003 - Barry White suffers a stroke and died two months later.

2004 - Rudy Maugeri, the baritone voice of the 1950s doo-wop group, The Crew Cuts, died. He was 73. Taking their name from a popular hair style of the day, the quartet formed in Toronto and went on to have several hits in the US, including the number one "Sh-Boom" in 1954 and the number three "Earth Angel" in 1955.

2009 - A anonymous fan won a two hour, one on one guitar lesson with Queen's Brian May after bidding more than £7,500 at a charity auction in London. The auction was held in support of the Action for Brazil's Children Trust, of which May is a patron.






























































This Month I Rock-n-Roll History

1955 - Leonard Chess signs Chuck Berry to a recording contract after he came highly recommended by Muddy Waters.

1955 - Ray Charles reaches the top of the US R&B chart for the first time with "I Got A Woman".

1956 - For the first time in the history of Billboard's record charts, the same five songs appear in both the Pop and R&B Top Ten. They are: Elvis Presley's "Heartbreak Hotel" (#1 Pop, #6 R&B), Carl Perkins' "Blue Suede Shoes" (#4 Pop, #3 R&B), Little Richard's "Long Tall Sally" (#9 Pop, #1 R&B), The Platters' "Magic Touch" (#10 Pop, #7 R&B) and Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers' "Why Do Fools Fall in Love" (#7 Pop, #4 R&B).

1956 - Gene Vincent records "Be Bop A Lula" It sold 2 million copies.

1958-59 - The Alan Freed Show premiers on TV withGuy Mitchell, The Del-Vikings, Screamin' Jay Hawkins, The Clovers, June Valli, Martha Carson and the Alan Freed Rock and Roll Orchestra.
One year later Alan Freed is in trouble when a brawl breaks out following his and some of the estimated 5,000 teens in attendance are injured. Freed is charged with incitement of a riot and destruction of property.

1959 - The first Grammy Awards are giving out and “Volare” is Record of the Year - It beat out Peggy Lee's "Fever", "Catch a Falling Star" by Perry Como, "Witchcraft" from Frank Sinatra and "The Chipmunk Song" by David Seville.

1960 - “G.I.Blues” Elvis’ first post-Army movie is released. He ends his film career with “Change of Habit” in 1969.

1960 - Dick Clark testifies before a Congressional Committee investigating payola. And eventually was cleared. Alan Freed & eight other DJ accused of taking radio payola.
In the aftermath of the payola scandal, Billboard magazine reports that many radio stations are adopting what they called a "better music" format and banning Rock and Roll.

1961 - After topping the Billboard chart a month earlier, The Marcels version of "Blue Moon" hits #1 in the UK. Since 1934, the song has been recorded by over 50 major artists and has been featured in at least 8 motion pictures.


1962 - The Shirelles get a Gold record for "Soldier Boy", originally recorded in one take and intended as an album filler.

1964 - Moody Blues group forms.

1964-65 Gerry and the Pacemakers debut on US television, the Ed Sullivan Show with "Don't Let The Sun Catch You Crying" 1964
Ed Sullivan vows The Rolling Stones would never be invited back never again appear on his Sunday night variety show. He received "thousands of calls complaining" about The Stones. 1965

1967 - Elivs Presley marries Priscella Beaulieu in Las Vegas (it lasts 5 years)

1969 - The Who released the double album rock opera Tommy.

1971 - Ike and Tina Turner receive their only Gold record for their version of "Proud Mary", which climbed to #4 in the US.

1973 - Led Zeppelin opened their US tour, which is billed as the 'biggest and most profitable Rock and Roll tour in the history of the United States.' The group grossed over $3 million.

1976 - Soviet youths defy police and dance The Twist in Moscow's Red Square during May Day celebrations.


1978 - FM, a film about the struggles of a radio station, debuts in Los Angeles. The soundtrack features Steely Dan, Steve Miller, The Eagles, Neil Young, Billy Joel and Warren Zevon. More people bought the soundtrack than saw the film.

1980 - Pink Floyd's hit single "Another Brick in the Wall (Part II)", with its chorus of kids chanting "We Don't Need No Education", is banned by the South African government. Black children, upset about inferior education, adopt the song as their anthem. The government says the song is "prejudicial to the safety of the state."

1984 - Tina Turner's "What's Love Got to Do With It" is released and climbs to #1 and wins Grammys for record and song of the year. Tina becomes a solo star leaving her husband and former band mate Ike Turner, with nothing more than 36 cents and a gas station credit card.

1993 - IRS seize Jerry Lee Lewis’ home for 1.6 million in unpaid taxes.

1994 - Randy Bachman led 1,322 guitarists who had gathered in Vancouver to play Bachman-Turner Overdrive's "Takin' Care of Business", for 68 minutes and 40 seconds.

2003 - Barry White suffers a stroke and died two months later.

2004 - Rudy Maugeri, the baritone voice of the 1950s doo-wop group, The Crew Cuts, died. He was 73. Taking their name from a popular hair style of the day, the quartet formed in Toronto and went on to have several hits in the US, including the number one "Sh-Boom" in 1954 and the number three "Earth Angel" in 1955.

2009 - A anonymous fan won a two hour, one on one guitar lesson with Queen's Brian May after bidding more than £7,500 at a charity auction in London. The auction was held in support of the Action for Brazil's Children Trust, of which May is a patron.












1955 - Leonard Chess signs Chuck Berry to a recording contract after he came highly recommended by Muddy Waters.

1955 - Ray Charles reaches the top of the US R&B chart for the first time with "I Got A Woman".

1956 - For the first time in the history of Billboard's record charts, the same five songs appear in both the Pop and R&B Top Ten. They are: Elvis Presley's "Heartbreak Hotel" (#1 Pop, #6 R&B), Carl Perkins' "Blue Suede Shoes" (#4 Pop, #3 R&B), Little Richard's "Long Tall Sally" (#9 Pop, #1 R&B), The Platters' "Magic Touch" (#10 Pop, #7 R&B) and Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers' "Why Do Fools Fall in Love" (#7 Pop, #4 R&B).

1956 - Gene Vincent records "Be Bop A Lula" It sold 2 million copies.

