Today in Acoustic-Rock History

1964 – Billboard reports Beatle records have claimed 60% of the singles market.

1970 – James Taylor’s “Sweet Baby James” enters the Billboard chart, where it will remain for over 100 weeks, peaking at #3 and launching the singer/songwriter movement.

1971 – “Me and Bobby McGee,” Janis Joplin’s only Top Forty hit, reaches #1. It tops Billboard’s pop singles chart for two weeks.

1972 – Carole King wins Grammy awards for Album of the Year for “Tapestry” and Record of the Year for “It’s Too Late.”

1981 – Eric Clapton is admitted to United Hospital in St. Paul, Minnesota after a serious attack of bleeding ulcers. Clapton is forced to cancel a 60-date tour in the United States.

1992 – About 40,000 people attend Farm Aid Five in Irving, Texas. The show is hosted by Willie Nelson and features performances by John Mellencamp, Neil Young and Paul Simon.

2000 – “Both Sides Now,” an album of love songs by Joni Mitchell and other songwriters, is released. She is accompanied by the London Symphony Orchestra.

BIRTHDAY:

Walter Parazaider (Chicago) 1945