JANUARY 6, 2012

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
1946 - Syd Barrett, songwriter, singer, founding member of the Tower Records (a subsidiary of Capitol Records) group The Pink Floyd, and a solo artist, is born Roger Keith Barrett in Cambridge, England

ON THIS DAY IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1946 - Margaret O'Brien (on narration vocals, with unlisted musicians) records the (as of 2005) unissued takes of the tracks "Goldilocks And The Three Bears: Part 1", "Goldilocks And The Three Bears: Part 2", "Goldilocks And The Three Bears: Part 3", and "Goldilocks And The Three Bears: Part 4" in Los Angeles, California for Capitol Records.
1950 - Tennessee Ernie Ford's Capitol Records single "Mule Train" is #1 on the U.S. Country singles charts
1950 - During a split session held this day at Capitol Records' Melrose Avenue studios in Hollywood, California between 5:30pm and 8:30pm first Eddie Kirk (on vocals, with [listed as probably] Harold Glenn Hensley on fiddle, Billy Liebert on accordion, Wesley "Speedy" West on steel guitar, and Allen Williams on bass) records the tracks "A Year Of City Livin'" and "Away Out On The Mountain" and then Tex Ritter (on vocals), with Eddie Kirk (on guitar) and orchestra (listed as definitely Harold Glenn Hensley on fiddle, Billy Liebert on accordion, Wesley "Speedy" West on steel guitar, and Allen Williams on bass), records the track "The Eyes Of Texas Are Upon You". Capitol Records will issue both of Kirk's tracks together as a single (Capitol Americana 40285). Bear Family Records will issue Ritter's track in the 4 CD box set "High Noon" (BCD 16356) in Germany.
1950 - Capitol Records registers the masters it purchased for Woody Herman (on clarinet, with Conte Candoli on trumpet, Bill Harris on trombone, Milt Jackson on vibraphone, Ralph Burns on piano, Dave Barbour on guitar, Red Mitchell on bass, Shelly Manne on drums, and an unlisted conga player)'s tracks "Tasty" (with Woody Herman on vocals) and "The Old Pail" which were recorded sometime during December 1949 in Havana, Cuba. Mosaic Records will issue both tracks in Herman's box set "The Complete Capîtol Recordings Of Woody Herman" (MD6-196).
1953 - Terry Preston (aka Ferlin Husky, on vocals, with unlisted musicians), records the (as of 2005) unissued takes of the tracks "I've Got A Woman's Love" and "Watch The Company You Keep" and the track "My Foolish Heart (Belongs To You)" in Los Angeles, Californiia. Capitol Records will issue the last track as a single (Capitol 2391) with "Undesired" on the flip side.
1953 - Joe "Fingers" Carr (aka Lou Busch, on piano), with orchestra (lineup unlisted), records the track "Hors D'oeuvre", the (as of 2005) unissued track "Ti-Pi-Tin", and the tracks "Doo Wacky Rag" and "Aloha Oe" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue the first track on Carr's album "Rough House Piano" (T 345) and the last two tracks together as a single (Capitol 2359).
1953 - Billy May and His Orchestra (with May directing: Tony Facciuto, John Coppola, Jack Laubach, Andrew Peele, and Bob McKenzie on trumpet; Karl De Karske, Bob Raesinger, Bob Robinson, and Dick Nash on trombone; Willie Smith and Dick Clay on alto saxophone; Bob Hardaway and Ted Nash on tenor saxophone; Jack Agee on baritone saxophone; Cliff Fishbach on piano; Ray Pohlman on guitar; Paul Sarmento on bass; and Nick Fatool on drums) records the tracks "You And The Night And The Music", "Cheek To Cheek", and "Bacchanalia" at Capitol Records' Melrose Avenue studios in Hollywood, California. Capitol Records will issue all the tracks on May's album "Bacchanalia!" (H-374).
