I CRIED by TAMMI TERRELL

Best known for her 7 hit collaborations with Marvin Gaye, Tammi Terrell had an earlier successful solo career in her own right. This song was recorded when she was still a teenager under her earlier stage name of Tammy Montgomery. 

Born Thomasina Montgomery in Philadelphia, she was named after her father Thomas, a barbershop owner and local politician. Her mother Jennie was an actress.

After years suffering from headaches, one evening in 1967 she actually collapsed on stage into Marvin's arms and after 8 unsuccessful operations for a diagnosed brain tumour, passed away in 1970 aged only 24. 

There have often been rumours that in the latter days she was so ill that her vocals had to be touched up by using Valerie Simpson (of Ashford and Simpson - Solid fame) to help out.

Marvin, who was totally besotted with her although insisted their relationship was no more than platonic, never got over her passing and his legendary "What's Going On?" album of 1971 was in part a reaction to her death. 

At her funeral her mother banned all Motown personnel from attending in protest at their ignorance towards her treatment by Temptations singer David Ruffin, who abused her while in a relationship. All except Marvin that was.

EVERYDAY by SLADE

"Everyday" was something of a strange choice as a Slade single being it was not as "gung-ho" as previous releases, but it was a hit reaching no.3 in the UK charts.

Released as the 2nd single from the album Old, New, Borrowed and Blue, the idea for "Everyday" came out of an evening at Jim Lea's house where he was entertaining friends. Responding to the question of how he wrote songs, he said "easy, anyone can do it" and each person then attempted to come up with their idea for a song, there and then on the spot. 

Noddy Holder, Jim Lea, Dave Hill and Don Powell

Lea's wife Louise came up with an idea, which formed the basis of the song's verse. Lea later developed her idea further to become a Slade song. Once he had finished the music and some more of the lyrics, Noddy Holder finished the final lyrics off and "Everyday" was born! Initially Louise was not given a credit for her part in the songs' creation, but eventually this omission was rectified.

As an interesting snippet, at the time of recording of the song, lead guitarist Dave Hill was abroad on honeymoon so Lea actually played the guitar solo himself.

The Video Game Made Me Do It!

20 years ago on 25th June 2003, Two American step-brothers, Joshua and William Buckner (16 and 14 respectively), shot at vehicles on Interstate 40 in Tennessee with a .22 calibre rifle, killing a 45-year-old man and wounding a 19‑year‑old woman. 

The boys both claimed they had been bored and decided to mimic their favourite video game Grand Theft Auto III.

The families of the two victims subsequently sued the boys, their parents, Rockstar Games who created the game, Take-Two Interactive who published it, Wal-Mart who sold it to them, and Sony Computer Entertainment America who manufactured the PlayStation 2 console they played it on.

The Telcan - the First Home Video Recorder

60 years ago on 24th June 1963, long before video systems Betamax and VHS, the first home video recorder was demonstrated at the BBC’s Alexandra Palace studios in London.

Designed by Norman Rutherford and Michael Turner and manufactured by the Nottingham Electric Valve Company, the Telcan was a reel-to-reel tape recorder capable of recording only 20 minutes of video on either side of the tape. It only worked in monochrome and was very expensive. 

Surprisingly it was not a commercial success.

Further reading :https://www.inventricity.com/telcan-first-home-video-recorder

Steve Fossett Cicumnavigates the World (20 Years on)

On this day in 2002 (3rd July), American businessman and adventurer Steve Fossett became the first person to circumnavigate the world solo in a balloon (the Spirit of Freedom). This was his sixth attempt and he held records for five nonstop circumnavigations  of the Earth: as a long-distance balloonist, a sailor and as a solo flight fixed-wing aircraft pilot.

Fossett disappeared in September 2007 whilst flying over the GreatBasin Desert (between California and Nevada) and was legalled declared dead in the following year. Later in the same year the wreckage of the aircraft was found in the Sierra Nevada mountains.

Further reading

mikegodfreywriter.weebly.com/

2nd July 1947 – The Roswell Incident

The Roswell Incident, New Mexico, USA.

75 years ago today (2nd July 1947) a UFO reportedly crash-landed on a ranch, and debris with strange markings and unusual properties was found. The U.S. Air Force later claimed it was a device for monitoring nuclear activity.

Some witnesses also reported seeing the bodies of aliens, which the Air Force said were mannequins. The incident has been the subject of numerous conspiracy theories ever since.

Further reading...

mikegodfreywriter.weebly.com/

Louis Bleriot - Born 150 Years Ago

150 years ago today (1^st July 1872) , French inventor and aviation pioneer Louis Blériot, was born.

He developed the first practical headlamp for cars and used the money to build the first successful powered monoplane. He also developed the modern aircraft control system and in 1909 became the first person to fly across the English Channel winning a prize of £1000 put up by the Daily Mail newspaper.

He died, aged 64, from a heart attack in August 1936.

Further reading

mikegodfreywriter.weebly.com/