August 12

Births

1926: Joe Jones (R&B Singer)

1927: Porter Wagoner (Country Singer)

1929: Buck Owens (Alvis Edgar Owens) (Country Singer & Guitarist)

1949: Mark Knopfler (Guitar & Vocals for Dire Straits & Solo)

1954: Pat Metheny (Jazz / Rock Guitarist)

1960: Morty Black (Bass for TNT)

1961: Roy Hay (Guitar & Keyboards for The Culture Club)

1963: Sir Mix-A-Lot (Anthony Ray) (Rapper)

Events

1877: Thomas Edison finishes the prototype of his new invention, the phonograph, and hands it over to his master mechanic John Kreusi to build. Kreusi bets Edison two dollars that the contraption will never work.

1957: Encouraged by Roulette exec George Goldner and his recent success in England, Frankie Lymon officially leaves his group, the Teenagers, to pursue a solo career.

1958: On "compassionate leave" from the Army, Elvis Presley travels to Memphis' Baptist Memorial hospital to be by the side of his mother, Gladys, who is quickly deteriorating from acute hepatitis.

1960: After "auditioning" for the band at the Jacaranda club (the band actually had no other prospects), Pete Best is hired as the Silver Beatles' new drummer just as the band sets out for a series of dates in Hamburg, Germany.

1965: Jefferson Airplane make their stage debut, opening San Francisco's' new club The Matrix (3138 Fillmore).

1966: The Beatles begin the US leg of their last tour, playing a date at the International Amphitheater in Chicago, IL.

1967: Fleetwood Mac make their stage debut at the National Jazz and Blues Festival in Windsor, England, alongside such acts as Donovan, Cream, The Small Faces, and Chicken Shack, featuring a young Christine Perfect (later known as Christine McVie).

1968: The New Yardbirds, later to be known as Led Zeppelin, begin their first rehearsal beneath a record store at 22 Gerrard Street in Westminster, London, performing a cover of the old Johnny Burnette and the Rock and Roll Trio number "Train Kept A Rollin'."

1970: At Harvard, Janis Joplin performs what would be her final concert, ending with a version of Gershwin's "Summertime."

1970: The Hollywood Bowl holds a memorial concert for recently deceased folk legend Woody Guthrie, featuring (among others) Bob Dylan, Arlo Guthrie, Richie Havens, Pete Seeger, Odetta, and Tom Paxton.

1977: Henri Padovani, guitarist with The Police, quit the group after nine months leaving them a trio.

1978: The Commodores started a two week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Three Times A Lady', also No.1 in the UK and becoming Motown's biggest British selling single. Lionel Richie wrote the song about his love for his wife, mother and grandmother hence 'Once, Twice, Three Times a Lady.'

1985: Kyu Sakamoto was killed in a plane crash when JAL Flight 123, a 747, crashed and burned on a thickly wooded mountain about 60 miles northwest of Tokyo. He was 43. He had the 1963 US No.1 & UK No.6 single 'Sukiyaki', the first Japanese artist to hit the top of the US singles chart.

1989: Patty Loveless notches her first #1 country single with "Timber, I'm Falling In Love".

1993: The Red Hot Chili Peppers replaced guitarist Arik Marshall with Jesse Tobias. Tobias was replaced by Dave Navarro three months later.

1994: Less than two months after All-4-One netted a gold single for a pop version of "I Swear," John Michael Montgomery's country rendition also goes gold.

1994: The 25th Anniversary Woodstock concert, entitled "Woodstock '94," is held in Saugerties, NY, with over 30 bands playing for a crowd of about 350,000. The multi-day show is a huge success, with little hint of the violence that would mar the 30th anniversary concert.

1997: MTV debuts the Fleetwood Mac reunion concert The Dance, marking the first time the five had been on stage together since 1982.

1997: In the middle of Blues Guitarist Luther Allison’s summer of 1997 tour, he checked into a hospital for dizziness and loss of coordination. It was discovered that he had a tumor on his lung that had metastasized to his brain. He died on this day in 1997.

1998: Scott Weiland (Singer for Stone Temple Pilots) pled guilty to felony heroin possession and was sentenced to three months in a drug treatment facility.

1999: Governor Mel Carnahan of Missouri declares today "Porter Wagoner Day" in honor of the country legend.

1999: The movie Detroit Rock City, produced by KISS and telling the story of KISS fans on their way to a KISS concert, opens nationwide.

2000: During an outdoor gig in Mancos, California as .38 Special were mid-set, the wind took hold of an overhead canopy and brought down ten tons of equipment onto the stage. The drum kit was completely crushed, but no one was seriously injured.

2001: Shania Twain and husband-producer Robert John "Mutt" Lange have a son, Eja (pronounced "Asia") in Switzerland.

2006: Rodney Atkins earns his first #1 single in Billboard: "If You're Going Through Hell (Before The Devil Even Knows)".

