Born:  Lester Young, 1909; Harold Lucas (the Clovers), 1932

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1909   Lester Young, one of the early  jazz tenor saxophonists, was born today. He’s best known for the hits “Just You, Just Me” and “Sometimes I’m Happy.”

1949   The Orioles charted with their classic version of “A Kiss and a Rose,” reaching #12 R&B.

(The Orioles with Bobby Thomas, at the 3RD Hall of Fame Show March 27, 1993.)

1949   Lionel Hampton & His Orchestra charted with the macabrely-titled “Lavender Coffin,” eventually reaching lucky #13 R&B.

Vibraphonist Lionel Hampton performing at the 1979 North Sea Jazz Festival. SOURCE

1960   Lloyd Price appeared on Dick Clark’s American Bandstand, performing “Personality.”

1963   Sam Cooke performed on Johnny Carson’s Tonight Show.

1966   Eddie Floyd hit the R&B chartes with his single, “Knock on Wood,” a 45 that would reach #1 and #28 pop. Over the next eleven years the soul singer would chart R&B eighteen times, but “Knock” would always be his biggest hit.

1968   The Staples Singers performed at San Francisco’s Fillmore West with Santana and Steppenwolf.

1994   “I’ll Make Love to You” by Boyz II Men began an incredible run of fourteen weeks at #1, surpassing the group’s record-breaking streak of thirteen weeks in the top spot in 1992 with “End of the Road.” Written by Babyface, the song marked his first writing success without former partner L.A. Reid.