Eagle Classic Hitstory July 4 on birminghamseagle.com

On This Day in Eagle Classic Hitstory...

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July 4

1900
The great Louis Armstrong is born. Learn more about Satchmo.

1938
Singer/songwriter Bill Withers is born in Slab Fork, W.Va. Bill's smooth soulful sound tops the charts with hits such as "Lean On Me," "Use Me Up," and "Ain't No Sunshine." It's your day, Bill, and I know I know I know I know I know I know I know I know I know I know I know I know I know I know I know I know I know I know I know I know I know I know I know I know I know I know we all wish you a very happy birthday.

1952
Singer John Waite is born and will actually be a baby all over again about 25 years later. What?

1964
The Rolling Stones' "Tell Me" is released.

1964
Billboard magazine says Beatles manager Brian Epstein claims the group's U.S. tour (August 19-September 20) is a sell-out.

1967
Tom Jones appears on the first telecast of CBS-TV’s Spotlight summer musical variety series. POP QUIZ: Look to the right. Is that David Hasselhoff or Tom Jones? If you said Davey Jones, you're half right.

1969
Grand Funk Railroad peforms at the Atlanta Pop Festival in Hampton, Georgia. Capitol Records sees the band at the show and later signs the band to a record deal.
Grand Funk "American Band"

1971
Donald McPherson dies of leukemia at the age of 30. He was the lead singer and founder of the Main Ingredient. McPherson would be replaced by Cuba Gooding and The Main Ingredient would have the biggest hit next year, "Everybody Plays The Fool." It goes up to #3.

1972
Willie Nelson inaugurates his annual "Fourth of July Picnic." Dripping Springs, Texas.

1976
Elton John and Kiki Dee's "Don't Go Breaking My Heart" is released.

1980
The Beach Boys give a free outdoor performance to an estimated 500,000 people in Washington.

1981
Willie Nelson hosts his annual 4th of July picnic. However the usual place since 1973, Dripping Springs, Texas is vacant because Nelson is at Caesar's Palace in Vegas.

1982
Diana Ross kicks off her first world solo tour with a concert at Giants Stadium in the Meadowlands.

1982
Ozzy Osbourne marries manager Sharon Arden.

1987
"The July Fourth Disarmament Festival" in the Soviet Union features the Doobie Brothers, Santana, Bonnie Raitt, and Soviet music groups.

1990
The rap group 2 Live Crew releases the single "Banned in the U.S.A." with the blessing of "Born in the U.S.A." creator Bruce Springsteen. The song, which racks up 2 million advance orders, is in part a response to anti-obscenity groups that have targeted the rappers.

1995
At Lollapalooza in George, Wash., Courtney Love belts Bikini Kill singer Kathleen Hanna. Charged with assault, Love receives a suspended one-year sentence and is required to take courses in anger management.

1995
The Ramones release Adios Amigos. It's speculated to be the band's last album ever.

1999
Sir Elton John, 52, collapses. Tests show that he has an irregular heartbeat. John soon has a pacemaker fitted at a London hospital.

1999
Trisha Yearwood is the featured performer for the Boston Pops' annual Independence Day concert, "Pops Goes the 4th."

2006
Target is the exclusive U.S. retailer for Ziggy Marley’s second solo album, Love Is My Religion, via Tuff Gong Worldwide. The deal marks Marley’s first independent release without employing the traditional larger label infrastructure, as well as Target’s first one-to-one agreement with an artist.