MAY 2, 2026

HAPPY BIRTHDAYS!

1950 - Lou Gramm, a singer and drummer in the Capitol Records band Black Sheep and the band Foreigner is born Louis Grammatico, in Rochester, New York.

1954 - Prescott Niles, a bass player in the Capitol Records band The Knack, as well as the bands The Game and The Front, is born in New York City, New York.

ON THIS DAY IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY

80 Years Ago Today In 1946 - Andy Russell's Capitol Records single "Laughing On The Outside (Crying On The Inside)" is released.

1947 - The Pied Pipers' Capitol Records single "Mam'selle" is released.

1948 - The Notre Dame Glee Club (lineup unlisted) records the titles "Notre Dame Victory March" and "Notre Dame We Hail Thee" in New York City, New York. Capitol Records will issue both titles as a single (57-764) with The U.C.L.A. Glee Club's titles "Hail To California" and "Team Hear Our Song" (both recorded on June 29, 1948) on the flipside.

1953 - Nat "King" Cole's Capitol Records single "Pretend" is #4 on Billboard's Best Selling Records chart, Les Baxter and His Orchestra's Capitol Records single "April In Portugal" is #5, and Jane Froman's Capitol Records single "I Believe", with Sid Feller conducting the orchestra, is #17.

1953 - Vocalist Frank Sinatra, with Nelson Riddle conducting his own arrangements to the orchestra (Arthur “Skeets” Herfurt, Ted Nash, and James Williamson on reeds, Clyde Hurley and Emanuel Klein on trumpets, Milton Bernhart and James Priddy on trombones, John Cace and Vincent De Rosa on French horns, Bill Miller on piano, Phil Stephens on bass, Alton Hendrickson on guitar, Alvin Stoller on drums, Kathryn Julve on harp, and a string section with Victor Bay, Walter Edelstien, Henry Hill, Alex Murray, Mischa Russell, and Gerald Vinci on violins, Alfred Barr and Paul Robyn on violas, Eleanor Slatkin on cello), records the titles "Anytime, Anywhere", "My One And Only Love", "From Here To Eternity", and "I Can Read Between The Lines" at radio station KHJ's (now the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Science's Pickford Center for Motion Picture Study and The Academy Film Archive) studios at 1313 North Vine Street in Hollywood, California between 3:00 PM and 6:00 PM with producer Voyle Gilmore. Capitol Records will issue "Anytime, Anywhere" and "From Here To Eternity" together as a single (Capitol 2560), "My One And Only Love" as a single (Capitol 2505) with "I've Got The World On A String" (recorded on April 30, 1953) on the flipside, and "I Can Read Between The Lines" on the album "Songs For Young Lovers" (W 1432).

1955 - Jackie Gleason records the track "That Certain Party" for Capitol Records.

70 Years Ago Today In 1956 - The Louvin Brothers record the track "Cash On The Barrelhead" for Capitol Records.

1958 - Vocal overdubs are recorded in Los Angeles on Hank Thompson's titles "Shenandoah Waltz", "Signed, Sealed And Delivered", "In The Valley Of The Moon", and "Warm Red Wine" which were all recorded on April 15, 1958. Capitol Records will issue the final mixes of all the titles on the album "Favorite Waltzes By Hank Thompson With The Brazos Valley Boys" (T 1111).

1958 - Vocalist Nat "King" Cole, with Gordon Jenkins and his Orchestra (Rene Favre on piano, John Collins on guitar, Charles Harris on bass, Lee Young on drums, and a string section with Victor Arno, Harry Bluestone, Sam Cytron, Kurt Dieterle, Walt Edelstein, Dave Frisina, Jacques Gasselin, Murray Kellner, Joseph Livoti, Alex Murray, Erno Neufeld, Nick Pisani, Joe Quadri, Nathan Ross, Mischa Russell, and Marshall Sosson on violin, Bill Baffa, Lou Kievman, Ray Menhennick, and David Sterkin on viola, Armand Kaproff and Ray Kramer on cello, and Kathryn Thompson on harp), records the titles "I Wish I Knew The Way To Your Heart", "This Is All I Ask", "The More I See You", "I Found A Million Dollar Baby (In A Five And Ten Cent Store)", "Making Believe You're Here", and "My Heart Tells Me (Should I Believe My Heart?)" in The Capitol Tower Studios at 1750 North Vine Street in Hollywood, California between 2:00 PM and 6:00 PM. Capitol Records will issue all the songs on Cole's album "The Very Thought Of You" (W 1084). An edited version of "I Found A Million Dollar Baby (In A Five And Ten Cent Store)" is included on a promotional record (Capitol PRO 2991/2).

1963 - At their first session, The Super Stocks (Gary Usher and Chuck Girard on vocals, Richie Podolor aka Richie Allen, Paul Johnson, and Glen Campbell on guitars, Wayne Edwards on percussion, Bill Cooper and Carol Kaye on bass guitars, Richard Burns on rhythm guitar, Steve Douglas on saxophone, Leon Russell on keyboards, and Hal Blaine on drums), record the titles "Four On The Floor", "Wide Track", "Street Machine", and "Cheater Slicks" in Los Angeles, California with Gary Usher also producing the session. Capitol Records will issue all the titles on the multi-artist compilation album "Shutdown" (T/DT 1918).

1964 - The Beatles' Capitol Records album "Second Album" hits the #1 spot on Billboard's Top 200 Albums chart two weeks after its release, making it the first album ever to reach #1 that quickly.

60 Years Ago Today In 1966 - Capitol Records releases Buck Owens' album "Dust On Mother's Bible".

1967 - Capitol Records pulls the plug on Brian Wilson's "Smile" album for The Beach Boys. Thirty-eight years later in 2005, after a series of concert performances by Brian Wilson, the album, and a documentary film, will finally be released.

1968 - Vocalist Lou Rawls, with H. B. Barnum conducting his own arrangement to his orchestra (Plas Johnson and Jim Horn on tenor saxophone, Gary Coleman on vibraphone, Don Randi on piano, Les Buie, Al Casey, and Arthur Wright on guitars, Carole Kaye on bass, Earl Palmer on drums, and Stan Levey on percussion), records the titles "Ol' Man River", "Life Time", "One For My Baby (And One More For The Road)", and "Life Time (Monologue)" in Los Angeles, California with producer David Axelrod. Capitol Records will issue all the titles on Rawls' album "You're Good For Me" (ST 2927).

1968 - Vocalist Tony Bruno, with unlisted others, records the titles "Reason To Believe", "Little Green Apples", and "Rhoda Mendelbaum" in Los Angeles, California. After overdubs are recorded for all the titles on May 3, 4, 6, and 18, 1968, Capitol Records will issue the final mixes of all the titles on Bruno's album "I'm Feeling It Now" (ST 2930).

1968 - Pianist Rubin Mitchell, with King Curtis on tenor saxophone and unlisted trumpets, alto saxophone, baritone saxophone, organ, guitar, bass, and drums players, records the titles "Do You Know The Way To San Jose", "Loosen Up (Yakety Sax)" with the addition of an unlisted tambourine player, and "Summer Dreams" in New York City, New York. Capitol Records has yet to issue "Do You Know The Way To San Jose" and will issue "Loosen Up (Yakety Sax)" and "Summer Dreams" together as a single (Capitol 2220).

1968 - Capitol Records registers in Los Angeles, California the masters it purchased of Orville Couch's titles "Double Trouble", "Just Another Stranger", "Won't It Feel Good", and "Don't Laugh At The Honky Tonks". Tower Records, a subsidiary of Capitol Records, will issue "Double Trouble" and "Just Another Stranger" together as a single (Tower 413) and "Won't It Feel Good" and "Don't Laugh At The Honky Tonks" together as a single (Tower 469).

1973 - June Hutton, a singer who replaced Jo Stafford in the Capitol Records group The Pied Pipers in June 1944 and was married arranger Axel Stordahl, the father of their two children, and Kenneth Tobey dies at age 53 in Encino, California. She is later interred in the Forest Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery in Glendale, California next to Stordahl.

1973 - Boomer (aka Boomer Castleman), with unlisted others, records the titles "The Mississippi Mud", "Texas Dawn", "Cottonmouth", and "Let's Get The Feeling" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue "The Mississippi Mud" and "Texas Dawn" together as a single (Capitol 3668). No issuing information is listed for the last two titles.

1978 - Connie Cato, with unlisted others, records the titles "Hasta Manana", "Cry Like A Baby", "Red Rubber Ball", and "I Won't Take It Lyin' Down" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue "I Won't Take It Lyin' Down" as a single (Capitol 4603) with "I'll Love Her Right Out Of Your Mind" (recorded October 5, 1976) on the flipside and has yet to issue the other three titles.

40 Years Ago Today In 1986 - Anne Murray's Capitol Records single "Now And Forever" is #1 on the U.S. Country singles charts.

1988 - Willie Dixon, with unlisted others, records the titles "Good Advice", "Blues You Can't Lose", and "I Love The Life I Live (I Live The Life I Love" at an unlisted studio for Capitol Records. No issuing information is listed.

1992 - Capitol Records artist Bonnie Raitt receives an honorary Doctor of Music Degree from Berklee College of Music during commencement ceremonies in Boston. The principal speaker at the commencement is Capitol Records boss Joe Smith.

2004 - Keith Urban's Capitol Records Nashville single "You'll Think Of Me" is #1 on the U.S. Country singles charts.

ON THIS DAY NOT QUITE IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY

1885 - Hedda Hopper, American actress, gossip columnist, radio show host, mother of motion picture and television actor William Hopper (best known as Paul Drake on "Perry Mason"), and whose estate was an early tenant of The Capitol Tower, is born Elda Furry in Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania.

