JANUARY 20, 2016

HAPPY BIRTHDAYS!
1888 - Leadbelly, singer, guitarist, and Capitol Records artist, is born Huddie William Ledbetter on the Jeter plantation near Mooringsport, Louisiana
1922 - Ray Anthony, trumpet player, bandleader, one time husband of actress Mamie Van Doren, and Capitol Records artist, is born Raymond Antonini in Bentleyville, Pennsylvania
1929 - Jimmy Cobb, drummer, in Capitol Records artist Cannonball Adderly's band, as well as Nat Adderly's and the Miles Davis Quintet, is born in Washington, DC

ON THIS DAY IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
65 Years Ago Today In 1951 - During a split session held between 4:00 PM and 7:00 PM at Capitol Records' studios at 5515 Melrose Avenue in Hollywood, California with Billy May conducting his own arrangements to the orchestra (John Graas on French horn, Harry Klee, John Hacker, and Lenny Hartman on saxophones, George Greeley on piano, Allan Reuss on guitar, Meyer Rubin on bass, Ralph Hansell on drums, and a string section with Ivan Eppinoff, David Frisina, Jacques Gasselin, George Kast, Lou Raderman, and Olcott Vail and Cy Bernard and Kurt Reher on cello), first Clark Dennis (on vocals) records the titles "Tell Me You Love Me" (adapted from Leoncavallo's "Pagliacci") and "Let Me Look At You" (from the MGM picture "Mr. Imperium") then Margaret Whiting (on vocals), records the title "Faithful". Capitol Records will issue both of Clark's titles together as a single (Capitol 1400) and Whiting's title as a single (Capitol 1391) with "Lonesome Gal" (recorded January 26, 1951) on the flipside.
60 Years Ago Today In 1956 - Ray Anthony and His Orchestra (with Anthony, Johnny Best, Frank Beach, Ray Triscari, and Bob Fowler on trumpet, Dick Nash, Hoyt Bohannon, and Murray McEachern on trombone, Abe Most and Wilbur Schwartz on clarinet and alto saxophone, Georgie Auld and Charles Butler on tenor saxophone, Leo Anthony on baritone saxophone, Geoff Clarkson on piano, Al Hendrickson on guitar, Don Simpson on bass, Larry Bunker on drums), using arrangements by Don Simpson and George Williams, record the titles "Lullaby Of Birdland" with vocals by The Skyliners (lineup unlisted) and, with vocals by Don Durant and The Skyliners, "Cry Me A River", "It's Almost Tomorrow", and "Are You Satisfied?" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue all the titles on Durant and Anthony's EP album "Top Pops By Don Durant With Ray Anthony's Orchestra" (EAP-1-9131).
60 Years Ago Today In 1956 - Harry James and His Orchestra (Harry James, Nick Buono, Art De Pew, Conrad Gozzo, and Mickey Mangano on trumpet, Juan Tizol on valve trombone, Dick Nash on trombone, George Roberts on bass trombone, Herb Lorden on clarinet and alto saxophone, Willie Smith on alto saxophone, Corky Corcoran and Jeff Massingill on tenor saxophone, Tom Suthers on baritone saxophone, Larry Kinnamon on piano, Tiny Timbrell on guitar, Joe Comfort on bass, and Buddy Combine on drums) record the titles "Don' Cha Go 'Way Mad" with vocals by The Starlighters (lineup unlisted), "Crazy Rhythm", and "Strictly Instrumental" at Capitol Records' studios at 5515 Melrose Avenue in Hollywood, California. Capitol Records will issue all the titles on James' album "More Harry James In Hi-Fi" (W 712).
60 Years Ago Today In 1956 - Carole Bennett (aka Carol Bergenthal), with an orchestra (lineup unlisted), records the titles "He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not", an unissued take of "Here We Are", the title "Beyond The Shadow Of A Doubt", and an unissued take of "I'll Meet You" in New York City, New York. Capitol Records will issue "He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not" and "Beyond A Shadow Of A Doubt" together as a single (Capitol F3365).
1958 - Both The Four Preps' Capitol Records single "26 Miles (Santa Catalina)", with "It's You" on the flipside, and Frank Sinatra's Capitol Records single "Witchcraft" with "Tell Her You Love Her" on the flipside, enter the top 40 of Billboard's Pop singles chart.
55 Years Ago Today In 1961 - Salli Terri (on vocals), with unlisted musicians, records the title "The Wraggle-Taggle Gypsies O!", and unissued take of "O Willow Willow", and the titles "The Cuckoo" and "The Old Maid Song (I Wonder If I'll Ever Marry)" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue the first, third, and fourth titles on Terri's album "I Know My Love" (P-8556).
