June 27, 2012

150 years ago
1862

War
In the U.S. Civil War, 57,000 Confederate troops under General Robert E. Lee attacked Union Brigadier General Fitz John Porter's 34,000 troops at Gaines Mill, Virginia.

140 years ago
1872

Born on this date
Paul Laurence Dunbar. U.S. writer. Mr. Dunbar, a child of former slaves, was the most famous Negro writer in the United States at the turn of the 20th century, publishing 22 books and numerous poems and song lyrics.

90 years ago
1922

Literature
The John Newbery Medal for the author of the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children was awarded for the first time. The first winner was Hendrik Willem van Loon for his novel The Story of Mankind.

70 years ago
1942

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Sleepy Lagoon--Harry James and his Orchestra (2nd week at #1)

Born on this date
Happy Birthday, Bruce Johnston!
The Beach Boys’ musician is one week younger than the group's founder and leader, Brian Wilson. Mr. Johnston was born Benjamin Baldwin in Peoria, Illnois and adopted by a family from Chicago named Johnston, who moved to Los Angeles. Mr. Johnston wrote and produced records as a teenager for artists such as the Gamblers and Ron Holden, and performed on his own and with Terry Melcher as Bruce & Terry. When Brian Wilson quit touring with the Beach Boys at the end of 1964, session guitarist Glen Campbell replaced him on tour in the early months of 1965, but decided to pursue a solo career instead of joining the group full-time. Mr. Johnston joined the Beach Boys on tour on April 9, 1965, and joined them in the studio for the first time when California Girls was recorded a month later. He didn't appear on the front cover of a Beach Boys' album until Friends (1968), although he can be seen in photos on the back cover of Pet Sounds (1966), and was present at photo sessions for several earlier albums. Mr. Johnston's composition Tears in the Morning, on which he sang lead, was released as a single in October 1970, but failed to become a hit except in the Netherlands. Disney Girls (1957), released in 1971 as a track on the Surf's Up album, wasn't released as a single, but was highly regarded and covered by other artists, including Art Garfunkel, and is occasionally performed by the Beach Boys in concert to this day. Mr. Johnston fell out with then-Beach Boys' manager Jack Rieley and left the group early in 1972, shortly after the beginning of recording for the album Carl and the Passions--"So Tough" (1972). With Mr. Melcher, he formed the group California Music (later known as California), who released several singles from 1974-1978. Barry Manilow had a major hit in late 1975-early 1976 with Mr. Johnston's composition I Write the Songs, which won a Grammy Award in 1977 as song of the year. Mr. Johnston released a solo album titled Going Public in 1977. In late 1978, Mr. Johnston rejoined the Beach Boys as a performer, songwriter, and producer, and has remained with the group ever since. For most of the time since 1999, he and Mike Love have been the only real Beach Boys performing under the group's name.

Happy Birthday, Danny Breeden!
Mr. Breeden, a native of Albany, Georgia, was a catcher who played 3 games with the Cincinnati Reds in 1969 and
25 games with the Chicago Cubs in 1971. In 28 games he batted .151 with no home runs and 5 runs batted in. Mr. Breeden played in the minor leagues from 1963-1973, batting .257 with 51 home runs and 266 runs batted in in 946 games. Mr. Breeden's brother Hal, a first baseman, was my favourite player for several years when he was with the Montreal Expos. The brothers were teammates with the Cubs in 1971. Hal was born two years and one day after Danny.

60 years ago
1952

On television tonight
Tales of Tomorrow, on ABC
Tonight's episode: Appointment on Mars, starring Leslie Nielsen, William Redfield, and Brian Keith



40 years ago
1972

Hockey
After 15 years with the Chicago Black Hawks, Bobby Hull signed with the Winnipeg Jets of the new World Hockey Association. The contract was for $2.5 million over 10 years. Mr. Hull was named the team's head coach, and would continue his playing career. "The Golden Jet" had scored 604 goals with the Black Hawks; only Gordie Howe of the Detroit Red Wings, with 786 goals in 25 seasons, had scored more.

Boxing
Danny McAlinden (21-2-2) won the British and Commonwealth heavyweight titles by knocking out defending champion Jack Bodell (58-13) at 1:31 of the 2nd round at Villa Park in Birmingham, England. It was the last professional fight for Mr. Bodell.



Former world heavyweight champion Muhammad Ali (37-1) scored a technical knockout over Jerry Quarry (43-6-4) at 19 seconds of the 7th round at the Las Vegas Convention Center. On the undercard, Bob Foster (48-5) retained his world light heavyweight title with a knockout of Mr. Quarry’s younger brother Mike (35-1) in the 4th round. For Jerry Quarry, it was his second loss to Mr. Ali in less than two years; for Mike Quarry, the loss to Mr. Foster was the first defeat of his professional career.





30 years ago
1982

War
Israel issued a new peace proposal with three major points: The Israeli army would maintain the cease-fire in Beirut, but would react with full severity if it were violated by the Palestine Liberation Organization; the Lebanese army would occupy west Beirut; and all members of the PLO would turn over their weapons to the Lebanese army and leave the country.

Disasters
Weekend windstorms in the southern Brazilian state of Parana killed 43 people and injured 500.

