SEPTEMBER 29, 2008

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
1922 - Louise Dinning, singer and part of the Capitol Records group The Dinning Sisters (with her sisters Ginger and Jean), is born in Grant County, Oklahoma. Her brother, Mark Dinning, had his own hit with the single "Teen Angel" which was written by his sister Jean.
70 Years Ago Today In 1938 - Tommy Boyce, music producer, songwriter (most notably with partner Bobby Hart) and member of the Capitol Records band Dolenz, Jones, Boyce & Hart is born Sidney Thomas Boyce in Charlottesville, Virginia
60 Years Ago Today In 1948 - Mark Farner, guitarist and lead vocalist for the Capitol Records band Grand Funk Railroad is born in Flint, Michigan
40 Years Ago Today In 1968 - Brad Smith, bass and flute player for the Capitol Records band Blind Melon is born in West Point, Mississippi

ON THIS DAY IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1945 - Capitol Records artist Jimmy Wakely debuts on The Grand Ole Opry
60 Years Ago Today In 1948 - The Mel Powell Septet (Clyde Hurley on trumpet, Lou McGarity on trombone, Gus Bivona on clarinet, Don Lodice on tenor saxophone, Mel Powell on piano, Tiny Berman on bass, and Frank Carlson on drums) record the track "Muskrat Ramble" in Los Angles, California for Capitol Records as part of the soundtrack album for the Samuel Goldwyn film "A Song Is Born" which was sold to benefit the Damon Runyon Memorial Cancer Fund
1956 - Capitol Records artist Wanda Jackson records the track "Baby Loves Him" at The Capitol Tower Studios, Hollywood, California
1969 -Capitol Records releases Buck Owens' album "Tall Dark Stranger"
35 Years Ago Today In 1973 - Grand Funk's Capitol Records single "We're An American Band", with "Creepin'" on the flip side, is still #1 on Billboard's Hot 100 singles chart
1979 - The Knack's Capitol Records single "My Sharona", with "Let Me Out" on the flip side, is still #1 on Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart
5 Years Ago Today In 2003 - Wesley Tuttle, singer, yodeler (yodeled in Disney's "Snow White And The Seven Dwarfs"), actor, guitarist and the second country artist signed to Capitol Records (1944-1957), dies in Sylmar, California of heart failure at age 85
2006 - The Los Angeles Times reports that EMI is selling The Capitol Tower and adjoining buildings and property to an East Coast Developer for $50 million dollars (cheap!) and that Capitol Records and The Capitol Tower Studios will become tenants of the building "for many years". The article also stated that the south east parking lot will probably be developed into a multi purpose building with housing, offices and shops. So far no renderings of the new building or any idea on how much it will block the view of The Tower when driving by on Hollywood Boulevard or north on Vine Street.

ON THIS DAY NOT QUITE IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1956 - Future Capitol Records artist Rose Maddox joins The Grand Ole Opry
45 Years Ago Today In 1963 - "The Judy Garland Show" premieres on CBS-TV with former Capitol Records artist Mel Torme as musical advisor and arranger for the series. Capitol would eventually be one of the many companies to release live tracks from the show on various compilation albums.
1984 - Teddy Reig, a&r man and record producer for Roulette Records artists Count Basie, Jack Teagarden, Randy Weston, Thad Jones and Sara Vaughn, dies in Teaneck, New Jersey at age 65. Roulette's catalog is currently owned by Capitol Music Group's parent company, EMI Music Group.
1987 - Dan Seal's EMI America single "Three Time Loser", with "On The Front Line" on the flip side, is #1 on the U.S. Country singles chart. EMI America's catalog is currently owned by Capitol Music Group's parent company, EMI Music Group.
1987 - EMI America Records releases The Red Hot Chilli Peppers' album "The Uplift Mofo Party Plan".
1992 - EMI America Records releases The Red Hot Chilli Pepper's compliation album and video "What Hits!?".

ON THIS DAY NOT IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1907 - Gene Autry, actor, singer, and baseball team owner, is born Orvon Gene Autry in Tioga, Texas
1935 - Jerry Lee Lewis, pianist, singer and Sun Records recording artist, is born in Ferriday, Louisiana
1970 - Edward Everett Horton, singer, dancer, Vaudeville, Broadway, and motion picture actor, and cartoon voice artist, dies of cancer in Encino, California at age 84