AUGUST 22, 2011

REST IN PEACE
2011 - Nick Ashford, singer, songwriter, and with his wife Valerie Simpson part of the Capitol Records vocal duo Ashford and Simpson ("Solid as a Rock"), dies in a New York City Hospital of throat cancer at age 70.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
1948 - Sam Neely, singer, guitarist, songwriter, and Capitol Records artist (1968-1974), is born in Cuero, Texas
50 Years Ago Today In 1961 - Ricky Lynn Gregg, singer, guitarist and Liberty Records recording artist (1992-1994) is born in Longview, Texas. Liberty Records became Capitol Records Nashville.

ON THIS DAY IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
65 Years Ago Today In 1946 - The King Cole Trio (Nat "King" Cole on piano and vocals, Oscar Moore on guitar, Johnny Miller on bass) record the track "(I Love You) For Sentimental Reasons" at WMCA Studios in New York City, New York
1947 - The King Cole Trio (Nat "King" Cole on piano and vocals, Oscar Moore on guitar, Johnny Miller on bass) records the track "Nature Boy", with Frank DeVol conducting an orchestral backing, in Los Angeles, California
1949 - Lonzo and Oscar's Winston County Pea Pickers (Lloyd "Lonzo" George on vocals and guitar, and Rollin "Oscar" Sullivan on mandolin and vocals) record the tracks "Who Pulled the Plug From the Jug?", "Love is Sweet But Oh, How Bitter", "Sheepskin Corn", "I’ll Go Chasing Women" at their second Capitol Records recording session
1960 - Frank Sinatra begins recording sessions for his Capitol Records album "Sinatra's Swingin' Session!!!" at The Capitol Tower Studios with arranger and conductor Nelson Riddle and producer Dave Cavanaugh
1964 - The Beatles' Capitol Records album "Something New" peaks at #2 on Billboard's album chart where it will stay for nine weeks, kept out of the #1 spot by United Artist's soundtrack to The Beatles' movie "A Hard Days Night" which stayed at the #1 spot for 14 weeks
45 Years Ago Today In 1966 - The Beatles' album "Revolver" is certified Gold by the R.I.A.A.
25 Years Ago Today In 1986 - Capitol Records releases Paul McCartney's album "Press To Play" in the United States
5 Years Ago Today In 2006 - Bruce Gary, percussionist and drummer with the Capitol Records group The Knack, dies at the Tarzana Regional Medical Center in Tarzana, California, of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma at age 55

ON THIS DAY NOT QUITE IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1987 - Former Capitol Records artist (1963-1968) Roy Clark becomes a member of the Grand Ole Opry
1989 - EMI America Records releases The Red Hot Chilli Peppers' album "Mother's Milk". EMI Music Group, Capitol Records' parent company, currently owns EMI America's catalog.
1992 - EMI in the U.K. exclusively releases Capitol Records band Iron Maiden's album "Live At Donington"

ON THIS DAY NOT IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1917 - Johnny Lee Hooker, guitarist, is born near Clarksdale, Mississippi
55 Years Ago Today In 1956 - 20th Century Fox's film "The Girl Can't Help It" is premiered in Hollywood, California
1968 - Cynthia Lennon files for divorce from John Lennon