Today in History:
1910 – At its second conference, members of the Niagara Movement and National Negro Committee chose the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) as the name for their merged organizations and elected its first officers.
1911 – Nearly 80,000 spectators were on hand at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indiana to cheer the field of 40 entrants in the first running of the Indianapolis Sweepstakes automobile race, later re-named the Indianapolis 500. Ray Harroun was declared the winner, piloting a Marmon Model 32-based Wasp racer outfitted with his invention, the rear view mirror. Harroun’s average speed was 74.59 miles per hour.
1922 – In Washington, DC, the Lincoln Memorial was dedicated in a ceremony attended by U.S. President Warren G. Harding and Lincoln’s only surviving son, 79-year-old Robert Todd Lincoln.
1956 – TIME magazine printed an article entitled “Teener’s Hero,” which tried to explain Elvis Presley’s mystique. After a drawn-out description of his singing style, the writer said of Presley’s appeal: “his movements suggest, in a word, sex.”
1958 – At Arlington National Cemetery, the remains of two unidentified U.S. servicemen killed in action during the Korean War and World War II were buried at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
1960 – Brenda Lee released the single “I’m Sorry” b/w “That’s All You Gotta Do.”
1964 – The Rolling Stones’ first album – with a slightly different track list from the UK version that came out a month earlier – was released in the U.S. under the title “England’s Newest Hit Makers.”
1966 – Dolly Parton and Carl Dean were married.
1966 – The Beatles released the single “Paperback Writer” b/w “Rain” in North America.
1968 – The Beatles began recording what became known as the “White Album,” the first Beatles album released by their Apple label.
1969 – The Beatles released “The Ballad Of John And Yoko.” The song was recorded without George Harrison, who was on vacation, and Ringo Starr, who was filming “The Magic Christian.”
1970 – Major league baseball All-Star voting was returned to the fans after a dozen years of having the starting lineups picked by players, coaches and managers.
1973 – George Harrison released his third solo studio album, “Living In The Material World.”
1975 – Alice Cooper’s “Welcome To My Nightmare” album was certified Gold.
1989 – Student demonstrators erected the 33-foot high Goddess of Democracy statue in Beijing’s Tiananmen Square.
1996 – Britain’s Prince Andrew and the former Sarah Ferguson ended their 10-year marriage as they were granted an uncontested decree of divorce.
2009 – Comedian/actor/author/musician Steve Martin made his Grand Ole Opry debut, performing tunes from his album “The Crow: New Songs For The Five-String Banjo.”
Today’s Birthdays:
1896 Howard Hawks – American director and producer (Rio Bravo, Scarface), born in Goshen, Indiana (d. 1977)
1899 – Irving Thalberg, American film producer (MGM) – born in Booklyn, New York (d. 1936)
1908 – Mel Blanc – American voice actor – comedian best known for his Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies cartoons (Bugs Bunny, Elmer Fudd & Porky Pig), born in San Francisco, California (d. 1989)
1909 – Benny Goodman – The “King of Swing” and most popular figure of the early Swing Era bandleaders, clarinetist, film actor (playing himself), died from a heart attack on 6/13/1986, age 77
1927 – Norman “Clint” Walker – American actor (Kodiak, Cheyenne, Dirty Dozen), born in Hartford, Illinois (d. 2018)
1928 – Herb Oscar Anderson / (Herbert Oscar Anderson) – Beloved, crooning Top 40 music radio DJ, member of the “Swingin’ 7” team of announcers on world-famous WABC-am in New York City during the 60s, left when 60s pop turned to 70s harder rock, continued to host music radio programs in different markets, including a weekly show on a Vero Beach, Florida station until his death from kidney failure on 1/29/2017, age 88
1936 – Keir Dullea – actor (2001, 2010, David & Lisa), born in Cleveland, Ohio
1939 – Michael J Pollard [Pollack] – American character actor (Bonnie & Clyde; Roxanne), born in Passaic, New Jersey (d. 2019)
1943 – Gale Sayers – American College and Pro Football Hall of Fame halfback, 4X Pro Bowl, 2X NFL rushing leader (Chicago Bears), and source for the TV movie “Brian’s Song”, born in Wichita, Kansas (d, 2020)
1944 – Lenny Davidson – Guitarist and vocals for British Invasion pop-rock Dave Clark Five, “Catch Us If You Can” (#4, 1965) and 11 other Top 25 hits in the US
1944 – Gladys Horton – Founder and lead vocals for Motown pop-soul girl group The Marvelettes, “Please Mr. Postman” (#1, 1961) and nine other Top 40 singles, died following a stroke on 1/26/2011, age 66
1945 – Meredith MacRae – actress (Petticoat Junction, My 3 Sons), born in Houston, Texas (d. 2000)
1964 – Wynonna Judd / (Christina Ciminella) – Country singer/songwriter in duo The Judds (with mother Naomi), “Girl’s Night Out” (Country #1, 1984) and 17 other Top 10 country hits, solo, “To Be Loved By You” (Adult Contemporary #25, Country #1, 1996)
Music Released Today in Keener History:
“Rock Around the Clock” by Bill Haley & His Comets (1955)
“Purple People Eater” by Sheb Wooley (1958)
“It’s My Party” by Lesley Gore (1963)
“Paint It Black” by The Rolling Stones (1966)
“Mrs. Robinson” by Simon & Garfunkel (1968)
“Get Back” by The Beatles (1969)
“American Woman” by The Guess Who (1970)
“I’ll Be Around” by The Spinners (1972)
“Frankenstein” by The Edgar Winter Group (1973)
“Mrs. Robinson” was initially called “Mrs. Roosevelt” in its early stages, but Paul Simon made the change to reflect the character in the Mike Nichols film, “The Graduate,” for which Simon contributed to the soundtrack. Its also included on the “Bookends” LP and ended up winning the Grammy Award for Record of the Year in 1969.
