August 13

2009: Guitarist and inventor Les Paul dies.  He pioneered the electric guitar.

2007: Fats Domino is honored as an “American Music Legend” by the Recording Industry Association of America.  Hi biggest hits are Blueberry Hill, I Want To Walk You Home, I’m Walkin’ and Ain’t It A Shame.

1969: The Guess Who record American Woman.

1966: They’re Coming to Take Me Away, Ha-Haaa! is a hit novelty song by Jerry Samuels, recording under the name  Napoleon XIV, peaks at #3. It is ranked as the top novelty song of all time on some lists.

1966: The Supremes release You Can’t Hurry Love.

1966: The Lovin’ Spoonful’s Summer In The City hits #1.

1965: The Beatles release Help!.  Here’s the official trailer from the film: Video.

1965: The Jefferson Airplane make their stage debut at a San Francisco club called The Matrix, co-owned by lead singer Marty Balin.

1964: The Supremes record Baby Love.

1938:  Bluesman Robert Johnson, famous for his song Crossroads, in which he sings about making a deal with the Devil to attain his musical talent, is poisoned during a gig in Greenwood, Mississippi.  He dies 3 days later.

Songs of The Day:

Blueberry Hill (Fats Domino); Ain’t It A Shame (Fats Domino); American Woman (The Guess Who); They’re Coming To Take Me Away Ha-Haaa! (Napoleon XIV); You Can’t Hurry Love (The Supremes); Summer In The City (The Lovin’ Spoonful); Help! (Beatles); Baby Love (The Supremes); Crossroads (Robert Johnson)