|
Post by 1finemrg on Feb 25, 2015 6:30:17 GMT -5
February 25: ...Our Sweet George who would have been 72 today. Though the majority of the Beatles catalog is filled with iconic tunes written by John and/or Paul, some of the ones that George Harrison composed are standards that stand the test of time. From "Something" to "Here Comes The Sun" and "While My Guitar Gently Weeps", these are compositions that will be treasured for generations to come. In late 1970, George released his masterpiece "All Things Must Pass", becoming the first Beatle to top the Hot 100 and album charts as a solo artist. His follow-up solo album "Living In The Material World" also topped the album charts. He reached the top of the Hot 100 three times with "My Sweet Lord", "Give Me Love (Give Me Peace On Earth)", and his cover of "Got My Mind Set On You". He was a great humanitarian, organizing and performing the concert for Bangladesh raising funds for war refugees. In the late 80s, he formed the Traveling Wilburys releasing two albums of memorable material. Although he stepped away from the music scene several years before his passing, the world felt a loss when he left. As a tribute, his wife organized the "Concert For George" featuring an all-star cast on the first anniversary of his death in 2002. Profits were donated to his charity the Material World Charitable Foundation. One of my favorites from "All Things Must Pass". Awaiting On You All - George Harrison
|
|
|
Post by 1finemrg on Feb 26, 2015 5:53:55 GMT -5
February 26: ...Mitch Ryder, 70 years old today. Mitch's high-powered vocals fueled his band the Detroit Wheels to 5 top 40 hits during the sixties, three of which peaked in the top 10. His highest charting hit was "Devil With A Blue Dress On", peaking at #4 in 1966. He reached #30 as a solo artist in 1967 with "What Now My Love". He made a comeback in 1983 with an album produced by John Mellencamp titled "Never Kick A Sleeping Dog". A single from that album "When You Were Mine" written by Prince peaked at #87. Late in 1971, Mitch assembled a new band Detroit and released a self-titled album. A Velvet Underground cover was released and bubbled under for 5 weeks early in 1972. Rock 'N Roll - Detroit Featuring Mitch Ryder
|
|
|
Post by 1finemrg on Feb 27, 2015 6:25:44 GMT -5
February 27: ...Neil Schon, who blows out 61 candles on his cake today. He first made his mark with Santana, playing guitar on their third album. He has been a member of Journey through all their lineups. During their hiatus from 1987 - 1995, Neil helped form Bad English. We commemorate his birthday with this classic rock pair (segued as they should be) from Journey's "Infinity" album. Feeling That Way/Anytime - Journey
|
|
|
Post by 1finemrg on Feb 28, 2015 6:42:44 GMT -5
February 28: ...Joe South who would have been 75 today. As a songwriter, Joe was nominated for a Grammy for Lynn Anderson's "Rose Garden" in 1972. Billy Joe Royal recorded four of his songs that were also hits for other artists: "Down In The Boondocks", "Hush" (Deep Purple), "Yo-Yo" (Osmonds), and "I Knew You When" (Linda Ronstadt). He also wrote "Birds Of A Feather", a hit for the Raiders. He also was a noted session musician, playing guitar on Tommy Roe's #1 hit "Sheila" and Bob Dylan's "Blonde On Blonde" album. One of my favorites is his opening guitar riff to Aretha Franklin "Chain Of Fools". On his own, he reached the Top 40 twice and peaked at #12 both times. His "Games People Play" earned a Grammy in 1970, having been a hit in 1969. He also reached #12 in 1970 with "Walk A Mile In My Shoes". This great tune just missed the Top 40, peaking at #41 in 1969. Don't It Make You Want To Go Home - Joe South
|
|
|
Post by 1finemrg on Mar 1, 2015 1:57:30 GMT -5
March 1: ...Roger Daltrey, 71 years old today. As a solo artist, the Who's front man reached the Top 20 once. His "Without Your Love" peaked at #20 in 1980. In 1985, he reached at #48 with a song written by his band mate Pete Townshend. After The Fire - Roger Daltrey
|
|
|
Post by 1finemrg on Mar 2, 2015 6:19:10 GMT -5
March 2: ...John Cowsill, 59 years old today. He is currently the drummer/vocalist in the Beach Boys touring band. He recently was on their 50th anniversary tour as well as their 2012 release "That's Why God Made The Radio". In the early 80s he recorded with Tommy Tutone, including their two top 40 hits "Angel Say No" and "867-5309/Jenny" He and Vicki Peterson (Bangles) have been married since 2003. As a member of the Cowsills, they twice reached #2 with "The Rain, The Park, And Other Things" and "Hair". "Indian Lake" also made the Top 10. They also performed the TV theme to this show, the "B" side to their version of "Silver Threads And Golden Needles". Love, American Style - Cowsills
|
|
|
Post by top40collector on Mar 2, 2015 7:08:01 GMT -5
March 2...
