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Rock and Roll Birthdays

Today's Rock and Roll Birthdays

October 8th

October 8th Birthday, One of Nashville’s all-time great lap steel guitar players, Pete Drake. Drake played on hundreds of sessions in both rock and roll and country music, born in 1932 in Augusta, Georgia.

October 8th Birthday, Baritone singer from The Drifters, Doc Green, born in 1934.

October 8th Birthday, Singer Fred Cash from The Impressions, born in 1940 in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

October 8th Birthday, Guitarist Ray Royer from Procol Harum, born in 1945 in The Pinewoods, Essex, England.

October 8th Birthday, Vocalist, bass guitarist and songwriter, Tony Wilson from Hot Chocolate, born in Trinidad in 1947.

October 8th Birthday, Ramones guitarist Johnny Ramone, born John Cummings, in 1948 in Long Island, New York. He died on September 15th, 2004 at the age of 55 after a five year battle with prostate cancer.

October 8th Birthday, Hamish Stuart, late 80’s early 90’s member of Paul McCartney’s band and an original member of The Average White band, born in 1949 in Glasgow, Scotland.

October 8th Birthday, Ramones bassist C.J. Ramone, born Christopher Joseph Ward in 1965 in Queens, New York City.

October 8th Birthday, R&B singer Bruno Mars, born Peter Gene Hernandez in 1985 in Honolulu, Hawaii.

Today In Rock and Roll History

October 8th

October 8th, 1957 Jerry Lee Lewis was in Sun Studios in Memphis, Tennessee recording “Great Balls Of Fire” with producer Sam Phillips. Recorded as a three piece with Lewis on piano and vocals, Sidney Stokes on bass and session drummer Larry Linn, the song was co-written by songwriters Otis Blackwell and Jack Hammer. Sun Records released the track as a 45 on November 11thand “Great Balls Of Fire” became Lewis biggest hit, reaching No. 2 in the Pop Singles charts, No. 3 on the R&B list and No. 1 on the Country And Western Chart, selling one million copies in its first ten days of release in the United States, eventually selling over five million worldwide.

October 8th, 1962 After five years spent on the gospel music circuit, Little Richard makes his return to Rock And Roll as he kicks off his first ever tour of the UK, sharing the bill with Sam Cooke.

October 8th, 1964 The Beatles were in EMI Studios in London, cutting the Lennon and McCartney song “She’s A Woman” with producer George Martin. Released in America as the B-side to “Every Little Thing”, it was the last Beatles single release of 1964 and went to No. 4 on December 26th.

October 8th, 1965 Philips Records in Britain release “Everything’s Coming Up Dusty”, the second solo album by Dusty Springfield. The album was briefly issued in America the following April, but when “You Don’t Have To Say You Love Me” became a big hit for Springfield, the track was added to the album and re-released in the US with the title “You Don’t Have To Say You Love Me”, in June, 1966. The record peaked at No. 77 on September 3rd.

October 8th, 1966 “East-West” by The Butterfield Blues Band enters the album charts following an August release on Elektra Records. The LP was recorded at Chess Studios in Chicago, co-produced by Mark Abramson, Paul Rothchild and Frazier Mohawk. The record peaked at No. 65 on March 12th, 1967.

October 8th, 1966 Mercury Records release Blues Magoos’ “(We Ain’t Got) Nothin’ Yet.” The song was co-written by Ron Gilbert, Ralph Scala and Mike Esposito. Co-produced by Bob Wyld and Art Polhemus, “(We Ain’t Got) Nothin’ Yet” went to No. 5 on February 11th, 1967, No. 4 in Canada.

October 8th, 1966 Mitch Ryder and The Detroit Wheels’ “Devil With A Blue Dress”/”Good Golly Miss Molly” enters the Pop Singles charts following a September release. Originally released by the tunes co-writer Shorty Long in 1964, written under Long’s real name Frederick Long with William “Mickey” Stevenson. The Mitch Ryder version was recorded with producer Bob Crewe as a medley with an original arrangement of Little Richard’s “Good Golly, Miss Molly.” Ryder’s single would peak at No. 4 on November 26th.

