MARCH 31, 2009

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
1908 - "Red" Norvo, bandleader, xylophone and vibraphone player, session player and Capitol Records artist, is born Kenneth Norville in Beardstown, Illinois
75 Years Ago Today In 1934 - Shirley Jones, singer, motion picture and television actress and Capitol Records artist (soundtracks to the motion pictures "Oklahoma!", "Carousel", and "The Music Man") is born Shirley Mae Jones in Charleroi, Pennsylvania

ON THIS DAY IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1945 - Johnny Mercer and Jo Stafford's Capitol Records single "Candy", the flip side of Mercer's "I'm Gonna See My Baby", is still #1 on the U.S. Pop singles charts
1957 - Ferlin Husky's Capitol Records single "Gone", with "Missing Persons" on the flip side, is #1 on the U.S. Country singles chart
45 Years Ago Today In 1964 - The Beatles become the first musical act to hold the top 5 positions (March 31, 1964 - The Beatles hold the top five slots on Billboard's chart: ("Can't Buy Me Love" at #1, "Twist and Shout" at #2, "She Loves You" at #3, "I Want To Hold Your Hand" at #4, and "Please Please Me" at #5) on Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart
1968 - Skeets McDonald (born Enos William McDonald), singer, songwriter, guitarist, and Capitol Records artist, dies in California at age 52 after suffering a massive heart attack
1968 - Buck Owens' Capitol Records single "How Long Will My Baby Be Gone", with "Everybody Needs Somebody" on the flip side, is #1 on the U.S. Country singles charts
35 Years Ago Today In 1974 - Blue Swede's Capitol Records single "Hooked On A Feeling", with "Gotta Have Your Love" on the flip side, is #1 on Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart
1991 - Garth Brooks' Liberty Records (later renamed Capitol Records Nashville) single "Two Of A Kind Workin' On A Full House", with "Unanswered Prayers" on the flip side, is #1 on the U.S. Country singles charts

ON THIS DAY NOT QUITE IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1943 - "Oklahoma!" (originally titled "Away We Go") opens on Broadway at the St. James Theatre in New York City, New York with stars Alfred Drake, Joan Roberts and Howard DeSilva. Later made into a motion picture, Capitol Records will release it's soundtrack which will become the first album to be certified Gold by the R.I.A.A.
1962 - EMI withdraws all 78rpm records in their catalogue
1980 - EMI Records, Capitol Records parent company, reports a twelve months trading loss of £2,800,000
1995 - Selena (born Selena Quintanilla Perez), singer and EMI Latin artist, is shot by the president of her fan club and dies at age 24.

ON THIS DAY NOT IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
60 Years Ago Today In 1949 - To compete with Columbia's new 33rpm LP, RCA Victor debuts it 45rpm (78-33=45) system when it releases 76 albums (3 or 4 discs in a boxed set) and 104 singles on 7-inch large-hole 45-rpm records. The first 45 rpm disc,"Texarkana Baby" by Eddy Arnold, was issued by RCA in the US on March 31, 1949. It was made of green vinyl, as part of an early attempt to color-code singles according to the genre of music they featured. Others included red for classical music and yellow for children's songs. Capitol Records will be the first label to release its product in all three formats.

MARCH 30, 2009

HAPPY BIRTHDAYS!
1945 - Eric Clapton CBE, (aka Slowhand, aka God), guitarist, singer, songwriter, motion picture actor, and member of the Apple Records group Plastic Ono Band, is born Eric Patrick Clapp in The Green, Ripley, Surrey, England
1963 - M.C. Hammer (aka Hammer), singer, songwriter, motion picture actor, and Capitol Records artist, is born Stanley Kirk Burrell in Oakland, California

ON THIS DAY IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
65 Years Ago Today In 1944 - The Pied Piper's Capitol Records single "Mairzy Doats", with "A Journey To A Star" on the flip side, enters the top 40 of the U.S. Pop singles charts
1953 - Nat "King" Cole's Capitol Records single "Pretend", with orchestra conducted by Nelson Riddle and "Don't Let Your Eyes Go Shopping (For Your Heart)" by Nat King Cole and the Trio, on the flip side, is #4 on the U.S. Pop singles chart
1967 - The cover of The Beatles' Capitol Records album "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" album is staged and photographed at Chelsea Manor Studios in London
40 Years Ago Today In 1969 - Buck Owens' Capitol Records single "Who’s Gonna Mow Your Grass", with "There's Gonna Be Some Changes Made" on the flip side, is still #1 on the U.S. Country singles charts
35 Years Ago Today In 1974 - Grand Funk Railroad's Capitol Records single "The Loco-Motion", with "Destitute And Losin'" on the flip side, enters the top 40 of Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart
1977 - Glen Campbell's Capitol Records single "Southern Nights", with "William Tell Overture" on the flip side is still #1 on the U.S. Country singles chart
1985 - Power Station's Capitol Records single "Some Like It Hot", with "The Heat Is On" on the flip side, enters the top 40 of Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart
1997 - Trace Adkin's Capitol Records Nashville single "(This Ain't) No Thinkin' Thing" with "634-5789" on the flip side, is #1 on the U.S. Country singles chart

ON THIS DAY NOT QUITE IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1955 - The Best Music/Song Oscar went to Jule Styne (music) and Sammy Cahn (lyrics) for the title track to the motion picture "Three Coins in the Fountain" which was sung by Capitol Records artist Frank Sinatra and released as a single by Capitol Records
40 Years Ago Today In 1969 - Classics IV featuring Dennis Yost's Imperial Records single "Traces", with "Mary Mary Row Your Boat" on the flip side, is #2 on Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart
35 Years Ago Today In 1974 - Mike Oldfield's Virgin Records single "Tubular Bells", with a shorter version on the flip side, enters the top 40 of Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart. Virgin Records catalog is currently owned by EMI Music Group, Capitol Music Group's parent company.
1975 - Future Capitol Records artist Minnie Ripperton's Epic Records single "Lovin' You", with "Edge Of A Dream" on the flip side, is #1 on Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart. Capitol Records currently distributes Ripperton's complete catalog and the track has appeared on various Capitol Records compilation albums.
30 Years Ago Today In 1979 - Norah Jones, singer, songwriter, pianist, daughter of sitarist Ravi Shankar, and Blue Note Records artist, is born in New York City, New York
5 Years Ago Today In 2004 - Timi Yuro (born Rosemary Timotea Yuro), singer and Liberty Records artist, dies in Las Vegas of throat cancer at age 63

MARCH 29, 2009

HAPPY BIRTHDAYS!
1918 - Pearl Bailey, singer, Broadway, motion picture (co-starred with Capitol Records artist Nat "King" Cole in "St. Louis Blues") and television actress, and Capitol Records artist (in Capitol Records' first original Broadway cast album "St. Louis Woman", is born Pearl Mae Bailey in Newport News, Virginia
50 Years Ago Today In 1959 - Perry Farrell, singer, songwriter, member of the Capitol Records group Jane's Addiction is born Perry Bernstein in New York City, New York

ON THIS DAY IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
45 Years Ago Today In 1964 - The Beatles' Capitol Records single "Can't Buy Me Love", with "You Can't Do That" on the flip side, is #1 on Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart
1974 - Grand Funk Railroad's Capitol Records album "Shinin' On" is certified Gold by the R.I.A.A.
1990 - Bonnie Raitt's Capitol Records album "Nick Of Time" is #1 on Billboard's Top 200 Album chart
1993 - Liberty Records (which will later be renamed Capitol Records Nashville) releases Lacy J. Dalton's compilation album "The Best of Lacy J. Dalton"

ON THIS DAY NOT QUITE IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1943 - Eric Idle, screenwriter, playright, songwriter, televison and motion picture actor, and member of the Virgin Records America group Monty Python's Flying Circus, is born in South Shields, Tyne & Wear, England
1951 - The Academy Award for Best Music/Song is given to Ray Evans and Jay Livingston for "Mona Lisa", which is from the Paramount Pictures motion picture "Captain Carey, U.S.A." and was later recorded by Capitol Records artist Nat "King" Cole
10 Years Ago Today In 1999 - Joe Williams, singer and Roulette Records artist with Count Basie and His Orchestra, dies in Las Vegas, Nevada at age 80 after he walks out of the hospital where he is being treated for a respiratory ailment, walks nearly three miles on foot, and collapses on the street a few blocks from his home.

