Today in Rock History May 29th...

1959

 Ray Charles, B.B. King, and Jimmy Reed play to 9,000 people at Atlanta's Herndon Stadium in one of the first outdoor rock festivals.

(Ray Charles 1959)

 (B.B. King 1959)

(Jimmy Reed 1959)

1961

Ricky Nelson started a two week run at No.1 on the singles chart with 'Travellin' Man'. Sam Cooke turned the song down, the B-side was the Gene Pitney song 'Hello Mary Lou' which became a double side No.1.

1962

Chubby Checker won a Grammy Award for Best Rock and Roll Recording for ‘Let's Twist Again’ and Ray Charles won Best Rhythm & Blues Recording for ‘Hit The Road Jack’.

1963

The Beatles, touring the UK with Roy Orbison, performed at the Rialto Theater in York.

Also on this tour were Gerry and the Pacemakers, David Marsh, Louise Corder, Tony Marsh, Terry Young Six, Erkey Grant and Ian Crawford.

(George Harrison and Roy Orbison , 1963)

1963 

Del Shannon's cover of the Beatles "From Me to You" becomes the first song written by Lennon and McCartney to appear on the American charts when it debuts on Billboard's Hot 100 today.

1964

Britain's Daily Mirror says of the Rolling Stones, “Everything seems to be against them on the surface. They are called the ugliest group in Britain. They are not looked on very kindly by most parents or adults in general. They are even used to the type of article that asks big brother if he would let his sister go out with one of them.”

1965

Bob Dylan's album 'Bringing It All Back Home' was at No.1 on the charts, his second No.1 album.

1965

The Beach Boys started a two week run at No.1 on the singles chart with 'Help Me Rhonda', the group's second US No.1.

1967

The Move, Cream, Jimi Hendrix Experience, Zoot Money and Pink Floyd all appeared at the Tulip Bulb Auction Hall in Spalding, Lincs, England. Tickets cost £1 ($1.70).

1971 

The Rolling Stones started a two week run at No.1 on the singles chart with 'Brown Sugar'. It was the bands sixth No.1.

1971 

Three dozen Grateful Dead fans were treated for hallucinations caused by LSD after they unwittingly drank spiked apple juice served at a gig at San Francisco's Winterland.

1972

Paul McCartney releases his bizarre interpretation of "Mary Had a Little Lamb" as Wings. It barely makes No. 28. McCartney apparently was making a point about censorship after the BBC banned his political single "Give Ireland Back to the Irish."

1973

 Record executive Clive Davis is fired from Columbia for misappropriating $100,000. He later founded Arista Records and engineered Santana's comeback with Supernatural.

1973

 Mike Oldfield releases his ambient masterpiece Tubular Bells or "That Weird Music in The Exorcist."

1975

Fans rioted when The Osmonds appeared at London's Wembley Pool.

1976

 Diana Ross started a two week run No.1 on the singles chart with 'Love Hangover', her fourth No.1.

1977

 Fleetwood Mac, Bob Seger, Chick Corea, Stanley Clarke and Kenny Logins all appeared at the Tangerine Bowl, Orlando, Florida. Tickets cost $10 - $12.50.

1977

In the middle of a Baltimore concert, Elvis Presley wanders off stage and doesn't come back. It's the first time he's terminated a show in this manner.

(walks off stage 4:00 into the video)

1982

Paul McCartney started a three-week run at No.1 on the US album chart with 'Tug Of War'.

1984

 Bob Dylan holds a press conference in Sirmione, Italy, and hands out the set list for his current European tour. Of the three new songs on the list - "Dirty Lies," "Angel of Rain," and "Enough Is Enough" - only the last is ever performed.

1988

 Bob Dylan makes a guest appearance at a Levon Helm concert at New York's Lone Star Cafe. The two perform "The Weight" and Chuck Berry's "Nadine."

1999

The body of Philip "Taylor" Kramer is discovered in a valley in Malibu, Calif. The Iron Butterfly bass player had been missing since 1995.

2005

 Bob Geldof and Elton John announce five July concerts that will make up Live 8 - a new initiative to raise awareness of poverty. Among the headliners are Coldplay, Dave Matthews Band, Lauryn Hill and Duran Duran.

-Yeahbabytunes.com

 (Bob Geldof, Midge Ure and Sir Elton John at the launch of Live 8)

Memorial Day 2012...

A Day to Remember, A Day to Give Thanks

Why Do We Celebrate Memorial Day ??
Memorial Day is one of the most important holidays in the U.S. Observed annually every last Monday of May, people usually take some time off from their work and other activities to reflect on the significance of this all-important celebration. To know the reason why we celebrate Memorial Day, it is quite interesting to look at the various significant events in history that made this day very special.