1958 - Pianist Gil Evans conducts his own arrangements to Johnny Coles, Louis Mucci, and Ernie Royal on trumpets, Frank Rehak and Joe Bennett on trombones, Tom Mitchell on bass trombone, Julius Watkins on French horn, Bill Barber on tuba, Julian "Cannonball" Adderley on alto saxphone, Phil Bodner on piccolo, flute, bass clarinet, and English horn, Chuck Wayne on guitar, Paul Chambers on bass, and Philly Joe Jones on drums, records the title "Willow Tree" at Judson Hall in New York City, New York with producer George Avaklan for World Pacific Records which will issue the title on the album "New Bottle Old Wine" (WP-1246 in Mono and STEREO-1011 in Stereo) as by Gil Evans Orchestra Featuring Cannonball Adderley in 1958. Blue Note Records will issue the title on the two-disc compilation album "Pacific Standard Time" (BN-LA461-H2) in 1975 and on the CD "Gil Evans ‎– The Complete Pacific Jazz Sessions" (3-58300-2) in 2006.

1964 - The Beatles' Tollie Records single "Love Me Do" enters the Top 40 of Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart.

1964 - Imperial Records releases Billy J. Kramer's single "Little Children" in the United States.

1968 - Tenor saxophonist Stanley Turrentine, with Snooky Young and Jimmy Nottingham on flugelhorns, Jim Buffington on French horn, Benny Powell on bass trombone, Hank Jones on piano, Kenny Burrell on guitar, George Duvivier on bass, and Grady Tate on drums, records the titles "A Beautiful Friendship" without Burrell on guitar, "This Guy's In Love With You", I'm Always Drunk In San Francisco", "Emily", and "Cabin In The Sky" in recording engineer Rudy Van Gelder's studio in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey. After a fourteen piece string section records overdubs arranged by Duke Pearson for all the titles on May 27, 1968, Blue Note Records will reject the take of "Cabin In The Sky" and will issue the final mixes of "A Beautiful Friendship", "This Guy's In Love With You", I'm Always Drunk In San Francisco", and "Emily" on Turrentine's album "The Look Of Love" (BST84286) and will also issue "This Guy's In Love With You" as a single (Blue Note 45-1940) with "The Look Of Love" (recorded April 15, 1968 and had the string section overdubbed on May 27, 1968) on the flipside.

45 Years Ago Today In 1981 - Sheena Easton's EMI America single "Morning Train" is still #1 on Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart.

1988 - Jim Fifield is appointed President and Chief Operating Officer of EMI Music Worldwide, based in New York City, New York. He will become President and Chief Executive Officer the following year.

ON THIS DAY NOT IN CAPITOL HISTORY

1895 - Larry Hart, a lyricist, writer, composer, producer, and partner of Richard Rodgers, is born Lorenz Milton Hart in New York City, New York.

1932 - NBC introduces a new entertainer to their network's radio audience - Jack Benny.

1938 - Drummer Chick Webb and His Orchestra (Mario Bauza, Bobby Stark, and Taft Jordan on trumpets, George Matthews, Nat Story, and Sandy Williams on trombones, Garvin Bushell on clarinet and alto saxophone, Louis Jordan on alto saxophone, Teddy McRae and Wayman Carver on tenor saxophone, Tommy Fulford on piano, Bobby Johnson on guitar, and Beverly Peer on bass), using arrangements by Van Alexander and with vocalist Ella Fitzgerald who would later record for Capitol Records, record the titles "A-Tisket A-Tasket", "Heart Of Mine", "I'm Just A Jitterbug", and the instrumental "Azure" in New York City, New York. Decca Records will issue "A-Tisket A-Tasket" as a single (Decca 1840) with "Liza (All The Clouds’ll Roll Away)" (recorded May 3, 1938) on the flipside, "Heart Of Mine" as a single by Ella Fitzgerald with Chick Webb and his Orchestra (Decca 2721) with "My Last Goodbye" (recorded August 18, 1939 by Ella Fitzgerald and Her Famous Orchestra) on the flipside, and "I'm Just A Jitterbug" and "Azure" together as a single (Decca 1899).

1984 - Bob Clampett, cartoonist, director, television host, puppeteer, and creator of Tweety Bird and Beany and Cecil, dies at age 70, six days before his 71st birthday, of a heart attack in Detroit, Michigan.

MAY 1, 2026

HAPPY BIRTHDAYS!

1909 - Kate Smith, a singer, radio, television and motion picture performer, and a Capitol Records artist (1954) is born Kathryn Elizabeth Smith in Greenville, Virginia.

1929 - Sonny James (aka "The Southern Gentleman"), a singer, guitarist, and Capitol Records artist, is born James Loden in Hackleburg, Alabama.

ON THIS DAY IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY

1948 - Capitol Records holds the #1 and #2 spots on Billboard's Best Selling Singles Chart with Peggy Lee's "Mañana" at # 1 for the 9th straight week and Nat "King" Cole's first solo recording, "Nature Boy", at # 2 (it would hit #1 the following week and stay for 7 weeks).

1954 - Capitol Records releases its first ever 12" LP, Nat "King" Cole's "10th Anniversary Album", at a consumer list price of $4.75 (with inflation that's $41.72 in 2014) plus excise tax. It is Cole's 11th album for the label and a collection of previously unreleased masters and features sides by the original King Cole Trio and the orchestras of Pete Rugulo, Les Baxter, Dave Cavanaugh, and Nelson Riddle. All promotional materials for the album have been given deluxe treatment, with streamers, browser -box cards, etc., printed in gold metallic inks.

1954 - Frank Sinatra with Nelson Riddle and His Orchestra's Capitol Records single "Young At Heart" is #5 on Billboard's Best Selling Retail Records chart, Nat "King" Cole's Capitol Records single "Answer Me, My Love" is #6, Kay Starr's Capitol Records single "If You Love Me (Really Love Me) is #11, and it's flipside, "The Man Upstairs", is at #12. Cole's "Answer Me, My Love" is also #10 on Cash Box magazine's Best Selling Singles chart. Cole's single "It Happens To Be Me" is #20 and its flipside, "Alone Too Long", is #24 also on Cash Box magazine's Best Selling Singles chart.

1954 - Capitol Records artist Andy Griffith debuts at The Grand Ole Opry.

1957 - Frank Sinatra records the titles "Maybe You'll Be There" and "Where Are You?" at The Capitol Tower Studios in Hollywood, California.

1958 - The Kingston Trio make their TV debut when appearing on the Playhouse 90 episode "Rumors Of Evening" when they play WW2 pilots as well as perform "Three Jolly Coachmen" and "Scarlet Ribbons".

1958 - Ray Budzilek directs His Boys (lineup unlisted) as they record the titles "Speedline Polka", "Suppertime Polka", "Whoo-Pie Shoo-Pie", and "Melnyk Polka" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue all the titles on the album "Polka Night! with Ray Budzilek And The Boys In The Band" (T 1104).

65 Years Ago Today In 1961 - Faron Young's Capitol Records single "Hello Walls" is at #39 on Billboard's Best Selling Retail Records chart.

1963 - Pianist Earl Hines, with Ralph Carmichael conducting his own arrangements to His Orchestra (Al Porcino, Cappy Lewis, John Audino, Ray Triscari, and Bud Brisbois on trumpets, Gil Falco, Tommy Shepard, Dick Nash, and Lloyd Ulyate on trombones, George Roberts on bass trombone, Ted Nash and Ronnie Lang on flutes, clarinets, and alto saxophones, Justin Gordon and Buddy Collette on tenor saxohones, clarinets, and flutes, Jack Nimitz on baritone saxophone and bass clarinet, Al Hendrickson on guitar, Joe Comfort on bass, and Leon Petties on drums) records the titles "Ann", "As Long As I Live", "Deep Forest", and "Cavernism" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue all the titles on the album "Earl "Fatha" Hines" (T/ST 1971).

1963 - Capitol Records purchases the masters for Jack Marshall's titles "Dingston Trio: I Left My Love At Rincon", "Frank N. Stein And The Abominable Surf Men: The Monster Surfer", "Daddie Ho And the Hoodies: Surfing Is My Life", "Sudsy Shots And The Pier-Shooters: Laura, Teen Age Laura", "Knotknees McGurdy And The Drop Outs: Some Gremmie Stole My Hair Bleach", and "Hangten Horowitz: Sax Now, Surf Later" in Los Angeles, California and will issue all the titles on the album ""My Son The Surf Nut (Interviews On The Beach - Jack Marshall)" (T/ST 1939).

60 Years Ago Today In 1966 - The Beatles' last scheduled concert in the UK is held at the New Musical Express Poll Winner's Show at Empire Pool, Wembley. The Beatles played a fifteen-minute set performing the songs, "I Feel Fine," "Nowhere Man," "Day Tripper," "If I Needed Someone," and "I'm Down".

1968 - Vocalist Tony Bruno, with unlisted others, records the titles "We'll Be Together Again", "Didn't We", and "You Don't Know What Love Is" in Los Angeles, California. After overdubs are recorded on May 3, 4, 6, and 18, 1968, Capitol Records will issue the final mixes of all the titles on Bruno's album "I'm Feeling It Now" (ST 2930) and "Didn't We" also as a single (Capitol 2342) with "Little Men & Women" (recorded March 4, 1968 with overdubs recorded on March 18 and April 26, 1968) on the flipside.

1968 - Vocalist John Anderson, with Shorty Rogers conducting his own arrangements to the orchestra (lineup unlisted), records the titles "Just Look In My Face" and "Someday Good" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue "Just Look In My Face" on Anderson's album "Kasandra" (ST 2957) and also as a single (Capitol 2342) with "Don't Pack Me On The Back And Call Me Brother" (recorded April 30, 1968) on the flipside. No issuing information is listed for "Someday Good".

1968 - Norma Tanega, with unlisted others, records the title "Love Is Wonderful" in (listed as possibly) Los Angeles, California for Capitol Records. No issuing information is listed.

1968 - Capitol Records registers in Los Angeles, California the masters it purchased for Buddy Di Vito's titles "Sempre Tu" and "Porque No" for its Tower Records subsidiary but neither label has yet to issue either title.