ON THIS DAY NOT IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1932 - Jack Benny appears on radio for the first time when he is a guest on Ed Sullivan's interview show

MARCH 28, 2009

HAPPY BIRTHDAYS!
1890 - Paul Whiteman, (aka "The King of Jazz") violinist, bandleader (who's members included future Capitol Records co-founder Johnny Mercer as a vocalist and future Capitol Records artists Bing Crosby [also as a vocalist] and Jack Teagarden on trombone), commissioned George Gershwin's "Rhapsody In Blue" and premiered it in 1924 with Gershwin on piano, motion picture actor, radio show host, music director for the ABC Radio Network, and Capitol Records artist whose first single for the label, "I Found A New Baby" with "The General Jumped At Dawn" on the flipside, was also Capitol Records' first released single, is born in Denver, Colorado
1930 - Bill Hughes, trombonist who worked in sessions with Capitol Records artists Frank Sinatra and Nat "King" Cole, as well as Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughn, Carmen McRae, Tony Bennett, Billy Eckstein, Sammy Davis, Jr., Lena Horne, Rosemary Clooney, is born in Dallas, Texas

ON THIS DAY IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1946 - Jo Stafford, with Nat "King" Cole on piano, records the tracks "Ridin' On The Gravy Train", "I'll Be With You In Apple Blossom Time" (which will be released as the flip side of Cole's Capitol Records single "This Is Always"), "Baby, Won't You Please Come Home?", and "Cindy" (which she co-wrote with Johnny Mercer and her future husband Paul Weston and will be released as a single by Capitol Records with "I've Never Forgotten", also with Cole on piano, on the flip side)
1948 - Capitol Records artist Nat "King" Cole marries future Capitol Records artist Maria Ellington, who will also be the mother of future Capitol Records artist Natalie Cole.
1950 - Dean Martin records the tracks "Choo'n Gum" and "I Don't Care If The Sun Don't Shine" which will be released together as a single by Capitol Records
1953 - Les Baxter and His Orchestra's Capitol Records single "April In Portugal" enters the top 40 of the U.S. Pop singles charts
45 Years Ago Today In 1964 - The Beatles' Capitol Records single "Can't Buy Me Love" enters the top 40 of Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart
35 Years Ago Today In 1974 - The Capitol Records group The Raspberries break up
2000 - Capitol Nashville releases John Berry's compilation album "Greatest Hits"

ON THIS DAY NOT QUITE IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1915 - Jay Livingston, pianist, Academy Award winning composer (with partner Ray B. Evans) of such songs as "Buttons and Bows", "Mona Lisa", "Silver Bells", "Silver Bells", "Tammy" and the theme song for the television show "Bonanza" and many others), motion picture actor, one-time brother-in-law of Capitol Records artist Betty Hutton, and brother of former Capitol Records Vice-President, President, and Chairman Of The Board Alan Livingston, is born in McDonald, Pennsylvania. If anyone knows Jay's middle name, please leave a comment.
1920 - Actors Douglas Fairbanks, Sr. and Mary Pickford, two of the four founders of United Artists Pictures (the others being Charlie Chaplin and director D.W. Griffith), get married. United Artists would later start a record label, United Artists Records, whose catalog is currently owned by EMI Music Group, Capitol Music Groups parent company.
1942 - Neil Kinnock, politician and vice president of the U.K. Gene Vincent Fan Club, is born in Tredegar, South Wales
1948 - John Evan, keyboard player with the Chrysalis Records group Jethro Tull, is born John Spencer Evans, in Blackpool, Lancashire, England
1958 - W.C. Handy (born William Christopher Handy), composer, guitarist, cornet player, a founder of Black Swan Records (the first black-owned record company), whose life was the basis of the motion picture "St. Louis Blues" which stars Capitol Records artist Nat "King" Cole as Handy, dies of acute bronchial pneumonia at age 84 before the movie is released later the same year, and is later buried in the Woodlawn Cemetery in Bronx, New York
1962 - Ged Grimes, percussionist, bassist, keyboard player and vocalist with the Virgin Records America group Meet Danny Wilson, is born Gerard Grimes. If anyone knows for sure where, please leave a comment.
45 Years Ago Today In 1964 - Jan & Dean's Liberty Records single "Dead Man's Curve", with "The New Girl In School" on the flip side, enters the top 40 Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart where it will peak at #7. Liberty Records catalog is currently owned by EMI Music Group, the parent company of Capitol Music Group.
1966 - Gary Lewis and The Playboys record the track "Green Grass" which will be released as a single by Liberty Records with "I Can Read Between The Lines" on the flip side
40 Years Ago Today In 1969 - Frank Loesser, composer, dies in New York City, New York at age 58

MARCH 27, 2009

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
1963 - Dave Koz, saxophonist, radio show host, and Capitol Records artist, is born David Kozlowski in the San Fernando Valley in California. If anyone knows for sure which city and/or what Dave's middle name is, please leave a comment.

ON THIS DAY IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1942 - George G. DeSylva, John Mercer, and Glenn E. Wallichs appear before Los Angeles county and California state Notary Public Leta Niccum to acknowledge that they have executed articles of incorporation for Liberty Records, Inc. which will be filed with the state of California on April 9, 1942. The three will apply for a Certificate of Amendment on May 27, 1942, before Ms. Niccum again to change the name of the corporation to Capitol Records, Inc., which will be filed with the state of California on June 1, 1942.
1947 - Tex Williams and His Western Caravan record the track "Smoke! Smoke! Smoke! (That Cigarette)" which will be released as a single by Capitol Records with "Roundup Polka" on the flip side
1948 - Peggy Lee's Capitol Records single "Manana", with "All Dressed Up With A Broken Heart" on the flip side is #1 on Billboard's singles charts
1950 - Johnny Mercer, with The Skylarks and Ben Pollack & his Pick-A-Rib Boys, records the tracks "At The Jazz Band Ball" and "She's Shimmyin' On The Beach Again" which will be released together as a single by Capitol Records
1966 - Buck Owens' Capitol Records single "Waitin' In Your Welfare Line", with "In The Palm Of Your Hand" on the flip side, is still #1 on the U.S. Country singles charts
1971 - Glen Campbell's Capitol Records single "Dream Baby", with "Honey Come Back" on the flip side, enters the U.S. Country singles charts
20 Years Ago Today In 1989 - Buck Owens and Ringo Starr record the track "Act Naturally" at Abbey Road Studios, London, England. The track will be released as a single by Capitol Records in August 1989 with Owens' track "Key's In The Mailbox" on the flip side.
2005 - Paul Hester, drummer with the group Split Enz and the Capitol Records group Crowded House, is found dead after an apparent suicide in a park in Melbourne, Australia at age 46
2007 - 8:00 PM until at least Midnight - Guitar night at Spazio's with John Pisano featured a "Tribute to Al Viola" by the guitar community with Chuck Berghofer on bass, Tim Pleasant on drums and John Pisano, with at least 20 other guitarists, including veteran Capitol Records session guitarist Bob Bain, many who were able to perform. The Sherman Oaks, California restaurant was packed with an audience consisting of Al's family and his many friends and fans. A video rememberance of Al featuring clips of him in the Page Cavanaugh Trio, with a trio lead by Bobby Troup, and later performances was shown and after, a group photo was taken. Then all the guitarists signed the back of a custom guitar now dubbed "The Guitar Night Guitar".

ON THIS DAY NOT QUITE IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
85 Years Ago Today In 1924 - Sarah Vaughn, pianist, singer and Roulette Records artist (1959-1963) is born Sarah Lois Vaughan in Newark, New Jersey. Roulette's catalog is currently owned by Capitol Music Group's parent company EMI Music Group and is being reissued by Blue Note Records and Mosaic Records.
1961 - Clark Datchler, vocalist with the Virgin Records America group Johnny Hates Jazz, is born in London, England. I converted their first album's art for U.S. release as well as the art for their single "Shattered Dreams" and various trade ads.
1970 - Mariah Carey, singer and one time Virgin Records America artist, is born in New York City, New York

ON THIS DAY NOT IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1952 - Sun Records begins operations
1958 - CBS Laboratories introduces "Stereophonic Recordings" which are playable either on ordinary monaural phonographs, or on "special" stereo equipment

MARCH 26, 2009

ON THIS DAY IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1956 - Judy Garland records the tracks "I'm Old Fashioned" and "Memories Of You" with arranger Nelson Riddle conducting the studio orchestra at Capitol Records' Melrose Avenue Studios in Hollywood, California for Garland's Capitol Records album "Judy". "I'm Old Fashioned" would not make it on to the initial release of the album in 1956, but it was eventually included as a bonus track on the 1989 CD version of the album.
50 Years Ago Today In 1959 - Frank Sinatra records the tracks "I Can't Get Started", "Where Do You Go?", "A Cottage For Sale", and "Just Friends" with arranger Gordon Jenkins conducting the orchestra at The Capitol Tower Studios in Hollywood, California for Sinatra's Capitol Records album "No One Cares"
1962 - Stan Kenton and His Orchestra (including Ray Starling, Gene Roland, Dwight Carver, and Carl Saunders on mellophonium and Alvino Ray on steel pedal guitar) begin 3 days of recording sessions (the other two days are March 29 and 30, 1962) with vocalist Tex Ritter for their Capitol Records album of Country and Western standards "Stan Kenton! Tex Ritter!"
1966 - Brian Wilson's Capitol Records single "Caroline, No", with "Summer Means New Love" on the flip side, enters Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart where it will peak at #32 on April 30, 1966

ON THIS DAY NOT QUITE IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1958 - Eddie Cochran records the track "Summertime Blues" which will be released by Liberty Records
1966 - Johnny River's Imperial Records single "Secret Agent Man", with "You Dig" on the flip side, enters the top 40 of Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart
1973 - Noel Coward, singer, songwriter, playwright, director, actor, filmmaker, novelist, and EMI Records artist, dies in Jamaica, West Indies at age 73
1978 - Crystal Gayle's United Artist Records single "Ready For The Times To Get Better", with "Beyond You" on the flip side, is #1 on the U.S. Country singles chart

ON THIS DAY NOT IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1886 - Al Jolson, singer, Broadway, motion picture and radio actor and host, is born Asa Yoelson in St. Petersburg, Russia

MARCH 25, 2009

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
1938 - Hoyt Axton, singer, songwriter, guitarist, motion picture and television actor, and Capitol Records artist, is born in Duncan, Oklahoma

ON THIS DAY IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
60 Years Agot Today In 1949 - Jo Stafford's Capitol Records single "A You're Adorable" enters the top 40 of the U.S. Pop singles charts
1963 - Capitol Records releases The Beach Boys' second album "Surfin' U.S.A."
45 Years Ago Today In 1964 - The Beach Boys' Capitol Records single "Fun Fun Fun" is #2 on Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart
1966 - Buck Owens and The Buckaroos play to a sold out Carnegie Hall audience in New York, City. Capitol Records tapes the show and later releases a live album of the event.
1972 - Capitol Records releases Merle Haggard's single "Grandma Harp" which will become his twelfth # 1 record.
1977 - Bob Seger and The Silver Bullet Band's Capitol Records album "Night Moves" is certified Platinum by the R.I.A.A.
2003 - Capitol Records releases Rosanne Cash's album "Rules of Travel"

