June 16

2008: Katy Perry releases I Kissed a Girl from her debut album One Of The Boys. The song will go on to become Perry’s first US #1.

1987: The Grateful Dead’s Jerry Garcia officially gives permission for Ben and Jerry’s Ice Cream to name a new flavor (Cherry Garcia) after him.

1978: The movie adaptation of the hit off-Broadway play Grease, starring John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John, opens. The duet You’re The One That I Want is the biggest hit song.

1971: Rapper Tupac (2Pac) Shakur (Lesane Parish Crooks) is born. California Love and How Do U Want It? were both #1 hits.

1967: The Monterey Pop Festival is held in Monterey CA.  It is a three-day event that introduces Jimi Hendrix, Ravi Shankar and the Whoto America.  Organized by John Philips of the Mama & The Papas, it is considered to have kicked off  “The Summer Of Love”.  First day acts included Lou Rawls, Johnny Rivers, Simon & Garfunkel and Eric Burdon and The Animals, who played their hit San Francisoo Nights.  All of the performers at the festival play for free. Director D.A. Penebaker films the event for a documentary.

1966: The Beatles record Here, There And Everywhere. It appears on their Revolver album.

1962: Gary “U.S.” Bonds makes his television debut, performing his hit Quarter To Three on Dick Clark’s American Bandstand.

1941: Songwriter Lamont Dozier is born.  With brothers Eddie and Brian Holland, he writes many of the most memorable Motown hits including Stop In The Name Of Love, (Love Is Like a) Heat Wave and How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved by You)

Songs of The Day:

I Kissed A Girl (Katy Perry); You’re The One That I Want (Grease); How Do U Want It? (Tupac Shakur); Here, There And Everywhere(Beatles); Quarter To Three (Gary (U.S.) Bonds; Stop In The Name Of Love (The Supremes); (Love Is Like A) Heat Wave (Martha & The Vandellas); How Sweet It Is To Be Loved By You (Marvin Gaye); California Love (Tupac Shakur); San Francisco  Nights (Eric Burdon and The Animals)