This Day in Rock & Roll History for January 15

Ronnie Van Zandt of Lynyrd Skynyrd is born. (1948)

Motels lead singer Martha Davis is born. (1951)

Billboard reports, "music with an R&B beat is not longer regarded as a passing phase by major recording firms." The magazine points out Perry Como, the Crewcuts, Hutton Sisters and Bill Darnell and Rosemary Clooney have recorded cover versions of Gene & Eunice's #7 R&B hit "Ko Ko Mo." The success of the Crew Cut's cover of the Chords' "Sh-Boom" is noted as a main factor in the pop artists interest in R&B. (1955)

Motown Records signs The Supremes. (1961)

Vee Jay records files suit against Capitol and Swan Records over manufacturing and distribution rights to Beatles recordings. (1964)

In Chicago, Capitol Records is granted an injuction restraining Vee Jay Records from further manufacturing, distributing advertising or otherwise disposing of recordings by the Beatles. (1964)

The Who releases "I Can't Explain" in the U.K. (1965)

Murray the K, a New York deejay known as the "Fifth Beatle" tells the "New Musical Express" that "outside of the Beatles, British bands can't carry a show by themselves." (1965)

Motown's most successful female vocal group, the Supremes, enter the Hot 100 for the 13th time with "My World is Empty Without You," which in eleven weeks on the chart will peak at #5. It's one of their few records of this period which fails to go all the way to Number One. (1966)

The Rolling Stones receive their third gold record for the album "December's Children." It features the tunes "Get Off My Cloud," "Route 66," "As Tears Go By" and "I'm Free." (1966)

The "Bad Boys of Rock and Roll", the Rolling Stones, honor CBS-TV's censors' requests and perform "Let's Spend Some TIME Together" on the Ed Sullivan Show. (1967)

George Harrison releases "My Sweet Lord". (1971)

The Rolling Stones announce they'll put on a benefit concert for the people of Managua, Nicaragua, which had been devestated by an earthquake back on December 23. Nicaragua is the home of Jagger's wife, Bianca. (1973)

Brownsville Station, described by leader Cub Koda as "Chuck Berry 1973 filtered through three madmen," earns a gold record for their only hit "Smokin' in the Boys' Room." (1974)

KC and the Sunshine band leader, Harry Wayne Casey is seriously injured in an automobile accident in Miami. (1982)

Mick Jagger tapes a video with Bette Midler at New York City's Peppermint Lounge for her rendition of "Beast Of Burden." (1984)

Sean Lennon's remake of his father's "Give Peace A Chance" is released to coincide with the United Nation's midnight deadline for Iraq to withdraw from Kuwait. The lyrics are updated to reflect concerns of the 1990's. (1991)

Bobby "Blue" Bland, Booker T. & The MG's, Johnny Cash, Bill Graham, Jimi Hendrix, The Isley Brothers, Sam & Dave and the Yardbirds are inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame during ceremonies at New York's Waldorf Astoria. (1992)

Dee Murray, long time bassist for Elton John, dies of cancer in Nashville. He was 45. (1992)

Singer Harry Nilsson dies of heart disease. Nilsson was known for songs like "Everybody's Talkin'," "Without You" and "Coconut". He was 53. (1994)

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