ON THIS DAY NOT QUITE IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
75 Years Ago Today In 1934 - Johnny Burnette, singer, songwriter, guitarist, and Liberty Records artist, is born in Memphis, Tennessee
1958 - Liberty Records artist Eddie Cochran joins Tommy Facenda and Paul Peeks (Gene Vincent's backing singers) for The Capitol Session at The Capitol Tower in Hollywood, California

ON THIS DAY NOT IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1913 - The Palace Theatre opens its doors in New York City, New York with Ed Wynn the first entertainer on the vaudeville bill
70 Years Ago Today In 1939 - Billboard magazine publishes its first "Hillbilly Records" chart
60 Years Ago Today In 1949 - Jack Kapp, co-founder of Decca Records, dies at age 47 in New York City, New York

MARCH 24, 2009

ON THIS DAY IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1945 - The King Cole Trio's Capitol Records album "A Collection of Favorites" is the first #1 on Billboard's first album chart
1947 - Merle Travis' Capitol Records single "So Round, So Firm, So Fully Packed", with "Sweet Temptation" on the flip side, is #1 on the U.S. Country singles charts
1955 - Nat "King" Cole's Capitol Records single "Darling Je Vous Aime Beaucoup", with "The Sand And The Sea" on the flip side, is #4 on the U.S. Pops singles charts
1958 - Laurie London's Capitol Records single "He's Got The Whole World (In His Hands)", with "Handed Down" on the flip side, enters the top 40 of the U.S. Pop singles chart and will become the first single certified Gold by the R.I.A.A.
1973 - Capitol Records releases Pink Floyd's album "Dark Side Of The Moon"
30 Years Ago Today In 1979 - Anne Murray's Capitol Records single "I Just Fall In Love Again", with "Just To Feel This Love From You" on the flip side, hits #1 on the U.S. Country Singles chart
1980 - Capitol Records releases The Beatles' compilation album "Rarities"

ON THIS DAY NOT QUITE IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
60 Years Ago Today In 1949 - Jay Livingston and Ray Evans win the Academy Award for Best Music/Song for "Buttons and Bows" from the Paramount Pictures movie "The Paleface". Capitol Records has released two versions of the track as singles, one recorded by The Dinning Sisters with "San Antonio Rose" on the flip side and the other with vocals by Bob Hope and The Clark Sisters with "That's Not The Knot" on the flip side.

MARCH 23, 2009

ON THIS DAY IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
65 Years Ago Today In 1944 - Stan Kenton and His Orchestra's Capitol Records single "Do Nothin' Till You Hear From Me", with "Harlem Folk Dance" on the flip side, enters the top 40 of the U.S. Pop singles charts
1946 - Johnny Mercer's Capitol Records single "Personality", with "If I Knew Then" on the flip side, is #2 on the U.S. Pop singles chart
1951 - Les Paul and Mary Ford's Capitol Records single "How High The Moon", with "The Walkin' and Whistlin' Blues" on the flip side, enters the top 40 of the U.S. Pop singles charts
1956 - Les Baxter's "Poor People of Paris", with "Theme From Helen Of Troy" on the flip side, is still #1 on the U.S. Pop Singles charts
45 Years Ago Today In 1964 - Chet Baker signs with Capitol Records
1967 - Pete Johnson, pianist, bandleade, and member of the Capitol Records group The Capitol Jazzmen, dies in Buffalo, New York at age 62
1968 - The Beatles' Apple Records single "Lady Madonna", with "The Inner Light" on the flip side and distributed by Capitol Records in the United States, enters the top 40 of Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart
40 Years Ago Today In 1969 - Merle Haggard records the track "Jesus, Take A Hold" for Capitol Records
40 Years Ago Today In 1969 - Buck Owen's Capitol Records single "Who's Gonna Mow Your Grass", the flip side of "There's Gotta Be Some Changes Made" hits #1 on the U.S. Pop Singles chart
1970 - The Chairmen Of The Board's Invictus Records (a subsidiary of Capitol Records run by Holland and Dozier) single "Give Me Just a Little More Time", with "Since the Days of Pigtails (and Fairy Tales)" on the flip side, is #4 on Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart
35 Years Ago Today In 1974 - Ringo Starr's Apple Records single "Oh My My", distributed by Capitol Records in the United States and with "Step Lightly" on the flip side, enters the top 40 of Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart

MARCH 22, 2009

ON THIS DAY IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1965 - Capitol Records releases The Beatles' album "The Early Beatles"
40 Years Ago Today In 1969 - Sonny James' Capitol Records single "Only The Lonely", with "The Journey" on the flip side, is #1 on the U.S. Country singles chart
1971 - Capitol Records releases Tennessee Ernie Ford's single "Don't Let The Good Life Pass You By" with "Happy Songs Of Love" on the flip side
1974 - Sam Donahue, tenor saxophone, trumpet, and valve trombone player, arranger, bandleader (his own, the U.S. Navy's, Billy May's for the Ray Anthony organization, Tommy Dorsey's which became the Frank Sinatra, Jr. Show's), Capitol Records session musician and member of the Capitol Records group Stan Kenton and His Orchestra, dies at age 56 of complications of cancer in Reno, Nevada
1977 - The Steve Miller Band's Capitol Records single "Fly Like An Eagle", with "Lovin' Cup" on the flip side, is #2 on Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart
1977 - Glen Campbell's Capitol Records single "Southern Nights", with "William Tell Overture" on the flip side, is #1 on the U.S. Country singles chart
1986 - Heart's "These Dreams", with "Shell Shock" on the flip side, is still #1 (the band's first) on Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart

ON THIS DAY NOT QUITE IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1958 - Pete Wylie, singer, guitarist, harmonica player, remixer, record producer, with the groups Echo And The Bunnyman and Wah!, and a Virgin Records America solo artist, is born in Liverpool, England. I designed the cover for the U.S. release of his single "Sinful".
1962 - Perry Bags, vocalist, and drummer with the EMI America group Jason & the Scorchers, is born. If anyone knows where Perry was born, please leave a comment. I worked on designs for the band's EMI America single "Ball And Chain" and was at their video shoot for the single at the Palace Theater in Hollywood, California in 1986.
1963 - Parlophone Records releases The Beatles' first album "Please Please Me"
1978 - The Rutles' mockumentary "All You Need Is Cash", spoofing the career of The Beatles, produced by George Harrison (who also appears briefly as a reporter), and written by Eric Idle, airs for the first time in the United States
1981 - Blondie's Chrysalis Records single "Rapture", with "Walk Like Me" on the flip side, is #1 on Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart. Chrysalis' catalog is currently owned by Capitol Music Group's parent company, EMI Music Group.

MARCH 21, 2009

ON THIS DAY IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1958 - Sonny James signs with Capitol Records
1966 - Capitol Records releases The Beach Boys' single "Sloop John B" with "You're So Good To Me" on the lfip side
1970 - The Beatles' Apple Records album "Let It Be", distributed in the United States by Capitol Records, debuts at # 6 on Billboard Hot 100, the highest ranking ever for a new entry to that date
30 Years Ago Today In 1979 - Buck Owens records the track "Play Together Again Again" for Capitol Records
1987 - Robert Preston, Broadway and motion picture actor, and Capitol Records artist (original Broadway cast album for "The Music Man"), dies
1987 - The Beatles hold down the Top 4 on US CD chart, with "A Hard Day's Night" at #1, "Please Please Me" at #2, "Beatles For Sale" at #3, and "With The Beatles" at #4
15 Years Ago Today In 1993 - Capitol Records artist Anne Murray is inducted into the Canadian Music Hall Of Fame
15 Years Ago Today In 1994 - Spearhead signs with Capitol Records

ON THIS DAY NOT QUITE IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1961 - The Beatles play the Cavern Club in Liverpool, England for the first time thanks to a call from the mother of their drummer, Pete Best, to DJ Bob Wooler
45 Years Ago Today In 1964 - The Beatles' Tollie Records single "Twist And Shout", with "There's A Place" on the flip side, enters the top 40 of Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart
40 Years Ago Today In 1969 - John Lennon and Yoko Ono begin their "Bed-In" at the Amsterdam Hilton
1987 - Cutting Crew's Virgin Records America single "I Just Died In Your Arms" enters the top 40 of Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart, the first of the label's releases to do so

ON THIS DAY NOT IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
140 Years Ago Today In 1869 - Florenz Ziegfeld, Jr., Broadway theatrical producer, is born in Chicago, Illinois
1952 - Alan Freed presents the Moondog Coronation Ball at the Cleveland Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. It's the first the first rock `n' roll stage show and features R&B artists including The Dominoes, Tiny Grimes, Paul Williams, Charles Brown, The Moonglows, and Clyde McPhatter
1991 - Leo Fender (born Clarence Fender), designer of the solid body electric guitar and guitar manufacturer of the Telecaster and Stratacaster guitars, dies from complications from Parkinson's Disease in Fullerton, California at age 81

MARCH 20, 2009

HAPPY BIRTHDAYS!
1918 - Marion McPartland, piano, radio show host, wife of cornetist Jimmy McPartland, and a Capitol Records artist, is born Margaret Marian Turner in Slough, Berkshire, England
1922 - Carl Reiner, television and motion picture director, producer, actor, comedian, and Capitol Records artist (The "2000 Year Old Man" series of comedy albums) is born in The Bronx, New York City, New York
1937 - Jerry Reed, musician, songwriter, singer, television and motion picture actor, and Capitol Records artist is born Jerry Reed Hubbard in Atlanta, Georgia
1951 - Guy Perry (aka Adrian Peritore), guitarist and vocalist in the Capitol Records group The Motels, is born in California. If anyone knows for sure where, please leave a comment

