Some music history and highlights that have happened on January 30th… from the birthplace of the blues… and rock n’ roll.
1911: Jazz trumpeter Roy Eldridge (Gene Krupa and Artie Shaw) born in Pennsylvania.
1928: Tour de force blues singer Ruth Brown born in Portsmouth, Virginia (“Lucky Lips”, “Teardrops From My Eyes”, “(Mama) He Treats Your Daughter Mean”)
1934: Comedian and actor Lou Costello marries burlesque dancer Anne Battler.
1956: Elvis records “Blue Suede Shoes”.
1941: Danny and the Juniors rocker Joe Terranoua born (“At the Hop”).
1942: Jefferson Airplane singer Marty Balin born in Cincinnati.
1951: Singer and drummer Phil Collins born in London.
1959: Elvis gets his 3rd No. 1 U.K. hit single (“I Got Stung” and “One Night”).
1959: Singer, Solid Gold dancer and Shalamar and Chic member Jody Watley (“A Night to Remember” “Second Time Around” “Looking for a New Love”, “Real Love”), born in Chicago.
1961: “I Fall to Pieces” released by Patsy Cline (became Billboard Song of the Year).
1961: The Shirelles hit No. 1 on U.S. charts with “Will You Love Me Tomorrow”?
1964: The Searchers are No. 1 on U.K. charts withe “Needles and Pins.” (Sonny Bono wrote it.)
1965: Singer Shirley Ellis hits No. 3 on U.S. charts with “The Name Game.”
1969: The Beatles play their last live gig, a 42 minute performance on the roof of Apple Corps HQ in London.
1976: Texas bluesman Mance Lipscomb passes on.
1980: Blues singer and pianist Professor Longhair (Henry Roeland Byrd) passes away.
1982: Acclaimed blues pioneer Lightnin’ Hopkins leaves the building.