1953 - Frances Faye (on vocals), with Dave Cavanaugh's Music (lineup unlisted), records the tracks "A Fool In Love", "Sometimes I'm Happy", "There's A Bell That Rings In My Heart", and "I Was Wrong About You" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue the first and third tracks together as a single (Capitol 2390) and the second and last tracks together as a single (Capitol 2472).
1953 - The Roger Wagner Chorale with The Concert Arts Players (lineups for both unlisted), conducted by Roger Wagner, record Villa-Lobos' "Nonetto For Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, Saxophone, Bassooon, Harp, Celesta, Percussion, And Mixed Chorus, Part 1" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue the track on the chorale's album "VILLA-LOBOS: Nonetto For Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, Saxophone, Bassooon, Harp, Celesta, Percussion, And Mixed Chorus / Quatuor For Flute, Harp, Celesta And As With Women's Voices" (P-8191).
1954 - Skeets McDonald (on vocals, with ) records the tracks "Remember You're Mine", "Your Love Is Like A Faucet", "You Talk About Me, I'll Talk About You", and "I Love You, I Love You, I Love You" at Capitol Records' Melrose Avenue studios in Hollywood, California between 2:00pm and 5:00pm. Capitol Records will issue the first track as a single (Capitol 2774) with "I Love You Mama Mia" on the flip side and the second track as a single (Capitol 2885) with "But I Do" on the flip side. Bear Family Records will issue all the tracks in the 5 CD box set "Don't Let The Stars Get In Your Eyes" (BCD 15397) in Germany.
1954 - Jimmy Bryant and Speedy West (aka Ivy "Jimmy" Bryant on electric guitar and Wesley "Speedy" West on steel guitar, with Billy Liebert on piano, Billy Strange on guitar, Al Williams on bass, and Roy Harte on drums), record the tracks "Blue Bonnet Rag", "Hop, Skip And Jump", "Country Capers", and "Low Man On A Totem Pole" at Capitol Records' Melrose Avenue studios in Hollywood, California between 8:00pm and 11:00pm. Capitol Records will issue all the tracks on the duo's album "2 Guitars Country Style" (H-520).
1954 - Mickey Katz (on vocals) and His Orchestra (lineup unlisted) records the tracks "That's Morris (That's Amore)", "Paisach In Portugal (April In Portugal)", and "Ces Tzi Bon (C'est Si Bon)" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue the first and last tracks together as a single (Capitol 2731) and the second track as a single (Capitol 2795) with "The Family Danced" on the flip side.
1955 - Johnny Dankworth (on alto saxophone) and His Orchestra (Derrick Abbott, Bill Metcalf, Dougie Roberts, and Jimmy Venn on trumpet; Maurice Pratt, Keith Christie, Bill Geldard, and Danny Elwood on trombone; Maurice Owen and Dougie Robinson also on alto saxophone; Rex Morris and Don Rashley on tenor saxophone; Alex Leslie on baritone saxophone; Derek Smith on piano; Bill Sutcliffe on bass; and Allan Ganley on drums) record the track "Singin' In The Rain" in Paris, France. Capitol Records will purchase the master and issue the track as a single (Capitol 3079) with "Waterloo Walk" on the flip side.
1956 - During two sessions held this day at Capitol Records' Melrose Avenue studios in Hollywood, California Hank Thompson (on vocals and guitar) and His Brazos Valley Boys (Keith Coleman, Amos Lee Hedrick, Julian Franklin "Curly" Lewis, and Robert "Bob" White on fiddle; Donald Charles McDaniel on piano; Merle Travis on guitar; Billy Briggs Stewart on bass; and Paul McGhee on drums) record the tracks "I'll Be Your Sweetheart For A Day", "Under The Double Eagle", "Don't Flirt With Me", "Standing On The Outside", "My Front Door Is Open" and "Swing Wide Your Gate Of Love" at the first session which is extended half an hour and goes from 9:00am and 12:30pm and then the tracks "Humpty Dumpty Heart", "Whoa Sailor, "Your Cheatin' On Me", "The Grass Looks Greener" and "You Remembered Me" at the second session which is extended an hour and goes between 3:00pm and 7:00pm. Capitol Records will issue all the tracks, except "Under The Double Eagle" on Thompson's album "Thompson's All Time Hits" (T 729) and will issue "Under The Double Eagle" as a single (Capitol 3781) with "Tears Are Only Rain" on the flip side.