1958-59 - The Alan Freed Show premiers on TV withGuy Mitchell, The Del-Vikings, Screamin' Jay Hawkins, The Clovers, June Valli, Martha Carson and the Alan Freed Rock and Roll Orchestra.
One year later Alan Freed is in trouble when a brawl breaks out following his and some of the estimated 5,000 teens in attendance are injured. Freed is charged with incitement of a riot and destruction of property.

1959 - The first Grammy Awards are giving out and “Volare” is Record of the Year - It beat out Peggy Lee's "Fever", "Catch a Falling Star" by Perry Como, "Witchcraft" from Frank Sinatra and "The Chipmunk Song" by David Seville.

1960 - “G.I.Blues” Elvis’ first post-Army movie is released. He ends his film career with “Change of Habit” in 1969.

1960 - Dick Clark testifies before a Congressional Committee investigating payola. And eventually was cleared. Alan Freed & eight other DJ accused of taking radio payola.
In the aftermath of the payola scandal, Billboard magazine reports that many radio stations are adopting what they called a "better music" format and banning Rock and Roll.

1961 - After topping the Billboard chart a month earlier, The Marcels version of "Blue Moon" hits #1 in the UK. Since 1934, the song has been recorded by over 50 major artists and has been featured in at least 8 motion pictures.


1962 - The Shirelles get a Gold record for "Soldier Boy", originally recorded in one take and intended as an album filler.

1964 - Moody Blues group forms.

1964-65 Gerry and the Pacemakers debut on US television, the Ed Sullivan Show with "Don't Let The Sun Catch You Crying" 1964
Ed Sullivan vows The Rolling Stones would never be invited back never again appear on his Sunday night variety show. He received "thousands of calls complaining" about The Stones. 1965

1967 - Elivs Presley marries Priscella Beaulieu in Las Vegas (it lasts 5 years)

1969 - The Who released the double album rock opera Tommy.

1971 - Ike and Tina Turner receive their only Gold record for their version of "Proud Mary", which climbed to #4 in the US.

1973 - Led Zeppelin opened their US tour, which is billed as the 'biggest and most profitable Rock and Roll tour in the history of the United States.' The group grossed over $3 million.

1976 - Soviet youths defy police and dance The Twist in Moscow's Red Square during May Day celebrations.


1978 - FM, a film about the struggles of a radio station, debuts in Los Angeles. The soundtrack features Steely Dan, Steve Miller, The Eagles, Neil Young, Billy Joel and Warren Zevon. More people bought the soundtrack than saw the film.

1980 - Pink Floyd's hit single "Another Brick in the Wall (Part II)", with its chorus of kids chanting "We Don't Need No Education", is banned by the South African government. Black children, upset about inferior education, adopt the song as their anthem. The government says the song is "prejudicial to the safety of the state."

1984 - Tina Turner's "What's Love Got to Do With It" is released and climbs to #1 and wins Grammys for record and song of the year. Tina becomes a solo star leaving her husband and former band mate Ike Turner, with nothing more than 36 cents and a gas station credit card.

1993 - IRS seize Jerry Lee Lewis’ home for 1.6 million in unpaid taxes.

1994 - Randy Bachman led 1,322 guitarists who had gathered in Vancouver to play Bachman-Turner Overdrive's "Takin' Care of Business", for 68 minutes and 40 seconds.

2003 - Barry White suffers a stroke and died two months later.

2004 - Rudy Maugeri, the baritone voice of the 1950s doo-wop group, The Crew Cuts, died. He was 73. Taking their name from a popular hair style of the day, the quartet formed in Toronto and went on to have several hits in the US, including the number one "Sh-Boom" in 1954 and the number three "Earth Angel" in 1955.

2009 - A anonymous fan won a two hour, one on one guitar lesson with Queen's Brian May after bidding more than £7,500 at a charity auction in London. The auction was held in support of the Action for Brazil's Children Trust, of which May is a patron.

April in Rock-n-Roll History

1954:
Bill Haley records "Rock Around The Clock". A modest hit, selling 75,000 copies, but just 12 months later infamy featured in the movie The Blackboard Jungle.

1955:
Elvis Presley headlines on The Big D Jamboree, a live radio show on KRLD in Dallas, Texas. Ticket price for studio audience a mere 60 cents.

1956
Nat King Cole is attacked by a group of five racial segregationists while singing onstage at the Municipal Hall in Birmingham, Alabama. The attackers were quickly arrested by police and Cole would return later that night for a second show.

On a flight Amarillo to Nashville, Elvis Presley's plane makes an emergency landing in Arkansas. It leaves him with a permanent fear of air travel.

James Brown his first chart entry recorded in his home town of Macon, GA "Please, Please, Please" debuts on the Billboard R&B chart.

Buddy Holly's first single "Blue Days, Black Nights", was released. This up-tempo, country flavored tune was a poor seller.

1957
16 year old Ricky Nelson sings his first record, “I’m Walking” a version of Fats Domino's tune" on his parents' TV show, The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet on ABC.

Elvis Presley's "All Shook Up" hits No.1 on the Cash Box best seller list and The Billboard Pop chart, and remained for the next 8 weeks.

1958
Dick Clark dedicates part of his American Bandstand TV show to the memory of Chuck Willis, who had died earlier in the day from peritonitis. Willis’ hits that included: "C.C. Rider", "What Am I Living For" and "Hang Up My Rock and Roll Shoes".

1959
Bobby Darin records "Splish Splash". The record is a world wide hit, but is outsold in Britain by a rival version from comedian Charlie Drake.

The BBC lifts its ban on The Coasters' new single "Charlie Brown", it airs on radio's Pick of the Pops and becomes the group's best selling UK hit, reaching No.6.

Five weeks after charting on it the Billboard Hot 100, "Pink Shoelaces" by 13 year old Dodie Stevens hits No.3. Her career includes singing with Sergio Mendes and Brazil '77 and Mac Davis, but she never had another Top 40 hit.

1961
19 year old Bob Dylan debuted as a solo artist at Gerde's Folk City in New York.

At the third annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, Ray Charles wins three trophies including Best Pop Single for "Georgia On My Mind". Marty Robbins is awarded a statue for Best Country and Western Performance for "El Paso".

