This Day in Rock & Roll History for February 13

Boudleaux Bryant who wrote many, many hit songs, including "Love Hurts" by Nazareth, was born. (1950)

Peter Tork, bassist with the Monkees, is born. (1942)

Peter Gabriel is born. (1950)

Alan Freed signs with Coral Records for the second time. He is to compile and promote four dance and party albums sets his first year. (1956)

Frank Sinatra unveiled his own recording label, Reprise. Although the Chairman of the Board didn't have a very high regard for that rock & roll music, the label would release recordings by The Beach Boys, The Kinks and Jimi Hendrix. (1961)

Motown group Jr. Walker & the All Stars enter both the pop and R&B charts for the first time with "Shotgun," which establishes the group's trademark hard-driving "roadhouse" R&B sound. The song makes it to Number One on the R&B charts and #4 on the pop chart. (1965)

The Rolling Stones appear on "The Ed Sullivan Show" -- an appearance which they taped the day before. (1966)

The Beatles' new single "Penny Lane" backed with "Strawberry Fields Forever" is released in the U.S. four days before its U.K. release. The record indicates their direction toward electronically produced sounds. It will hit Number One in the U.S. and #2 in the U.K. (1967)

The Doors' single "Touch Me" and Sly and the Family Stone's single "Everyday People" win gold records. (1969)

Black Sabbath's self-titled first LP is released. (1970)

Dave Edmunds' "I Hear You Knocking" peakes at #4 on the chart. (1971)

Strange but true: Led Zeppelin is forced to cancel a concert in Singapore concert when officials won't let them off the plane because of their long hair. (1972)

On this day, Pink Floyd's "The Dark Side of Moon" becomes the longest-running rock LP on the Billboard chart, finishing up its 402nd week. The two LPs that have charted longer are Johnny Mathis' "Greatest Hits" (490 weeks) and the "My Fair Lady Original Cast Recording" (480 weeks). (1981)

A 300 pound gravestone on the grave of Lynyrd Skynyrd singer Ronnie Van Zant was stolen from an Orange Park, Florida cemetery. Police found it 2 week later in a dry river bed. (1982)

Quarterflash's "Harden My Heart" peaks at #3 on the pop chart. (1982)

Loverboy's "Working For The Weekend" peaks at #29 on the chart. (1982)

Marvin Gaye performs a unique sensual version of the National Anthem at the NBA All-Star Game in Los Angeles. (1983)

Now a party classic, Buster Poindexter's (a.k.a. David Johansen) "Hot Hot Hot" peaks at #45 on the chart. (1988)

Michael Jackson buys a ranch in Santa Ynez, California that he dubs "Neverland". (1988)

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