1956 - During two sessions held this day in Los Angeles, California Louis Armstrong (on trumpet) and Bing Crosby (on vocals), with Johnny Green conducting The MGM Studio Orchestra (lineup unlisted), record the track "Little One" at the first session, Bing Crosby (on vocals), with Johnny Green conducting The MGM Studio Orchestra (lineup unlisted), records the track "I Love You, Samantha" and then Johnny Green, conducting The MGM Studio Orchestra (lineup unlisted), records the track "Overture" at the second session. Capitol Records will issue the track on the soundtrack album for the motion picture "High Society" (W 750).
1956 - Jane Froman (on vocals), with Glenn Osser conducting an orchestra and chorus (lineups for both unlisted), records the tracks "Suddenly There's A Valley", "It Takes Time", "I Found A Friend", and "The Lord's Prayer" in New York City, New York. Capitol Records will issue all the tracks on Froman's album "Faith" (T 726).
1956 - Victor Aller (on piano) and members of The Hollywood String Quartet (Felix Slatkin on violin and directing Alvin Dinkin on viola, and Eleanor Aller Slatkin on cello) record Brahms' "Quartet N° 3 In C Minor For Piano And Strings, Opus 60, 1st Movement" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue the track on Aller's album "BRAHMS - Quartet N° 3 In C Minor For Piano And Strings, Opus 60" (P-8379).
1958 - Johnny Otis (on vocals and leading the band) and His Orchestra (with unlisted saxophone, piano, guitar, bass and drummer players) record the tracks "The Light Still Shines In My Window" (vocals by Marie Adam), "Well, Well, Well" (vocals by Mel Williams), "You Just Kissed Me Goodbye" (vocals by Mel Williams), and the (as of 2005) unissued track "Lonesome Train" (vocals by Johnny Otis) in Los Angeles, California. After vocal overdubs by Mel Williams are recorded on January 8, 1958 Capitol Records will issue the middle two track together as a single (Capitol F3889) and the first track as a single in Europe (CL14837) with "All I Want Is Your Love" (vocals by Marie Adams) on the flip side.
1958 - Ken Errair Quartet (with Ken Errair and three unlisted singers on vocals), with Dick Reynolds and His Orchestra (lineup unlisted), records the tracks "How's About Tomorrow Night" and "How About Me" and the (as of 2005) unissued tracks "True Confession" and "So Help Me" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue the first two tracks together as a single (Capitol F3890).
1958 - Ferlin Husky (on vocals), with Bob Bain directing the orchestra (lineup unlisted), records the tracks "The Kingdom Of Love", "Don't Walk Away", "This Wide, Wide World" and "Terrific Together" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue the first and last tracks together as a single (Capitol F3943) and the second and third tracks together on Husky's EP "Country Music Holiday (Music From The Film)" (EAP-1-921).
1958 - Joe Bushkin (on piano), with a large orchestra (lineup unlisted but includes alto-flute, alto saxophone; bassoon, two baritone saxophone/bass clarinet, guitar, bass, drums and bongo musicians) using arrangements by Kenyon Hopkins, records the tracks "A Foggy Day", "They Can't Take That Away From Me", "While We're Young" in New York City, New York. Capitol Records will issue all the tracks on Bushkin's album "Night Sounds" (T 983).
1958 - Pee Wee Hunt (on trombone, with unlisted musicians) records the track "Seventy-Six Trombones", "The Sadder-But-Wiser Girl", and "Sincere" in New York City, New York. Capitol Records will issue all the tracks on the compilation album "Dance To 'The Music Man'" (T 966).