1962
The Beatles' original bass player, 22 year old Stuart Sutcliffe dies of a brain hemorrhage. He couldn't play very well but was a part of the original band because he had the equipment and place to rehearse. His girlfriend, Astrid Kirchherr, created The Beatle haircut for Stu, and John and Paul followed soon after. Sutcliffe is on very early Beatle tracks and included on "Anthology 1". In 1961 he left to resume painting because his headaches were getting too severe to play.

The Beatles kick off a 48 night booking at The Star Club in Hamburg, Germany.

1963
Gerry And The Pacemakers’s "How Do You Do It?" is No. 1 on the UK singles chart In the U.S,. it didn’t catch on until the Fall of 1964, when it went to No. 9.

Beach Boys' "Surfin' USA" is released and its their 2nd Billboard chart-maker, reaching No.3. The song is a note-for-note copy of Chuck Berry's "Sweet Little Sixteen" with new lyrics. Berry sues and is granted royalties and writing credit for all further issues of the song.

1964
The Beatles set another music industry record with 14 songs on the Billboard Hot 100, including "Can't Buy Me Love" at No. 1 to "Love Me Do".

Chubby Checker marries Catharina Johanna Lodders, 1962's Miss World Pageant.

The Rolling Stones release their 1st album. It sold over 200,000 copies and hit number one in the UK two weeks later, claiming the first non-Beatles album to reach the top in over a year.

1965
Freddie and the Dreamers‘"I'm Telling You Now" hits No. 1 in the U.S., two years after it had reached No. 2 in the UK.

Roger Miller wins in five categories at the seventh annual Grammy Awards.

The Hollies start their first US tour but not until a year later would they hit the US Top Ten with "Bus Stop".

1966
Jan Berry, the younger half of Jan and Dean is paralyzed after he ran his Corvette into a parked truck on a side street in Beverly Hills. For over a year, Berry was in total physical paralysis and suffered extensive brain damage never returning to perform again.Their hit streak started in 1958 with "Jennie Lee" and continued with "Baby Talk", "Surf City", "Sidewalk Surfin'", "Drag City", "Dead Man's Curve", "The Little Old Lady From Pasadena" and "Popsicle". In 1978, they attempted a comeback after the biographical movie, 'Dead Man's Curve', was shown on TV.

The Beatles record "Paperback Writer" and the vocals for "Eleanor Rigby".

Buffalo Springfield debuts, opening for The Byrds in concert in San Bernardino, California.

The Spencer Davis Group scores their second UK No.1 single with "Somebody Help Me", it never hit the U.S. Top 40.

For a ticket price of 70 cents and $1.40 (US) or 5/10 shillings (UK), fans saw a live concert by Jimi Hendrix, The Walker Brothers, Cat Stevens and Englebert Humperdinck at the Blackppol Odeon.

1967
While flying back to London from the US, Paul McCartney writes "Magical Mystery Tour" .

Nancy and Frank Sinatra had the No.1 song on the Billboard Hot 100, The Cashbox Best Sellers List and Britain's New Musical Express record chart with "Something Stupid".

To this day, they are the only father and daughter team to have a US chart topping single. ("Unforgettable" by Natalie Cole and Nat "King" Cole hit No. 14 in 1991)

1968
Janis Joplin, along with Big Brother and the Holding Company make their national TV debut on ABC-TV's Hollywood Palace.

Producer Phil Spector marries Ronnie Bennett of The Ronettes. Bennett, files for divorce in 1972, citing instances of alleged cruelty.

1969
After scoring a series of instrumental hits in the early 1960s including "Walk Don't Run" and "Slaughter on Tenth Avenue", The Ventures hit Billboard's Hot 100 for the last time with the theme from the TV show, Hawaii Five-0.

The Fifth Dimension score their first No. 1 and their 8th Billboard Top 40 hit with "Aquarius / Let The Sunshine In".

John Lennon and Paul McCartney record "The Ballad of John and Yoko" without George and Ringo. Paul played bass, drums and piano with John on guitars.

1970
The progressive Rock band Emerson, Lake and Palmer is formed when drummer Carl Palmer joins keyboardist Keith Emerson and singer / guitarist Greg Lake.

Peter Green, founding member of Fleetwood Mac, leaves the band to follow his religious beliefs.

Norman Greenbaum's "Spirit In The Sky" hits No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 and sells 2 million but never makes the Top 40.

1972
Roberta Flack's "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" became an unlikely No. 1 hit after it is featured in the Clint Eastwood film Play Misty For Me.

Commander Cody and his Lost Planet Airmen enter the Billboard Top 40 for the 1st and only time with "Hot Rod Lincoln", a re-worked version of "Hot Rod Race",a No. 29 hit for Tiny Hill in 1951.

1973
Led Zeppelin's fifth album, "Houses of the Holy" hits Gold.

Stevie Wonder appeared on TV's Sesame Street, and performed "123 Sesame Street" and "Superstition".

1974
Elton John’s Bennie and the Jets" is No. 1 on the Billboard singles chart for the 2nd time.

Paul McCartney's LP "Band On The Run" is a No. 1 Billboard album chart and sells over 6 million copies world-wide.

1975
Elton John’s "Philadelphia Freedom", a song inspired by Billie Jean King's World Team Tennis League entry tops the charts.

1976
Peter Frampton’s album, with "Frampton Comes Alive" tops the charts and remains for 97 weeks, selling 6 million copies. It is the 4th largest selling 'live' album of all time, behind Garth Brooks' "Double Live", "Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band Live 1975 - '85" and "The Eagles Live".

Stevie Wonder signs the largest music contract to date with Motown for $13 million and produces a half dozen top 10 hits.

1977
In the midst of success with a top hit TV show Starsky and Hutch, David Soul tops Billboard charts with "Don't Give Up On Us".

1978
The Four Tops sing at Aretha Franklin's wedding to actor Glynn Turman. The union lasted six years.

1979
Mickey Thomas replaces Marty Balin as the lead singer for Jefferson Starship. Thomas' voice was on the 1976 Elvin Bishop hit, "Fooled Around and Fell in Love".

The Doobie Brothers’ band preforms with only the original drummer John Hartman and guitarist Patrick Simmons and cut “Black Water” topping the 1975 charts, followed by “What A Fool Believes”.