1969 - Peggy Lee's Capitol Records album "Natural Woman" is released.

1973 - Vocalist Anne Murray, with unlisted others, records the title "Send A Little Love My Way" in (listed as possibly) Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue the title on Murray's album "Love Song" (ST-11266).

1973 - Capitol Records registers in Los Angeles, California the masters for Freddie Hart and The Heartbeats' titles "Easy Loving", "Indian Joe", "Music Box", and "Heart Beat" recorded in (according to the artist file) Nashville, Tennessee (though it's listed that they might have been actually recorded in Bakersfield, California) which were produced by Buck Owens Enterprises. Capitol Records will issue all the titles on the group's album "Freddie Hart Presents The Heartbeats" (ST-11431).

1973 - Vocalist Kathi McDonald, with unlisted others, records the titles "Heartbreak Hotel", "If You Need Me", "Somethin' Else", "All I Want To Be", "Bogart To Bowie", "To Love Somebody", "(Love Is Like A) Heat Wave", "Threw My Love Away", "Madly In Love With" (aka "Freak Lover"), "Down To The Wire", and "Insane Asylum", all of which are produced by David Briggs Productions, in (listed as possibly) Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue all the titles on McDonald's album  "Insane Asylum" (ST-11224) and also "Bogart To Bowie" and "Madly In Love With" as "Freak Lover" together as a single (Capitol 3835).

1984 - Gordon Jenkins, an arranger, composer, pianist, and Capitol Records' first music director, who was an influential figure in popular music in the 1940s and 1950s, renowned for his lush string arrangements for the Andrews Sisters, Johnny Cash, The Weavers, Frank Sinatra, Louis Armstrong, Judy Garland, Nat King Cole, Billie Holiday, and Ella Fitzgerald among others, dies at age 73 of Lou Gehrig's Disease in Malibu, California.

1988 - Pink Floyd's Capitol Records album "Dark Side Of The Moon" finally leaves Billboard's Top 200 Albums chart after 725 weeks.

1999 - Matador Records ends its distribution relationship with Capitol Records and goes independent.

25 Years Ago Today In 2001 - After a transition period, Andy Slater starts full time as president of Capitol Records.

ON THIS DAY NOT QUITE IN CAPITOL HISTORY

1868 - Tom Dula, the basis for the Kingston Trio's first million-selling single "Tom Dooley", is hung in Statesville, North Carolina.

1918 - Jack Paar, a television host who, via a short clip, introduced The Beatles to the U.S. television audience on "The Jack Paar Show" on NBC-TV, is born in Canton, Ohio.

75 Years Ago Today In 1951 - Bud Powell (on piano, with Curly Russell on bass and Max Roach on drums) records three versions of his "Un Poco Loco", a pair of takes on "A Night in Tunisia", and unaccompanied piano work on "Over the Rainbow" and "It Could Happen to You" at a session for Blue Note Records.

1961 - Ernie K-Doe's Minit Records single "Mother-In-Law" is #2 on Billboard's Best Selling Retail Records Chart, Gene McDaniel's Liberty Records single "A Hundred Pounds Of Clay" is #4, Steve Lawrence's United Artists Records single "Portrait Of My Love" is #11, Al Caiola and His Orchestra's United Artists Records single "Bonanza" is #33, and Ricky Nelson's Imperial Records single "Travelin' Man" is #34.

1963 - Future Virgin Records band The Rollin' Stones sign Andrew Loog Oldham as manager.

1967 - Elvis Presley and Priscilla Beaulieu are married at the Aladdin Hotel in Las Vegas by District Court Judge David Zenoff. They will become the parents of future Capitol Records artist Lisa Marie Presley.

1968 - D'Arcy Wretsky-Brown, with the Virgin Records America group Smashing Pumpkins, is born.

1988 - During two sessions held this day at Skyline Studios in New York City, New York, alto saxophonist Bobby Watson and Horizon (Roy Hargrove on trumpet, John Hicks on piano, Curtis Lundy on bass, and Victor Lewis on drums) record the titles "Country Corn Flakes", "And Then Again", "Forty Acres And A Mule", and "No Question About It" at the afternoon session and the titles "Blood Count", and without Hargrove on trumpet "What Can I Do", "As Quiet As It's Kept", and "Moonrise" at the night session. Blue Note Records will issue "Country Corn Flakes", "And Then Again", "Forty Acres And A Mule", "No Question About It", "Blood Count", "What Can I Do", and "Moonrise" on the album "No Question About It" (B1-90262 on 12" vinyl and 7-90262-2 on CD) and has yet to issue "As Quiet As It's Kept".

ON THIS DAY NOT IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY

125 Years Ago Today In 1901 - The Pan-American Exposition opens in Buffalo, New York.

95 Years Ago Today In 1931 - The Empire State Building is dedicated in New York City.

85 Years Ago Today In 1941 - Orson Welles's Citizen Kane premieres in New York City.

1965 - Spike Jones (born Lindley Armstrong Jones), a comedian, motion picture and television performer, musician, recording artist, and bandleader, dies of emphysema at age 53 in Beverly Hills, California and is later interred at the Holy Cross Cemetery in Culver City, California..

APRIL 30, 2026

HAPPY BIRTHDAYS!

1940 - Darrell McCall, a singer, songwriter, and Capitol Records artist (1961-1962), is born in New Jasper Township, Greene County, Ohio.

80 Years Ago Today In 1946 - James Lee Stanley, a folksinger, songwriter, guitarist, founder of Beachwood Records, whose 1985 album "James Lee Stanley/Live" was re-released by Beachwood and distributed nationally by Capitol Records in 1988, is born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

1979 - Sean Mackin, the violinist and backing vocalist in the Capitol Records (2002-2006) group Yellowcard, is born in Jacksonville, Florida.

ON THIS DAY IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY

1938 - Vocalists Peter Anders and Aulikki Rautawaara, with Hans Schmidt-Isserstedt conducting The Berlin Opera Hous Orchestra (lineup unlisted), record Lehar's "When Two Are In Love - Duet (From 'Das Rastelbunder')" in Berlin, Germany for Telefunken Records. After Capitol Records licenses Telefunken's catalog for release in the United States, it will issue the title on the album "Franz LEHAR - Songs From His Operettas/Oskar STRAUS - Operetta Excerpts" (P-8139).

1947 - Mel Blanc is in the studio to record the title "Porky Pig In Africa" for the Capitol Records children's album "Bugs Bunny Stories For Children" which is produced by Alan Livingston with music by Billy May and story by Tedd Pierce and Warren Foster.

1948 - The King Cole Trio's Capitol Records single "Nature Boy" is #1 on The Billboard magazine's Records Most Played By Disk Jockeys chart, #2 on the magazine's Best-Selling Popular Retail Records chart. "Nature Boy"'s flipside, "Lost April" is #1 on The Billboard  magazine's Record Possibilities - The Disk Jockeys Pick chart. Also, The King Cole Trio start seven straight days of performances at the Lake Club in Springfield, Illinois.

1948 - Capitol Records registers the masters it purchased on April 5, 1948 from Gold Seal Records of Cliffie Stone and His Orchestra's titles "When My Blue Moon Turns To Gold Again" and "So Long To The Red River Valley" and will issue "When My Blue Moon Turns Gold Again" as a single (Capitol 15108) with "Take It Any Way You Can Get It" (recorded December 3, 1947) on the flipside and "So Long To The Red River Valley" as a single (Capitol 15157) with "He's A Real Gone Oakie" (also recorded December 3, 1947) on the flipside.

1949 - Mel Tormé (with orchestra conducted by Sonny Burke)'s Capitol Records single "Careless Hands" is #9 on Billboard's Best Selling Retail Records chart, Jo Stafford and Gordon MacRae (with Paul Weston and His Orchestra)'s Capitol Records single "'A' You're Adorable" is #11, Mel Tormé (with orchestra conducted by Pete Rugolo)'s Capitol Records single "Again" is #13, Jo Stafford and Gordon MacRae (with Paul Weston and His Orchestra)'s Capitol Records single "Need You" is #15, Mel Tormé's Capitol Records single "Blue Moon" is #23, Jack Smith and The Clark Sisters (formerly called The Sentimentalists when they recorded with Tommy Dorsey and His Orchestra) with Frank DeVol and His Orchestra's Capitol Records single "Cruising Down The River" is tied with Gordon MacRae (with studio orchestra)'s Capitol Records single "So In Love" (from the Cole Porter musical "Kiss Me Kate") at #27, and Margaret Whiting (with Frank DeVol and His Orchestra) is tied with herself at #29 with her Capitol Records single "Forever And Ever" and its flipside "A Wonderful Guy" (from the Rodgers & Hammerstein musical "South Pacific").

1953 - Vocalist Frank Sinatra, at his second session for Capitol Records and his first with arranger Nelson Riddle conducting his own arrangements to the orchestra (Conrad Gozzo, Mannie Klein, Vito "Mickey" Mangano, and Rubin "Zeke" Zarchy on trumpets, Si Zentner, Joe Howard, Jimmy Priddy, and Milt Bernhart on trombones, Skeets Herfurt, Jack Dumont, Ted Nash, Ted Romersa, and Joe Koch on saxophones and woodwinds, Bill Miller on piano, Al Hendrickson on guitar, Phil Stephens on bass, and Alvin Stoller on drums), records the titles "I've Got The World On A String", "Don't Worry 'Bout Me", "I Love You", and "South Of The Border (Down Mexico Way)" at radio station KHJ's studios (now the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Science's Pickford Center for Motion Picture Study and The Academy Film Archive) at 1313 North Vine Street in Hollywood, California with producer Voyle Gilmore between 8:00 PM and 11:30 PM. Not bad for Riddle's first day on the job. The arrangements and conducting of "I Love You" and "South Of The Border (Down Mexico Way)" have at times been credited to Billy May but, at the time of this session, May is on tour with his own band. It turns out Riddle was asked to arrange those titles in the style of Billy May. Capitol Records initially will issue "I've Got The World On A String" as a single (Capitol 2505) with "My One And Only Love" (recorded May 2, 1953) on the flipside and will later re-issue it also as a single (Capitol 1669) with "Young At Heart" (recorded December 9, 1953) on the flipside, and issued "Don't Worry 'Bout Me" as a single (Capitol 2787) with "I Could Have Told You" (also recorded on December 9, 1953) on the flipside, and "I Love You" and "South Of The Border (Down Mexico Way" together as a single (Capitol 2638).

