July 01 in Music History


Today: The late Willie Dixon was born in 1915, 99 years ago (read more) The Blues are the true facts of life expressed in words and song, inspiration, feeling, and understanding. ~Willie Dixon — “The blues will always be because the blues are the roots of all American music.” ~Willie Dixon
James Cotton (born July 1, 1935) is an American blues harmonica player, singer and songwriter, who has performed and recorded with many of the great blues artists of his time as well as with his own band. Although he played drums early in his career, Cotton is famous for his work on the harmonica. Cotton began his professional career playing the blues harp in Howlin’ Wolf’s band in the early 1950s. In 1965 he formed the Jimmy Cotton Blues Quartet, utilizing Otis Spann on piano to record between gigs with Muddy Waters’ band. In the 1970s, Cotton played harmonica on Muddy Waters’ Grammy Award winning 1977 album Hard Again, produced by Johnny Winter.
“She Loves You” (Recorded 1 July 1963 – EMI Studios, London) is a song written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney based on an idea by McCartney, originally recorded by The Beatles for release as a single in 1963. The single set and surpassed several records in the United Kingdom charts, and set a record in the United States by being one of the five Beatles songs which held the top five positions in the American charts simultaneously. It is The Beatles’ best-selling single in the United Kingdom, and was the best selling single in Britain in 1963.
Melissa Arnette “Missy” Elliott (born July 1, 1971) is an American rapper, singer-songwriter, record producer, dancer and actress. A five-time Grammy Award winner, Elliott, with record sales of over seven million in the United States, is the only female rapper to have six albums certified platinum by the RIAA, including one double platinum for her 2002 album Under Construction.
Spotify Playlist – July 01