MAY 2, 2010

HAPPY BIRTHDAYS!
60 Years Ago Today In 1950 - Lou Gramm, singer and drummer in the Capitol Records band Black Sheep and the band Forienger, is born Louis Grammatico, in Rochester, New York
1954 - Prescott Niles, bass player in the Capitol Records band The Knack, as well as the bands The Game and The Front, is born in New York City, New York

ON THIS DAY IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1946 - Andy Russell's Capitol Records single "Laughing On The Outside (Crying On The Inside)" is released
1947 - The Pied Pipers' Capitol Records single "Mam'selle" is released
1953 - Nat "King" Cole's Capitol Records single "Pretend" is #4 on Billboard's Best Selling Records chart, Les Baxter and His Orchestra's Capitol Records single "April In Portugal" is #5, and Jane Froman's Capitol Records single "I Believe", with Sid Feller conducting the orchestra, is #17
1953 - Frank Sinatra records the tracks "Anytime, Anywhere", "My One And Only Love", "From Here To Eternity", and "I Can Read Between The Lines" at Capitol Records' Melrose Studios in Hollywood, Callifronia. All the tracks were arranged and conducted by Nelson Riddle. The session was produced by Voyle Gilmore and musicians included Arthur “Skeets” Herfurt, Ted Nash, and James Williamson on reeds; Clyde Hurley and Emanuel Klein on trumpet; Milton Bernhart and James Priddy on trombone; John Cace and Vincent De Rosa on french horn; Victor Bay, Walter Edelstien, Henry Hill, Alex Murray, Mischa Russell, and Gerald Vinci on violin; Alfred Barr and Paul Robyn on viola; Eleanor Slatkin on cello; Bill Miller on piano; Phil Stephens on bass; Alton Hendrickson on guitar; Alvin Stoller on drums; and Kathryn Julve (harp).
55 Years Ago Today In 1955 - Jackie Gleason records the track "That Certain Party" for Capitol Records
1956 - The Louvin Brothers record the track "Cash On The Barrelhead" for Capitol Records
1964 - The Beatles' Capitol Records album "Second Album" hits the #1 spot on Billboard's Top 200 Albums chart two weeks after its release, making it the first album ever to reach #1 that quickly.
1966 - Capitol Records releases Buck Owens' album "Dust On Mother's Bible"
1967 - Capitol Records pulls the plug on Brian Wilson's "Smile" album for The Beach Boys. Thirty eight years later, after a series of concert performances by Brian Wilson, the album and a documentary film will finally be released.

1973 - June Hutton, who replaced Jo Stafford in the Capitol Records group The Pied Pipers in June 1944 and was the wife of arranger Axel Stordahl, dies at age 53. She is later interred in the Forest Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery in Glendale, California next to her husband.
1986 - Anne Murray's Capitol Records single "Now And Forever" is #1 on the U.S. Country singles charts
1992 - Capitol Records artist Bonnie Raitt receives an honorary Doctor of Music Degree from Berklee College of Music during commencement ceremonies in Boston. The principal speaker at the commencement is Capitol Records boss Joe Smith.
2004 - Keith Urban's Capitol Records Nashville single "You'll Think Of Me" is #1 on the U.S. Country singles charts

ON THIS DAY NOT QUITE IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
125 Years Ago Today In 1885 - Hedda Hopper, American actress, gossip columnist, radio show host, mother of motion picture and television actor William Hopper (best known as Paul Drake on "Perry Mason"), and whose estate was an early tenant of The Capitol Tower, is born Elda Furry in Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania
1964 - The Beatles' Tollie Records single "Love Me Do" enters the Top 40 of Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart
1964 - Imperial Records releases Billy J. Kramer's single "Little Children" in the United States
1981 - Sheena Easton's EMI America single "Morning Train" is still #1 on Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart
1988 - Jim Fifield is appointed President and Chief Operating Officer of EMI Music Worldwide, based in New York. He becomes President and Chief Executive Officer the following year.

ON THIS DAY NOT IN CAPITOL HISTORY
115 Years Ago Today In 1895 - Larry Hart, lyricist, writer, composer, producer and partner of Richard Rodgers, is born Lorenz Milton Hart in New York City, New York
1932 - NBC introduces a new entertainer to their network's radio audience, Jack Benny
1938 - Future Capitol Records artist Ella Fitzgerald and the Chick Webb Orchestra record the track "A Tisket A Tasket" in New York City, New York. Written by Van Alexander & Ella Fitzgerald, the track features Fitzgerald on vocals; Mario Bauza, Bobby Stark, and Taft Jordan on trumpet; Sandy Williams, Nat Story, and George Matthews on trombone; Garvin Bushell, Louis Jordan, Wayman Carver, and Teddy McRae on reeds; Tommy Fulford on piano; Bobby Johnson on guitar; Beverley Peer on bass; and Chick Webb on drums.