Happy New Year Everyone! Well, after a very hectic year, we made it to 2019. Let’s kick this year off in the best way possible, by taking a look back at what happened in music history this week.
Born This Week
Blues/Soul/Jazz
Frank Stokes: January 1, 1877 (father of Memphis blues guitar)
Little Smokey Smothers: January 2, 1939 (Chicago Blues Guitarist)
John McLaughlin: January 4, 1942 (jazz fusion guitarist)
Kim Wilson: January 6, 1951 (singer, The Fabulous Thunderbirds)
Rock
Morgan Fisher: January 1, 1950 (keyboard, Mott The Hoople)
Chick Churchill: January 2, 1946 (keyboard, Ten Years After)
Stephen Stills: January 3, 1945 (multi-instrumentalist, Crosby, Stills, & Nash)
John Paul Jones: January 3, 1946 (bass, Led Zeppelin)
Guy Pratt: January 3, 1962 (session bassist)
Nels Cline: January 4, 1956 (guitarist)
Michael Stipe: January 4, 1960 (singer, REM)
Chris Stein: January 5, 1950 (guitarist, Blondie)
Marilyn Manson: January 5, 1969 (shock rock artist)
Syd Barrett: January 6, 1946 (singer, Pink Floyd)
Malcom Young: January 6, 1953 (rhythm guitarist, ACDC)
Died This Week
Blues/Soul/Jazz
Charles Mingus: January 5, 1979 (jazz bassist)
Dizzy Gillespie: January 6, 1993 (jazz trumpeter)
Rock
Alexis Korner: January 1, 1984 (British Blues guitarist)
Bob Weston: January 3, 2012 (guitarist, Fleetwood Mac)
Phil Lynott: January 4, 1986 (bass, Thin Lizzy)
Top Charts & New Releases
Carl Perkins releases the hit song “Blue Suede Shoes”: January 1, 1956
Simon & Garfunkel’s “The Sound of Silence” hits number 1: January 1, 1966
George Harrison’s “All Things Must Pass” hits the top of the charts; January 2, 1971
The Doors debut album is an instant hit, reaching number 1 in the US: January 4, 1967
Yes releases their album “Roundabout”: January 4, 1972
Elton John’s cover of “Lucy in The Sky With Diamonds”: January 4, 1975
Bob Dylan’s Greatest Hits album is certified Gold: January 5, 1968
At 23 years old, Bruce Springsteen releases his first album “Greetings From Asbury Park, NJ: January 5, 1973
Peter Frampton’s signature live album “Frampton Comes Alive” is released: January 6, 1976
“In Through the Out Door” by Led Zeppelin is certified Platinum: January 7, 1980
Eagles Live is certified Platinum: January 7, 1981
This Week in Rock History
With Capitol Records, the Beatles has 3 albums in the Billboard Top 10: January 1, 1965
Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham join Fleetwood Mac: January 1, 1975
Elton John cracks the Top 40 with “The Last Song,” making it 23 consecutive years he’s had a song on the charts. It breaks Elvis Presley‘s previous record of 22: January 1, 1993
Leo Fender sells his company Fender Guitars to CBS for $13 million: January 4, 1965
Jimi Hendrix is banned from the BBC after he went off script on one of their shows: January 4, 1969
Nirvana signs with Geffen Records: January 4, 1991
Blues guitar great Muddy Waters records “Hoochie Coochie Man”: January 7, 1954