1958 - Ken McDonald records the tracks "One Love Alone", "The Picture", "Tender, Young And Lovely", and "Little Lost Angel" in New York City, New York with producer Johnny Brown. Capitol Records will purchase the masters and Prep Records, a subsidiary of Capitol Records will issue the first two tracks together as a single (Prep F128) and will sell back the masters for the last two tracks to producer Johnny Brown.
1958 - The Immaculate Trio (lineup unlisted) records a new take of parts of Schubert's "Trio N° 2 In E Flat Major, Opus 100, 1st movement" in Studio A at The Capitol Tower Studios in Hollywood, California. Capitol Records will issue the track on the trio's album "Trio N° 2 In E Flat Major, Opus 100" (P-8442).
1960 - Pete Balboa and The Nassau Palms Orchestra (lineup unlisted) record the tracks "Everybody Loves A Lover", "Le Secret", "La Paloma", "That's Amore", "Artistry In Rhythm" and "Marie" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue all the tracks on the group's album "Let's Dance The Merengue" (T 1349).
1960 - Wanda Jackson (on vocals, with Gordon Terry on fiddle, James Pruett on piano, William Everett "Billy" Strange on guitar who also is the leader of the band, Buddy Emmons on steel guitar, Allen Williams on bass, and Marion "Pee Wee" Adams on drums) records the tracks "In The Middle Of A Heartache", "Please Call Today", "My Destiny", and "The Wrong Kind Of Girl" at The Capitol Tower Studios in Hollywood, California. Capitol Records will issue the second and third tracks together as a single (Capitol F4354) and the last track in Europe on Jackson's 2LP set "Her Greatest Country Hits" (5C134-53025/26). Bear Family Records will issue all the tracks in Jackson's 4 CD box set "Right Or Wrong" (BCD 15629) in Germany.
1961 - The Jonah Jones Quartet (Jonah Jones on trumpet, Teddy Brannon on piano, John Brown on bass, and George Foster on drums) records new takes of the tracks "Get Me To The Church On Time" and "The Sound Of Music", and the track "Make Someone Happy" in New York City, New York. Capitol Records will issue all the tracks on Jones' album "Broadway Swings Again" (T 1641).
1961 - Guy Lombardo (conducting his own arrangements) and His Royal Canadians (lineup unlisted) record the tracks "Muskrat Ramble", "Down Home Rag", and "A Little Bit Of Dixieland" in New York City, New York. Capitol Records will issue all the tracks on the band's album "Guy Lombardo's Royal Canadians Go Dixie" (T 1648).
50 Years Ago Today In 1962 - Lou Rawls (on vocals), with Jimmie Haskell conducting the orchestra (lineup unlisted) records the tracks "The Bride (La Novia)", and "The Biggest Lover In Town" in Los Angeles, California with producer Nick Venet. Capitol Records will issue both tracks together as a single (Capitol 4695).
1964 - Buck Owens (on vocals) and His Buckaroos (lineup unlisted) record the tracks "Louisiana Man", "Abilene", "A Maiden's Prayer", and "Bud's Bounce" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue the first, second and last tracks on Owens' album "I Don't Care" (T 2186) and the third track on Owens' album "I've Got A Tiger By The Tail" (T 2283).
1964 - Roy Clark (on vocals, with unlisted musicians) records the tracks "If You'll Pardon Me", "I'm Forgetting Now", "Afraid Of The Dark", and "Old Lovers Made Bad Friends" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue all the tracks on Clark's album "Roy Clark Sings Lonesome Love Ballads" (T 2452).
1964 - Junior Mance (on piano) and His Orchestra (Pete Candoli, Don Fagerquist, Mannie Klein, Al Porcino or John Audino on trumpet; Vern Friley, Milt Bernhart, and Lew McCreary on trombone; George Roberts on bass trombone; Joe Comfort on bass; and Shelly Manne on drums), with Bob Bain and Dave Cavanaugh conducting their own arrangements, record the tracks "September Song", "But Beautiful", "Sweet Talkin' Hannah", and "Jubilation" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue all the tracks on Mance's album "Get Ready, Set, Jump!!!" (T 2092).
