MARCH 9, 2016

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
1932 - Keely Smith, singer, Capitol Records artist as part of a duo with her then husband Louis Prima and a Capitol Records solo artist, is born Dorothy Jacqueline Keely in Norfolk, Virginia
1948 - Jimmy Fadden, harmonica player, guitarist and vocalist with the Capitol Records group The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, is born in Long Beach, California

ON THIS DAY IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1945 - Coleman Hawkins signs with Capitol Records
1949 - Jo Stafford, with Paul Weston and His Orchestra, records the tracks "Some Enchanted Evening" and "I'm Gonna Wash That Man Right Outta My Hair" which will be released together as a single by Capitol Records
1952 - Kay Starr's Capitol Records single "Wheel Of Fortune", with "Angry" on the flipside, is #1 on the U.S. Pop singles charts
60 Years Ago Today In 1956 - The Louvin Brothers' Capitol Records single "I Don't Believe You've Met My Baby", with "In The Middle Of Nowhere" on the flipside, is #1 on the U.S. Country singles charts
60 Years Ago Today In 1956 - Klaus Hammerschmidt (aka Harry Stewart) and his Heidelberg Hepcats (aka Johnny Duffy and his orchestra - lineup unlisted) record the titles "Rock Around The Danube" and "There'll Be Some Change Made, Mine Hare" in Los Angeles, California. This is Stewart's last recording session before being killed in a auto accident on May 20, 1956 in Tonopah, Nevada at age 47 while returning to Los Angeles, California from an appearance in Ely, Nevada. Capitol Records will issue both titles together as a single (Capitol F3406).
1957 - Ferlin Husky's Capitol Records single "Gone", with "Missing Persons" on the flipside, enters the top 40 of the U.S. Pop singles charts
55 Years Ago Today In 1961 - Van Alexander conducts his own arrangements to his orchestra (trumpets, trombones, saxophones, and rhythm section - lineup unlisted), as they record the titles "Get Me To The Church On Time" featuring Shelly Manne and Alvin Stoller on drums, "Lulu's Back In Town" and "I Won't Dance" featuring Henri Rose and Bobby Stevenson on pianos, and "Blues In Twos" featuring Joe Graves and Shorty Sherock on trumpets, Mahlon Clark and Eddie Ross on clarinets, Jules Jacob and Justin Gordon on tenor saxophones, and Shelly Manne and Alvin Stoller on drums in The Capitol Tower Studios at 1750 Vine Street in Hollywood, California. Capitol Records will issue all the titles on Alexander and his orchestra's album "Swing! Staged For Stereo" (STAC 1635).
1965 - Wanda Jackson records the track "Oh, Blacky Joe" for Capitol Records
1965 - Bobby Darin, with Ernie Freeman and His Orchestra, records the titles "Venice Blue" and "In A World Without You" which will be released together as a single by Capitol Records
50 Years Ago Today In 1966 - Vocalist Red Simpson, with unlisted others, records the title "The Rules Of The Road", a as yet to be issued take of the title "Dreams Were Made For Fools", and the titles "I Fell In Love With You", and "I'm Gonna Write Momma For Money" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue the first title on Simpson's album "Man Behind Badge" (T 2569) and the last two titles on Simpson's album "Bakersfield Dozen" (T 2829).
50 Years Ago Today In 1966 - Vocalist Sonny James, with unlisted others, records the titles "I'm Having A Hard Time (Getting Over You)", "For Rent", and the as yet to be issued title "Everything Begins And Ends With You" in Nashville, Tennessee. Capitol Records will issue the first titles on James' album "Heaven Says Hello" (ST 2937) and the second title on James' album "The Best Of Sonny James" (T 2615).
50 Years Ago Today In 1966 - Vocalist Wayne Newton, with unlisted others, records the title "Stagecoach To Cheyenne" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue the title as a single (Capitol 5643) with "Somebody To Love" (recorded March 21, 1966) on the flipside.
1969 - Buck Owens records the track "Johnny B. Goode" for Capitol Records
45 Years Ago Today In 1971 - Grand Funk Railroad (Mark Farner on keyboards, guitar, and vocals, Mel Schacher on bass, and Don Brewer on drums and vocals) record the titles "I Want Freedom", "Feelin' Alright", and "I Can Feel Him In The Morning" in New York City, New York. Capitol Records will issue the first two titles together as a single (Capitol 3095) and all three titles on the group's album "Survival" (ST-764).
40 Years Ago Today In 1976 - Vocalist Tex Ritter, with orchestra and chorus (lineups unlisted), records the titles "Through The Years", "MacArthur's Hand", and "One Heaven Of A Woman" in Nashville, Tennessee. After overdubs are recorded for "One Heaven Of A Woman" on May 6, 1971, Capitol Records will issue all the titles on Ritter's album "Fall Away" (ST-11351).
40 Years Ago Today In 1976 - Vocalist Tennessee Ernie Ford, with the orchestra (lineup unlisted using arrangements by Larry Muhoberac, records the titles "Everybody Needs A Rainbow", "Cowboy", "Daddy, What's A Tree?", and "I've Been There Too" in Los Angeles, California. After overdubs for all the titles are recorded on March 15 and 17, 1976, Capitol Records will issue all the titles on Ford's album "For The 83rd Time" (ST-11561).
1987 - Carole King, singer, songwriter and one-time Capitol Records artist, is inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in New York City, New York
2005 - Chris LeDoux, singer, songwriter, guitarist, and Capitol Records Nashville artist, dies in a Casper, Wyoming hospital after a lengthy illness at age 56 and will be cremated the next day

ON THIS DAY NOT QUITE IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1930 - Ornette Coleman, alto saxophonist, trumpet player, violinist, composer, band leader, and Atlantic and Blue Note Records artist, is born Randolph Denard Ornette Coleman in Fort Worth, Texas. Blue Note's catalog is owned by EMI Music Group, the parent company of Capitol Music Group and Blue Note Records is currently a division of Capitol Music Group.
1957 - Fats Domino's Imperial Records single "I'm Walkin'", with "I'm In The Mood For Love" on the flip side enters the top 40 of the U.S. Pop singles charts
1959 - Ricky Nelson's Imperial Records single "Never Be Anyone Else But You", with "It's Late" on the flipside, enters the top 40 of the U.S. Pop singles charts

ON THIS DAY NOT IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1997 - The Notorious B.I.G. (aka Biggie Smalls and born Christopher George Latore Wallace), rapper and Bad Boy Entertainment artist, is killed at age 24 in a drive-by shooting at the corner of Fairfax Avenue and Wilshire Boulevard in Los Angeles, California at approximately 12:30 AM outside a party thrown by Vibe magazine and Qwest Records at the Petersen Automotive Museum after the Soul Train Awards Show. The Los Angeles Police Department still have no suspects.