Music Almanac: July 31

Gary Lewis

Birthdays

• 1923 - Ahmet Ertegun (d. 2006)
• 1932 - Morey Carr (Playmates) (80)
• 1937 - Bonnie Brown (Browns) (75)
• 1943 - Lobo (born Roland LaVoie) (69)
• 1946 - Gary Lewis (Gary Lewis & the Playboys) (66)
• 1946 - Bob Welch (Fleetwood Mac) (d. 2012)
• 1947 - Karl Green (Herman's Hermits) (65)
• 1948 - Leaveil Degree (Whispers) (64)
• 1951 - Carlo Karges (Nena) (d. 2002)
• 1953 - Hugh McDowell (Electric Light Orchestra) (59)
• 1957 - Daniel Ash (Bauhaus, Love & Rockets) (55)
• 1958 - Bill Berry (R.E.M.) (54)
• 1960 - Malcolm Ross (Aztec Camera) (52)
• 1963 - Fatboy Slim (born Norman Cook) (49)
• 1964 - Jim Corr (Coors) (48)
• 1971 - John 5 (born John Lowery) (Marilyn Manson, Rob Zombie) (41)
• 1978 - Zac Brown (Zac Brown Band) (34)
• 1978 - Will Champion (Coldplay) (34)
• 1981 - M. Shadows (born Matthew Sanders) (Avenged Centerfold) (31)

Deaths

• 1964 - Jim Reeves - Plane crash (40)
• 2010 - Mitch Miller (99)

On This Day

• 1955 - Full Elvis fever was on display in Tampa, FL. When Presley closed a show by saying "Girls, I'll see you backstage" a riot broke out with Elvis making it back to his dressing room with very few of his clothes intact. 
• 1957 - Ringo Starr made his drumming debut at the Cavern Club as part of the Eddie Clayton Skiffle Group.
• 1964 - A Rolling Stones show in Belfast, Ireland is ended after twelve minutes due to violence in the audience.
• 1966 - Beatles records were burned in Birmingham, AL after John Lennon stated that the Beatles were "bigger than Jesus."
• 1967 - Mick Jagger received a conditional discharge and Keith Richards conviction was quashed over an arrest at Richards' house for allowing the smoking of marijuana on the premises. 
• 1969 - Elvis Presley opened a four-week run at Las Vegas' International Hotel. 
• 1970 - The Rolling Stones deliver their last contractual song to Decca Records, Cocksucker Blues. 
• 1971 - A security guard was stabbed and killed at a Who concert in Forest Hills, NY.
• 1971 - The documentary Gimme Shelter debuts at London's Rialto Theatre.
• 1979 - James Taylor played a free concert in Central Park.
• 1980 - John Phillips of the Mamas and the Papas was arrested for cocaine possession.
• 1980 - An Eagles concert in Long Beach, CA was marred by Glen Frey and Don Henley constantly throwing threats at each other. 
• 1999 - Ol Dirty Bastard of Wu-Tang Clan was arrested for possession of crack and marijuana.
• 2003 - Suge Knight was sentenced to ten months in prison for a parole violation.
• 2006 - OK Go release their video Here It Goes Again which went on to become an internet phenomenon.

Marriages

• 1994 - Aaliyah and R. Kelly (later annulled as Aaliyah was 15)

Recorded

• 1942 - I've Heard That Song Before - Harry James with Helen Forrest
• 1959 - Oh Carol - Neil Sedaka
• 1968 - Hey Jude - Beatles

Released

• 1964 - Dancing in the Streets - Martha Reeves & the Vandellas (single)
• 1972 - Passin' Thru - James Gang
• 1976 - Don't Fear the Reaper - Blue Oyster Cult (single)
• 1976 - Still the One - Orleans (single)
• 1981 - Step by Step - Eddie Rabbitt
• 2001 - Blake Shelton - Blake Shelton (debut)
• 2001 - Duce's 'n Trayz: The Old Fashioned Way - Eastsidaz

Broadcasts

• 1958 - American Bandstand - Larry Williams
• 1959 - American Bandstand - Romance Watson
• 1962 - American Bandstand - Jack Scott
• 1963 - American Bandstand - Frankie Avalon
• 1965 - American Bandstand - Hondells, Freddy Cannon
• 1971 - American Bandstand - Lou Rawls, Freddie Weller, Mark Lindsay & the Raiders
• 1976 - American Bandstand - Sylvers
• 1982 - American Bandstand - Squeeze

Number Ones – U.S. Singles

• 1971 - You've Got a Friend - James Taylor (1 week)
• 1999 - Genie in a Bottle - Christina Aguilera (5 weeks)
• 2010 - Love the Way You Lie - Eminem Featuring Rihanna (7 weeks)

Number Ones – U.S. Albums

• 1976 - Breezin' - George Benson (2 weeks)
• 1999 - Millennium - Backstreet Boys (2 weeks (5 previous weeks at number 1))
• 2004 - License to Chill - Jimmy Buffett (1 week)

Number Ones – U.S. Country Singles

• 1954 - One By One - Kitty Wells and Webb Foley (1 week)
• 1971 - I'm Just Me - Charley Pride (4 weeks)

Number Ones – U.K. Singles

• 1959 - Living Doll - Cliff Richard and the Drifters (6 weeks)