On This Day

March 7th: On this Day

1953, Guy Mitchell was at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'She Wears Red Feathers'. The song details a bizarre story of an English banker's love for a hula-hula girl.

1962, The Beatles recorded their first radio appearance, at the Playhouse Theatre, Hulme, Manchester, for the BBC radio program Teenager's Turn - Here We Go'. After a rehearsal, the Beatles put on suits for the first time and, along with the other artists appearing on the program, record the show in front of a teenage audience.

1965, During a Rolling Stones gig at The Palace Theatre in Manchester, England a female fan fell from the circle while the group were playing. The crowd below broke her fall and the girl escaped serious injury just breaking a few teeth.

1966, Mike Millward guitarist from The Fourmost died, aged 23. The Liverpool group who were managed by Brian Epstein had the 1964 UK No.6 single 'A Little Loving'.

1966, Brian Wilson released 'Caroline No' the first solo single by a Beach Boy. Before it evolved into the final song we know today, (Wilson's recording reappeared as the final track on the Beach Boys' studio album Pet Sounds). The song was originally written as 'Carol I Know'.

1966, Tina Turner recorded her vocal on the Phil Spector produced 'River Deep Mountain High'. It went on to make No.3 in the UK but only No.88 on the US chart. Spector was well aware of Ike Turner's controlling attitude in the studio, and therefore he drafted an unusual contract: the River Deep – Mountain High album and single would be credited to Ike & Tina Turner, but Ike was paid $20,000 to stay away from the studio, and only Tina Turner's vocals would be used on the record. Session musicians who played on the track included Leon Russell (keyboards), Glen Campbell (guitar), and Hal Blaine (drums).

1967, Working on their next album The Beatles recorded additional overdubs for 'Lovely Rita', including harmony vocals, effects, and the percussive sound of a piece of toilet paper being blown through a haircomb.

1969, Led Zeppelin appeared at the Bluesville 69 Club at the Hornsey Wood Tavern, Finsbury Park, London, England. The venue was a function room at the back of the pub, and was so small that the stage was only just big enough for John Bonham's drums, and the rest of the group had to stand on the floor at the same level as the crowd.

1970, Lee Marvin was at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Wand'rin Star', taken from the film 'Paint Your Wagon.'

1970, Simon and Garfunkels album Bridge Over Troubled Water started a ten week run at No.1 on the US chart. The duo had split-up by the time of release.

1971, Jamacan saxophonist and flautist, Harold McNair died of lung cancer aged 39. Worked with Donovan, Melanie and Ginger Baker's Air Force, and had toured Europe with Quincy Jones.

1973, During a showcase gig at Max's Kansas City, New York, CBS records boss John Hammond suffered a heart attack. The event was to mark the signing of his new act Bruce Springsteen.

1973, A song from the movie Deliverance called 'Dueling Banjos' by Eric Weissberg and Steve Mandel became one of the few 1970s instrumentals to be awarded a Gold record. The record had topped the Cash Box Magazine Best Sellers list and reached No.2 on the Billboard Hot 100.

1975, David Bowie released his ninth studio album Young Americans. The album marked a departure from the glam rock style of Bowie's previous albums, showcasing his interest in soul and R&B music. Young Americans featured the song 'Fame' (co-written with Carlos Alomar and John Lennon), which gave Bowie his first US No.1 hit single.

1976, Elton John was immortalised in wax at Madame Tussauds in London. The first rock star to be so since The Beatles.

1980, The film Coal Miner's Daughter, the biography of Loretta Lynn and starring Sissy Spacek opened. Spacek won the Academy Award for Best Actress for her portrayal of Lynn; Tommy Lee Jones and Beverly D'Angelo also play leading roles in the film, which was a huge success with critics and at the box office.

1987, The Beastie Boys became the first rap act to have a No.1 album in the US with their debut album, Licensed To Ill. The album is one of Columbia Records' fastest-selling debut records to date. The group originally wanted to title the album Don't Be a Faggot, but Columbia Records refused to release the album under this title - arguing that it was homophobic.

1987, The first five Beatles albums, Please Please Me, With the Beatles, A Hard Day's Night, Beatles for Sale and Help! were released on Compact disc. Capitol Records decided to release the original UK mixes of the Beatles albums, (the first four CDs were released in mono). This marked the first time that many of these mono mixes were available in the US.

1988, British pedal steel guitar player Gordon Huntley died of cancer. Was a member of Matthews Southern Comfort, (UK No.1 single 'Woodstock') and as a session player worked with many acts including Elton John, Rod Stewart, The Pretty Things, Cliff Richard and Fairport Convention.

1991, The readers of Rolling Stone magazine voted George Michael the best male singer and sexiest male artist.

1998, Madonna went to No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Frozen' the singers eighth UK No.1. Taken from her dance-influenced album 'Ray of Light'.

2001, The man who discovered Blur, David Balfe won a high court battle to earn £250,000 in back royalties. Balfe had waged a legal battle for over two years to regain the royalties after selling his Food Records label to EMI in 1994.

2004, The Smiths song 'I Know It's Over' topped a poll of tunes, which people turn to when they are miserable in 'The Songs That Saved Your Life' poll by BBC radio station 6 Music. REM's 'Everybody Hurts' and Radiohead's 'Fake Plastic Trees' also made the Top 10.

2007, Rhett Hutchence the brother of INXS singer Michael Hutchence defended his decision to sell some of the late star's belongings online saying he needed money to set up home with his new girlfriend. Items in the auction included lyrics, T-shirts and a fax his brother had sent to his then girlfriend Kylie Minogue.

2009, Rapper Coolio was charged with drug possession after being arrested at Los Angeles International Airport. The 45-year-old, whose real name is Artis Leon Ivey Jr, was later released on $10,000 (£7,000) bail.

2012, Sales of albums by The Monkees soared following the death of singer Davy Jones. 'Best Of The Monkees' re-entered the Billboard album chart at No.20 with sales of over 17,000 units.

2017, Darren Salter, senior coroner for Oxfordshire confirmed that George Michael died as a result of heart and liver disease. Michael was suffering from dilated cardiomyopathy with myocarditis and fatty liver. The singer died aged 53 on Christmas Day 2016 at his home in Goring-on-Thames, Oxfordshire.


March 7th: Born on this day

1944, Born on this day, Townes Van Zandt singer-songwriter. His music has been covered by such notable and varied musicians as Bob Dylan, Lyle Lovett, Steve Earle, Cowboy Junkies, Andrew Bird, Alison Krauss, and Gillian Welch. Willie Nelson and Merle Haggard covered his song 'Pancho and Lefty', scoring a No.1 hit on the Billboard country music charts. He died on January 1, 1997.

1945, Born on this day, Arthur Lee guitarist, songwriter with US group Love who had the 1966 US No.33 single '7 And 7 Is', and the 1968 UK No.24 album 'Forever Changes'. Lee died on 3rd Aug 2006 in Memphis at the age of 61 following a battle with acute myeloid leukaemia.

1945, Born on this day, Chris White, bassist with The Zombies who had the 1964 US No.2 & UK No.12 single 'She's Not There'.

1946, Born on this day, Matthew Fisher from Procol Harum who had the 1967 UK No.1 & US No.5 single 'A Whiter Shade Of Pale' and scored the hits 'Homburg', 'Conquistador'.

1946, Born on this day, Peter Wolf, singer with The J Geils Band who had the 1982 US No.1 & UK No.3 single 'Centrefold'. Wolf was once married to US actress Faye Dunaway.

1952, Born on this day, Ernie Isley, The Isley Brothers who had the 1968 UK No.3 single 'This Old Heart Of Mine' and the 1969 US No.2 single 'It's Your Thing'.

1962, Born on this day, Taylor Dayne, US singer, (Leslie Wundermann), 1988 UK No.3 single 'Tell It To My Heart', 1990 US No.1 single 'Love Will Lead You Back'.

1966, Born on this day, Paul Davis, keyboards with Manchester group Happy Mondays who had the 1990 UK No.5 single 'Step On'.

1973, Born on this day, S'bastien Izambard, singer with Il Divo who had the 2004 UK No.1 self-titled album which was also number one in 13 countries around the world.

1977, Born on this day, Paul Cattermole, singer with UK pop group S Club 7 who had the 1999 UK No.1 single 'Bring It All Back'. Their 2000 UK No.1 album '7' spent over a year on the UK chart.

1982, Born on this day, Kelli Young, singer, with UK group Liberty X who had the 2002 UK No.1 single 'Just A Little'.

1997, Born on this day, Josh Dewhurst, English guitarist of the indie pop band Blossoms. Their the self-titled debut studio album peaked at No.1 on the UK chart in Aug 2016.