1955 - Les Baxter and His Orchestra's Capitol Records single "Unchained Melody" is #4 on Billboard's Best Selling Retail Records chart, Tennessee Ernie Ford with Cliffie Stone's Band's Capitol Records single "The Ballad Of Davy Crocket" is #8, Nat "King" Cole with Nelson Riddle and His Orchestra's Capitol Records single "Darling, Je Vous Aime Beaucoup" is #10 and both sides of their single "A Blossom Fell" with "If I May" on the flipside debut at #27.

1958 - During two sessions held this day in Los Angeles, California, Ray Budzilek directs His Boys (lineup unlisted) as they record the titles "Vito's Silver Wedding", "Monopol Polka", "Beer And Bourbon Oberek", and "Christina's Polka" at the first session and the titles "Bell Tone Oberek", and with the addition of Lenny Daniels on vocals, "Cradle Song", "I'm In Love With Jenny", and "Fortunes Of War" at the second session. Capitol Records will issue all the titles on the album "Polka Night! with Ray Budzilek And The Boys In The Band" (T 1104).

1958 - Vocalist Janice Harper, with Gordon Jenkins and His Orchestra (lineup unlisted), records the titles "Devotion", "Par Avion", "Beyond The Reef", and "Hands Across The Sea" in New York City, New York. Capitol Records will issue "Devotion" and "Hands Across The Sea" together as a single (Capitol F3984) and, with "Beyond The Reef", on Harper's album "With Feeling" (T 1195). Capitol has yet to issue "Par Avion".

65 Years Ago Today In 1961 - Faron Young's Capitol Records single "Hello Walls" is #1 on the U.S. Country singles charts.

60 Years Ago Today In 1966 - After being introduced by Ernest Tubb, Capitol Records artist Ray Pillow, best known at the time for his duets with Jean Shepard, is made a member of The Grand Ol' Opry.

60 Years Ago Today In 1966 - The Beach Boys' Capitol Records single "Caroline, No" peaks at #32 on the Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart. The title was recorded January 31, 1966 at Western Recorders, Hollywood, California, and released March 7, 1966, as Capitol single 5610 with Brian Wilson on lead vocals.

1967 - Sonny James' Capitol Records single "Need You" is #1 on the U.S. Country singles charts.

1968 - Vocalist Lou Rawls, with H. B. Barnum conducting his own arrangments to the orchestra (lineup unlisted), records the titles "A Beautiful Friendship", "Down Here On the Ground", and "Baby I Could Be So Good At Loving You" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue all the titles on Rawls' album "You're Good For Me" (ST 2927) and "Down Here On The Ground" also as a single (Capitol 2252) with "I'm Satisfied (The Duffy Theme)" (recorded May 1, 1968) on the flipside.

1968 - Brothers Make Two (lineup unlisted) record the titles "Just As Long As You're Mine", "Don't Be Ashamed", "I Won't Be Home For Dinner Tonight", "Something In The Rain", and "Golden Cinder" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue "Don't Be Ashamed" as a single (Capitol 2344) with "Autumn Lament" (recorded April 29, 1968) on the flipside and has yet to issue any of the other titles.

1968 - Vocalist John Anderson, with Shorty Rogers conducting his own arrangements to the orchestra (lineup unlisted), records the titles "Wilderness", an unlisted title, "Don't Pat Me On The Back And Call Me Brother", and "If A Storm Wind Blows" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue "Wilderness", "Don't Pat Me On The Back And Call Me Brother", and "If A Storm Wind Blows" on Anderson's album "Kasandra" (ST 2957) and "Don't Pat Me On The Back And Call Me Brother" also as a single (Capitol 2342) with "Just Look In My Face" (recorded May 1, 1968) on the flipside.

1973 - Billy May and The Time-Life Orchestra (lineup unlisted) record the titles "Manha De Carnaval", "Deserted City", "Night And Day", and "Scarborough Fair" in The Capitol Tower Studios at 1750 North Vine Street in Hollywood, California. After overdubs are recorded at the same session for "Manha De Carnaval" and on May 3, 1973 for "Scarborough Fair", Time-Life Records, as part of its "As You Remember Them" series, will issue the final mixes of "Manha De Carnaval" and "Scarborough Fair" as well as "Deserted City" in the three-LP set "Volume 7 - Billy May" (STL 247) and "Night And Day" in the three-LP set "Volume 8 - Billy May" (STL 248).

1974 - Merle Haggard records the title "Old Man From The Mountain" for Capitol Records.

1974 - Capitol Records purchased the masters for vocalist Mike Lookinland's titles ""Love Doesn't Care Who's In It, "Gum Drop", and "I Want To Be Alone With You" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records issued the first two titles together as a single (Capitol 3914) and has yet to issue "I Want to Be Alone With You".

1977 - Glen Campbell's Capitol Records single "Southern Nights" is still #1 on Billboard's singles chart.

1977 - Klaatu's self-titled debut album on Capitol Records peaks at #32 on the Billboard album charts and will stay there for 3 weeks.

1978 - Dick Curless, bandleader and Capitol Records artist, is inducted into the Maine Country Music Hall of Fame.

1985 - Mickey Katz, comedian, klezmer style clarinet player, member and vocalist with Spike Jones and His City Slickers, father of Broadway, motion picture and television actor and Capitol Records artist Joel Grey, grandfather of motion picture and television actress Jennifer Grey, and a Capitol recording artist, dies at age 75 and is later interred in the Valley of Remembrance section of Hillside Memorial Park in Los Angeles, California.

1987 - Apple Records releases The Beatles' albums "Help!", "Rubber Soul" and "Revolver" on CD for the first time with their original UK track order and with Capitol Records handling distribution in the United States.

1988 - Vocalist Willie Dixon, with unlisted others, records the titles "Study War No More", "Jungle Swing", and "I Do The Job" at an unlisted studio for Capitol Records. No issuing information is listed.

1995 - Capitol Records artist Roseanne Cash and record producer John Leventhal are married.

2000 - Jonah Jones, trumpet player and Capitol Records solo artist, dies at age 91.

ON THIS DAY NOT QUITE IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY

1870 - Franz Lehar, the composer of the operettas "The Merry Widow and "Naughty Marietta" (selections from both were later recorded by Gordon MacRae and released first as separate 10" albums and later together as a single 12" LP by Capitol Records), is born in what is now Komrno, Slovakia.

1928 - Ten-year-old Steubenville, Ohio native Dino Crocetti (aka future Capitol Records artist Dean Martin) has his first Holy Communion and takes the name Paul as his confirmation name.

1933 - Willie Nelson, a singer, songwriter, disc jockey, motion picture and television actor, the founder of Farm Aid, and a Liberty Records artist, is born William Hugh Nelson in Abbott, Texas.

1938 - The Warner Bros. cartoon short "Porky's Hare Hunt", debuts in movie theaters, introducing future Capitol Records "artist" Bugs Bunny.

1943 - Bobby Vee, singer and Liberty Records artist (1959-1970), is born Robert Thomas Velline in Fargo, North Dakota.

1963 - Alto saxophonist Jackie McLean, with Grachan Moncur III on trombone, Bobby Hutcherson on vibraphone, Eddie Khan on bass, and Anthony Williams on drums, records the titles "Frankenstein", two takes of "Saturday And Sunday", "Blue Rodeo", and "Ghost Town" in recording engineer Rudy Van Gelder's studio in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey. Blue Note Records will issue "Frankenstein", the first take of "Saturday And Sunday", "Blue Rodeo", and "Ghost Town" on McLean's album "One Step Beyond" (BLP4137 in Mono and BST84137 in Stereo) and all the titles and takes on the CD release of the album (7-46821-2).

ON THIS DAY NOT IN CAPITOL HISTORY

1927 - Douglas Fairbanks and Mary Pickford become the first to put their hand and footprints in cement outside Sid Grauman's Chinese Theatre at 6925 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California.

1934 - Jerry Lordon, composer of "Apache", the first big hit for the UK group The Shadows, was born in London, England.

1983 - Muddy Waters (born McKinley Morganfield), Blues legend, dies in his sleep at age 68 at his home in Westmont, Illinois.

APRIL 29, 2026

HAPPY BIRTHDAYS!

1899 - Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington, a pianist, composer, bandleader, and a Capitol Records artist, is born in Washington, D.C.. Ellington would record his last popular hit "Satin Doll" for Capitol Records with producer Dave Dexter, Jr. On his 70th birthday in 1969, Ellington will receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

1917 - Celeste Holm, a Broadway, motion picture and television actress and Capitol Records artist (original motion picture soundtrack for the movie "High Society") is born in New York City, New York.

1933 - Rod McKuen, a singer, poet, actor, writer, Capitol and Liberty Records artist, and composer of the song "Two-Ten, Six-Eighteen" recorded by Capitol recording artists The Kingston Trio, is born Rodney Marvin McKuen in Oakland, California.

1934 - Otis Rush, guitarist and Capitol Records artist (signed in 1970, had sessions in February 1971, which Capitol purchased the masters from but never released but were later released by Bullfrog Records), is born near Neshoba, Mississippi.

1942 - Klaus Voormann, graphic designer and illustrator (cover of The Beatles' Revolver and Anthology albums), bass player with Manfred Mann, Apple Records group Plastic Ono Band, and on various George Harrison projects including "The Concert For Bangladesh", is born in Berlin, Germany.

