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Today in rock history: On this date in 1949, Steve Perry was born in Hanford, California where he discovered music at an early age and decided on becoming a singer after hearing Sam Cooke (whose birthday is commemorated below). In the ‘70s, Perry was asked to handle vocals for San Francisco prog-rock band Journey. The move was not popular with core fans, but the addition of Perry ushered in the group’s most commercially successful period thanks to hit albums (Escape, Infinity) and a string of hit singles (“Open Arms,” “Separate Ways,” “Don’t Stop Believin’”). Known for his versatile, powerful voice, Perry also enjoyed success as a solo artist starting with his 1984 debut solo release, Street Talk, which featured the single, “Oh Sherrie”. Perry, who left Journey in the late-’90s, celebrates his 70th birthday today.
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Today in rock history: On this date in 1931, vocalist Sam Cooke was born in Clarksdale, Mississippi. Widely known for possessing one of the greatest singing voices in pop music, Cooke’s versatility afforded him the ability to excel in a variety of genres including gospel, pop, blues, jazz and soul. Cooke scored nearly 30 hit singles (including “Cupid,” “You Send Me,” “Twistin’ the Night Away” and “Only Sixteen”) from 1957-1964, but he was killed at the age of 33 during a 1964 shooting at a Los Angeles motel.
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Today in rock history: On this date in 1966, Nancy Sinatra’s biggest hit, “These Boots Are Made For Walkin’” entered Billboard’s pop singles chart. The daughter of Frank co-wrote the song with producer Lee Hazlewood; it hit No. 1 a few weeks later and topped the charts in other countries, too.
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Today in rock history: On this date in 1994, “All For Love” went to No. 1 on Billboard’s pop singles chart in America. The power ballad taken from the soundtrack for 1993’s The Three Musketeers was co-written by Canadian rocker Bryan Adams and recorded by Adams along with Rod Stewart and Sting. The song stayed atop the chart for three weeks and sold more than 1 million copies in the U.S. alone. Although it topped charts in several countries around the globe, the song marked the first time in several years that either Stewart or Sting had occupied the No. 1 spot on American singles charts. Sting hadn’t hit that milestone since 1983 (“Every Breath You Take”) and Stewart last tasted No. 1 in 1978 (“Da Ya Think I'm Sexy?”).
