July, 9

• 1999 Kenny Chesney becomes the first artist in five years to sell out Cowboy’s in Arlington, Texas. The same night, Gary Allan, Chad Brock, Rhett Akins and Jewel are also playing in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area.

• 1999 Babyface is honored by the state of Indiana, which renames a 25-mile stretch of federal highway (Interstate Route 65) as “Kenneth Babyface Edmonds Highway.” In conjunction with the honor, the Indianapolis native donates $50,000 to establish VH1’s Save The Music campaign in the state.

• 1999 Minutes before show time, singer-songwriter Mary Chapin Carpenter cancels a concert at Hammons Hall for the Performing Arts in Springfield, Mo. A hall official breaks the news that Carpenter had to fly home to tend to a very ill Golden Retriever.

• 1998 Robert “Waddy” Wachtel, a musician and arranger who worked on such albums by Linda Ronstadt and Fleetwood Mac, and his wife are arrested for investigation of possessing child pornography, allegedly found on his personal computer.

• 1998 Scott Weiland misses his second court date, stemming from drug possession charges earlier in the year. His second absence prompts the presiding judge to issue a bench warrant for the rocker’s arrest.

• 1998 Janet Jackson’s Velvet Rope tour sets a gross revenue record for MCI Center in Washington, D.C., at more than $875,000. The previous revenue mark was $860,300, set by Yanni Jan. 31, 1998.

• 1998 MTV Networks Europe announces in London the launch of freeform music channel M2 Europe. The first TV station to be launched on the Internet, M2 is initially available 24 hours a day at www.m2europe.com.

• 1991 President George Bush presents a National Medal of Art to country music singer Roy Acuff.

• 1972 Paul McCartney’s Wings makes its concert debut in Chateauvillon, France. It is McCartney’s first live performance since the breakup of the Beatles.

• 1971 Jim Morrison is buried in Paris’ Pere Lachaise Cemetery, his family having disowned him. The often-vandalized grave becomes a shrine for fans.

• 1962 No. 1 Billboard Pop Hit: “Roses Are Red (My Love),” Bobby Vinton.

• 1954 Debbie Sledge of Sister Sledge is born. Sisters Debbie, Joan, Kim and Kathie Sledge of North Philadelphia begin recording as Sister Sledge in 1971. The group’s biggest hit is the million-selling No. 2 song “We Are Family” in 1979.

• 1952 No. 1 Billboard Pop Hit: “Auf Wiederseh’n Sweetheart,” Vera Lynn.

• 1946 Bon (Ronald Belford) Scott, lead singer of AC/DC, is born in Kirriemuir, Scotland. He dies Feb. 19, 1980 of alcohol abuse and is replaced by Brian Johnson.

• 1942 No. 1 Billboard Pop Hit: “Sleepy Lagoon,” Harry James Orchestra.

• 1910 Fashion designer and musician Harold C. Fox is born.