March 5th: On this day
1955, Elvis Presley made his TV debut when he appeared on the weekend show 'Louisiana Hayride' on KWKH TV, broadcast from Shreveport Auditorium in Shreveport, Louisiana.
1956, Frank Sinatra released his tenth studio album Songs for Swingin' Lovers! (the first album ever to top the UK Albums Chart). Sinatra aficionados often rank it his best album and many music critics consider it one of the greatest albums of its era. The original cover had Sinatra facing away from the young couple, but in 1957 Capitol altered the cover with a new image of Sinatra facing the couple.
1963, Country singers Patsy Cline, Cowboy Copas and Hawkshaw Hawkins were killed in a plane crash near Camden, Tennessee. They were travelling to Nashville after appearing at a benefit concert for the widow of Kansas City disc jockey 'Cactus' Jack Call, who had died in a car crash. On 7 March, country singer Jack Anglin was killed in a car crash on his way to Cline's funeral. Cline was the first country singer to cross over as a pop artist.
1963, The Beatles recorded what would be their third single 'From Me to You' just five days after John Lennon and Paul McCartney wrote the song. Originally planned as the B-side of the record, it was switched to the A-side during the recording session, with 'Thank You Girl' demoted to the B-side.
1965, The Mannish Boys released their second single 'I Pity The Fool', featuring a young David Bowie. Produced by Shel Talmy, (who was also producing the early singles and albums by The Who and The Kinks). Jimmy Page was Talmy's regular session musician and played the guitar solo on 'I Pity the Fool'.
1965, The Rolling Stones kicked off their fifth UK tour at The Regal Theatre, Edmonton, London. A 14-date package tour with The Hollies, The Konrads and Dave Berry and the Cruisers.
1967, Pink Floyd, Jeff Beck, The Ryan Brothers and Lee Dorsey all appeared at the Saville Theatre, Shaftesbury Avenue, London, England. Brian Epstein, manager of The Beatles leased the theatre in 1965, presenting both plays and music shows. The venue became notorious for its Sunday night concerts.
1971, Led Zeppelin started a 12-date 'Thank You' tour for British fans, appearing at the clubs from their early days and charging the same admission prices as in 1968. The first show was at The Ulster Hall, Belfast, Northern Ireland where they played songs from their upcoming fourth album, including the first public performances of 'Black Dog', 'Stairway To Heaven', 'Going To California' and 'Rock And Roll'.
1973, The former US manager of Jimi Hendrix Michael Jeffrey was one of 68 people killed in a plane crash in France. Jeffery was en-route to a court appearance in London related to Hendrix.
1975, Rod Stewart met Swedish actress, Britt Ekland at a party in Los Angeles, the couple went on to have a high profile love affair.
1977, Barbra Streisand started a three week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with ‘Love Theme From A Star Is Born’, her second US No.1. It made No.3 in the UK. The Eagles were at No.2 with ‘New Kid In Town’ and The Steve Miller Band was at No.3 with ‘Fly Like An Eagle’.
1982, Actor and singer John Belushi died from an overdose of cocaine and heroin. Belushi was one of the original cast members on US TV's Saturday Night Live, played Joliet 'Jake' Blues in The Blues Brothers and also appeared in the film Animal House. His tombstone reads "I may be gone, but rock n roll lives on."
1983, Michael Jackson started a seven week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Billie Jean', his fourth solo US No.1, also No.1 in the UK. And on this day Jacksons album Thriller went to No.1 for the first time on the UK album chart, it went on to become the biggest selling album of all time with sales over 65 million.
1992, R.E.M. cleaned up in The Rolling Stone Music Awards winning Album of the year, for 'Out Of Time', Artist of the year, Best single for 'Losing My Religion', Best video for 'Losing My Religion' and Best band, Best guitarist and Best songwriter awards.
1994, Grace Slick was arrested for pointing a shotgun at police in her Tiburon, home in California. The singer was later sentenced to 200 hours of community service and three month's worth of Alcoholics Anonymous meetings.
1995, Viv Stanshall of The Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band was killed in a house fire. The English singer-songwriter, painter, musician, author, and poet is best known for his work with the Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band, for his surreal exploration of the British upper classes in Sir Henry at Rawlinson End, and for narrating Mike Oldfield's Tubular Bells.
2000, Former rap artist MC Hammer became a preacher at the Jubilee Christian Centre in San Jose. Hammer had been declared bankrupt in 1996 after squandering his $50 million (£29.4 million) fortune.
2000, Madonna went to No.1 on the UK singles chart with her version of the Don McLean 1972 hit 'American Pie'. It was her 50th UK hit and the singers ninth UK No.1 and taken from the soundtrack to the 2000 film The Next Best Thing.
2002, The first episode of Osbourne's TV Show was aired on MTV in the US. Focusing on the madman and his family (his wife Sharon, and two of their three children). Oblivious to the camera, they bicker, squabble, curse and hang out backstage at Ozzy shows.
2004, UK guitarist John McGeoch died in his sleep aged 49. He had been a member of Magazine, who had the 1978 UK No.41 single 'Shot By Both Sides', and also worked with Siouxsie And The Banshees, Armoury Show and Public Image Ltd.
2005, A commemorative plaque for the The Jimi Hendrix Experience was unveiled in Loisin-sous-Lens. Hendrix had appeared at The Twenty Club when it opened in 1967. It was his first European tour where he was totally unknown. Club owner Rikki Stein stated: "The place was packed and at the end of ’Wild Thing’, his first number, there was total silence. The entire audience just stood there, open-mouthed. They’d never seen or heard anything like it in their life."
2006, Corinne Bailey Rae went to No.1 on the UK album chart with her debut album 'Corinne Bailey Rae.' Rae became only the fourth female British act in history to have her first album debut at No.1 on the UK chart.
2007, Records by the Rolling Stones and Paul Simon were chosen for preservation by the US Library of Congress. The Stones '(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction' and Paul Simon's Graceland album entered the National Recordings Registry, which preserves historic works for future generations. Other recordings chosen this year included Carl Perkins' 'Blue Suede Shoes', 'Be My Baby' by The Ronettes, 'A Change Is Gonna Come' by Sam Cooke and the eponymous album The Velvet Underground and Nico.
2008, Lou Pearlman, the man behind boy bands 'N Sync and the Backstreet Boys was set to plead guilty to a $300m (£152m) fraud scheme. The music mogul admitted to a court in Florida of running scams that defrauded investors and major banks for more than 20 years. The charges carried a maximum of 25 years in prison and a $1m (£506,000) fine.
2011, 61 year-old Charles Mulchrone's teenage love for The Beatles paid dividends when he sold his old autograph book at Sheppard's auction house, Durrow, for 1,300 euros. It contained the signatures of John Lennon and Yoko Ono when the couple stayed at a hotel in Mulranny in the summer of 1968. Charles plucked up the courage to approach them and got their signatures, he said they were "sweet as pie" to him. John Lennon had bought Dorinish island in Clew Bay, Ireland and it was said that he had wanted to build a house there.
2012, Sony admitted that a number of Michael Jackson tracks had been stolen after its website was hacked. The singer, who died in June 2009 at the age of 50, had recorded unreleased duets with artists ranging from the late Freddie Mercury and Black Eyed Peas singer will.i.am.
March 5th: Born on this day
1933, Born on this day, American blues singer-songwriter and pianist Tommy Tucker who scored the 1964 US No.11 hit 'Hi Heel Sneakers'. Tucker left the music industry in the late 1960s, taking a position as a real estate agent in New Jersey. He died on 22 January 1982 aged 48, after being overcome by poisonous fumes while he was renovating the floors of his New York City home.
1948, Born on this day, Eddy Grant, singer with The Equals who had the 1968 UK No.1 single 'Baby Come Back', and as a solo artist scored the 1982 UK No.1 single 'I Don't Wanna Dance'.
1951, Born on this day, Elaine Page, UK singer who had the 1985 UK No.1 single 'I Know Him So Well'.
1952, Born on this day, Alan Clark, keyboard player with Dire Straits who had the 1985 US No.1 single 'Money For Nothing' and the 1986 UK No.2 single 'Walk Of Life'.
1956, Born on this day, Teena Marie, US singer who had the 1980 UK No. 6 single 'Behind The Groove'. In 2004, while Teena Marie was sleeping in a hotel room, a large picture frame fell and struck her on the head. The blow caused a serious concussion that would result in momentary seizures for the rest of her life. Marie died on December 26th 2010.
1957, Born on this day, Mark E Smith, singer from Manchester group The Fall who had the 1987 UK No.30 single with their version of 'There's A Ghost In My House'.
1958, Born on this day, Andy Gibb, younger brother of The Bee Gees. He had a 1978 UK No.10 single with ‘An Everlasting Love’ and a 1978 US No.1 single with ‘Shadow Dancing’, which spent seven weeks at the top, plus two other US No.1 singles. Gibb died on March 10th 1988.
1962, Born on this day, identical twin brothers, Craig and Charlie Reid from the Scottish band The Proclaimers, who had the 1987 UK No.3 single 'Letter From America', 1988 UK No.6 album 'Sunshine Over Leith' as well as the 2007 UK No.1 single with the Comic Relief charity hit 'I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles).'
1970, Born on this day, John Frusciante, guitarist with Red Hot Chili Peppers who had the 1992 UK No.26 single with ‘Under The Bridge’, the 1991 US No.3 al

March 3rd: On this Day

1966, Neil Young Stephen Stills and Richie Furay formed Buffalo Springfield in Los Angeles. Among the first wave of American bands to become popular in the wake of the British invasion, the group combined rock, folk, and country music into a sound all its own. Its million-selling song 'For What It's Worth' became a political anthem for the turbulent late 1960s.

1969, Led Zeppelin recorded their first BBC Radio 1 'Top Gear' session during the afternoon at the Playhouse Theatre in London, England. Songs recorded were 'Dazed And Confused', 'Communication Breakdown', 'You Shook Me' and 'I Can't Quit You Baby'. Free, The Moody Blues and Deep Purple were also in session on the show.

1973, Slade's 'Com On Feel The Noize', entered the UK at No.1, making Slade the first act to achieve this since The Beatles.

1973, Winners at this year's Grammy Awards included, Roberta Flack who won Song of the year and Record of the year with 'The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face' and Harry Nilsson won Best pop vocal performance for 'Without You.'

1977, The first night of an UK tour with Johnny Thunders and the Heartbreakers, Cherry Vanilla and The Police kicked off at the Roxy Club, London. John Otway and Wild Willie Barratt played at The Speakeasy, London and Iggy Pop supported by The Vibrators appeared at Huddersfield Poly.

1979, The Bee Gees scored their fourth UK No.1 single with 'Tragedy.' Also today The Bee Gees went to No.1 on the US album chat with 'Spirits Having Flown', the brother's second US No.1 album.

1984, Nena started a three week run at No.1 on the UK singles chart with '99 Red Balloons.' Originally sung in German, '99 Luftballons' was re-recorded in English as '99 Red Balloons'. The song was a No.2 hit in the US and the only UK hit for Nena making her a One Hit Wonder.

1990, Lindy Layton and Beats International were at No.1 in the UK with the single 'Dub Be Good To Me.' Formed by ex-Housemartins Norman Cook, the song was based on the SOS Band's 1984 hit 'Just Be Good To Me' and The Clash song 'Guns of Brixton'.

