DECEMBER 8, 2013

HAPPY BIRTHDAYS!
1925 - Sammy Davis, Jr., singer, dancer, vibraphonist, trumpet player, drummer, impressionist, motion picture actor, member of the the Will Mastin Trio (with his father and uncle), a solo Capitol Records artist (1946-1949), and (posthumously) a member of the Capitol Records group The Rat Pack (2001-), is born in in Harlem, Manhattan, New York City, New York
1956 - Warren Cuccurullo, songwriter, restaurant owner, guitarist who worked with Frank Zappa, founding member of the Capitol Records group Missing Persons (1980-1986), session musician, member of the Capitol Records band Duran Duran, and a solo artist, is born Warren Bruce Cuccurullo in Brooklyn, New York
1962 - Marty Friedman, guitarist with the Capitol Records group Megadeth, is born in Baltimore, Maryland

ON THIS DAY IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1952 - Bas-Sheva (on vocals) with Harold Mooney and his Orchestra (lineup unlisted) records the titles "Sim Sholom" and "Zorea Tzedokos" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue both songs on Bas-Sheva's album "Soul Of A People" (L-8287).
60 Years Ago Today In 1953 - Frank Sinatra, with arranger Nelson Riddle conducting the studio orchestra (Arthur "Skeets" Herfert, Harry Klee, and Warren Webb on reeds; Tommy Pederson on trombone; John Cave and John Graas on french horn; George Roberts on bass trombone;, Robert Bain on guitar; Joe Comfort on bass; Bill Miller on piano; Kathryn Julye on harp; Alvin Stoller on drums; Victor Bay, Alex Beller, Harry Bluestone, Henry Hill, Anatol Kaminsky, Mischa Russell, Paul Shure, Felix Slatkin, and Gerald Vinci on violins; Paul Robyn and Dave Sterkin on violas; and Cy Bernard and Eleanor Slatkin on cello), records the tracks "Take A Chance", "Ya Better Stop", and "Why Should I Cry Over You" at Capitol Records' studios on Melrose Avenue in Hollywood, California between 9:00 PM and 12:00 AM. Capitol Records will issue the first song as as a single (Capitol 2703) with "Young At Heart" on the flipside, the second song in England on the album "The Rare Sinatra" (E-ST 24311), and the last song as a single (Capitol 3050) with "Don't Change Your Mind About Me" on the flipside.
55 Years Ago Today In 1958 - Julia Lee, pianist, singer and Capitol Records artist, dies in Kansas City, Missouri at age 56
1961 - ‎Capitol Records purchases the masters to Rusty York's tracks "That's What I Need" and "Just Like You" which it will issue together as a single (Capitol 4663).
1966 - Brothers And Sisters record the tracks "The Ali Shuffle", "Shake A Lady", and the unissued track Run A Young'in" in Los Angeles, California with producer David Axelrod. Capitol Records will issue the first two tracks together as a single (Capitol 5818).
45 Years Ago Today In 1968 - Capitol Records band The Beach Boys perform two shows at The Astoria Theatre in Finsbury Park, London, England that are recorded and tracks from which are later released as a live album called "Live In London" in the U.K.
1971 - Hoyt Axton records the track "Speed Trap" and an unissued take of "It's Been Fun" in Los Angeles, California. Also this day edits are made to Axton's track "Hey, Mr. Pilot Man". Capitol Records will issue "Speed Trap" and "Hey, Mr. Pilot Man" together as a single (Capitol 3259).
460 Years Ago Today In 1973 - Paul McCartney and Wings' Apple Records single "Helen Wheels", with "Country Dreamer" on the flipside and distributed in the United States by Capitol Records, enters the top 40 of Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart
1980 - John Lennon is shot four times at approximately 10:50 p.m. while entering through the gates outside of his family's home at The Dakota Apartments in New York City, New York and is pronounced dead pronounced dead at age 40 on arrival at Roosevelt Hospital at approximately 11:15 p.m.
1981 - The Motels, featuring Martha Davis on vocals, record the track "Take The 'L' Out Of Love And It's Over" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue the track as a single (Capitol 5149) with "Mission Of Mercy" on the flip side.
1986 - Les Brown and His Band of Reknown (Don Smith, Darrel Gardner, Fred Koyen, Don Rader on trumpets and flugelhorns; Mat Utal on alto saxophone; Rusty Higgins and Greg Huckins on alto and soprano saxophones; Lou Ciotti on tenor saxophone; Butch Stone on baritone saxophone and bass clarinet; Jack Redmond, Andy Martin, and Bob Payne on trombone; Stumpy Brown on bass trombone; Mundell Lowe on guitar; Eric Doney on piano; Tom Hill on bass; and Jack Sperling on drums) finish recording sessions in Studio A of The Capitol Tower Studios in Hollywood, California, with producer Ralph Jungheim and recording engineer Charlie Paakkari, for their Ryko Distribution album "Digital Swing"
1990 - Poison's Capitol Records single "Something To Believe In", with "Ball And Chain" on the flip side, peaks at #4 on Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart
2006 - Martha Tilton, singer with Benny Goodman and His Orchestra at their first Carnegie Hall Concert in 1938, and Capitol Records first female artist, dies in her sleep at her home in Brentwood, California at age 91

ON THIS DAY NOT QUITE IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1925 - Jimmy Smith, organist, Los Angeles club owner, and Blue Note Records artist, is born James Oscar Smith in Norristown, Pennsylvania. Blue Note's catalog is currently owned by Capitol Records' parent company EMI Music.
55 Years Ago Today In 1958 - The Chipmunk's (Alvin, Theodore, and Simon) Liberty Records single "The Chipmunk Song" (later given the subtitle "Christmas Don't Be Late"), with David Seville (aka Ross Bagdasarian) and The Chipmunk's "Alvin's Harmonica" on the flipside, enters the top 40 of Billboard's Pop singles chart where it will peak at #1 on December 22, 1958. Liberty's catalog is currently owned by Capitol Records' parent company EMI Music.
1961 - Candix Records releases future Capitol Records band The Beach Boys' first single "Surfin’" with "Luau" on the flip side

ON THIS DAY NOT IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
50 Years Ago Today In 1963 - Frank Sinatra, Jr. is kidnapped in Lake Tahoe, Nevada