1980
The ‘50’s musical Grease finally closes on Broadway after 3,883 performances and earnings over $8 million.

A New Jersey State assemblyman introduces a resolution to make Bruce Springsteen's "Born to Run" the official state song. After deliberation, legislators site it the state's "rock anthem."

1981
Van Halen lead guitarist Eddie Van Halen marries Valerie Bertinelli, co-star of the 1980's television hit, One Day at a Time. Their union lasted 25 years.

Daryl Hall and John Oates’s "Kiss On My List" hits No. 1 on Billboard's Hot 100 with their 10th Top 40 hit.

1982
The duet "Ebony and Ivory", by Stevie Wonder and Paul McCartney, hits No. 29 when it debuts on the US charts and then No. 1 in both the U.S. and UK. It’s Wonder’s first British chart hit and No. 59 on Billboard's Greatest Songs of all time; but in October 2007 it's named "the worst duet in history" by BBC.

1983
Joe Cocker and Jennifer Warnes perform "Up Where We Belong" at the Academy Awards in Los Angeles, where the song wins in the Best Music category.

1984
Nate Nelson, lead vocalist for The Flamingos on their 1959 hit "I Only Have Eyes For You", dies at the age of 52.

Michael Jackson's "Thriller" LP marks its 37th week at #1 in US, the longest run in Rock history to that date. He made a $100,000 contribution to establish a 19 bed cancer research unit for a New York hospital.

1985
A court rules that the Rock group Boston has the right to record for MCA instead of CBS. The legal dispute prevented the release of the band's 3rd album for over 5 years.

"We Are The World", the Quincy Jones produced a combined effort artists effort to raise millions to help feed starving people in Africa, tops the Billboard singles chart. All 45 artists on the record were asked to "check their egos at the door."

1987
Members of the First Church of the Nazarene in Ironton, Ohio, hold a record burning when evangelist Jim Brown told them that the song "A Horse is a Horse", the theme song from the US TV show 'Mr. Ed', contains satanic messages when played backwards.

1988
Cher wins the Best Actress Oscar for her performance in the film 'Moonstruck'.

Sonny Bono is elected Mayor of Palm Springs, California, 1988-1992. Then ran for the Republican nomination for United States Senate. He was elected to the United States House of Representatives in 1994 to represent California's 44th congressional district.

1989
Herbert Mills of the Mills Brothers died of viral meningitis at the age of 77. The vocal group span the 1930's, '40's and '50's with hits and are most often remembered for their 1968, #23 hit, "Cab Driver". Donald Mills, the last of the original group died in 1999.

Roy Orbison had his final Top 10 single on the US chart with "You Got It", four months after he died. The song was written by Jeff Lynne and Tom Petty and appeared on Orbison's "Mystery Girl" album that was released posthumously.

1992
The three surviving members of Queen raise over $15 million at a charity concert in memory of the late Freddie Mercury, who died in November, 1991. On stage also were David Bowie, Annie Lennox, Elton John, Guns N' Roses, Roger Daltrey, Robert Plant, Paul Young.

1993
The Grateful Dead sang the US national anthem before the San Francisco Giants' home opener.

Paul McCartney headlines a concert at the Hollywood Bowl to celebrate Earth Day with Ringo Starr, Steve Miller and Don Henley.

1994
Billy Joel and Christie Brinkley announced they had separated after nine years of marriage.

1985
Burl Ives, dies of cancer at the age of 85. He’s remembered for Top 40’s:
"Little Bitty Tear" (No.9), "Funny Way Of Laughing" (No.10) and "Call Me Mr. In-Between" (No. 19) and his famous Christmas classic "Holly, Jolly Christmas",

1986
KISS appear in full make-up at the 38th Grammy Awards and announce a reunion tour marking the first time in 15 years they appeared together.

1997
Grand Funk preform for a three concert tour to raise money for the Bosnian-American Relief Fund.

1999
A charity tribute concert for the late Linda McCartney is held at the Royal Albert Hall, London. Performers include Paul McCartney, Chrissie Hynde, George Michael, Elvis Costello and Sinead O'Connor.

2000
The heavy metal band, Metallica files suit against Napster Inc, Yale University, the University of Southern California and Indiana University for copyright infringement. Yale and Indiana were dropped from the suit after they blocked access to Napster on campus servers.

2003
Little Eva (Boyd), dies at age 57 after a long illness. Her song "The Loco-Motion" hit No. 1 in 1962.

Lynyrd Skynyrd had a hit single on the radio. Rock stations across the country played the band's "Red White and Blue", an anti-protest song that includes the line "If they don't like it, they can just get the hell out."

2004
Former American Bandstand host, Dick Clark, reveals he has had type 2 diabetes since 1994, known only to close friends and family.

2005
Johnnie Johnson, who teamed with Chuck Berry on "Roll Over Beethoven" and "No Particular Place to Go", dies of natural causes at the age of 80.

John Fred Gourrier, who led John Fred and his Playboy Band to hit Billboard with their No. 1 song "Judy in Disguise (With Glasses)" 1967 dies at age 63 after a long bout with kidney disease.

2006
June Pointer, the youngest of the four Pointer Sisters with No. 1 hits "Fire", "Slow Hand" and "I'm So Excited", dies of cancer at the age of 52.


2007
A fire destroys the former home of the late Country singer Johnny Cash and June Carter. The 13,880-square-foot house, located in the Nashville suburb of Hendersonville, was home to Johnny and June until their deaths in 2003. Bee Gees' Barry Gibb and his wife, Linda, purchased the property in January 2006 with plans to restore it and write songs there.

The Beatles' company, Apple Corps, settled a £30 million ($59.2 million) royalties dispute with the band's label, EMI. The suit alleges unpaid royalties on Beatles albums based on an audit of sales between 1994 and 1999. Settlement details were not disclosed.

Legendary crooner Don Ho, who entertained Hawaiian tourists for decades with "Tiny Bubbles", dies of heart failure at age 76.

2009
Phil Spector was convicted of second-degree murder in the shooting death of actress Lana Clarkson at his mansion six years ago. The 69 year old music producer is sent to prison for a minimum of 18 years.

