Tuesday July the 8th

ON THIS DAY in 1908
jazz alto saxophonist and singer Louis Jordan, whose 1940's records with his Tympany Five helped shape the rhythm-and-blues of the following decade, was born in Brinkley, Arkansas.
              
After playing with several big bands, Jordan formed his combo in 1938. For the next decade, they produced blues and novelty records such as ``Caldonia,'' ``Let the Good Times Roll'' and ``Choo Choo Ch'Boogie,'' a million-seller in 1946. Jordan died on February 4th, 1975 at age 66.

In 1914, singer Billy Eckstine, known as "Mr. B.," was born in Pittsburgh. He's primarily known for his warm baritone style on such 1940's and '50s pop hits as "A Cottage For Sale," "Prisoner of Love," "My Foolish Heart" and "I Apologize." But jazz fans remember that Eckstine led a pioneering be-bop big band from 1944 to '47 that included such legendary names as Dizzy Gillespie, Miles Davis, Charlie Parker and Sarah Vaughan. Eckstine continued touring through the 1980's. He died March 8th, 1993 at age 78.

                  
In 1917, actress/hostess Faye Emerson was born in Elizabeth Louisiana. The "first lady of television" served as host for several early TV talk shows and musical/variety shows including Paris Cavalcade of Fashions (194, The Faye Emerson Show (1950), Wonderful Town, U.S.A. (1951), Author Meets the Critics (1952) and Faye and Skitch (1953). She was a panellist on I've Got a Secret & Masquerade Party.  She acted in numerous anthology series, including The Chevrolet Tele-Theatre, The Philco Television Playhouse and Goodyear Television Playhouse. She died of stomach cancer Mar 9, 1983 at age 65.  

In 1918, actor Craig Stevens was born Gail Shikles Jr.in Liberty Missouri.  He found his defining role as TV's Peter Gunn, the cool laid-back private eye in the late 50's/early 60's. He later had recurring roles in such series as "Dallas" (197 and "Man of the World" (1962).  He was guesting in episodic TV as late as 1988. He died of cancer May 10, 2000 at age 81.

In 1924, banjo player Uncle Dave Macon made his first recordings, cutting 14 songs with fiddler and guitarist Sid Harkreader for the Vocalion label in New York. Two years later, Macon became the first star of the Grand Ole Opry. Clad in waistcoat, winged collar and plug hat, Macon appeared on the Opry regularly until his 1952 death at age 82.

                  
In 1931, TV executive Roone Arledge was born in Forest Hills NY. As head of ABC News & Sports he had a more profound impact on the development of television news and sports programming than any other individual. His sports innovations included Wide World of Sports & Monday Night Football, in news it was 20/20, Nightline & World News Tonight. He died of prostate cancer Dec 5, 2002 at age 71.

In 1933, actor/comedian Marty Feldman was born in England. Besides his several star-making big-screen film roles, he was featured on TV on the Dean Martin Goldiggers' Show, & the BBC's Marty Feldman Comedy  Machine. He died after a massive heart attack Dec 2, 1982 at age 49.

In 1934, the Malkin Bowl, an outdoor performance theatre in Vancouver's Stanley Park, opened with a concert by the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra. Malkin Bowl, built as a two-thirds size replica of the Hollywood Bowl, later became well known as the home of the Theatre Under the Stars Company.

In 1950,  movie star Joel McCrea appeared in the lead role of Tales of the Texas Rangers. The soon-to-be-popular radio show debuted on NBC.

                
Also in 1950,"Mona Lisa" by Nat 'King' Cole topped the charts and stayed there for 8 weeks.

In 1953, Notre Dame announced that the following five years of its football games would be shown in theatres over closed circuit TV.

In 1956, the No. 1 Billboard Pop Hit was  ``(We're Gonna) Rock Around the Clock,'' by Bill Haley & His Comets. The song was the opening theme for the film ``The Blackboard Jungle,'' starring Glenn Ford and inducted in the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1982.

In 1957, "(Let Me Be Your) Teddy Bear" by Elvis Presley topped the charts and stayed there for7 weeks.

In 1958, the first gold record album presented by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) was awarded. It went to the soundtrack LP, Oklahoma!.
              
