June 27, 2017

150 years ago
1867

War
Liberal forces in Mexico captured Vera Cruz.

125 years ago
1892

Boxing
World bantamweight champion George Dixon (17-1-9) scored a 14-round knockout over Fred Johnson (33-7-1) at Coney Island Athletic Club in Brooklyn in what was billed as a fight for the 118-pound championship of the world.

100 years ago
1917

Died on this date
Karl Allmenröder, 21. German military aviator. Leutnant Allmenröder flew in teh German Air Service's Jagdstaffel 11 under the command of Manfred von Richtofen, and recorded 30 combat victories from February 16-June 26, 1917. He was shot down and died in a crash near Zillebeke, Belgium.

90 years ago
1927

Politics and government
Japanese Prime Minister Tanaka Giichi convened a "Far East Conference" with members of the Japanese Foreign Ministry, Army Ministry, Navy Ministry, and Finance Ministry to discuss Japan's plans for China; later, a document detailing these plans, the "Tanaka Memorial" was leaked, although it is now considered a forgery.

75 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.

War
U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt and U.K. Prime Minister Winston Churchill issued a joint statement concerning their conference in Washington with the Pacific War Council, indicating that efforts would be made to divert Germany's strength from Russia, and means would be found to relieve China from Japanese pressure. U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation Director J. Edgar Hoover announced the arrest of eight highly-trained saboteurs who had landed on the coasts of Long Island and Florida. The U.S. Navy called for 1,000 owners of small boats capable of ocean travel to volunteer themselves and their boats for service with Coast Guard anti-submarine patrols. U.S. planes from the Hawaiian command attacked Japanese-occupied Wake Island, reportedly damaging airfield and shore batteries without losing any planes.

Politics and government
The Argentine Congress accepted President Roberto Oriz's resignation, and permitted Vice President Ramos Castillo to complete the term ending February 20, 1944.

Agriculture
The U.S.A., U.K., Canada, Argentina, and Australia signed an international agreement to pool 100 million bushels of wheat and flour for relief purposes in war-stricken areas.

Crime
The U.S. Supreme Court denied a stay of execution to Negro sharecropper Odell Waller, whose case had been appealed on the grounds that his jury had failed to contain non-payers of poll taxes.

70 years ago
1947

World events
Sheik Hassan Abu el Seoud, leader of the 1939 Arab revolt against Britain and the 1941 Iraqi uprising, returned from Cairo to Jerusalem with the permission of British authorities.

Diplomacy
A five-nation mediation commission in Washington concluded six weeks of deliberations by rejecting Siamese claims to territory in French Indochina.

The U.S. Senate and House of Representatives completed action on a measure providing $73.5 million for U.S. participation in the Inrternational Refugee Organization.

Politics and government
Indonesian President Ahmed Sukarno accepted the resignation of Prime Minister Sutan Sjahrir and assumed executive control of the state.

General Aleksandr Kotikov, U.S.S.R. representative on the Allied command in Berlin, vetoed the June 24 election of Ernst Reuter as the city's mayor.

The U.S. State Department announced the dismissal of 10 unidentified employees for Communist affiliations or suspected disloyalty. A U.S. federal district court in Washington gave accused Communist agent Gerhard Eisler a maximum one-year prison sentence and a $1,000 fine for contempt of Congress. 16 members of the Joint Anti-Fascist Refugee Committee were also convicted of contempt of Congress for refusing to turn over organization records to the House of Representatives Committee on Un-American Activities.

Economics and finance
Peru lifted import restrictions on all items except certain foods, drugs, and industrial machinery.

Labour
Ford Motor Company granted the United Auto Workers the automobile industry's first pension plan, costing an initial $200 million and $15 million yearly.

60 years ago
1957

Died on this date
Hermann Buhl, 32. Austrian mountaineer. Mr. Buhl led the first ascents of Nanga Parbat (1953) and Broad Peak (1957). Less than three weeks after the ascent of Broad Peak, Mr. Buhl was attempting to climb Chogolisa in Pakistan when he lost his way in a snowstorm, walked over a cornice, and triggered an avalanche which hurled him 900 metres down the mountain's north face, where he remains in the ice.

Politics and government
The Italian Parliament reconfirmed Prime Minister Adone Zoli's cabinet, after Mr. Zoli had resigned rather than govern with a majority dependent on neo-Fascist support.

Communications
The Canadian Overseas Telephone Corporation (COTC) started the first direct radio-telegraph service from Canada to Japan.

Health
The U.K. Medical Research Council reported that the link between smoking and lung cancer was one of "direct cause and effect."

Law
In the wake of the controversy over the case of U.S. Army Private William Girard, whom Japanese authorities wanted to try for the slaying of a Japanese woman at a U.S. firing range near Somagahara, the U.S. House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee approved a resolution barring the trial of U.S. servicemen by foreign courts.

