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Rock and Roll Birthdays

Today's Rock and Roll Birthdays

June 23rd

June 23rd Birthday, Grammy-winning member of the pioneering country/gospel royalty, the Carter Family and later, the performing wife of Johnny Cash, June Carter Cash, born Valerie June Carter in Maces Spring, Virginia in 1929. She died on May 15th, 2003 at the age of 73.

June 23rd Birthday, Original Crickets guitarist Niki Sullivan, born in South Gate, California in 1937. He passed away at his home in Independence, Missouri on April 6th, 2004 at the age of 66 years old. Sullivan joined Buddy Holly, Jerry Allison and Joe Mauldin in 1956 and, as The Crickets, played on most of the songs the band recorded. He retired from the music business in 1957 but occasionally performed at Holly tribute events.

June 23rd Birthday, Original Beatles’ bassist Stu Sutcliffe, born in Edinburgh, Scotland in 1940. Sutcliffe died on April 10th, 1962 of a brain hemorrhage in Hamburg, Germany at the age of 21.

June 23rd Birthday, Starz guitarist and a veteran of a number of bands, including work with Steve Winwood, Lou Gramm, and more, Bobby Messano, born in Teaneck, New Jersey in 1954.

June 23rdBirthday, Grateful Dead lyricist Robert Hunter, born Robert Burns in Arroyo Grande, California in 1941. He died September 23rd, 2019 at the age of 78.

June 23rd Birthday, A founding member of April Wine and the only constant member since it began in 1969, singer, songwriter and record producer Myles Goodwyn, born in Woodstock, New Brunswick, Canada in 1948. He passed away on December 3rd, 2023 at the age of 75.

June 23rd Birthday, Misfits and Danzig singer Glenn Danzig, born in Lodi, New Jersey in 1955.

June 23rd Birthday, Sonic Youth drummer Steve Shelley, born in Midland, Michigan in 1962.

June 23rd Birthday, Singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist K T Tunstall, born in Edinburgh, Scotland in 1975.

Today In Rock and Roll History

June 23rd

June 23rd, 1958 Class Records release “Rock-in Robin” by Bobby Day on 45. Written by Leon Rene under the pseudonym Jimmy Thomas, playing on the session were guitarist Barney Kessell, drummer Earl Palmer and on piccolo, Plas Johnson. The record went to No. 2 on October 11th.

June 23rd, 1959 RCA Victor Records release “A Big Hunk O’ Love” backed with “My Wish Came True” by Elvis Presley with The Jordanaires on 45. “A Big Hunk O’ Love” was co-written by Aaron Schroeder and Sydney Wyche under the pseudonym Sid Jaxon. The studio session was recorded over a year earlier, on June 10th, 1958, at RCA’s Nashville studios with producer Steve Shoals. The record peaked at No. 1 on August 15th.

June 23rd, 1964 Pye Records in Britain release “Have I The Right” by The Honyecombs on 45. Composed by Ken Howard and Alan Blaikley, and produced by Joe Meek, the 45 entered the US charts on September 19th. In Britain, the record went to No. 1 on August 29th. In America, “Have I The Right” reached No. 5 on November 14th, selling over two million copies in the US.

June 23rd, 1965 Motown Records release “Tracks Of My Tears” by The Miracles. The song was co-written by the group, based on a riff that Miracles guitarist Marv Tarplin had come up with. Entering the Pop Singles charts in July, The Miracles version reached No. 16 on September 4th, No. 2 R&B.

June 23rd, 1965 The Yardbirds played at The City Hall in Salisbury, England. Cost of Admission? The British equivalent of $1.40.
June 23rd, 1967 John Entwistle from The Who marries his childhood sweetheart Alison Wise.

