APRIL 6, 2011

HAPPY BIRTHDAYS!
1924 - Dorothy Donegan, pianist, leader of The Dorothy Donegan Trio, and Capitol Records artist, is born in Chicago, Illinois
1927 - Gerry Mulligan, arranger, songwriter, pianist, clarinet and baritone saxophone player, bandleader, Capitol (solo and as part of Miles Davis' "Birth Of The Cool" band), Pacific Jazz, and Blue Note Records artist, is born Gerald Joseph Mulligan in New York City, New York
1937 - Merle Haggard, singer, songwriter, guitarist, 1977 inductee into the Nashville Songwriter's Hall Of Fame, 1994 inductee into the The Country Music Hall Of Fame, and Capitol Records artist, is born in Kern General Hospital, in Bakersfield, California

ON THIS DAY IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1942 - The first session for Liberty Records (soon to be renamed Capitol Records) is held as a split session in Los Angeles, California. First Martha Tilton and The Mellowaires (on vocals), with Gordon Jenkins' Orchestra, records "Moondreams" (co-written by Johnny Mercer and J. C. "Chummy" MacGregor) and "The Angels Cried" (written by Mercer alone, featuring a solo by Hubert "Bumps" Myers on tenor saxophone) then Johnny Mercer, with Gordon Jenkins and his Orchestra including Jimmy Van Heusen on piano, records "Strip Polka" (words and music by Mercer, arranged by Paul Weston, with additional narration vocals by Phil Silvers and harmony vocals by The Mellowaires) and "They Didn't Believe Me" (music by Jerome Kern and lyrics by Herbert Reynolds). Capitol Records will issue the first track as a single (Capitol 138) with "Comin' Thru The Rye" on the flipside, the second track as a single (Capitol 105) with "I'll Remember April" on the flipside, the third track as a single (Capitol 103) with "The Air-Minded Executive" on the flipside, and the last track as a single (Capitol 129) with "Riffette" on the flipside. Some listings give the location of the session as C.W. MacGregor's studios in Los Angeles. If anyone knows for sure where these tracks were recorded, please leave a reply.
60 Years Ago Today In 1951 - Nat "King" Cole's Capitol Records single "Too Young", with "That's My Girl" on the flip side, enters the top 40 of the U.S. Pop singles charts
55 Years Ago Today In 1956 - The grand opening of The Capitol Tower at 1750 Vine Street, Hollywood, California takes place. Check out the April 6, 2006 posting in the April archives to find all the information and photos that I posted for the 50th anniversary of The Tower's opening.
45 Years Ago Today In 1966 - Buck Owens records the track "Open Up Your Heart" which will be released by Capitol Records
1968 - Syd Barrett officially leaves Tower Records' (a subsidiary of Capitol Records) band Pink Floyd
1968 - The Beatles open their Apple Corporation office at 95 Wigmore Street, London, England
1999 - Red Norvo, xylophonist, bandleader, Capitol Records session player and artist, dies at the age of 91

ON THIS DAY NOT QUITE IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1945 - Bob Marley, singer, songwriter, guitarist, husband of Rita Marley (member of member of I3), and literaly the father of EMI America and Virgin Records group Ziggy Marley and The Melody Makers, is born Robert Nesta Marley in Rhoden Hall, Saint Ann Parish, Jamaica
1973 - Future Capitol Records band Queen sign their first recording contract
40 Years Ago Today in 1971 - Donavan Freberg, photographer and son of Capitol Records artist Stan Freberg, is born.
30 Years Ago Today In 1981 - Bob Hite (aka "The Bear"), guitarist, harmonica player, and founding member of the Liberty Records group Canned Heat, dies of a heart attack brought on by a combination of drug use and extreme weight at age 38. The attack happened in a van that was taking him home from a gig at The Palimino. Though his bandmates tried to revive him, they had to call paramedics when they got to Hite's home in Mar Vista, California, where he was later pronounced dead. If anyone knows for sure where Bob is buried, please leave a comment.