1964 - Jerry Cole and His Spacemen (lineup unlisted) record the tracks "T Roadster Rock (Hot Rod Dance Party)", "Mr. Wobble Wheels", "Dancing Mags", and "Night Drag" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue all the tracks on Cole's album "Hot Rod Dance Party" (T 2061).
1965 - Ben Light (born Benjamin Bertram Leight), pianist and Capitol Records artist (1950-1954), dies at age 72 in Hollywood, California. Rex Strother has an online biography page for Light.
1965 - H.B. Barnum (conducting his own arrangements) and His Orchestra (lineup unlisted) record the tracks "The Way You Do The Things You Do", "My Guy", and "Baby Love" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue all the tracks on Barnum's album "The Detroit Sound" (T 2289).
1966 - The Beatles' Capitol Records single "Day Tripper", with "We Can Work It Out" on the flip side, is certified Gold by the R.I.A.A.
1966 - Capitol Records registers the masters for Hawaii Calls (unlisted musicians)' tracks "Hawaii Tattoo" and "Quiet Village" which were recorded in Hawaii and it will issue both tracks on Webley Edwards' album "Hawaii Calls Today" (T 2449).
1968 - The Human Beinz's Capitol Records single "Nobody But Me", with "Sueno" on the flip side, enters the top 40 of Billboard's Hot 100 singles chart where it will peak at #8.
1968 - The Lettermen's Capitol Records single "Goin' Out Of My Head" with "Can't Take My Eye Off Of You" on the flip side, enters the top 40 of Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart.
1969 - John Andrews Tartaglia records the tracks "Light My Fire", "America" and "Goodnight" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue all the tracks on Tartaglia's album "Tartaglian Theorem" (ST-166).
1970 - During two sessions held this day in Los Angeles, California overdubs are recorded for Linda Ronstadt's track "Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow?" at the first session then Linda Rondstadt (on vocals, with [listed as probably] ) records a new take of the track "Are My Thoughts With You?" at the second sessions. After additional overdubs are recorded on January 7 and 14, 1970 Capitol Records will issue the final version of "Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow?" as a single (Capitol 2767) with "Lovesick Blues" on the flip side and the final version of "Are My Thoughts With You?" on Ronstadt's album "Silk Purse" (ST-407).
1970 - Edits are made to Lou Rawls' recordings of "All God's Children Got Soul" and "You've Made Me So Very Happy" in Los Angeles, California for Capitol Records but the edited tracks (as of 2005) are unissued.
1970 - Bob Duncan records the tracks "Love Looks So Good On You", "Mine On My Wind", "Messin' Up My Mind" and "Changing Colors" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue "Messin' Up My Mind" as a single (Capitol 2818) with "Stone Man" on the flip side. No issuing information is listed for the other tracks, so if anyone knows if the tracks have ever been issued, please leave a comment.
1971 - Stoney Edwards (on vocals, with unlisted musicians) records the tracks "You Stayed Long Enough (To Make Me Love Love)", "I Bought The Shoes That Just Walked Out On Me", "The Cute Little Waitress" and the (as of 2005) unissued track "Dixie Boy" in Los Angeles, California. After overdubs are recorded for all the tracks on January 11, 1971 Capitol Records will issue the first three tracks on Edwards' album "Country Singer" (ST-741).
40 Years Ago Today In 1972 - Overdubs are recorded for The Lettermen's tracks "Medley: Don't Leave Me/Without Her", "I'm Only Sleeping", "Oh My Love", "Touch Me", "An Old Fashioned Love Song", "Day After Day", "That's Enough For Me", "I've Never Been To Spain", "It's One Of Those Nights", "Anticipation", and "White Lies, Blue Eyes" in Los Angeles, California. After final overdubs are recorded on January 7, 1972 Capitol Records will issue the first track on the group's album "Spin Away" (SW-11124) and the rest of the tracks on the group's album "Lettermen" (SW-11010).
