APRIL 25, 2009

HAPPY BIRTHDAYS!
1917 - Ella Fitzgerald, singer, motion picture actress, and Capitol Records artist, is born Ella Jane Fitzgerald in Newport News, Virginia. Ella would be one of the first non-Capitol artists to record in Studio A in the Capitol Tower. On August 16, 1956 she, along with Louis Armstrong, would record tracks for their duet album on Verve and 5 days later she would record tracks for her "Sings The Rodgers & Hart Song Book", also on Verve. She would go on to record three albums for Capitol with producer Dave Dexter, Jr.
1958 - Derek William Dick (aka Fish), vocalist and guitarist with the Capitol Records group Marillion is born in Edinburgh, Scotland,

ON THIS DAY IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1947 - Pappy "Gube" Beaver signs with Capitol
1953 - Nat "King" Cole's Capitol Records single "Pretend", with orchestra conducted by arranger Nelson Riddle, is #4 on Billboard's Best Selling Singles chart, Les Baxter and His Orchestra's Capitol Records single "April In Portugal" is #6, Jane Froman's Capitol Records single "I Believe", conducted by Sid Feller, is #18 and Nat "King" Cole's Capitol Records single "Can't I?", also with arranger Nelson Riddle conducting the orchestra is #19
1956 - Capitol Records artist Peggy Lee marries her third husband, actor Dewey Martin
1961 - The Louvin Brothers sign with Capitol
45 Years Ago Today In 1964 - According to the Ottawa Journal "Hit Parade", The Beatles hold the 1, 2 & 3 slots in Canada with, respectively, the singles "Twist and Shout", "Can't Buy Me Love" and "All My Loving"
1967 - The Beatles record the track "Magical Mystery Tour"
1968 - The Beatles' Apple Corps, Ltd. begins operations in its London offices
1971 - Sonny James' Capitol Records single "Empty Arms", with "Everything Begins And Ends With You" on the flip side, is #1 on the U.S. Country singles charts
1981 - Capitol Records group Wings disbands when guitarist Denny Laine quits
1983 - Capitol Records re-releases Duran Duran's self titled album "Duran Duran" in the U.S., with the addition of the track "Is There Something I Should Know? as well as new photos, where it will peak at #10
1992 - Capitol Records vocal group The 5 Keys are inducted into the United In Group Harmony Association Hall of Fame. The group does an impromptu performance which will be the last by its original members.

ON THIS DAY NOT QUITE IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1973 - Former Capitol Records artist Dean Martin marries his third wife, Catherine Mae Hawn
1975 - Future Capitol Records band Sweet's Bell Records single "Little Willy" is certified Gold by the R.I.A.A.
1990 - Dexter Gordon, saxophonist, Academy Award nominated motion picture actor, and Blue Note Records artist, dies at age 67 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania