Today-Music-History-Jun08

Today in Music History for June 8:

In 1940, singer Nancy Sinatra, the eldest child of Frank Sinatra, was born in Jersey City, N.J. After hooking up with producer Lee Hazelwood, she hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1966 with "These Boots Are Made For Walkin'." Nancy Sinatra also had several hit duets with Hazelwood, and one with her father, "Somethin' Stupid," in 1967.

In 1942, Chuck Negron, lead vocalist for "Three Dog Night," was born in New York City. Formed in Los Angeles in 1968, "Three Dog Night" became one of the most commercially successful American rock bands of the '70s. Negron was a session vocalist when he was recruited by group founder Danny Hutton. "Three Dog Night's" first album in 1969 yielded a million-seller, "One." Their other hits included "Easy to Be Hard," "Joy to the World" and "An Old-Fashioned Love Song." "Three Dog Night's" commercial magic had waned by 1975, and the group gradually broke up. The three original vocalists -- Negron, Hutton and Cory Wells -- reunited in 1981. But Negron sued the other two in 1998, claiming they'd shut him out of another band reunion. Negron has released several solo CDs, including 2001's "Live In Concert" 2-CD set. He also wrote a book called "Three Dog Nightmare."

In 1961, Elvis Presley's seventh film, "Wild in the Country," premiered in Memphis.

In 1964, Alton Delmore of "The Delmore Brothers" country duo died in Huntsville, Ala., at age 55 from a hemorrhage brought about by a liver disorder. Alton and Rabon Delmore were longtime favourites on the Grand Ole Opry and had a top-five hit in 1949 with "Blues Stay Away From Me." The duo was elected to the songwriters section of the Country Hall of Fame in 1971.

In 1965, Bob Dylan recorded an hour-long TV show for the BBC in London. It was broadcast in two half-hour segments -- on June 12 and 24.

In 1968, "The Rolling Stones" released the single "Jumpin' Jack Flash."

In 1972, blues/jazz singer Jimmy Rushing died in New York City of leukemia. He was 68. Known as "Mr. Five-By-Five" because of his short and wide physique, he was a feature attraction of the Count Basie orchestra from 1935-50. He influenced generations of vocalists from jazz to rock.

In 1974, keyboards player Rick Wakeman left the progressive rock band "Yes" following completion of the album "Tales From Topographic Oceans." Wakeman openly expressed his bewilderment and disillusionment with the album and the band. Wakeman rejoined "Yes" in 1976, but split from the group again in 1980. They reunited for a tour in 2002, disbanded again, and then reunited in 2008 and are still touring.

In 1987, Yogi Horton, a drummer for R&B singer Luther Vandross, jumped to his death from the 17th floor of a New York hotel. He was 33. He is reported to have told his wife that he was tired of living in Vandross' shadow.

In 1987, thousands of East German youths clashed with police who blocked them from listening in on an open-air rock concert in West Berlin by "Genesis." About 4,000 young people converged on the Berlin Wall, some hurling bottles, rocks and firecrackers at police. Officers responded by beating dozens of youths and dragging them into police cars and vans.

In 1989, Rod Stewart became the first performer to play Toronto's SkyDome (now Rogers Centre), to a sold-out crowd of 26,000.

In 1991, Bruce Springsteen married longtime girlfriend Patti Scialfa in a private ceremony at the couple's mansion in Beverly Hills, Calif. Bob Dylan was among the guests. It was the second marriage for Springsteen, who divorced model Julianne Phillips in 1988, and the first for Scialfa, who sings in Springsteen's "E Street Band."

In 1998, hundreds of mourners sang "Let It Be" at a private memorial service in London for Linda McCartney. The wife of Paul McCartney had died of breast cancer on April 19. Among those in the historic St. Martins-in-the-Fields church were George Harrison, Ringo Starr, Sting and Elton John.

In 2005, singer Rivers Cuomo of "Weezer" graduated from Harvard with a degree in English.

In 2010, singers Nelly Furtado and David Clayton-Thomas were among a group named to Canada's Walk of Fame.

In 2011, "Bon Jovi" lead guitarist Richie Sambora rejoined the group's tour in Zagreb, Croatia, after spending over a month in rehab. Phil "Phil X" Xenidis handled guitar duties in his absence. (Sambora left the band in 2013 and was replaced by Phil X.)

In 2011, Taylor Swift took the top honour at the CMT Music awards — the fan-voted Video of the Year award for "Mine." Miranda Lambert took Female Video of the Year for "The House That Built Me" while Blake Shelton was the only multiple winner taking Male Video of the Year for "Who Are You When I'm Not Looking" and Best Web Video for "Kiss My Country Ass." Canadian pop heartthrob Justin Bieber took home Best Collaboration with "Rascal Flatts" for "That Should Be Me."

In 2011, rapper Ja Rule headed to prison to begin serving a two-year sentence after he pleaded guilty in December to attempted criminal weapon possession. (In July, he was also sentenced to a 28-month term for failure to pay taxes on $3 million he earned between 2004-06).

In 2016, Tim McGraw's "Humble and Kind" won Video of the Year at the CMT Music Awards, ending Carrie Underwood's four-year-winning streak for the top prize.

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The Canadian Press