SEPTEMBER 22, 2008

Connie Haines, Beryl Davis, Johnny Grant, Jane Russell

2008 - Connie Haines, singer, motion picture actress, lead female vocalist with the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra, and a Capitol Records artist who, as a featured vocalist with Gordon Jenkins and his orchestra, was part of the first 9 singles released by Capitol Records (#106—"He Wears A Pair Of Silver Wings" with "I’m Always Chasing Rainbows" on the flip side) on July 1, 1942 and later would be part of a Capitol Records gospel trio with Beryl Davis and Jane Russell with whom she attended the opening night ceremonies for The Capitol Tower, has died of myasthenia gravis at age 87 in Clearwater Beach, Florida.

HAPPY BIRTHDAYS!
1924 - Ray Wetzel, trumpet player with the Capitol Records group Stan Kenton and His Orchestra, is born in Parkersburg, West Virginia
70 Years Ago Today In 1938 - Dean Reed, actor, songwriter, singer, and Capitol Records artist, is born Dean Cyril Reed in Denver, Colorado

ON THIS DAY IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
50 Years Ago Today In 1958 - Nick Reynolds, member of the Capitol Records group The Kingston Trio, marries comedienne Joan Harriss in between performances at the hungry-i in San Francisco, California and will honeymoon at the Royal Hawaiian in Honolulu, Hawaii while the group performs there
1959 - Frank Sinatra and Shirley MacLaine record the track "Let's Do It" in stereo for the soundtrack to the film "Can Can" with arranger and conductor Nelson Riddle. Capitol Records will release the track as part of the original soundtrack album for the film.
1967 - Capitol Records artist Mrs. Miller is the subject of an article in Life magazine with today's cover date
40 Years Ago Today In 1968 - The Beatles' Apple Records single "Hey Jude", distributed by Capitol Records in the United States, is #1 on Billboard's Hot 100 singles chart
1969 - Capitol Records releases The Band's self-titled album
1974 - Andy Kim's Capitol Records single single "Rock Me Gently", with "Rock Me Gently Part II" on the flip side, is #1 on Billboard's Hot 100 singles chart
1979 - The Knack's Capitol Records single "My Sharona" is #1 on Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart
1980 - Jimmy Bryant, songwriter, guitarist, and Capitol Records session and recording artist who worked most often with Capitol Records artist Speedy West, dies at age 55 of lung cancer in Moultrie, Georgia
1990 - Wilson Phillips' SBK Records (distributed by Capitol Records in the United States) single "Release Me" is #1 on Billboard's Hot 100 singles chart
1992 - Capitol Records releases Blind Melon's self-titled debut album
1992 - Capitol Records Nashville releases Garth Brooks' album "The Chase"
1996 - Dorothy Lamour (born Mary Leta Dorothy Slaton), motion picture actress, singer, and Capitol Records artist, dies at her home in North Hollywood, California at age 81 and is later interred in the Forest Lawn, Hollywood Hills Cemetery in Los Angeles, California
1997 - Capitol Records artist Hank Thomspon is inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall Of Fame along with Wayne Carson and Roger Cook

ON THIS DAY NOT QUITE IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1954 - Shari Belafonte, singer, motion picture and television actress, and daughter of one-time Capitol Records artist Harry Belafonte, is born in Hackensack, New Jersey
1964 - The musical "Fiddler On The Roof" opens at Imperial Theatre on Broadway starring Zero Mostel, whose previous show "A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum"'s cast album was released on Capitol Records. The cast also features Bert Convy, formerly a member of the Capitol Records group The Cheers and later better known as a game show host.
1964 - NBC-TV premieres "The Man From U.N.C.L.E" starring Robert Vaughn and future Capitol Records artist David McCallum
1972 - Sonny James' first single for Columbia Records after leaving Capitol Records, "When The Snow Is On The Roses" with "Love Is A Rainbow" on the flip side, is #1 on the U.S. Country singles charts
1980 - John Lennon and Yoko Ono become the first act to sign a distribution deal for their LENONO Music label with Geffen Records which will release their upcoming album "Double Fantasy"
1984 - John Waite's EMI America single "Missing You", with "For Your Love" on the flip side, is #1 on Billboard's Hot 100 singles chart
1989 - Irving Berlin (born Israel Isidore Baline), songwriter whose compositions have been covered by many of Capitol's artists which were the souce for the tribute album "Puttin' on the Ritz: Capitol Sings Irving Berlin" released on CD on August 17, 1992, dies at age 101 of a heart attack in New York City and is later interred the Woodlawn Cemetery, The Bronx, New York

ON THIS DAY NOT IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1960 - Joan Jett, guitarist, singer, member of the band The Runaways and solo artist, is born Joan Marie Larkin in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania