Today’s history marks the birth of rock and roll’s wildest piano pounder, a massive cross-media chart domination for Prince, and the debut of the world’s most technologically advanced concert venue.
Notable Births
- 1935: Jerry Lee Lewis, the explosive rock and roll pioneer famously known as “The Killer,” was born in Ferriday, Louisiana.
- 1948: Mark Farner, the lead singer, guitarist, and primary songwriter for the powerhouse hard rock band Grand Funk Railroad, was born in Flint, Michigan.
- 1963: Les Claypool, the idiosyncratic slap-bass virtuoso and charismatic frontman for Primus, was born in Richmond, California.
- 1967: Brett Anderson, the lead vocalist and founding member of the defining Britpop band Suede, was born in West Sussex, England.
- 1994: Halsey (Ashley Nicolette Frangipane), the chart-topping pop and alternative singer-songwriter, was born in Edison, New Jersey.
🎵 Major Events & Releases
- 1973: Grand Funk Railroad scored their first No. 1 single on the US Billboard Hot 100 with their cowbell-heavy, arena-rock anthem “We’re An American Band”.
- 1976: Enjoying his own 41st birthday celebrations, Jerry Lee Lewis accidentally shot his bass player, Norman Owens, twice in the chest while attempting to shoot holes in an office door. Owens survived the incident but subsequently sued his boss.
- 1979: The Police earned their very first No. 1 hit in the UK with their reggae-rock classic “Message In A Bottle”.
- 1984: Prince’s single “Let’s Go Crazy” hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. With this achievement, he simultaneously held the No. 1 single, the No. 1 album (Purple Rain), and the No. 1 box office film in the country—a feat only the Beatles had accomplished previously.
- 2023: U2 kicked off their groundbreaking U2:UV Achtung Baby Live residency in Las Vegas, becoming the very first musical act to perform inside the immersive, $2.3 billion Sphere.
Bio-Musik Feature: Austin’s Live Music Pioneers
Continuing the focus on the venues that sustain the Texas music ecosystem, today we head down South Congress to spotlight an intimate, soulful neighborhood sanctuary.
- C-Boy’s Heart & Soul: Located at 1308 S Congress Avenue, C-Boy’s Heart & Soul is a two-story tribute to classic R&B, soul, funk, and blues. Named in honor of the late C-Boy Parks (a legendary Austin venue manager) and operated by the team behind the Continental Club, this venue exudes vintage warmth. Featuring a cozy velvet-draped main stage downstairs and a plush, Japanese vinyl-lounge-inspired “Jade Room” upstairs, it provides an unbeatable atmosphere. It serves as an essential, groove-heavy anchor on the MusicWayATX calendar where music lovers gather to catch world-class organ trios, soulful horn sections, and electric Sonidos Frescos up close.
