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Rock and Roll Birthdays

Today's Rock and Roll Birthdays

September 2nd

September 2nd Birthday, Vibraphone player and percussionist Emil Richards, born in Hartford, Connecticut in 1932. A jazz musician first, Richards was a sideman for George Harrison, Frank Zappa and Steely Dan. He died on December 13th, 2019 at the age of 87.

September 2nd Birthday, The Impressions singer Sam Gooden, born in Chattanooga, Tennessee in 1934. He died on August 4th, 2022 at the age of 85.

September 2nd Birthday, An original member of Martha and The Vandellas, singer Rosalind Ashford, born in Detroit, Michigan in 1943.

September 2nd Birthday, The Buckinghams saxophonist, guitarist, keyboardist, percussionist and session man Marty Grebb, born in Chicago, Illinois in 1945. He died on January 1st, 2020 at the age of 74.

September 2nd Birthday, Keyboardist Billy Preston, born William Everett Preston in 1946 in Houston, Texas. Preston died on June 6th, 2006 at the age of 59.

September 2nd Birthday, Electric Light Orchestra cellist Mik Kaminski, born in 1951 in Harrogate, England.

September 2nd Birthday, Avant-garde composer and multi-instrumentalist John Zorn, born in New York City in 1953.

September 2nd Birthday, Keyboardist, singer, songwriter and one of the founding members of the rock band Toto, Steve Porcaro born in 1957 in Hartford, Connecticut.

Today In Rock and Roll History

September 2nd

September 2nd, 1961 Nei Sedaka’s “Sweet Little You” enters the singles charts on RCA Victor Records. The song was co-written by Barry Mann and Larry Kolber and peaked at No. 59 on September 30th.

September 2nd, 1964 Tamla Records release Marvin Gaye’s “Baby Don’t You Do It” on 45. Featured on the Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier, Eddie Holland co-written and produced track, for the first time on a Marvin Gaye record, were Motown’s top session girl group the Andantes. The song was originally intended for The Supremes but eventually reassigned for Marvin Gaye to record. The single entered the charts three weeks later and peaked at No. 27 on November 7th.

September 2nd, 1965 The Beatles receive a Gold Record for their single “Help!”

September 2nd, 1968 The Doors are forced to perform as a trio at The Concertgebouw in Amsterdam after lead singer Jim Morrison collapses while dancing during the opening set by the Jefferson Airplane.

September 2nd, 1972 Polydor Records release Eric Clapton’s “Let It Rain” on 45. The song was originally co-written by Clapton with producer Delaney Bramlett with a completely different set of lyrics and titled “She Rides.” Bass guitarist Carl Radle is credited on the song, but Derek and The Dominoes guitarist Bobby Whitlock claims the bass guitar was played by Stephen Stills. “Let It Rain” reached No. 48 on December 2nd.

September 2nd, 1972 Warner Brothers Records release “Elected” by Alice Cooper. Co-written by the five members of the band, “Elected” was produced by Bob Ezrin and released from the album “Billion Dollar Babies.” The record entered the singles chart in October and peaked at No. 26 on November 11th, the week of the 1972 US presidential election. The record went to No. 4 in Britain and No. 3 in Australia.

September 2nd, 1973 Warner Brothers Records release “Song For Juli,” the fourth solo album by Jesse Colin Young. Self-produced, the record peaked at No. 51 on November 24th.

September 2nd, 1975 Rocket Records release “Bad Blood” by Neil Sedaka on 45. Co-produced and written by Sedaka and Phil Cody, the record featured backing vocals by Elton John and drums by the Elton John Band’s Nigel Olsson. “Bad Blood” peaked at No. 1 on October 11th.

September 2nd, 1977 Mercury Records release “Bad Reputation,” the eighth album by Thin Lizzy. The LP featured the British hit single “Dancing in the Moonlight (It’s Caught Me in Its Spotlight).” In England, the album went to No. 4. In the US, “Bad Reputation” peaked at No. 39 on October 29th.

September 2nd, 1978 Full Moon Records release “Twin Sons Of Different Mothers,” the first of two albums by Dan Fogelberg and Tim Weisberg. A single released from the LP written by Fogelberg, “The Power Of Gold,” went to No. 24 on the singles charts on December 9th. “Twin Sons Of Different Mothers” went to No. 8 on the album charts.

September 2nd, 1978 “How Much I Feel” by Ambrosia enters the singles charts following an August release on Warner Brothers Records. Written by guitarist and singer David Pack and co-produced by Ambrosia and Freddie Piro, the 45 peaked at No. 3 on November 18th.

September 2nd, 1978 Epic Records release “Real To Reel,” the fourth album by Starcastle. The LP was produced by Jeffrey Lesser at the Record Plant in Sausalito, California.