1968 - Carnie Wilson, singer, television talk show host, daughter of Brian Wilson of the Capitol Records group The Beach Boys and Marilyn Rovell Wilson of the Capitol Records group The Honeys, and co-founder of the SBK Records group Wilson Phillips, is born in Bel Air, California.

? - Rick Zaccaro, manager of sales and marketing at EMI Music, EMI Music Distribution, and EMI Music Marketing in the U.S. as well as the bass player in the bands The Seventh Hour and Mindwars, is born.

ON THIS DAY IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY

1944 - The King Cole Trio's Capitol Records single "Straighten Up and Fly Right", with "I Can't See For Lookin'" on the flipside, hits #1 on the "Black" charts for the first of ten weeks, and would later cross over to the country and pop charts. The title came from the Trio's first session for Capitol Records.

1944 - Jo Stafford (with Paul Weston and His Orchestra)'s Capitol Records single "I Love You", with "Long Ago And Far Away" on the flipside, is #10 on Billboard's Best Selling Singles chart.

80 Years Ago Today In 1946 - Les Baxter signs a contract with Capitol Records.

1948 - The King Cole Trio finish seven straight days of performances at Radio City in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

1950 - Jo Stafford and Gordon MacRae (with Paul Weston and His Orchestra)'s Capitol Records single "Dearie", with "Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday" on the flipside, is #11 on Billboard's Best Selling Retail Records chart and Margaret Whiting and Jimmy Wakely's Capitol Records single "Let's Go To Church (Next Sunday)", with their title "Why Do You Say Those Things?" on the flipside, debuts at #19 and was also #2 on Billboard's Country Best Selling Singles chart.

1953 - Nelson Riddle signs a contract to conduct his first Sinatra session at Capitol which will be held the next day on April 30, 1953.

1957 - Frank Sinatra records the titles "Lonely Town" and "Baby, Won't You Please Come Home" with arranger Gordon Jenkins.

1958 - During a split session held in Los Angeles, California, first vocalist Tommy Sands, with Bob Bain's Music (Merrill E. Moore on piano, Bob Bain on lead guitar, Buck Owens on rhythm guitar, and unlisted bass and drums players) record the titles "Chicken And The Hawk", "Such A Night", and "Oop Shoop" then The Jordanaires (vocalists Hugh Gordon Stoker, Hoyt H. Hawkins, and Neal Matthews, Jr.), also with (listed as probably) Bob Bain's Music, records the title "Girl In The Valley". Capitol Records will issue "Chicken And The Hawk", "Such A Night", and "Oop Shoop" on Sands' album "Sands Storm!" (EAP-1/2/3-1081 on 7" EPs and T 1081 on 12" LP) and "Girl In The Valley" as a single (Capitol 4431) with "Sit Down" (recorded April 1, 1959) on the flipside.

1958 - Pianist and bandleader Stan Kenton and His Orchestra (listed as possibly Sam Noto, Jules Chaikin, Billy Catalano, Lee Katzman, and Phil Gilbert on trumpets, Bob Fitzpatrick, Archie Le Coque, Kent Larsen, Jim Amlotte, and Ken Shroyer on trombones, Lennie Niehauson alto saxophone,  Bill Robinson on alto and baritone saxophone, Bill Perkins and Richie Kamuca on tenor saxophone, Steve Perlow on baritone saxophone, Red Kelly on bass, and Jerry McKenzie on drums) record the titles "In The Blue Of Evening" and "I'll Close My Eyes" in The Capitol Tower Studios at 1750 North Vine Street in Hollywood, California between 8:00 PM and 11:00 PM for Capitol Records which has yet to issue either title.55 Years Ago Today In 1963 - Capitol Records releases Buck Owens' album "On The Bandstand". The album was produced by Ken Nelson during sessions that occurred between May and September 1961 in the Capitol Studios in Hollywood and featured Owen's on guitar and vocals, Don Rich on fiddle, guitar, and vocals, Jay McDonalds on steel guitar, Kenny Pierce on electric bass and vocals and Ken Presley on drums.

1958 - Jackie Gleason conducts His Orchestra (a large string orchestra featuring Romeo Penque on alto saxophone and flute, Bernie Leighton on piano, and unlisted others) as they record new takes of the titles "Without Love", "All This And Heaven Too", "Close Your Eyes", "You Stepped Out Of A Dream", "I Just Couldn't Take It", "More Than You Know", and "I Must Have That Man" in New York City, New York. Capitol Records will issue all the new takes on Gleason's album "Jackie Gleason Presents - Rebound" (EAP-1/2/3/4-1075 on 7" EPs and W/SW-1075 on 12" LP).

1958 - Johnny Richard conducts his own arrangements to His Orchestra (Ray Copeland, Burt Collins, Al Stewart, and John Bello on trumpets, Billy Byers, Jim Dahl, and Jimmy Cleveland on trombones, Julius Watkins on French horn, Jay McAllister on tuba, Gene Quill on alto saxophone, Frank Socolow on tenor saxophone, Bill Slapin also on tenor saxophone as well as on piccolo, Shelly Gold on bass saxophone, Bob Panecoast on piano, Chet Amsterdam on bass, Jimmy Campbell on drums, and Joe Venuto on xylophone and percusssion) as they record new takes of the titles "Theme From 'Concerto To End All Concertos' (Kentonia)", "Neolore", "This Time", and "No Moon At All" in New York City, New York. Capitol Records will issue all the new takes on Richards' album "Experiments In Sound" (T/ST 981).

1963 - Nat "King" Cole's Capitol Records single "Those Lazy-Hazy-Crazy Days Of Summer" is #2 on WGLI 1290 AM's Good Lookers chart in Babylon, New York.

1963 - During two sessions held this day in Los Angeles, California, pianist Earl Hines, with Ralph Carmichael conducting his own arrangements to His Orchestra (Al Porcino, Cappy Lewis, John Audino, Ray Triscari, and Bud Brisbois on trumpets, Gil Falco, Tommy Shepard, Dick Nash, and Lloyd Ulyate on trombones, George Roberts on bass trombone, Ted Nash and Ronnie Lang on flutes, clarinets, and alto saxophones, Justin Gordon and Buddy Collette on tenor saxohones, clarinets, and flutes, Jack Nimitz on baritone saxophone and bass clarinet, Al Hendrickson on guitar, Joe Comfort on bass, and Leon Petties on drums) records the titles "I Want A Little Girl", "My Monday Date", "Memories Of You ", and "Thou Swell" at the first session and a new take of "Thou Swell" and the titles "I Ain't Got Nobody", "Little Girl", "After All I've Been To You", and "Rosetta" at the second session. Capitol Records will issue all the titles, except the first take of "Thou Swell" which remains unissued, on the album "Earl "Fatha" Hines" (T/ST 1971).

1963 - Jerry Cole and His Spacemen (lineup unlisted) record the titles "The Strut", "The Stinger", and "Pokey" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue "The Strut" and "Pokey" on the group's album "Outer Limits" (T/ST 2044), has yet to issue "The Stinger", and will also issue "Pokey" as a single (Capitol 5106) with "One Color Blues" (recorded November 16, 1963) on the flipside.

1963 - Peter De Angelis conducts his own arrangements to an orchestra (lineup unlisted) as they record the band tracks for the titles "Painted, Tainted Rose" and, with Also Provenzano, "That's The Way It's Got To Be" in Los Angeles, California. At an unlisted later date, Al Martino will overdub vocals for both titles and Capitol Records will issue the final mixes of both titles as a single (Capitol 5000) and on Martino's album "Painted, Tainted Rose" (T/ST 1975).

1963 - Vocalist Al Martino, with Belford Hendricks conducting his own arrangements to an orchestra (lineup unlisted), records the titles "I Really Don't Want To Know", "You Win Again", Bouquet Of Roses", and "If I Never Get To Heaven" in New York City, New York. Capitol Records will issue all the titles on Martino's album "I Love You Because" (T/ST 1914).

1968 - Brothers Make Two (lineup unlisted) record the titles "Autumn Lament", "Waste A Dime", and "Don't Know Why I'm Asking" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue "Autumn Lament" as a single (Capitol 2344) with "Don't Be Ashamed" (recorded April 30, 1968) on the flipside and has yet to issue "Waste A Dime" and "Don't Know Why I'm Asking".

1968 - Vocalist Tony Sandler and Ralph Young, with Bob Bain conducting his own arrangements to an orchestra (lineup unlisted), record the titles "Santa Claus Is Coming To Town", "The Christmas Song (Merry Christmas To You)", "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing", and "O Holy Night" in Los Angeles, California. After overdubs are recorded for "The Christmas Song (Merry Christmas To You)" and "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing" on May 24, 1968 and for "Santa Claus Is Coming To Town" and "O Holy Night" on May 27, 1968, Capitol Records will issue the final mixes of all the titles on Sandler and Young's album "Christmas World" (ST 2967) and will also issue "Santa Claus Is Coming To Town" as a single (Capitol 2333) with "Mister Santa" (recorded May 3, 1968, with overdubs also recorded on May 27, 1968) on the flipside.

1974 - Wings' Apple Records album "Band On The Run", distributed by Capitol Records in the United States enters Billboard's Top 100 Albums chart.

1983 - Capitol Records registers the masters it acquired from EMI for John Miles' titles "Take Me To Heaven", "Song For You", "It Wasn't Love At all", "Ready To Spread Your Wings", "I'll Never Do It Again", "Heart Of Stone", "Home", "Close Eyes And Count Ten", "Carrie", "The Right To Sing" and "That's Rock 'N' Roll" which were all recorded in England and will issue all the titles in the United States on Miles' album "Play On" (ST-12292) and will also issue "Song For You" and "That's Rock 'N' Roll" together as a single (Capitol 5251).

1988 - Willie Dixon, with unlisted others, records the title "I Cry For You" at an unlisted studio for Capitol Records. No issuing information is listed.

1988 - Dave Edmunds, with unlisted others, records the title "I Got Your Number" at an unlisted studio. Capitol Records will issue the title on Edmunds' album "Closer To Fame" (C1-90372 on 12" vinyl and C2-90372 on CD).

