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January 21

1936   New Orleans guitarist Snooks Eaglin is born.
1941   Richie Havens born in Bed-Stuy NYC.

Classical tenor (one of three) Placido Domingo is born.

1942   Edwin Starr (Charles Hatcher) born in Nashville

Mac Davis Born in Lubbock, TX.

1947   Jimmy Ibbotson, guitarist and keyboards for NItty Gritty Dirt Band born.

Pye Hastings of Caravan is born.

1948   Peter Kircher of Status Quo is born.
1950   Smooth R&B/pop singer Billy "Caribbean Queen" Ocean is born.
1955   Smooth pop also rules on the UK's New Musical Express top 20 single charts, the song "Mr. Sandman" appears by four different artists. This unprecedented phenomenon is experienced by the Chordettes, Max Bygraves, the Four Aces and Dickie Valentine.
1956   Rock Around The Clock by Bill Haley and the Comets becomes the first Rock'n'Roll albums to make the US charts.

The single Tutti Frutti marks the first song by Little Richard to make the US charts.

1959   Vic Reeves is born.
1961   Film producer Hal Wallis signs singer Elvis Presley to a five year contract. The film-a-year gimmick manufactures a good "Elvis" out of the evil rock'n'roll namesake, effectively ending Presley's career as a singer.
1966   George Harrison marries Patricia Ann Boyd an extra who played a schoolgirl fan in, A Hard Day's Night. Eric Clapton was also infatuated, expressing his love for Boyd in his song "Layla" which he recorded with his group Derek & the Dominos. Patti broke George's heart when she left him to marry Eric in '79.

Wendy James of Transvision Vamp born.

1967   Representing the US? - The Velvet Underground and chanteuse Nico begin a week long stint at Montreal's Expo '67.
1982   Ex DJ & blues guitarist B.B. King donates his collection of 7,000 records to the University of Mississippi. (or was it the U. of Minnesota, to the Southern Culture Study Center?)
1984   Jackie Wilson dies at New Jersey nursing home at the age of 49. He had been in a coma since suffering a stroke in 1975.
1987   Second Annual Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame induction held In New York City. Attendees are served mashed potatoes and oreo cookies. Inductees Are: Aretha Franklin, Smokey Robinson, Marvin Gaye, Bo Diddley, B.B. King, Muddy Waters, Clyde McPhatter, Jackie Wilson, Big Joe Turner, Roy Orbison, Ricky Nelson, Eddie Cochran, The Coasters, Bill Haley, Carl Perkins.
1988   U2 grosses $35 million on their US tour, setting a performance record at the time.
1989   Steve Wahrer, drummer of the Trashman and vocalizer who rasped, "The Bird Is The Word," dies of throat cancer at age 47.
1992   Champion Jack Dupree dies.
1995   After 'abusing' a Quantas flight attendant, Courtney Love is arrested, strip searched and interrogated when she deplanes in Melbourne. She's fined £245 and has to put up a bond to be on "good behavior" for one month.
1997   58 year old Irwin Levine dies in Livingston, NJ. Levin, along with partner Larry Brown penned "Tie A Yellow Ribbon Round the Old Oak Tree." While the best known version was performed by Tony Orlando, this song was the second most performed song in history behind the Beatles, "Yesterday". It also spouted a country load of yellow ribbons as the theme song for the Iranian Hostage Crisis in America from 1979-81.
  Chris Britton of the Troggs born (year unknown to us).