Eagle Classic Hitstory August 18 on birminghamseagle.com

On This Day in Eagle Classic Hitstory...

August 18

1956
Elvis Presley's "Hound Dog" enters the R&B chart at #11. Peacock records releases Big Mama Thornton's original version the same day. It was an R&B Number One for Thornton in 1953.
Elvis Presley "Hound Dog" Milton Berle Show 1956

1956
Little Willie John's original version of "Fever" enters the pop charts at #24. The song will be a big hit for both the McCoys and Peggy Lee.
Peggy Lee "Fever"

1958
No. 1 Hit: "Volare (Nel Blu Dipinto Di Blu)," Domenico Modugno. It is the only chart-topping record to originate in Italy.
Domenico Modugno "Volare"

1962
Ringo Starr makes his first appearance as a Beatle at a Cavern Club gig.

1962
Peter, Paul & Mary's "If I Had A Hammer" is released.
Peter, Paul, & Mary "If I Had a Hammer"

1964
No. 1 Hit: "Where Did Our Love Go," The Supremes. It is the group's first hit.

1970
No. 1 Hit: "Make It with You," Bread.
Bread "Make It with You"

1973
The Doobie Brothers' "China Grove" is released.
The Doobie Brothers "China Grove" 1973

1977
Funeral services for Elvis Presley are held at Graceland. Inside are 150 mourners, outside are 75,000. Presley was entombed in a white marble mausoleum at Forest Hill Cemetary in Memphis near the grave of his mother, Gladys.
Elvis Presley's Funeral courtesy of the BBC Archive

1977
The Police play their first gig without original guitarist Henri Padovani at Rebecca’s Club in Birmingham, England. The Police were originally formed by Sting (Gordon Sumner), Stewart Copeland, and Henri Padovani. A fourth member, Andy Summers, joined later as a second guitarist. Padovani left the band soon thereafter, leaving The Police, once again, a trio. It is this trio which delivered such pop hits as "Every Breath You Take," "Can't Stand Losing You," and "Roxanne."
The Police - A Brief History

1979
British rocker Nick Lowe and U.S. rock singer Carlene Carter are wed in Los Angeles. She is the step daughter of Johnny Cash.
Nick Lowe "Cruel To Be Kind"

1981
The Moody Blues come together to record their ninth L.P., Long Distance Voyager. It goes gold. The band leaves on a major tour.
The Moody Blues "Gemini Dream"

1984
Motley Crue gives its performance debut at the Monsters of Rock festival at Castle Donington, England.
Motley Interview 1984

1986
Bon Jovi releases its Slippery When Wet album.
Bon Jovi "Let It Rock" Live 1986

1991
Musician Billy Preston was arrested in Los Angeles after a 16 year old boy reported being sexually attacked.
Billy Preston "Nothing from Nothing"

1992
Nirvana's Kurt Cobain and Hole's Courtney Love become parents to daughter Frances Bean.

1995
Security guards carry a sobbing Courtney Love offstage after she begins fighting with Hole fans because they aren't cheering loudly enough during the last night of the Lollapalooza tour in Mountain View, Calif. Yes, she is very, very serious about her self-esteem.

1997
Joe Diffie joins with Tower Records and America Online for the first "virtual instore." Diffie chats and holds a "virtual autograph session" during which fans can receive a virtual autograph via Diffie's electronic writing pad.

1997
The Rolling Stones announce the plans for their upcoming "Bridges To Babylon" tour in grand style. The band rolls up to the Brooklyn Bridge in New York in a red '55 Cadillac with Mick at the wheel.
Rolling Stones "Saint of Me"

1999
It is announced that Spin Doctors' lead singer Chris Barron has been diagnosed with a rare paralysis of his vocal chords. Doctors indicate that he may never regain the full use of his voice.
Spin Doctors "Jimmy Olsen's Blues" (fan-made video)

2000
Chicago bluesman and APO Records artist Jimmie Lee Robinson starts a "hunger fast" in an effort to stop the University Of Illinois At Chicago’s (UIC) south campus expansion plans in the city’s Maxwell Street district, often cited as the birthplace of Chicago blues.
Jimmie Lee Robinson sings on the news for Maxwell Street

2004
Academy Award-winning film composer Elmer Bernstein dies in his sleep at his Ojai, Calif. home after a long illness. He is 82.
Elmer Bernstein This Is Your Life