Rock ‘n’ Roll History on August 26: Jimi Hendrix * The Beatles * Donna Summer * Don Henley
1967
August 26, 1967
Jimi Hendrix’s “Purple Haze” is released, 54 years ago. Although it is now considered a Rock ‘n’ Roll classic, the single only reached #65 on the Billboard chart.
The Jimi Hendrix Experience’s bassist, Noel Redding, died at his home in Ireland of unknown causes on May 11, 2003, at the age of 57. Drummer Mitch Mitchell was found dead in a Portland, Ore. hotel room on November 12, 2008. He was 62.
1968
August 26
Apple Corps releases five single records, including The Beatles’ “Hey Jude” backed by “Revolution”54-years ago. It will become the band’s biggest hit.
1976
August 26
Donna Summer groans and sighs her way through her erotic Disco hit “Love To Love You Baby” on American Bandstand. Even though the song reached #2 in America, Donna later admitted that she was not completely sure of some of the lyrics, and parts of the song were improvised during the recording.
1989
August 26
Ringo Starr wins a court order to prevent a record producer from releasing material Starr considered to be of inferior quality due to the impaired state Starr was in when it was recorded.
August 26
Eagles’ drummer Don Henley sees his solo effort, “The End of the Innocence” peak at #8 on the Billboard Hot 100.
1966
August 27
The Association’s “Cherish” is released in the US, where it will reach #1 a month later. Although the song is actually longer, the label showed the running time to be exactly three minutes, to keep radio programmers from dismissing the record as too long