The honor signified that the album had reached one million dollars in sales. The first gold single issued by the RIAA was Catch a Falling Star, by Perry Como, in March of 1958. A gold single also represents sales of one million records.

In 1960, Storer Broadcasting Company purchased WINS radio in New York City for $10 million. It was the highest price paid for a radio station (to that time). Many great radio personalities including Murray the K, Bruce Morrow and Alan Freed were stars on WINS Radio. WINS, under Storer ownership, also aired some very clever promotions, including the time they drove the New York media crazy. It was a discovery (thought to be a rare find) in the back seat of a New York taxicab: a clay tablet that looked to be Egyptian and had carvings on it. Upon closer examination, it read, "Everybody's mummy listens to 10-10 WINS!"

In 1961, the No. 1 Billboard Pop Hit was "Tossin' and Turnin','' by Bobby Lewis.

              
In 1969, singer Marianne Faithfull was found in a coma following an overdose of barbiturates. Authorities in Australia, where Faithfull and boyfriend Mick Jagger were filming "Ned Kelly," ruled it a suicide attempt. Faithfull was dropped from the cast and entered hospital for treatment of heroin addiction.

In 1970, "The Everly Brothers Show" was launched on ABC-TV as a summer series, replacing Johnny Cash.  It ran only inro mid-September.

In 1971, several people were injured and two concert boxes were damaged at London's Royal Albert Hall during a show by the hard rock band Mott the Hoople. The incident played a big part in the decision by the hall management to temporarily ban rock concerts from the Royal Albert.

In 1972, "Lean On Me" by Bill Withers topped the charts and stayed there for 3 weeks.

              
In 1976, the No. 1 Billboard Pop Hit was "Afternoon Delight,'' by the Starland Vocal Band. The song's title was taken from a menu at a Washington, D.C., restaurant.

In 1978, Exile released "Kiss You All Over" to radio.

In 1979, radio/TV host John Reed King died after a heart attack at age 64.  On radio he hosted game shows What's My Line, Give & Take, Missus Goes A-Shopping, & Double or Nothing.  On TV he was emcee on Missus Goes A-Shopping, It's a Gift, Chance of a Lifetime, Give & Take and Beat the Clock.

              
In 1985, actor/comedian Phil Foster, best remembered as father Frank De Fazio in TV's Laverne & Shirley, died after a heart attack at age 72.

Also in 1985, both Playboy and Penthouse magazines announced plans to carry photos of pop singer Madonna in various stages of undress. Penthouse's pictures were from a soft-core porn film Madonna made years earlier. Most of those photos had already been published in Spin magazine.

Still in 1985, "Never Surrender" by Corey Hart hit #1 for 9 weeks on the Canadian singles chart.

In 1986, the No. 1 Billboard Pop Hit was ``Holding Back the Years,'' by Simply Red.

                
In 1987, Lt. Col. Oliver North became a daytime TV star, pulling in more viewers than many game shows and soap operas. He captured center stage as the Iran-Contra hearings were televised throughout the U.S.

In 1988, Prince opened his ``Lovesexy'' world tour with a sellout concert before 20-thousand fans in Paris.

In 1989, "Good Thing" by Fine Young Cannibals topped the charts, but only for a week.

In 1990, the final episode of "Mr. Belvedere" aired on ABC.

                
In 1991, actor James Franciscus, who played leads in TV series Mr. Novak, Hunter & Longstreet, died at age 57 of emphysema.

In 1994, Elton John and Billy Joel kicked off a 14-city tour in Philadelphia. They shared vocals on each other's hits, including John's "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me" and Joel's "Piano Man" and "New York State of Mind."

Also on this date in 1994, singer Whitney Houston suffered a miscarriage, forcing cancellation of her concert in Houston, Texas. During a show in Atlanta the previous week, Houston had announced that she and husband Bobby Brown were expecting their second child.

In 1995, "Waterfalls" by TLC topped the charts and stayed there for 7 weeks.

              
In 1997, country singers Marty Stuart and Connie Smith were married in Pine Ridge, South Dakota. The groom was 38, the bride 55. It was his second marriage and her fourth.

In 1998, two armed men broke into the home of rapper Foxy Brown. Though she and her mother were both in the apartment, neither suffered any injuries.

