1957 - Cliff Richard
16 year-old UK singer Cliff Richard, still known by his real name, Harry Webb, joined the Dick Teague Skiffle Group.
1960 - Chubby Checker
Former chicken plucker Chubby Checker went to No.1 on the US singles chart with 'The Twist'. It made No.14 in the UK in 1962, version with The Fat Boys made No.2 in the UK in 1988.
1960 - Hank Ballard and The Midnighters
Hank Ballard and The Midnighters had the honour of being the first group to have three songs in the US Top 100 at the same time. ‘Finger Poppin’ Time,’ ‘Let’s Go Let’s Go Let’s Go’ and ‘The Twist’ all made the Top 30. Ballard refused to perform ‘The Twist’ on a highly rated US TV show, so Chubby Checker picked it up at the insistence of Dick Clark, and Checker’s version of the song was number 1 this week in 1960.
1964 - John Lennon
Oxfam printed half a million Christmas cards in the UK of a drawing by John Lennon called the Fat Budgie, which was taken from his book A Spaniard in the Works. All profits from the cards went to help raise money for charity. Oxfam re-printed the cards in 2007 as a limited edition card which again sold thousands.
1969 - Creedance Clearwater Revival
Creedence Clearwater Revival scored their only UK No.1 single with 'Bad Moon Rising' a US No.2 hit. Also on this day the group started a four-week run at No.1 on the US album chart with 'Green River.'
1970 - Marc Bolan
The first UK Glastonbury Festival took place featuring Marc Bolan, Ian Anderson, Keith Christmas, Quintessence, Amazing Blondel and Sam Apple Pie.
1970 - Diana Ross
Diana Ross started a three week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Ain't No Mountain High Enough'. The singers first solo No.1 since leaving The Supremes a No.6 in the UK.
1973 - Gram Parsons
Country rock singer, songwriter 26-year-old Gram Parsonsformerly of The Byrds and The Flying Burrito Brothers, died under mysterious conditions in Joshua Tree, California. His death was attributed to heart failure but later was officially announced as a drug overdose. His coffin was stolen by two of his associates, manager Phil Kaufman and Michael Martin, a former roadie for The Byrds, and was taken to Cap Rock in the California desert, where it was set alight, in accordance to Parson's wishes. The two were later arrested by police.
1979 - The No Nukes Concert
The No Nukes concert was held at New York's Madison Square Garden. Performers included Stephen Stills, David Crosby, Jackson Browne, Bonnie Raitt, The Doobie Brothers, Poco, Tom Petty, Carly Simon, James Taylor and Bruce Springsteen.
1981 - Simon and Garfunkel
Simon And Garfunkel reunited for a concert in New York's Central Park. Over 400,000 fans attend the show. The performance was recorded for a record and video release.
1981 - The Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones album 'Tattoo You' started a nine-week run at No.1 on the US chart, the band's ninth US No.1.
1990 - Kylie Minogue
Kylie Minogue's 'Better The Devil You Know' gave producers Stock, Aitken and Waterman their 100th UK chart entry.
1992 - The Shamen
The Shamen started a four-week run at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Ebeneezer Goode'. One of the most controversial UK chart toppers due to its perceived subliminal endorsement of recreational drug use. The song was initially banned by the BBC.
1992 - Radiohead
Radiohead filmed the video for their new single 'Creep' during a show at the Venue, in Oxford, England. During its initial release, 'Creep' was not a chart success. However, upon re-release in 1993, it became a worldwide hit.
1993 - Pearl Jam
Pearl Jam released their second studio album Vs. The album set the record for the most copies of an album sold in its first week, a record it held for five years, despite the fact that the group declined to produce music videos for any of the album’s singles.
1995 - JC Eternal
P.M. Dawn's DJ JC Eternal was arrested on charges of sexual assault and child abuse after an alleged affair with his 14 year-old cousin. He was released on $10,000 bail.
1998 - Robbie Williams
Robbie Williams scored his first solo UK No.1 single with 'Millennium', taken from his from his second album, I've Been Expecting You.
