January 11th – 17th This Week In Rock

January 11th – 17th This Week In Rock

Answer to this week’s trivia question:

Marvin Gaye performs the national anthem at Superbowl V in Miami, FL on January 17, 1971.

BORN THIS WEEK

Katie Webster – January 11, 1936 (Blues and Soul musician – keyboards)

Mississippi Fred McDowell – January 12, 1904 (Blues Musicians – guitar & vocals)

Long John Baldry – January 12, 1941 (Blues vocalist)

Quentin Jackson – January 13, 1909 (Trombonist – Cab Calloway & Duke Ellington Orch.)

Zakk Wylde – January 14, 1967 (guitar, Ozzie Osborne)

Dave Grohl – January 14, 1969 (Nirvana, Foo Fighters)

Happy Birthday Dave Grohl!

LL Cool J – January 14, 1968 (Hip Hop Artist)

Geoff Tate – January 14, 1959 (lead singer for Queensryche)

Earl Hooker – January 15, 1930 (blues slide guitar player)

Captain Beefheart – January 15, 1941 (Avant Garde rock singer)

Happy Birthday Ronnie Milsap!

Ronnie Van Zant – January 15, 1948 (lead vocals, Lynyrd Skynyrd)

Dolores O’Riordan – January 15, 2018 (singer, Cranberries)

Ronnie Milsap – January 16, 1943 (Country Singer)

Kid Rock – January 17, 1949 (Rock Musician)

Mick Taylor – January 17, 1949 (guitar, The Rolling Stones)

DIED THIS WEEK 

Spencer Dryden – January 11, 2005 (drums, Jefferson Airplane)

Donny Hathaway – January 13, 1979 (soul, blues, and jazz musician, vocals & keys)

Jerry Nolan – January 14, 1992 (The Heartbreakers, New York Dolls)

Junior Wells – January 15, 1998 (blues harmonica player)

Dale Griffin – January 17, 2016 (drummer, Mott The Hoople)

Johnny Otis – January 17, 2012 (R&B musician and impresario)

MUSIC RELEASES & TOP OF THE CHARTS…

Nirvana’s “Nevermind” becomes number 1 – January 11, 1992.

“Strange Days” by the Doors is certified gold – January 12, 1968.

“The Joker” by Steve Miller reaches number 1 – January 12, 1974.

Led Zeppelin 1 is released in the US – January 12, 1969 

The Steve Miller Band’s “The Joker” hit #1 on January 12, 1974.

Carly Simon Releases “No Secrets”

Carly Simon’s album “No Secrets”, features the hit “You’re So Vain,” hits #1 in America – January 13, 1973.

Joe Walsh’s “So What” is certified Gold -January 14, 1975

Rumours by Fleetwood Mac hits #1 – January 14, 1978

The Who releases their first single “I Can’t Explain” – January 15, 1965

Rolling Stone’s “December’s Children” is certified Gold – January 15, 1966

American Pie Hits #1

Don McLean’s “American Pie” hits #1 on January 15, 1972

The Eagles’ Hotel California album hits #1 on January 15, 1977.

The Guess Who releases their debut album “Shakin’ All Over” – January 15, 1965

George Harrison reaches #1 with “Got My Mind Set on You” – January 16, 1988

Earth, Wind, and Fire’s album “Gratitude hits #1 – January 17, 1976

THIS WEEK IN ROCK HISTORY:

Queen, Iron Maiden and Whitesnake play on Day 1 of the first “Rock In Rio festival”. January 11, 1985.

Berry Gordy Jr. founded the American record company Tamla Records on January 12, 1959 in Detroit, Michigan. Furthermore with the help of an $800 loan from his family. A bit over a year later he changes the name to Motown Records.

Aretha Franklin performs the first of two concerts at the New Temple Missionary Baptist Church in Los Angeles. Which is being recorded for her live album “Amazing Grace”, which sells over 2 million copies when it releases in June. Film footage is also shot, but the documentary doesn’t appear until 2019, after Franklin’s death. January 13, 1972

Future rock star David Jones changed his name to David Bowie in order to avoid confusion with the Monkees’ Davy Jones on January 14, 1966.

On January 15, 1955, a young Elvis Presley performs at the Louisiana Hayride, Municipal Auditorium, Shreveport, LA. Performing “Hearts of Stone,” “That’s All Right, Mama” and “Tweedle Dee.” Elvis, of course, would become one of the most recognizable and important figures in rock and roll history.

On January 15, 1981, Stevie Wonder heads a rally in Washington in honor of making Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday an official holiday.

The 1992 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame ceremony is held on January 15 of that year. The inductees include The Jimi Hendrix Experience, The Yardbirds, Bobby “Blue” Bland, Booker T. and the M.G.’s, Johnny Cash. As well as Sam and Dave, The Isley Brothers, Bill Graham, Doc Pomus, Leo Fender, Elmore James and Professor Longhair.

According to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, after he receives a standing ovation (the night’s first). Johnny Cash’s voice broke as he says “You made me see that I might actually belong in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.” Jimi Hendrix’s father, Al, wept as he stood onstage with his son’s drummer Mitch Mitchell and bassist Noel Redding. Honestly, that is an all-around EXCELLENT class of Rock and Roll Hall of Famers. As big blues fans, we’re particularly fond of the inclusion of both Bobby Bland and Elmore James.

The famous jazz big band leader Duke Ellington records his famous tune “It Don’t Mean a Thing if it Ain’t Got That Swing” January 16, 1932

Eric Clapton records his session “Eric Clapton Unplugged” for MTV. January 16, 1992

Jamaican police mistake Jimmy Buffett for a drug smuggler and shoot at his seaplane (the Hemisphere Dancer) after it lands in the water. Bono of U2 is on board with his family, along with Island Records head Chris Blackwell.

Marvin Gaye performs the national anthem at Superbowl V in Miami, FL on January 17, 1971. Ah yes, back when Superbowl singers had real soul.

That’s all for This Week in Rock History! Furthermore, be sure to check back next week for the latest Rock history tidbits!