#1 R&B Song 1943: “Don’t Get Around Much Anymore,” Duke Ellington & His Orchestra
Born: Sylvia Vanderpool (Mickey & Sylvia), 1936; Maureen “Rebbie” Jackson, 1950; LaToya Jackson, 1956
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1943 The legendary Mills Brothers charted with “Paper Doll,” which reached #2 R&B and #1 pop for an astounding twelve weeks.
1958 Little Anthony & the Imperials recorded their immortal “Tears On My Pillow” (#4 pop, #2 R&B), their first million-seller. They started the session as the Chesters and left the studio as the Imperials. When disc jockey Alan Freed began playing the single, he christened the group Little Anthony & the Imperials, and within a month all new copies of the 45 read Little Anthony & the Imperials.
1959 The Drifters, Ray Charles, Ruth Brown, Jimmy Reed, and B.B. King, among others, performed at the R&B Festival at Herndon Stadium in Atlanta, GA. B.B. was playing an average of 300 shows a year and would continue to do so into the ’90s.
1961 “Quarter to Three,” the raucus party record sung by Gary “U.S.” Bonds (formerly of the doo-wop group, the Turks) and produced in Frank Guida’s new Orleans record-store back-room recording studio on primitive equipment jumped on the R&B charts on its way to #3 R&B and #1 pop. The song was originally an insrumental named “A Night With Daddy G” until Guida added the lyrics. The tune was reportedly recorded while Bonds was and the band were heavily intoxicated. How much more could be working against you? Ah, the good old days, when anything could happen and often did. The song went on to sell more than a million copies.
1965 Sam Cooke’s “When A Boy Falls In Love” was released (#52). His fortieth chart single, it was issued six months after Sam died.
1993 Janet Jackson’s album janet. (pronounced “Janet, Period.”), reached #1 in England. The recordngs included a diverse guest-artist list, including Public Enemy’s Chuck D and opera singer Kathleen Battle.
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