#1 R&B Song 1942: “Stormy Monday Blues,” Earl Hines
Born: Clarence Carter, 1936; Cornel Gunter (the Coasters), 1938
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1942 The Royal Harmony Quartet charted with “Praise the Lord and Pass the Ammunition,” reaching #10 R&B. The song was motivated by the speech of a Navy chaplain after the attack on Pearl Harbor. The group would later record as the Jubalaires.
1950 Billy Ward & the Dominoes made their recording debut with four sides including “Do Something For Me” (#6 R&B, $800). Before recording the group called themselves the Ques.
1960 The Shirelles (formerly known as the Poquellos), with writer Carole King playing drums, had their soon-to-be standard “Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow” released today.
1960 Ray Charles’s “Georgia On My Mind” became his first pop E#1 and second million-seller. After hearing his chauffeur repeatedly sing the standard, Ray decided to record it.
1961 Ray Charles was arrested in his Indianapolis hotel room after a performance and charged with heroin possession. The secret he had kept about his addiction since he was sixteen had now become public. A judge would later determine that the search was illegal, violating Ray’s constitutional rights, and had the case thrown out.
1967 The Jimi Hendrix Experience began a British tour at the Royal Albert Hall, playing twice a night for fifteen days along with Pink Floyd and others.
1970 Gladys Knight & the Pips’ “If I Were Your Woman” (#9 pop, #1 R&B) was released on this day.
1970 The Spinners charted in Britain with “It’s A Shame,” reaching #20. Because there was a folk group by the same name, they changed their name, first to the Motown Spinners and later the Detroit Spinners, becoming the only American act to be known by two different names in different countries.
Ann
