31 JULY
In Music History
1976 Orleans release "Still The One."
1971 After being denied entrance to a Who concert in New York City's Forest Hills Stadium, an ex-convict stabs and kills the security guard.
1971 Guitarist John William Lowery is born in Grosse Point, Michigan. Better known by his stage name "John 5," he goes on to contribute to acts such as Marilyn Manson, Rob Zombie, and Lynyrd Skynyrd.
1964 Country singer Jim Reeves dies at age 40 when he crashes his private plane while flying over Brentwood, Tennessee, in the midst of a violent thunderstorm. He will continue to chart after his death, with "Distant Drums" fighting the Beatles' double-sided "Yellow Submarine" and "Eleanor Rigby" for the #1 spot in the UK.
1963 Fatboy Slim is born Quentin Leo Cook in Bromley, Kent, England.
1959 Cliff Richard charts his first UK #1 hit with "Living Doll," which becomes the top-selling single of 1959 in Britain.
1958 Bill Berry (drummer for R.E.M.) is born in Duluth, Minnesota.
1957 Daniel Ash (guitarist for Bauhaus, Love and Rockets) is born in Northampton, England.
1953 Cellist Hugh McDowell (of Electric Light Orchestra) is born in Hampstead, London, England.
1951 Ray Charles gets married for the first time. His bride is Eileen Williams, a beautician from Chicago. Their union lasts just one year.
1947 Karl Green (bassist for Herman's Hermits) is born in Manchester, England.
1943 Seventies singer-songwriter Lobo is born Roland Kent LaVoie in Tallahassee, Florida.
1942 Harry James records "I've Heard That Song Before."
1942 Daniel Boone, a British pop singer known for the 1972 hit "Beautiful Sunday," is born Peter Charles Green in Birmingham, England.
1931 Jazz guitarist Kenny Burrell is born in Detroit, Michigan.
America Reaches Peak Singer-Songwriter As "You've Got A Friend" Hits #1
1971The singer-songwriter era reaches its apex as James Taylor's "You've Got A Friend" hits #1 in the US.
Read more31 JULY
Featured Events
2009 With Adam Yauch (MCA) diagnosed with cancer, Beastie Boys cancel their appearance at the All Points West festival at Liberty State Park in New Jersey. In tribute, Jay-Z opens his set with a cover of "No Sleep Till Brooklyn."
1980 The Eagles split up after Glenn Frey and Don Felder go at it on stage.More
1969 Elvis Presley comes to Vegas! Making his first live concert appearance since March 25, 1961, he plays the International Hotel in Las Vegas, the first of 57 shows that help revive his career and earn him $1.5 million.
1945 Gary Lewis, future leader of Gary Lewis and the Playboys, is born Cary Levitch. His name is changed two years later when his dad changes his name from Joseph Levitch to Jerry Lewis.
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