According to a chart compiled for the UK's BBC Radio 2, Procol Harum's "A Whiter Shade Of Pale" was the most played song in public places in the past 75 years.
Rounding out the top ten were: #2 - "Bohemian Rhapsody" by Queen, #3 "All I Have To Do Is Dream" by The Everly Brothers, #4 - "Love Is All Around" by Wet Wet Wet, #5 - ("Everything I Do) I Do It For You" by Bryan Adams, #6 - "Angels" by Robbie Williams, #7 - "All Shook Up" by Elvis Presley, #8 - "Dancing Queen" by ABBA, #9 - "Magic Moments" by Perry Como and #10 - "White Christmas" by Bing Crosby.

George Harrison receive a posthumous star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in front of the Capitol Records building.

2010
The Vatican's official newspaper L'Osservatore Ramano praise The Beatles and forgive John Lennon's 1966 comment that the group was "bigger than Jesus."

After 11 years away from audiences, and bad reviews and boos during a performance, Whitney Houston insisted she played to a “tough crowd” during her first show in the U.K. after recently being hospitalized with chronic rhinopharyngitis, (swelling of the membranes in the nose and throat) that caused problems.

Happy St. Pat & St. Joe Day

In honor of St. Pat’s/St. Joe’s Day a little recognition to a few great Irish, Italian and Polish-American artists. Their music and talent said it all. Bet you can remember every word and verse to so many of their great hits!

Danny Hutton - One of the three lead vocalists in the band, Three Dog Night.
Their first "Top Ten" hit was "One," 1969, and, "Mama Told Me (Not to Come)," reached #1 a year later.

"Joy to the World" became the group's biggest hit, in 1971, and their final #1, "Black and White," was in 1972.
Their final "Top Ten" song was in 1974, "The Show Must Go On." They had 21 hit singles, including 11 "Top Ten" hits, also 12 consecutive gold albums, from 1969 to 1975.

The Mc Guire Sisters - Biggest selling female vocal group of the 50's.
In 1957 they recorded "Sugartime" with Steve Allen at the piano and it became their signature song. The word "sugar" appears twenty eight times in the song’s two and one half minutes.

Phyllis retired in 1986. She is a Las Vegas’s leading hostess and its unofficial ambassador entertaining royalty, social and the business elite in her 50, 00 square foot French Provincial estate home. It is filled with expensive artwork and priceless memorabilia that span over four decades of her work in the world of entertainment.

Christine enjoys an active social life in Las Vegas and is an avid golfer.

Dorothy and her husband of forty years, Lowell Williamson, live in Scottsdale, Arizona, where they are also active in community affairs and philanthropic activities.



Jim Morrison, singer/songwriter of The Doors, reportedly had an I.Q. of 149.
Morrison was ranked number 47 on Rolling Stone's "100 Greatest Singers of All Time"[ and is widely regarded as one of the most iconic frontmen in rock music history.


Mariah Carey
is the world’s best-selling recording artist of the 1990s and the best-selling female artist of the millenum. Over 63 million albums and counting.

In 2008, Carey earned her eighteenth number one single on the Hot 100, the most by any solo artist.] We Belong Together was awarded with the Song of the decade by Billboard . She earned five Grammy Awards and is known for her five-octave vocal range.



Rosemary Clooney"Come On-a My House" made her a star. A household name; she became known simply as "Rosie."

"Botch-a-Me" (a cover version of the Italian song Ba-Ba-Baciami Piccina ), "Mambo Italiano", "Tenderly", "Half as Much", "Hey There" , "This Ole House", and of course her famous movie “White Christmas” and later on to success as a jazz vocalist.
She battled demons all her life with bouts of depression and alcoholism especially after hearing about the death of her friend, Robert Kennedy, while campaigning for him.


Bing Crosby - the 20th century's first multi-media entertainer: a star on radio, in movies and in chart-topping recordings.

He had 38 No. 1 singles, which surpassed even Elvis Presley and The Beatles.

According to the Guinness Book of Records, his "White Christmas" has sold over 100 million copies around the world, with at least 50 million sales as singles.

Crosby played an important role in the post-war recording industry.In 1947, he invested $50,000 in the Ampex company, which built North America's first commercial reel-to-reel tape recorder. Became the first to pre-record his radio shows and master his commercial recordings onto magnetic tape.
He gave one of the first Ampex Model 200 recorders to his friend, musician Les Paul, and Paul invented multitrack recording method. Along with Frank Sinatra, Crosby was one of the principal backers behind the famous United Western Recorders studio complex in Los Angeles.





Judy Garland received a Juvenile Academy Award, won a Golden Globe Award, as well as Grammy Awards and a Special Tony Award and at 39, was the youngest recipient of the Cecil B. DeMille Award for lifetime achievement in the motion picture industry.
In 1997, Garland was posthumously awarded a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. Several of her recordings have been inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.
In 1999, the American Film Institute placed her among the ten greatest female stars in the history of American cinema. America's sweetheart is remembered for teaming with Mickey Rooney in numerous 1940's movies, The Wizard of Oz and her great TV shows of the '60's. Se was never comfortable with her appearance and hid insecurities behind pills and alcohol til her last curtain call - an overdose.


Tim McGraw, American singer (both parents have Irish ancestry)
Eleven consecutive albums debut at Number One on the Billboard albums charts.
Over 40 million in album sales.
Twenty-one singles hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot Country 100 chart.
Three singles became the No. 1 country song of the year ("It's Your Love", "Just To See You Smile", and "Live Like You Were Dying"), 3 Grammys, 14 Academy of Country Music awards, 11 Country Music Association (CMA) awards, 10 American Music Awards, and 3 People's Choice Awards. His Soul2Soul II Tour with Faith Hill is the highest grossing tour in country music history, and one of the top five among all genres of music.

Frankie Valli, (Francis Stephen Castelluccio), lead singer of The Four Seasons, one of the biggest music acts of the 1960s and carried on to the ‘70’s Disco period til today.

