August 1, 1958
The Teddy Bears ballad, “To Know Him Is To Love Him” (#1 Pop, #10 R&B) was released. It started the producing/writing career of vocal member Phil Spector.
1960 – 18 year old Aretha Franklin recorded her first secular songs singing with Columbia Records. She began recording Gospel music at 14.
Top Single:
“Image Of A Girl” The Safaris #6 1960 “A Hard Day’s Night” The Beatles #1 1964
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August 2, 2001
Ron Townson of the Grammy-winning pop group the 5th Dimension died at his home in Las Vegas. Townson and his childhood friend LaMonte McLemore formed a doo wop singing group in 1965 that they called The Versatiles. Soon after they were renamed the 5th Dimension at the suggestion of Townson’s wife.
1973 – Mama’s & Papa’s leader John Phillips sued the groups old label, Dunhill Records for 9 million dollars claiming “systematic theft” of royalties.
Top Single:
“Cupid/I’ve Loved You For A Long Time” The Spinners #4 1980
“One Of These Nights” #1 1975
Top Single:
Edward Patten (Gladys Knight & The Pips) 1939 Doris Kenner (The Shirelles) Kathy Lennon (The Lennon Sisters)
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August 3, 1963
The Beatles last performance at Liverpool’s Cavern Club.
Top Single:
“So Much In Love” The Tymes #1 1963
Top Single:
Beverly Lee (The Shirelles) 1941
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August 4, 1937
The legendary Golden Gate Quartet recorded an amazing 14 songs in 2 hours at the Charlotte Hotel in Charlotte, North Carolina.
1958 – Billboard’s “Hot 100” singles chart was born.
Top Single:
“A Casual Look” The Six Teen #9 R&B 1956 “My Prayer” The Platters #1 1956
Top Single:
Elsberry Hobbs (The Drifters) 1936 Big Dee Irwin (The Pastels) 1939
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August 5, 1952
The 5 Royales recorded “You Know, I Know”, their 2nd of a career 51 singles. The also recorded 2 songs as the gospel group The Royal Sons Quartet the same day.
1957 – Dick Clark’s American Bandstand debuted on National Television (ABC)
Top Single:
“To The Aisle” The Five Satins #6 R&B 1957 “Light My Fire” The Doors #1 1967
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August 6, 1956
Filming began on Alan Freed’s classic flick “Rock, Rock, Rock” featuring Frankie Lymon & The Teenagers, The Flamingos, The Moonglows, LaVern Baker and Chuck Berry.
Top Single:
“Ain’t To Proud To Beg” The Temptations #1 R&B 1966
Top Single:
Judy Craig (The Chiffons) 1946 Randy DeBarge (DeBarge) 1958
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August 7, 1954
The Harptones “Why Should I Love You”, The Mellows “How Sentimental can I Be” and New York Giants baseball Hall of famer Willie Mays with The Treniers “say Hey” were issued.
1966 – Roy Orbison Began work on the soundtrack and film “The fastest Gun Alive” which became his only motion picture. His role was originally intended for Elvis.
Top Single:
“Pretty Little Angel Eyes” Curtis Lee & The Halos #7 1961
“How Can You Mend A Broken Heart” The Bee Gees #1 1971
Top Single:
Herb Reed (The Platters) 1931
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August 8, 1953
The Flamingos second 45, “That’s My Desire” was issued and became Billboards “Buy of the Week” breaking in New York, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Cleveland, Detroit, St. Louis and Los Angeles.
1970 – Elephants Memory debuted with their only chart single “Mongoose”. They were John Lennon’s backup band in New York.
Top Single:
“I Wanna Love Him So Bad” The Jelly Beans #9 1964
“Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini” Brian Hyland #1 1960
Top Single:
Airrion Love (The Stylistics) 1949
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August 9, 1953
The Drifters recorded their first hit “Money Honey” #1 R&B.
1986 – Janet Jackson breached the best sellers list with “When I Think of You”, the first of seven eventual #1’s for the youngest member of the Jackson family thru 1996.
Top Single:
“Jive Talkin” The Bee Gees #1 1975
Top Single:
Billy Henderson (The Spinners) 1939
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August 10, 1975
Manhattan Transfer began a 4 week run with their own CBS-TV comedy-variety show.
Top Single:
“A Big Hunk Of Love” Elvis Presley #1 1959
August 11, 1962
Formerly known as The Primettes, the newly names Supremes hot the Hot 100 with “Your Heart Belongs To Me”, their first of 47 hits through 1976.
1969 – Diana Ross invited 350 guests to the daisy Club in Beverly Hills to unveil her new discovery, The Jackson Five.
