Today in music history
1963 - The Beatles
The Beatles on the last night of their tour with Roy Orbison, performed at King George's Hall, Blackburn, Lancashire. It was during this tour that The Beatles' fans started throwing jelly babies at them while they were on stage, after an off-the-cuff remark on television that George Harrison enjoyed eating them.
1964 - Bob Dylan
During an evening session Bob Dylan recorded 'Mr. Tambourine Man' at Columbia Recording Studios in New York City. This was the first session for the Another Side Of Bob Dylan, which saw Dylan recording fourteen original compositions that night. The Byrds later recorded a version of Mr. Tambourine Man that was released as their first single and reached No.1 on both the US & UK Chart. The Byrds' recording of the song was influential in initiating the musical subgenre of folk-rock, leading many contemporary bands to mimic its fusion of jangly guitars and intellectual lyrics in the wake of the single's success.
1967 - Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd played two gigs in one day, the first at the College of Commerce in Hull, and then the UFO at The Blarney Club, Tottenham Court Road, London, England.
1972 - Elvis Presley
Elvis Presley made entertainment history by performing four sold-out shows at New York's Madison Square Garden. George Harrison, John Lennon, David Bowie, Bob Dylan and Art Garfunkel were among music stars that attended the shows. The shows were recorded and became the album 'Elvis as recorded at Madison Square Garden'.
1972 - Bruce Springsteen
Bruce Springsteen signed with Columbia Records and started to assemble the E Street Band from various Asbury Park ex-band mates.
1978 - The Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones released Some Girls, their first studio album recorded with Ronnie Wood as a full member. The album cover was designed by Peter Corriston and featured The Stones in garish drag alongside select female celebrities and lingerie ads. The cover immediately ran into trouble when Lucille Ball, Farrah Fawcett, Liza Minnelli (representing her mother Judy Garland), Raquel Welch, and the estate of Marilyn Monroe threatened legal action.
1979 - Bee Gees
The Bee Gees went to No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Love You inside Out', the group's 9th US No.1 and a No.13 hit in the UK.
1984 - Cyndi Lauper
Cyndi Lauper started a two week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Time After Time' a No.3 hit in the UK. Lauper co-wrote 'Time After Time' with Philadelphia based Rob Hyman of The Hooters.
1990 - Englandneworder
Englandneworder started a two-week run at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'World In Motion'. England's song for the World Cup in 1990, following their No.1 in 1970. In the game they were knocked out by Germany on both occasions.
1990 - MC Hammer
M.C. Hammer's debut album started a record breaking 21 week stay at the top of the US album charts, making it the longest uninterrupted stay at the top since the album charts started.
1990 - 5 Star
Bailiffs repossessed the mansion owned by the group 5 Star after non-payment of the mortgage. The group had achieved 15 top 20 hits over five years.
1990 - Wilson Phillips
Wilson Phillips went to No.1 on the US with 'Hold On'. 25 years earlier to the day Wendy and Carnies father Beach Boy Brian Wilson had been at No.1 with 'Help Me Rhonda'.
1994 - Left Eye
After an argument TLC singer Left Eye set fire to her boyfriend's Atlanta mansion, worth $2 million (£1.176 million), burning it to the ground. She was charged with arson and fined $10,000 (£5,882) with five years probation.
1998 - Mick Hucknall
Oasis singer Liam Gallagher and Simply Red singer Mick Hucknall were involved in a brawl at The Metropolitan Hotel, London.
1998 - The Ronettes
The Ronettes appeared in the Supreme Court of New York for their lawsuit against producer Phil Spector. The Ronettes, whose hits included 'Be My Baby' and 'Walking In The Rain', claimed that Spector had breached the group's 34-year-old contract by paying the members no royalties since 1963. Although The Ronettes went on to win the case, the New York State Court of Appeals overturned the decision in October, 2002, saying that the contract the Ronettes signed with Spector in 1963 was still binding.
2003 - Ronan Keating
Former Boyzone frontman Ronan Keating raised more than £100,000 ($170,000) for cancer charities during a 23 day walk from the Giant's Causeway in County Antrim to Kinsale in County Cork. He visited 610 towns along the way, walking an average of 32km (20 miles) each day.
2007 - George Michael
George Michael became the first music artist to perform at the new Wembley Stadium in London when he played the first of two shows at the venue during his '25 Live Tour'.
2011 - Lokerse Feesten
A Belgian music festival, which prides itself on its horse-meat sausages announced it was going meat-free on the day that vegetarian singer Morrissey appeard. The 10-day Lokerse Feesten, which boasts online about sales of sausage rolls and snails, will order stalls to sell vegetarian food only on 4 August, the day Morrissey is due to appear. In 2009, the singer left the stage at California's Coachella festival saying he could "smell burning flesh". The booking "meant a welcomed catering challenge for one day", it added.
2015 - Jimi Hendrix
A Toronto-based company called Nutritional High announced that they had secured the licensing rights to manufacture and distribute marijuana and hemp-based products using the song titles and bearing the likeness of iconic guitarist Jimi Hendrix.
2016 - Paul Simon
Paul Simon said he was "elated" to notch up his first UK No.1 studio album in 26 years after his 13th solo album, Stranger To Stranger, topped the charts.