40 Years Ago Today In 1972 - The Steve Miller Band (lineup unlisted) records the tracks "Love's Riddle" and "Journey To Eden" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue the first track as a single (Capitol 3344) with "Fandango" and the last track on the group's 2 LP set "Steve Miller Band Anthology" (SVBB-11114).
1974 - The Steve Miller Band's Capitol Records single "The Joker", with "Something To Believe In" on the flip side, is #1 on Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart
1974 - Merel Haggard's Capitol Records single "If We Make It Through December" is #1 on Billboard's Top Country Singles chart.
1975 - Byron MacGregor records the track "Thank You America", the (as of 2005) unissued track "Happy Birthday Neighbor", and the track "Eulogy To A Dog" in Nashville, Tennessee. Capitol Records will issue the first and last track together as a single (Capitol 4034).
1976 - Overdubs are recorded for The Lettermen's tracks "I Can't Help It" and the (as of 2005) unissued track "Medley: Gone For Good/Missouri Melodies" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue the first track on the group's album "Kind Of Country" (SW-11508).
1976 - During two sessions held this day at The Record Plant in Los Angeles, California Nancy Wilson (on vocals), with an orchestra (lineup unlisted) using arrangements by Dave Grusin, records the tracks "Love Has Smiled On Us", "Now", and "I Don't Want A Sometimes Man" at the first session and the tracks "From You To Me To You", "Stay Tuned", and the (as of 2005) unissued track "Seeing You" at the second session. After overdubs are recorded on January 22 and 26 and February 2 and 6, 1976 Capitol Records will issue all the tracks except "Seeing You" on Wilson's album "This Mother's Daughter" (ST-11518).
1976 - Natalie Cole (on vocals, with ) records the tracks "Mr. Melody", "Hard To Get Along (Without You)", and "Good Morning Heartache" in Chicago, Illinois. After overdubs are recorded for all the tracks on January 15 and 16, 1976 and in March 1976 Capitol Records will issue all the tracks on Cole's album "Natalie" (ST-11517).
1978 - Mink DeVille records the track "Just One Kiss" in Los Angeles, California for Capitol Records. There is no issuing information listed, so if anyone knows if the track has ever been issued, please leave a comment.
1978 - Asleep At The Wheel (lineup unlisted) records the track "Ain't Nobody Here But Us Chickens" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue the track on the group's album "Collision Course" (SW-11726).
1981 - Muscle Shoals Sound Rhythm Section (lineup unlisted) records the (as of 2005) unissued track "Instrumental #9" in Muscle Shoals, Alabama for Capitol Records.
1981 - René & Angela (aka René Moore and Angela Winbush) record the tracks "Love's Alright" and "Just Friends" in (listed as possibly) Los Angeles, California. Capitol Recods will issue both tracks on the duo's album "Wall To Wall" (ST-12161).
30 Years Ago Today In 1982 - Frankie Miller records the track "It's All Coming Down Tonight" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue the track on Miller's album "Standing On The Edge" (ST-12206).
1986 - John Taylor records the tracks "I Do What I Do To Have You (Theme For '9 1/2 Weeks')", and instrumental version of "I Do What I Do To Have You", and the instrumental track "Jazz" at an unlisted location. Capitol Records will issue the first and last tracks together as a single (Capitol 5551). There is no issuing information listed for the second track, so if anyone knows it was ever issued, please leave a comment. Capitol Records will create two edits of the first track, the first will be issued as "I Do What I Do To Have You (Film Mix)" on a 12" maxi-single (Capitol V-15223) on the same side with "I Do What I Do To Have You (Single Mix)" and with "I Do What I Do To Have You (The Final Mix)" on the flip side. There is no issuing information listed for the second edit.