Top Single:
“Stranded In The Jungle” The cadets #4 R&B 1956
“Poor Little Fool” Ricky Nelson #1 1958
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August 12, 1957,
Billy Ward & The Dominoes “One Moment With You” and The Five Keys “face Of AN Angel” were released.
1957 – Buddy Holly & The Crickets immortal “That’ll Be The Day” charted reaching #1. A different version was recorded in July, 1956 and released in September, 1957 as by Buddy Holly & The Three Tunes.
Top Single:
“Please Send Me Someone To Love” The Moonglows #5 R&B 1957
“Light My Fire” The Doors #1 1967
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August 13, 1957
The Five Royals recorded the original version of “Dedicated To The One I Love” which was copied two years later by The Shirelles
Top Single:
“Float On” The floaters #1 R&B 1977
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August 14, 1964
The Ronettes began a 14 city tour in Chicago as the opening act for The Beatles.
1983 – The Teenagers, Frankie Lymon’s group performed on a PBS TV special honoring their former lead who died of a drug overdose in 1968.
Top Single:
“Same Old Song” The Four Tops #7 1965 “Eye Of A Tiger” Survivor
Top Single:
David Crosby (Crosby, Stills & Nash) 1941 Dash Croft (Seals & Croft) 1940
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August 15, 1953
The Prisonaires, five inmates from the Tennessee State Penitentiary had their debut disc, “Just walking In The Rain” issued on Sun records. Lead sinner Johnny Bragg was helped with is diction at that June 1st session by a young would be vocalist who was hanging around. The teen’s name was Elvis Presley.
1965 – The Beatles performed at New York’s Shea Stadium before 56,000 fans, a then current outdoors record. It took over 2000 security personnel to maintain even a semblance of order.
Top Single:
“Finger Poppin Time” Hank Ballard & The Midnighters #7 1960
“It’s Now Or Never” Elvis Presley #1 1960
Top Single:
Bill Pinkney (The Drifters) 1925
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August 16, 1969
The Dells rerecording of their hit “Oh, What A Night” charted 13 years after the original.
1977 – Elvis Presley died at his Graceland mansion in Memphis.
Top Single:
“Falling In Love” Hamilton, Joe Frank & Reynolds #5 1975
“Magic” Olivia Newton-John #1 1980
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August 17, 1969
The Woodstock Festival ended. Performers included Crosby, Stills & Nash, Janis Joplin, Sha Na Na, John Sebastian, Joe Cocker, Joan Baez, Jefferson Airplane, Santana, Richie Havens, Blood, Sweat & Tears, Iron Butterfly and Creedence Clearwater Revival. Over ½ a million attended, three dies, two were born and there were six miscarriages. Not bad for $7.00
Top Single:
“The Night Chicago Died” Paper Lace #1 1974
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August 18, 1958
The Quintones “Down The Aisle Of Love” charted (#18) and The Tokens “Doom Lang” was released. These were not the “hit” Tokens of “Lion Sleeps Tonight” fame who were still a year away from forming.
1962 – Ringo Starr joined The Beatles, consequently their drummer Peter Best was fired.
Top Single:
“Little Star” The Elegants #2 1958 “My Prayer” The Platters #1 1956
Top Single:
Sonny Til (The Orioles) 1928
Nona Hendrix (LaBelle) 1945
Barbara Harris (The Toys) 1945
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August 19, 1957
The Mello-Kings charted with their Doo Wop classic, “Tonite, Tonite” (#77). The record was released by The Mellotones but since there already was a Mellotones, they revised their moniker to Mello-Kings.
1964 – The Beatles first U.S. tour started at San Francisco’s Cow Palace along with The Righteous Brothers.
Top Single:
“Whispering Bells” The Del-Vikings #6 R&B 1957 “Tammy” Debbie Reynolds #1 1957
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August 20, 1954
The Orioles began a weeks engagement at Weeks Café in Atlantic City.
Top Single:
“See you in September” The Happenings #6 1966
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August 21, 1954
The Harptones “I’ll Never Tell” with Bunny Paul on lead was released as was The Singing Wanderers “Say Hey Willie Mays”.
1961 – The Dovells dance hit “The Bristol Stop” was released reaching #2. It was originally released on the “B” side.
Top Single:
“California Girls” The Beach Boys #4 1965 “I Got You Babe” Sonny & Cher #1 1965
Top Single:
Savannah Churchill (The 4 Tunes) 1920 Kenny Rogers (The Scholars) 1938
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August 22, 1953
Collectors rarities by The Diamonds “Two Lovers Have I” and The Charms “Heaven Only Knows” were issued. The buy of the week was The Spaniels “Baby It’s You”, their first 45.