September 2nd, 1978 George Harrison marries Olivia Trinidad Arias, whom Harrison had met while working as a secretary at his Dark Horse Records label. Paul with Linda McCartney and Ringo Starr and Barbara Bach attended the wedding and reception.

September 2nd, 1983 F-Beat Records in Britain release “Let Them All Talk” by Elvis Costello and The Attractions with the TKO Horns on 45. The song was written by Costello and co-produced by Clive Langer and Alan Winstanley. Ther single was issued from the LP “Punch The Clock” and went to No. 28 in Britain. Released as a single in America in December, the single peaked at No. 36 in the US.

September 2nd, 1991 Victory Records release “Tin Machine II”, the second LP by Tin Machine, featuring David Bowie, Hunt and Tony Sales and Reeves Gabriel. Tim Palmer and Hugh Padgham co-produced the LP with the band at Studios 301 in Sydney, Australia and A&M Studios in Hollywood. The record peaked at No. 126 on September 21st.

September 2nd, 1995 The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame opened in Cleveland, Ohio, with Bob Dylan, Chuck Berry, Aretha Franklin, Al Green, Booker T and the MGs, Little Richard, The Allman Brothers, Boz Scaggs, James Brown and Martha Reeves being inducted.

September 2nd, 2013 Elton John received the first-ever Brits Icon award for artists who have had a “lasting impact” on UK culture. Rod Stewart presented the citation to Sir Elton, calling him “the second-best rock singer ever.”

Miscellaneous September

September 1965 Muriel Records release “Lookie There” backed with “Wail Baby Wail” by Tommy Louis with Marshall and The Versatiles on 45. Ike Turner plays guitar on the tracks.

September 1967 CBS Records in Britain release “Love Chronicles,” the second album by Al Stewart. “Love Chronicles” was issued in the US in September. The album was issued in America in January 1969 on Epic Records. The LP was co-produced by Roy Guest, John Wood and Al Stewart. Session musicians included Jimmy Page, John Paul Jones and four members of Fairport Convention, Simon Nicol, Richard Thompson, Martin Lamble and Ashley Hutchings. Songs on the record were orchestrated by Alexander Faris.

September 1970 Liberty Records release “Love Is A Game” backed with “Takin’ Back My Name” by a solo Ike Turner on 45. “Love Is A Game” was written by Tina Turner’s sister Ailllene Bullock. “Takin’ Back My Name” was credited to Leah Graham, an alias for Ike Turner, who produced and arranged the tracks as well.

September 1973, RCA Records in Britain release “The Tra La La Days Are Over” by Neil Sedaka. Recorded at Strawberry Studios in the Spring with Eric Stewart producing and 10cc as the backing band, the LP produced “Love Will Keep Us Together.” The song, co-written by Sedaka with Howard Greenfield, would become a huge hit for The Captain And Tennille in 1976.

September 1975 A&M Records release “White Punks On Dope” by the Tubes on 45. The song was co-written by Bill Spooner, Roger Steen and Michael Evans and produced by Al Kooper from the band’s eponymous first album. The single was edited to omit the curse word in the lyrics.

September 1977 DEVO release their second single on their own Booji Boy label. “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction” was a cover version of The Rolling Stones song. “(I Saw My Baby Getting) Sloppy” was co-written by DEVO. The 45 was produced by the group. “Satisfaction” was rerecorded by DEVO and released as their major label debut for Warner Brothers Records a year later.

September 1979 Reprise Records release “Rust Never Sleeps (Hey Hey, My My [Out Of The Blue])” by Neil Young on 45. The A-side was the acoustic version of the song. The flip side was the full band version, recorded with the band Crazy Horse and both from the “Rust Never Sleeps” LP.

September 1979 CBS Records in Ireland issue the seven-inch EP “Out Of Control” backed with “Stories For Boys” & “Boy/Girl,” the first release by U2. All three songs were written collectively by the band and co-produced by U2 and Chas De Whalley.

September 1981 David Bowie records the five songs written for Bertolt Brecht’s Baal. Bowie appeared in the BBC television production of Baal. The play was transmitted in Britain on March 2nd, 1982. The tracks were co-produced by David Bowie and Tony Visconti, who also played bass on the recordings. The EP was released in September 1982, reaching No. 29 in Britain.

September 1981 Island Records in Britain release “Gloria” by U2 on 45. The second single released from the group’s second album “October,” the song was written collectively by U2. “Gloria” was recorded during July and August sessions with producer Steve Lillywhite at Windmill Lane Studios in Dublin, Ireland. The record peaked at No. 55 in Britain.

September 1986 Warner Brothers Records release “Summer Of Love” by The B-52’s on 45. The song was co-written Keith Strickland, Rocky Wilson, Cindy Wilson and Kate Pierson, produced by Tony Mansfield from the LP “Bouncing Off The Satellites.” The single had a unique remix with additional production by Shep Pettibone.