June 23rd, 1967 The Buckinghams record “Susan” in Los Angeles with producer Jim Guercio during sessions for their third LP “Portraits.” Released as a 45 on November 14th, the song was co-written by Gary Beisbier, James William Guercio and Jim Holvay, The released studio version contains a short excerpt of Charles Ives’ composition “Central Park in the Dark”, added by Guercio. The 45 entered the singles charts on December 9th and went to No. 11 in America on January 27th, 1968, No. 7 in Canada.

June 23rd, 1967 Aretha Franklin records “Chain Of Fools.” Released November 22nd, the record would reach No. 2 in the US in January 1968. Asked by Jerry Wexler, producer with Atlantic Records, to create songs for Otis Redding, songwriter Don Covay recorded a demo of “Chain of Fools.” Listening to the demo, Wexler chose to place the song with Aretha Franklin rather than Redding. In 1969, the recording won the Grammy Award for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance, and later a Grammy Hall of Fame Award. “Chain Of Fools” entered the singles charts in America in December, peaking at No. 2 on January 20th, 1968. “Chain Of Fools” earned Aretha Franklin her fourth Gold Record award.

June 23rd, 1969 A rare promotional only single by Blind Faith is issued by Island Records. Only five hundred copies of the song titled “Change Of Address from June 23rd, 1969” were pressed onto vinyl. The track was an instrumental jam, and the disc was to inform the public of Island’s office was moving to Basing Street in London.

June 23rd, 1971 Columbia Records release “Byrdmaniax”, the tenth album by The Byrds. The band recorded the LP from June 1970 through March 1971 at Columbia Studios in Hollywood with co-producers Terry Melcher and Chris Hinshaw. Melcher added strings and horn arrangements to the songs in April 1971, allegedly without the band’s consent. The record peaked at No. 46 on August 14th.

June 23rd, 1972 The Osmonds record “Crazy Horses” at MGM Studios in Hollywood. Co-written by Alan, Wayne and Merrill Osmond, the song was co-produced by Michael Lloyd and Alan Osmond. It was the only hit single by the band to feature Jay Osmond on lead vocals. Released October 14th, by MGM Records, “Crazy Horses” peaked at No. 14 on December 9th.

June 23rd, 1972 Chrysalis Records in England release “Living In The Past”, a double album by Jethro Tull. Including a side of live material, the record was mostly B-sides and non-LP tracks from the band’s back catalog. Issued in America on October 31st, the record peaked at No. 3 on December 23rd.

June 23rd, 1973 Motown Records release the single “Lookin’ Through The Windows” by The Jackson 5. Written by Clifton Davis, the record was produced by Hal Davis and arranged by James Carmichael. “Lookin’ Through The Windows” entered the charts in July and peaked at No. 15 on August 26th.

June 23rd, 1973 A&M Records release “Everyone’s Agreed That Everything Will Turn Out Fine” by Steelers Wheel. The song was co-written by Gerry Rafferty and Joe Egan. A Jerry Leiber, Mike Stoller Production, the record entered the singles charts in July and peaked at No. 49 on August 8th. The 45 version of the song is different take of the song than the LP version.

June 23rd, 1973 Twenty-three year old B.W. Stevenson records “My Maria”, co-written by Stevenson and Daniel Moore. Jazz guitarist Larry Carlton was a featured player on the session. Released in late July, the song reached No. 9 on September 29th.

June 23rd, 1973 Hi Records release “Here I Am Come and Take Me” by Al Green on 45. Green wrote the song with his frequent songwriting partner Teenie Hodges. Produced by Willie Mitchell during the 1972 recording sessions for the album “Call Me”, the record entered the singles charts in July and peaked at No. 10 on September 8th.

June 23rd, 1973 A&M Records re-launch “The Hurt” by Cat Stevens on 45. Written and self-produced by Stevens, the track was included on his “Foreigner” album. The record initially came out in March. Re-released, “The Hurt” entered the singles charts two weeks later and peaked at No. 31 on August 25th.