1990, During a world tour Paul McCartney played the first of 6 sold-out nights at the Tokyo Dome, Tokyo, Japan. The final night was broadcast live to venues in 10 other Japanese cities; Fukuoka, Hiroshima, Kumamoto, Matsuyama, Nagoya, Niigata, Osaka, Sapporp, Sendai and Takamatsu.

1994, The Smashing Pumpkins were banned from appearing on BBC TV's Top Of The Pops due to the content of the song's lyrics. The bands single 'Disarm' was this week's highest new entry.

1995, Foo Fighters made their live debut during a benefit show at The Satyricon in Portland, Oregon.

1999, Oasis agreed to pay their former drummer Tony McCarroll a one-off sum of £550,000 ($935,000) after he sued the Manchester band for millions in unpaid royalties. McCarroll had been sacked from the band in 1995.

2000, Former Bay City Roller, Derek Longmuir was released on bail on charges of downloading child pornographic images from the internet and keeping indecent videos in his home.

2000, Tom Jones won the Best male artist at this year's Brit Awards. Other winners included Travis for Best band and Best album 'The Man Who.' Best single went to Robbie Williams for 'She's The One', Five won Best pop act, TLC won Best International group, Beck won Best International Male, Macy Gray won Best newcomer and Outstanding Contribution went to The Spice Girls.

2001, Stereophonics were forced to change the title of their new album after car manufacturer Daimler Chrysler objected to their use of the copyrighted word 'Jeep'. The UK title became 'Just Enough Education To Perform.'

2002, TV show 'Pop Idol' winner Will Young scored his first UK No.1 single with 'Anything Is Possible / Evergreen.' Young set a new sales record for a debut artist with over 1 million in the first week. It became the biggest selling single of 2002.

2003, Ray Jackson who found fame with Lindisfarne took out legal action against Rod Stewart over his 1970s hit song ‘Maggie May.’ Jackson claimed he came up with the worldwide hit's classic mandolin melody and claimed he may have lost at least £1m because he was not credited for the track's distinctive "hook." Jackson was paid just £15 for the recording session by Stewart in 1971.

2004, Elton John announced he was planning to marry his long-term partner David Furnish if new UK laws allowed it. A Civil Partnership bill was being passed through Parliament which would give gay couple's greater rights.

2005, 50 Cent released The Massacre, the follow-up to his 6x platinum debut 'Get Rich or Die Tryin'. The album sold over 1 million copies in its first week, going 4x platinum in two months. The success of the album gave 50 Cent five top-five singles in 2005.

2008, Beatles engineer Norman Smith died at the age of 85. Smith who worked on every studio recording the band made between 1962 and 1965 was nicknamed "Normal Norman" by John Lennon. As a producer in 1966, he signed Pink Floyd and produced their early albums including Saucerful of Secrets and as Hurricane Smith had the 1971 UK No.2 hit 'Don't Let It Die'.

2009, To celebrate the release of U2's twelfth studio album and their appearance every night for a week on The Late Show with David Letterman, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg temporarily renamed part of 53rd street in Midtown Manhattan U2 Way.

2010, A woman claiming to be the wife of Sean 'P Diddy' Combs was freed on $5,000 (£3,326) bail after being arrested near the rappers home on Long Island, New York. Cemelia Green claimed to be married to the rapper and producer who was said to be worth around $350m (£233m). There was no official comment from Combs, who was unmarried.

2012, American rock guitarist Ronnie Montrose died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound aged 64. The guitarist who led the bands Montrose and Gamma had been ill suffering from prostate cancer. Montrose had also worked with Edgar Winter, Van Morrison, Dan Hartman, Sammy Hagar and many other artists.

2015, Keith Richards objected to a planned £1.5million cafe being built on a beachfront near his country mansion. The guitarist lodged an objection against the new development which is near his Redlands estate where he was famously arrested with band mate Mick Jagger in 1967 in a drugs raid. Richards is opposed to the planned restaurant which was earmarked for West Wittering beach in West Sussex.


March 3rd: Born on this day

1927, Born on this day, Junior Parker, US blues singer/songwriter who wrote ‘Mystery Train’, which was covered by Elvis Presley. He also worked with B.B. King and Howlin’ Wolf. Parker died on November 18th 1971.

1941, Born on this day, Mike Pender, The Searchers, (1964 UK No.1 & US No.13 single 'Needles And Pins'). They were the second group from Liverpool, after The Beatles to have a hit in the United States when 'Needles and Pins' charted during the first week of March 1964.

1944, Born on this day, Jance Garfat, bass, Dr Hook, (1972 US No.5 & UK No.2 single 'Sylvia's Mother' plus 9 other US Top 40 hits).

1947, Born on this day, Dave Mount, Mud, (1974 UK No.1 single 'Tiger Feet' plus 14 other UK Top 40 singles). Mount died on 2nd December 2006.

1947, Born on this day, Jennifer Warnes, singer, (1982 US No.1 & UK No.7 single 'Up Where We Belong' with Joe Cocker).

1948, Born on this day, Terence 'Snowy' White, guitarist, who worked with Thin Lizzy, Pink Floyd and Roger Waters. As a solo artist, he had a 1983 UK Top 10 hit single 'Bird Of Paradise'.

1949, Born on this day, Derek (Blue) Weaver, keyboards, Amen Corner, (1969 UK No.1 single 'If Paradise Is Half As Nice'). Strawbs, (1973 UK No.2 single with 'Part Of The Union'). Also worked with The Bee Gees, (1975 US No.1 'Jive Talking').

1949, Born on this day, American music producer, multi-instrumentalist Richie Cannata most notable for playing saxophone in Billy Joel's band. Also worked with The Beach Boys, Celine Dion and Jennifer Lopez.

1954, Born on this day, Chris Hughes, Adam and the Ants, (1981 UK No.1 single 'Stand And Deliver' plus 15 other UK Top 40 singles).

1966, Born on this day, Tone- Loc, (Antony Smith), US rapper, (1989 UK No. 13 single,'Funky Cold Medina').

1977, Born on this day, Irish recording artist, singer-songwriter, musician, Ronan Keating, who with Boyzone scored the 1996 UK No.1 single 'Words' and 4 UK No.1 albums. As a solo artist Keating had the 1999 UK No.1 single 'When You Say Nothing At All', (which was featured in the film Notting Hill) and his 2000 UK No.1 album 'Ronan' spent over a year on the chart.