15 Years Ago Today In 2011 - David Mason, classical trumpet player who played the piccolo trumpet solo on The Beatles' single "Penny Lane" as well as playing trumpet on sessions for "A Day in the Life", "Magical Mystery Tour" and "All You Need Is Love", dies at age 85 after a brief battle with leukemia.

ON THIS DAY NOT QUITE IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY

95 Years Ago Today In 1931 - Lonnie Donegan, singer, songwriter, guitarist, and a Dot, Atlantic, Decca, Pye, and Chrysalis Records artist, is born Anthony James Donegan in Bridgeton, Glasgow, Scotland. Bruce Eder has written a great biography for the Memorable Music Hall of Fame on the man who invented Skiffle and influenced a generation of future British rock and blues musicians including The Beatles.

1948 - Tommy James, singer, member of the Roulette Records group Tommy James and The Shondells, is born Thomas Jackson in Dayton, Ohio.

1953 - At an extended session that will go until April 30, 1953, The Gerry Mulligan Quartet (Mulligan on saxophone, Chet Baker on trumpet, Larry Bunker on drums, and Carson Smith on bass) record the titles "Darn That Dream", "I May Be Wrong", "I'm Beginning To See The Light", "The Nearness Of You" and "Tea For Two" at Radio Recorders' studios in Los Angeles, California for Pacific Jazz which will issue all the titles on the group's album "Gerry Mulligan Quartet" (PJLP-5). Blue Note Records will issue "The Nearness Of You" and "Tea For Two" in Japan on the compilation album "The West Coast Sessions" (FCPA6212).

1968 - The Ornette Coleman Quartet (Ornette Coleman on alto saxophone, Dewey Redman on tenor saxophone, Jimmy Garrison on bass and Elvin Jones on drums) record the titles "We Now Interrupt For A Commercial" with the group on vocals, an alternate take of "Love Call" with Coleman also on trumpet, "The Garden Of Souls", "Open To The Public", "Toy Dance", an alternate take of "Check-Out Time", "Airborne", and an alternate take of "Broad Way Blues in A & R Studios in New York City, New York. Blue Note Records will issue "We Now Interrupt For A Commercial" (the version on the original album replaced the vocals with Mel Fuhrman doing the announcements but the group's vocals were restored for the CD release), "The Garden Of Souls", and "Toy Dance" on the quartet's album "New York Is Now!" (BST 84287) and with the alternate take of "Broad Way Blues" on the CD release of the album (7-84287-2), "Open To The Public" and "Airborne" on the group's album "Love Call" (BST 84356) and with the alternate takes of "Love Call" and "Check-Out Time" on the CD release of the album (7-84356-2).

1992 - Virgin Records America artist Paula Abdul marries actor Emilio Estevez in Santa Monica, California. It is the first marriage for both and Paula will resume her concert tour in two days.

1998 - Vocalist Lena Horne, with Donald Harrison on tenor saxophone, Mark Sherman on vibraphone, Mike Renzi on piano, Bobby Forrester on organ, Rodney Jones on guitar, Benjamin Brown on bass, and Lewis Nash on drums, records the title "Singin' In The Rain" at Nola Recording Studio in New York City, New York. Blue Note Records will issue the title on the CD for the soundtrack to the movie "Lulu On The Bridge" (4-95317-2).

20 YearscAgo Today In 2006 - Former Capitol Records artist Keely Smith and Trio perform live at the Catalina Bar and Grill in Hollywood, California. Showtimes were at 8:30 and 10:30 PM. For more info, check out Catalina's website. They also played the previous night. Any first-hand accounts would be much appreciated!

APRIL 28, 2026


HAPPY BIRTHDAYS!

100 Years Ago Today In 1926 - Blossom Dearie, singer, pianist, songwriter and Capitol Records artist (1964 for one album, "May I Come In?", currently available on Blue Note Records), also on the original soundtrack to the television show "Multiplication Rock!", is born in East Durham, New York.

1945 - John Wolters, record producer, singer, and drummer with the Capitol Records group Dr. Hook, is born John Christian Wolters in Pompton Lakes, New Jersey. Sadly, he'll die of liver cancer in San Francisco, California on June 16, 1997.


ON THIS DAY IN CAPITOL HISTORY

1945 - Johnny Mercer, Jo Stafford and The Pied Pipers (with Paul Weston and His Orchestra)'s Capitol Records single "Candy" is at #3 on Billboard's Best Selling Singles chart.

1948 - Capitol Records registers the masters for Pee Wee Hunt and His Orchestra's titles "12th Street Rag", "Somebody Else, Not Me", "The Object Of My Affection", and "Wabash Blues" which were recorded at sessions held between August 8, 1946 and December 29, 1947 for The Capitol Records Transcription Service. Capitol Records will issue "12th Street Rag" and "Somebody Else, Not Me" together as a single (Capitol 15105), has yet to issue "The Object Of My Affection", and will issue "Wabash Blues" as a single (Capitol 15299) with "High Society" (recorded August 15, 1946, also for The Capitol Records Transcription Service) on the flipside. According to a story told by James B. Conkling, the non-commercial transcription of "12th Street Rag" was so popular amongst DJs that it was decided to release it commercially but the original wax master was either broken or lost, so they had to transfer the audio for an existing transcription disc. The title went on to sell over a million copies, becoming one of Capitol's biggest hits during the label's first ten years.

1949 - Smiley Burnette signs a contract with Capitol

75 Years Ago Today In 1951 - Les Paul and Mary Ford's Capitol Records single "How High The Moon" is still #1 on Billboard's Best Selling Popular Retail Records chart, they are also at #3 with their Capitol Records single "Mockin' Bird Hill", Nat "King" Cole's Capitol Records single "Too Young" with Les Baxter conducting the orchestra using Nelson Riddle's arrangement, is at #5, and Stan Kenton and His Orchestra's Capitol Records single "September Song" enters the chart at #20.

1953 - During a split session held this day in Los Angeles, California, first Les Baxter conducts his own arrangements to His Orchestra (lineup unlisted) as they record the titles "Gigi" and "La Valse Moderne" then vocalist Helen O'Connell, with Harold Mooney and His Orchestra (lineup also unlisted) records the titles "No Other Love" and "Night For Love". Capitol Records will issue "Gigi" as a single (Capitol 2479) with "I Love Paris" (recorded April 6, 1953) on the flipside, has yet to issue "La Valse Moderne", and will issue "No Other Love" and "Night For Love" together as a single (Capitol 2487).

70 Years Ago Today In 1956 - Les Baxter and His Orchestra's Capitol Records single "Poor People Of Paris" is still #1 on Billboard's Best Selling Popular Retail Records chart, Nelson Riddle and His Orchestra's Capitol Records single "Lisbon Antigua" is #4, Nat "King" Cole's Capitol Records single "Too Young To Go Steady" is at #35 (in a three way tie with Bill Haley and The Comets' single "See You Later, Alligator" and George Cates and His Orchestra's single "Moonglow And Theme From 'Picnic'"), and Dean Martin (with Dick Stabile and His Orchestra)'s Capitol Records single "Innamorata (Sweetheart)", is at #39 (in a tie with The Four Lads (with Ray Ellis and His Orchestra)'s single "Standing On The Corner")

1957 - Gene Vincent receives a gold record from Capitol during a show in Chicago for sales of over 2 million copies of the single "Be-Bop-A-Lula", which would go on to sell over 9 million copies

1958 - Twelve-year-old Laurie London's Capitol Records single "He's Got The Whole World In His Hands" is #3 on Billboard's Top 100 Singles chart, Dean Martin (with Gus Levine, His Orchestra, and Chorus)'s Capitol Records single "Return To Me" is #16, The Four Prep's Capitol Records single "Twenty-Six Miles" is #25, Nat "King" Cole's Capitol Records single "Looking Back" is #28, and Ed Townsend's Capitol Records single "For Your Love" is #29 (in a tie with Betty Johnson's single "Little Blue Man").

1958 - Nat "King" Cole's Capitol Records single "Looking Back" is #15 on WMGM's Top 40 Survey in New York City, New York and #35 on KOBY 1550 AM's Original Top Forty Survey Of The Greater San Francisco-Oakland Bay Area in California.

1958 - Gil Evans signs a contract with Capitol Records.

1958 - The Jordanaires (vocalists Hugh Gordon Stoker, Hoyt H. Hawkins, and Neal Matthews, Jr.) with unlisted others, record the titles "Sock Hop", "Where Mary Go", and "Wella Wella Honey" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records has yet to issue "Sock Hop" and will issue "Where Mary Go" and "Wella Wella Honey" together as a single (Capitol F4025).

1958 - Vocalist Tommy Sands, with Bob Bain's Music (Merrill E. Moore on piano, Bob Bain on lead guitar, Buck Owens on rhythm guitar, and unlisted bass and drums players) records the titles "Honey Love" and "Big Date" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue "Honey Love" on Sands' album "Sands Storm!" (EAP-2-1081 on 7" vinyl EP and T 1082 on 12" vinyl) and "Big Date" as a single (Capitol F3985) with "After The Senior Prom" (recorded April 15, 1958) on the flipside.

1958 - Del Courtney and His Orchestra (lineup unlisted) record the titles "Rose Room", "Medley: My Baby Just Cares For Me/Everywhere You Go/Little White Lies/Mama's Gone, Goodbye", "Blue Room", "C'est Si Bon", and "Medley: Never Say Never Again/Way Down Yonder In New Orleans" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue "Rose Room" and "Medley: My Baby Just Cares For Me/Everywhere You Go/Little White Lies/Mama's Gone, Goodbye" on Courtney's album "Dancing 'Til Daybreak" (T 1070) and has yet to issue "Blue Room", "C'est Si Bon", and "Medley: Never Say Never Again/Way Down Yonder In New Orleans".

