JULY 4, 2018

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
1937 - Ray Pillow, singer, songwriter, member of The Grand Ole Opry and Capitol Records artist, is born in Lynchburg, Virginia

ON THIS DAY IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1940 - Future Capitol Records artists The Louvin Brothers make their debut in Flatrock, Alabama

65 Years Ago Today In 1953 - Les Baxter and His Orchestra's Capitol Records single "April In Portugal is still #3 on Billboard's Best Selling Retail Records chart, Les Paul and Mary Ford's Capitol Records single "Vaya Con Dios" is #6 up from #7, Les Baxter and His Orchestra's Capitol Records single "Ruby" is #15 down from #11, Kay Starr (with orchestra conducted by Harold Mooney)'s Capitol Records single "Half A Photograph" is #17 down from #13 and its flipside "Allez-Vous-En" is #18 down from #15, and Pee Wee Hunt and His Orchestra's Capitol Records single "Oh!" is still #20. Also, Nat "King" Cole's Capitol Records single "Pretend is #15 on The Billboard magazine's Most Played In Juke Boxes chart and Cash Box magazine's Best Selling Singles chart and #20 on The Billboard magazine's Most Played By Jockeys chart. Cole's single "Return To Paradise" debuts at #21, his single "I Am In Love" is #37 and its flipside, "My Flaming Heart", is #44 also on Cash Box magazine's Best Selling Singles chart.
1955 - Future Capitol Records artist Gene Vincent, while on his Triumph motorcycle in Franklin, Virginia, is hit by a woman in a Chrysler, crushing his left leg.

1964 - The Beach Boys' Capitol Records single "I Get Around", with "Don't Worry Baby" on the flipside, is the groups' first #1 hit on Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart. "Don't Worry Baby" will later peak at #24.

50 Years Ago Today In 1968 - Hearts And Flowers (lineup unlisted) record the titles "Grass" and "The Way That You Treat Me" in Los Angeles, California for Capitol Records. No issuing information is listed.
50 Years Ago Today In 1968 - The Steve Miller Band (lineup unlisted) record the title "Stepping Out" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records has yet to issue the title.
1969 - The Steve Miller Band (lineup unlisted) records the title "The Last Wombat In Mecca" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue the title on the band's album "Your Saving Grace" (SKAO-331).
1970 - Guitarist and vocalist Jimi Hendrix, bass player Billy Cox, and drummer Mitch Mitchell perform "Voodoo Child", "All Along The Watchtower", and "Star Spangled Banner" during at the second annual Atlanta Pop Festival in Atlanta, Georgia which is recorded. Capitol Records will issue all the titles on the album "Jimi Hendrix - An Original Video Soundtrack" (MLP-15022).
1971 - During summer vacation from the University of Massachusettes (where she was a pre-med major), future Capitol Records artists Natalie Cole performs her first professional singing job at a college hangout called "The Pub" in Amherst, Massachusettes where she was also working as a waitress.

1975 - Future Capitol Records group Dolenz, Jones, Boyce, and Hart debut their act at Six Flags Over Mid-America in St. Louis in front of an audience of 12,500 people. Capitol Records will later sign the group and release two singles and, in May 1976, the band's self-titled album.1980 - The Beach Boys give a free outdoor performance to an estimated 500,000 people in Washington, D.C.

1986 - W.A.S.P. (lineup unlisted) records the titles "Sweet Cheetah" at an unlisted location. Capitol Records will issue the title on the group's album "Inside The Electric Circus" (ST-12531).

1995 - Capitol Records releases Foo Fighters' self-titled debut album

ON THIS DAY NOT QUITE IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
75 Years Ago Today In 1943 - Alan "Blind Owl" Wilson, a co-founder, singer, and composer with the Liberty Records band Canned Heat is born Alan C. Wilson in Boston, Massachusetts. Universal Music Group, Capitol Music Groups' parent company currently owns Liberty's catalog. If anyone knows Alan's middle name please leave a comment.
1952 - John Waite, a singer, member of the Chrysalis Records band The Babys, and an EMI America Records solo artist, is born in Lancaster, Lancashire, England. EMI Music Group, Capitol Music Groups' parent company currently owns the Chrysalis and EMI America Records catalogs.
1960 - The Fleetwood's Dolton Records single "Runaround" is #25 up from #29 on Billboard's Hot 100 singles chart, Rick Nelson's Imperial Records single "Young Emotion" is #26 down from #18, Don Costa and His Orchestra's United Artists Records single "Theme From 'The Unforgiven'" is #27 up from at #37, and Fats Domino's Imperial Records single "Walking To New Orleans" re-enters the top 40 at #31 up from #46. EMI Music Group, Capitol Music Group's parent company, currently owns Imperial, Dolton and United Artist Records' catalogs.
1981 - Kim Carnes' EMI America Records single "Bette Davis Eyes", with "Miss You Tonight" on the flipside, is #1 on Billboard's Hot 100 singles chart

ON THIS DAY NOT IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1776 - Printed copies of The Declaration Of Independence, announcing the formation of The United States Of America, are posted in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
1826 - Former presidents of The United States Of America Thomas Jefferson and John Adams die (in Monticello, Virginia and Quincy, Massachusetts respectively) within five hours of each other and songwriter Stephen Foster is born Stephen Foster Collins in Lawrenceville, Pennsylvania
1831 - Former president of The United States Of America James Monroe dies.
1872 - Future president of The United States of America Calvin Coolidge is born.
60 Years Ago Today In 1958 - Radio station WKBW in Buffalo, New York goes to a top 40 format.
1970 - Casey Kasem hosts the radio show "American Top 40" for the first time this day.