1956 - Pat Boone

American singer, actor Pat Boone was at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'I'll Be Home.' Boone scored over 30 UK Top 40 hit singles during the 50s and early 60s and was the second biggest charting artist behind only Elvis Presley. 

1964 - The Beatles

On their first world tour The Beatles took a flight from Hong Kong to Australia making an unscheduled fuel stop in Darwin, where over 400 fans greeted their aircraft. The Beatles then flew on to Sydney, where they arrive in the middle of a heavy downpour. The group were required to appear in an open-top truck in the pouring rain to wave at the 1,000's of fans greeting them at the airport.

1964 - The Rolling Stones

The first edition of the official The Rolling Stones book was issued, priced at one and six, (the publication ran for 30 issues). Also on this day, at producers Phil Spector’s suggestion, The Stones recorded 'It's All Over Now', 'I Can’t Be Satisfied' and 'Time Is On My Side' at Chess studios in Chicago. During the day, the Stones got to meet, Muddy Waters, Willie Dixon, Buddy Guy and Chuck Berry.

1966 - The Monkees

The Monkees first recording sessions took place. These sessions featured members of the Wrecking Crew, a group of studio musicians in Los Angeles but proved to be unsuccessful.

1966 - Steve Marriott

Steve Marriott of the Small Faces collapsed while performing on UK TV show Ready Steady Go! The group were forced to cancel the following weeks gigs.

1972 - The Rolling Stones

The Rolling Stones double album Exile on Main Street went to No.1 on the UK chart, the bands seventh UK No.1 album. In 2010, the re-released album entered the UK chart at No.1, almost 38 years to the week after it first occupied that position. The Rolling Stones are the first act to ever have a studio album return to No.1 after it was first released.

1975 - The Eagles

The Eagles released their fourth studio album One of These Nights which became the Eagles' first No.1 album on Billboard's chart. The album produced three top 10 singles 'One of These Nights', 'Lyin' Eyes' and 'Take It to the Limit'. 

1977 - Joe Strummer

Joe Strummer and Nicky Headon from The Clash were each fined £5 ($8.50) by a London court for spray-painting The Clashon a wall.

1978 - John Travolta

John Travolta and Olivia Newton John went to No.1 on the US singles chart with 'You're The One That I Want' also No.1 in the UK.

1982 - Addie Harris

Addie Harris from The Shirelles died of a heart attack after a show in Atlanta. 1961 US No.1 & UK No.4 single 'Will You Love Me Tomorrow'. Became the first all girl group to have a number one single on the Billboard Hot 100.

1983 - Chris Sievey

Chris Sievey of UK group The Freshies released the first computer game single. When played on a Sinclair ZX 81 computer via a record deck the lyrics of the song came on the screen.

1989 - Jason Donovan

Jason Donovan was at No.1 on the UK singles chart with his version of the Brian Hyland 1962 hit 'Sealed With A Kiss'. Donovan became the first Australian act to enter the UK charts at No.1.

1991 - Eddie Kendricks

Temptations member Eddie Kendricks was arrested while attending the funeral of soul singer David Ruffin in Detroit on charges of owing $26,000 ($15,294) in child support.

1993 - Sinead O'Connor

Irish singer Sinead O’Connor took out a full-page ad in the Irish Times asking the public to "stop hurting me please." She blamed her troubles on abuse she suffered as a child. O'Connor was still being criticized for ripping up a picture of the Pope during an appearance on Saturday Night Live the previous October.

2001 - Radiohead

Radiohead went to No.1 on the UK album chart with 'Amnesiac'. The band's fifth studio album debuted at No.2 on the US Billboard 200 and produced three singles, 'Pyramid Song', 'I Might Be Wrong' and 'Knives Out'.

2004 - Ray Charles

US singer, songwriter Ray Charles died aged 73. Glaucoma rendered Charles blind at the age of six. He scored the 1962 UK & US No.1 single 'I Can't Stop Loving You' plus over 30 other US Top 40 singles and the 2005 US No.1 album 'Genius Loves Company.' Charles who was married twice and fathered twelve children by nine different women appeared in the 1980 hit movie, The Blues Brothers was also the winner of 17 Grammy Awards.

2006 - Led Zeppelin

The surviving members of Led Zeppelin met at a secret rehearsal space in England to run through songs for the forthcoming 02 Arena benefit tribute to Atlantic Records co-founder, the late Ahmet Ertegun. It was the first time the three members had been in the same room with instruments since their four-song set at Led Zeppelin's 1995 induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

2007 - Rihanna

Rihanna went to No.1 on the UK album chart with her third album Good Girl Gone Bad, featuring the single ‘Umbrella’. which spent 10 consecutive weeks at No.1 in the UK making it the longest running No.1 single since Wet Wet Wet's ‘Love Is All Around'.

2007 - The Rolling Stones

The Rolling Stones played their first UK festival in over 30 years when they appeared at the Isle of Wight Festival. The Stones arrived at the Isle of Wight on their own privately chartered ferry for their 200-strong entourage including five Winnebago trailers and private security team. The Stones last UK festival appearance was Knebworth Fair in 1976.