Also in 1998, the estate of Roy Orbison files a $12 million royalty suit against Sony Music Entertainment Inc. The suit alleged that Sony, in selling licenses from the artist's Monument Records master recordings, consistently underpaid Orbison in domestic and international royalties.

Still in 1998, Nancy Sinatra made the announcement at a press conference in the capital that the Library of Congress and the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C., had worked out an agreement to be the repository of the late Frank Sinatra's music and movie archives.

In 2000, halfway into the first song of the band's encore for their Mannheim, Germany show, Iron Maiden guitarist Janick Gers lost his footing and plunged 10-feet off the front of the stage and into the photographers' pit. Gers was rushed to the hospital where he received six stitches to a gash in his forehead.

                
In 2006, actress June Allyson died in Ojai, Calif., at age 88. After making 40+ Hollywood films she hosted TV's anthology series The Dupont Show starring June Allyson, guest hosted her husband's Dick Powell Show, and appeared infrequently in episodic TV, variety and talk shows into her late 70's.


Today's Birthdays:

Actor Mickey Carroll (Radio: Jack Benny, Burns & Allen, Al Jolsen) is 89.

Singer Jerry Vale is 76.

Singer Steve Lawrence is 73.

Actor Jeffrey Tambor (Arrested Development, The Larry Sanders Show) is 63.

Actress Kim Darby (Rich Man Poor Man, The Last Convertible) is 61.

Canadian children's singer Raffi (Mayne Island, BC-based) is 60.

Actress Anjelica Huston (Huff, Lonesome Dove) is 57.

Actor Kevin Bacon (Mister Roberts, Guiding Light) is 50.

Country singer Toby Keith is 47.

Keyboardist Andy Fletcher of Depeche Mode is 47.

Singer Joan Osborne is 46.

Writer-producer Rob Burnett (Late Show w/David Letterman, Ed) is 46.

Actor Corey Parker (Will & Grace, Love Boat:The Next Wave, thirty something) is 43.

Actor Billy Crudup (Almost Famous) is 40.

Actor Michael Weatherly (NCIS, Dark Angel) is 40.

Victoria-born actress Lori Hallier (Santa Barbara, In a Heartbeat) is 39.

Singer Beck is 38.

Country singer Drew Womack of Sons of the Desert is 38.

Hamilton-born actress Kathleen Robertson (Beverly Hills 90210, Maniac Mansion) is 35.

Guitarist Stephen Mason of Jars of Clay is 33.

Actor Milo Ventimiglia (Heroes, Gilmore Girls) is 31.

Trumpeter Tavis Werts of Reel Big Fish is 31.

Actress Melissa Reneé Martin (Evening Shade, Undressed) is 29.

Actress Sophia Bush (One Tree Hill) is 26.

Guitarist Jamie Cook of Arctic Monkeys is 23.

Actor Jake McDorman (Greek, Quintuplets) is 22.


Chart Toppers    

July 8

1952
Kiss of Fire - Georgia Gibbs
I’m Yours - Don Cornell
Delicado - The Percy Faith Orchestra
That Heart Belongs to Me - Webb Pierce

1961
Quarter to Three (facts) - U.S. Bonds
Tossin’ and Turnin’ (facts) - Bobby Lewis
The Boll Weevil Song - Brook Benton
Hello Walls (facts) - Faron Young

1970
The Love You Save (facts) - The Jackson 5
Mama Told Me (Not to Come) (facts) - Three Dog Night
Ball of Confusion - The Temptations
He Loves Me All the Way - Tammy Wynette

1979
Ring My Bell (facts) - Anita Ward
Bad Girls (facts) - Donna Summer
Chuck E.’s in Love - Rickie Lee Jones
Amanda - Waylon Jennings

1988
Dirty Diana (facts) - Michael Jackson
The Flame (facts) - Cheap Trick
Mercedes Boy - Pebbles
If It Don’t Come Easy - Tanya Tucker

1997
I’ll Be Missing You (facts) - Puff Daddy & Faith Evans
MMMBop (facts) - Hanson
Bitch (facts) - Meredith Brooks
It’s Your Love - Tim McGraw & Faith Hill

2006
Promiscuous (facts) - Nelly Furtado featuring Timbaland
Hips Don’t Lie (facts) - Shakira featuring Wyclef Jean
Unfaithful (facts) - Rihanna
Summertime - Kenny Chesney