1999 - Ed Cobb
American musician, songwriter, and record producer, Ed Cobb died. He was a member of the Four Preps and he wrote the northern soul hit ‘Tainted Love’ for Gloria Jones, which Soft Cell reworked into one of the biggest pop hits of the 1980s.
2002 - James Brown
James Brown was being sued by his own daughters for more than £650,000 of song royalties they said they were owed. Deanna Brown Thomas and Dr Yamma Brown Lumar, a Texas physician, said Brown had withheld royalties on 25 co-written songs because of a family grudge. The lawsuit claimed that Brown had held a grudge against his daughters since 1998, when Ms Thomas had her father committed to a psychiatric hospital to be treated for addiction to painkillers.
2003 - Paul McCartney
Police were investigating reports that Paul McCartney scuffled with a photographer when the singer went to see magician David Blaine, who was in a plastic box dangling over the River Thames. The London Evening Standard said one of its photographers had clashed with McCartney resulting in a scuffle.
2004 - Celine Dion
Canadian singer Celine Dion extended her Las Vegas show for another year. Dion was reportedly being paid $100m (£66m) for the original three-year run of five 90-minute concerts a week.
2005 - Status Quo
Research published by Guinness World Records showed that Status Quo have had more hit singles than any other band in UK chart history. The band had scored 61 chart successes, dating from ‘Pictures of Matchstick Men’ in 1968 to ‘You'll Come Around’ in 2004. Queen came second with 52 hits, with The Rolling Stonesand UB40 with 51 hits each.
2008 - Earl Palmer
American drummer Earl Palmer died. Worked with The Beach Boys , Little Richard (‘Tutti Frutti’), Frank Sinatra, Ike And Tina Turner (‘River Deep, Mountain High’), The Monkees, Fats Domino (‘I'm Walkin’), Neil Young, Elvis Costello, Tom Waits, The Righteous Brothers (‘You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin’), and Randy Newman, Tom Waits, Bonnie Raitt, Tim Buckley, Little Feat and Elvis Costello.
2008 - George Michael
George Michael was arrested in a public toilet in the Hampstead Heath area of London for possession of Class A and C drugs. He was taken to a local police station and cautioned for controlled substance possession.
2010 - Julian Lennon
John Lennon's son Julian told the press that he has ended his long-running feud with his half-brother Sean and his step-mother Yoko Ono, which started after the former Beatle was murdered in December, 1980. The trio battled in court for a share of the singer's estate, but Julian now said "Things are good between us. Whenever I'm in New York, we all get together."
2014 - Cher
A dance choreographer sued Cher for racial discrimination claiming the singer stopped him hiring any more black dancers. Kevin Wilson alleged Cher told him the tour had "too much colour" already. Mr Wilson and two other dancers had also alleged they were fired for reporting a sexual assault on a female fan by another dancer. Cher's long-running North American D2K (Dressed to Kill) was ranked one of the top 10-grossing tours of 2014 by Pollstar.
Birthdays
1931 - Brook Benton
Brook Benton, US singer, (1959 UK No.28 single 'Endlessly', 1979 US No.4 single 'Rainy Night In Georgia'). He died on 9th April 1998.
1934 - Brian Epstein
Brian Epstein, Beatles manager and manager of other Liverpool acts. Died of an accidental overdose of brandy and barbiturates on 27th August 1967.
1935 - Nick Massi
Nick Massi from American rock and pop band The Four Seasons who had the 1960s hits 'Sherry', 'Big Girls Don't Cry', 'Walk Like a Man', and the 1976 UK & US No.1 single 'December 1963, (Oh What A Night'). They are one of the best-selling musical groups of all time, having sold an estimated 100 million records worldwide. Massi died on 24th December 2000.
1940 - Bill Medley
Bill Medley, The Righteous Brothers, (1965 UK & US No.1 single 'You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin').
1940 - Paul Williams
Paul Williams, US songwriter. Wrote The Carpenters hits 'We've Only Just Begun' & 'Rainy Day's and Mondays.'
1941 - Lee Dorman
Lee Dorman, Iron Butterfly (1968 US No.14 single 'In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida'). Dorman was found dead aged 70 in a vehicle in Orange County on 21st Dec 2012.