Valli scored 29 Top 40 hits with The 4 Seasons, one Top 40 hit under The 4 Seasons' alias 'The Wonder Who?', and nine Top 40 hits as a solo artist. As a member of group
Valli's number one hits included "Sherry", "Big Girls Don't Cry", "Walk Like a Man", "Rag Doll" and "December 1963 (Oh, What A Night)".
As a solo artist, Valli’s number one hits with the songs "My Eyes Adored You" and "Grease". "Can't Take My Eyes Off You" reached number two in 1967.
"You're Ready Now," a Valli solo recording from 1966, became a surprise hit in Great Britain as part of the Northern soul scene and hit number eleven on the British pop charts in December 1970.
Valli is a supporter of heritage-related causes, particularly the National Italian American Foundation (NIAF). In 2006, he received the NIAF Lifetime Achievement Award at the Foundation's Anniversary Gala. In 2008, NIAF presented a scholarship in his name to an Italian American music student during the Foundation's East Coast Gala.

Perry Como - recorded many albums of songs exclusively for the RCA Victor label between 1952 and 1987, and is credited with numerous gold records. Como had so many recordings achieve gold-record status that he refused to have many of them certified.

Between 1944 and 1958, Perry Como had 48 hits on Billboard's charts
Fourteen songs treached #1 on at least one of the three Billboard charts (sales, disc-jockeys, jukeboxes): "Till The End Of Time" (1945); "Prisoner of Love" (1946); "Surrender" (1946); "Chi-Baba, Chi-Baba" (1947); "A - You're Adorable" (1949); "Some Enchanted Evening" (1949); "Hoop-De-Doo" (1950); "If" (1951); "Don't Let The Stars Get In Your Eyes" (1952); "No Other Love" (1953); "Wanted" (1954); "Hot Diggity (Dog Ziggity Boom)" (1956); "Round And Round" (1957); and "Catch a Falling Star" (1957).

His famous recording of “Ave Maria” was produced in a church. Perry wanted it to be truly authentic religious experience for his listeners and asked the parish priest be present during recording to insure every word of the song was a true prayer. During concert tours he was frequently asked to sing it, but out of respect to the virgin Mary would always say “this is not the time nor the place”.

Dean Martin (Dino Paul Crocetti,) singer, film actor, television star and comedian. Martin's hit singles included "Memories Are Made of This", "That's Amore", "Everybody Loves Somebody", "Mambo Italiano", "Sway", "Volare" and smash hit "Ain't That a Kick in the Head?".
Nicknamed the "King of Cool",he was one of the members of the "Rat Pack" and a major star in four areas of show business: concert stage/night clubs, recordings, motion pictures, and television.
Dean didn’t think motion pictures were his best format. He loved entertaining a live audience both in Vegas and on TV and fostered a great and sometimes skeptical reputation of making the song sound better with the help of a drink.
Audiences agreed with his style, the look of an angel, with a touch of the devil and a scotch.



Pat Benatar (Patricia Mae Andrzejewski ) singer and four time Grammy winner. During the 1980s, Benatar had two RIAA-certified Multi-Platinum albums, five RIAA-certified Platinum albums, three RIAA-certified Gold albums and 19 Top 40 singles, including "Love Is A Battlefield", "Hit Me With Your Best Shot", and "We Belong". Benatar was one of the most heavily played artists in the early days of MTV.

Peter Paul Cetera, singer, songwriter, bassist, producer of "Chicago”

After leaving the group, his first single, "Glory of Love" (the theme to the movie The Karate Kid, Part II), was a US No. 1 hit in 1986. It went on to win an ASCAP Award for Most Performed Songs from Motion Pictures.

Producing another No. 1 hit single, "The Next Time I Fall," a duet with Amy Grant, which was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Pop Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group. In fact, Solitude/Solitaire outsold Chicago 18 (#35), the first Chicago album without him.
"One Good Woman" and "Save Me," the original opening theme for the television show Baywatch.
In 1992- "Restless Heart", as well as two other successful singles: "Even a Fool Can See" and a duet with Chaka Khan, "Feels Like Heaven."


John Curulewski , nicknamed "JC," was one of the original members of Styx.
The band is best known for the hit songs "Lady" 1975, "Come Sail Away" 1977, "Babe" 1979, "The Best of Times" 1981, "Too Much Time On My Hands" 1981, and "Mr. Roboto" , 1983. Other hits by the band include "Show Me the Way" , 1990, "Don't Let It End", 1983 and "Renegade", 1978. The band has four consecutive albums certified multi-platinum by the RIAA.



Julius Frank Anthony Kuczynski , known professionally as Pee Wee King, was an American country music songwriter and recording artist best known for co-writing "The Tennessee Waltz".
King's other songs included "Slow Poke" and "You Belong to Me". His songs introduced waltzes, polkas, and cowboy songs to country music.
King refused to change his band's sound at the Grand Ole Opry, over the years being the first to introduce drums, horns, the accordion, and electric instruments including the pedal steel guitar to country music. His band also introduced Nudie Cohn's customized 'rhinestone cowboy' outfits to the Opry which later became popular with Nashville and country musicians, including Elvis Presley.
He was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1970 and the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1974.


Eugene Bertram Krupa , the youngest of nine children in the family of Bartlomiej Krupa and Anna (née Oslowski).
Krupa.was an influential American jazz and big band drummer and composer, known for his highly energetic and flamboyant style.
Many consider Krupa to be one of the most influential drummers of the 20th century.
One of his pupils was Kiss drummer Peter Criss
The 1937 recording of Louis Prima's "Sing, Sing, Sing (With a Swing)" by Benny Goodman and His Orchestra featuring Gene Krupa on drums was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.
In 1978, Gene Krupa became the first drummer inducted into the Modern Drummer Hall of Fame.



Wladziu Valentino Liberace , better known by only his last name Liberace , was a famous entertainer and pianist. During the 1950s–1970s he was the highest-paid entertainer in the world.
His New York City performance at Madison Square Garden in 1954, earned him a record $138,000 for one performance.
By 1955, he was making $50,000 per week at the Riviera Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas and had over 200 official fan clubs with a quarter of a million member fans. An unheard of $1,000,000 per year from public appearances, and millions from television during his early career.


Raymond Daniel Manzarek, Jr., better known as Ray Manzarek,
musician, singer, producer, film director, writer, co-founder and keyboardist of The Doors from 1965 to 1973, and The Doors of the 21st Century (renamed Manzarek-Krieger) since 2001. He is the oldest former member of the Doors.