1958 - Producer Webley Edwards, with Al Kealoha Perry, John Kamana, Joseph Halemano Nicholas, James Kaopuiki, Winona Beamer, Daniel Kaleihini, Kent Girhard, Lani, Kealiiwahamana, Miriam Purini, Iwalani Kahalewai, Iwalani Kamahele, Sam Kapu, and chanters and chorus (lineups unlisted), records the titels "Fire Goddess" with the addition of Haunani Kahalewai, "Canoe Song (Chinemutu)", "Flame Dance (Nohili)", "Forbidden Waters (Way Kapu)" with Haunani Kahalewai, "Temple Dance" with the addition of Jules Ah See, "Thoughts Of Love (Manao He Aloha)" with Haunani Kahalewai, "Sharskin Drums (Pahu)", "Beauty Hula (Hooheno Keia No Beaute)" with the addition of Benny Kalama, featuring John Kamana, Sol Kamahele, Purini, and Haunani "Chant Of The Island (Kaulana Na Pua)" with Haunani Kahalewai and Benny Kalama and featuring John Kamana, Sol Kamahele, Purini, and Haunani, "Knife Dance (Na Pahi Hola E Pae)", "Tapa Dance (Tomo Pono - Halii Ka Moena) with Haunani Kahalewai, Hawaiian Bamboos (Anapau Nani Wale)" with Haunani Kahalewai, "The Old Church (E Kolo Mea Nui)", and dubbed "Fire Goddess" to become "Pele, Fire Goddess" in an unlisted studio in Hawaii. Capitol Records will issue all the titles on the album "Hawaii Calls: Fire Goddess" (T/ST 1033) as by Webley Edwards with Kealoha Perry.

1958 - During two sessions held this day in New York City, New York, Johnny Richards conducts his own arrangments to His Orchestra (Ray Copeland, Burt Collins, Al Stewart, and John Bello on trumpets, Billy Byers, Jim Dahl, and Jimmy Cleveland on trombones, Julius Watkins on French horn, Jay McAllister on tuba, Gene Quill on alto saxophone, Frank Socolow on tenor saxophone, Bill Slapin also on tenor saxophone as well as on piccolo, Shelly Gold on bass saxophone, Bob Panecoast on piano, Chet Amsterdam on bass, Jimmy Campbell on drums, and Joe Venuto on xylophone and percusssion) as they record a new take of "How Are Things In Glocca Morra)" and the title "Estoy Cansado (I'm Tired)" at the first session and the titles "Terpsichore", "Omo Ado" with the band on vocals, "What Is There To Say", and "Je Vous Adore" at the second session. Capitol Records will issue all the titles recorded at both sessions on Richards' album "Experiments In Sound" (T/ST 981) and also "Estoy Cansado (I'm Tired)" and "What Is There To Say" together as a single (Capitol F4094).

1958 - Pianist and bandleader Count Basie and His Orchestra (Wendell Culley, Snooky Young, Thad Jones, and Joe Newman on trumpets, Henry Coker, Al Grey, and Benny Powell on trombones, Frank Wess on alto saxophone and flute, Marshall Royal also on alto saxophone, Frank Foster and Billy Mitchell on tenor saxophone, Charles Fowlkes on baritone saxophone, Freddie Green on guitar, Eddie Jones onbass, and Sonny Payne on drums), using an arrangement by Jimmy Mundy, record the title "Ol' Man River" in Capitol Records' studios in New York City, New York for Roulette Records. After Roulette's catalog is acquired by EMI, Blue Note Records will issue the title on the CD "Blue Broadway - Show Tunes Blue Note Style" (8-29095-2).

1965 - The Beatles receive the Grammy for "Best Vocal Performance by a Group" for "A Hard Day's Night".

1973 - Pink Floyd's Capitol Records album "Dark Side Of The Moon" hits #1 on Billboard's Top 200 Albums chart. It'll be #1 for only 1 week, but it will stay on Billboard's charts for 741 weeks.

1973 - Brush Arbor (lineup unlisted) records the titles "We Need Rain", "Now That It's All Over", and "Alone Again, Naturally" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue all the titles on the group's album "Brush Arbor N° 2" (ST-11209) and will also issue "We Need Rain" as a single (Capitol 3968) with "Folk, Rock, Pop, Middle Of The Road Country singer" (recorded August 26, 1974) on the flipside, "Now That It's All Over" as a single (Capitol 3733) with "Song To Mary Anne" (recorded June 9, 1973) on the flipside, and "Alone Again, Naturally" as a single (Capitol 3672) with "Washington County" (recorded on an unlisted date in June 1973) on the flipside.

1974 - Merle Haggard's Capitol Records single "Things Aren't Funny Anymore", with "Honky Tonk Night Time Man" on the flipside, is #1 on the U.S. Country singles charts

1974 - Grand Funk Railroad's Capitol Records single "The Loco-motion" is still #1 on Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart

1985 - Sleepy Willis, who worked with Dick Curless on the Capitol Records album "The Soul of Dick Curless" and later would become Curless' lead guitarist, agent, and manager, is inducted into the Maine Country Music Hall of Fame

35 Years Ago Today In 1991 - NBC-TV airs Liberty Records (later to become Capitol Records Nashville) artist Garth Brooks' network special "This Is Garth Brooks"

20 Years Ago Today In 2006 - Wanda Jackson, former Capitol Records artist (1956-1973), is on stage at 7:00 pm in the Jensen Concert Hall at the Stephens Performing Arts Center at the Idaho State University in Pocatello. Any first-hand accounts would be appreciated!

2013 - Lonnie Carter, songwriter and the bass guitarist and a vocalist in the Capitol Records group Steve Miller Band, dies at age 66 from lung cancer and complications from early-onset Alzheimer’s disease at Avamere Care Center in Lebanon, Oregon.


ON THIS DAY NOT QUITE IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY

130 Years Ago Today In 1896 - George Ewing Lee, a baritone saxophone player, singer, bandleader (George E. Lee and His Novelty Singing Orchestra, which featured his sister, future Capitol Records artist Julia Lee, on vocals and piano), is born in Boonville, Missouri

1958 - David Seville's Liberty Records single "Witch Doctor" is #1 on Billboard's Top 100 Singles chart, and Ricky Nelson's Imperial Records single "Believe What You Say" is #13 with the flip side "My Bucket's Got A Hole In It" at #20. Liberty and Imperial Records' catalogs are currently owned by Universal Music Group, Capitol Music Group's parent company.

1958 - Trombonist Bennie Green, with Billy Root and Gene Ammons (as "Jug") on tenor saxophones, Sonny Clark on piano, Ike Isaacs on bass, and Elvin Jones on drums, records the titles "Lullaby Of The Doomed", "We Wanna Cook" with band on vocals, "That's All", multiple mono and stereo takes of "Soul Stirrin'" with vocals by Bennie Green and Babs Gonzales, "B. G. Mambo", and "Black Pearl" in recording engineer Rudy Van Gelder's studio at his parent's home in Hackensack, New Jersey. Blue Note Records will issue all the titles on Green's album "Soul Stirrin'" (BLP1599 in mono and BST81599 in stereo) and also "Lullaby Of The Doomed" and "We Wanna Cook" together as a single (Blue Note 45-1709), "That's All" and a mono version of "Soul Stirrin'" (spliced together from take 12 up to the piano solo and take 13 from the piano solo and ensemble) together as a single (Blue Note 45-1708).

1979 - Blondie's Chrysalis Records single "Heart Of Glass" is still #1 on Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart.

1983 - Vocalist Sheena Easton, with unlisted others records the title "Wish You Were Here Tonight" in an unlisted studio. EMI America will issue the title as a single (EMI America 8172) with "Telefone (Long Distance Affair" (Recorded April 12, 1983) on the flipside.

1988 - Vocalist Dianne Reeves, with Mulgrew Miller on piano, Charnett Moffett on bass, and Marvin "Smitty" Smith on drums, records the titles, "For All We Know" with the addition of Greg Osby on alto saxophone, "You Taught My Heart To Sing", "How High The Moon", and "Do Watcha Gotta Do" in recording engineer Rudy Van Gelder's studio in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey. Blue Note Records will issue "For All We Know", and "You Taught My Heart To Sing" on Reeve's album "Remember" (B1-90264 on 12" vinyl LP and 7-90264-2 on CD) and rejected the takes of "How High The Moon" and "Do Watcha Gotta Do" recorded at this session.

ON THIS DAY NOT IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY

2005 - The U.S. Postal Service has a ceremony in New York City, New York to celebrate the release of a postage stamp featuring E.Y. "Yip" Harburg, writer of such well known songs as "Over the Rainbow" (with Capitol Records artist Harold Arlen) from "The Wizard of Oz" and (with Jay Gorney) "Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?"

APRIL 27, 2026

HAPPY BIRTHDAYS!

1900 - Walter Lantz, cartoonist, studio owner, creator of Woody Woodpecker (which Capitol Records would release a children's record featuring), Andy Panda, and Chilly Willy, is born Walter Benjamin Lantz in New Rochelle, New York. Animating for Walter Lantz Studios was one of future Capitol Records employee Fred Rice's first jobs in Hollywood. Rice would later do the artwork for Capitol's Woody Woodpecker's albums and promotion materials.

1909 - Jimmie Skinner, a singer, songwriter, and Capitol Records artist (recorded 15 released singles for Capitol between 1950 and 1953, but no album was ever put together and the singles are a rare find), is born on a farm near Berea, Kentucky. There's also a reference to him being born in Blue Lick, Kentucky. If anyone knows for sure where Jimmie was born, please leave a comment. A great biography can be found on Paul Vidal's site and at the Hillbilly Music site.

1939 - Jerry Mercer, the drummer with the Capitol Records group April Wine, is born in Newfoundland, Canada.

1947 - Pete Ham, singer, songwriter, guitarist and founder of Apple Records and Capitol Records group Badfinger, is born William Peter Ham in Swansea, Wales.