March 1st: On this day
1958, Buddy Holly played the first of 25 dates on his only UK tour at the Trocadero, Elephant & Castle, London. Also on the bill was Gary Miller, The Tanner Sisters, Des O'Connor, The Montanas, Ronnie Keene & His Orchestra.
1961, Elvis Presley signed a five-year movie deal with producer Hal Wallis. During his career, Elvis made over feature films
1967, Working at Abbey Road studios, London, The Beatles started recording a new John Lennon song 'Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds'. The song was inspired by a drawing his 3 year-old son Julian returned home from school with one day. The picture, which was of a little girl with lots of stars, was his classmate - Lucy O’Donnell, who also lived in Weybridge, and attended the same school as Julian.
1968, Elton John's first single 'I've Been Loving You' was released on the Phillips label, with lyrics credited to Bernie Taupin (although John later admitted that he wrote the song by himself, giving Taupin credit as an effort to earn Taupin his first publishing royalties). The song didn't chart.
1969, Jim Morrison of The Doors was charged with lewd and lascivious behaviour after showing his penis to the audience during a show in Miami. He was found guilty and sentenced to eight months hard labour. Morrison died in Paris while the sentence was on appeal.
1973, Pink Floyd released their eighth studio album The Dark Side of The Moon in the US. It remained in the US charts for 741 discontinuous weeks from 1973 to 1988, longer than any other album in history. After moving to the Billboard Top Pop Catalog Chart, the album notched up a further 759 weeks, and had reached a total of over 1,500 weeks on the combined charts by May 2006. With an estimated 45 million copies sold, it is Pink Floyd's most commercially successful album and one of the best-selling albums worldwide.
1974, Chris Difford placed an advert in a shop window saying: 'lyricist seeks musician for co-writing'. Glen Tillbrook answered the ad and the pair went on to form Squeeze and had hits with 'Cool for Cats', 'Up the Junction', 'Tempted', 'Labelled With Love', and 'Pulling Mussels (From the Shell)'.
1975, The Eagles went to No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Best Of My Love', the first of five US No.1's for the band. The song was included on their 1974 album On the Border and was released as the third single from the album. According to Don Henley, the lyrics were written while in a booth in Dan Tana's Restaurant close to the Troubadour in West Hollywood.
1979, Joy Division appeared at The Hope & Anchor, Islington, London, England. Admission was 75p ($1.28).
1980, Blondie were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Atomic' the group's third UK No.1 single from their album 'Eat To The Beat'.
1986, Mr Mister started a two week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Kyrie', the group's second US No.1, a No.11 hit in the UK. Also the group's album 'Welcome To The Real World' went to No.1 on the US album chart.
1990, Janet Jackson played the first night on her 120-date Rhythm Nation world tour at the Miami Arena in Florida. As part of the show Jackson's had a live panther on-stage, but after concerns were raised over safety of the crowds and several incidents of the panther urinating on the stage Jackson axed the cat from the show in the summer leg of the tour.
1991, Frank Smith from Air Supply died of pneumonia in Melbourne, Australia. (1980 UK No.11 single 'All Out Of Love', 1981 US No.1 single 'The One That You Love').
1994, Nirvana played their final ever concert when they appeared at The Terminal Einz in Munich, Germany. The 3,000 capacity venue was a small Airport Hanger. The power went off during the show so they played an impromptu acoustic set including a version of The Cars 'My Best Friend's Girl.'
1995, Bruce Springsteen's Streets of Philadelphia won three Grammys for Song of the Year, Best Male Vocal Performance and Best Rock Song.
1995, During a gig at the Patinoire Auditorium in Lausanne, Switzerland, R.E.M. drummer Bill Berry collapsed on stage from a ruptured brain aneurysm. He recovered and later re-joined the band.
1997, A Motley Crue fan who claimed his hearing had been irreparably damaged after a show in New Jersey had his lawsuit thrown out of court. The judge told Clifford Goldberg who had sat near the front of the stage, knew the risk he was taking.
1997, 'Bowie Bonds' were issued on the US Stock Exchange. Linked to David Bowie's back catalogue albums with money earned on the bonds via interest from royalties, investors could expect to make an 8% profit in about 10 years.
2001, Sean 'Puffy' Combs became the star witness of his own defence in a New York court claiming he didn't have a gun during a shooting in a New York club. The singer claimed he thought he was being shot at.
2004, Michael Jackson unveiled a new website, www.mjjsource.com. The site featured a celebration of his music career plus news on his current criminal trial, including short biographies of his attorneys and a calendar listing upcoming court dates.
2009, Kelly Clarkson went to No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'My Life Would Suck Without You'. US singer Clarkson won American Idol in 2000 and became the only American Idol contestant to have topped the UK charts.
2016, 76-year-old Ginger Baker posted on his blog that he had cancelled all of his scheduled shows for the year and was going into immediate retirement. The former drummer for Cream and Blind Faith revealed that his doctor had just diagnosed him with serious heart problems, causing him to announce "No more gigs for this old drummer."
March 1st: Born on this day
1904, Born on this day, American big-band musician, arranger, composer, and bandleader Glenn Miller. He was the best-selling recording artist from 1939 to 1943, leading one of the best-known big bands. In just four years Glenn Miller scored 23 No.1 hits. Miller's recordings include 'In the Mood', 'Moonlight Serenade', 'Pennsylvania 6-5000', and 'Chattanooga Choo Choo'. On December 15, 1944, while traveling to entertain US troops in France during World War II, Miller's aircraft disappeared in bad weather over the English Channel.
1927, Born on this day, Harry Belafonte, US singer,who had the 1957 UK No.1 & US No.12 single with ‘Mary’s Boy Child’ and a 1957 UK No.2 & US No.5 with ‘Banana Boat Song’. He also scored over 15 US Top 40 albums, including the 1956 Calypso.
1928, Born on this day, American trumpeter, bandleader and producer Willie Mitchell. He was best known for his Hi Records label of the 1970s, which released albums by a large stable of popular Memphis soul artists, including Mitchell himself, Al Green, O. V. Wright, Syl Johnson and Ann Peebles. Mitchell died on 5 January 2010 from a cardiac arrest age 81.
1942, Born on this day, Jerry Fisher, vocals, Blood Sweat & Tears, (1969 US No.12 & UK No.35 single 'You've Made Me So Very Happy').
1944, Born on this day, Mike D'Abo, singer, songwriter, Manfred Mann, (1968 UK No.1 & US No.10 single 'Mighty Quinn'). Wrote 'Handbags & Gladrags' covered by Rod Stewart and Stereophonics. Also wrote 'Build Me Up A Buttercup' a 1968 hit for The Foundations.
1944, Born on this day, Roger Daltrey, vocals, The Who (1965 UK No.2 single My Generation plus over 20 other UK hit singles, 16 US Top 40 singles, rock opera albums Tommy and Quadrophenia). Solo, (1973 UK No.5 single 'Giving It All Away'). The Who are considered one of the most influential rock bands of the 20th century, selling over 100 million records worldwide. He and Pete Townshend received Kennedy Center Honors in 2008 and The George and Ira Gershwin Award for Lifetime Musical Achievement at UCLA in 2016.
1946, Born on this day, Tony Ashton, vocals, keyboards, Ashton Gardner & Dyke, (1971 UK No.3 single 'The Resurrection Shuffle').
1958, Born on this day, Nik Kershaw, singer, songwriter, producer, (1984 solo UK No.2 single 'I Won't Let The Sun Go Down On Me').
1962, Born on this day, Peter Stephenson, The Shamen, (1992 UK No.2 single 'Ebeneezer Goode').
1963, Born on this day, Rob Affuso, Skid Row, (1989 US No.4 & 1990 UK No.12 single '18 And Life').
1969, Born on this day, Dafydd Leuan, drums, Super Furry Animals, (1998 UK No.12 single 'Ice Hockey Hair').
1969, Born on this day, Christina Bergmark, keyboards, vocals, The Wannadies, (1996 UK No.18 single, 'You And Me Song').
1973, Born on this day, Ryan Peake, guitar, Nickelback, (2002 US No.1 & UK No. 4 single 'How To Remind You', 2001 US No.2 & 2002 UK No.2 album 'Silver Side Up').
1987, Born on this day, Kesha Rose Sebert, (Kesha), 2009 US No.1 single with Flo Rida, ‘Right Round’, solo US No.1 single ‘Tik Tok’. Her third studio album Rainbow went to No.1 on the US chart in 2017.
1994, Born on this day, Justin Bieber, Canadian singer. Bieber is the first artist to have seven songs from a debut album chart on the Billboard Hot 100. His 2009 debut single 'One Time' was a Top 30 hit in over 10 countries. With a global fan base, termed as "Beliebers", and over 40 million followers on Twitter, he was named by Forbes magazine in 2012 as the third-most powerful celebrity in the world.

February 27th: On this Day

1964, 21 year-old former hairdresser and cloakroom attendant at The Cavern Club, Cilla Black was at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Anyone Who Had A Heart.' Written by Bacharach and David it was Black's first UK No.1. Also this week's UK Top Ten was the first ever to feature only UK acts.

1964, The Rolling Stones made their second appearance on BBC TV show Top Of The Pops performing 'Not Fade Away'.

1967, Pink Floyd continued working on their debut album The Piper At The Gates Of Dawn at Abbey Road Studios, London. With the exception of two group-composed instrumentals and one Roger Waters song, the album was written entirely by Syd Barrett.

1971, Five months after her death, Janis Joplin started a nine-week run at No.1 on the US album chart with her second and final solo studio album Pearl. Joplin sang on all tracks except 'Buried Alive in the Blues', which remained a Full Tilt Boogie instrumental because she died before adding her vocals.

1972, Led Zeppelin appeared at Sydney Showgrounds, Sydney in Australia, over 25,000 fans attending the show. Jimmy Page appeared clean shaven having shaved of the beard he had grown since the summer of 1970.

1977, Keith Richards was arrested at Toronto’s Harbour Castle Hotel, after an ounce of heroin was found following a raid of his hotel room by 15 Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Richards, who was charged with possession with intent to traffic, faced seven years to life in prison. Bail was set at $25,000 (£14,705).

1980, Winners at the Grammy Awards included: song of the year, 'What A Fool Believes', The Doobie Brothers, album of the year, Billy Joel's '52nd St', best new artist, Rickie Lee Jones, best disco record, 'I Will Survive' Gloria Gaynor.

1988, George Michael scored his sixth No.1 US single with 'Father Figure' a No. 11 hit in the UK - the first time Michael had failed to reach the top ten in his home country.

1991, James Brown was paroled after spending two years of a six-year prison sentence, imposed for resisting arrest after a car chase across two States.

1993, After 14 weeks at No.1 on the US singles chart, 'I Will Always Love You', gave Whitney Houston the longest ever US chart topper, taking over from Boyz II Men's hit 'End Of The Road', and became the second biggest selling single in the US.

1993, Marlena Davis of The Orlons lost a battle with lung cancer aged 48. The Orlons who formed in the late 1950s had five US Top 20 hits in the Sixties including ‘The Wah Watusi’, ‘Don't Hang Up’ and ‘South Street’. The Orlons provided back-up vocals on Dee Dee Sharp's 1962 hit ‘Mashed Potato Time’ and Dee Dee Sharp's second hit, ‘Gravy (For My Mashed Potatoes)’.

1999, Britney Spears started a two-week run at No.1 on the UK singles chart with '...Baby One More Time'. It became the biggest UK selling single of the year and also a No.1 in the US. It was originally written for TLC but the song was submitted after completion of their third record, FanMail.

2004, A worker in a supermarket in Aspen, Colorado alerted the police-after seeing a man shopping with his face covered by a mask. Police arrived on the scene and identified the man as Michael Jackson who was in town on holiday with his children.

2007, Bobby Brown was sentenced to 30 days in jail over $19,000 (£9,670) in unpaid child support. An arrest warrant was issued in October 2006 after he failed to show up at a hearing on overdue child support for Kim Ward, the mother of two of his children.

2010, U2 raked in more money than any other music act in the US in 2009 making $109m (£71m) from touring, record sales and other royalties, almost twice as much as the second best, Bruce Springsteen who took home $58m (£38m), followed by Madonna with $47m (£31m) and AC/DC with $44m (£29m). Coldplay were the most successful British group, at number eight, with takings of $27m (£18m).

2015, Madonna said she suffered whiplash as a result of her "nightmare" accident at the 2015 Brit Awards. The 56-year-old was pulled backwards off stage by a cape, which was supposed to fall from her shoulders causing the singer to fall down a flight of steps.


February 27th: Born on this day

1927, Born on this day, Guy Mitchell, US singer who had the 1957 UK & US No.1 single ‘Singing The Blues’ plus over ten other UK Top 40 singles. Mitchell died on July 1st 1999.

1948, Born on this day, Eddie Gray from Tommy James and the Shondells who had the 1966 US No.1 single 'Hanky Panky' and the 1968 UK No.1 single 'Mony Mony'.

1950, Born on this day, Robert Balderrama, from American group ? & The Mysterians who had the 1966 US No. 1 & UK No.37 single '96 Tears'. (which was also a UK No.17 hit for The Stranglers in 1990).

1951, Born on this day, English singer and songwriter Steve Harley best known as the frontman with Cockney Rebel who had the 1975 UK No.1 single 'Make Me Smile, (Come Up And See Me') as well as hits with 'Mr Soft' and 'Judy Teen'. Harley has released over five solo albums and has also worked as a radio presenter.