Although The Doors' active career ended in 1973, their popularity has persisted. According to the RIAA, they have sold over 32.5 million albums in the US alone. The band has sold 90 million albums worldwide.


Bobby Vinton
is an American pop music singer of Polish origin.
Billboard Magazine called Bobby Vinton "the all-time most successful love singer of the 'Rock-Era'". From 1962 through 1972, Vinton had more Billboard #1 hits than any other male vocalist, including Elvis Presley and Frank Sinatra.

Vinton found his first hit single literally sitting in a reject pile. The song was titled "Roses Are Red (My Love)."
His most famous song is 1963's "Blue Velvet", followed by “There I’ve Said it Again”, “Mr. Lonely”, “L-O-N-E-L-Y Lonely Nights”, “Please Love Me Forever”, “I Love How You Love Me”.
The "Polish Prince" continued to hit the Top 40, notably with "Ev'ry Day of My Life", and “Sealed With a Kiss”
Vinton spent $50,000 of his own money on a self-written song sung partially in Polish: "My Melody of Love". After Vinton was turned down by seven major labels, ABC Records bought Vinton's idea, resulting in a multi-million selling single that hit #3 on the Hot 100, #2 on the Cashbox Top 100 chart, and #1 on the AC chart in 1974.

Soundtracks of your Mind

A sampling of some of the top 100 Rock-n-Roll songs of all times. Do you count these among the "soundtracks of your mind" to quote our OGR Disc Jockies?


Money
Pink Floyd Its considered a hit if your record was on the chart for 15 weeks... Floyd's lasted 15 years!!



Life in the Fast Lane
Eagles brought fame to the Hard Rock Park, Myrtle Beach, SC in 2008 - this song had a roller coaster named after it.

Foreplay / Long Time Boston Who needs air guitar? Wanna turn your desk into an air Hammond Organ just turn up the speakers and GO!!!!




Brown Sugar
The Rolling Stones If your young grandchildren ask, tell 'em its a Martha Stewart song about baking sweet treats.


Down on the Corner
Creedence Clearwater Revival Everything there to put a smile on your face including a cow bell and catchy sing-along vocals.


Brown Eyed Girl
Van Morrison --- Van Morrison once told Time Magazine he's written 300 songs better than this one. I think NOT!!


Pinball Wizard
The Who A rock opera about a deaf, dumb and blind kid who can play pinball?




American Woman
Yep - believe it or not...The Guess Who really spend the first minute of the song spelling out the title.


Beast of Burden
The Rolling Stones Mick Jagger' self-imposed penance identifying himself as the ultimate jackass.


Nights in White Satin
The Moody Blues prove their diversity with rock and roll. It's a haunting classic.


Sunshine of Your Love
Cream Reportedly one of Jimi Hendrix's favorite records, as he frequently included this song at his own concerts


Smoke on the Water
Deep Purple Perhaps one of the easiest guitar tunes to learn - sometimes "KISS" ("keep it simple stupid") is the best.


Don't Stop Believin'
Journey Another great example of a rock song making a big impact on a classic series, this case, the Sopranos' finale.

More Than a Feeling
Boston Toll booths across the country should blast this 24/7.

House of the Rising Sun
The Animals The earliest recording of this folk song is from 1933, but historians think it might date back to the 1600s.




Another One Bites the Dust
Queen Queen bassist John Deacon proves he can easily transition to the '70's Disco sound.





Kashmir
Led Zeppelin Repeatedly in interviews, Robert Plant saidthis is one of his favorite Zeppelin songs. No one can argue that!!


Free Bird
Lynyrd Skynyrd Five song jukebox domination plan: 'Free Bird,' 'Life's Been Good,' 'Kashmir,' 'Stairway,' and 'Stranglehold.'

Ciao for now!! Winnie

HEARTS TO YOU

Here’s a partial list of “Heart” Songs compliments of who-sang-that-song.com.
See how many you remember. If you are truly adventurous make a wager with your Valentine - no one is a loser on this one.

1954
Gang That Sang 'Heart Of My Heart', The Four Aces
Heart Of My Heart - Max Bygraves
Goodnight, Sweetheart, Goodnight - McGuire Sisters
Young-At-Heart - Frank Sinatra
Heartbeat - Ruby Murray
Heartless - Frankie Vaughan
Hearts Of Stone - Charms
Hearts Of Stone - Fontane Sisters
If I Give My Heart To You - Doris Day
If I Give My Heart To You - Denise Lor
If I Give My Heart To You - Joan Regan

1955
Forgive My Heart - Nat King Cole
Heart - Eddie Fisher
Two Hearts - Pat Boone

1956
Can You Find It In Your Heart - Tony Bennett
Heartbreak Hotel - Elvis Presley

1957
Heart - Max Bygraves
Your Wild Heart - Joy Layne
With All My Heart - Jodie Sands
With All My Heart - Petula Clark

1958 - Not one Heart song

1959
(All Of A Sudden) My Heart Sings - Paul Anka
Broken-Hearted Melody - Sarah Vaughan
Heart Of A Man, The - Frankie Vaughan
Heartaches By The Number - Guy Mitchell
Heartaches By The Number – Ray Price
Heartbeat – 1959/1960 Buddy Holly
Just Ask Your Heart - Frankie Avalon

1960
He Will Break Your Heart - Jerry Butler
Heart Of A Teenage Girl - Craig Douglas


1961
Breakin' In A Brand New Broken Heart - Neil Sedaka
Breakin' In A Brand New Broken Heart - Connie Francis
Every Beat Of My Heart - The Pips
Heartaches - The Marcels
Wooden Heart (Muss I Denn) - Joe Dowell
Wooden Heart - Elvis Presley
Heart And Soul - Cleftones
Three Hearts In A Tangle – Roy Drusky


1962
Don't Break The Heart That Loves You - Connie Francis
Dear Lonely Hearts - Nat King Cole
Your Cheatin' Heart - Ray Charles
When The Boy In Your Arms (Is The Boy In Your Heart) - Connie Francis
Unchain My Heart - Ray Charles


1963
Half Heaven-Half Heartache - Gene Pitney
Why Do Lovers Break Each Other's Hearts - Bob B. Soxx & the Blue Jeans

1964
Anyone Who Had a Heart - Cilla Black
Anyone Who Had a Heart - Dionne Warwick
The Door Is Still Open To My Heart -Dean Martin


