Music Almanac: August 8

Birthdays

• 1920 - Jimmy Witherspoon (d. 1997)
• 1921 - Webb Pierce (d. 1991)
• 1927 - Andy Warhol (produced & managed the Velvet Underground) (d. 1987)
• 1932 - Mel Tillis (80)
• 1933 - Joe Tex (d. 1982)
• 1938 - Connie Stevens (74)
• 1939 - Phil Balsley (Statler Brothers) (73)
• 1942 - John David (Dr. Hook & the Medicine Show) (70)
• 1943 - Sandy Pearlman (producer/manager, Blue Oyster Cult) (69)
• 1944 - Michael Johnson (68)
• 1944 - John Renbourn (68)
• 1948 - Andy Fairweather-Low (64)
• 1949 - Airrion Love (Stylistics) (63)
• 1950 - Willie Hall (Bar-Kays, Movement) (62)
• 1950 - Jamie O'Hara (O'Kanes) (62)
• 1952 - Anton Fig (Frehley's Comet, Bob Dylan, David Letterman) (60)
• 1956 - Chris Foreman (Madness) (56)
• 1956 - Ali Score (A Flock of Seagulls) (56)
• 1956 - David Grant (Linx) (56)
• 1957 - Dennis Drew (10,000 Maniacs) (55)
• 1961 - The Edge (born David Evans) (U2) (51)
• 1961 - Rikki Rockett (born Richard Ream) (Poison) (51)
• 1961 - Paul Jackson (T'Pau) (51)
• 1962 - Kool Moe Dee (born Mohandas Dewese) (50)
• 1965 - El Hefe (born Aaron Abeyta) (NOFX) (47)
• 1967 - Lorraine Pearson (Five Star) (45)
• 1972 - Lüpüs Thünder (Bloodhound Gang) (40)
• 1973 - Scott Stapp (Creed) (39)
• 1973 - Mark Wills (39)
• 1974 - Brian Harvey (East 17) (38)
• 1976 - JC Chasez ('N Sync) (36)
• 1976 - Drew Lachey (98 Degrees) (36)
• 1980 - Mike Hindert (Bravery) (35)
• 1981 - Bradley McIntosh (S Club) (31)

On This Day

• 1960 - Decca Records destroyed 25,000 copies of Tell Laura I Love Her by Ray Peterson, seeing it as tasteless. It's eventually released by RCA.
• 1964 - The Osbourne Brothers joined the Grand Ole Opry.
• 1966 - The South African Broadcasting Company banned the Beatles after John Lennon's comment about the group being "bigger than Jesus."
• 1969 - The cover photo for the Beatles' Abbey Road was taken in London.
• 1970 - Janis Joplin bought a headstone for the grave of her influence, Bessie Smith.
• 1975 - Hank Williams, Jr. was seriously injured when he fell 500 feet down a mountainside. He required two years of surgeries. 
• 1980 - London blocked the Plasmatics from blowing up a car during their U.K. live debut.
• 1981 - The Pretenders opened their second U.S. tour in Fort Pierce, FL. 
• 1983 - Harold Melvin and members of the Bluenotes were arrested for cocaine possession in Atlantic City.
• 1986 - David Prison was released from prison after serving three years for drug and weapons possession.
• 1991 - Billy Preston was charged with showing pornography to a minor.
• 1992 - A riot broke out at a Montreal venue after Metallica cut their show short when James Hetfield was injured by pyrotechnics and Guns N' Roses Axl Rose stopped early with a sore throat.
• 1998 - The Rolling Stones perform for the first time in Russia.
• 2000 - The head of security for James Brown is arrested in relation to a fire at Brown's office. Brown is also sued again for sexual harassment.
• 2003 - Justin Timberlake and Christina Aguilera postpone a number of stops on their tour after a lighting rig broke.

Marriages

• 1982 - Mickey Thompson (Starship) and Sara Kendrick

Divorces

• 2006 - Travis Barker (Blink-182) and Shanna Moakler (filed)

Recorded

• 1934 - Sons of the Pioneers first recording session
• 1966 - Whispers (Getting Louder) - Jackie Wilson

Released

• 1957 - This is Fats - Fats Domino
• 1963 - Louie Louie - Kingsmen (single)
• 1964 - Ringo for President - Young World Singers (single)
• 1964 - Another Side of Bob Dylan - Bob Dylan
• 1966 - Revolver - Beatles (U.S. release)
• 1970 - Looking Out My Back Door - Creedence Clearwater Revival (single)
• 1976 - Boston - Boston
• 1986 - Knocked Out Loaded - Bob Dylan

Broadcasts

• 1981 - MTV broadcast their first concert with REO Speedwagon.

Number Ones – U.S. Singles

• 1953 - Vaya Con Dios (May God Be With You) - Les Paul & Mary Ford (9 weeks)
• 1960 - Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini - Brian Hyland (1 week)
• 1987 - I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For - U2 (2 weeks)
• 1992 - This Used to Be My Playground - Madonna (1 week)

Number Ones – U.S. Albums

• 1970 - Blood, Sweat and Tears 3 - Blood, Sweat and Tears (2 weeks)
• 2009 - Here We Go Again - Demi Lovato (1 week)

Number Ones – U.S. R&B Singles

• 1987 - The Pleasure Principle - Janet Jackson (1 week)
• 1992 - Baby-Baby-Baby - TLC (2 weeks)

Number Ones – U.S. Country Singles

• 1970 - Don't Keep Hangin' Up On Me - Sonny James (4 weeks)
• 1981 - Too Many Lovers - Crystal Gayle (1 week)
• 1987 - One Promise Too Late - Reba McEntire (1 week)
• 1998 - There's Your Trouble - Dixie Chicks (2 weeks)

Number Ones – U.K. Singles

• 1963 - Sweets for My Sweet - Searchers (2 weeks)
• 1993 - Living on My Own - Freddie Mercury (2 weeks)
• 2010 - Beautiful Monster - Ne-Yo (1 week)

Number Ones – U.K. Albums

• 2010 - The Suburbs - Arcade Fire (1 week)