ON THIS DAY IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1961 - Nat "King" Cole re-records "Unforgettable" in stereo at The Capitol Tower Studios in Hollywood, California. It's the tracks from this version that will be used to make the electronically created duet of the song with his daughter Natalie in 1991.
1961 - Faron Young's Capitol Records single "Hello Walls" enters the U.S. Country singles charts where it will peak at #1
40 Years Ago Today In 1969 - John Lennon marries Yoko Ono on the Rock of Gibraltar
1987 - Capitol Records releases Glen Campbell's compilation album "The Very Best of Glen Campbell"

ON THIS DAY NOT QUITE IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1906 - Ozzie Nelson, radio and television actor, bandleader, and father of Imperial and Capitol Records artist Rick Nelson, is born Oswald George Nelson in Jersey City, New Jersey
1952 - Capitol Records co-founder and lyricist Johnny Mercer and composer Hoagy Charmichael win the Academy Award for Best Music/Song for "In the Cool, Cool, Cool of the Evening" from the motion picture "Here Comes the Groom"

ON THIS DAY NOT IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1936 - "Your Hit Parade" debuts on network radio

MARCH 19, 2009

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
1946 - Paul Atkinson, original guitarist with the group The Zombies and Vice President A&R Catalog for Capitol Records until 2001, is born Paul Ashley Warren Atkinson in Cuffley, Hertfordshire, England. I met with Paul several times while doing work for Capitol. He would listen to your case if you really had a passion for a project and had done your research to back it up, but he had the unenviable job of having to justifying the cost of re-releasing material with predicted sales and having to say "no" when the numbers just didn't add up. I remember going to his 55th birthday party in the small 12th floor conference room in The Capitol Tower and how he played guitar for his department's track for the annual employee Christmas album.

ON THIS DAY IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1955 - Tennessee Ernie Ford's Capitol Records single "Ballad Of Davy Crockett (From Walt Disney's Davy Crockett)", with "Farewell (From Walt Disney's Davy Crockett)" on the flip side, enters the top 40 of the U.S. Pop singles charts
1966 - Buck Owens' Capitol Records single "Waitin' In Your Welfare Line" is #1 on the U.S. Country singles charts
1966 - The Beatles' Capitol Records single "Nowhere Man", with "What Goes On" on the flip side, is #4 on Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart
30 Years Ago Today In 1979 - The group America signs with Capitol Records
1996 - Capitol Records releases The Beatles' Apple Records compilation "Anthology 2" in the United States

ON THIS DAY NOT QUITE IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
115 Years Ago Today In 1894 or in 1903 - Joe Venuti, violinist, bandleader, who in 1937 after hearing 15 year old future Capitol Records artist Kay Starr on the radio made her the vocalist for his band for two years, is born Giuseppe Venuti in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. If anyone knows for sure which year he was born, please leave a comment.
1928 - Henry Ford Maddox, vocalist, mandolin and guitar player, with the group The Maddox Brothers & Rose which featured his sister, future Capitol Records artist Rose Maddox, is born in Boaz, Alabama
1966 - Gary Lewis & The Playboys' Liberty Records single "Sure Gonna Miss Her", with "I Don't Wanna Say Goodnight" on the flip side, enters the top 40 of the U.S. Pop singles chart
1983 - Thomas Dolby's Harvest Records single "She Blinded Me With Science", with "Flying North" on the flip side, enters the top 40 of Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart. Harvest Records is a subsidiary of Capitol Records.
1988 - Natalie Cole's Manhattan Records single "Pink Cadillac", with "I Wanna Be That Woman" on the flip side, enters the top 40 of Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart where it will peak at #5. Manhattan Records is a division of Capitol Records.

ON THIS DAY NOT IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1928 - Patrick McGoohan, stage, motion picture and television actor ("Danger Man" [aka "Secret Agent" in the United States], "The Three Lives of Thomasina", "The Scarecrow of Romney Marsh" "Braveheart", "Escape from Alcatraz", "The Silver Streak", "Ice Station Zebra", "I Am a Camera", and "The Prisoner" [which he also directed and wrote episodes]) is born in in Astoria, Queens, New York
1957 - Elvis Presley purchases his home, the Graceland mansion, in Memphis, Tennessee from Mrs. Ruth Brown-Moore

MARCH 18, 2009

HAPPY BIRTHDAYS!
1911 - Smiley Burnette, singer, motion picture actor and Capitol Records artist, is born Lester Alvin Burnette in Summum, Illinois
1950 - John Hartman, drummer with the Capitol Records group The Doobie Brothers, is born in Falls Church, Virginia

ON THIS DAY IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
60 Years Ago Today In 1949 - Margaret Whiting and Johnny Mercer (with Paul Weston and His Orchestra) record the track "Baby, It's Cold Outside" which will be released as a single by Capitol Records with "I Never Heard You Say" on the flip side
1956 - Les Baxter's Capitol Records single "The Poor People Of Paris", with "Theme from Helen of Troy" on the flip side, is #1 on the U.S. Pop singles charts
1961 - Jo Stafford records the track "Black Is The Color", using an arrangement by her husband Paul Weston who also conducts the studio orchestra, for her 1962 Capitol Records album "Jo Stafford Sings American Folk Songs"
1965 - Buck Owens' Capitol Records single "I've Got A Tiger By The Tail", with "Cryin' Time" on the flip side, is #1 on the U.S. Country singles charts
1967 - The Beatles' Capitol Records single "Penny Lane", with "Strawberry Fields Forever, hits #1 on Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart
1968 - Capitol Records releases The Beatles' Apple Records single "Lady Madonna", with "The Inner Light" on the flip side, in the United States
1968 - Capitol Records releases Steve Miller's debut single "Sitting In Circles" with "Roll With It" on the flip side
1971 - Buck Owens records the track "I'll Still Be Waiting For You" for Capitol Records

ON THIS DAY NOT QUITE IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
50 Years Ago Today In 1959 - Capitol Records parent company EMI announces that it has now stopped all production of 78 rpm discs in the U.K.
2001 - John Phillips, singer, songwriter, founding member of the group The Mamas & the Papas, father of motion picture and television actress Mackenzie Phillips and singer, television actress and founding member of the SKG Records group Wilson Phillips Chynna Phillips, dies of heart failure in Los Angeles, California at age 65

ON THIS DAY NOT IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1872 - Anna Held, actress, singer, one-time wife of Broadway producer Florence Ziegfeld, is born Helene Anna Held in Warsaw, Poland. The Institute of the American Musical in Los Angeles, California has a large collection of Held memorabilia, costumes and props, that was donated by her family.
1886 - Edward Everett Horton, motion picture actor and television cartoon voice actor, is born in Brooklyn, New York

MARCH 17, 2009

HAPPY BIRTHDAYS!
90 Years Ago Today In 1919 - Nat "King" Cole, pianist, singer, bandleader, motion picture actor, radio and television variety show host, father of Capitol Records artist Natalie Cole, husband of Capitol Records artist Maria Ellington Cole, and Capitol Records artist as part of The King Cole Trio and as a solo artist, is born (according to census data) Nathaniel Adams Coles in Montgomery, Alabama
1932 - Dick Curless, singer, songwriter, and Capitol Records artist, is born Richard William Curless in Fort Fairfield, Maine

ON THIS DAY IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1970 - John Ono Lennon's Apple Records album "Plastic Ono Band - Live Peace In Toronto", distributed by Capitol Records in the United States, is certified Gold by the R.I.A.A., becoming Lennon's first solo album to do so
1987 - Anne Murray's Capitol Records album "Country" is certified Gold by the R.I.A.A.

ON THIS DAY NOT QUITE IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1962 - Rick Nelson's Imperial Records single "Young World", with "Summertime" on the flip side, enters the top 40 of Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart
1967 - Billy Corgan, singer, guitarist, songwriter, son of guitarist William Patrick Corgan, Sr., and member of the Virgin Records America group Smashing Pumpkins, is born William Patrick Corgan, Jr. in Elk Grove, Illinois
30 Years Ago Today In 1979 - Blondie's Chrysalis Records single "Heart Of Glass" with "11:59" on the flip side, enters the top 40 of Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart

ON THIS DAY NOT IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1895 - Shemp Howard, Vaudeville, Broadway and motion picture actor and original member of Ted Healy and His Stooges, who after a fairly successful solo career will rejoin the group, now known as The Three Stooges, after his successor and brother Jerome Horowitz (aka "Curly" Howard) suffers a stroke, is born Samuel Horwitz in Brooklyn, New York
1916 - Ray Ellington (aka Ray Brown), singer, drummer, songwriter, and radio actor as part of the BBC Radio show "The Goon Show", is born in Kennington, London, England
1936 - Future Capitol Records artist Joe DiMaggio plays his first game with the New York Yankees

MARCH 16, 2009

HAPPY BIRTHDAYS!
1926 - Jerry Lewis, singer, comedian, radio, motion picture and televison actor, writer, director and producer, fundraiser and telethon host, son of vaudeville performer Danny Lewis, and father of Liberty Records artist Gary Lewis, and a Capitol Records artist as part of the Martin and Lewis duo and as a solo artist, is born Joseph Levitch
55 Years Ago Today In 1954 - Nancy Wilson, guitarist, songwriter and singer with the Capitol Records group Heart, is born Nancy Lamoureux Wilson in San Francisco, California

ON THIS DAY IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1965 - Capitol Records release Tommy Collins' last recording for the label "All The Monkeys Ain't In The Zoo" as a single. If anyone knows the flipside of this record, please leave a comment.
1975 - T-Bone Walker (born Aaron Thibeaux Walker), guitarist and Columbia, Capitol, Imperial, and Black & White Records artist, dies of pneumonia at age 64 in Los Angeles, California and is later interred in the Inglewood Park Cemetery in Inglewood, California