2017 - Glen Campbell
Adios the 64th and final studio album by American singer-songwriter Glen Campbell was released. After being diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease, Campbell embarked on a 2011–2012 Farewell Tour. After finishing the tour, he entered the studio in Nashville to record a final album. Longtime collaborator Carl Jackson stated that he had to stand with Campbell in the recording booth to record the vocals "line by line" as Campbell could not remember the lyrics.
Birthdays
1891 - Cole Porter
Cole Porter, American composer and songwriter who wrote countless classic songs, including 'Night And Day', 'I Get A Kick Out Of You', 'Ev'ry Time We Say Goodbye', 'I've Got You Under My Skin'. His most successful musical, Kiss Me, Kate won the first Tony Award for Best Musical. Porter died on 15th Oct 1964.
1915 - Les Paul
Guitarist Les Paul, who had a 1953 UK No.7 single with ‘Vaya Con Dios’ and the US No.7 single ‘Hummingbird’ with Mary Ford featuring his multi-layered recording techniques. He also pioneered ‘close miking’ and echo delay recording. He broke his right arm in a car accident and had it set at an angle so he could still play guitar. Paul died in hospital in White Plains, New York at the age of 94 suffering from severe pneumonia on 13th Aug 2009.
1929 - Johnny Ace
American R&B singer Johnny Ace, who was Billboards 'most played artist of 1955'. Ace had eight hits in a row, including 'Cross My Heart', 'Please Forgive Me' and , 'Never Let Me Go'. He died playing Russian roulette backstage at a gig on December 25th 1954.
1934 - Jackie Wilson
American soul singer Jackie Wilson who scored 24 US Top 40 hits during late 50s & 60s. He had the 1986 UK No.1 single with the re-issued 'Reet Petite'. Van Morrison wrote 'Jackie Wilson Said' which was covered by Dexy's Midnight Runners. He suffered a heart attack on stage at a New Jersey Club in 1975 and was in a coma until he died on January 21st 1984.
1941 - Billy Hatton
Billy Hatton, from English Merseybeat band The Fourmost who had the 1964 UK No.6 single 'A Little Loving'.
1941 - Jon Lord
Jon Lord, keyboardist with English rock band Deep Purple, who had the 1970 UK No.2 single 'Black Night', and the 1973 US No. 4 single 'Smoke On The Water'. He also played with Whitesnake, Paice Ashton Lord, The Artwoods, and The Flower Pot Men. Lord died of cancer on 16th July 2012.
1946 - Stuart Edwards
Stuart Edwards from English pop band Edison Lighthouse who scored the 1970 UK No.1 single 'Love Grows Where My Rosemary Goes'.
1947 - Mick Box
Mick Box, guitarist from English rock band Uriah Heep who had the 1975 UK No.7 album Return To Fantasy. Uriah Heep have sold over 40 million albums worldwide.
1949 - George Bunnell
George Bunnell, from psychedelic rock band Strawberry Alarm Clock who scored the 1967 US No.1 single 'Incense And Peppermints'.
1949 - Francis Monkman
English rock, classical and film score composer Francis Monkman, who with Curved Air had the 1971 UK No.4 single 'Back Street Luv'.
1950 - Trevor Bolder
Trevor Boulder, bass, Spiders From Mars and Uriah Heep. Bolder died from cancer on 21st May 2013 at the age of 62. Bolder appeared on the studio albums Hunky Dory (1971), The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars (1972), Aladdin Sane (1973), and Pin Ups (1973). He joined Uriah Heep in 1976, replacing John Wetton.
1951 - Terry Uttley
Terry Uttley, from English rock band Smokie who had the 1975 UK No.3 single 'If You Think You Know How To Love Me'. Their most popular hit single was 'Living Next Door to Alice'.
1953 - Errol Kennedy
Errol Kennedy, vocals, from English three piece band Imagination, who had the 1982 UK No.2 single 'Just An Illusion'.
1954 - Peter Byrne
Peter Byrne, from UK pop duo Climie Fisher who had the 1988 UK No.2 single 'Love Changes Everything'.
1962 - Eddie Lundon
Eddie Lundon, guitarist with English pop/rock band China Crisis, who had the 1984 UK No.9 single 'Wishful Thinking'.
1967 - Dean Felber
Dean Felber, bassist with American rock band Hootie & the Blowfish who had the 1995 US No.1 album Cracked Rear View which sold over 15m copies.
1970 - Ed Simons
Ed Simons, keyboards, from English electronic music duo The Chemical Brothers who had the 1996 UK No.1 single 'Setting Sun', and the 2007 UK No.1 album We Are The Night.
1972 - Wesley Reid Scantlin
Wesley Reid Scantlin, singer, songwriter, Puddle Of Man.
1978 - Matthew Bellamy
Matthew Bellamy, guitar, vocals, keyboards, from English rock band Muse who scored the 2003 UK No.1 album Absolution, and the 2003 UK No.8 single, ‘Time Is Running Out’. Bellamy won the Sexiest Male Award at the 2007 NME Awards, (and won again in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013 and 2014). Muse have sold over 20 million albums worldwide.
1980 - James Walsh
James Walsh, singer, guitarist, from English post-Britpop band Starsailor who scored the 2001 UK No.2 album Love Is Here.
1983 - Frankee
Frankee (Nicole Francine Aiello), US R&B singer, (2004 UK & Australian No.1 single ‘F.U.R.B.’ (Fuck You Right Back). A response to Eamon's single 'Fuck It (I Don't Want You Back').