Today in Rock History – 21st JANUARY:

BIRTHDAYS
1939: Bob Smith a.k.a. Wolfman Jack
1941: Richie Havens
1942: Edwin Starr
1947: Julian “Pye” Hastings (Caravan)
1958: Anita Baker
1966: Wendy James (Transvision Vamp)
1972: Charlyn Marshall a.k.a. Cat Power

EVENTS
1977: Pink Floyd released their ‘Animals’ album.
1984: Yes started a 2-week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with “Owner of a Lonely Heart”.
1983: Death of bassist, Lamar Williams of The Allman Brothers [aged 36].
1984: Death of singer, Jackie Wilson [aged 49].
2002: Death of singer, Peggy Lee [aged 81].
2003: David Palmer (former keyboard player for Jethro Tull), changed his name to Dee Palmer after a successful sex change operation.

We lost Lamar Williams of The Allman Brothers on this day 41 years ago (pictured centre in photo above). He died of lung cancer in 1981, caused by exposure to Agent Orange (he was drafted to Vietnam in 1968). The Allman Brothers had a very troubled history, but sure put out some great music in the process.

40 years ago, Yes had their biggest hit with “Owner of a Lonely Heart”, which was nothing at all like the epics they had done in the 1970s. At this point in their career, Trevor Rabin was guitarist / vocalist and was the one who penned the smash single. Still trying to figure out what this video means exactly, but it was a huge hit on MTV. (Yes enthusiasts will know that this video is the only moment that Eddie Jobson was a member of the band, although he plays nothing on it).