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Today in Music History

July, 20

  • 1999 In his speech at the 4th annual Plug.In music and technology conference, Public Enemy rapper Chuck D sings the praises of the coming digital download age.
  • 1998 Veteran musician, music executive, and manager Jim Tyrrell dies of heart failure in New York. He is 67. Tyrrell had a 10-year career at then-CBS Records, starting in 1968. Tyrrell is the first black executive to serve as senior VP at CBS and is a pioneer in handling sales for both black and white artists at a major label.
  • 1996 Kim Thayil of Soundgarden is arrested for assault and then later released after playing on the Lollapalooza ‘96 tour stop in N. Carolina.
  • 1982 No. 1 Billboard Pop Hit: “Eye of the Tiger,” Survivor. The song is the theme from the film “Rocky III.”
  • 1979 Electric Light Orchestra takes out advertisements dedicating the release of “Don’t Bring Me Down” to Skylab.
  • 1968 Jane Asher announces that Paul McCartney has broken off their engagement.
  • 1964 Chris Cornell, singer and guitarist for Seattle megagroup, Soundgarden is born in Seattle, Wash.
  • 1947 Carlos Santana is born in Autlan de Navarro, Mexico. He forms the group Santana in San Francisco in 1966. The group’s biggest hits are the top 10 songs “Evil Ways” and “Black Magic Woman” and the No. 1 “Smooth” with matchbox twenty’s Rob Thomas.
  • 1945 Kim Carnes is born in Pasadena, Calif. In the late 1960s she is a member of the New Christy Minstrels (along with husband Dave Ellingson and Kenny Rogers). Her biggest hit is the million-selling record “Bette Davis Eyes.” The song tops Billboard’s Hot 100 for nine weeks in 1981 and wins two Grammy Awards.
  • 1940 The first Billboard music popularity chart is introduced.