1964 - Capitol Records releases Johnny Burnette's second single for the label "The Opposite", with "You Taught Me the Way To Love You" on the flip side. The Beatles' first album for the label, "Meet The Beatles", is also released. As part of a promotional campaign, all Capitol executives and salesmen are ordered to wear Beatle wigs for one week beginning today. Burnette's single did not chart. The Beatles' album will peak at #1 on Billboard's Pop album chart in less than a month on February 15, 1964.
1964 - The Beach Boys record the instrumental tracks for their song "Pom Pom Playgirl". When the vocals are later recorded, the track will be the band's first to feature Carl Wilson on lead vocals. The final track will be delivered to Capitol on February 20, 1964 and will be included on The Beach Boys' Capitol Records album "Shut Down Vol. 2".
1967 - The Beatles finish recording the track "A Day In The Life" at EMI's Abbey Road studios in London, England
1969 - Capitol Records releases The Beach Boys' album "20/20"
45 Years Ago Today In 1971 - Jimmy Helms records the titles "He Gives Us All His Love" and "We Are Not Helpless" in New York City, New York. Capitol Records will issue both the titles together as a single (Capitol 3063).
35 Years Ago Today In 1981 - Gary O' (Kid Rainbow) (aka Gary O'Connor), with Charles Calello conducting his own arrangements to the orchestra and string section (lineups unlisted), records the titles "All The Young Heroes", "California Goodbye", and "Suzanne" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue "All The Young Heroes" and "Suzanne" together as a single (Capitol 5041) and all the titles on O'Connor's album "Gary O'" (ST-12157).
1974 - Ringo Starr's Apple Records single (distributed by Capitol Records in the U.S.) "You're Sixteen", with "Devil Woman" on the flipside, is #1 on Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart
30 Years Ago In 1986 - Jerry Reed records an unissued take of "Every Dream I Have I Coming True Tonight" and the titles "What Made Me Believe I Could Live Without You" at Young'un Sound Studio in Nashville, Tennessee. Capitol Records will issue "What Made Me Believe I Could Live Without You" on Reeds album "Looking At You" (ST-12492).
1988 - Capitol Records artists The Beach Boys, The Beatles, Leadbelly, and Les Paul are inducted into the Rock 'N' Roll Hall Of Fame
20 Years Ago Today In 1996 - Gerry Mulligan (born Gerald Joseph Mulligan), baritone saxophonist, pianist, clarinet player, arranger, band leader, and Pacific Jazz, Blue Note and Capitol Records artist, dies of complications from a knee infection at age 68 in Darien, Connecticut
1998 - EMI-Capitol Entertainment Properties releases Garth Brooks' video "Garth Live From Central Park", distributed in the United States by Orion Home Video. The video will debut at No. 1 on the Billboard Home Video chart on Februay 2, 1998

ON THIS DAY NOT QUITE IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1924 - Slim Whitman, singer, yodeler, guitarist, and United Artists Records artist is born Otis Dewey Whitman, Jr., in Tampa, Florida. EMI Music, Capitol Records' parent company, currently owns United Artists' catalog.
1957 - Ricky Nelson's Imperial Records album "Ricky" hits #1 on Billboard's Pop album chart
1979 - Kenny Roger's United Artists Records album "The Gambler" is #1 on Billboard's Pop album chart. United Artists' catalog is currently owned by Capitol Records' parent company, EMI Music.

ON THIS DAY NOT IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
120 Years Ago Today In 1896 - George Burns, vaudeville, radio, motion picture (played Mr. Kite in "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band") and television performer (best know as part of the duo Burns and Allen with his wife Gracie Allen) is born Nathan Birnbaum in New York City, New York
1965 - Alan Freed, radio disc jockey (called "Moon Doggy" at WJW Radio in Cleveland where he coined the phrase “Rock ’N’ Roll” before moving to WABC in New York) and motion picture actor, dies of uremia at age 43 in Palm Springs, California