Music History - November 7

In 1930, Wayne King, "The Waltz King," recorded his theme, "The Waltz You Saved for Me."

In 1949, at Castle Studio in Nashville, Red Foley recorded "Chattanoogie Shoe Shine Boy," the first million-selling country music hit recorded in Music City. It reached #1 on Billboard's pop music chart where it stayed for eight weeks, and spent three months atop the country music chart.

In 1951, Frank Sinatra married his second wife, actress Ava Gardner. The marriage lasted 5½ years and is credited with moving Sinatra into his "mature" phase as a singer. According to arranger/conductor Nelson Riddle, "It was Ava who did that, who taught him how to sing a torch song. That's how he learned. She was the greatest love of his life and he lost her."

In 1956, at Music City Recordings in Nashville, Ferlin Husky recorded "Gone," which became his second #1 record on the country music chart and stayed on top for ten weeks. The song also crossed over to the pop chart where it peaked at #4. Husky first recorded "Gone" in Hollywood on November 4, 1952 while singing under the name Terry Preston. That version never charted.

In 1956, Elvis Presley's "Love Me" became the first million-seller to make the charts without being released as a single. It was on an EP (extended play) 45-RPM record with three other songs on it.

In 1958, Eddie Cochran made his UK chart debut with "Summertime Blues." It reached #18 in the UK & #8 in the US. The song has been covered by many artists, including being a #1 hit for country music artist, Alan Jackson, and a notable hit for the English rock band, The Who.

In 1958, Andy Williams recorded "The Hawaiian Wedding Song (Ke Kali Nei Au)."

In 1958, at Owen Bradley's Quonset Hut studio in Nashville, Carl Dobkins, Jr. recorded "My Heart Is An Open Book."

In 1960, at Radio Recorders in West Hollywood, Elvis Presley recorded "Wild In The Country."

In 1960, at Owen Bradley's Quonset Hut studio in Nashville, Johnny Preston recorded "Leave My Kitten Alone."

In 1961, in Indianapolis, Ray Charles was arrested for possession of drugs after local authorities discovered marijuana and heroin in his hotel room.

In 1963, the Beatles went to Ireland to make their only two appearances ever in the country playing two shows at the Adelphi Cinema, Dublin. The group hooked up with screenwriter Alun Owen, who had been appointed to write the screenplay for The Beatles' first (as yet untitled) motion picture. Owen spent three days with The Beatles observing their hectic, lifestyle.

In 1964, the Marvelettes'"Too Many Fish in the Sea" enters the Billboard Hot 100 where it will reach #25. The song will be the fifth of the group's ten US Top 40 Pop hits.

In 1965, on CBS-TV's "The Ed Sullivan Show," the Righteous Brothers sang "Turn On Your Love Light" and "You'll Never Walk Alone," and Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass performed "Taste Of Honey."

In 1966, Elvis Presley completed work on his 23rd feature film, "Easy Come, Easy Go," co-starring Dodie Marshall and Pat Priest.

In 1967, Reg Dwight (Elton John) and his song writing partner Bernie Taupin signed to DJM publishing, their signatures had to be witnessed by their parents because they were both under 21 years of age. Taupin answered an advertisement for a lyric writer placed in the New Musical Express, the pair have since collaborated on over 30 albums.

In 1967, the Beatles finished recording "Blue Jay Way,""Flying" and "Magical Mystery Tour." The Beatles have only six songs, not enough for an album so decided to issue a double-EP. Capitol Records didn’t think the double-EP format would be acceptable for the US market, so they decide to put out an album instead. The six "Magical Mystery Tour" songs with five of the six songs from The Beatles' 1967 singles went on side two.

In 1968, in Denver, Jim Morrison simply asked the crowd to “stand up” during a Doors concert. That was enough for the authorities to ban the group from ever playing again in the city.

In 1969, LIFE magazine featured Paul McCartney as its cover story with the headline, "Paul Is Still With Us." In the accompanying interview, McCartney debunked several of the death "clues" and added: "Perhaps the rumor started because I haven't been much in the press lately. I have done enough press for a lifetime, and I don't have anything to say these days. I am happy to be with my family and I will work when I work. I was switched on for ten years and I never switched off. Now I am switching off whenever I can. I would rather be a little less famous these days."

In 1969, the Rolling Stones began their sixth North American tour, Mick Taylor's first with the band, at Colorado State University in Fort Collins. Their openings acts were B.B. King (replaced on some dates by Chuck Berry), and Ike & Tina Turner. Rock critic Dave Marsh later wrote that the tour was "part of rock and roll legend" and one of the "benchmarks of an era."

On November 7, 1970, the head of MGM Records, Mike Curb, announced a massive purge from his artist roster, claiming the move was to drop acts that "exploit and promote hard drugs through music." When label performers such as Connie Francis and the Cowsills were also dropped, observers began to suspect that Curb's actual goal was to remove acts that were no longer selling. The ruse was exposed when MGM artist Eric Burdon went public with his drug use and demanded to be released from his contract.

In 1971, Elvis Presley performed in afternoon and evening concerts at the Fair & Expo Center in Louisville, Kentucky.

In 1974, Ted Nugent won a National Squirrel-shooting contest after picking off a squirrel at 150 yards. The heavy metal guitarist also shot dead 27 other mammals during the three day event.

In 1975, a new world record was set for continuous guitar string plucking by Steve Anderson who played for 114 hours 17 minutes.

