Today in Rock History – 11th JANUARY:

BIRTHDAYS
1895: Laurens Hammond (Inventor of the Hammond organ)
1924: Slim Harpo
1942: Clarence Clemons (The E Street Band)
1946: Tony Kaye (Yes / Badger / Detective / David Bowie Band / Badfinger / Circa)
1952: Lee Ritenour
1958: Vicki Peterson (The Bangles)
1971: Mary Jane Blige
1981: Chris Edwards (Kasabian)

EVENTS
1967: The Jimi Hendrix Experience recorded “Purple Haze” & Jimi signed to Track Records.
1985: An estimated 250,000 people attended the Brazilian ‘Rock in Rio’ Festival, which featured Yes, Queen, Rod Stewart, AC/DC, Ozzy Osbourne, Whitesnake, Iron Maiden & others.
1990: I interviewed David Coverdale of Whitesnake / Deep Purple.
1992: Nirvana’s ‘Nevermind’ went to No.1 on the US album chart.
2002: Death of percussionist / bassist, Mickey Finn of T. Rex [aged 55].

Happy 79th Birthday to Tony Kaye, original keyboard player for Yes! Pictured centre (with broken leg) in the photo, Tony was there for the first three albums (1968-71) and was also part of the very successful line-up of Yes in the ‘80s. Mr. Kaye was on keys for Bowie’s 1976 ‘Station to Station’ tour as well and played for other bands, such as Badger & Badfinger. Tony was a special guest on the 2018 tour with Yes.

Originally taken from ‘The Yes Album’ ~ which is chock-a-block with Tony’s great Hammond organ sound ~ here’s a scorching version of “Yours is No Disgrace”!