Tommy’s Coffee Break Calendar for February 12th

A Motown first! -- A drug raid, but wait... -- A birthday for a great vocalist who we think is kinda taken for granted...

Michael McDonald in concert; Nashville, Sept. 2014. (Photo: Rick Diamond/Getty Images)

2/12/1961 (59 years ago today) - The Miracles' "Shop Around" became Motown's first million selling single, as well as being the label's first No. 1 on the Billboard R&B chart -- Over the next ten years, Smokey Robinson and the band would accrue six more million selling 45's, including "I Second That Emotion", "The Tracks Of My Tears", "You've Really Got A Hold On Me" (covered by The Beatles), and "Going To A Go-Go" (covered by The Rolling Stones) -- You pretty much can't go wrong with "The Miracles Greatest Hits" is what we're sayin'...

2/12/1967 (53 years ago today) - British police raided the West Sussex home of Keith Richards during a weekend party there, armed with a warrant issued under the "dangerous drugs act". They took away various substances for forensic testing, but not before they covered their asses public-relations-wise: seems George Harrison and wife Pattie had been at the house, but the cops waited for them to leave before moving in so as not to bust the holder of an MBE (Member of the British Empire). Some rock stars are more equal than others?...

2/12/1952 - Happy Birthday to singer-songwriter (and ex-but-still-occasional Doobie Brother) Michael McDonald, 68 years old today. There's absolutely no mistaking this guy's pipes for anyone else on the planet -- Born in St. Louis, Mike's soulful and distinctive baritone has graced recordings from Steely Dan, Bonnie Raitt, Toto, Jack Jones[!!], Patti LaBelle, Kenny Loggins, Ray Charles and Carly Simon. Did you know...?: he co-wrote "I'll Wait" on Van Halen's "1984" -- Years ago, the Guru and I had the pleasure of hanging out with Mr. McDonald in the WBLM studios where he was helping school kids with a songwriting course and we gotta tell ya, Mike was a genuinely warm and friendly dude and hearing him sing live from just a few feet away was the definition of 'mind-blowing'...