In 1975, Elton John started a three week run at #1 on the US album chart with 'Rock Of The Westies', the singers tenth studio album and seventh US #1 contained the US #1 and #14 UK single, "Island Girl," which was released prior to the album.

In 1979, "The Rose" starring Bette Midler, Alan Bates, Frederick Forest, Harry Dean Stanton, and David Keith, opened in U.S. and Canadian movie theaters. The story was loosely based on the life of singer Janis Joplin. Originally titled "Pearl," which was Joplin's nickname and the title of her last album, the film was fictionalized after her family declined to allow the producers the rights to her story.

In 1980, the Eagles released their first live album, a two-record set titled 'Eagles Live.' The Eagles unofficially disbanded on July 31, 1980 after their concert at Long Beach. However, the band still owed Elektra/Asylum a live record from the tour. 'Eagles Live' was mixed by Glenn Frey and Don Henley on opposite coasts - the two decided they could not stand to be in the same state, let alone the same studio, and as Bill Szymczyk put it, the record's perfect three-part harmonies were fixed "courtesy of Federal Express."

In 1981, Hall and Oates started a two week run at #1 on the US singles chart with "Private Eyes," the duo's third US #1, a #32 hit in the UK.

In 1981, at Six Flags Magic Mountain theme park outside Los Angeles, the Kingston Trio taped a reunion concert for PBS-TV.

On this day in 1982, "Up Where We Belong" by Joe Cocker & Jennifer Warnes was the #1 song.

In 1986, Willie Nelson played a crooked cop in a guest appearance on the NBC-TV police drama series "Miami Vice."

In 1987, Bruce Springsteen went to #1 on the US album chart with 'Tunnel Of Love.' His eighth studio album went triple platinum in the US, with "Brilliant Disguise" being one of his biggest hit singles, peaking at #5 on the Billboard Hot 100.

In 1987, Tiffany became the youngest act to score a US #1 since Michael Jackson ("Ben" in 1972) with "I Think we're Alone Now." The song written by Ritchie Cordell was initially a 1967 hit for Tommy James & the Shondells.

In 1988, John Fogerty won his self-plagiarism court battle with Fantasy Records. The label claimed Fogerty copied his own song, "Run Through The Jungle" when he wrote "The Old Man Down The Road." 

In 1991, rhythm guitarist Izzy Stradlin quit Guns N’ Roses and was replaced by guitarist Gilby Clarke. Stradlin citied a combination of Axl Rose's personal behaviour and the difficulties of being around Slash, Matt Sorum, and Duff McKagan, due to his new-found sobriety.

In 1991, Frank Zappa was diagnosed with prostate cancer. He died of the disease in December 1993.

In 1991, R&B singer Carter Cornelius of the Cornelius Brothers & Sister Rose died following a heart attack at the age of 43.

In 1994, jazz trumpeter/composer (themes for Starsky & Hutch, Mr. Magoo)/arranger (Monkees) Milton "Shorty" Rogers died at age 70.

In 1995, Madonna released the compilation album 'Something to Remember.'

In 1995, singer/guitarist Jerry Daniels, a founding member of the Ink Spots (1934-1936) who left the group before their string of hit records, died at the age of 79.

In 1995,  Alice in Chains released their third LP, simply called 'Alice in Chains.'  It was the follow-up to the highly successful album 'Dirt.' It marks the band's last studio album to feature vocalist Layne Staley (who would die of a drug overdose in 2002) and the album has been certified two-times platinum by the RIAA and has sold 3 million copies worldwide.

In 2002, 12 Guns N' Roses fans were arrested during a riot after a gig in Vancouver was cancelled. Promoters pulled the gig after Axl Rose's flight from Los Angeles was delayed.

In 2002, Whitney Houston's husband, Bobby Brown was arrested and charged with possession of marijuana, speeding, driving without a licence and having no proof of insurance after he was stopped by police in Atlanta City.

In 2003, officials in Hong Kong invited the Rolling Stones, among others, to play a huge concert in the city (for appearance fees expected to top $100 million) in a desperate attempt to assure potential visitors that the SARS outbreak was not a threat.

In 2004, Lenny Mays of The Dramatics passed away of heart failure at the age of 53. The group cracked the Top Ten of the Billboard Hot 100 in 1971 with "Whatcha See Is Whatcha Get" and again in 1972 with "In The Rain".

In 2006, Genesis announced they were re-forming for a world tour.

In 2007, the Eagles' first studio album in 28 years, 'Long Road Out Of Eden,' rose to the top of the Billboard Hot 200 chart after selling 711,000 copies in the US during its first week of release. The LP produced two singles on the Hot Country Songs charts: a cover of J.D. Souther's "How Long" and "Busy Being Fabulous," both of which were Top 30 hits on the Country charts as well as Top 20 hits on the Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks charts.

In 2008, singer  Jody Reynolds died of liver cancer at the age of 75.

In 2009, Joe Jackson, Michael Jackson's father, filed papers in a Los Angeles court requesting an allowance from the estate of his late son, saying that for years before his death the pop star had supported him. The attorneys representing the 81-year-old Jackson said his monthly expenses were $20,000.

In 2012, doo-wop singer (Earth Angel)/Vocal Group Hall of Famer Cleveland Duncan, lead vocalist of the Penguins on their biggest hit, died at the age of 77.

birthdays today (among others) include: •Johnny Rivers (71), Joni Mitchell (70), Nick Gilder (62), Tommy Thayer (KISS) (53), Clint Mansell (Pop Will Eat Itself) (50) and Robin Finck (Guns N' Roses, Nine Inch Nails) (42)