Pick a Day

25 JULY

In Music History

1992 Mary J. Blige's first single, "You Remind Me," hits #1 on the R&B chart, establishing her unique blend of "hip-hop soul." Her next single, "Real Love," tops the chart in October.

1990 Bruce Springsteen and Patti Scialfa have their first child, Evan James.

1989 Steve Rubell, one of the owners of Studio 54, dies of AIDS-related causes at age 45.

1984 Original "Hound Dog" singer Willie Mae "Big Mama" Thornton dies at age 57 in a Los Angeles boarding house after a long-time struggle with alcohol abuse.

1983 Metallica release their debut album, Kill 'Em All, three months after parting ways with guitarist Dave Mustaine.More

1980 Eric Carr makes his debut as Kiss drummer.

1975 A California federal judge rules that San Francisco had a right to arrest Miracles singer Smokey Robinson the previous year, even though his name only matched the alias of the criminal he was confused with.

1973 The Doobie Brothers release "China Grove." Lead singer Tom Johnston made up the story about the strange little town, and later found out that there's a real China Grove in Texas.

1970 The Carpenters' "(They Long to Be) Close to You" hits #1 for the first of four weeks.

1969 The Beatles work on a slew of songs for their Abbey Road album: "Sun King," "Mean Mr. Mustard," "Come Together," "Polythene Pam" and "She Came In Through the Bathroom Window."

1969 Yes release their self-titled debut album, one of the first in the progressive rock genre.

1966 "Last Train To Clarksville," the debut single by The Monkees, is recorded at RCA studios in Los Angeles. Like all of their early songs, the group doesn't play on the record. The only Monkee on the track is Micky Dolenz, who does the vocal.

1966 The Supremes release "You Can't Hurry Love."

1963 Singer Cilla Black, discovered by Beatles manager Brian Epstein at a Gerry & the Pacemakers concert, makes her first recording test for EMI.

1959 Introduced by Johnny Cash, 13-year-old Dolly Parton makes her Grand Ole Opry debut singing George Jones' "You Gotta Be My Baby." She receives three encores.