1954, Born on this day, Neal Schon, guitarist from Journey who had the 1982 US No.2 single 'Open Arms'. Was also a member of Santana, who had the 1977 UK No.11 single 'She's Not There'.

1955, Born on this day, Gary Christian, from English group The Christians who had the 1988 UK No.8 single 'Harvest For The World'.

1957, Born on this day, Adrian Smith from Iron Maiden who had the 1982 UK No.1 album The Number Of The Beast, and the 1991 UK No.1 single 'Bring Your Daughter To The Slaughter'.

1960, Born on this day, Paul Humphreys, from Liverpool duo Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark who had the 1984 UK No.5 single 'Locomotion'.

1964, Born on this day, Derek McKenzie from British group The Shamen who had the 1992 UK No.1 single 'Ebeneezer Goode'.

1964, Born on this day, Ewan Venal, from Scottish group Deacon Blue who had the 1988 UK No.8 single 'Real Gone Kid' plus over 15 other UK Top 40 singles.

1971, Born on this day, Rozonda Thomas, Chilli, singer from American girl group TLC who had the 1995 US No.1 & UK No.4 single 'Waterfalls', and the 1999 US No.1 album 'Fanmail' which spent 57 weeks on the UK chart.

1973, Born on this day, Peter Andre, singer and former actor and reality TV star who had the 1996 UK No.1 single 'I Feel You', and the 1996 UK No. 1 album 'Natural'.

1981, Born on this day, Josh Groban, US singer, who had the 2002 US No.7 & UK No.28 album ‘Josh Groban’ and the 2004 US No.1 album 'Closer'. Groban was America's top selling artist of 2007.

February 25th: On this Day

1956, Elvis Presley had his first national hit when 'I Forgot To Remember To Forget' went to No.1 on the Billboard Country & Western chart.

1957, Buddy Holly recorded a new version of 'That'll Be The Day', at Norman Petty Recording Studio in Clovis, New Mexico. The title being taken from a phrase used by John Wayne in the film 'The Searchers.'

1964, The Beatles finished recording their next single 'Can't Buy Me Love', at Abbey Road studios, London, (they had first recorded the song on 29 January 1964 at Path Marconi Studios in Paris). They also recorded the B-side, 'You Can't Do That' and another new song 'I Should Have Known Better'.

1967, Pink Floyd appeared at the Ricky Tick Club, Hounslow, England. The Yardbirds were filmed performing in a re-creation of the club built at MGM Studios in Borehamwood for Michelangelo Antonioni's 1966 film Blowup.

1972, Led Zeppelin appeared in front of over 25,000 fans at the Western Springs Stadium, Auckland, New Zealand, the group's first ever gig in New Zealand, (and the largest crowd ever to attend a concert on the island). A special train was chartered from Wellington to bring fans to the concert. News reviews the next day reported the band could be heard over five miles from the Stadium.

1977, The Jam signed to Polydor Records UK for £6,000 ($10,200). They went on to have 18 consecutive Top 40 singles in the UK, from their debut in 1977 to their break-up in December 1982, including four No.1 hits. As of 2007, 'That's Entertainment' and 'Just Who Is the 5 O'Clock Hero?' remained the best-selling import singles of all time in the UK.

1981, Winners at this year's Grammy Awards included Bob Seger who won Best Rock performance for 'Against The Wind', Pat Benatar won Best female performance for 'Crimes Of Passion' and Christopher Cross won Best new artist and Best song for 'Sailing.'
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1984, 'Jump', by Van Halen started a five-week run at No.1 on the US singles chart, (a No.7 hit in the UK). Singer David Lee Roth wrote the lyrics after seeing a television news report about a man who was threatening to commit suicide by jumping off a high building. Roth thought that one of the onlookers of such a scene would probably shout "go ahead and jump".

1989, Simple Minds were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Belfast Child.' At 6 minutes 39 seconds it became the second-longest running No.1 after The Beatles 'Hey Jude.'

1995, Madonna started a seven week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Take A Bow', the track which was co-written with Babyface became a No.16 hit in the UK.

1995, At a private party for 1,200 select guests on the closing night of the Frank Sinatra Desert Classic golf tournament, Frank Sinatra sang before a live audience for the very last time. His closing song was 'The Best is Yet to Come'.

1998, At Radio City Music Hall, Bob Dylan was handed three Grammys, including one for Best Album for 'Time Out Of Mind'. During Dylan's performance of the song, Michael Portnoy, hired as a background dancer, ripped his shirt off and jumped in amongst the band, revealing the words 'Soy Bomb' painted on his chest. Also in the evening, during Shawn Colvin's acceptance speech, Ol Dirty Bastard grabbed the microphone and made various observations such as "Puffy is good, but Wu-Tang is the best" and "Wu-Tang is for the children". He was then escorted from the stage.

2000, The five original Spice Girls were facing a bill of up to £1 million ($1.7 million) after losing a legal battle against the sponsors of their 1988 world tour. The Aprilia Scoter Company had claimed the girls knew of Geri's impending departure.

2004, The Rolling Stones topped a US Rich List of music's biggest money makers. The list was based on earnings during 2003 when the band played their 'Forty Licks' tour, which made them $212 million, (£124.7m) in ticket, CD, DVD and merchandise sales. The three million fans who went to the shows spent an average of $11 (£6.47) each on merchandise. Bruce Springsteen was listed in second place and The Eagles in third.

2006, George Michael was found slumped over in a car in Hyde Park, London. A concerned person spotted the singer and called police who after being checked by paramedics was arrested on suspicion of possessing drugs and then released on bail. Michael made a public statement about the incident and said "I was in possession of class C drugs which is an offense and I have no complaints about the police who were professional throughout." He also said that the event was "my own stupid fault, as usual."

2009, President Obama honoured Stevie Wonder his musical hero, with America's highest award for pop music, the Library of Congress' Gershwin prize at a ceremony at the White House. The president said the Motown legend had been the soundtrack to his youth and he doubted that his wife would have married him if he hadn't been a fan. Wonder's song 'Signed, Sealed, Delivered' had been the theme song during Obama's presidential campaign.

2009, Winners at the 2009 NME Awards, held at London's O2 Academy included Oasis who won best British band, Elbow won the outstanding contribution to British music award. The Killers won best international band and Kings of Leon won best album for "Only by the Night" and The Cure won the godlike genius award.

2011, Susan 'Suze' Rotolo, died from lung cancer. She was the one time girlfriend of Bob Dylan, and the inspiration of some of his early songs. Susan appeared in one of the decade's signature images, walking with Dylan arm-in-arm for the cover photo of his breakthrough album Freewheelin Bob Dylan.

2015, On what would have been George Harrison's 72nd birthday, a new tree was planted in his memory in Griffith Park Los Angeles to replace one that was earlier killed by a beetle infestation. This new yew tree had been chosen to replace the original, as it was far less susceptible to insects.


February 25th: Born on this day

1943, Born on this day, George Harrison guitarist and vocalist with The Beatles The all-time bestselling album in the UK is The Beatles’ 'Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band', with over 4.5 million copies sold. Harrison wrote the 1969 US No.1 & UK No.4 Beatles single ‘Something’. As a solo artist he had the 1971 US No.1 album 'All Things Must Pass' and the 1970 worldwide No.1 single ‘My Sweet Lord’. He was also a member of the Traveling Wilburys with Tom Petty and Bob Dylan. Harrison died of cancer on November 29th 2001.

1948, Born on this day, Elkie Brooks, (Elaine Bookbinder), English singer who had the 1977 UK No.8 single 'Pearl's A Singer'. Brooks was also a member of Vinegar Joe with Robert Palmer.

1957, Born on this day, Stewart Wood, from Scottish group Bay City Rollers who had the 1975 UK No.1 single 'Bye Bye Baby' plus 11 other UK Top 20 singles' and the 1976 US No.1 single 'Saturday Night'.

1957, Born on this day, American drummer Dennis Diken who co-founded The Smithereens. Diken has also played drums for former Kinks guitarist Dave Davies' solo band.

1959, Born on this day, Mike Peters, guitarist and vocalist with The Alarm, who had a 1983 UK No.17 single with '68 Guns'. Solo and member of Dead Men Walking with Kirk Brandon, (ex Spear Of Destiny), Slim Jim Phantom, (Stray Cats), Glen Matlock (Sex Pistols) and Bruce Watson (Big Country).

1971, Born on this day, Daniel Powter, Canadian singer, songwriter who had the 2005 UK No.2 single 'Bad Day'. The song had been featured in a Coca-Cola ad campaign in Europe.

February 23rd: On this day
1940, Woody Guthrie wrote the lyrics to 'This Land Is Your Land' in his room at the Hanover House Hotel in New York City. The song was brought back to life in the 1960s, when several artists of the new folk movement, including Bob Dylan, The Kingston Trio, Trini Lopez, Jay and the Americans, and The New Christy Minstrels all recorded versions, inspired by its political message.
1961, Petula Clark had her first UK No.1 single with 'Sailor'. During her career the former child actress achieved a total of 20 UK Top 40 hits and 2 US No.1 singles.
1965, Filming began on The Beatles follow up to 'A Hard Day's Night' on location in the Bahamas with the working title of 'Eight Arms To Hold You.'

