Thursday July the 17th

ON THIS DAY in 1939  
              
Charlie Barnet and his orchestra recorded Cherokee for Bluebird Records. Listen carefully and you'll hear the horn of Billy May on the piece.

In 1954, the first Newport Jazz Festival was held on the grass tennis courts of the Newport Casino in Newport RI. Eddie Condon and his band played Muskrat Ramble as the opening number of the world's first jazz fest.

In 1955, Disneyland opened the gates to "The Happiest Place on Earth" in Anaheim, California. In the famous theme park's first year of operation, some four million people visited Main Street USA, Fantasyland, Frontierland and Tomorrowland. On its opening day, Disneyland held a gala TV broadcast featuring Walt Disney, Bob Cummings, Art Linkletter and Ronald Reagan.

              
In 1958, the No. 1 Billboard Pop Hit was "Hard Headed Woman," by Elvis Presley. The song was taken from the Presley film "King Creole."

In 1959, jazz great Billie Holiday died in a New York hospital while under arrest for narcotics possession. She was 44. Holiday had a longtime addiction to drugs and alcohol, but evidence suggests she died from a kidney infection.  It was not until 1986 -- 27 years after her death -- that she was honoured with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

In 1960, the number-one song on the Billboard pop chart was "Alley-Oop'' by the Hollywood Argyles, a studio band organized by Gary Paxton. "Alley-Oop,'' a novelty song about a hip caveman, was the work of Dallas Frazier, better known for writing country-and-western tunes.

                  
In 1961, John Chancellor became the on-air host of the Today show on NBC-TV. He replaced Dave Garroway, who had resigned after 10 years of early morning duty on the popular program.  Chancellor admitted he hated the job and wanted out after the first day.

Also in 1961, rocker Bobby Lewis was starting week #2 of a seven-week stay at number one (one, one, one) on the pop-music charts with his smash, Tossin' and Turnin'. Lewis, who grew up in an orphanage, learned to play the piano at age 5. He became popular in the Detroit area before moving on to fame and fortune with Beltone Records.

Still in 1961, The Supremes released their first record, "Buttered Popcorn.''

In 1965, "Papa's Got a Brand New Bag'' by James Brown was released. It sold over two-million copies and won the Grammy Award for best rhythm-and-blues recording.

In 1967, jazz saxophonist John Coltrane [below] died at age 41. His albums ``Giant Steps,'' ``Live at the Village Vanguard'' and ``A Love Supreme'' had an enormous influence on the development of modern jazz.
              

Also in 1967, the Monkees played Forest Hills Stadium in New York. The opening act was none other than the Jimi Hendrix Experience. Hendrix was later dropped from the tour, allegedly due to protests from the right-wing Daughters of the American Revolution.

In 1971, Cliff Edwards, the voice of Disney's Jiminy Cricket, who had his own national radio show as early as 1932, and his own thrice-weekly TV show starting in 1949, died at age 76.

In 1972, a bomb placed under a ramp at the Montreal Forum destroyed 30 speakers on a truck containing equipment belonging to the Rolling Stones. Montreal radio stations received more than 50 calls claiming responsibility, but the bomber was never found. The Stones' show went on as scheduled.

In 1974, the Moody Blues opened a 32-track recording studio in London. The studio was the first in Britain to be equipped for quadraphonic recording, a now almost-forgotten form of stereo which required a playback system with four speakers.

              
Also in 1974, Anne Murray had a #1 Billboard hit with her song 'He Thinks I Still Care.'

In 1975, Beatle drummer Ringo Starr and Maureen Cox were divorced.

In 1977, Johnny Rotten of the notorious Sex Pistols was interviewed on a London radio station. He said he admired Neil Young, Tim Buckley and Captain Beefheart. At the time, the Sex Pistols' recording of ``God Save the Queen'' topped the British charts, despite being banned from radio play.

In 1980, actor Donald Barry, who had recurring roles in TV's Mr Novak, Police Woman, & Little House on the Prairie, committed suicide at age 68.  

In 1982, arranger Bill Justis, whose 1957 recording of ''Raunchy'' sold one million copies, died in Nashville at 55. ''Raunchy,'' an alto-sax dominated instrumental, made both the pop and country top 10.

Also in 1982, "Valley Girl'' by Frank Zappa and his 14-year-old daughter Moon Unit entered the U-S pop chart.
              

In 1986, 50 people were hurt in gang violence outside a Run- D-M-C rap show in Long Beach, California. There would be other violent incidents connected with the group's concerts in the following months.

In 1987, Keith Richards of the Rolling Stones signed a solo deal with Virgin Records.

In 1989, Paul McCartney released "This One."

In 1990, Canadian TV announcer Bernard Cowan, who had been the announcer on Front Page Challenge & Wayne and Schuster from the very start, died of kidney disease at age 68.

                  
In 1991, the revamped Lynyrd Skynyrd opened its world tour in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Fourteen years earlier, the band was on its way to a Baton Rouge concert when a plane crash killed three members of the group, including lead singer Ronnie Van Zant. The new Lynyrd Skynyrd was fronted by Van Zant's brother, Johnny, and included several original members, including guitarist Gary Rossington.

Also in 1991, James Brown was honoured by his native state of Georgia for his comeback after a two-year prison term. The proclamation cited the Godfather of Soul for his "unique brand of funk."

