1940
Dash Crofts of Seals & Crofts is born in Cisco, Texas. The group has three top 10 hits, all of which reach No. 6: "Summer Breeze" in 1972, "Diamond Girl" in 1973 and "Get Closer" in 1976.
Seals & Crofts "Summer Breeze" ABC In Concert 1974

1941
David Crosby is born David Van Courtland in Los Angeles. He is a member of the Byrds, then teams up with Stephen Stills and Graham Nash to form Crosby, Stills & Nash in 1968. The group wins the best new artist Grammy in 1969 and are dubbed by some as "the American Beatles." CSN’s two top 10 songs are "Just a Song Before I Go" and "Wasted on the Way."
CSN "Wasted on the Way"

1950
Gary Larson, creator of "The Far Side" is born. I know he has nothing to do with classic hits, but I couldn't resist the opportunity to post a "Far Side" comic.

1956
A Washington D.C. DJ, Bob Rickman, creates the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Elvis Presley. Much of the national coverage of the singer has been critical, as evidenced by the many headlines which refer to him as a hillbilly.

1958
Elvis Presley's mother, Gladys, dies of a heart attack due to liver complications at age 42.

1965
The McCoys' "Hang On Sloopy" is released.
The McCoys "Hang On Sloopy"

1966
London's Catholic Herald calls John Lennon's apology for his remark about the Beatles being more popular than Jesus Christ "arrogant." However the publication admits, as Lennon asserted, it's probably true.

1967
No. 1 Hit: "All You Need Is Love," The Beatles. The group's manager, Brian Epstein, dies of an accidental drug overdose while the song is No. 1. "All You Need Is Love" is written by Lennon/McCartney and is first performed by The Beatles on Our World, the first ever live global television link. Broadcast to 26 countries and watched by 350 million people, the program is broadcast via satellite on June 25, 1967. The BBC commissioned The Beatles to write a song for the UK's contribution and "All You Need Is Love" is the result. It is among the most famous and significant songs performed by the group.
The Beatles "All You Need Is Love"

1970
Singer Stephen Stills is arrested on cocaine possession charges at a motel in La Jolla, California. He was released on $2,500 bail.

1971
Rod Stewart released "Maggie May."
Rod Stewart & Faces "Maggie May"

1974
Paul Anka's "You're Having My Baby," is gold despite its denouncement by feminists. The objection is the use of the word "my" as in "my baby", not "our baby." It is Number One by the end of the summer.

1976
The Steve Miller Band's "Rock 'N Me" is released.
Steve Miller Band "Rock 'N Me" City Stages 2007

1985
Michael Jackson outbids Paul McCartney and Yoko Ono, at $47.5 million, to obtain catalog rights to 250 songs written by John Lennon and McCartney.

1988
Guitarist Roy Buchanan dies after hanging himself in a jail in Fairfax, Virginia.
Roy Buchanan "Hey Joe"

1989
Bon Jovi's New Jersey LP becomes the first U.S. album to be released legally in the Soviet Union. The Russian label Melodiya pays the group with a truckload of firewood since rubles can't leave Russia.
Bon Jovi "Lay Your Hands on Me"

1991
Tony Orlando and wife Francine's first child, Jenny Rose, is born in Los Angeles.

1992
The Platters' lead singer Tony Williams dies from diabetes and emphysema at age 64.

1992
Wayne Newton files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. The singer, a former owner of the Alladin Hotel in Las Vegas, is one of the highest paid performers on the Vegas strip.
Wayne Newton "Danke Schoen"

1995
Members of the Grateful Dead meet and decide to cancel their fall tour in the wake of Jerry Garcia's death.

1998
A Virginia judge issues three arrest warrants for Wu-Tang member Ol’ Dirty Bastard, a.k.a. Big Baby Jesus - one for each of the scheduled court dates that the rapper skipped. The dates are in relation to an earlier shoplifting charge.

1998
Former Soviet president Mikhail Gorbachev is among the 15,000 visitors at the 10th Popkomm music fair. Gorbachev promotes the album Russian Memories by Ermitage, a.k.a. Munich-based Hungarian composer Leslie Mandoki. Sales of the CD benefit Gorbachev’s Green Cross charity, which supports humanitarian and ecological projects.

1998
PBS premiers a documentary on Robbie Robertson’s Indian heritage. Robbie Robertson: Making A Noise - A Native American Musical Journey features tracks from the artist’s current Capitol release, Contact From The Underworld of Redboy, as well as footage of him in concert and in the studio. Robertson, who earlier in the year was presented with a Lifetime Achievement award at the first Native American Music Awards, is a tireless advocate of American Indian rights.
Robbie Robertson "Making a Noise" from the 1998 NAMMY Awards (Hey look, it's Wayne Newton again...that guy sure gets around.)

1999
In an unprecedented show of popularity, popsters Backstreet Boys sell all 765,000 tickets for their North American tour in just one day, generating an estimated $30 million. Tickets for the 11-week, 39-city arena tour sell out as soon as they go on sale - the vast majority within an hour.

1999
The Red Hot Chili Peppers perform with local Russian artists during a free music festival in Moscow’s Red Square. The "MTV Live With the Red Hot Chili Peppers" event marks the first time the band has performed in Russia.

1999
Tracy Byrd and his band The Only Way to Fly are on hand to entertain at the Republican Party of Iowa Straw Poll in Ames, Iowa. At the invitation of Texas Governor George W. Bush, Byrd and band play country music for Bush supporters outside the Hilton Coliseum.

2002
Drowning Pool vocalist Dave Williams is found dead in his bunk on the band’s tour bus. Despite speculation that the 30-year-old singer’s death was alcohol or drug related, a later toxicology report confirms that he died of a heart problem.

2003
Stone Temple Pilots/Velvet Revolver frontman Scott Weiland is sentenced to three years probation in Pasadena, Calif., following a May arrest on two felony drug possession charges.

2004
Jam-band juggernaut Phish begins its two-day Coventry festival. It is the band's plan to have Coventry be their last show.

August 14 Birthdays

• Ernest Thayer 1863
• John Galsworthy 1867
• Russell Baker 1925
• Buddy Greco 1926
• Alice Ghostly 1926
• John Brodie 1935
• Dash Crofts (Seals and Crofts) 1940
• David Crosby 1941
• Connie Smith 1941
• Robyn Smith Astaire 1944
• Steve Martin 1945
• Antonio Fargas 1946
• Susan St. James 1946
• Larry Graham (Sly and the Family Stone) 1946
• Danielle Steel 1947
• Gary Larson 1950 - Creator of "The Far Side"
• Terry Adams (NRBQ) 1950
• Debbie Meyer 1952
• James Horner 1953
• Jackee Harry 1956
• Earvin "Magic" Johnson (NBA) 1959
• Susan Olsen 1961
• Emanuelle Beart 1965
• Halle Berry 1968
• Catherine Bell 1968
• Smilin' Ted 1969
• Mila Kunis 1983

What others are saying

There are no comments yet. Be the first to post one!