October 8th, 1967 The Moody Blues record “Nights In White Satin” with producer Tony Clarke. Released November 10th, the song never entered the charts on its initial release, but hit No. 2 on November 4thwhen it was reissued in 1972. The orchestral and poetry sections of the LP version were mixed out of the two single versions of the song.

October 8th, 1971 United Artists Records in Britain release “In Search Of Space”, the second studio album by Hawkwind. The band recorded the LP at Plympic Studios in London with George Chkiantz and the band co-producing. In England, the album reached No. 18 on the charts. The LP came out in the US in April, 1972 but didn’t chart.

October 8th, 1971 Polydor Records in Britain release “’Coz I Love You” by Slade on 45. Co-written by Noddy Holder and Jim Lea, who played electric violin on the track. Produced by Chas Chandler at Olympic Studios in Barnes, London, the record became the first of Slade’s six UK No. 1 records on November 13th.

October 8th, 1971 Parlophone Records in Britain release “Distant Light”, by The Hollies. The band recorded the LP at AIR Studios in London, co-producing the record with Ron Richards. Guest musicians on the sessions included Gary Brooker, Mick Abrahamsand singers Madeline Bell and Doris Troy. Not issued in the US until July 15th, 1972 on Epic Records, the LP featured the hits “Long Cool Woman In A Black Dress” and “Long Dark Road.” The record peaked at No. 21 on September 23rd, 1972.

October 8th, 1973 Columbia Records release “Baby - - - Please” by Dave Mason on 45. Written, produced and arranged by Dave Mason, the track was issued from Mason’s album “It’s Like You Never Left.”

October 8th, 1973 Columbia Records release “My Music” by Loggins and Messina. Co-written by the duo and produced by Jim Messina, the record entered the charts in November and peaked at No. 16 on December 22nd.

October 8th, 1977 “It’s So Easy” by Linda Ronstadt enters the singles charts on Asylum Records. A cover of the Buddy Holly and Norman Petty song, the track was produced by Peter Asher. The record peaked at No. 5 on December 10th.

October 8th, 1977 “Isn’t It Time” by The Babys enters the US single charts on Chrysalis Records. The song was co-written by Jack Conrad, who played with The Doors as a bassist after Jim Morrison passed away, and singer, songwriter Ray Kennedy. The three woman backing vocals were sung by Lisa Freeman-Roberts, Myrna Matthews and Pat Henderson, who were members of Andrea Crouch and The Disciples. “Isn’t It Time” peaked at No. 13 on December 24th.

October 8th, 1977 Reprise Records release “Sentimental Lady” by former Fleetwood Mac guitarist Bob Welch. Welch wrote and released the song on the band’s “Bare Trees” album in 1972 but rerecorded it for his debut solo LP “French Kiss.” Fleetwood Mac’s Christine McVie appears on both. The hit version features Mick Fleetwood and Lindsey Buckingham on the record. The single peaked at No. 8 on January 7th, 1978

October 8th, 1987 The Chuck Berry documentary “Hail! Hail! Rock n Roll” premiers in US theaters on the same day that Berry himself is awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame.

October 8th, 1988 I.R.S. Records release “Eponymous”, a greatest hits album by R.E.M. Some of the tracks on the record were remixes and alternate takes, different from the original album released tracks. The record peaked at No. 44 on November 12th.

October 8th, 1990 Ryko Records release “Ringo Starr and The All-Starr Band.” The disc featured live recordings made during the first All-Starr Band tour, including performances by Joe Walsh, Nils Lofgren, Dr. John, Clarence Clemons, Levon Helm and Rick Danko.

October 8th, 1991 Eric Clapton releases the live album “24 Nights.” Recorded live during Clapton’s 1990 and 1991 shows at the Royal Albert Hall in London, he record peaked at No. 38 on October 26th.