Music Almanac: October 8

Birthdays

• 1882 - Harry McClintock (Big Rock Candy Mountain) (d. 1957)
• 1932 - Pete Drake (steel guitarist) (d. 1988)
• 1934 - Doc Green (Drifters) (d. 1989)
• 1938 - Fred Cash (Impressions) (74)
• 1941 - George Bellamy (Tornados) (71)
• 1941 - Dave Arbus (East of Eden) (71)
• 1944 - Susan Raye (68)
• 1945 - Ray Royer (Procol Harum) (67)
• 1945 - Butch Rillera (Redbone) (67)
• 1947 - Tony Wilson (Hot Chocolate) (65)
• 1948 - Johnny Ramone (born John Cummings) (Ramones) (d. 2004)
• 1949 - Hamish Stuart (Average White Band, Paul McCartney) (63)
• 1949 - Harry Bowens (Was (Not Was)) (63)
• 1950 - Robert Bell (Kool & the Gang) (62)
• 1953 - Ricky Lee Phelps (Kentucky Headhunters) (59)
• 1953 - Cathy Carson (Hot) (59)
• 1955 - Lonnie Pitchford (d. 1998)
• 1959 - James Johnstone (Pigbag) (53)
• 1963 - Steve Perry (Cherry Poppin' Daddies) (49)
• 1963 - Mitch Marine (Smash Mouth) (49)
• 1964 - CeCe Winans (48)
• 1965 - C.J. Ramone (born Christopher Ward) (Ramones) (47)
• 1967 - Teddy Riley (Blackstreet, producer) (45)
• 1968 - Leeroy Thornton (Prodigy) (44)
• 1974 - DJ Q-Ball (Bloodhound Gang) (38)
• 1985 - Bruno Mars (27)

Deaths

• 1990 - B.J. Wilson (Procol Harum) (43)

On This Day

• 1966 - Ginger Baker of Cream collapsed after playing a 20-minute guitar solo and was taken to a hospital.
• 1968 - Mama Cass Elliot made her first solo performance in Las Vegas.
• 1979 - Hank Snow and Hubert Law were inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.
• 1984 - Fred Tillman and Ralph Peer were inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.
• 1987 - The three members of ZZ Top booked seats on the first passenger flight to the moon.
• 1987 - Chuck Berry received his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. On the same day, the documentary Hail Hail Rock 'n' Roll premiered.
• 1988 - Dark Side of the Moon by Pink Floyd dropped out of the Billboard top 200 after 741 weeks. It has been back on and off since.
• 1990 - Tennessee Ernie Ford was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.
• 1992 - The U.S. Postal Service announced stamps of Elvis Presley, Bill Haley, Buddy Holly, Otis Redding, Ritchie Valens, Clyde McPhatter and Dinah Washington.
• 1996 - Jimmy Chamberlin, formerly of Smashing Pumpkins, plead guilty to disorderly conduct in the drug-related death of bandmate Jonathan Melvoin.
• 1999 - Shedaisy made their debut at the Grand Ole Opry.
• 2004 - Britney Spears split from her manager, Larry Rudolph, who had been in the position since she was 13.
• 2004 - A tribute to the late Ray Charles is held in Los Angeles. Performing were Usher, Mary J. Blige, Stevie Wonder, Jamie Cullum and Reba McEntire.
• 2004 - On the east coast, a tribute concert for the Ramones was held in New York with performances by the Strokes, Blondie, Sonic Youth, Queens of the Stone Age’s Josh Homme and Joan Jett.
• 2004 - Beanie Sigel received a year in prison on gun possession charges.
• 2005 - R.E.M. reunited with ex-drummer Bill Berry at the reading of a crew member and played an eight-song set.

Recorded

• 1957 - Great Balls of Fire - Jerry Lee Lewis
• 1964 - She's a Woman - Beatles
• 1971 - Imagine - John Lennon

Released

• 1980 - Dirty Mind - Prince

Awards

• 1984 - CMA Awards
• Entertainer of the Year - Alabama
• Song of the Year - Wind Beneath My Wings - Larry Henley and Jeff Silbar
• Single of the Year - A Little Good News - Anne Murray
• Album of the Year - A Little Good News - Anne Murray
• Male Vocalist - Lee Greenwood
• Female Vocalist - Reba McEntire
• Vocal Duo - Willie Nelson and Julio Iglesias
• Vocal Group - Statler Brothers
• Instrumentalist - Chet Atkins
• Horizon Award - Judds
• Instrumental Group - Ricky Skaggs Band
• 2010 - Billboard Touring Awards
• Legends of Live Award - Rush

Broadcasts

• 1956 - Lawrence Welk's Top Tunes and New Talent (debut)
• 1988 - Saturday Night Live - Keith Richards
• 1994 - A Tribute to Elvis (Pay-per-view) - U2, Iggy Pop, Cheap Trick