ON THIS DAY NOT QUITE IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1892 - James C. Petrillo, head of the American Federation of Musicians (AFM) who forced two recording bans in the first 4 years of Capitol Records history in order to win better pay and benefits for his union's members and to secure their jobs in the marketplace, is born in Chicago, Illinois
1957 - Fats Domino's Imperial Records single "I'm Walkin'", with "I'm In The Mood For Love" on the flip side, hits #1 on the U.S. R&B charts where it will stay for 21 straight weeks
50 Years Ago Today In 1959 - Rick Nelson's Imperial Records single "It's Late", with "Never Be Anyone Else But You" on the flip side, enters the top 40 of the U.S. Pop singles charts
1991 - Roxette's EMI America Records single "Joyride", with "Come Back (Before You Leave)" on the flip side, enters the top 40 of Billboard's Hot 100 Singles charts where it will peak at #1 for one week on May 11, 1991

MARCH 15, 2009

HAPPY BIRTHDAYS!
95 Years Ago Today In 1916 - Harry James, trumpet player, singer, bandleader, motion picture actor, one-time husband of actress Betty Grable, and a Capitol Records artist, is born Harry Haag James in Albany, Georgia
1941 - Mike Love, singer, songwriter, and founding member of the Capitol Records group The Beach Boys, is born Michael Edward Love in Baldwin Hills, California
1962 - Bret Michaels, lead vocalist of the Capitol Records group Poison, is born Bret Michael Sychak in Butler, Pennsylvania

ON THIS DAY IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1945 - The King Cole Trio's first Capitol Records album, "The King Cole Trio", is the first #1 album on Billboard Magazine's new top selling record albums chart
1952 - Kay Starr's Capitol Records single "Wheel of Fortune" is still #1 on the U.S. Pop singles charts
55 Years Ago Today In 1954 - Nat "King" Cole's Capitol Records single "Answer Me, My Love" is #4 on the U.S. Pop singles charts
45 Years Ago Today In 1964 - The Beatles' Capitol Records single "She Loves You", with "I'll Get You" on the flip side is #1 on Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart
40 Years Ago Today In 1969 - Glen Campbell's Capitol Records single "Galveston", with "How Come Every Time I Itch I End Up Scratching You" on the flip side, enters the top 40 of Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart
1970 - Sonny James' Capitol Records single "It’s Just a Matter of Time", with "This World Of Ours" on the flip side, is #1 on the U.S. Country singles chart
1980 - Dr. Hook's Capitol Records single "Sexy Eyes", with "Help Me Mama" on the flip side, enters the top 40 of Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart
1986 - Heart's Capitol Records single "These Dreams", with "Shell Shock" on the flip side, is #2 on Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart
5 Years Ago Today In 2004 - Capitol Records artists Bob Seger and The Silver Bullet Band, as well as Apple, Capitol, Zapple, and Dark Horse Records artist George Harrison, are inducted into the Rock 'N' Roll Hall Of Fame at a ceremony at The Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York City, New York

ON THIS DAY NOT QUITE IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1907 - Jimmy McPartland, cornetist, trumpet player, actor, bandleader, and husband of pianist and Capitol Records artist Marian McPartland, is born in Chicago, Illinois
1932 - Arif Mardin, arranger, record producer for Atlantic, Manhattan and Blue Note Records, is born in Istanbul, Turkey
65 Years Today In 1944 - David Costell, original bass player with the Liberty Records group Gary Lewis & The Playboys, is born in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania
50 Years Ago Today In 1959 - The Broadway musical "No Strings" opens at the 54th Street Theatre in New York City, New York starring Richard Kiley and Diahann Carroll as well as the show's composer, Richard Rodgers, singing his own lyrics. Capitol Records will later release the original Broadway cast album.
50 Years Ago Today In 1959 - Lester Young (aka "Prez", born Willis Lester Young), saxophone and clarinet player, with the Count Basie, Fletcher Henderson, and Andy Kirk bands, gave Billie Holiday the nickname "Lady Day", and Aladdin, Savoy, Blue Note and Verve Records solo artist, dies in the early morning at age 49 from liver disease and malnutrition in New York City, New York after recently returning from a short tour in Paris, France

MARCH 14, 2009

HAPPY BIRTHDAYS!
1912 - Les Brown, bandleader and Capitol Records artist, is born Lester Raymond Brown in Reinerton, Pennsylvania
1922 - Les Baxter, singer, arranger, song and score writer, bandleader, member of Mel Torme's back up group The Mel-Tones, and Capitol Records artist, is born in Mexia, Texas

ON THIS DAY IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1946 - Stan Kenton and His Orchestra's Capitol Records single "Shoo-Fly Pie (And Apple Pan Dowdy)", with "I Been Down In Texas" on the flip side, enters the top 40 of the U.S. Pop singles charts
1947 - Andy Russell (with Paul Weston and His Orchestra)'s Capitol Records single "Anniversary Song", with "My Best To You" on the flip side, enters the top 40 of the U.S. Pop singles chart
1958 - Capitol Records releases Buck Owens' second single "Sweet Thing" with "I Only Know That I Love You" on the flip side
45 Years Ago Today In 1964 - Billboard reports that The Beatles' Capitol Records releases currently account for 60 per cent of record sales in the United States
40 Years Ago Today In 1969 - The Honeys sign with Capitol Records
1970 - Bobbie Gentry and Glen Campbell's Capitol Records single "All I have To Do Is Dream" with "Less Of Me" on the flip side, enters the U.S. Country singles charts
20 Years Ago Today In 1989 - Donny Osmond signs with Capitol Records. I met Donny a couple of years earlier at the listening party for Ziggy Marley and The Melody Makers' "Conscious Party" album at Virgin Records offices in Beverly Hills. He and I were the only two not drinking alcohol.
2000 - Tommy Collins, singer, songwriter, 1999 inductee into the Nashville Songwriters Hall Of Fame, and Capitol Records artist, dies in Ashland City, Tennessee

MARCH 13, 2009

REST IN PEACE
2009 - Alan Livingston, who as VP of Children's Records at Capitol Records created Bozo, Rusty, and Sparky and wrote the scripts for many of the releases, who as VP of A&R signed Frank Sinatra, who as head of programming at NBC greenlit Bonanza, and who as president of Capitol Records signed The Beach Boys, eventually signed The Beatles, as well as The Steve Miller Band and The Band, has died of age-related causes at his home in Beverly Hills, California at age 91. A private service for family members will be held.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
90 Years Ago Today In 1919 - Dave Cavanaugh (aka "Big Dave" Cavanaugh), tenor saxophonist, bass player, pianist, songwriter, arranger, conductor, session musician with Capitol Records artist Julia Lee and Her Boyfriends, Capitol Records A&R producer for artist such as Nat "King" Cole, Frank Sinatra, Dakota Stanton, and Nancy Wilson, and a Capitol Records band leader and solo artist, is born David D. Cavanaugh in Saint Paul, Minnesota. If anyone knows what Cavanaugh's middle name is, please leave a comment.

ON THIS DAY IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
65 Years Ago Today In 1944 - Ella Mae Morse (with Dick Walters and His Orchestra)'s Capitol Records single "No Love, No Nothin'", with "Shoo Shoo Baby" on the flip side, is #4 on the U.S. Pop singles charts
1948 - Peggy Lee's Capitol Records single "Manana", co-written with her husband Dave Barbour and with "All Dressed Up With A Broken Heart" on the flip side, hits #1 on the U.S. Pop singles charts
1965 - The Beatles' Capitol Records single "Eight Days a Week" with "I Don't Want To Spoil The Party" on the flip side, hits #1 on Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart, the first time one of their singles hits #1 in the U.S. but not in the U.K.
1967 - Capitol Records releases Buck Owens' single "Sam's Place" with "Don't Ever Tell Me Goodbye" on the flip side
1971 - Paul McCartney's Apple Records single "Another Day", with "Oh Woman, Oh Why" on the flip side and distributed by Capitol Records in the United States, enters the top 40 of Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart
1976 - The Sylvers' Capitol Recors single "Boogie Fever" with "Free Style" on the flip side, enters the top 40 of Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart
1976 - Merle Haggard's Capitol Records single "The Roots of My Raising", with "The Way It Was In '51" on the flip side, is still #1 on the U.S. Country singles charts
1977 - Glen Campbell's Capitol Records single "Southern Nights" hits #1 on the U.S. Country singles charts
1987 - Capitol Records artists Bob Seger and The Silver Bullet Band get their star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame

ON THIS DAY NOT QUITE IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
50 Years Ago Today In 1959 - Ronnie Rogers, guitarist with the Virgin Records America group T'Pau, is born in Nashville, Tennessee. I adapted their U.K. album art for the U.S. as well as designing packaging for their promotional singles as one of the first projects I did for Jeff Ayeroff at Virgin Records America. I also attended their first show at The Roxy in Los Angeles in 1987 with my friend Ron Gidseg and got to talk to them after the show back stage in the upstairs dressing room.
2006 - Chryalis Records band Blondie and EMI/Virgin Records band The Sex Pistols are inducted into the Rock 'N' Roll Hall Of Fame at a ceremony held at the Waldorf Astoria in New York City, New York. The Sex Pistols decide not to attend and let the world know why on their website.