ON THIS DAY IN CAPITOL HISTORY

1948 - It's a Tuesday evening and at a banquet held after the closing of the 14th Annual Northwest Regional Convention And Exhibit in The Grand Ballroom at The Radisson Hotel in Minneapolis, Minnesota The King Cole Trio, June Christy, and Stan Kenton are awarded scrolls for their winning performances in The Billboard magazine's Annual College Poll from The Billboard magazine's Midwest division's general manager, Maynard Reuter. A photo is on page 120 of the May 8, 1948 issue of The Billboard magazine.

1948 - Roy Hogsed signs a contract with Capitol Records and all his purchased masters are assigned Capitol mastering numbers.

1953 - Vocalist Gloria Wood, with the Pete Candoli Orchestra (Pete Candoli and Conrad Gozzo on trumpets, Ed Kusby and Si Zentner on trombones, Skeets Herfurt on alto saxophone, Ted Nash on tenor saxophone, Paul Smith on piano, Joe Mondragon on bass, and Alvin Stoller on drums and bell), records the titles "Hey Bellboy" and "Anybody Hurt?" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue both titles together as a single (Capitol 2471) and on Wood's EP "Gloria Wood With Pete Candoli" (EAP-1-538).

1955 - Dean Martin and Line Renaud record the title "Relax-Ay-Voo" for Capitol Records.

1957 - Ferlin Husky's Capitol Records single "Gone", with "Missing Persons" on the flipside, is #5 on Billboard's Best Selling Singles chart, Tommy Sand's Capitol Records single "Teenage Crush", with "Hep Dee Hootie (Cutie Wootie)" on the flipside, is #12 (tied with Steve Lawrence's single "Party Doll"), and Sonny James' single "Young Love", with "You're The Reason I'm In Love" on the flipside, is #27.

1959 - Bobby Hackett (on coronet, with Stan Brauner on flute, clarinet, bass clarinet, and tenor sax; Dave McKenna on piano; Bill Kahakalau on steel guitar; Billy Bauer or Bucky Pizzarelli on guitar and ukulele; Bob Carter on bass; Dick Scott on drums; and Johnny Cresci on bongos) records the titles "Orchids From Hawaii", "Ku Nei", "Soft Sands" and "Aloha Oe" for his Capitol Records album "Hawaii Swings" in New York City. The sessions may have been produced by Andy Wiswell. The complete Bobby Hackett Capitol solo sessions are available on Mosaic Records.

1959 - The Kingston Trio's Capitol Records single "Tijuana Jail", with "Oh Cindy (from the Warner Bros. Picture “Rio Bravo”)" on the flipside, is #15 on Billboard's Best Selling Singles chart.

1963 - Nat "King" Cole's Capitol Records single "Skip To My Lou" is #3 in Denmark according to Quan Musikbureau in Copenhagen, his single "All Over The World" is #71 on Cash Box magazine's Top 100 Singles chart. Also, Nat "King" Cole's Capitol Records album "Ramblin' Rose" is #65 and his album "Dear Lonely Hearts" is #83 on Billboard magazine's Top LPs - 150 Best Sellers - Monaural chart.

60 Years Ago Today In 1966 - Recording begins on The Beatles' title "I'm Only Sleeping" which will appear on their Capitol Records album "Revolver".

1968 - Overdubs are recorded in Los Angeles, for Glen Campbell's title "Christmas Is For Children". Capitol Records will issue the final mix of the title as a single (Capitol 2336) with "There's No Place Like Home" (recorded July 24, 1968) on the flipside and on Campbell's album "That Christmas Feeling" (ST 2978).

1968 - During two sessions held this day in Los Angeles, California, Jackie Gleason and His Orchestra (lineup unlisted) record the titles "Goin' Out Of My Head", "Yesterday, "Lonely Is The Name", and "It Must Be Him" at the first session and the titles "Two Different Worlds", "I Won't Cry Anymore", "Live For Life", and "I Can't Believe I'm Losing You" at the second session. Capitol Records will issue all the titles on Gleason's album "The Now Sound For Today's Lovers" (SW 2935).

1973 - The last episode of former Capitol Records artist Bobby Darin's NBC-TV variety show "The Bobby Darin Show" airs and features Capitol Records artist Peggy Lee appears in a concert setting.

1978 - Billy "Crash" Craddock, with unlisted others, records the titles "If I Could Write A Song As Beautiful As You", "What Are Memories Made Of?", and "Never Ending" in Nashville, Tennessee. Capitol Records will issue all the titles on Craddock's album "Turning Up And Turning On" (SW-11853) and also "If I Could Write A Song As Beautiful As You" and "Never Ending" together as a single (Capitol 4672).

45 Years Ago Today In 1981 - Apple Records and Capitol Records artist Ringo Starr marries his second wife, motion picture actress Barbara Bach, at Marylebone Registry Office in London, England. Paul McCartney and wife Linda, George Harrison, and Harry Nilsson were in attendance.

1983 - The Motels (featuring Martha Davis on vocals with unlisted others), records the title "Into The Heartland" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue the title on the group's album "Little Robbers" (ST-12288 on 12" vinyl and 7-46020-2 on CD).

1988 - Great White’s Capitol Records album "Once Bitten" is certified Platinum by the R.I.A.A.

1988 - Vocalist Johnny Rodriguez, with unlisted others, records the titles "Sweet Courtinda, Sweet Home", "Back To Stay", and "No Chance To Dance" at Woodland Sound Studio in Nashville, Tennessee. Capitol Records will issue "Back To Stay" and "No Chance To Dance" together as a single (Capitol 44325). No issuing information is listed for "Sweet Courtinda, Sweet Home".

1990 - Liberty Records (later renamed Capitol Records Nashville) releases Garth Brooks' album "No Fences".

1992 - Capitol Records releases it's limited edition promotional 50th Anniversary box set. It contains 8 CDs and a hardcover book covering the highlights of the previous 50 years of the label's history.

ON THIS DAY NOT QUITE IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY

235 Years Ago Today In 1791 - Samuel F. B. Morse, inventor (most notably of Morse code), painter, and grandfather of Leila Morse (who threw the switch to light the beacon on top of The Capitol Tower that spells out H-O-L-L-Y-W-O-O-D in Morse code for the first time), is born Samuel Finley Breese Morse in Charlestown, Massachusetts.

1953 - The Gerry Mulligan Quartet (Gerry Mulligan on baritone saxophone, Chet Baker on trumpet, Larry Bunker on drums, and Carson Smith on bass), records the titles "My Old Flame", "All The Things You Are", two takes of "Love Me Or Leave Me" and "Swinghouse", "Jeru" and "Utter Chaos #2" at Radio Recorders, in Los Angeles, California with producer Richard Bock. Pacific Jazz Records will issue "My Old Flame" on the album "Lee Konitz And The Gerry Mulligan Quartet" (PJLP-10 on 10" vinyl), the second take of "Love Me Or Leave Me", "Jeru", and the first take of "Swinghouse" on the group's self-titled album "Gerry Mulligan Quartet" (PJLP 5 on 10" LP), and all the titles and all the takes on the 4-CD set "The Complete Pacific Jazz Recordings of the Gerry Mulligan Quartet with Chet Baker" (8-38263-2). Mosaic Records will also issue all the titles and all the takes in the five-LP box set "The Complete Pacific Jazz And Capitol Recordings Of The Original Gerry Mulligan Quartet And Tentette With Chet Baker" (MR5-102 on 12" vinyl).

1959 - Sheena Easton, singer, television actress, and EMI America Records artist, is born Sheena Shirley Orr in Bellshill, North Lanarkshire, Scotland.

65 Years Ago Today In 1961 - Lou Donaldson (on alto saxophone with Herman Foster on piano, Ben Tucker on bass, Dave Bailey on drums, and Alec Dorsey on conga drums) records the titles "Glory of Love", "Gravy Train", "Polka Dots And Moonbeams", "Candy", "South Of The Border", "Twist Time", and "Avalon" for his Blue Note Records album "Gravy Train" with producer Alfred Lion. The album is released in mono in June 1961 and stereo in July 1962.

1964 - Tollie Records release The Beatles' single "Love Me Do", with "P.S. I Love You" on the flipside, in the United States.

1983 - On her 24th birthday, vocalist Sheena Easton, with unlisted others, records the title "Let Sleeping Dogs Lie" at an unlisted studio. EMI America will issue the title on Easton's album "Best Kept Secret" (ST-17101 on 12" vinyl and E2-90265 on CD).

1983 - The Michael Stanley Band (lineup unlisted) recorded the titles "Fire In The Hole", "Highlife", "How Can You Call This Love" and "Just Give Me Tonight" in an unlisted studio. EMI America will issue all the titles on the group's album "You Can't Fight Fashion" (ST-17100) and will also issue "Highlife" as a single (EMI America 8189) with an edited version of "Someone Like You" (album version recorded May 13, 1983) on the flipside.

1988 - During two session held this day at recording engineer Rudy Van Gelder's studio in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, vocalist Diane Reeves, with Bobby Hutcherson on vibraphone, Donald Brown on piano, Charnett Moffett on bass, Marvin "Smitty" Smith on drums, and Ron Powell on percussion, records the titles "Softly As In A Morning Sunrise" with the addition of Greg Osby on alto saxophone and "Ancient Source" at the first session and then Reeves, with just Kevin Eubanks on acoustic guitar and Ron Powell on wind chimes, records the title "Like A Lover" at the second session. Blue Note Records will issue "Softly As In A Morning Sunrise" and "Like A Lover" in the United States on Reeves' album "I Remember" (B1-90264 on 12" vinyl and 7-90264-2 on CD) and all the titles in Japan on the CD "The Nearness Of You" (TOCJ-5967).

ON THIS DAY NOT IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY

1932 - Casey Kasem, a cartoon voice actor (best known as the voice of Shaggy in "Scooby-Doo" and Robin in the "Batman" and "Superfriends" cartoons), host of "American Top 40" weekly radio show and "America's Top 10" television show, is born Kemal Amin Kasem in Detroit, Michigan.