Disasters
Hurricane Audrey made landfall near the Texas–Louisiana border, killing over 400 people, mainly in and around Cameron, Louisiana.

Typhoon Virginia struck Japan and Taiwan, with 86 people listed as dead or missing.

40 years ago
1977

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): Help is on its Way--Little River Band

#1 single in Japan (Oricon Singles Chart): Nagisa no Sindbad--Pink Lady

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Linda--Miguel Bosé (3rd week at #1)

Africana
As a result of 98.8% of voters in a referendum favouring independence from France, French Somaliland became the Republic of Djibouti, with Hassan Gouled Aptidon as the country's first President.

Religion
Joseph Ratzinger, the future Pope Benedict XVI, was named a cardinal by Pope Paul VI.

Protest
U.K. Home Secretary Merlyn Rees appealed for calm following two weeks of violent clashes outside the Grunwick factory in north London.

30 years ago
1987

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

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Multimix--The Communards (7th week at #1)

#1 single in Flanders (Ultratop 50): Hold Me Now--Johnny Logan (4th week at #1)

#1 single in the Netherlands (De Nederlandse Top 40): I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)--Whitney Houston (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): Star Trekkin'--The Firm

#1 single in the U.K. (New Musical Express): Star Trekkin'--The Firm

#1 single in the U.K. (BMRB): 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 were 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); Holiday by Kool & The Gang (#87); and Why Can't I Be You? by the Cure (#89).

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 were 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); In the Name of Money by Gino Vannelli (#97); and Goin' Off the Deep End by Lee Aaron (#98).

Music
10 of Winnipeg's early rock bands performed at a Winnipeg nightclub in a concert organized by local rock historian John Einarson. The show featured former Guess Who bandmates Randy Bachman and Burton Cummings, jamming with Neil Young; they were joined by Guess Who founder Chad Allan and Fred Turner, formerly of Bachman-Turner Overdrive.

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 Stampeders 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.



25 years ago
1992

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

#1 single in Japan (Oricon Singles Chart): Kimi ga iru dakede--Kome Club (5th week at #1)

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

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Sensacion de Vivir--Xuxa

#1 single in Flanders (Ultratop 50): Rhythm is a Dancer--Snap! (2nd week at #1)

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

#1 single in the Netherlands (De Nederlandse Top 40): Rhythm is a Dancer--Snap! (4th week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (Chart Information Network): Abba-esque (EP)--Erasure (3rd 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 were The One by Elton John (#68); Whatever it Takes (To Make You Stay) by Troop (#70); Mr. Loverman by Shabba Ranks (#73); You Remind Me by Mary J. Blige (#78); I Need Love by Olivia Newton-John (#79); Reach for the Sky by Firehouse (#82); 57 Channels (And Nothin' On) by Bruce Springsteen (#88); Sleeping with the Lights On by Curtis Stigers (#91); and Forever in Your Eyes by Mint Condition (#94).

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 were Friday I'm in Love by the Cure (#47); The One by Elton John (#59); Baby When I Call Your Name by Corey Hart (#63); Too Funky by George Michael (#65); Teen Angst (What the World Needs Now) by Cracker (#80); Achy Breaky Heart by Billy Ray Cyrus (#84); Good Stuff by the B-52's (#88); If You Believe by Kenny Loggins (#90); and Hero in Me by Jeffrey Gaines (#91).

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.

20 years ago
1997

Hit parade
#1 single in Germany (Media Control): I'll Be Missing You--Puff Daddy featuring Faith Evans and 112

#1 single in Sweden (Topplistan): Bailando--Paradisio (9th week at #1)

Football
CFL
Hamilton (0-1) 17 @ Montreal (1-0) 27
Winnipeg (0-1) 23 @ Toronto (1-0) 38


10 years ago
2007

Died on this date
William Hutt, 87. Canadian actor. Mr. Hutt, a native of Toronto, had a career on stage, television, and film that spanned 50 years, but was mainly known as a stage actor--especially through his involvement with the Stratford Festival--and was one of the few people to be able to earn a living in Canada as a stage actor. He was also known for playing Sir John A. Macdonald in the television docudrama series The National Dream (1974).

World events
The Brazilian Military Police invaded the favelas (slums) of Complexo do Alemão and killed 19 people in an episode which is remembered as the Complexo do Alemão massacre.

Politics and government
Tony Blair resigned as British Prime Minister after 10 years in office, and was officially confirmed as Middle East envoy for the United Nations, European Union, United States, and Russia. He was succeeded as Prime Minister by Chancelor of the Exchequer Gordon Brown.

Former Quebec finance minister Pauline Marois was chosen by acclamation in Quebec City as Parti Québecois leader, succeeding André Boisclair, who had resigned on May 8. The PQ had won 36 seats in the provincial election on March 26, finishing third.