This Day in Music

On this day in music, July 1, 1979, Sony changed the musical landscape with the introduction of the Walkman in Japan. The first portable audio cassette player was revolutionary – allowing music fans to listen to entire albums anywhere. The battery-powered device was marketed under a variety of names around the world, including the “Sound-About” in the US, the “Stowaway” in the UK, and the “Freestyle” in Australia. But within a few years, “Walkman,” had become the de-facto name for the technology. By the end of the decade, more than 100 million Walkmans had been sold worldwide.

In 1968, The Band released their debut album, Music from Big Pink. The five-piece first served as the backing band for Ronnie Hawkins and then for Bob Dylan, before breaking out on their own in late 1967. Named for a house shared by several of the band members, Big Pink spanned a variety of genres – from country and rock to folk and soul – and featured their most enduring hit, “The Weight.” Upon its release, the album was a critical success and established The Band as an independent force.

In 1956, a “tamed” Elvis Presley made his debut on The Steve Allen Show, during which he was forced to don a tuxedo and perform “Hound Dog” to an actual basset hound. The embarrassing gimmick was in response to the young star’s appearance on The Milton Berle Show several weeks earlier, from which he drew criticism for his “lewd” dancing moves. Amid pressures from the network, Allen booked Presley on the basis that he would deliver a toned-down performance.

In 1967, The Beatles dominated the Summer of Love when they began a 15-week run at the top of the US album chart with Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band. A critical and commercial success, the Grammy-winning album also owned the charts in the UK, spending 27 weeks at No.1.

In 2000, with the success of “Spinning Around,” Kylie Minogue became the third artist in UK chart history to have a No.1 single in the 1980s, 90s, and 2000s. The song, which was co-written by Paula Abdul, marked the Australian artist’s fifth chart-topping hit in the UK.

In 1983, Bon Jovi signed with Mercury Records. The New Jersey quintet had been performing under the name Johnny Electric, but an employee of their manager suggested that they follow the example of bands like Van Halen, and name themselves after frontman Jon Bon Jovi. Less than a year later, they would score their first of many hits with “Runaway.”

BORN ON JULY 1

1915: Willie Dixon
1935: James Cotton
1939: Delaney Bramlett
1945: Debbie Harry (Blondie)
1951: Fred Schneider (The B-52’s)
1959: Phil Solem (The Rembrandts)
1960: Evelyn “Champagne” King
1971: Missy Elliot