Today in Music History: David Lee Roth leaves Van Halen, Bruce Hornsby and the Range release The Way It Is

1955 – George Martin becomes the head of A&R for EMI’s Parlophone label.

1956 – Elvis Presley is given his first screen test at Paramount Studios in Hollywood for the role of Jimmy Curry in The Rainmaker.

1963 – Fats Domino signs with ABC-Paramount after his contract with Imperial ends.

1964 – John Lennon is reunited with his father after 17 years.

1966 – The first single under the name David Bowie is released for the song “Do Anything You Say.” The song is performed by The Buzz with Bowie as the lead singer.

1966 – The Troggs record “Wild Thing” at Regent Sound Studio in London, which becomes a #1 hit in June the following year. The track is recorded in one complete take (take two).

1970 – The Woodstock movie premieres in Hollywood.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xn5pWd0vJeI

1975 – The Bay City Rollers TV series Shang-A-Lang premieres on ITV in the UK.

1976 – The Buzzcocks play their debut live gig when they appear at Bolton Institute Of Technology. The power is turned off after three songs.

1978 – The Philadelphia Fury soccer team – owned by Paul Simon, Peter Frampton, James Taylor, and others – makes its debut. it lasts three seasons.

1984 – Marvin Gaye is shot and killed by his father at his parent’s home in Los Angeles, California when he tries to intervene in an argument between them over misplaced business documents. Marvin Jr. had given his father the gun just four months prior. Charges of first-degree murder are dropped after doctors discover Marvin Sr. has a brain tumor, and he is sentenced to six years of probation after pleading guilty to manslaughter.

1985 – David Lee Roth leaves Van Halen to pursue a solo career shortly after releasing his version of The Beach Boys’ “California Girls” featuring Carl Wilson. He is replaced by Sammy Hagar later in the year.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5GMoLENWsSk

1986 – Bruce Hornsby and the Range release The Way It Is, an album that produces four hits and is certified multi-platinum.

2007 – Alanis Morissette releases a tongue-in-cheek cover of The Black Eyed Peas’ “My Humps.” The accompanying YouTube video receives over 15 million views.

2008 – Scott Weiland officially departs Velvet Revolver.

2014 – Recordings by U2 (The Joshua Tree), the Everly Brothers (“Cathy’s Clown”), Jeff Buckley (“Hallelujah”), Linda Ronstadt (Heart Like a Wheel), and Creedence Clearwater Revival (“Fortunate Son”) are among those newly selected for induction to the Library of Congress National Recording Registry.

Birthdays

1932 : Debbie Reynolds

1939 : Rudolph Isley (The Isley Brothers)

1943 : Phil Margo (The Tokens)

1944 : Ronnie Lane (The Small Faces, The Faces)

1945 : John Barbata (Jefferson Airplane)

1948 : Jimmy Cliff

1954 : Jeff Porcaro (Toto)

1961 : Mark White (ABC)

Information for this post was gathered from This Day in Music, The Music History Calendar, On This Day, and Wikipedia.