From the MCRFB music calendar:
Events on this date: JUNE 18
1966: The No. 1 song on the R&B charts is “Hold On, I’m Coming,” by Sam and Dave.
1967: After wresting the coveted closing spot for the Who, Jimi Hendrix wows concert-goers at the Monterey Pop Music Festival by setting his guitar on fire during his performance.
1967: Apple Records is formed.
1974: Rare Earth drummer (also lead singer for the band) Peter Hoorelbeke is arrested for throwing his drumsticks into the crowd at the end of the band’s concert.
1975: Elvis Presley enters Memphis’ Mid-South Hospital, ostensibly for an “extensive eye-examination;” reports persist, however, that the King is actually having his ‘crow’s feet’ removed from his aging face.
1987: After only two years of marriage, Bruce Springsteen is separated from his first wife, model and actress Julianne Phillips.
1993: Having sold their label to Polygram three years earlier for a reported $500,000 million dollars, A&M Records founder Herb Alpert and Jerry Moss announce their intention to leave the company entirely. Begun in 1962, A&M was one of the first artist-owned labels, and the first successful independent label.
2002: Billy Joel is admitted to Connecticut’s Silver Hill Hospital for ten days in order to control his commonly known compulsive and habitual-drinking problems.
2004: Ray Charles’ funeral is held in Los Angeles at the First AME Church, featuring performances by Stevie Wonder, Glen Campbell, Wynton Marsalis and Willie Nelson. Non-performing attendees included Little Richard, Clint Eastwood, and Berry Gordy, Jr.
Birthdays: 1942: Paul McCartney (The Beatles, Wings); 1942: Carl Radle (Derek and the Dominoes); 1942: Richard Perry; 1947: Sandy Posey; 1952: Ricky Gazda (Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes); 1953: Jerome Smith (KC and the Sunshine Band)
Deaths: Danny Cedrone (Bill Haley and the Comets), 1954; Hank Medress (The Tokens); 2007.
Recordings: 1958: “Stupid Cupid,” Connie Francis; 1959: “I Want To Walk You Home,” Fats Domino.
Charts: Fleetwood Mac’s “Dreams” hits No. 1 on the charts. James Taylor’s “Handy Man” enters the charts.
Certification: Electric Light Orchestra’s ‘OLE ELO’ (LP); certified gold by the RIAA.
And that’s just a few of the events which took place in pop music history, on this day . . . . J U N E 1 8.