1942 - Mike Hurst
Mike Hurst from the British pop-folk vocal trio The Springfields who had the 1962 US No. 20 single 'Silver Threads And Golden Needles', and the 1963 UK No.5 single 'Island Of Dreams'. The Springfields included singer Dusty Springfield and her brother, record producer Tom Springfield.
1943 - Cass Elliot
Cass Elliott, singer, Mamas and the Papas, who scored the 1966 US No.1 & UK No.3 single 'Monday Monday'. After the breakup of The Mamas & the Papas, Elliot embarked on a solo career and had the 1968 hit 'Dream a Little Dream of Me' from her solo album of the same name. Elliott died from a heart attack on 29th July 1974 while staying at Harry Nilsson's London flat in the UK.
1945 - Freda Payne
Freda Payne, US soul singer, who had the 1970 US No.3 & UK No.1 single 'Band Of Gold'. Payne is the older sister of Scherrie Payne, a former singer with The Supremes.
1945 - David Bromberg
David Bromberg, US guitarist, fiddle, mandolin player worked with Bob Dylan.
1946 - John Coghlan
John Coghlan drummer with English rock band Status Quo, (he left in 1982), who had the 1977 UK No.3 single 'Rockin' All Over The World'. Other hits include 'Pictures of Matchstick Men' in 1968, and 'Whatever You Want' in 1979.
1947 - Lol Creme
Lol Creme, vocals. guitar, 10cc, (1975 UK No.1 & US No.2 single 'I'm Not In Love', plus 10 other UK Top 30 hits including 2 No.1's). Godley And Creme (1981 UK No.3 single 'Under Your Thumb'). Now a video producer.
1947 - Ray Cooper
English virtuoso percussionist Ray Cooper who has worked with several musically diverse bands and artists including George Harrison, Billy Joel, Rick Wakeman, Eric Clapton, Pink Floyd, Elton John, Blue Mink, America, Carly Simon and David Essex.
1951 - Daniel Lanois
Daniel Lanois, producer, singer. Produced Peter Gabriel album, 'So', along with albums by Brian Eno, U2, (Bob Dylan. Lanois released the 1990 solo album 'Acadie'.
1952 - Nile Rodgers
American musician, producer Nile Rodgers the lead guitarist and co-founding member with Bernard Edwards of the band Chic who had the 1978 US No.1 & UK No.7 single 'Le Freak'. Produced Diana Ross, Sister Sledge, David Bowie (Let's Dance album), with several hit singles including 'China Girl', 'Modern Love' and the title track, 'Let’s Dance'.
1957 - Rusty Egan
Rusty Egan, The Rich Kids, (1978 UK No.24 single 'Rich Kids'), Visage, (1981 UK No.8 single 'Fade To Grey').
1958 - Lita Ford
Lita Ford, The Runaways, solo, (1989 UK No.47 single with Ozzy Osbourne 'Close My Eyes Forever').
1963 - Jarvis Cocker
Jarvis Cocker, singer, from English rock band Pulp, who had the 1995 UK No.2 single 'Common People'. He quit the band in January 1997. Pulp were regarded among the Britpop "big four", along with Oasis, Blur and Suede. He later presented a BBC Radio 6 Music show called Jarvis Cocker's Sunday Service.
1964 - Trisha Yearwood
Trisha Yearwood, country singer. She sang backing vocals on Garth Brooks' first album.
1969 - Candy Dulfer
saxophonist, Candy Dulfer, (1990 UK No. 6 single 'Lily Was Here' with David A Stewart).
1971 - Paul Winterhart
Paul Winterhart, from English psychedelic rock band Kula Shaker, who had the 1996 UK No.2 single 'Hey Dude'.
1973 - Alan Jay "A. Jay" Popoff
Alan Jay "A. Jay" Popoff, pop punk band Lit.
1977 - Ryan Dusick
Ryan Dusick drummer, Maroon 5, who had the 2004 UK No.1 album ‘Songs About Jane’, the 2004 US No.1 & UK No.4 single ‘She Will Be Loved’. Dusick left the band in 2006.
