Born:  Lena Horne, 1917; Florence Ballard (the Supremes), 1943; William Brown (Ray, Goodman & Brown), 1946; Stanley Clarke, 1951

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1953   The Orioles’ legendary “Crying in the Chapel” (#11 pop, #1 R&B) was recorded.

1956   Aladdin Records sued the Five keys for breach of contract when the quintet signed with Capitol Records. The same day, the Velours’ debut 45, “My Love Come Back” ($200) was issued.

1972   Stevie Wonder performed in Vancouver, British Columbia, as the opening act for the Rolling Stones on an eight-week North American tour.

1973  Sylvia Vanterpool Robinson’s “Pillow Talk” reached #14 in the United Kingdom. It had reached #1 on R&B for two weeks, #3 on the pop chart with  Billboard’s Hot 100. Written and produced by Ms. Robinson and Michael Burton, the song became famous for Ms. Robinson’s sultry moaning and breathing. The song was released by the Vibration label, with the B-side entitled “My Thing”. It sold over two million copies, and was awarded a gold disc by the R.I.A.A. in May 1973.

1984   The Jackson 5 charted with “State of Shock,” which featured a duet by Michael Jackson and the Rolling Stones’ Mick Jagger. It reached #3 pop and #4 R&B.

1989   Bobby Brown made a personal appearance at the HMV store on London’s Oxford Street and police had to close off the thoroughfare as 4,000 fans attempted (among other things) to get his autograph. During the near-riot scene, six fans were hospitalized and one was brought back to life (so to speak) by a kiss from the star.

1990  Mariah Carey’s self-titled debut album charted. It would take the ten-song collection thirty-six weeks to make it to #1.

1995   Boyz II Men, Mary J. Blige, and Montell Jordan performed at the Starwood Amphitheater in Antioch, TN.

1995   Brandy, Blackstreet, Notorious B.I.G., Naughty by Nature, and Method Man, among others, performed at the Byrne Meadowlands Arena in East Rutherford, NJ, at the Hot 97 Summer jam.

1997   George Clinton, Cypress Hill, and Erykah Badu began the House of Blues Smokin’ Grooves tour at the Great Woods Center for the Performing Arts in Mansfield, MA. Badu originally performed under the name M.C. Apples in a rap trio before becoming part of the duo Erykah Free.