Today would had been Karen Carpenter (1950-1983) birthday.
|
|
|
Post by 1finemrg on Mar 3, 2015 6:26:22 GMT -5
March 3: Little Junior Parker who would have been 83 today. Although his highest charting hit on the Hot 100 was "Annie Get Your Yo-Yo" which peaked a #51, Junior Parker did reach the Top 10 five times on the R&B charts. The smooth singing blues man was discovered by Ike Turner in the early fifties. He was on this earth for all too short of a time, passing away in 1971 during surgery for a brain tumor. In 1974, Al Green famously dedicated his original version of "Take Me To The River" to Junior Parker, "a cousin of mine who's gone on, and we'd kinda like to carry on in his name." His version of this iconic song released in 1958 peaked at #13 on the R&B charts in early 1959. Sweet Home Chicago - Little Junior Parker And His Band
|
|
|
Post by 1finemrg on Mar 4, 2015 6:10:26 GMT -5
March 4: ...Chris Rea, 64 years old today. He's a one hit wonder in the US. His great "Fool (If You Think It's Over)" topped the Adult Contemporary Chart for 3 weeks and peaked at #12 on the Hot 100 in 1978. In the UK, he released 9 consecutive top 15 albums between 1985 and 1998 (including compilations). Two of his albums "The Road To Hell" and "Auberge" topped the UK charts. In the 21st century he has focused on jazz and blues recordings as well as releasing albums as the Memphis Fireflies and the Delmonts with some of his favorite musicians. A personal favorite, this 1989 single received some FM airplay and peaked at #73 on the Hot 100. Working On It - Chris Rea
|
|
|
Post by 1finemrg on Mar 5, 2015 0:05:38 GMT -5
March 5: ...A happy 67th birthday to Eddy Grant. He just missed the top of the US & UK charts, peaking at #2 with "Electric Avenue". He also hit the Top 40 with "Romancing The Stone", although the song ended up appearing only briefly in the movie. The song charted after being excluded from the soundtrack. His other Hot 100 hit as a solo artist was with "I Don't Wanna Dance", a 1982 single that peaked at #52 in the US, but topped the UK charts. It was the second of 5 Top 10 hits for Eddy on the UK charts, including a 2001 remix of "Electric Avenue". In 1968, he was lead guitarist and composer of this #1 UK and #32 US hit. Baby Come Back - Equals
|
|
|
Post by blackbowl68 on Mar 5, 2015 7:30:34 GMT -5
Two great artists born on March 5th who both left us too soon.
The first was born in 1958 in England but reared in Australia. His three older brothers had been churning out hits for a decade when he decided to start his own career. He became the first soloist to take his first three singles to #1. After a few more hits, his career dwindled & he developed some deadly habits. Eventually they caught up with him & died shortly after turning 30. So happy birthday to Andy Gibb.
The second was born in 1956 in Los Angeles. Her birth name was Mary Christine Brockert. She became the most successful white female artist signed to Motown. Boosted with the help of Rick James, she had a string of hits that gave much success with soul audiences. She would eventually leave Motown to score her biggest hit "Lovergirl." Sadly, the world lost her in 2010. So happy birthday in heaven to the vanilla child Teena Marie.
|
|
|
Post by 1finemrg on Mar 5, 2015 23:38:25 GMT -5
March 6: ...one of the greatest artists of all time. In his lifetime he was known as "Il Divino". He never charted or even bubbled under, but he could write beautiful poems. He was a pretty good painter, his specialty being ceilings. You would need a huge cake to fit all the candles. A happy 540th birthday to Michelangelo di Lodovico Buonarroti Simoni, commonly known as Michaelangelo. Michaelangelo - Emmylou Harris
Also wishing a happy birthday to an artist who recorded for Motown in her early years before finding success with Elton John's Rocket record label. We all know what she has... I've Got The Music In Me - Kiki Dee Band
|
|
|
Post by 1finemrg on Mar 7, 2015 6:42:40 GMT -5
March 7: ...Ernie Isley who turns 63 today. Ernie joined his brothers in the late sixties, contributing his signature guitar work to this Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame group. In recent years, he and his brother Ronald have performed as the Isley Brothers. We go back to the first time Ernie strapped on a bass guitar for his brothers and played on this Grammy winning song. It was their highest charting song peaking at #2, and was written as a response to their experience at Motown. It's Your Thing - Isley Brothers
|
|
|
Post by 1finemrg on Mar 8, 2015 6:16:15 GMT -5
March 8: ...Randy Meisner, who turns 69 today. This Nebraska native was a member of Poco and the Eagles. He also hit the top 40 three times as a solo artist, with "Hearts On Fire" being the highest charting (#19). He was also part of the Poco comeback album "Legacy". It yielded 2 Top 40 singles, the second of which featured Randy on lead vocals. It peaked at #39 early in 1990. Nothin' To Hide - Poco
|
|
|
Post by 1finemrg on Mar 9, 2015 5:19:09 GMT -5
March 9: ...Mark Lindsay who completes his 73rd year on Mother Earth today. Former frontman/sax player for Paul Revere and the Raiders, Mark's signature vocals were heard on all the Raiders' classics ("Kicks", "Hungry", "Indian Reservation"). As a solo artist, he reached the Top 10 with "Arizona" and the Top 40 with "Silver Bird". He just missed the top 40, peaking at #44 with a cover of this Neil Diamond tune also recorded by Elvis. And The Grass Won't Pay No Mind - Mark Lindsay
|
|