MARCH 12, 2009

HAPPY BIRTHDAYS!
1912 - Paul Weston, arranger, first musical director at Capitol Records, radio, television and record orchestra leader, husband of Capitol Records artist Jo Stafford, founding member and first president of the National Academy Of Recording Arts And Sciences (N.A.R.A.S.), and a Capitol Records solo artist, is born in Springfield, Massachusettes
1921 - Gordon MacRae, Broadway and motion picture actor, singer, husband of Capitol Records artist Sheila MacRae and a Capitol Records solo artist and duet artist with Jo Stafford and Margaret Whiting, is born in East Orange, New Jersey
1946 - Liza Minelli, singer, Broadway and Motion Picture actress, daughter of M-G-M picture director Vincent Minellia and actress and Captiol Records artist Judy Garland, and a Capitol Records solo artist, is born Liza May Minnelli in Los Angeles, California
1948 - James Taylor, singer, songwriter, guitarist, and Apple Records artist whose self-titled debut album was distributed by Capitol Records in the United States, is born in Boston, Massachusetts
1957 - Steve Harris, bassist, songwriter and founder of the Capitol and EMI America Records group Iron Maiden, is born in Leytonstone, London, England

ON THIS DAY IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1962 - Tennessee Ernie Ford's Capitol Records album "Star Carol" is certified Gold by the R.I.A.A.
1967 - The Beatles' Capitol Records single "Penny Lane" with "Strawberry Fields Forever" on the flip side, is #1 on Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart
1967 - Merle Haggard's Capitol Records single "The Fugitive", with "Someone Told My Story" on the flip side, is #1 on the U.S. Country singles charts
40 Years Ago Today In 1969 - Parlophone, Capitol and Apple Records artist Paul McCartney marries Linda Eastman at the Marylebone Registry Office in London, England
1971 - Capitol Records releases John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band's Apple Records single "Power To The People", with Yoko Ono/Plastic Ono Band's "Touch Me" on the flip side, in the United States

ON THIS DAY NOT QUITE IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1955 - Charlie Parker (aka Yardbird and Bird), tenor saxophonist and Blue Note (1953) and Roulette Records (1954) artist, dies of a bleeding ulcer and pneumonia at the age of 34, after a lifetime of heroin and alcohol abuse, while watching Tommy Dorsey on television in the suite at the Stanhope Hotel of his long time friend, Baroness Nina de Koenigswater. The coroner mistakenly estimated Parker's age to be between 50 and 60. Parker is one of the artists featured on the mural on the side of The Capitol Tower in Hollywood, California
35 Years Ago Today In 1974 - Harry Nilsson and John Lennon are ejected from Doug Weston's Troubador Club in Los Angeles for heckling Tom Smothers' comedy act

MARCH 11, 2009

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
1981 - LeToya, two-time Grammy Award-winning singer, songwriter, original member of the group Destiny's Child, and a solo Capitol Records artist, is born LeToya Nicole Luckettin Houston, Texas

ON THIS DAY IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1943 - Freddie Slack and His Orchestra's Capitol Records single "That Old Black Magic", with "Hit The Road To Dreamland" on the flip side, enters the top 40 of the U.S. Pop singles charts
60 Years Ago Today In 1949 - Mel Torme's Capitol Records single "Careless Hands", with "She's A Home Girl" on the flip side, enters the top 40 of the U.S. Pop singles charts
1950 - Nat "King" Cole records the track "Mona Lisa" at Capitol Records Melrose studios in Hollywood, California
1951 - Tennessee Ernie Ford's Capitol Records single "Shotgun Boogie", with "I Ain't Gonna Let It Happen No More" on the flip side, returns to the #1 spot on the U.S. Country singles charts
1967 - The Beatles "Strawberry Fields Forever", with "Paperback Writer" on the flip side, enters the top 40 of Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart
1970 - The Beatles' Apple Records single "Let It Be", with "You Know My Name (Now Look Up My Number)" (a typo as it should have read [Now Look Up The Number] which will not be corrected in the U.S. until the "Past Masters" compilation album is released in 1988) is released by Capitol Records in the United States
1971 - Merle Haggard's Capitol Records single "The Fightin' Side Of Me", with "Every Fool Has a Rainbow" on the flip side, is certified Gold by the R.I.A.A.
1995 - Capitol Records artist Liz Phair marrys film editor Jim Staskauskas
5 Years Ago Today In 2004 - Edmund Sylvers, lead singer of Capitol Records group The Sylvers, dies of lung cancer at age 47

ON THIS DAY NOT QUITE IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1950 - Bobby McFerrin, singer, songwriter and EMI Manhattan Records artist, is born Robert McFerrin Jr. in New York City, New York

MARCH 10, 2009

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
1920 - Jethro, singer, mandolin and banjo player, with the Capitol Records duo Homer & Jethro, is born Kenneth C. Burns in Conasauga, Tennessee

ON THIS DAY IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
65 Years Ago Today In 1944 - Martha Tilton records the track "I'll Walk Alone", her first session after the end of the AFM's second recording ban, which will be released as a single with "Texas Polka" on the flip side by Capitol Records
1945 - Johnny Mercer (with June Hutton, The Pied Pipers and Paul Weston and His Orchestra)'s Capitol Records single "Accentuate The Positive", with "There's A Fellow Waiting In P'Keepsie" is #3 on Billboard's Best Selling Retail Records chart and Mercer (with Jo Stafford, The Pied Pipers, and Paul Weston and His Orchestra)'s single "Candy", with "I'm Gonna See My Baby" on the flip side, is #6
1950 - Margaret Whiting's Capitol Records single "I Said My Pajamas (and Put on My Pray'rs)", with "Be Mine" on the flip side, peaks at #24 for it's only week on Billboard's Best Selling Retail Records chart
1957 - Sonny James' Capitol Records single "Young Love", with " You're the Reason I'm in Love" on the flip si is #2 on the U.S. Pop singles charts. Ironically, Tab Hunter's cover version of the song, with "Red Sails In The Sunset" on the flip side and distributed by Dot Records is #1.
1958 - Cannonball Adderley signs with Capitol Records
1965 - Buck Owens' Capitol Records single "I've Got A Tiger By The Tail", with "Cryin' Time" on the flip side, is #1 on the U.S. Country singles charts
1968 - Sonny James' Capitol Records single "A World Of Our Own", with "An Old Sweetheart of Mine" on the flip side, is #1 on the U.S. Country singles charts
1975 - Capitol Records releases John Lennon's Apple Records single "Stand By Me", with "Move Over Ms. L." on the flip side, in the United States
1996 - Garth Brooks' Capitol Records Nashville single "Beaches Of Cheyenne" is #1 on the U.S. Country singles chart
1997 - Capitol Records artist Paul McCartney is knighted by Queen Elizabeth

ON THIS DAY NOT QUITE IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1940 - Dean Torrence, musician, singer, songwriter and member of the Liberty Records duo Jan and Dean, is born in Los Angeles, California
1962 - Gary Clark, singer, songwriter, and with the Virgin Records America group Danny Wilson, is born in Scotland. I went bowling with the whole band (who had never been bowling before and after a few beers were forgetting to let go of the ball) when they came to Los Angeles to open for Simply Red at the Wiltern Theatre and revised the album and single artwork for their first two U.S. albums and singles.
1963 - Neneh Cherry, singer, musician, songwriter, stepdaughter of trumpeter Don Cherry, with the groups singer Rip Rig + Panic and The Slits, and a solo Virgin Records America artist, is born Neneh Mariann Karlssson in Stockholm, Sweden. I revised the album and single artwork for her first album for U.S. release and met her and her son Tyson outside Virgin Records first office in Beverly Hills, California
45 Years Ago Today In 1964 - Patrick Kane, violinist and vocalist with the Circa Records (a division of Virgin Records) group Hue & Cry, is born. I revised the artwork on their first album for U.S. release by Virgin Records America
2008 - The Ventures (Bob Bogle, Nokie Edwards, Gerry McGee, Mel Taylor, and Don Wilson) are inducted into the Rock 'N' Roll Hall Of Fame by John Fogerty at a banquet at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York City, New York. The Ventures recorded for Dolton Records, a subsidiary of Liberty Records whose catalog is currently owned and distributed by EMI Music Group, Capitol Music Group's parent company.

MARCH 9, 2009

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
1932 - Keely Smith, singer, Capitol Records artist as part of a duo with her then husband Louis Prima and a Capitol Records solo artist, is born Dorothy Jacqueline Keely in Norfolk, Virginia
1948 - Jimmy Fadden, harmonica player, guitarist and vocalist with the Capitol Records group The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, is born in Long Beach, California

ON THIS DAY IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1945 - Coleman Hawkins signs with Capitol Records
1946 - Johnny Mercer's Capitol Records single "Personality", with "If I Knew Then" on the flip side, hits #1 on the U.S. Pop singles chart
60 Years Ago Today In 1949 - Jo Stafford, with Paul Weston and His Orchestra, records the tracks "Some Enchanted Evening" and "I'm Gonna Wash That Man Right Outa My Hair" which will be released together as a single by Capitol Records
1952 - Kay Starr's Capitol Records single "Wheel Of Fortune", with "Angry" on the flip side, is #1 on the U.S. Pop singles charts
1956 - The Louvin Brothers' Capitol Records single "I Don't Believe You've Met My Baby", with "In The Middle Of Nowhere" on the flip side, is #1 on the U.S. Country singles charts
1957 - Ferlin Husky's Capitol Records single "Gone", with "Missing Persons" on the flip side, enters the top 40 of the U.S. Pop singles charts
1965 - Wanda Jackson records the track "Oh, Blacky Joe" for Capitol Records
1965 - Bobby Darin, with Ernie Freeman and His Orchestra, records the tracks "Venice Blue" and "In A World Without You" which will be released together as a single by Capitol Records
1966 - The Beach Boys record the track "God Only Knows" for Capitol Records
40 Years Ago Today In 1969 - Buck Owens records the track "Johnny B. Goode" for Capitol Records
1987 - Carole King, singer, songwriter and one-time Capitol Records artist, is inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in New York City, New York
2005 - Chris LeDoux, singer, songwriter, guitarist, and Capitol Records Nashville artist, dies in a Casper, Wyoming hospital after a lengthy illness at age 56 and will be cremated the next day

ON THIS DAY NOT QUITE IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1930 - Ornette Coleman, alto saxophonist, trumpet player, violinist, composer, band leader, and Atlantic and Blue Note Records artist, is born Randolph Denard Ornette Coleman in Fort Worth, Texas. Blue Note's catalog is owned by EMI Music Group, the parent company of Capitol Music Group and Blue Note Records is currently a division of Capitol Music Group.
1957 - Fats Domino's Imperial Records single "I'm Walkin'", with "I'm In The Mood For Love" on the flip side enters the top 40 of the U.S. Pop singles charts
50 Years Ago Today In 1959 - Ricky Nelson's Imperial Records single "Never Be Anyone Else But You", with "It's Late" on the flip side, enters the top 40 of the U.S. Pop singles charts

ON THIS DAY NOT IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1997 - The Notorious B.I.G. (aka Biggie Smalls and born Christopher George Latore Wallace), rapper and Bad Boy Entertainment artist, is killed at age 24 in a drive-by shooting at the corner of Fairfax Avenue and Wilshire Boulevard in Los Angeles, California at approximately 12:30 AM outside a party thrown by Vibe magazine and Qwest Records at the Petersen Automotive Museum after the Soul Train Awards Show. The Los Angeles Police Department still have no suspects.

