Music History - June 14th

In 1950, "Honky Tonk Blues" was recorded by the immortal Hank Williams.

In 1959, Connie Francis sang "Lipstick On Your Collar" and Brook Benton sang "Endlessly" on CBS-TV's "The Ed Sullivan Show."

In 1961, Patsy Cline and her brother Sam were involved in a head-on collision in Madison, Tennessee. She was thrown into the windshield by the impact and sustained major head, wrist, and hip injuries, requiring a month of hospitalization. The driver of the other car and her six-year-old son died as a result of their injuries.

In 1961, after a performance in Newcastle, England, rockabilly singer Gene Vincent was mobbed by admirers who accidentally pushed him down a flight of stairs and knocked him unconscious.

In 1961, Elvis Presley's 7th feature film, "Wild In The Country," co-starring Hope Lange, Tuesday Weld, John Ireland, and Millie Perkins, opened in U.S. and Canadian movie theaters.

In 1964, a 12-year-old girl was discovered by British railway workers, packed in a tea chest on a station platform, addressed to The Beatles.

On June 14, 1965, Paul McCartney records "Yesterday" by himself, after trying unsuccessfully to fit in the rest of the Beatles.  McCartney performed two takes and take 2 was deemed better and used as the master take. On 17 June, an additional vocal track by McCartney and a string quartet were overdubbed on take 2 and that version was released.  The song would later be recorded by over 3,000 other artists and become the most covered tune in music history. In describing it, Paul has said "I did the tune easily and then the words took about two weeks." 

In 1965, the Beatles released the album 'Beatles VI.'   It was the seventh Capitol Records release in the US (including The Beatles' Story). It was the ninth album released into that market in less than one and a half years (Vee-Jay Records and United Artists Records also released one album each during that period). The LP was released in both mono and stereo versions.  'Beatles VI' reached #1 in Billboard for six weeks, beginning on July 10, 1965.

In 1966, at EMI's Abbey Road Studios in London, the Beatles recorded the Paul McCartney composition "Here, There And Everywhere." McCartney has been quoted as saying the multi-tracked vocals were meant to have a Beach Boys sound. John Lennon, producer George Martin, and McCartney all said it was one of their favorite Beatles songs. In 2000, it was ranked the 4th greatest song of all time by Mojo magazine.

In 1967, Jimi Hendrix was in the audience as the Doors performed at Steve Paul's New York City nightclub The Scene. The club was in operation from 1964 to 1970 and gained brief notoriety as a result of the historic performances at the venue by the Doors and Hendrix.

In 1967, the Monkees began recording "Daydream Believer." All four band members appeared on the track, completed August 9, with Davy Jones singing lead, Micky Dolenz on backing vocals, Michael Nesmith on lead guitar, and Peter Tork, who arranged the John Stewart composition, on piano.

In 1967, "To Sir With Love," starring Sidney Poitier, Christian Roberts, Judy Geeson, Suzy Kendall, Ann Bell, and Lulu, opened in U.S. and Canadian movie theaters.

On June 14, 1968, the legendary LP 'In-a-Gadda-Da-Vida' by Iron Butterfly was released.  It peaked at #4 on the Billboard charts and was given the distinction of being the first album to be awarded platinum status when the RIAA began that achievement level in 1976. Today it is a 4x platinum album with sales of over 30 million copies. It was also Atlantic Records' biggest selling album until it was surpassed by Led Zeppelin IV.

In 1969, John Lennon and Yoko Ono appeared on David Frost's British TV show.

In 1970, Grand Funk Railroad spends $100,000 for a block long billboard in New York's Times Square to advertise its latest record, "Closer to Home."

In 1970, Eric Clapton's Derek and the Dominoes made their live debut in Britain. The group was joined by Dave Mason, who played the guitar parts performed by Duane Allman on Derek and the Dominoes' only studio album, "Layla."

On June 14, 1970, the Grateful Dead released the LP 'Workingman's Dead.'  The title of the album comes from a comment from Jerry Garcia to lyricist Robert Hunter about how "this album was turning into the Workingman's Dead version of the band."   In 2003, the album was ranked #262 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time.

In 1971, the first Hard Rock Cafe opened in London.