In 1995, Sinead O'Connor announced she was withdrawing from the Lollapalooza tour because she was pregnant. She said "it's hard to sing when you want to throw up all the time." The unmarried Irish singer did not name the father.

              
Also in 1995, the chart-topping female rap trio T-L-C filed for bankruptcy protection in Los Angeles. They were reported to have liabilities of more than 3.5 million dollars. The biggest individual creditor was Lloyd's of London, which claimed 1.3-million from Lisa (Left Eye) Lopes (right, above). She had pleaded guilty to torching the Atlanta home of her former boyfriend, pro football player Andre Rison.

In 1996, Chas Chandler, bass player with the Animals, died of a heart attack in Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, England. He was 57. Chandler was playing in the Alan Price Trio in 1962 when vocalist Eric Burdon joined the band. They renamed the group the Animals, whose first -- and biggest -- hit was 1964's "The House of the Rising Sun." After the group split up two years later, Chandler turned to managing other artists, most notably Jimi Hendrix.

Also in 1996, Smashing Pumpkins fired drummer Jimmy Chamberlin, less than a week after Chamberlin was arrested on a drug charge and backup keyboardist Jonathan Melvoin was found dead of a heroin overdose.

In 1998, Marc Hunter, lead singer with Dragon, died after a nine-month battle with throat cancer. He was 44. New Zealand-born Hunter was one of Australia's most flamboyant performers, known as much for his off-stage antics as for his Dragon chart-toppers, such as "April Sun In Cuba," "Get That Jive," and "Rain."

              
In 1998, actor Hugh Reilly, who played the father Paul Martin for 6 years on TV's Lassie, died of emphysema at age 82.

In 1998, 17-year-old murderer Pamela Keary walked away from a minimum security prison at Shakopee, Minnesota to catch a free Smashing Pumpkins concert in Minneapolis. Keary managed to enjoy the entire show. She was arrested shortly after midnight by officers who spotted her in the crowd.

In 1999, "Bills, Bills, Bills" by Destiny's Child topped the charts and stayed there for just a week.

In 2006, the King of the Pulp Novelists, Mickey Spillane died of cancer in South Carolina. He was 88 years old. Spillane wrote his Mike Hammer novels over a 50 year span, and was the creative force behind the Hammer series and TV movies of the 80's & 90's starring Stacy Keach.
                  


Today's Birthdays:

Saskatchewan-born radio & TV personality Art Linkletter (House Party, People are Funny) is 96.

Comedian Phyllis Diller is 91.

Jazz singer Jimmy Scott is 83.

Vancouver-born singer/actress Mimi Hines is 75.

New Brunswick-born actor Donald Sutherland (Dirty Sexy Money, Commander in Chief) is 73.

Actress/singer Diahann Carroll (Julia, Dynasty, The Colby's) is 73.

Guitarist Spencer Davis of the Spencer Davis Group is 66.

Canadian singer/actress Gale Garnett is 66.

Bassist Geezer Butler of Black Sabbath is 59.

Actress Lucie Arnaz (Sons & Daughters, The Lucy Show) is 57.

Actor David Hasselhoff (Baywatch, Knight Rider) is 56.

Singer Phoebe Snow is 56.

Television producer Mark Burnett (Survivor, The Apprentice) is 48.

Actress Nancy Giles (China Beach, Hey Joel) is 48.

Singer Regina Belle is 45.

Bassist Lou Barlow (Dinosaur Jr., Sebadoh, Folk Implosion) is 42.

Singer Guru of Gang Starr is 42.

Christian singer Susan Ashton is 41.

R&B singer Stokley of Mint Condition is 41.

Actor Andre Royo (The Wire) is 40.

Actress Bitty Schram (Monk) is 40.

Actor Jason Clarke (Brotherhood, Home & Away) is 39.

Rapper Sole' is 35.


Chart Toppers: July 17

1952
I’m Yours - Eddie Fisher
Kiss of Fire - Georgia Gibbs
Walkin’ My Baby Back Home - Johnnie Ray
That Heart Belongs to Me - Webb Pierce

1961
Tossin’ and Turnin’ - Bobby Lewis
The Boll Weevil Song - Brook Benton
Quarter to Three - U.S. Bonds
Heartbreak U.S.A. - Kitty Wells

1970
Mama Told Me (Not to Come) - Three Dog Night
Ride Captain Ride - Blues Image
Band of Gold - Freda Payne
He Loves Me All the Way - Tammy Wynette

1979
Bad Girls - Donna Summer
Boogie Wonderland - Earth, Wind & Fire with The Emotions
Makin’ It - David Naughton
Amanda - Waylon Jennings

1988
The Flame - Cheap Trick
Pour Some Sugar On Me - Def Leppard
New Sensation - INXS
If You Change Your Mind - Rosanne Cash

1997
I’ll Be Missing You - Puff Daddy & Faith Evans
Bitch - Meredith Brooks
I Belong to You (Every Time I See Your Face) - Rome
It’s Your Love - Tim McGraw & Faith Hill

2006
Promiscuous  - Nelly Furtado featuring Timbaland
Unfaithful  - Rihanna
Me & U - Cassie
Summertime - Kenny Chesney