2011: Jani Lane, who fronted the glossy rock band Warrant during the days of hair metal, was found dead in a motel room in Woodland Hills, Calif. of undetermined causes. He was 47.

August 10

Births

1909: Leo Fender (Founder of Fender Guitar)

1928: Jimmy Dean (Country Singer)

1928: Eddie Fisher (Pop Singer)

1940: Bobby Hatfield (Singer in The Righteous Brothers)

1943: Ronnie Spector (Lead Singer in The Ronettes)

1943: James Griffin (Singer & Guitar for Bread)

1947: Ian Anderson (Vocals & Flute for Jethro Tull)

1950: Patti Austin (R&B Singer)

1961: Jon Farriss (Drummer for INXS)

1962: Julia Fordham (Singer / Songwriter)

1964: Aaron Hall (Singer for Guy & Solo)

1967: Todd Nichols (Guitar for Toad The Wet Sprocket)

1968: Michael Bivins (Singer for New Edition & Bell Biv DeVoe)

Events

1959: Four members of the Platters -- the male four -- are arrested in Cincinnati and charged with "aiding and abetting prostitution, lewdness, and assignation" after local police found the singers in a Sheraton Gibson Hotel after-show party entertaining four scantily-clad nineteen-year-olds, including three white girls. The members would be acquitted of the charges in December, but in the meantime, the arrest led to the Platters being banned in several major radio markets.

1963: 13 year-old Little Stevie Wonder started a three week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Fingertips part II', making him the youngest singer to top the charts at the time.

1964: On his way to visit two injured fans in Liverpool, England, Mick Jagger is pulled over and fined $50 for speeding and driving without insurance.

1970: Jim Morrison of the Doors goes on trial in Miami, FL, for an infamous incident on March 1, 1969, where he allegedly exposed himself on stage. (Though no doubt drunk, disinterested, and verbally taunting the audience, according to firsthand accounts, Morrison is generally thought these days to have been innocent of the major charge, sparking talk of a posthumous public vindication by Florida officials.)

1972: Paul and Linda McCartney are arrested backstage in Gothenburg, Sweden, for possession of six ounces of marijuana. The couple are released after paying a combined fine of $1,200.

1976: Elton John begins a historic record-breaking ten-night run of concerts at New York City's Madison Square Garden.

1983: Kajagoogoo fired their lead singer Limahl who took up a solo career with the theme to “The Neverending Story”. The group scored the 1983 UK No.1 single 'Too Shy'.

1985: Madonna's "Like A Virgin" became the first album by a female to be certified for 5 million sales.

1985: Canadian singer / guitarist Bryan Adams scored his first US No.1 album with 'Reckless.'

1985: 'Money for Nothing' by Dire Straits peaked at No.4 on the UK singles chart. Notable for its groundbreaking music video and a cameo appearance by Sting singing the song's falsetto introduction and backing chorus, "I want my MTV," who also co-wrote the song with Mark Knopfler. The video was also the first to be aired on MTV Europe when the network started on 1 August 1987.

1985: Michael Jackson buys ATV Music (every Beatle songs) for $47 Million after out-bidding Paul McCartney.

1985: Simon Le Bon from Duran Duran was air lifted to safety when his boat 'Drum' overturned while racing off the English coast. Le Bon was trapped under the hull with five other crew members for twenty minutes, until being rescued by the Royal Navy.

1987: Wilson Pickett is found guilty of threatening patrons at a New Jersey bar with a loaded shotgun after a brawl inside the club. He is given two years' probation and fined $1,000.

1993: The Dave Matthews Band played at The Flood Zone in Richmond, Virginia. The gig was recorded with some of tonight’s songs ending up on the bands first major label album ‘Remember Two Things.’

1995: Jimmy Buffett led a birthday celebration for U.S. President Clinton's birthday at the White House.

1999: it was announced that Oasis rhythm guitarist Paul 'Bonehead' Arthur's had quit the band after finishing his guitar parts on the bands new album.

2001: The Dixie Chicks' Martie Seidel marries Gareth Maguire in Kailua, Hawaii.

2002: When The Dixie Chicks perform on the Grand Ole Opry, Natalie Maines interrupts the proceedings to announce the newest inductees into the Country Music Hall of Fame: Opry members Porter Wagoner and "Jumpin'" Bill Carlisle.

2004: The Rolling Stones' Charlie Watts confirms that he is undergoing treatment for throat cancer, which will eventually go into remission.

2007: Spice Girl Emma Bunton gave birth to a baby boy called Beau at London's private Portland Hospital. Bunton and her partner Jade Jones, a former member of defunct boy band Damage, had been together for eight years.

2008: Singer / songwriter Isaac Hayes died at his home in Memphis, Tennessee, at the age of 65. Police were called to his home after his wife found him unconscious. He was taken to hospital where he was pronounced dead. Hayes won an Oscar for the 1971 hit Theme From Shaft as was also known as the voice of Chef from the hit cartoon show, South Park. He was married four times and had 12 children.

