FEBRUARY 7, 2009

REST IN PEACE

Blossom Dearie (born Marguerite Blossom Dearie), singer, pianist and Capitol Records artist as part of the vocal group The Blue Reys, who sang with Alvino Rey and his orchestra, a solo artist in 1964, and on the soundtrack of "Multiplication Rock", has died of natural causes at age 82 at her home in Greenwich Village, New York.

Molly Bee (born Mollie Gene Beachboard), singer, radio and television personality, motion picture actress, and a Capitol Records artist best known for her 1952 hit "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus" and her duets with Tennessee Ernie Ford, has died of complications of a stroke at Tri-City Medical Center in Oceanside, California at age 69.

HAPPY BIRTHDAYS!
75 Years Ago Today In 1934 - "King" Curtis, tenor saxphonist, session musician, band leader, and Capitol Records artist, is born Curtis Ousley in Fort Worth, Texas
1962 - Garth Brooks, singer, songwriter, Liberty, Capitol Records Nashville, and Capitol Records artist, is born Troyal Garth Brooks in Tulsa, Oklahoma

ON THIS DAY IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1942 – Buddy DeSylva, Johnny Mercer and Glenn Wallichs lunch at Lucey's Restaurant at 5444 Melrose Avenue in Hollywood, California. It's there that Mercer and Wallichs ask DeSylva (at the time head of production for Paramount Pictures), if Paramount would put up the money to start a West Coast based label or allow them to sell the records in Paramount's. DeSylva says no, but that he would personally give them the start up money, and writes a check for $15,000. Thus Liberty Records is born. DeSylva would later paint a picture of the meeting. After registering the company with the state of California, they soon would find that they couldn't secure the rights to the name Liberty Records for nationwide use. Later, over dinner at Chasen's restaurant in Beverly Hills, California, Mercer's wife, Ginger, would suggest the name Capitol Records.
45 Years Ago Today In 1964 - The Beatles arrive on their first visit to the United States shortly after 1:00 p.m. EST, when Pan Am Yankee Clipper flight number 101 lands at New York City's John F. Kennedy International Airport. 3,000 fans greet them. After a press conference at the airport, The Beatles are taken to the Plaza Hotel. On the same day, Baskin-Robbins introduces a flavor of ice cream called "Beatle-Nut".
1966 - The Beach Boys' Capitol Records album "Summer Days" is certified Gold by the R.I.A.A.
1967 - Capitol Records releases Buck Owens' album "Roll Out The Red Carpet"
1970 - The Chairmen Of The Board's debut Invictus Records single "Give Me Just A Little More Time" with "Since the Days of Pigtails" on the flip side, enters the top 40 of Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart at #37 and will peak at #3 on March 21, 1970. Invictus, run by Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier, and Eddie Holland, was distributed by Capitol Records.
1976 - Dr. Hook's Capitol Records single "Only Sixteen", with "Let Me Be Your Lover" on the flip side, enters the top 40 of Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart
1985 - Matt Monro (born Terence Parsons), singer, EMI and Capitol Records artist, dies at age 52
2001 - Dale Evans (born Lucille Wood Smith but her name was changed to Frances Octavia Smith while she was still an infant), actress, singer, songwriter ("The Bible Tells Me So" and "Happy Trails To You"), widow of Capitol Records artist Roy Rogers (with whom she recorded as part of a duo on the label), and a solo Capitol Records artist, dies in California at age 88

ON THIS DAY NOT QUITE IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
60 Years Ago Today In 1949 - Alan Lancaster, bass player for the band Status Quo, whose 1977 album "Rockin' All Over The World" was distributed by Capitol Records Canada, is born
1963 - Vee-Jay Records releases The Beatles' first single in the United States, "Please Please Me" with "Ask Me Why" (credited to Beattles) on the flip side, after it was rejected by Capitol Records
10 Years Ago Today In 1999 - Bobby Troup, pianist, songwriter ("Route 66", "The Girl Can't Help It", "The Meaning of the Blues"), record producer, television actor, and second husband of Liberty Records artist Julie London, dies of a heart attack in Sherman Oaks, California at age 80

ON THIS DAY NOT IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1966 - The first issue of Crawdaddy! magazine is published by Paul Williams in New York City, New York