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Today in Music History

July, 26

  • 1999 Clint Black provides entertainment for “A Night at the Net,” a charity doubles tennis match that kicks off the eighth annual Mercedes-Benz Cup. The even benefits MusiCares, the charity foundation of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (NARAS).
  • 1998 Sha Na Na member “Chico” Ryan dies at a nursing home in Beverly, Mass. He is 50. The singer/bassist, real name David-Allen Ryan, joined the already established Sha Na Na in 1973 and remained with the ‘50s revival group for nearly 25 years.
  • 1996 Composer Evelyn Levine dies at the age of 84.
  • 1992 Motown recording artist Mary Wells dies in Los Angeles after a long bout with cancer. The singer’s biggest pop hit was the 1964 song “My Guy,” which topped Billboard’s Hot 100 for two weeks.
  • 1992 Kiss guitarist Paul Stanley marries actress-model Pamela Bowen in Los Angeles.
  • 1990 Grateful Dead keyboardist Brent Mydland dies of a drug overdose in Lafayette, Calif., at age 38. Mydland had replaced keyboardist Keith Godchaux – who died in 1979 – who in turn had replaced Ron “Pigpen” McKiernan – who died in 1973.
  • 1980 No. 1 Billboard Pop Hit: “It’s Still Rock and Roll to Me,” Billy Joel. It is Joel’s first No. 1 single.
  • 1972 No. 1 Billboard Pop Hit: “Alone Again (Naturally),” Gilbert O’Sullivan.
  • 1969 Elvis Presley opens his first live engagement in nearly eight years. Las Vegas, Nev.
  • 1968 John Lennon and Paul McCartney complete “Hey Jude” during a writing session at Paul’s home. The song hits No. 1 in the U.S. a month later.
  • 1949 No. 1 Billboard Pop Hit: “Some Enchanted Evening,” Perry Como.
  • 1943 Rolling Stones lead singer Mick Jagger is born in Kent, England. The group, which takes its name from a Muddy Waters song, is inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1989. The group does not receive a Grammy Award until 1986 when it is presented a Lifetime Achievement Grammy.