Music Almanac: May 25

Births:

• 1893 - Ernest "Pop" Stoneman (d. 1968)
• 1921 - Hal David (91)
• 1922 - Kitty Kallen (90)
• 1936 - Tom T. Hall (76)
• 1936 - Donnie Elbert (d. 1989)
• 1942 - Brian Davison (Nice, Gong) (d. 2008)
• 1943 - Leslie Uggams (69)
• 1943 - Poli Palmer (Family) (69)
• 1947 - Jessi Colter (65)
• 1947 - Mitch Margo (Tokens) (65)
• 1948 - Klaus Meine (Scorpions) (64)
• 1950 - Jean Millington (Fanny) (62)
• 1950 - Robert Steinhardt (Kansas) (62)
• 1955 - John Grimaldi (Argent) (57)
• 1956 - Sugar Minott (d. 2010)
• 1958 - Paul Weller (Jam, Style Council) (54)
• 1975 - Lauryn Hill (37)
• 1980 - Joe King (Fray) (32)

Deaths:

• 1965 - Sonny Boy Williamson - Heart attack (approx. 57)
• 1974 - Pam Morrison (widow of Jim Morrison) - Drug overdose
• 1981 - Roy Brown - Heart attack (55)
• 1995 - Dick Curless (63)
• 2006 - Desmond Dekker - Heart attack (64)

On This Day:

• 1951 - Marty Robbins signed with Columbia Records.
• 1965 - Dave Davies of the Kinks is knocked unconscious during a London concert.
• 1969 - A benefit was held in London for the families of Fairport Convention member Martin Lamble and others who were killed in an auto accident. On the bill were Family, Pretty Things and Soft Machine.
• 1973 - Carole King played a free concert in New York's Central Park.
• 1973 - Richard Branson launched Virgin Records.
• 1978 - Paul McGuinness became the manager of The Hype who would soon change their name to U2.
• 1978 - Keith Moon performed with the Who for the final time.
• 1990 - Fleetwood Mac kicked off their Behind the Mask tour in Vancouver with opening act Squeeze.
• 1994 - Barbra Streisand cancelled the first of six nights in Anaheim after coming down with viral laryngitis.
• 1997 - Bob Dylan is admitted to a Los Angeles hospital with chest pains that turn out to be an inflammation of the sac around his heart.
• 2000 - Wilson Pickett is the big winner at the W.C. Handy Awards taking three awards.
• 2000 - Paul McCartney is given the first Fellowship of the British Academy of Composers & Songwriters Award at the Ivor Novello Awards.
• 2000 - Eddie Van Halen is tested for cancer in Houston.
• 2004 - Madonna was forced to cancel three shows in Israel after terrorists threatened to kill her and her children.
• 2006 - Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff, the Bee Gees, New Order and Ray Davies are honored at the Ivor Novello Awards.
• 2007 - Wayne Fontana of the Mindbenders was arrested after pouring gas on over a bailiff's car and setting it on fire while the man was within.

Marriages:

• 1991 - Randy Travis and Lib Hatcher

Recorded:

• 1969 - He Ain't Heavy He's My Brother - Hollies (Elton John on piano)

Released:

• 1962 - Twist & Shout - Isley Brothers
• 1983 - Holy Diver - Dio

Number Ones - U.S. Singles:

• 1946 - The Gypsy - Ink Spots (10 weeks)
• 1985 - Everything She Wants - Wham! (2 weeks)
• 1991 - I Don't Wanna Cry - Mariah Carey (2 weeks)

Number Ones - U.S. Albums:

• 1946 - Benny Goodman Sextet - Benny Goodman Sextet (2 weeks)
• 1968 - Bookends - Simon & Garfunkel (3 weeks)
• 1991 - Time, Love & Tenderness - Michael Bolton (1 week)
• 1996 - The Score - Fugees (4 weeks)
• 2002 - Juslisen - Musiq Soulchild (1 week)

Number Ones - U.K. Singles:

• 1961 - You're Driving Me Crazy - Temperance Seven (1 week)
• 1968 - Young Girl - Gary Puckett & the Union Gap (4 weeks)
• 1997 - I Wanna Be the Only One - Eternal Featuring BeBe Winans
• 2008 - Take a Bow - Rihanna (2 weeks)

Number Ones - U.K Albums:

• 1968 - John Wesley Harding - Bob Dylan (3 weeks)
• 1974 - Journey to the Center of the Earth - Rick Wakeman (1 week)
• 1985 - Brothers in Arms - Dire Straits (2 weeks)
• 1996 - Older - George Michael (3 weeks)
• 2008 - We Started Nothing - Ting Tings (1 week)