APRIL 6, 2017

HAPPY BIRTHDAYS!
1924 - Dorothy Donegan, pianist, leader of The Dorothy Donegan Trio, and Capitol Records artist, is born in Chicago, Illinois
90 Years Ago Today In 1927 - Gerry Mulligan, arranger, songwriter, pianist, clarinet and baritone saxophone player, bandleader, Capitol (solo and as part of Miles Davis' "Birth Of The Cool" band), Pacific Jazz, and Blue Note Records artist, is born Gerald Joseph Mulligan in New York City, New York
80 Years Ago Today In 1937 - Merle Haggard, singer, songwriter, guitarist, 1977 inductee into the Nashville Songwriter's Hall Of Fame, 1994 inductee into the The Country Music Hall Of Fame, and Capitol Records artist, is born in Kern General Hospital, in Bakersfield, California

ON THIS DAY IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY

75 Years Ago Today In 1942 - The first session for Liberty Records (officially renamed Capitol Records on June 1, 1942) is held as a split session at C.P. MacGregor's studios at 729 S. Western Avenue in Los Angeles, California. First, vocalist Martha Tilton and the vocal group The Mellowaires (lineup unlisted), with Gordon Jenkins' Orchestra (Jenkins on piano and leading the rest of the unlisted musicians), record "Moondreams" (co-written by Johnny Mercer and J. C. "Chummy"  MacGregor) and "The Angels Cried" (written by Mercer alone), which features a solo by Hubert "Bumps" Myers on tenor saxophone, then Johnny Mercer, with Gordon Jenkins and his Orchestra (lineup still unlisted but including Jimmy Van Heusen on piano), records "Strip Polka" (words and music by Mercer, arranged by Paul Weston) with additional M.C. vocals by Phil Silvers and harmony vocals by The Mellowaires and "They Didn't Believe  Me" (music by Jerome Kern and lyrics by Herbert Reynolds). Capitol Records will issue "Moondreams" as a single (Capitol 138) with "Comin' Thru The Rye" (recorded June 25, 1942) on the flipside, "The Angels Cried" as a single (Capitol 105) with "I'll Remember April" (recorded June 4, 1942) on the flipside, "Strip Polka" as single (Capitol 103) with "The Air-Minded Executive" (recorded May 21, 1942) on the flipside, and "They Didn't Believe Me" as a single (Capitol 129) with "Riffette" (recorded July 20, 1942) on the flipside.
1951 - Nat "King" Cole's Capitol Records single "Too Young", with "That's My Girl" on the flip side, enters the top 40 of the U.S. Pop singles charts
1956 - The grand opening of The Capitol Tower at 1750 Vine Street, Hollywood, California takes place. Check out the April 6, 2006 posting in the April archives to find all the information and photos that I posted for the 50th anniversary of The Tower's opening.
1966 - Buck Owens records the track "Open Up Your Heart" which will be released by Capitol Records
1968 - Syd Barrett officially leaves Tower Records' (a subsidiary of Capitol Records) band Pink Floyd
1968 - After nearly four months of remodeling, The Beatles open their Apple Corporation office on the fourth floor of  95 Wigmore Street, London, England. The office workers find out that they can't play records during office hours so as not to disturb other tenants in the building. About three months later, the company will move to 3 Savile Road on July 15, 1968 after The Beatles buy the entire building.
1999 - Red Norvo, xylophonist, bandleader, Capitol Records session player and artist, dies at the age of 91

ON THIS DAY NOT QUITE IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1945 - Bob Marley, singer, songwriter, guitarist, husband of Rita Marley (member of member of I3), and literaly the father of EMI America and Virgin Records group Ziggy Marley and The Melody Makers, is born Robert Nesta Marley in Rhoden Hall, Saint Ann Parish, Jamaica
1971 - Donavan Freberg, photographer and son of Capitol Records artist Stan Freberg, is born.
1973 - Future Capitol Records band Queen sign their first recording contract
1981 - Bob Hite (aka "The Bear"), guitarist, harmonica player, and founding member of the Liberty Records group Canned Heat, dies of a heart attack brought on by a combination of drug use and extreme weight at age 38. The attack happened in a van that was taking him home from a gig at The Palimino. Though his bandmates tried to revive him, they had to call paramedics when they got to Hite's home in Mar Vista, California, where he was later pronounced dead. If anyone knows for sure where Bob is buried, please leave a comment.

ON THIS DAY NOT IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
100 Years Ago Today In 1917 - The United States of America enters the first world war.