July 4

2008: The movie Mamma Mia!, featuring the music of ABBA and based on the long-running musical of the same name, opens in Sweden. The group attends the screening, briefly reuniting Benny Andersson, Bjorn Ulvaeus, Anni-Frid Lyngstad, and Agnetha Faltskog.  Dancing Queen and Mama Mia! are two of the hits featured in the film and musical..

1999: Victoria Adams, better known as Posh Spice of The Spice Girls, marries soccer star David Beckham.  Wannabee was the Spice Girls first hit.

1990: The rap group 2 Live Crew releases the single Banned in the U.S.A. with the blessing of Bruce Springsteen, who approves the use of a sample from Born In The U.S.A.

1976: Elton John and Kiki Dee release their #1 duet Don’t Go Breaking My Heart.

1972: Willie Nelson inaugurates his annual Fourth of July Picnic in Dripping Springs, Texas.  On The Road Again is his signature song.  His cover version of Always On My Mind was Billboard’s No. 1 country song of 1982

1911: Mitch Miller is born.  He was head of A&R for Columbia Records and the host of the popular sing-along TV show Sing Along With Mitch.

1900: Jazz legend Louis Armstrong claimed to have been born on this day.  Scholars now believe he was actually born on August 4, 1901.  Hello Dolly was the last of his many big hits.

Songs of The Day:

Dancing Queen (ABBA); Mama Mia! (Abba); Wannabee (Spice Girls); Banned In The U.S.A. (2 Live Crew); Born In The U.S.A. (Bruce Springsteen); Don’t Go Breaking My Heart (Elton John/Kiki Dee); On The Road Again (Willie Nelson); Always On My Mind (Willie Nelson); Hello Dolly (Louis Armstrong)