1965
Can't You Hear My Heartbeat - Herman's Hermits
Don't Bring Me Your Heartaches - Paul and Barry Ryan
Evil Hearted You - The Yardbirds
Heart Full Of Soul – The Yardbirds
Heart Of Stone - The Rolling Stones
Your Cheating Heart - Elvis Presley
You're Breakin' My Heart - Keely Smith

1966
Breakin' Up Is Breakin' My Heart - Roy Orbison
Love's Just A Broken Heart - Cilla Black
What Becomes Of The Brokenhearted - Jimmy Ruffin

1967
Expressway To Your Heart - Soul Survivors


1968
Heartache - Roy Orbison
Me The Peaceful Heart - Lulu
Breakin' Down The Walls Of Heartache - Johnny Johnson and the Bandwagon

1969
Bless Your Heart – Isley Brothers
Heartbreaker - Led Zeppelin



1970
Achy Breaky Heart - Billy Ray Cyrus
Affair Of The Heart - Rick Springfield

1971
How Can You Mend A Broken Heart - Bee Gees

1972
Heartbroken Bopper – The Guess Who
Heart Of Gold - Neil Young

Be Still My Beating Heart - Sting
Beat Of My Heart, The – Foreigner


1973
Heart Of Stone - Kenny

1974
Doo Doo Doo Doo Doo (Heartbreaker) - The Rolling Stones

1975
Heartbeat - Showaddywaddy

1976
Don't Go Breaking My Heart - Elton John and Kiki Dee
Good Hearted Woman – Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson
Heart On My Sleeve - Gallagher and Lyle

1977
Look Into Your Heart – Aretha Franklin

1978
You're In My Heart - Rod Stewart

1979
Broken Hearted Me - Anne Murray
Heart Of Glass - Blondie



1980
Breakin' My Heart (Pretty Brown Eyes) - Mint Condition
Deep Inside My Heart – Randy Meisner
Hungry Heart - Bruce Springsteen

1981
Hands Up (Give Me Your Heart) - Ottawan
Heart Like A Wheel – Steve Miller Band

1982
Crying My Heart Out Over You – Ricky Skaggs
Harden My Heart - Quarterflash
Heart Attack - Olivia Newton-John
Heart Of Stone – Suzi Quatro
Heartlight - Neil Diamond
Someone Could Lose A Heart Tonight - Eddie Rabbitt

1983
Heart And Soul - Huey Lewis & the News
Heartache Avenue - Maisonettes
Heart To Heart - Kenny Loggins
Heartbreaker - Bee Gees
Heartbreaker - Dionne Warwick
I've Got A Rock 'N' Roll Heart - Eric Clapton

1984
Foolish Heart - Steve Perry
Heart Of Rock & Roll - Huey Lewis & the News
Young At Heart - Bluebells
When You Say You Love Somebody) In The Heart - Kool and the Gang

1985
Fortress Around Your Heart - Sting

1986
Captain Of Her Heart, The - Double
Each Time You Break My Heart - Nick Kamen
Every Beat Of My Heart - Rod Stewart
Heart Of Gold - 1986/1987 - Willie Nelson

1987
Change Of Heart - Cyndi Lauper
Cross My Broken Heart - The Jets
Half Past Forever (Till I’m Blue In The Heart)– T.G. Sheppard
Heartache - Pepsi and Shirlie
Open Your Heart - Madonna

1988
Everything Your Heart Desires -Daryl Hall & John Oates
Heart - Pet Shop Boys
Heart Turns To Stone - Foreigner

1989
Dial My Heart - Boys
Hand On Your Heart - Kylie Minogue
Hide Your Heart - Kiss


1990
Groove Is In The Heart - Deee-Lite
Hard Rock Bottom Of Your Heart – Randy Travis
Heart Of Stone - Cher
Heart Of Stone - Taylor Dayne
Heart-Shaped World (trouble) - Chris Isaak

1991
Every Heartbeat (belongs to you) - Amy Grant
Explain It To My Heart – Chicago

1992
Hold On My Heart – Genesis

1993
Can’t Break It To My Heart -Tracy Lawrence

1994
Don't Go Breaking My Heart - Elton John and Ru Paul

1995
Open Your Heart - M People

1996
If He Should Break Your Heart - Journey

1997
Here In My Heart – Chicago

1998
Heartbeat - Steps

1999
From The Heart - Another Level

2000
From The Bottom Of My Broken Heart - Britney Spears
Hammer To The Heart - The Tamperer featuring Maya
Heart Of Asia - Watergate

Happy Valentine's Day!
Winnie

This Month's Musical History Oldies

1948: The Ted Mack Original Amateur Hour debuts on the Dumont network, a spinoff of Major Bowes' popular radio series. Teresa Brewer and Pat Boone, among others, are discovered via the program.


1965:
Paul Simon drops out of law school to pursue music full-time.


1968: At a White House luncheon to discuss the rise in urban crime, Eartha Kitt gets into a notorious spat with First Lady Claudia Taylor "Lady Bird" Johnson, declaring, "Vietnam is the main reason we are having trouble with the youth of America. It is a war without explanation or reason." Although accounts of the entire argument differ, Kitt is subsequently blackballed in America.

1973: The Rolling Stones
hold a benefit concert at the Los Angeles Forum for victims of the recent Nicaraguan earthquake, raising over $200,000 for the cause. (Lead singer Mick Jagger personally contributes an extra $150,000.)

1974: The sitcom
Happy Days starring Ron Howard and Henry Winkler premiers

1975: Mayor Richard Daley of Chicago officially declares today Bobby Vinton Day.

1977: President Jimmy Carter's Inaugural Concert takes place the night before the swearing-in, featuring performances by Linda Ronstadt and Aretha Franklin, among others. John Lennon and Paul Simon are among those spotted in the crowd.
And again in 2009 Aretha sang the National Anthem at President Obama's Inauguration.

1985: USA Today readers select Cleveland, OH, as their choice for the permanent Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

1990: Eric Clapton
kicks off an unprecedented eighteen-night concert stay at London’s Royal Albert Hall.

1996: Lisa Marie Presley files for divorce from Michael Jackson.