December 7 – 13th – This Week in Rock
A Charlie Brown Christmas debuts on CBS with Vince Guaraldi’s trio providing the music. December 9, 1965
BORN THIS WEEK IN ROCK
Jim Morrison – December 8, 1943 (vocals, The Doors)
Gregg Allman – December 8, 1947 (vocals, organ, and keys, The Allman Brothers Band)
Junior Wells – December 9, 1934 (blues harmonica player singer)
Eddie Jones a.k.a. Guitar Slim – December 10, 1926 (blues musician, guitar, and vocals)
J Mascis – December 10, 1965 (guitar, Dinosaur Jr.)
Happy Birthday Meg White!
Meg White – December 10, 1974 (drums, The White Stripes)
Stevie Young – December 11, 1956 (guitar, ACDC)
Nikki Sixx – December 11, 1958 (bass, Motley Crue)
Big Mama Thornton – December 11, 1926 (R&B musician)
McCoy Tyner – December 11, 1938 (jazz pianist)
Happy Birthday Frank Sinatra!
Frank Sinatra – December 12, 1915 (Singer)
Dickey Betts – December 12, 1943 (guitar, The Allman Brothers Band)
Clive Bunker – December 12, 1946 (drums, Jethro Tull)
Lucky Peterson – December 13, 1964 (American Blues musician)
DIED THIS WEEK IN ROCK
Dee Clark – December 7, 1990 (R&B and soul vocalist)
Greg Lake – December 7, 2016 (guitar, Emerson, Lake, and Palmer)
John Lennon – December 8, 1980 (vocals and guitar, The Beatles)
Otis Redding – December 10, 1967 (R&B and Soul musician, vocals, guitar, piano)
Jim Hall – December 10, 2013 (jazz guitarist)
Rick Danko – December 10, 1999 (bass, The Band)
Sam Cooke – December 11, 1964 (soul singer and composer)
Ravi Shankar – December 11, 2012 (Sitar player)
Home Sick James – December 13, 2006 (blues guitarist)
MUSIC RELEASES – TOP OF THE CHARTS
Paul McCartney’s band Wings release their debut album – December 7, 1971
The band Traffic releases their debut album Mr. Fantasy – December 8, 1967
The Moody Blues’ album “Seventh Sojourn” hits #1 – December 9, 1972
“Dark Horse” from George Harrison is released – December 9, 1974
The hit funk song “Le Freak” hits number 1 – December 9, 1978
The Rolling Stones release “Got LIVE If You Want It!” on December 10, 1966
The Who By Numbers Goes Gold!
“The Who By Numbers” is certified Gold – December 10, 1975
Wings releases “Wings Over America” on December 10, 1976
John Lennon / Plastic Ono Band releases on December 11,1970
James Brown’s “Revolution of the Mind” releases on December 11, 1971
Led Zeppelin IV is certified Diamond, with over 10 million US sales – December 11, 1990
Emerson, Lake and Palmer’s Brain Salad Surgery goes gold – December 12, 1973
Jimi Hendrix’s “Foxy Lady” releases on December 13, 1967.
Foghat’s “Slow Ride” releases on December 13, 1975.
THIS WEEK IN ROCK HISTORY
Lead singer Eric Burdon announces that The Animals are calling it quits by the end of the year. Afterwards, Burdon joins the band “War” on December 7, 1968.
John Lennon is murdered in New York City. The terrible occurrence takes place outside of the Dakota Hotel, at 11:07pm on December 8, 1980. Lennon sustains several gunshot wounds and is pronounced dead. Considered by many to be the greatest rock band of all time, The Beatles and Lennon helped produced an unfathomable amount of beloved songs in the rock catalog.
The famous trio Crosby, Stills, and Nash officially form and announce that they will begin touring on December 8, 1968.
A Charlie Brown Christmas debuts on CBS with Vince Guaraldi’s trio providing the music. December 9, 1965
Otis Redding and some members of his band are killed in a tragic airplane crash. Otis Redding was one of the greatest soul singers of his era, and wrote and recorded the first posthumous #1 song, “(Sittin’ On) the Dock of the Bay”. December 10, 1967
The Steve Miller Blues Band drops “Blues” from its name and signs a lucrative deal with Capitol Records. December 10, 1967
Led Zeppelin get together for a one-off reunion concert at the O2 arena in London with John Bonham’s son Jason on the drums. December 10, 2007
Sam Cooke is shot and killed at the Hacienda Motel in Los Angeles. The manager of the motel, who shot him 3 times, claimed that Cooke assaulted her and attempted to rape her companion. The shooting is ruled as a justifiable homicide. December 11, 1964
THE ROLLING STONES ROCK AND ROLL CIRCUS
The Rolling Stones performs a show that is later released as “The Rolling Stones Rock and Roll Circus” video in 1996. The show was, appropriately in light of the title, performed on a circus stage. The show featured appearances by The Who, Marianne Faithfull, Jethro Tull, Taj Mahal, and supergroup The Dirty Mac composed of John Lennon, Yoko Ono, Eric Clapton, Mitch Mitchell, and Keith Richards. Wow! December 11, 1968
Genesis make their live U.S. debut at Brandeis University in Massachusetts. December 11, 1972
Jerry Lee Lewis marries, in secret, 13-year-old Myra Gale Brown. This would eventually lead to the downfall of his career – December 12, 1957
Pink Floyd play for the first time at the Royal Albert Hall in London – December 12, 1966
Jim Morrison plays his final show with The Doors at the Warehouse in New Orleans – December 12, 1970
Guitarist Mick Taylor announces he is leaving The Rolling Stones – December 12, 1974
That’s all for This Week in Rock History! Furthermore, be sure to check back next week for the latest Rock history tidbits!