1964 – Martha & The Vandellas “Dancing In The Streets” charted eventually reaching #2.
Top Single:
“Under The Boardwalk” The Drifters #4 1964
“Where Did Our Love Go” The Supremes #1 1964
Top Single:
Fred Milano (The Belmonts) 1939 Ron Dante (The Archies) 1945
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August 23, 1969
Ray, Goodman & Beown’s cpver of The Platters “My Prayer” became their last of 14 Top 100 entries including 11 as The Moments. Lou Christie’s I’m Gonna Make You Mine” charted becoming his last of 3 Top 10 hits.
Top Single:
“Working On A Groovy Thing” The 5th Dimension #20 1969
“Fallin’ In Love” Hamilton, Joe Frank & Reynolds #1 1975
Top Single:
Rudy Lewis (The Drifters) 1936
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August 24, 1968
Topping off his birthday party, Keith Moon (The Who) drove a Lincoln Continental into a Holiday Inn swimming pool in Flint, Michigan.
Top Single:
“(You’re) Having My Baby” Paul Anka #1 1974
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August 25, 1956
The Five Keys “Out Of Sight, Out Of Mind” (#23 Pop #12 R&B), The Channels “The Closer You Are” and The Duponts “Must Be Falling In Love” were released. The Duponts featured 16 year old lead Little Anthony two years before recorded with The Imperials.
1970 – Elton John made his American performance debut at Los Angeles’ Troubadour. He was the opening act for David Ackles.
Top Single:
“My True Love” Jack Scott & The Chantones #5 1958 “Little Star” The Elegants #1 1958
Top Single:
Walter Williams (The O’Jays) 1942
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August 26, 1957
The Shirelles “Baby Oh Baby” (#20) and The Schoolboys “Carol” (#91) were issued.
1964 – The Supremes “Where Did Our Love Go” became their first 31 this week. Before Diana Ross left in 1969, they would have 11 more.
Top Single:
“Reflections” The Supremes #8 1967
“Teddy Bear” Elvis Presley #1 1957
Top Single:
Bob & Dick Cowsill (The Cowsills) 1950
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August 27, 1955
The Four Aces “Love Is A Many Splendid Thing” (#1) charted becoming the quartets 20th of 36 hit between 1951 and 1959.
Top Single:
“You Can’t Hurry Love” The Supremes #7 1966
Top Single:
Harold Lucas (The Clovers) 1932 Valerio “Val” Paliuto (The Jaguars) 1936
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August 28, 1956
Alan Freed’s second anniversary Rock & Roll show at The Brooklyn Paramount featured The Harptones, The Penguins, The Cleftones and Frankie Lymon & The Teenagers.
1973 – Deep Purple received a gold record for “Smoke On The Water”. The song was based on a true incident. While recording in Montreux Switzerland’s Montreux Casino a fire broke out during a Frank Zappa concert. As the structure burned to the ground, smoke could be seen on nearby Lake Geneva and group vocalist Ian Gillan then wrote what he saw.
Top Single:
“How Can You Mend A Broken Heart” The Bee Gees #1 1971
Top Single:
Wayne Osmond (The Osmonds) 1951
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August 29, 1958
Alan Freed’s Brooklyn Fox show featured The Elegants, Cleftones, Danleers, Poni-Tails, Royal Teens and The Olympics. The Show ran for ten days.
1966 – The last Beatles concert took place at Candlestick Park, San Francisco.
Top Single:
“Where Did Our Love Go” The Supremes #1 1964
“It’s Now Or Never” Elvis Presley #1 1960
Top Single:
Michael Jackson (The Jackson 5) 1958 Carl Martin (Shai) 1970
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August 30, 1975
Tony Orlando & Dawn’s “You’re All I Need” charted at #34.
The British Pop-Rock group Jigsaw’s “Sky High” (from the film “The Dragon Flies”) charted on its way to #3 in the U.S. The groups leaders Clive Scott and Des Dyer wrote Bo Donaldson’s 1974 hit “Who Do You Think You Are”
Top Single:
“Beside You” The Swallows #10 R&B 1952
“Honky Tonk Women” The Rolling Stones #1 1969
Top Single:
John Philips (The Mama’s & The Papa’s) 1935
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August 31, 1976
A U.S. Judge ruled George Harrison guilty of “Subconscious Plagiarism” when he lifted The Chiffons “He’s So Fine” melody for his “My Sweet Lord”. Taking advantage of the publicity The Chiffons then recorded their own version of “My Sweet Lord”.
Top Single:
“My Boyfriends Back” The Angels #1 1963
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