1972, After nearly five years of marriage, Priscilla Presley moved out of Elvis Presley's California home and into a two bedroom apartment near the Pacific Ocean. Their divorce would be finalized on October 9, 1973, with Priscilla being awarded an outright cash payment of $725,000 as well as spousal support, child support, 5% of Elvis' new publishing companies and half the income from the sale of their Beverly Hills home.
1974, Suzi Quatro was at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Devil Gate Drive', the singers second UK No.1 and fourth No.1 for the songs writers Chinn & Chapman.
1974, 'Rebel Rebel' by David Bowie entered the UK chart, the single reached No.5 the following month. Originally written for an aborted Ziggy Stardust musical in late 1973, 'Rebel Rebel' was Bowie's last single in the glam rock style that had been his trademark. It was also his first hit since 1969 not to feature lead guitarist Mick Ronson; Bowie himself played guitar on this track.
1976, AC/DC shot the video clip for "It's A Long Way To The Top, (If You Wanna Rock 'n' Roll)" for the Australian music television program Countdown. It featured the band's then-current lineup, along with members of the Rats of Tobruk Pipe Band, on the back of a flat-bed truck travelling on Swanston Street in Melbourne. In May 2001, Australasian Performing Rights Association celebrated its 75th anniversary by naming the Best Australian Songs of all time, as decided by a 100-member industry panel. "It's a Long Way to the Top (If You Wanna Rock 'n' Roll)" was ranked as the ninth song on the list.
1978, Winners at this years Grammy Awards included Fleetwood Mac, Album of the year for Rumours. The Eagles, Record of the year for Hotel California and Best pop vocal performance, The Bee Gees for 'How Deep Is Your Love.'
1980, U2 appeared at The Moonlight Club, at The Railway Hotel in London, tickets cost £2.
1985, Stevie Wonder was arrested during an antiapartheid demonstration outside the South African Embassy in Washington; he was released after being questioned by police.
1985, The Smiths scored their first UK No.1 album with Meat Is Murder. The album's sleeve uses a 1967 photograph of Marine Cpl. Michael Wynn in the Vietnam War, though with the wording on his helmet changed from "Make War Not Love" to "Meat Is Murder". The original image was used for Emile de Antonio's 1968 documentary In the Year of the Pig.
1995, American singer Melvin Franklin of The Temptations died of a brain seizure aged 52. Had the 1971 US No.1 & UK No.8 single 'Just My Imagination' and re-issued 'My Girl' UK No.2 in 1992. In 1978 Franklin was shot in the hand and the leg when trying to stop a man from stealing his car.
1998, All members of Oasis were banned for life from flying Cathay Pacific Airlines after "abusive and disgusting behaviour" during a flight from Hong Kong to Perth, Australia.


2002, The Bee Gees made their last ever concert appearance when they appeared at the Love and Hope Ball, Miami Beach, Florida.
2003, Howie Epstein bassist with Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers died of a suspected drug overdose in New Mexico. He had replaced The Heartbreakers original bassist Ron Blair, Epstein also worked with Bob Dylan, Johnny Cash, Stevie Nicks, Roy Orbison, Carl Perkins, Linda Ronstadt and Del Shannon.
2003, The News Of The World reported that Michael Jackson had undergone scores of painful operations to strip his body of black skin until he appeared white. And that surgeons at a Santa Monica clinic eventually refused him any more treatment. An insider told the paper that Jackson had been anaesthetised on a weekly basis to have his skin peeled and bleached.
2003, Norah Jones cleaned up at the 45th Grammy Awards, held at Madison Square Garden, New York. The singer, songwriter won, Album of the year and Record of the year, with 'Don't Know Why.' Song of the year, Best new artist and Best female pop vocal for 'Don't Know Why'. Other winners included Best male pop vocal, John Mayer, 'Our Body Is A Wonderland'. Best male rock vocal, Bruce Springsteen, 'The Rising', Best female rock vocal, Sheryl Crow, 'Steve McQueen', Best rock performance by group, Coldplay 'In My Place', Best rap album, Eminem, 'The Eminem Show'.
2010, London's Abbey Road studios was made a listed building, protecting it from plans to radically alter it. Culture Minister Margaret Hodge listed the studios on the advice of English Heritage saying it had "produced some of the very best music in the world". The Beatles used Abbey Road for 90% of their recordings. The studio was origanally named EMI Studios, they changed the name to Abbey Road Studios in 1970 because of The Beatles album.
2013, Jermaine Jackson officially changed his last Name to Jacksun. The third-oldest member of the Jackson 5, who unofficially took the name Mohammad Abdul Aziz upon his 1989 conversion to Islam, said he was making the new change for "artistic reasons."
2017, Jay Z was set to become first rapper inducted into Songwriters Hall of Fame. Previous inductees include Marvin Gaye, Bob Dylan, Dolly Parton, Bruce Springsteen and Michael Jackson. But no rapper had ever made the cut before. Jay Z would be inducted as part of the hall's class of 2017 alongside Max Martin, who has written songs for Taylor Swift, Katy Perry and Ariana Grande.
February 23rd: Born on this day
1944, Born on this day, Johnny Winter, blues guitarist and singer who has worked with Rick Derringer and brother Edger Winter. He scored the 1969 US top 30 album, 'Johnny Winter'. Winter died at the age of 70 on 16th July 2014 in Zurich, just days after playing at the Lovely Days Festival in Austria.
1944, Born on this day, Mike Maxfield, from Billy J Kramer and the Dakotas, who had the 1964 UK No.1 & US N0.7 single 'Little Children'.
1946, Born on this day, Rusty Young, pedal steel guitar with American group Poco who had the 1979 US No.17 single 'Crazy Love'.
1950, Born on this day, Steve Priest, guitarist with British Glam rock group Sweet who had the 1973 UK No.1 single 'Blockbuster', plus 14 other UK Top 40 singles.
1952, Born on this day, Brad Whitford, guitarist with Aerosmith who had the 1989 UK No.13 single 'Love In An Elevator'. Their 1989 album 'Pump' spent 53 weeks on the US charts. Also scored the 1998 US No.1 & UK No.4 single written by Diane Warren 'I Don't Want To Miss A Thing'.
1955, Born on this day, Howard Jones, singer, songwriter, keyboards who had the 1983 UK No.2 single 'What Is Love', plus 9 other UK Top 40 singles. His 1984 album 'Human's Lib' spent over a year on the UK chart. Scored the 1986 US No.4 single 'No One Is To Blame'. Jones has also been a member of Ringo Starr's All Star Band.
1955, Born on this day, Zeke Manyika, from Orange Juice, who had the 1983 UK No.8 single 'Rip It Up'.
1958, Born on this day, David Sylvian singer with British group Japan who had the 1982 UK 5 single 'Ghosts'. Sylvian also works as a solo artist.
1963, Born on this day, Rob Collins, keyboards with British indie group The Charlatans who had the 1990 UK No.9 single 'The Only One I Know'. In 1992 Collins was arrested and charged with armed robbery on an off-licence near his home and was sentenced to 8 months imprisonment. Collins was killed in a car crash 23rd July 1996.
1967, Born on this day, Chris Vrenna, Grammy-winning producer, engineer, worked with Tweaker, Nine Inch Nails, Rammstein, U2, Weezer, David Bowie, The Smashing Pumpkins, Hole, Marilyn Manson and the Japanese rock band Dir en grey.
1973, Born on this day, Olaf Lasse Johansson keyboards from Swedish group The Cardigans whom had the 1997 UK No.2 single 'Lovefool'.

February 21st: On this Day

1961, The Beatles played three gigs in one day. The first was a lunchtime show at The Cavern Club, then at night they appeared at the Cassanova Club, Liverpool and at Litherland Town Hall, Liverpool.

1964, New York band The Echoes recruited a new young unknown piano player, named Billy Joel.

1964, Three classic British singles were released, The Rolling Stones 'Not Fade Away', (a UK No.3), The Hollies 'Just One Look', (a UK No.2), and Billy J Kramer's 'Little Children', (a UK No.1).

1967, Pink Floyd started their first sessions at the EMI Studios, St. John's Wood, London on their debut album The Piper At The Gates Of Dawn, working on the song 'Matilda Mother'. While Pink Floyd were recording their album with former Beatles engineer Norman Smith, The Beatles themselves were working in the studio next door, recording 'Fixing A Hole' for their Sgt. Pepper album. Micky Dolenz from The Monkees attended the mixing session during the day.

1968, Otis Redding had his first entry on the UK singles chart when '(Sittin' On) The Dock Of The Bay' entered the chart, it went on to be a No.3 hit. The song became the first posthumous single to top the charts in the US.

1970, Simon and Garfunkel went to No.1 on the UK chart with Bridge Over Troubled Water. The album went on to stay on the chart for over 300 weeks, returning to the top of the charts on eight separate occasions and spending a total of 41 weeks at No.1.

1972, Led Zeppelin released 'Rock And Roll / Four Sticks' as a 7 inch single in the US, peaking at No.47 on the chart. The song was written as a spontaneous jam session, whilst the band were trying to finish 'Four Sticks'. Drummer John Bonham played the introduction to Little Richard's 'You Keep A-Knockin' and Page added a guitar riff; with the tapes rolling the basic song was finished fifteen minutes later.

1976, Florence Ballard of The Supremes died of cardiac arrest, aged 32. Ballard had left The Supremes in 1967, lost an $8 million (£4.7 million) lawsuit against Motown records and was living on welfare when she died.

1976, The Four Seasons were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'December '63 (Oh What A Night). The group's only UK No.1.

1981, Dolly Parton started a two week run at No.1 on the US charts with '9 to 5', the singers first No.1, a No.47 hit in the UK.

1982, American DJ Murry The K died. Murray is thought to be the first person to play a Beatles record on radio in America. During the early days of Beatlemania, he frequently referred to himself as "the Fifth Beatle". Married six times, he died of cancer a week after his 60th birthday.

1986, Metallica released their third album, the highly influential album, Master of Puppets, considered by many in the metal community to be the best metal album of all time. This was the last Metallica album with bassist Cliff Burton who was killed when the group's tour bus over-turned in southern Sweden while touring to promote the album.

1987, Ben E King was at No.1 in the UK singles chart with 'Stand By Me.' The track was first released in 1961 and became a hit in 1987 after being featured in the film 'Stand By Me.'

1998, Celine Dion went to No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'My Heart Will Go On'. The song was the theme from the movie Titanic. The world's best selling single of 1998.

2001, Robbie Williams was attacked and thrown from the stage during a concert in Stuttgart, Germany after a man got onto the stage and pushed Williams into the security pit. The attacker was arrested and taken to a secure psychiatric clinic.

