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Today in Music

January, 23

  • 1999 Bill Givens, founder of pioneering reissue label Origin Jazz Library, dies of a heart attack in Santa Monica, Calif. He is 68. In the late ‘50s, Givens’ indie imprint was among the first to release rare country blues 78s on LP; these albums had a pronounced impact on ‘60s blues revivalists.
  • 1999 Master P, real name Percy Miller, shows up in uniform for the Charlotte Hornets’ intrasquad scrimmage at the Charlotte Coliseum. Miller had recently been added to the Continental Basketball Association team’s training camp roster.
  • 1997 Richard Berry, the rhythm and blues pioneer whose song “Louie Louie” launched a generation of garage bands and provoked a federal obscenity probe, dies at the age of 61.
  • 1995 Courtney Love appears in Australian court on charges of abusing a flight attendant. The singer admits to responding with an obscenity when a Quantas flight attendant told her to take her feet down from the airplane cabin wall. Love is sentenced to one month of good behavior.
  • 1995 No. 1 Billboard Pop Hit: “Creep,” TLC.
  • 1995 Alan Jackson’s No. 1 country single “Gone Country” reaches the top of Billboard’s country chart in its 23rd week on the countdown. It’s the longest amount of time for any country single or track to reach the top.
  • 1993 Thomas A. Dorsey, who blended blues, ragtime and church songs into a creation he called gospel music, dies of Alzheimer’s disease at his home in Chicago. The writer of such gospel classics as “Peace in the Valley” and “Take My Hand, Precious Lord” was 93.
  • 1988 Nirvana records a ten-song demo tape with the godfather of grunge, legendary Seattle producer Jack Endino. The Melvins’ Dale Crover sits in on drums. Sub Pop co-honcho Jonathan Poneman hears the tape and offers to put out a Nirvana single. They accept.
  • 1988 No. 1 Billboard Pop Hit: “The Way You Make Me Feel,” Michael Jackson. The song is the third consecutive No. 1 hit from Jackson’s album “Bad,” the first time an artist accomplishes that feat.
  • 1986 The first annual induction ceremony for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is held in New York. Among those inducted are Chuck Berry, James Brown, Ray Charles, Fats Domino, the Everly Brothers, Buddy Holly, Jerry Lee Lewis and Elvis Presley.
  • 1978 Vic Ames of the Ames Brothers dies in an auto wreck. Age 51.
  • 1978 Founder and guitarist Terry Kath of the group Chicago dies after from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
  • 1968 No. 1 Billboard Pop Hit: “Judy in Disguise (with Glasses),” John Fred and His Playboy Band.
  • 1948 Anita Pointer of the Pointer Sisters is born in Oakland, Calif., the daughter of a minister. The group, which is formed in Oakland, Calif., by sisters Ruth, Anita, Bonnie and June Pointer, has two million-selling No. 2 songs: “Fire” and “Slow Hand.” “Fire” is written by Bruce Springsteen.