Today in Rock n Roll History

1959: An airplane crash near Mason City, Iowa, kills Buddy Holly, J.P. “The Big Bopper” Richardson and Ritchie Valens.

1961: Bob Dylan makes his first recording, taping “San Francisco Bay Blues” in New York.

1966: Paul McCartney attends a performance of Stevie Wonder at Scotch of St. James’ Club in London and partakes in a backstage meeting with the 15-year-old genius.

1968: The Beatles started work on their new single ‘Lady Madonna’ at Abbey Road studios in London. Recording three piano and drum takes with overdub bass, fuzz guitars, drums, and vocals.

1969: John Lennon, Ringo Starr, and George Harrison hire Allen Klein as the Beatles’ business manager. Paul McCartney disagrees with the decision, leading to further divisions among the group.

1973: No. 1 Chart Toppers Pop Hit: “Crocodile Rock,” Elton John. The single is the singer’s first No. 1 song in the United States.

1978: On the 19th anniversary of Buddy Holly’s death, it’s revealed that his Texas birthplace is scheduled for demolition by the Lubbock Building Department. The landmark is saved when the entire building is purchased and moved out of town.

1979: Dan Aykroyd and John Belushi of the Blues Brothers went to No.1 on the US album chart with ‘Briefcase Full Of Blues’.

1979: Wolfman Jack Introduces Del Shannon, TheDrifters and Jimmy Clanton in a twenteith-anniversary show in memory of the 'Three Stars' at the Surf Ballroom in Clearance, Iowa.

1982: No. 1 Chart Toppers Pop Hit: “Centerfold,” The J. Geils Band. Band member Peter Wolf once said the group turned down an offer to perform at Woodstock because the musicians didn’t want to spend three days in the mud.

2003: Producer Phil Spector, noted for his work with the Beatles, Ike & Tina Turner, the Righteous Brothers, and the Ronettes, is arrested in connection with the shooting death of Lana Clarkson at his home in Alhambra, Calif.

2004: Sax player Cornelius Bumpus dies from a heart attack on a flight from New York to Los Angeles aged 58. The former Doobie Brothers and Moby Grape member also played with Steely Dan.

TODAY'S BIRTHDAYS
1935: Johnny “Guitar” Watson, a blues strummer who struck R&B gold with “A Real Mother for Ya” and “Superman Lover”
1940: Angelo D’Aleo vocalist for Dion and The Belmonts (1961 hit "Runaround Sue")
1943: Eric Haydock bass player for The Hollies
1947: Dave Davies guitarist for the Kinks
1948: Ozzy Osbourne (Black Sabbath)
1949: Arthur “Killer” Kane bass player with The New York Dolls