JANUARY 23, 2011

HAPPY BIRTHDAYS!
1925 - Marty Paich, pianist, composer, arranger (with and/or for Peggy Lee, Shorty Rogers’ Giants, Dorothy Dandridge, Shelley Manne, Art Pepper, Shorty Rogers, Dave Pell, Mel Torme, Ray Brown, Anita O’Day, Stan Kenton, Terry Gibbs, Ella Fitzgerald, and Buddy Rich) and record producer, is born Martin Louis Paich in Oakland, California
1950 - Pat Simmons, singer, guitarist, with the Capitol Records group The Doobie Brothers, is born Patrick Simmons in Aberdeen, Washington

ON THIS DAY IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1947 - Merle Travis records the track "Steel Guitar Rag" and Capitol Records will release it as the flip side of the single "Three Times Seven"
1948 - Peggy Lee's Capitol Records single "Manana", with "All Dressed Up With A Broken Heart" on the flip side, enters the top 40 of the U.S. Pop singles charts
60 Years Ago Today In 1951 - Tennessee Ernie Ford's Capitol Records single "Shot Gun Boogie", with I Ain't Gonna Let It Happen No More" on the flip side, is #1 on the U.S. Country singles charts
1953 - Billy May finishes recording tracks for his Capitol Records album "Big Band Bash"
1963 - The Kingston Trio records the track "The Reverend Mr. Black" with producer Voyle Gilmore for their Capitol Records album "The Kingston Trio #16"
1965 - Peter and Gordon's Capitol Records single "I Go To Pieces", with "True Love Ways" on the flip side, enters the top 40 of Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart
45 Years Ago Today In 1966 - The Beatles' Capitol Records single "We Can Work It Out", with "Day Tripper" on the flip side, returns to the #1 spot on Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart
1975 - Merle Haggard's Capitol Records single "Kentucky Gambler", with "I've Got A Darlin' For A Wife" is #1 on the U.S. Country singles charts
30 Years Ago Today In 1981 - Bobby Sherwood, singer, actor (motion picture "Pal Joey"), orchestra leader ("The Milton Berle Show"), and Capitol Records artist (his Capitol Records single "Elk's Parade", with "I Don't Know Why" on the flip side, [both recorded May 5, 1942] is the label's seventh single, is part of Capitol's first release schedule, and is the label's third biggest seller during its first decade), dies of throat cancer at age 66 in Auburn, Massachusetts
1985 - Iron Maiden signs with Capitol Records
20 Years Ago Today In 1991 - Megadeth's Capitol Records album "Rust In Peace" is certified Gold by the R.I.A.A.
20 Years Ago Today In 1991 - Poison's Capitol Records single "Something To Believe In", with "Ball And Chain" on the flip side, is certified Gold by the R.I.A.A.
20 Years Ago Today In 1991 - Garth Brooks' Liberty Records (later renamed Capitol Records Nashville) single "Unanswered Prayers", with "Alabama Clay" on the flip side, is still #1 on Billboard's Country singles chart
1993 - Duran Duran's Capitol Records single "Ordinary World", with "Save A Prayer" on the flip side, enters the top 40 of Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart
15 Years Ago Today In 1996 - Capitol Records releases Jo Stafford's compilation CD "Spotlight On Jo Stafford" as part of the label's "Great Ladies Of Song" series
1999 - Capitol Records Nashville releases Ty England's album "Highways & Dance Halls"

ON THIS DAY NOT QUITE IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1943 - Future Capitol Records artist Duke Ellington, and his orchestra, perform at their first concert at Carnegie Hall in New York City, New York
2007 - Blue Note Records releases the companion soundtrack to the documentary "Billy Strayhorn: Lush Life". Blue Note Records is a subsidiary of Capitol Records, Inc.