1986 - Capitol Records registers the masters it purchased for Steve Miller Band's tracks "I Want To Make The World Turn Around", "Behind The Barn", "Ain't That Lovin' You Baby", "Maelstrom", "In The Summertime", "Dust My Blues", "My Babe", "Big Boss Man, "Slow Down", "I Wanna Be Loved" and an extended version of "I Wanna Be Loved". Capitol Records will issue the first, second, fourth, fifth, eighth, ninth, and eleventh tracks on the band's album "" (PJ-12445) and the eleventh and last track together as a single (Capitol 5704). There is no issuing information listed for the third, sixth, seventh and tenth tracks, so if anyone knows if they were ever issued, please leave a comment.
1986 - T. Graham Brown records the tracks "Later Train" and "Rock It, Billy" in Nashville, Tennessee. Capitol Records will issue the second track on the Brown's album "I Tell It Like It Used To Be" (ST-12387) and will issue the first track on the CD version of the album (7-46901-2).
1993 - Dizzie Gillespie, trumpet player, songwriter, band leader, one of the founders of Bebop, and a Capitol Records artist, dies in Englewood, New Jersey of cancer at age 75
10 Years Ago Today In 2002 - Bobby Austin, guitarist, session musician for Capitol Records artist Buck Owens and a Capitol Records solo artist (1962-1964 and 1969-1972), dies in Camas, Washington at age 69
2006 - Lou Rawls, singer and Capitol Records and Blue Note Records artist, dies of cancer at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, California at age 72
2008 - Ken Nelson, singer in the vocal trio The Campus Kids (which also included future Capitol Records A&R man and producer Lee Gillette, who got Ken his job at Capitol), radio announcer, arranger, and Capitol Records talent scout, A&R man and record producer (including "Be Bop A Lula" and many songs by Capitol Records country artists including Buck Owens, Hank Thompson, Ferlin Husky, Jean Shepard, Tommy Collins, Wynn Stewart, Wanda Jackson, Merle Haggard, Roy Clark, Jerry Reed, Rose Maddox, Faron Young, and others) who joined the label in 1946 and retired 30 years later, one of the major influencers of "The Bakersfield Sound", and co-founder of the Nashville-based Country Music Association, has died at age 96 of natural causes at his home in Somis, California. In early 2007 Ken spent $40,000 to self-publish his memoir, "My First 90 Years Plus Three". At his request, no services are planned.

ON THIS DAY NOT QUITE IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1939 - Blue Note Records is started when Alfred Lion records Meade Lux Lewis and Albert Ammons at a session funded with start-up capitol by writer Max Margulis, at 2:00 PM in New York City (listed as probably at WMGM Studios) where he records 4 solos by each and 2 duets with both men playing on the same piano. Blue Note Records is currently a division of Capitol Records, Incorporated.
1953 - Peggy Lee, who at the time was a Decca Records artist (1952-1956 before resigning to Capitol) marries Brad Dexter
1964 - Vee-Jay Records releases the first version of The Beatles' album "Introducing... The Beatles" with a second version being released on February 10, 1964
1991 - Garth Brooks' Liberty Records single "Unanswered Prayers" is #1 on Billboard's Top Country Singles chart. Liberty Records is now known as Capitol Records Nashville.
1998 - William "Owen" Bradley, pianist, organist, trombonist, arranger, bandleader, record producer (from Patsy Cline to k. d. lang) and recording studio owner (whose Nashville, Tennesseee studios were used by Capitol Records producer Ken Nelson to record a number of Capitol Records artists including Gene Vincent, who recorded "Be-Bop-A-Lula" at Bradley's studio), and 1974 Country Music Hall of Fame inductee, dies at age 82 in Westmoreland, Tennessee

ON THIS DAY NOT IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1973 - "Schoolhouse Rock", a series of short animated educational films that would play between Saturday Morning cartoons, premieres on ABC-TV. Capitol Records released an album called "Multiplication Rock", the success of which led to ABC ordering the animated series.Check out LE's Schoolhouse Rock Site for a lot of great information about the creation of this series which still plays on ABC-TV.