June 23rd, 1975 Elton John’s “Someone Saved My Life Tonight” is released, recorded in August 1974 with producer Gus Dudgeon. With biographical lyrics written by Bernie Taupin about a failed engagement Elton had and how Taupin and singer Long John Baldry helped their friend through the emotional aftermath. The song entered the charts two weeks later and peaked at No. 4 on August 16th, No. 2 in Canada.

June 23rd, 1979 Supertramp’s album, “Breakfast in America” rose to the top of the album chart on the strength of three hit singles. The LP would win two Grammy Awards and sell over eighteen million copies worldwide.

June 23rd, 1979 “Highway Song” by Blackfoot enters the singles charts on Atco Records. The song was co-written by Rick Medlocke and Jackson Spires. The record, co-produced by Al Nalli and Henry Weck, peaked at No. 26 on September 1st.

Miscellaneous June

June 1963 Mercury Records release “Donna, I Understand,” credited to Johnny Niles, it was the first single by Harry Nilsson. The songwriting credit went to Harry Neilsen. The record was produced by Jack Tracy, arranged by Jerry Long. Spindle Top Records rereleased the single in 1965 credited to Harry Nilsson.

June 1965 Hollywood, California’s Mustang Records release “Let Her Dance” by the Bobby Fuller Four as the group’s second single. The song was written by Bobby Fuller. Liberty Records picked up the 45 for national distribution and released the song nationally in July. Marshall Crenshaw recorded a version of the song, released on his 1986 album “Good Evening.”

June 1965 Elektra Records release “Bleeker and McDougal,” the first album by folk-rock pioneer Fred Neil. Produced by Gordon Anderson and engineered by Paul Rothchild, Felix Pappalardi and John Sebastian both played sessions for the LP.

June 1966 Tower Records release “She’s Yours” backed with “Growin’ Up” by Harry Nilsson on 45. The song was written by Nilsson and producer J.R. Shanklin, the son of performer, composer, arranger and producer Wayne Shanklin. Harry Nilsson wrote the B-side. Both sides were co-produced by Gil Garfield and Perry Botkin.

June 1967 Buddah Records release “Safe As Milk,” the debut album by Captain Beefheart and His Magic Band. The LP was co-produced by Richard Perry and Bob Krasnow at RCA Studios in Los Angeles in the Spring of 1967.

June 1971 Atlantic Records release “Album II” by Loudon Wainwright III. The record was recorded at at Intermedia Sounds in Boston, Massachusetts with Wainwright and Milton Kramer co-producing. Kate McGarrigle sings on the song “Old Paint.”

June 1972 Reprise Records release “Henry The Human Fly,” the first solo album by Fairport Convention guitarist Richard Thompson. Co-produced by Thompson and John Wood at Sound Techniques Studio in London, Fairport band mates Sandy Denny and Ashley Hutchins both make guest appearances on the LP.

June 1979 Virgin Records release “Force Majeure,” the ninth LP by Tangerine Dream. Produced by Edgar Froese and Chris Frank at Hansa Studios in Berlin in August and September 1978, the album reached No. 26 on the British charts.

June 1979 “Capricorn Records release “Can’t Take It With You” by The Allman Brothers Band on 45. The song was co-written by Dickie Betts and Don Johnson. Produced by Tom Dowd, the record peaked at No. 105 in July.

June 1984 Atlantic Records release “Parting Would Be Painless” by Roger Daltrey on 45. The song was written by Kit Hain. The song came from the Mike Thorne produced “Parting Should Be Painless album.

June 1985 A&M Records in Britain release “Last Time Forever” by Squeeze on 45. Co-written by Chris Difford and Glenn Tilbrook, the record was produced by Laurie Latham from the band’s “Cosi Fan Tutti Frutti” LP.

June 1989 Atlantic Records release “A Friend Is A Friend” by Pete Townshend on 45. Written and produced by Townshend, the song came from the album “The Iron Man: The Musical.” The single’s B-side “Man Machines,” also from the LP, is credited to Pete and his brother Simon Townshend.