February 23 in Music History

Today In Oldies Music History: February 23

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Births

1944: Johnny Winter
1944: Mike Maxfield (Billy J. Kramer and The Dakotas)
1946: Rusty Young (Poco)
1950: Steve Priest (Sweet)
1952: Brad Whitford (Aerosmith)

Deaths

1995: Melvin Franklin (The Temptations)
2004: Don Cornell
2007: Donnie Brooks

Events

1927: The Federal Radio Commission, later the Federal Communications Commission or FCC, is created by US President Calvin Coolidge to regulate the new broadcast industry.

1961: Petula Clark reaches the top of the UK charts for the first time with her single "Sailor."
1964: A big day for the Beatles In America. The group plays several songs and participates in several comedy skits for ABC-TV's variety series Big Night Out, while over on CBS, Ed Sullivan broadcasts a performance recorded for the show on February 9, making the Beatles the first act to ever appear on The Ed Sullivan Show three times. On the same day, the band makes the cover of Newsweek.
1965: The Beatles begin filming for their second film, Help!, in the Bahamas.
1970: 5th Dimension guest star more or less as themselves on tonight's "To Sing a Song of Murder" episode of ABC-TV's drama series It Takes A Thief.
1970: Canada holds the first annual Juno Awards under that name.
1970: Ringo Starr makes the first solo TV appearance of a Beatle when he appears on NBC's Laugh-In.
1972: Backstage at Elvis Presley's final Vegas show of his latest engagement, wife Priscilla informs him that she's been seeing karate master Mike Stone, whom Elvis introduced to her.

The King is furious. The next day, she moves out of Elvis' California home.
1974: Led Zeppelin decide on a name for their new, artist-owned record label: Swan Song.
1977: A judge denies The Isley Brothers royalties for their 1969 smash "It's Your Thing," recorded while still at Motown but issued on the Buddah label.
1978: At tonight's Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, The Eagles win two awards: Record Of The Year (the song "Hotel California") and Best Vocal Arrangement ("New Kid In Town") Best album honors, however, go to Fleetwood Mac for Rumors.
1982: At tonight's Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, Marvin Gaye wins his very first awards: two for the comeback single "Sexual Healing."
1985: Stevie Wonder is among the anti-apartheid protesters arrested in front of Washington DC's South African Embassy, but is soon released.
1989: Isaac Hayes is sentenced to by an Atlanta judge for failing to pay his ex-wife over $346,000 in alimony and child support, but is released upon making a $22,000 down payment.
1993: At tonight's Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, Little Richard is honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award.
2002: The Bee Gees play what turns out to be their final show as a trio, at Miami Beach's Love and Hope Ball.
1993: At tonight's Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, Simon and Garfunkel are honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award; they perform together for the first time since their 1983 Central Park concert.
2003: The British tabloid News Of The World claims that Michael Jackson has had a number of painful skin operations to peel his skin white.
2005: The late Ray Charles' last album, Genius Loves Company, hits #1 on US record charts.
2010: The British Culture Ministry declares London's Abbey Road studios a historic site.

Releases

1963: The Chiffons, "He's So Fine"

Recording

1937: Bing Crosby, "Sweet Leilani"
1957: Elvis Presley: "Don't Leave Me Now," "I Beg Of You," "One Night," "True Love," "I Need You So"
1967: The Beatles, "Lovely Rita"

Charts

1963: Ruby and the Romantics' "Our Day Will Come" enters the charts

Certifications

1970: The Doors' LP Morrison Hotel is certified gold