2007 - R. Kelly

R. Kelly was at No.1 on the US album chart with Double Up. His eleventh studio album featured guest appearances by Snoop Dogg, Nelly, T.I., Usher, Huey, Ludacris and Kid Rock.

2009 - Jimmy Page

Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page was inducted into the Mojo Hall Of Fame at the magazine's award ceremony. Singer Richard Hawley won the best album prize, while Kasabian's single ‘Fire’ was named song of the year. Mojo had become the best-selling music magazine in the UK, selling more than twice as many copies as NME. A further 16 honorary prizes were handed out. They included the classic album award, which went to The Stone Roses for their 1989 self-titled debut LP and veteran space rockers Hawkwind accepted the Mojo Maverick honour.

2009 - Cher

The daughter of Cher, Chastity Bono was set to undergoing a sex change to become a man. The gender-swap process began shortly after Bono's 40th birthday in March and more than a decade after she came out as a lesbian.

2016 - Rod Stewart

Rod Stewart was knighted in the Queen's Birthday Honours list for services to music and charity. Stewart said: "I've led a wonderful life and have had a tremendous career thanks to the generous support of the great British public. This monumental honour has topped it off and I couldn't ask for anything more."

2019 - Ed Sheeran

Ed Sheeran was the most-played artist in the UK in 2018, while ‘Feel It Still’ by Portugal The Man was 2018's most-played song. Sheeran topped the chart despite not releasing new music; and without an entry in the Top 10 most-played tracks, suggesting his entire catalogue of hits remains on rotation on the radio. It was the third time in four years that he's been the UK's most-played artist. Calvin Harris came second and Little Mix were third.

Birthdays

1910 - Howlin Wolf

Chester Burnett, (Howlin Wolf) Chicago blues singer, guitarist and harmonica player. Several of his songs, including 'Smokestack Lightnin'', 'Back Door Man', 'Killing Floor' and 'Spoonful', have become blues and blues rock standards. He died from cancer on January 10th 1976.

1922 - Judy Garland

Judy Garland, singer, actress. Played Dorothy in the 1939 film 'Wizard Of Oz' sang 'Over The Rainbow' in the film, 1961 US No.1 comeback album 'Judy At Carnegie Hall'. 'Over The Rainbow' was voted the 'Song Of The Century' in a 2001 poll published in America. She died June 22nd 1969 of a barbiturate overdose.

1934 - Gerald Gregory

Born on this day American singer Gerald Gregory from Fifties doo-wop group The Spaniels. Their 1954 hit 'Goodnite, Sweetheart, Goodnite' was featured in such films as Three Men and a Baby and American Graffiti. The Spaniels became one of the first artists to sign with Vee-Jay Records, the first large, independent Afro-American owned record label. He died on 12 February 1999.

1941 - Shirley Owens

Shirley Owens, singer with American girl group The Shirelles, notable for their popularity in the early 1960s. They were the first all-female black group to have a No.1 hit record with 'Will You Love Me Tomorrow' in 1961.

1944 - Rick Price

Rick Price, with British rock band The Move who had the 1969 UK No.1 single 'Blackberry Way' and hits with 'I Can Hear The Grass Grow', 'Flowers in the Rain' and 'Fire Brigade'.

1961 - Kim Deal

Kim Deal, American singer, songwriter and musician who with American alternative rock band Pixies, released the 1988 album Surfer Rosa. She was also a member of The Breeders, with Tanya Donelly, Josephine Wiggs and her identical twin sister Kelley Deal and later performed with The Amps.

1961 - Mark Shaw

Mark Shaw, singer, with English rock band Then Jerico who had the 1989 UK No.13 single 'Big Area'.

1964 - Emma Anderson

Emma Anderson, guitarist with the British alternative rock band Lush who had the 1996 UK No.21 single 'Single Girl'.

1964 - Jimmy Chamberlin

Jimmy Chamberlin, drummer with American alternative rock band, Smashing Pumpkins who had the 1995 US No.1 album Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness.

1965 - Joey Santiago

Joey Santiago, guitarist with American alternative rock band Pixies, who released the 1988 album Surfer Rosa. They influenced bands such as Nirvana, Radiohead, Bush, Blur and Weezer.

1967 - Darren Robinson

Darren Robinson, (Human Breathbox), Rapper, The Fat Boys, (1988 UK No.2 single 'Wipe-out'). He was also known as Buffy, The Human Beat Box, and DJ Doctor Nice. He, along with Doug E. Fresh and others, were pioneers of beatboxing, a form of vocal percussion used in many rap groups throughout the 1980s and 1990s. He died on 10th December 1995 age 28.

1973 - Faith Evans

American singer-songwriter Faith Evans who had the 1997 US & UK No.1 single with Puff Daddy 'I'll Be Missing You', and the 2000 UK hit single with Whitney Houston 'Heartbreak Hotel'.

1987 - Tinchy Stryder

Ghanaian-English rapper, singer, Tinchy Stryder, (Kwasi Danquah). Stryder has released three solo studio albums, Star in the Hood (2007), Catch 22 (2009), and Third Strike (2010). Stryder's business ventures include the clothing line Star in the Hood, the Cloud 9 X Goji headphone and audio equipment range in collaboration with Goji Electronics.