Football
CFL
Pre-season
Winnipeg (3-0) 25 @ Saskatchewan (2-2) 16

25 years ago
1987

Hit parade
#1 single in Italy: Let it Be--Ferry Aid (5th week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K.: Star Trekkin'--The Firm (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)--Whitney Houston

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Head to Toe--Lisa Lisa and Cult Jam (2nd week at #1)
2 I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)--Whitney Houston
3 Always--Atlantic Starr
4 Alone--Heart
5 Songbird--Kenny G
6 In Too Deep--Genesis
7 Shakedown--Bob Seger
8 You Keep Me Hangin' On--Kim Wilde
9 Diamonds--Herb Alpert (vocals by Lisa Keith and Janet Jackson)
10 Just to See Her--Smokey Robinson

Singles entering the chart included It's Not Over ('Til it's Over) by Starship (#66); Living in a Box by Living in a Box (#80); Jam Tonight by Freddie Jackson (#82); Lies by Jonathan Butler (#86); and Holiday by Kool & The Gang (#87).

Canada’s Top 10 (RPM)
1 You Keep Me Hangin' On--Kim Wilde
2 Nothing's Gonna Change My Love For You--Glenn Medeiros
3 I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)--Whitney Houston
4 Always--Atlantic Starr
5 Boom Boom--Paul Lekakis
6 Head to Toe--Lisa Lisa and Cult Jam
7 (I Just) Died in Your Arms--Cutting Crew
8 La Isla Bonita--Madonna
9 Looking for a New Love--Jody Watley
10 Alone--Heart

Singles entering the chart included Don't Mean Nothing by Richard Marx (#86); Luka by Suzanne Vega (#91); Endless Nights by Eddie Money (#94); Ocean Blues (Emotion Blue) by Tom Cochrane (#96); and In the Name of Money by Gino Vannelli (#97).

Football
CFL
Calgary (1-1) 16 @ Edmonton (1-0) 54

Henry “Gizmo” Williams set a CFL single-game record with 221 yards on punt returns, and returned 2 for touchdowns to help the Eskimos defeat the Eskimos at Commonwealth Stadium. Edmonton cornerback Greg Harding intercepted a Rick Worman pass on the last play of the 1st half; it was his last CFL interception, because he was cut from the team before the next game. Starting Edmonton quarterback Matt Dunigan led the team to an early touchdown, but was soon injured, and was replaced by Damon Allen.



20 years ago
1992

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (ARIA): Jump--Kris Kross

#1 single in Italy: Rhythm is a Dancer--Snap! (5th week at #1)

#1 single in France: Smells Like Teen Spirit--Nirvana (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): I'll Be There--Mariah Carey (2nd week at #1)

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 I'll Be There--Mariah Carey
2 Baby Got Back--Sir Mix-a-Lot
3 Under the Bridge--Red Hot Chili Peppers
4 Jump--Kris Kross
5 Damn I Wish I was Your Lover--Sophie B. Hawkins
6 Achy Breaky Heart--Billy Ray Cyrus
7 If You Asked Me To--Celine Dion
8 My Lovin' (You're Never Gonna Get It)--En Vogue
9 Tennessee--Arrested Development
10 The Best Things in Life are Free--Luther Vandross and Janet Jackson

Singles entering the chart included I Need Love by Olivia Newton-John (#79) and Sleeping with the Lights On by Curtis Stigers (#91).

Canada's Top 10 (RPM)
1 If You Asked Me To--Celine Dion (3rd week at #1)
2 Hold on My Heart--Genesis
3 Under the Bridge--Red Hot Chili Peppers
4 You Won't See Me Cry--Wilson Phillips
5 Damn I Wish I was Your Lover--Sophie B. Hawkins
6 Do it to Me--Lionel Richie
7 America--Kim Mitchell
8 I'll Be There--Mariah Carey
9 Why--Annie Lennox
10 Sinking Like a Sunset--Tom Cochrane

Singles entering the chart included The One by Elton John (#59); Too Funky by George Michael (#65); Achy Breaky Heart by Billy Ray Cyrus (#84); Good Stuff by the B-52's (#88); and If You Believe by Kenny Loggins (#90).

Died on this date
Allan Jones, 84. U.S. singer and actor. Mr. Jones appeared in the Marx Brothers movies A Night at the Opera and A Day at the Races (1937). In The Firefly (1937), he sang Donkey Serenade, which became his signature song. Mr. Jones was the father of singer Jack Jones, who was born the night Donkey Serenade was recorded.

Track and field
World decathlon champion Dan O'Brien failed to clear the 15-foot, 9-inch minimum height in the pole vault in three attempts at the U.S. Olympic Trials in New Orleans, and failed to make the U.S. Olympic team for the games in Barcelona. The result was a disaster for the Reebok shoe company, which had made Mr. O'Brien the focus of a $25-million advertising campaign.

10 years ago
2002

Died on this date
John Entwistle, 57. U.K. musician. Mr. Entwistle played bass guitar for the rock group the Who. Generally regarded as the “quiet” man of the group, he died after a night of partying in Las Vegas with a floozie while on tour with the Who.

Economics and finance
At the Group of Eight (the world’s major industrialized nations) meeting in Calgary, a program was announced that would give billions of dollars in aid to African countries that adopted a range of reforms in their governments and economies.

Law
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that a program in Cleveland whereby public school money was given to students in the form of vouchers to be used at the private school of their choice did not violate the separation of church and state, even though 95% of the vouchers were used to pay tuition at religious schools.