Music Almanac: July 29

Birthdays

• 1916 - Charlie Christian (d. 1942)
• 1933 - Randy Sparks (New Christy Minstrels) (78)
• 1936 - Leonard Lee (Shirley & Lee) (d. 1976)
• 1946 - Neal Doughty (REO Speedwagon) (66)
• 1947 - Carlo Santana (Paper Lace) (65)
• 1953 - Geddy Lee (Rush) (59)
• 1953 - Patty Scialfa (E-Street Band) (59)
• 1959 - John Sykes (Whitesnake, Thin Lizzy) (53)
• 1962 - Martin McCarrick (Siouxsie and the Banshees, Therapy?) (50)
• 1966 - Martina McBride (46)
• 1967 - Chris Gorman (Belly) (45)
• 1972 - Simon Jones (Verve) (40)
• 1973 - Wanya Morris (Boyz II Men) (39)
• 1973 - James Otto (39)
• 1977 - Danger Mouse (born Brian Burton) (35)

Deaths

• 1974 - Mama Cass Elliot - Heart attack (32)
• 1978 - Glen Goins (Parliament-Funkadelic) - Hodkin's lymphoma (24)
• 1984 - Fred Waring - Stroke (84)
• 1986 - Gordon Mills (British producer, manager & songwriter) - Stomach cancer (51)
• 1988 - Pete Drake (Country producer & pedal steel player) - Emphysema (55)
• 1993 - Eddie Guzman (Rare Earth) - Diabetes and alcoholism (49)
• 1996 - Jason Thirsk (Pennywise) - Suicide (28)
• 1999 - Anita Carter (Carter Family) - Affects of medication for rheumatoid arthritis (66)

On This Day

• 1961 - Bob Dylan performed at the Hootenanny Special which was broadcast as a twelve-hour radio special.
• 1963 - The Newport Folk Festival resumes after a four year layoff with Bob Dylan, Joan Baez and Peter, Paul & Mary.
• 1965 - The Beatles' film Help! premiered in London.
• 1966 - Bob Dylan was involved in a motorcycle accident, breaking a neck vertebra.
• 1966 - Cream made their live debut in Manchester, England.
• 1966 - The interview where John Lennon stated "We're bigger than Jesus now" was published in the teen magazine Datebook.
• 1966 - The Grateful Dead played their first show outside the U.S. in Vancouver.
• 1968 - Gram Parsons refuses to go on the Byrds' South African tour, not wanting to play for segregated audiences. 
• 1970 - The Rolling Stones' contract with Decca Records ended. 
• 1972 - Screaming Lord Sutch was arrested in London while promoting his latest album when he jumped on a bus with four nude women.
• 1972 - Barbara Mandrell joined the Grand Ole Opry.
• 1973 - A safe deposit box with $203,000 was stolen from Led Zeppelin's room in New York's Drake Hotel.
• 1978 - Prince charted for the first time in the U.S. with Soft and Wet. 
• 1982 - A Dublin, Ireland hotel owned by Thin Lizzy's Phil Lynott was destroyed by fire.
• 1987 - The Four Tops were given their own annual day in Michigan.
• 1987 - Ben & Jerry's introduced Cherry Garcia in honor of the Grateful Dead's Jerry Garcia.
• 1990 - Elton John checked into rehab for Bulemia and other addictions, causing him to take over a year off.
• 1998 - Matchbox 20 started their first headlining tour in New Orleans.
• 1998 - Miramax Films purchased the rights to the Beatles' A Hard Day's Night with plans for a 35th anniversary release.

Marriages

• 1982 - Andy Taylor (Duran Duran) and Tracie Wilson
• 1994 - David Gilmour (Pink Floyd) and Polly Samson
• 2006 - Bobby Gillespie (Primal Scream) and Katy England
• 2006 - Kid Rock and Pamela Anderson

Recorded

• 1955 - Folsom Prison Blues - Johnny Cash
• 1959 - Shout - Isley Brothers
• 1968 - Hey Jude - Beatles (first session)

Released

• 1963 - Blowin' in the Wind - Peter, Paul & Mary (single)
• 1967 - Reflections - Diana Ross & the Supremes (first single under new billing)
• 1967 - You're My Everything - Temptations (single)
• 1978 - Whenever I Call You Friend - Kenny Loggins (single)
• 1980 - Voices - Hall & Oates
• 1981 - Pleasant Dreams - Ramones
• 1981 - The Time - Time
• 1997 - The Art of War - Bone Thugs-N-Harmony

Broadcasts

• 1958 - American Bandstand - Tommy Payne, Eddie Fontane
• 1959 - American Bandstand - Frankie Ford
• 1960 - American Bandstand - Brothers Four, Royal Teens
• 1963 - American Bandstand - Patty Duke
• 1965 - Where the Action Is - Jimmy Clanton, Shangri-Las
• 1966 - Where the Action Is - Cyrkle, Kim Weston, Paul Revere & the Raiders
• 1967 - American Bandstand - Byrds, Forum
• 1972 - American Bandstand - Helen Reddy, Sparks
• 1977 - Midnight Special - K.C. & the Sunshine Band (host), Bay City Rollers, Emotions, Peter McCann, Flora Purim, Tribute to Willie Nelson
• 1978 - American Bandstand - High Ingergy
• 1983 - Friday Night Videos (NBC) - Premier
• 1989 - American Bandstand - Information Society

Number Ones – U.S. Singles

• 1967 - Light My Fire - Doors (3 weeks)
• 1972 - Alone Again (Naturally) - Gilbert O'Sullivan (4 weeks)
• 2000 - It's Gonna Be Me - 'N Sync (2 weeks)

Number Ones – U.S. Albums

• 1950 - Young Man With a Horn - Doris Day and Harry James (2 weeks (4 previous weeks at number 1))
• 1961 (Mono Albums) - Stars of a Summer Night - Various Artists (4 weeks)
• 1978 - Grease - Soundtrack (7 weeks)
• 1995 - Cracked Rear View - Hootie & the Blowfish (1 week (5 previous weeks at number 1))
• 2006 - Now That's What I Call Music 22 - Various Artists (2 weeks)

Number Ones – U.S. R&B Singles

• 1957 - Short Fat Fannie - Larry Williams (1 week)
• 1989 - Shower Me With Your Love - Surface (1 week)
• 2006 - Snap Yo Fingers - Lil Jon Featuring E-40 and Sean Paul of the YoungbloodZ (1 week)

Number Ones – U.S. Country Singles

• 1944 - Is You Is Or Is You Ain't My Baby - Louis Jordan (5 weeks)
• 1967 - Tonight Carmen - Marty Robbins (1 week)
• 1989 - Cathy's Clown - Reba McEntire (1 week)

Number Ones – U.K. Singles

• 1955 - Rose Marie - Slim Whitman (11 weeks)
• 2001 - Eternal Flame - Atomic Kitten (2 weeks)
• 2007 - The Way I Are - Timbaland Featuring Keri Hilson and D.O.E. (2 weeks)

Number Ones – U.K. Albums

• 1961 - The Black and White Minstrel Show - George Mitchell Minstrels (4 weeks)
• 1995 - I Should Coco - Supergrass (3 weeks)