2002, Elton John accused the music industry of exploiting young singers and dumping talented artists for manufactured group's. He said 'There are too many average and mediocre acts; it damages real talent getting airplay. It's just fodder.'

2004, Mud singer Les Gray died of a heart attack, whilst fighting throat cancer, aged 57, (1974 UK No.1 single 'Tiger Feet' plus 14 other UK Top 40 singles').

2004, Simon Cowell was set to appear in a new episode of The Simpsons. The TV Pop Idol judge would play a nursery boss who gets punched by Homer Simpson.

2008, Britney Spears failed in a court bid to regain visitation rights to her two children. Spears was banned from monitored visits in January of this year after refusing to hand the children back, resulting in a stand-off with police at her house. The singer's ex-husband Kevin Federline was awarded primary custody of two-year-old Sean Preston and Jayden James, aged one, in October.

2008, A computer expert was jailed for two years for electronically stalking Linkin Park singer Chester Bennington. Devon Townsend worked at a US national security laboratory in New Mexico, where she used a computer to track Bennington, she admitted to obtaining family photos, accessing e-mail and voicemail, and threatening his wife Talinda.

2008, A US music aficionado sold his collection of more than three million vinyl albums, singles and compact discs to an eBay buyer from Ireland for just over $3 million. An eBay spokeswoman said the sale was one of the highest ever for the online auction site.

2009, Rihanna issued a statement thanking fans for their support after an alleged assault by her R&B singer boyfriend Chris Brown, but the singer declined to comment on a leaked photograph which appeared to show her with facial injuries. The Los Angeles Police Department had launched an internal investigation and asked for the public's help in finding the person who leaked the photograph.

2012, Five members of the Russian feminist punk rock group Pussy Riot staged a performance on the soleas of Moscow's Cathedral of Christ the Savior where their actions were stopped by church security officials. By that evening, they had turned the performance into a music video entitled "Punk Prayer - Mother of God, Chase Putin Away!" The women said their protest was directed at the Orthodox Church leader's support for Putin during his election campaign. The following month, three of the group members were arrested and charged with hooliganism and were were held in custody until their trial began in late July when the three members were convicted of "hooliganism motivated by religious hatred", and each was sentenced to two years imprisonment.

2014, A statue of a weeping Kurt Cobain was unveiled in Aberdeen, Washington - the hometown of the late Nirvana frontman. The statue, which sees Cobain crying a single tear, is situated in the Aberdeen Museum of History. Kurt Cobain Day would now be celebrated annually in the city of Aberdeen. Of the day, Mayor Bill Simpson recently read a proclamation, which stated: "Aberdeen residents may justifiably take pride in the role our community played in the life of Kurt Cobain and the international recognition our community has gained from its connections with Kurt Cobain and his artistic achievements."

2014, A crew member working on a biopic about Gregg Allman died after being hit by a train during filming. Police in south Georgia said the woman was struck after the crew for Midnight Rider placed a bed on the railway tracks in Doctortown. Wayne County Sheriff John Carter said several other people had been injured, two of them seriously.


February 21st: Born on this day

1933, Born on this day, Nina Simone, (Eunice Wayman), US jazz, blues singer who had the 1959 US No.18 single 'I Love You, Porgy', and the 1968 UK No.2 single 'Ain't Got No I Got Life'. Simone died of cancer on 21st April 2003

1943, Born on this day, David Geffen, Geffen record label boss. Founder of Asylum records who signed The Eagles, Crosby Stills Nash & Young, Jackson Browne, Warren Zevon and Tom Waits and Joni Mitchell. Formed Dreamworks in 1995.

1949, Born on this day, Jerry Harrison, keyboards, guitar, Jonathan Richman And The Modern Lovers, Talking Heads, who had the 1983 US No.9 single 'Burning Down The House', and the 1985 UK No.6 single 'Road To Nowhere'. Also a member of Casual Gods.

1951, Born on this day, Vince Welnick, keyboards, The Tubes who had the 1977 UK No.28 single 'White Punks On Dope'. 1983 US No.10 single 'She's A Beauty'. Also a member of the Grateful Dead and the band's keyboard player from the fall of 1990 until Jerry Garcia's death in August 1995, when the group disbanded.

1952, Born on this day, Jean-Jacques Burnel, bassist, singer with The Stranglers who had the 1982 UK No.2 single 'Golden Brown' plus over 20 other UK Top 40 hits.

1954, Born on this day, Mike Pickering, DJ, M People who had the 1993 UK No.2 single 'Moving On Up', plus over 15 other UK Top 40 singles.

1961, Born on this day, Ranking Roger, The Beat, who had the 1983 UK No.3 single 'Can't Get Used To Losing You'.

1967, Born on this day, Michael Ward, guitarist with The Wallflowers who had the 1997 US No.3 album 'Bringing Down The Horse'.

1969, Born on this day, James Dean Bradfield, guitarist, singer with Manic Street Preachers who had the 1996 UK No.2 single 'A Design For Life', 1998 UK No.1 album 'This Is My Truth Tell Me Yours'.



1986, Born on this day, Charlotte Church, Welsh singer, who had the 1999 UK No.34 single 'Just Wave Hello' and the 1998 UK No.4 album, 'Voice Of An Angel'.

1989, Born on this day, Corbin Bleu, American actor and singer from High School Musical, as part of the cast had the 2006 US No.1 ‘High School Musical’ album and 2007, US No.1 ‘High School Musical 2’ album. Over 17 million viewers in the United States watched the TV premier of High School Musical; making it the highest rated basic cable broadcast in U.S. history.

February 18th: On this Day

1959, Ray Charles recorded 'What'd I Say', in New York City. The song had evolved in concert as a call-and-response between Charles and his female back-up singers. It became Charles' biggest hit to date, reaching No.1 on the R&B and No.6 on the pop charts.

1962, On weekend leave from marine training, The Everly Brothers appeared on the US Ed Sullivan show, in full uniform and with regulation cropped hair, singing their new single, 'Crying In The Rain'.

1965, The Kinks were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Tired Of Waiting For You', the group's second UK No.1. According to Ray Davies, the music for 'Tired of Waiting for You' was written on the train to the recording studio and the words were written at a coffee shop during a break in the session.

1965, Working at Abbey Road studios in London, The Beatles recorded two new songs: John Lennon's 'You've Got to Hide Your Love Away' and a new Paul McCartney song 'Tell Me What You See'.

1966, Beach Boy Brian Wilson recorded the future classic song 'Good Vibrations', which went on to become the band's third US number-one hit. As a child, his mother told him that dogs could pick up "vibrations" from people, so that the dog would bark at "bad vibrations" Wilson turned this into the general idea for the song.

1969, Three thousand uninvited guests showed up to see Lulu and The Bee Gees Maurice Gibb get married at St. James' Church, Gerrard's Cross, England. Brother Barry was the best man.

1972, On their first Australian tour, Led Zeppelin rescheduled to the following night their concert at the Memorial Drive, Adelaide, after heavy rain left the stage and equipment unsafe. Zeppelin had brought to Adelaide the largest PA system seen in Australia to produce what was expected to be the loudest rock show ever heard.

1990, Freddie Mercury made his final public appearance on stage when he joined the rest of Queen to collect the Brit Award for Outstanding Contribution to Music, held at the Dominion Theatre, London, England.

1995, American guitarist Bob Stinson from The Replacements died from a drug overdose, his body was found in his Uptown, Minneapolis apartment. Founding member of The Replacements, was also a member of Static Taxi.

1998, Oasis' Noel Gallagher's Epiphone Supernova guitar raised £4,600 ($7,820) in aid of Children In Need at a Bonhams auction held in London, England.

2000, An American court ordered the release of FBI files relating to John Lennon's interests and activities including his support for the Irish Republican cause and the Workers Revolutionary Party. The British Government told the US that it wanted the files to remain secret. MI5 also had files on Lennon, which they had passed on the FBI during the 70's.

2004, Dido entered a Top 10 of the music world's biggest earners after making £15.8 million ($26.9 million) in 2003. The singer's second album Life For Rent was the previous years biggest selling UK album. The Rolling Stones topped the Heat magazine rich list having earned £55.3 million ($94 million) in 2003.

2004, A court case accusing Marilyn Manson of sexual assault was dismissed after the two sides reached a settlement. Security guard Joshua Keasler had sued Manson after the star allegedly put his legs around Keasler's neck and gyrated against him on stage at a gig in Detroit, Michigan in 2001. Manson was ordered to pay $4,000 (£2,091) in fines and costs in the criminal proceedings.

2005, Britney Spears attacked a US magazine after it published photographs of her honeymoon without permission. Weekly publication Us printed five pages of pictures of Spears and husband Kevin Federline on holiday in Fiji. A statement from US said: "Britney should start her own magazine if she'd like to dictate her own coverage."

2008, Carpenters fans were objecting to plans to have pop duo's former family home in Downey, south of Los Angeles knocked down. The current owners of the house, said they objected to fans looking in the windows and leaving floral tributes. The five-bedroom house was immortalised when it featured on the cover of The Carpenters' 1973 hit album Now & Then.

2009, Welsh songstress Duffy won three trophies at this years Brit awards, taking home Best British Female Solo Artist, British Breakthrough Act and British Album of the Year for her debut Rockferry. Kings of Leon won International Group and International Album for Only By The Night, International Male and Female Solo Artists were Kanye West and Katy Perry. British Male Solo Artist went to Paul Weller, Iron Maiden won British Live Act and Elbow won Best British Group. Outstanding Contribution to Music went to the Pet Shop Boys.

2009, Michael Jackson's management team announced that The King Of Pop was set to auction off his American Music Award for Thriller, his Gold and Platinum records, a Rolls Royce limousine, a customized Harley Davidson, a velvet cape given to him by his children for Father's Day in 1998, a pair of rhinestone-trimmed socks from 1981, a basketball signed by Michael Jordan and his own original artwork.

2012, Whiteny Houston had an invitation-only memorial at the New Hope Baptist Church in Newark, New Jersey. Among those who performed at the funeral were Stevie Wonder, Alicia Keys and R. Kelly. Kevin Costner read a moving and personal Eulogy.

