February 1st – 7th This Week in Rock
Trivia Answer: February 7, 1985- Frank Sinatra’s hit song “New York, New York” becomes the anthem of the historic city.
BORN THIS WEEK IN ROCK:
Don Everly – February 1, 1937 (vocals & guitar, The Everly Brothers)
Graham Nash – February 2, 1942 (vocals & guitar, The Hollies & CSNY)
Johnny “Guitar” Watson – February 3, 1935 (Blues Vocalist & Guitarist)
John Steel – February 4, 1941 (drums, The Animals)
Alice Cooper – February 4, 1948 (vocals, Alice Cooper)
Phil Ehart – February 4, 1951 (drums, Kansas)
Nigel Tufnel – February 5, 1948 (guitar, Spinal Tap)
Vinnie Colaiuta – February 5, 1956 (drummer, Jeff Beck)
Duff McKagan – February 5, 1964 (bass, Guns N’ Roses)
Bob Marley – February 6, 1945 (lead vocals & guitar, Bob Marley & The Wailers)
Axl Rose – February 6, 1962 (lead vocals, piano & keys, Guns N’ Roses)
Rick Astley – February 6, 1966 (pop singer-songwriter)
King Curtis – February 7, 1934 (sax, many genres)
Earl King – February 7, 1934 (blues vocalist & guitarist)
David Bryan – February 7, 1962 (keyboard, Bon Jovi)
DIED THIS WEEK IN ROCK:
Buddy Holly – February 3, 1959 (vocals & guitar, Buddy Holly & The Crickets)
Richie Valens – February 3, 1959 (Rock & Roll Singer-Songwriter)
The Big Bopper – February 3, 1959 (Rock & Roll Singer-Songwriter)
Karen Carpenter – February 4, 1983 (vocals & drums, The Carpenters)
Ken “Buddy” Scott – February 5, 1994 (blues guitarist)
Carl Wilson – February 6, 1998 (guitar, The Beach Boys)
Gary Moore – February 6, 2011 (guitar, Thin Lizzy & Skid Row)
Guitar Slim – February 7, 1959 (blues guitarist)
MUSIC RELEASES AND TOP OF THE CHARTS
The Beatles’ “I Want to Hold Your Hand” hits #1 on February 1, 1964.
Tommy James and The Shondells’ “Crimson and Clover” hit #1 on February 1, 1969.
The Beatles’ “I Want To Hold Your Hand” b/w “I Saw Her Standing There” and their Meet The Beatles! album are both certified gold on February 3, 1964.
Elton John’s “Crocodile Rock” hits #1 on February 3, 1973
The Beatles’ album Yellow Submarine is certified gold on February 5, 1968.
“Crocodile Rock” by Elton John is certified Gold: February 5, 1973
“Africa” by the band Toto is #1: February 5, 1983
The Temptations’ “My Girl” hits #1 R&B on February 6, 1965
The Righteous Brothers’ “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin’” hits number 1 on February 6, 1965.
Johnny Cash’s album Hello, I’m Johnny Cash is certified gold on February 7, 1970.
Desire by Bob Dylan hits #1: February 7, 1976
THIS WEEK IN ROCK HISTORY
Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and The Big Bopper played their last show as part of the “Winter Dance Party” tour on February 2, 1959. The show was at the Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake, IA.
On February 3, 1959 at around 1:00 AM, within minutes of takeoff from the Mason City, IA Airport, the chartered Beech-Craft Bonanza airplane containing Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and The Big Bopper crashed into the Iowa countryside, killing all three musicians in addition to the pilot, Roger Peterson. The tragedy was later immortalized as “The Day The Music Died” by Don McLean in his famous song “American Pie”.
David Bowie introduced his Thin White Duke persona at a show in Seattle, WA, the first stop on his most recent tour on February 3, 1976.
February 6, 1964 – Tickets for the first Beatles appearance on CBS’ Ed Sullivan Show sell out.
February 7, 1959 – Buddy Holly’s funeral is held at the Tabernacle Baptist Church in Lubbock, TX, drawing over a thousand mourners. Holly’s widow did not attend. On the same day, Ritchie Valens is buried in San Fernando Mission Cemetery.
February 7, 1964: Shortly after 1:00 p.m. EST, Pan Am Yankee Clipper flight number 101 lands at New York City’s John F. Kennedy International Airport. Over 3,000 screaming fans, many in tears, are waiting to greet The Beatles as they arrive for their first American tour (and an appearance on CBS’ Ed Sullivan Show). The Beatles are taken to the Plaza Hotel after a press conference at the airport. (“What do you think of the campaign in Detroit to stamp out the Beatles?” Paul: “We’ve got a campaign of our own to stamp out Detroit.”) On the same day, Baskin-Robbins responds to the furor by introducing a flavor of ice cream called “Beatle-Nut.
February 7, 1979- Stephen Stills is the first musician to record an album exclusively on all digital equipment. Unfortunately, it was never released so he never officially received the honor.
February 7, 1985- Frank Sinatra’s hit song “New York, New York” becomes the anthem of the historic city.
That’s all for This Week in Rock History! Be sure to check back next week for the latest Rock history tidbits!