MARCH 8, 2009

HAPPY BIRTHDAYS!
1945 - Mickey Dolenz, motion picture and television actor, director, singer, musician, member of the groups The Monkees and the Capitol Records group Dolenz, Jones, Boyce and Hart, is born George Michael Dolenz in Tarzana, California
1957 - Clive Burr, drummer and member of the Capitol Records group Iron Maiden (1979-1983), is born in England. If anyone knows for sure where, please leave a comment.

ON THIS DAY IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1945 - The Pied Pipers' Capitol Records single "Dream", with "Tabby The Cat" on the flip side, enters the top 40 of the U.S. Pop singles chart
60 Years Ago Today In 1949 - Frank Morgan (best known as The Wizard in the M-G-M motion picture "The Wizard Of Oz") signs with Capitol Records where he'll narrate the children's record "Gossamer Wump"
40 Years Ago Today In 1969 - Glen Campbell and Bobbie Gentry's Capitol Records duet single "Let It Be Me", the flip side of "Little Green Apples", enters Billboard's Country singles chart
1978 - Merle Haggard's Capitol Records single "The Fightin' Side Of Me", with "Every Fool Has A Rainbow" on the flip side is #1 on Billboard's Country singles chart
20 Years Ago Today In 1989 - Don Dokken signs with Capitol Records
1991 - The group Mazzy Star signs with Capitol Records
1992 - Red Callendar (born George Callender), band leader (trio and sextette), string bass and tuba player, motion picture actor (1958's "St. Louis Blues" which starred Capitol Records artist Nat "King" Cole) and Capitol Records session musician who worked with Judy Garland, Nat "King" Cole and Art Tatum, dies in Saugus, California two days after his 76th birthday
10 Years Ago Today In 1999 - Joe DiMaggio, Baseball Hall of Famer and Capitol Records artist, dies of complications from lung cancer surgery at his home in Hollywood, Florida at age 84 and is later interred at Holy Cross Cemetery in Colma, California

ON THIS DAY NOT QUITE IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1971 - Francis Wolff, co-owner of Blue Note Records, dies in New York City, New York at age 64. Blue Note is currently owned by EMI Music Group, Capitol Music Group's parent company, and is a division of Capitol Music Group.
1980 - Blondie's Chrysalis Records single "Call Me" (written by Giorgio Moroder and the band's singer Debbie Harry), with Giorgio Moroder performing a version on the flip side, enters the top 40 of Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart. Chrysalis' catalog is currently owned by EMI Music Group, Capitol Music Group's parent company.
1987 - Huey Lewis & The News' Chrysalis single "Jacob's Ladder", with a live version of "Heart Of Rock 'N" Roll" on the flip side, is #1 on Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart.Chrysalis' catalog is currently owned by EMI Music Group, Capitol Music Group's parent company.
15 Years Ago Today In 1994 - Liberty Records (later renamed Capitol Records Nashville) releases Suzy Bogguss's compilation album "Greatest Hits"

MARCH 7, 2009

HAPPY BIRTHDAYS!
1917 - Lee Young, brother of saxophonist Lester Young, drummer who worked with the Capitol Records group The King Cole Trio and later bandleader of the Lee Young Band, is born Leonidas Raymond Young in New Orleans, Louisiana
1943 - Leon Frank Sylvers III, singer, songwriter, music producer, and member of the Capitol Records group The Sylvers, is born Memphis, Tennessee

ON THIS DAY IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1947 - Margaret Whiting's Capitol Records single "Guilty", with "Oh! But I Do" on the flip side, enters the top 40 of the U.S. Pop singles charts
1948 - Peggy Lee's Capitol Records single "Manana (Is Good Enough For Me)", with "All Dressed Up In A Broken Heart" on the flip side, is #1 on the U.S. Pop singles charts
1961 - Buck Owens records the track "Heartaches By The Number" for Capitol Records
1965 - The Beatles' Capitol Records single "Eight Days A Week", with "I Don't Want To Spoil The Party" on the flip side, is #1 on Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart
1966 - Freddie Hubbard signs with Capitol Records
1966 - Capitol Records releases Brian Wilson's single "Caroline, No" with "Summer Means New Love" on the flip side. It is Wilson's only solo release while part of The Beach Boys
1970 - Badfinger's Apple Records single "Come And Get It", with "Rock Of All Ages" on the flip side and distributed by Capitol Records in the United States, enters the top 40 of the U.S. Pop singles chart
1970 - John Ono Lennon's Apple Records single "Instant Karma (We All Shine On)", with Yoko Ono Lennon's "Who Has Seen The Wind" on the flip side and distributed by Capitol Records in the United States, enters the top 40 of the U.S. Pop singles chart
1972 - Buck Owens records the track "Made In Japan" for Capitol Records
35 Years Ago Today In 1973 - Helen Reddy's Capitol Records single "I Am Woman", with "More Than You Could Take" on the flip side, is certified Gold by the R.I.A.A.
1976 - Merle Haggard's Capitol Records single "The Roots Of My Raising", with "The Way It Was in '51" on the flip side, is #1 on Billboard's Country Singles chart
1992 - Richard Marx's Capitol Records single "Hazard", with "Big Boy Now" on the flip side, enters the top 40 of Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart
10 Years Ago Today In 1999 - Marv Ingram (aka Marv Ingraham and born Marvin Inabnett), commodities broker and high tenor singer with the Capitol Records group The Four Preps, dies of a heart attack at age 60. If anyone knows what day he was born, please leave a comment.

ON THIS DAY NOT QUITE IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
70 Years Ago Today In 1939 - Future Capitol Records artists Guy Lombardo and His Royal Canadians record the track "Auld Lang Syne" for Decca Records. They will re-record the track for Capitol Records in Hi-Fi, which will later be voted by Lombardo's fans to be the superior version of the tune.
1946 - Peter Wolf, one time husband of actress Faye Dunaway (1974-1979), lead singer with The EMI America Records group The J. Geils Band, and solo artist, is born Peter Blankfield in the Bronx, New York City, New York
1987 - Future Capitol Records and Grand Royal Records group The Beastie Boys' first album, "Licensed To Ill" (released by Def Jam and distributed by Columbia Records), is #1 on Billboard's Top 200 Albums chart

ON THIS DAY NOT IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1917 - Nick La Rocca's Original Dixieland Jazz Band's single "The Dixie Jazz Band One Step" becomes the first Jazz record released in the United States

MARCH 6, 2009

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
1916 - "Red" Callendar, band leader (trio and sextette), string bass and tuba player, motion picture actor (1958's "St. Louis Blues" which starred Capitol Records artist Nat "King" Cole) and Capitol Records session musician who worked with Judy Garland, Nat "King" Cole and Art Tatum, is born George Sylvester Callender in Haynesville, Virginia
1946 - Dave Gilmour, CBE, guitarist with the groups Joker's Wild, Flowers, Bullitt, and lead guitarist and vocalist with the Harvest, Columbia, and Capitol Records group Pink Floyd, is born David Jon Gilmour in Cambridge, England

ON THIS DAY IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
60 Years Ago Today In 1949 - Jimmy Wakely's Capitol Records single "I Love You So Much It Hurts", with "I Don't Want Your Sympathy" on the flip side, returns to the #1 spot on the U.S. Country singles charts
1961 - Buck Owens records "I Don't Believe I'll Fall In Love Today" which will be released by Capitol Records
1962 - Frank Sinatra, with arranger Skip Martin conducting his Orchestra, records his last track for Capitol Records, "I Gotta Right to Sing the Blues", at the Capitol Tower Studios in Hollywood, California. The track will later be included as a bonus track on the CD version of Sinatra's 1961 album "Come Swing With Me".
1971 - George Harrison's Apple Records single, distributed in the U.S. by Capitol Records, "What Is Life", with "Apple Scruffs" on the flip side, enters the top 40 of Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart
2007 - Capitol Records releases Reliant K's album "Five Score and Seven Years Ago"

ON THIS DAY NOT QUITE IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1982 - The J. Geils Band's EMI America Records single "Freeze-Frame", with "Flamethrower" on the flip side, enters the top 40 of Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart. EMI America's catalog is currently owned by Capitol Music Group's parent company EMI Music Group

MARCH 5, 2009

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
1928 - Lou Levy, pianist with Woody Herman and His Thundering Herd and the Capitol Records band Supersax, as well as session pianist for Capitol Records artists Frank Sinatra, Peggy Lee, Nancy Wilson, and Anita O’Day, is born Lewis A. Levy in Chicago, Illinois

