Today in Music History...January 31, 2017

Music History: January 31

 

Births (14)
1797 : Franz Schubert
1882 : Peter Dawson, famed Australian bass-baritone who made popular recordings of "Advance Australia Fair," "Waltzing Matilda," and "Song Of Australia," is born in Adelaide, South Australia, to Scottish parents Thomas and Alison Dawson.
1892 : Eddie Cantor
1921 : Mario Lanza
1923 : Carol Channing
1928 : Chuck Willis
1944 : Charlie Musselwhite
1946 : Terry Kath (Chicago)
1951 : Harry Wayne Casey (KC and the Sunshine Band)
1951 : Phil Manzanera (Roxy Music)
1956 : Johnny Rotten (The Sex Pistols)
1966 : Alan Jaworski (Jesus Jones)
1967 : Jason Cooper (The Cure)
1981 : Justin Timberlake is born in Memphis, Tennessee.


Deaths (4)
1970 : Slim Harpo
1971 : Mahalia Jackson's funeral is held at Chicago's Great Salem Baptist Church. Over 40,000 mourners attend the open-casket service, which features a closing version of "Take My Hand, Precious Lord" performed by Aretha Franklin. Famous mourners include Coretta Scott King, Chicago Mayor Richard Daley and Sammy Davis Jr.
1978 : Greg Herbert (Blood, Sweat & Tears)
1985 : Barbara Cowsill (The Cowsills)


Charts (3)
1960 : Jimmy Jones' "Handy Man" enters the R&B charts.
1970 : The Jackson 5's "I Want You Back" hits #1.
1976 : The Ohio Players' "Love Rollercoaster" hits #1.


Certifications and Milestones (4)
1956 : Elvis Presley signs with the William Morris Agency in order to make himself available to film studios.
1968 : John Fred and his Playboy Band's "Judy In Disguise" is certified gold.
1968 : The American Breed's "Bend Me, Shape Me" is certified gold.
1972 : Joan Baez's album Any Day Now is certified gold.


Recordings (2)
1956 : Elvis Presley: "I'm Gonna Sit Right Down and Cry," "Tutti Frutti"
1963 : The Beach Boys: "Surfin' U.S.A.," "Shutdown"


Releases (1)
1989 : Alabama: Southern Star


Miscellaneous (5)
1967 : While in Sevenoaks, Kent, England, John Lennon visits an antique shop and purchases a circus poster from 1843. It is this poster which inspires most of the lyrics to The Beatles' "Being For The Benefit of Mr. Kite."
1969 : Billy Preston signs with Apple Records.
1971 : The Jackson 5 are given the key to their hometown of Gary, Indiana, by Mayor Robert Pastrick.
1988 : Herb Alpert performs the US National Anthem at Superbowl XXII in San Diego, California. (Chubby Checker performs at the halftime show.)
1999 : Cher performs the US national anthem at Superbowl XXXIII in Miami, FL. (Stevie Wonder performs at the halftime show.)