2009: Brooks & Dunn announce in a five-sentence note to their fans that they're ending their run as a duo after one last tour. "It's time to call it a day".

2011: Rebecca Black withdrew from her school after teasing from her classmates over her YouTube phenomenon, "Friday," became too pervasive to ignore.

2011: The Grand Ole Opry’s Billy Graham died of natural causes at age 85.  He had been a Nashville studio musician singing and playing guitar.

August 9

Births

1959: Kurtis Blow (Curtis Walker) (Rapper)

1963: Whitney Houston (Singer)

1968: Sam Fogarino (Drums for Interpol)

1972: Juanes (Juan Esteban Aristizábal Vásquez) (Colombian Singer & Guitarist)

Events

1963: ITV television in Britain premieres the legendary rock and roll variety show Ready! Steady! Go!, which would run until 1966. The first episode features co-host Dusty Springfield as well as musical guests The Searchers, Pat Boone, and The Tremeloes.

1964: Bob Dylan and Joan Baez share the stage for the first time, singing "With God On Our Side" at the Newport Folk Festival.

1964: The crowd of over three thousand at tonight's Rolling Stones gig in Manchester, England, prove hard to control, accidentally breaking the ribs of one policeman and causing another two to faint in the crush.

1967: At England's National Jazz and Blues Festival in Sunberry, Jerry Lee Lewis is kicked off the stage after the overenthusiastic crowd responds to his set with a near-riot.

1978: Muddy Waters performs at the Carter White House.

1980: AC/DC scored their first UK No.1 album with 'Back In Black'.  It only went to #4 in the US. It was the first AC/DC album recorded without former lead singer Bon Scott, (who died on 19 February 1980 at the age of 33), and was dedicated to him. The album has sold an estimated 49 million copies worldwide to date, making it the second highest selling album of all time, and the best selling hard rock or heavy metal album, as well as the best selling album ever released by a band.

1980: Ten original Gerald Scarfe drawings for Pink Floyd’s album ‘The Wall’ were stolen from the foyer of Earls Court, London, England where they were being exhibited.

1985: After the massive success of the Motown 25 TV special on NBC, the network debuts the ill-fated Motown Revue variety series, which would only run for five weeks.

1986: Queen give what would prove to be their last live performance ever at the annual Knebworth Park Festival in England, closing as usual with "We Will Rock You / We Are The Champions" and "God Save The Queen."

1988: Rob Base & DJ E-Z Rock release the album “It Takes Two”.

1991: The 5th Dimension are awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame.

1991: Rick James pled innocent to charges that he imprisoned, tortured and sexually assaulted a woman in his California home.

1994: During an Oasis gig at The Riverside in Newcastle upon Tyne, England, guitarist Noel Gallagher was hit in the face by a man who had jumped on the stage. Noel refused to carry on playing and after leaving the stage a mob of over 300 people attacked the bands bus as they were leaving.

1995: The Grateful Dead’s Jerry Garcia’s body was discovered in his room at the rehabilitation clinic. The cause of death was a heart attack. Garcia had long struggled with drug addiction, weight problems, and sleep apnea, all of which contributed to his physical decline. He was well known for his distinctive guitar playing and was ranked 13th in Rolling Stone's "100 Greatest Guitarist's of All Time"

2002: Lisa Marie Presley was married to actor Nicolas Cage in a union that lasts less than four months.

2005: Singer / Songwriter Marc Cohn survived being shot in the head during an attempted car jacking as he left a concert in Denver, Colorado. Cohn was struck in the temple by the bullet but it did not penetrate his skull. Police said a man tried to steal Cohn's tour van as it left after a show, the attacker was fleeing police after trying to pay a hotel bill with a stolen credit card.

2007: As the first Phil Spector / Lana Clarkson murder trial winds down, the legal teams visit the famed producer's Alhambra mansion in California to take a look at the scene of the crime.

2007: Amy Winehouse cancelled a series of European shows after being admitted to hospital suffering from "severe exhaustion". The 23-year-old singer was taken to University College London Hospital and later discharged. In the past few weeks she had pulled out of the T in the Park festival - also citing "exhaustion", Liverpool's Summer Pops event and concerts in Norway and Denmark.

2007: Baltimore's mayor Sheila Dixon proclaimed today as the city's official 'Frank Zappa Day' citing Zappa's musical accomplishments as well as his defense of the First Amendment to the United States Constitution.

2007: Jennifer Lopez won $545,000 in a case against her first husband who planned to publish a book claiming she had several affairs. Lopez claimed Ojani Noa had violated a previous legal settlement preventing him from revealing private details about their relationship. The star claimed Mr. Noa offered not to publish the book in return for $5 million.

2011: Singer Gavin DeGraw suffered a broken nose and was hospitalized after he was attacked by a group on a New York City street.

2011: Kiss guitarist/vocalist Paul Stanley and wife, Erin, welcomed their fourth child, daughter Emily Grace Stanley.