The Significance of Memorial Day
Why do we celebrate Memorial Day? The primary reason why people celebrate this special event is to commemorate the lives of U.S. soldiers and other military personnel who sacrificed their lives and died in honor of their country. Before, people celebrated this event in honor of the casualties of the American Civil War, particularly Union soldiers. Today, the entire country celebrates this event to honor all the Americans who have died while taking part in any kind of military action or war.

People usually visit memorials and cemeteries in observance of this very special day. Every 3 p.m. of this day, the whole country holds a national moment of remembrance. In various parts of the country, people set the U.S. flag at half-staff position for a significant period. Meanwhile, certain individuals and volunteer groups visit national cemeteries in order to reflect and put small American flags on every grave-site.

Aside from remembering the courageous efforts of deceased U.S. soldiers, many people spend this time with their families and friends. Together, they cook and eat barbecues while enjoying the presence of one another. Furthermore, other people hold picnics to celebrate this special day, which is indeed a very worthy cause for national celebration. People also hold national sporting events during this day such as the Indianapolis 500.

At the U.S. Capitol, organizers set the so-called National Memorial Day Concert. This special show is aired on NPR (National Public Radio) and televised over PBS (Public Broadcasting Service). In addition to the special music performances, people commemorate the lives of decreased American soldiers and military personnel. In the past, people celebrated this special holiday every 30th day of May.

Additional Information about Memorial Day
This special day of celebration started in the village of Waterloo in New York. Former U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson solidified this fact when he signed a proclamation, which designated it as the birthplace of the holiday. From the usual May 30 observance, the celebration of this holiday was changed to the last Monday of May in order to form a highly convenience three-day weekend each year.

-Whyguides.com

This amazing photo was taken in 1918. It is a photo of 18,000 men preparing for war at Camp Dodge in Des Moines, Iowa…
A gift from our grandfathers...

Honor Earned

Here we stand to honor our dead; 
To remember them as these words are read. 
To give that honor that they have earned; 
Is a lesson taught, a lesson learned. 
These men and women who gave their all; 
And answered God’s hallowed call. 
And even though we are apart 
They live on in our minds and heart. 
So, bow your head and let us pray; 
God bless them all on this day. 

" It’s time to strap our boots on



This is a perfect day to die


Wipe the blood out of our eyes


In this life there’s no surrender


There’s nothing left for us to do


Find the strength to see this through


We are the ones who will never be broken


With our final breathe we’ll fight to the death


We are soldiers, we are soldiers.


We Are Soldiers.


I stand here right beside you, tonight we’re fighting for our lives


Let me hear your battle cries


Your battle cries


We are the ones who will never be broken


With our final breathe we’ll fight to the death


We are soldiers, we are soldiers.


We are the ones who will not go unspoken


No we will not sleep we are not cheap


We are soldiers, we are soldiers


We stand shoulder to shoulder


We stand shoulder to shoulder


We stand shoulder to shoulder


You can’t erase us, you’ll just have to face us


We stand shoulder to shoulder


We stand shoulder to shoulder


We stand shoulder shoulder


You can’t erase us you’ll just have to face us


We are the ones who will never be broken


With our final breathe we will fight to the death


We are soldiers


We are soldiers


We are the ones who will not go unspoken


No we will not sleep we are not cheap


We are soldiers, we are soldiers


We are soldiers


We are soldiers

A Soldier's Prayer...
The soldier stood and faced his God Which must always come to pass...
He hoped his shoes were shining Just as brightly as his brass.
"Step forward now, you soldier, How shall I deal with you?
Have you always turned the other cheek? To My Church have you been true?"
The soldier squared his shoulders and Said,"No, Lord, I guess I ain't...
Because those of us who carry guns Can't always be a saint.
I've had to work most Sundays And at times my talk was tough,
And sometimes I've been violent, Because the streets are awfully tough.
But, I never took a penny That wasn't mine to keep...
Though I worked a lot of overtime When the bills got just too steep,
And I never passed a cry for help, Though at times I shook with fear,
And sometimes, God forgive me, I've wept unmanly tears.
I know I don't deserve a place Among the people here...
They never wanted me around Except to calm their fears.
If you've a place for me here, Lord, It needn't be so grand,
I never expected or had too much, But if you don't, I'll understand."
There was a silence all around the throne Where the saints had often trod...
As the soldier waited quietly, For the judgment of his God,
"Step forward now you soldier,
Walk peacefully on Heaven's streets,
You've done your time in Hell."
Dedicated To All That Serve...