August 19th, 1972, The Midnight Special debuts on NBC TV. At first, it’s just supposed to be a one-off, but it does so well that by the next year it’s part of the regular broadcast schedule and they bring in Wolfman Jack to host. It’s a show done in a concert setting and the very first episode kicks off with the band War performing their hit, “Slipping into Darkness.”
Today in 1969, Crosby, Stills and Nash joined Joni Mitchell on the Dick Cavett Show. They are there to recap the Woodstock Festival, which just happened the previous weekend. Joni had wanted to attend the festival, but her manager said, look, we’ve got your book to be on the Dick Cavett Show. I don’t want you to miss it. Don’t go. And she didn’t. But she got enough of the feel of the festival to be able to write the song “Woodstock” that became popular being recorded by Crosby, Stills and Nash.
Today in 1968, the final episode of The Monkees TV show airs on primetime TV. The Monkees are a boy band for the 60s. They put out all these ads to put together a band just for the television show.
And then we take a look at the calendar. We find a few rock birthdays on it. Born today in 1951, bassist from Queen John Deacon. Born today in 1945, singer from Deep Purple Ian Gillan. And born today in 1939, the late great drummer from Cream, Ginger Baker.