In 1971, Emerson, Lake and Palmer released the LP Tarkus in the UK on Island Records, appearing two months later in the US on Cotillion Records.  It's one of only two ELP records to reach the Top 10 in the States, making it to #9 (Trilogy, the following year, got to #5), while in Britain it's their only number-one album.  Additionally, Tarkus spent a total of 17 weeks in the UK Albums Chart.  In Japan the album was released on Atlantic Records. Later vinyl reissues were on the Manticore label.

In 1972, Simon & Garfunkel reunite for one evening in support of presidential candidate George McGovern.

In 1972, Elvis Presley played the first of two nights at the Milwaukee Auditorium.

In 1972, on Long Island, New York, Led Zeppelin played the first of two nights at the Nassau Coliseum.

In 1974, David Bowie launched his Diamond Dog tour in Montreal.

In 1975, "Thank God I'm A Country Boy", recorded live at the Universal Amphi-theater in California by John Denver, became the best selling record in the US. The song was written by John Martin Sommers, a member of Denver's backup band. and they played it on the radio so much it made me sick

In 1975, Janis Ian releases "At Seventeen", which will reach #3 in the US later in the year.

In 1975, America achieve their second Billboard number one record and their seventh Top 40 hit with "Sister Golden Hair".

In 1979, Little Feat announced they were disbanding.

In 1980, Billy Joel started a six-week run at #1 on the U.S. album chart with 'Glass Houses,' his second #1 album in the U.S.

In 1980, the film Roadie, starring Meat Loaf, premiered.

In 1986, three fans died during an Ozzy Osbourne gig at the Long Beach Arena in California after falling from a balcony.

In 1986, lyricist  Alan Jay Lerner died of lung cancer at the age of 67.

In 1987, Madonna opened her Who's That Girl Tour in Osaka, Japan.  It was the highest-grossing tour to date, earning more than $20 million.

In 1991, Nirvana performed at the Palladium in Hollywood, California.

In 1993, Police in Port St. Lucie, Florida charged a 16 year-old boy with murder after he confessed to killing a woman who did not like the lyrics he was rapping. Victor Brancaccio punched and kicked 78 year-old Mollie May Frazier in the head and chest after she objected to the obscenities in a song he was playing over headphones and singing along to. The song was "Stranded on Death Row" by Dr. Dre.

In 1994, Composer Henry Mancini died at the age of 70. Mancini wrote the music to “Moon River,” which was originally sung in the movie Breakfast at Tiffany's by Audrey Hepburn. He also scored the 1969 U.S. #1 single “Love Theme from Romeo and Juliet.” Mancini recorded over 90 albums and contributed music to over 100 movies, including “Theme from The Pink Panther.”

In 1995, Irish guitarist Rory Gallagher died after a chest infection set in following a liver transplant.

In 1995, ABC's Diane Sawyer interviewed Michael Jackson and Lisa Marie Presley on ABC-TV's Prime Time Live. It was the couple's first interview since their surprise marriage a year earlier and was part of the publicity push for Jackson's album "HIStory - Past, Present and Future: Book One". Jackson and Presley declared they were a "normal married couple who hoped to have a baby". When asked if they had sex, they replied "yes, yes, yes!" They also confirmed that a prenuptial agreement had been signed.

In 1995, several residents of Columbus, Ohio call the police to complain about the volume of a Ted Nugent concert. The Motor City Madman refused to quiet down because the music was within legal noise limits.

In 2003, jazz trombonist Jimmy Knepper, who led his own group and also worked as a sideman for Charlie Mingus, Gil Evans, Thad Jones and Mel Lewis, died of complications from Parkinson's disease at age 75.

In 2006, at New York's Carnegie Hall, Rufus Wainwright recreated Judy Garland's legendary 1961 concert at the venue to mark the show's 35th anniversary.

In 2006, in Zaragoza, Spain, Shakira began her 99-date Oral Fixation world tour. With total attendance of nearly two million people, the tour grossed more than $98 million.

In 2009, Bob Bogle, lead guitarist and co-founder of The Ventures, known for their instrumental hits "Walk, Don't Run" and "Hawaii Five-O", passed away at the age of 75.

In 2012, in New York City, Gordon Lightfoot and Bob Seger were inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame.

birthday wishes to (among others):  Rod Argent (Zombies, Argent) (68), Jimmy Lea (Slade) (64), Alan White (Yes) (64), Boy George (Culture Club) (52), Chris DeGarmo (Queensrÿche) (50) and Matt Freeman (Rancid) (47)