The week in music history brought to you by MusicGoldmine.com.
OCT 13: Happy birthday to Sammy Hagar, born today in 1947! The Red Rocker began performing as a teenager. He found success with the band Montrose in the early 1970s. In the mid-70s, he established a solo career. Hagar recorded and toured successfully with hits such as, "There's Only One Way To Rock", "Your Love Is Driving Me Crazy", and "I Can't Drive 55". In 1985, Van Halen was looking to replace David Lee Roth. They contacted Hagar for the job. He auditioned and got the front man position. With Van Halen, Hagar would have four successful albums and an induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. However, he parted ways with the group in 1996. He did reunited with the band in 2003 until 2005. Currently, Hagar is fronting the bands The Circle and Chickenfoot, as well as hosting a popular television show, Rock & Roll Roadtrip with Sammy Hagar. Also, as many fans know he is quite the entrepreneur with his tequila brand and bar/restaurants, Cabo Wabo.
OCT 14: Today in 1988, Def Leppard became the first act to sell 7 million copies of two consecutive albums - Pyromania and Hysteria! Pyromania went to #2 (kept out of #1 by Thriller) and has sold over 10 million copies. Hysteria went to #1 and has sold over 25 million copies.
OCT 15: Today in 1988, Bon Jovi was at #1 with their fouth studio album, New Jersey. The album produced five Top 10 singles, which remains a record for any hard rock/glam metal album today. Two singles also went to #1 - "Bad Medicine" and "I'll Be There For You".
OCT 16: Today in 1961, “Crazy” by Patsy Cline was released. 🎶💿🎶 Written by then journeyman songwriter Willie Nelson, who also recorded the song, “Crazy” would become Cline’s signature tune. It has been covered many times.
OCT 17: Today in 1977, Lynyrd Skynyrd released their fifth studio album, Street Survivors. Sadly, the album was released three days before the plane crash that would take Ronnie Van Zant, Steve Gaines, Cassie Gaines, assistant road manager Dean Kilpatrick, pilot Walter McCreary, and co-pilot William Gray. The album contained the classic hits "That Smell" and "What's Your Name". It achieved Gold status just 10 days after it's release (500,000 records sold!).
OCT 18: On this day in 1949, Gary Richrath of REO Speedwagon was born in Peoria, Illinois. 🎂🎸He took up guitar as a teen and taught himself to play. Richrath joined REO in 1970 and left the band in 1989 to form his own band Richrath. He wrote, performed, and sang on many of REO's earliest hits, including "Ridin' Out The Storm" and "Take It On The Run". In 2013, he performed one last time with REO at a benefit for those affected by a tornado that hit in central Illinois. Sadly, Richrath passed away in 2015 due to complications from a stomach surgery. RIP😢
OCT 19: Happy birthday to Jeannie C. Riley, born today in 1945!🎂🎤 The country and gospel singer is best known for her song "Harper Valley PTA". Before he career took off, she worked as a secretary at Passkey Music while recording demos. A Mercury Records producer noticed one of her demos and began to work with her on "Harper Valley PTA". Fun fact: She was the first woman to have a #1 Country and Pop hit until Dolly Parton matched the feat in 1981 with "9 to 5".
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