ON THIS DAY IN BLACK MUSIC HISTORY: AUGUST 31

#1 R&B Song 1968:  “You’re All I Need To Get By,” Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell

Born:  Wilton Felder (the Crusaders), 1940

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1955   Chuck Berry’s “Maybellene” reached #5 pop while spending eleven weeks at #1 on the R&B hit list. Chuck began his musical career as a member of the Johnny Johnson trio in St. Louis in 1952.

1959   The Coasters’ “Poison Ivy” charted, eventually becoming the group’s fourth and final R&B #1.

1962   The Shirelles, ben E. King, Little Eva, Chuck Jackson, Dee Dee Sharp, the Marvelettes, the Ronettes, the Del-Satins, the Majors and Tony Orlando (years before Dawn) performed at Murray the K’s annual New York Labor Day Rock ‘n’ Roll show at the Brooklyn Fox Theater.

1963   The Miracles’ “Mickey’s Monkey” charted en route to #3 R&B and #8 pop.

1969   Richie Havens performed at England’s Isle of Wright Festival with the Moody Blues, the Who, Joe Cocker, Bob Dylan, and others.

1976   George Harrison was found guilty of “subconscious plagiarism” of the Chiffons’ hit “He So Fine” for similarities to his million-seller “My Sweet Lord.” In a case of sweet retribution, the Chiffons then recorded their own version of “My Sweet Lord.”

1987   Michael Jackson: The Magic Returns aired on CBS-TV, featuring his seventeen-minute video “Bad.”

1994   R. Kelly married new chart sensation Aaliyah in Rosemont, IL. The marriage was later annulled as Aaliyah was only fifteen years old at the time and the state law required that people to be sixteen to marry.