ON THIS DAY IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
Today In 1953 - Daws Butler signs with Capitol
1955 - Jerry Reed signs with Capitol
1955 - Nat "King" Cole's Capitol Records single "Darling Je Vous Aime Beaucoup", with "The Sand And The Sea" on the flip side, enters the top 40 of the U.S. Pop singles chart
1963 - The Beatles record the track "From Me To You" at EMI's Abbey Road Studios in London, England
1966 - The Beatles' Capitol Records single "Nowhere Man", with "What Goes On" on the flip side, enters the top 40 of the U.S. Pop singles charts
1967 - Buck Owen's Capitol Records single "Where Does The Good Times Go", with "The Way That I Love You" on the flip side, returns to the #1 slot on the U.S. Country singles chart
1971 - Capitol Records releases Goose Creek Symphony's album "Welcome To Goose Creek" which was recorded during the summer of 1970 at Audio Recorders, Phoenix, Arizona
1972 - Freddie Hart's Capitol Records single "My Hang-Up Is You", with "Big Bad Wolf" on the flip side is #1 on the U.S. Country singles chart
35 Years Ago Today In 1973 - Capitol Records releases Buck Owens' single "Ain't It Amazing, Gracie" with "The Gold Old Days" on the flip side
1976 - Bill Cosby signs with Capitol
1977 - Glen Campbell's Capitol Records single "Southern Nights", with "The William Tell Overture" on the flip side, enters the U.S. Country singles chart
1996 - Capitol Records releases The Beatles' Apple Records single "Real Love", with "Baby's In Black" on the flip side, in the United States

ON THIS DAY NOT IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1982 - John Belushi, actor, singer and record collector, dies of a drug overdose in a bungalow at The Chateau Marmont Hotel on Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood, California at age 33.

MARCH 4, 2009

ON THIS DAY IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1955 - Andy Griffith signs with Capitol
45 Years Ago Today In 1964 - The Beach Boys' Capitol Records single "Surfin' USA" is released
1967 - The Beatles' Capitol Records single "Penny Lane" enters the top 40 of Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart
1967 - Merle Haggard's Capitol Records single "The Fugitive" is #1 on the U.S. Country singles chart
1986 - Richard Manuel, singer with the Capitol Records group The Band, commits suicide at age 42 by hanging himself in Winter Park, Florida
20 Years Ago Today In 1989 - Poison's Capitol Records single "Your Mama Don't Dance" enters the top 40 of Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart

ON THIS DAY NOT IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1877 - Emile Berliner invents the flat disc gramophone (as opposed to the cylinder) which could easily be mass produced.
1981 - E.Y. ‘Yip’ Harburg, lyricist ("Over the Rainbow" from the M-G-M motion picture "The Wizard of Oz", "It’s Only a Paper Moon", and many others), dies in an auto accident in Hollywood, CA at the age of 82

MARCH 3, 2009

HAPPY BIRTHDAYS!
1906 - Barney Bigard, songwriter and clarinet player with Duke Ellington and His Orchestra, The Barney Bigard Sextet with future Capitol Records artist Les Baxter, and in the Capitol Records bands Freddie Slack and His Orchestra, Zutty Singleton's Creole Band, Zutty Singleton's Trio, The Capitol Jazzmen, and Sonny Greer and The Duke's Men, is born in New Orleans, Louisiana
65 Years Ago Today In 1944 - Jance Garfat, bass player and singer with the Capitol Records group Dr. Hook, is born Robert Jance Garfat in California. If anyone knows where in California, please leave a comment.

ON THIS DAY IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1946 - Johnny Mercer's Capitol Records single "Personality", with "If I Knew Then" on the flip side, is #1 on the U.S. Pop singles charts
50 Years Ago Today In 1959 - Betty Comden and Adolph Green sign with Capitol Records
1966 - Buck Owens' Capitol Records single "Waitin' In Your Welfare Line", with "In The Palm Of Your Hand" on the flip side, is still #1 on the U.S. Country singles charts
1987 - Danny Kaye, radio, television, motion picture and Broadway actor, singer, dancer, comedian, and Capitol Records artist, dies in Los Angeles, California at the age of 74
20 Years Ago Today In 1989 - J. J. Johnson signs with Capitol Records
2008 - Hurricane Smith (born Norman Smith), RAF glider pilot, singer, songwriter, drummer, trumpet, trombone, piano, bass and vibes player, EMI recording engineer (for The Beatles recording sessions from 1962 through those for the group's "Rubber Soul" album in 1965 as well as for sessions with Gerry and the Pacemakers, The Swinging Blue Jeans, Billy J Kramer, Helen Shapiro and Manfred Mann) and producer (The Pink Floyd, Barclay James Harvest, and The Pretty Things) and EMI and Capitol Records artist (best remembered for the track "Oh, Babe, What Would You Say?") and author (his autobiography "John Lennon Called Me Normal"), has died of cancer at age 85 in East Sussex, England. A video of him performing "Who Was It?" (written by Gilbert O' Sullivan) is on YouTube . Seth Swirsky interviewed Norman at his home in March, 2006, for his upcoming movie (Fall, 2008) called "A Year In The Life" and a clip from the interview is also on YouTube.

ON THIS DAY NOT IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1966 - Tone Loc, singer, motion picture and television actor and voice artist, and Delicious Vinyl solo artist is born. I designed the packaging and ads for Loc's second Delicious Vinyl album "Loc'ed After Dark" including the LP Sleeve, Cassette, CD, and CD 6x12 longbox, as well as the packaging for the first single including the 12" sleeve and cassette single o-card. For awhile his sister was the receptionist at the label.

MARCH 2, 2009

HAPPY BIRTHDAYS!
105 Years Ago Today In 1904 - Dr. Seuss, artist and Pulitzer Prize-winning author ("The Cat in the Hat", "The Grinch Who Stole Christmas", "Green Eggs and Ham" and many others) is born Theodor Seuss Geisel in Springfield, Massachusetts. Capitol Records would release Seuss' "Gerald McBoing-Boing" in 1950 as a children's record with The Great Gildersleeve (Harold Peary) narrating the story. The story would later be the first cartoon released by UPA.
1955 - Dale Bozzio, singer with Frank Zappa and the Capitol Records group Missing Persons, is born Dale Frances Consalvi in Boston, Massachusettes

ON THIS DAY IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1946 - Betty Hutton's Capitol Records single "Doctor, Lawyer, Indian Chief", with "(I'm A) Square In The Social Circle" on the flip side, is still #1 on the U.S. Pop singles charts. Both songs appear in the Paramount movie "The Stork Club" starring Hutton which was produced by Capitol Records co-founder Buddy DeSylva and features fellow Capitol Records artist Andy Russell in a supporting role. "(I'm A) Square In The Social Circle" was written by Jay Livingston (brother of Capitol Records then new vice president of children's records Alan Livingston) and Ray Evans.
40 Years Ago Today In 1969 - Sonny James' Capitol Records single "Only The Lonely", with "The Journey" on the flip side, hits #1 on the U.S. Country singles chart

ON THIS DAY NOT IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1900 - Kurt Weill, composer (best known for "Mack The Knife" ["Mackie der Messer"] from the musical "Three Penny Opera" ["Drei Pfennig Opera"] written with Berthold Brecht) is born in Dessau, Germany.
1983 - The compact disc is launched for home audio by its co-developers Sony and Philips. In six months I'll design my first CD package (including 6x12 long box) for Paul Simon's Warner Bros. album "Hearts And Bones" under the art direction of Jeri McManus (later Jeri Heiden after she married fellow designer John Heiden). The three color posterization on the back of the box was my idea.

MARCH 1, 2009

HAPPY BIRTHDAYS!
1917 - Cliffie Stone, singer, songwriter, radio variety show host, personal manager, television producer, A&R and record producer for Capitol Records, and a Capitol Records artist, is born Clifford Gilpin Snyder in Stockton, California
1926 - Robert Clary, singer, Broadway, motion picture, and television actor (best known as LeBeau on "Hogan's Heroes"), and Capitol Records artist (1949), is born in Paris, France
1927 - Harry Belafonte, singer, motion picture actor, and Capitol Records artist, is born Harold George Belafonte in Harlem, New York City, New York

ON THIS DAY IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1952 - Faron Young has his first recording session for Capitol Records
1956 - Nelson Riddle's Capitol Records single "Lisbon Antigua", with "The Theme From Robin Hood" on the flip side is still #1 on the U.S. Pop singles charts and Les Baxter's Capitol Records single "The Poor People of Paris", with "Helen Of Troy" on the flip side is #2
1957 - Buck Owens signs with Capitol Records
45 Years Ago Today In 1964 - The Beatles Capitol Records single "I Want to Hold Your Hand", with "I Saw Her Standing There" on the flip side is #1 on Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart and their Swan Records single "She Loves You" with "I'll Get You" on the flip side is #2
1972 - Capitol Records artist Merle Haggard is granted a full pardon by the Governor of California, Ronald Reagan
1980 - Bob Seger's Capitol Records single "Fire Lake", with "Long Twin Silver Line" on the flip side, enters the top 40 of Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart
1983 - Duran Duran's Capitol Records album "Rio" is certified Gold by the R.I.A.A.

ON THIS DAY NOT QUITE IN CAPITOL RECORDS ARTIST
45 Years Ago Today In 1963 - Future Apple Records, Capitol Records, and Geffen Records artist Yoko Ono's marriage to filmmaker Tony Cox is annulled
1985 - A Beatles song was used for the first time in a U.S. TV commercial. The cost for Lincoln-Mercury to use the song, "HELP!" in the ad was $100,000.

ON THIS DAY NOT IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
105 Years Ago Today In 1904 - Glenn Miller, trombonist, songwriter, arranger, bandleader, motion picture actor, and radio show host is born Alton Glenn Miller in Clarinda, Iowa
1922 - William Gaines, publisher of EC Comics and founder of MAD Magazine, is born William Maxwell Gaines