Calendar Search Results: i he w
July 22, 1940 One-hit-wonder Thomas Wayne, known for 1959's "Tragedy," is born Thomas Wayne Perkins is Batesville, Mississippi. His brother is Johnny Cash's guitarist, Luther Perkins.
July 20, 1940 The industry publication Billboard combines their sales charts for the first time, including all major labels. The first #1 is Tommy Dorsey's "I'll Never Smile Again," with vocals by Frank Sinatra.
July 7, 1940 Beatles drummer Ringo Starr is born Richard Starkey in Liverpool, England. He has a run of solo hits in the '70s that includes "It Don't Come Easy" and "Photograph," but he doesn't tour until 1989, when he introduces his All Starr Band.
June 29, 1940 L. Russell Brown, a lyricist and composer known for Tony Orlando and Dawn's "Tie A Yellow Ribbon Round The Ole Oak Tree" and "Knock Three Times," is born in Newark, New Jersey.
June 23, 1940 Disco-funk saxophonist Jimmy Castor, known for the 1972 hit "Troglodyte (Cave Man)," is born in Manhattan, New York.
June 8, 1940 Nancy Sinatra is born in Jersey City, New Jersey. Her parents are Frank Sinatra and his wife Nancy Barbato. Nancy Jr. becomes a singer like her dad, and in 1966 has a #1 hit with "These Boots Are Made For Walkin'."
June 7, 1940 Tom Jones is born Thomas John Woodward in the village of Treforest in Glamorgan, Wales.
May 26, 1940 Levon Helm (lead vocalist for The Band) is born Mark Lavon Helm in Elaine, Arkansas, but will grow up in nearby Turkey Scratch.
May 19, 1940 Mickey Newbury, who penned a record-breaking string of hits across four different charts in 1968, including The First Edition's "Just Dropped In (To See What Condition My Condition Was In)," is born in Houston, Texas.
May 10, 1940 Singer-songwriter Arthur Alexander is born in Florence, Alabama, raised in nearby Sheffield. His song "You Better Move On" is the first hit to come out of FAME studios in Florence; his song "Anna (Go to Him)" is covered by The Beatles.
May 8, 1940 Rick Nelson is born Eric Hilliard Nelson in Teaneck, New Jersey. His parents are Ozzie and Harriet Nelson, and he appears with them on the TV show The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet before becoming a recording star.
April 28, 1940 Glenn Miller records "Pennsylvania 6-5000," the title taken from the phone number of the Pennsylvania Hotel in New York City.
April 27, 1940 Hoots Mon! opens in the UK. The movie stars comedian Max Miller, who sings his signature tune "Mary From The Dairy."
April 26, 1940 Synthpop pioneer Giorgio Moroder is born in Italy. As Donna Summer's producer, he crafts a disco sound on hits like "I Feel Love" and "Bad Girls" that elevates her to queen of the genre. In the '80s he writes and produces the soundtrack hits "Flashdance... What a Feeling" and "Danger Zone."
April 19, 1940 Singer-songwriter Bobby Russell ("The Night The Lights Went Out In Georgia") is born in Nashville, Tennessee.
April 17, 1940 Singer-songwriter Billy Fury is born Ronald William Wycherley in Liverpool, England. A fixture on the UK chart throughout the '60s, his hit singles include "Halfway to Paradise" and "Jealousy," among others.
April 15, 1940 Saxophonist Clarence Satchell (of The Ohio Players) is born in Cleveland, Ohio.
April 12, 1940 Jazz musician Herbie Hancock is born in Chicago, Illinois. After playing in Miles Davis' band, he makes very eclectic and experimental jazz music. In 1983 he has a hit with "Rockit," which incorporates synthesizers and turntable scratching.
April 4, 1940 Songwriter Sharon Sheeley, who writes hits for Glen Campbell, Brenda Lee and Eddie Cochran, is born in California. She also pens Ricky Nelson's first #1 hit, "Poor Little Fool."
March 15, 1940 Grateful Dead bass player Phil Lesh is born in Berkeley, California. A founding member of the band, he's with them for their entire run, which ends in 1995 when Jerry Garcia dies. He keeps the music going with offshoots Phil Lesh And Friends, The Other Ones and The Dead.
March 13, 1940 Daniel Bennie (of the Detroit doo-wop group The Reflections) is born in Johnstone, Scotland.
February 29, 1940 Pop singer Gretchen Christopher (of The Fleetwoods) is born in Olympia, Washington.
February 28, 1940 Joe South is born Joseph Souter in Atlanta, Georgia. His most popular song as an artist is "Games People Play," but South also writes the Deep Purple hit "Hush" and Lynn Anderson's "(I Never Promised You A) Rose Garden."
February 24, 1940 Frances Langford records "When You Wish Upon A Star."
February 19, 1940 Smokey Robinson is born William Robinson Jr. in Detroit. Nicknamed "Smokey Joe" by his uncle, he fronts the Motown group The Miracles and is a top songwriter and producer for the label.
February 17, 1940 Gene Pitney is born in Hartford, Connecticut. He has a string of hits in the '60s, including "(The Man Who Shot) Liberty Valance" and "Only Love Can Break A Heart."
February 13, 1940 Earl "Fatha" Hines and His Orchestra record "Boogie Woogie on the St. Louis Blues."
February 10, 1940 Jimmy Merchant (of Frankie Lymon & the Teenagers) is born in New York City.
February 9, 1940 Brian Bennett (drummer for The Shadows) is born in Palmers Green, North London, England.
February 3, 1940 Angelo D'Aleo (of Dion & The Belmonts) is born in the Belmont neighborhood of The Bronx, New York City.
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