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Today in Music History

July, 31

  • 1995 Selling 331,000 copies, Selena’s “Dreaming of You,” her first English album, debuts at No. 1 on the Billboard chart. The slain Tejano singer becomes the first Latin artist ever to debut at No. 1.
  • 1981 Debbie Harry, lead singer of the 1970’s new wave group Blondie, releases a solo album, “Koo Koo.” It includes a controversial picture of the singer with long needles penetrating her cheeks.
  • 1980 John Phillips, leader of the Mamas and Papas, is arrested by the FBI for possession of cocaine. He is sentenced to five years in prison but lectures against drugs for 250 hours as an alternate sentence.
  • 1978 No. 1 Billboard Pop Hit: “Miss You,” The Rolling Stones. The song is the band’s eighth No. 1 single.
  • 1968 The Beatles record “Hey Jude.” It tops Billboard’s Hot 100 singles chart for nine weeks, making it the megagroup’s biggest hit.
  • 1964 Country music singer Jim Reeves dies at age 39 in a plane crash near Nashville, Tenn., along with his manager, Dean Manuel. Reeves’ hits include “Welcome to My World” and “He’ll Have to Go.”
  • 1958 Bill Berry of R.E.M. is born.
  • 1946 Gary Lewis (Gary Levitate) of Gary Lewis & the Playboys is born in New York. The group’s only No. 1 song is the million-selling “This Diamond Ring” in 1965.