1945
Gary Lewis (Gary Levitch) of Gary Lewis & the Playboys is born in New York. The group's only No. 1 song is the million-selling "This Diamond Ring" in 1965.
Gary Lewis & The Playboys "This Diamond Ring"

1946
Guitarist Bob Welch, a member of Fleetwood Mac from 1971 to 1974, is born in Los Angeles.
Awkward Interview + "Ebony Eyes" Bob Welch/Stevie Nicks

1956
Elvis Presley is given a ticket for speeding in Hattiesburg, Miss. Some days it just doesn't pay to be The King.

1958
Bill Berry, guitarist and vocalist for R.E.M., is born.

1959
Neil Sedaka records "Oh! Carol." The song, written for Carole King, later peaks at No. 9 on the singles chart.

1963
Norman Cook, aka that guy in the Housemartins aka Beats International aka Freak Power aka Pizzaman aka Fatboy Slim, is born in Bromley, England.

1964
Another Rolling Stones concert and another riot is provoked. However, this time the show in Belfast, Northern Ireland is stopped after only 12 minutes.

1964
Martha & the Vandellas release "Dancing in the Street," which later goes to No. 2.
Martha & The Vandellas "Dancing in the Street"

1964
Country music singer Jim Reeves dies at age 39 in a plane crash near Nashville, Tenn., along with his manager, Dean Manuel. Reeves' hits include "Welcome to My World'' and "He'll Have to Go."

1965
In England, the Yardbirds with Jeff Beck perform at the Cleethorpes Jazz Festival.

1965
Cream play their first gig in Windsor, England.
Cream "Sunshine of Your Love"

1966
In Birmingham, Ala., a Beatles record-burning session is held to protest John Lennon's "bigger than Jesus" remark.
"Bigger Than Jesus" Controversy

1967
After a public outcry, a London Appeals Court throws out Keith Richards' drug conviction of last month, describing the evidence against him as flimsy. At the same time, the court reduced Mick Jagger's sentence on a related conviction to conditional discharge with probation. Chief Justice Lord Parker admonishes Jagger to remember his responsibilities as a pop idol. The Stones record "We Love You" to commemorate the event.
The Rolling Stones "We Love You"

1968
The Beatles record "Hey Jude.'' It tops the chart for nine weeks, making it the megagroup's biggest hit.
The Beatles "Hey Jude" Rehearsal

1969
A day before beginning his reputation-making stand at Las Vegas' International Hotel, Elvis Presley plays a private concert for press and friends like Wayne Newton, Dick Clark, and Burt Bacharach.

1969
A Moscow police chief reports that thousands of Moscow telephone booths have been made inoperable by thieves who have stolen phone parts in order to convert their acoustic guitars to electric.

1970
John Lennon's ex-wife, Cynthia, marries Roberto Bassanini.

1970
To fill a contractual obligation, the Rolling Stones hand over the disc, "C***sucker Blues" to Decca Records. They are now free to form Rolling Stones Records.

1971
The second night of the Who's first of two '71 U.S. tours is marked with tragedy when a 22 year old security guard is stabbed at New York's Forest Hills Stadium.

1971
James Taylor's "You've Got A Friend" hits #1 on the chart.
James Taylor with Carole King "You've Got a Friend"

1971
Bob Dylan appears at George Harrison's Concert for Bangladesh at Madison Square Garden. It's his only major live appearance this year.
Bob Dylan "A Hard Rain's Gonna Fall" Concert for Bangladesh 1971

1971
Pink Floyd leave England to set out on their first tour of the Far East.

1971
Big day in Stones history: At London's Rialto cinema, the documentary Gimme Shelter premieres. The film includes footage from the infamous concert at Altamont.
Gimme Shelter Excerpt

1972
The group Chicago receives a gold record for its first number one album, Chicago V. One of the songs,"Saturday in the Park," reaches number three in September.
Chicago "Saturday in the Park" Live 1972

1976
Blue Oyster Cult's "Don't Fear The Reaper" and Orleans' "Still The One" are released.

1978
No. 1 Hit: "Miss You,'' The Rolling Stones. The song is the band's eighth No. 1 single.
The Rolling Stones "Miss You"

1979
James Taylor plays a free concert in New York's Central Park to help the city's campaign to restore the park's Sheep Meadow.

1980
John Phillips, leader of the Mamas and Papas, is arrested by the FBI for possession of cocaine. He is sentenced to five years in prison but lectures against drugs for 250 hours as an alternate sentence.

1981
Debbie Harry, lead singer of the 1970's new wave group Blondie, releases a solo album, Koo Koo. It includes a controversial picture of the singer with long needles penetrating her cheeks.

1984
Eric Clapton leaves Roger Waters' Pros and Cons of Hitch Hiking tour in Canada after two weeks. Probably got tired of hearing about Pink Floyd.

1995
Selling 331,000 copies, Selena's Dreaming of You, her first English album, debuts at No. 1. The slain Tejano singer becomes the first Latin artist ever to debut at No. 1.

1999
Ol' Dirty Bastard is arrested on charges of possession of 20 vials of crack cocaine.

2003
Death Row founder Suge Knight is sentenced to 10 months in prison after being found guilty by his parole board of punching a parking valet.

2004
Simon & Garfunkel wrap up the European leg of their reunion tour with a free gig at Rome's Coliseum that attracts 600,000 fans.

July 31 Birthdays

• S.S. Kresge 1867
• George Liberace 1911
• Milton Friedman 1912
• Bryan Hextall 1913
• William Todman 1913
• Hank Jones 1918
• Curt Gowdy 1919
• Hank Bauer 1922
• Don Murray 1929
• Kenny Burrell 1931
• Geoffrey Lewis 1935
• France Nuyen 1939
• John West (Gary Lewis and the Playboys) 1939
• Lobo 1943
• Susan Flannery 1943
• Sherry Lansing 1944
• Geraldine Chaplin 1944
• Bob Welch (Fleetwood Mac) 1946
• Gary Lewis (Gary Lewis and the Playboys) 1946
• Karl Green (Herman's Hermits) 1947
• Barry Van Dyke 1951
• Evonne Goolagong 1951
• Alan Autry 1952
• James Read 1953
• Bill Berry (R.E.M.) 1956
• Daniel Ash (Bauhaus, Tones On Tail, Love and Rockets) 1957
• Wesley Snipes 1962
• Norman Cook (Housemartins) 1963
• Dean Cain 1966
• Loren Dean 1969
• Robert Telfer 1977

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