2013, African-American soul and R&B singer Otis Damon Harris, who was a member of The Temptations, died at the age of 62 after a 14-year battle with prostate cancer. Harris was a member of The Temptations from 1971 to 1975, joining shortly after the departure of Eddie Kendricks.

2015, American singer Willie C. Jackson from Fifties doo-wop group The Spaniels died aged 79. 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.


February 18th: Born on this day

1933, Born on this day, Yoko Ono, Japanese artist, singer, poet, author and peace activist and wife of John Lennon. Ono moved to New York City from Tokyo aged 14 and first met John Lennon in London in 1966, the couple married in 1969.

1934, Born on this day, Skip Battin, The Byrds, who had the 1965 US & UK No.1 single 'Mr Tambourine Man'. In 1959-60 he sang in a duo, Skip & Flip, with Gary Paxton when they had two US hits that each went to No.11, Paxton later formed the Hollywood Argyles, who had the No.1 hit, 'Alley Oop'. Battin was in the Byrds from 1970 to 1973. Member of New Riders Of The Purple Sage and The Flying Burrito Brothers. Battin died on July 6th 2003.

1939, Born on this day, Bobby Hart, singer, songwriter who had the 1968 US No 8 single with Tommy Boyce, 'I Wonder What She's Doing Tonite', also wrote 'Last Train To Clarksville', 'I'm Not Your Stepping Stone' and 'Scooby Doo Where Are You.' Has sold over 40m records.

1941, Born on this day, Herman Santigo, singer with Frankie Lymon And The Teenagers who had the 1956 UK No.1 single 'Why Do Fools Fall In Love'.

1945, Born on this day, Jimmy Jewell, from Gallagher & Lyle who had the 1976 UK No.6 single 'I Wanna Stay With You'.

1947, Born on this day, Dennis Deyoung, vocals, keyboards, Styx who had the 1979 US No.1 & 1980 UK No.6 single 'Babe'.

1952, Born on this day, Judy Kay Newton, Juice Newton who had the 1981 US No.2 single, 'Queen Of Hearts'.

1952, Born on this day, Randy Crawford, US female singer who had the 1980 UK No.2 single 'One Day I'll Fly Away' and with the Crusaders the 1979 UK No.5 & US No.36 single 'Street Life.'

1953, Born on this day, Robbie Bachman from Bachman Turner Overdrive who had the 1974 US No.1 & UK No.2 single 'You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet'.

1954, Born on this day, John Travolta, actor, singer, who had the 1978 UK & US No.1 single with Olivia Newton John, 'You're The One That I Want'. The track topped the UK Singles Chart for nine weeks in the summer of 1978 and as of 2008, is still the sixth best-selling single ever in the UK where it has sold over 2,015,000 copies. His mother and his sister Ann appeared as extras in Saturday Night Fever and his sister Ellen appeared as a waitress in Grease.

1955, Born on this day, Brian James, from British punk group The Damned, who had the 1986 UK No.3 single 'Eloise', James was also a member of Lords Of The New Church.

1961, Born on this day, Jasper Stainthorpe, from Then Jerico who had the 1989 UK No.13 single 'Big Area'.

1965, Born on this day, Dr Dre, NWA, who had the 1990 UK No.26 single 'Express Yourself'. As a solo artist had the 1996 US No.1 & UK No.6 single 'California'. Dre is the host of 'Yo! MTV Raps.'

1966, Born on this day, Tommy Scott, singer from English group Space who had the 1996 UK No.14 single 'Female Of The Species'.

1970, Born on this day, twins, Andy Williams (drums, vocals), and Jez Williams, (guitar) who were members of English group Sub Sub who had the 1993 UK No.3 single ‘Ain’t No Love, (Ain’t No Use'). Also members of Doves, who had the 2002 UK No.3 single ‘There Goes The Fear’ and 2002 UK No.1 album ‘The Last Broadcast’.

February 16th: On this Day

1957, Disc jockey Pete Murray began hosting BBC television's first Rock 'n' Roll music program The Six-Five Special, named for the time the show began, five minutes after six. The show was given air-time immediately after the abolition of what was called the Toddlers' Truce, which had seen television stop between 6 and 7pm so children could be put to bed.

1964, The Beatles made their second live appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show, exactly one week after the first. Before an audience of 3,500 at the Deauville Hotel in Miami Beach, Florida, The Beatles performed ‘She Loves You’, ‘This Boy’, ‘All My Loving’, ‘I Saw Her Standing There’, ‘From Me to You’, and ‘I Want to Hold Your Hand’.

1967, Petula Clark was at No.1 on the UK singles chart with the Charlie Chaplin penned 'This Is My Song', the singers second and last UK No.1.

1972, Led Zeppelin made their Australian live debut when they kicked off a six-date tour at the Subiaco Oval, Perth. Police battled with over 500 fans who rammed locked gates trying to get into the concert. Over 4,000 fans stood outside the venue without tickets and local residents jammed police phone lines to complain about the noise.

1974, Bob Dylan started a four week run at No.1 on the US album chart with Planet Waves, his first US No.1. The album was originally set to be titled Ceremonies Of The Horsemen, a reference to the song 'Love Minus Zero / No Limit', from the 1965 album 'Bringing It All Back Home'. When Dylan decided to change the title at the last minute, the release was delayed for two weeks.

1974, During a tour of America the members of Emerson, Lake & Palmer were arrested in Salt Lake City after swimming naked in the hotel pool. They were each fined $75 (£44).

1974, Winners in the UK music weekly Disc Readers Awards Poll; Top UK group went to Slade, Top musician, Roy Wood, David Bowie won UK and World male singer, Top single with 'Jean Genie' and album with 'Aladdin Sane', Top female singer was Lynsey De Paul and Brightest hope was won by David Essex.

1975, Cher started her own weekly hour of a music and comedy show on CBS-TV. The singer had co-presented The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour with her former husband. Cher's new show featured a female guest each week.

1982, The Jam were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'A Town Called Malice', & 'Precious', their third No.1 spent three weeks at the top of the chart.

1985, Bruce Springsteen went to No.1 on the UK album chart with 'Born In The USA', his first UK No.1 album. The singers seventh studio album, was the best-selling album of 1985 in the United States (and also Springsteen's most successful album ever). The album produced a record-tying string of seven Top 10 singles.

1991, The Simpsons were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Do The Bartman'. The song was written by Michael Jackson and Bryan Lorenand, The Simpsons became the first cartoon characters to make No.1 since the Archies hit 'Sugar Sugar' in 1969. Jackson was a massive fan of The Simpsons and had called the producers one night offering to write Bart a number one single and do a guest spot on the show.

1999, Robbie Williams won three awards at this year's Brit's. The singer won Best British solo artist, Best Single for 'Angels' and Best Video for 'Millennium.' Manic Street Preachers won Best British Group, Natalie Imbruglia won Best International Female artist and Best Newcomer, Best International Group went to The Corrs.

2002, Thieves broke into George Michael's London home and stole over £100,000 ($170,000) worth of paintings, jewellery and designer clothes and drove off in his £80,000 ($136,000) Aston Martin DB7. They also caused £200,000 ($340,000) worth of damage to his home.

2004, US singer Doris Troy died. She had been a session singer with Dionne Warwick, sang on Pink Floyd's The Dark Side of the Moon and released an album on The Beatles Apple label. She had also had a 1964 UK No.37 single with 'Whatcha Gonna Do About It' and a 1963 US No. 10 hit 'Just One Look'. She sang back-up for many acts including The Rolling Stones, (‘You Can't Always Get What You Want’), Carly Simon's ('You're So Vain'), George Harrison, (‘My Sweet Lord’).

2005, Kid Rock was arrested for allegedly punching a DJ at a strip club in Nashville, Tennessee. Police were called to the incident but Rock escaped from the club. Shortly after, he was pulled over by an officer who got an autograph but did not do a breath test despite smelling alcohol. (The officer has since been fired). The star was eventually arrested a few hours later, taken to the night court and released on $3,000 (£1,600) bail.

2005, Yusuf Islam, the former Cat Stevens was awarded substantial damages from The Sunday Times and The Sun, after they had printed articles alleging he was involved in terrorism. Both newspapers apologized to the 56 year old musician for the "false and highly defamatory allegations." The papers also paid his legal bills and pledged not to repeat the allegations. The money awarded was given to Tsunami relief projects.

2009, Chris Brown talked about his recent arrest for the first time. The R&B singer was being investigated by police over claims he attacked a woman. In a statement Chris Brown said "I am seeking the counselling of my pastor, my mother and other loved ones and I am committed, with God's help, to emerging a better person." There had been speculation that his girlfriend Rihanna was the woman in the attack and had been seen with bruises on her face

2015, American singer, songwriter, actress and activist, Lesley Gore, died of lung cancer aged 68. She is best known for the 1963 US No.1 & UK No.9 single 'It's My Party' which was produced by Quincy Jones. Gore composed songs for the soundtrack of the 1980 film Fame, for which she received an Academy Award nomination for ‘Out Here on My Own’, written with her brother Michael.


February 16th: Born on this day

1918, Born on this day, Patty Andrews from The Andrew Sisters who were an American close harmony singing group of the swing and boogie-woogie eras. Throughout their long career, the sisters sold over 75 million records. Their 1941 hit ‘Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy’ can be considered an early example of rhythm and blues. She died of natural causes on 30 January 2013 at the age of 94.

1932, Born on this day, Otis Blackwell, American songwriter and producer, wrote ‘All Shook Up’, ‘Return To Sender’, ‘Don't Be Cruel’, ‘Great Balls Of Fire’ and ‘Fever.’ Blackwell died from a heart attack on May 6th 2002.

1935, Born on this day, Sonny Bono, singer who had the 1965 UK & US No.1 single 'I Got You Babe', with Cher. Bono later became a US Congressman. He was killed on 5th January 1997, aged 62, in a skiing accident.

1939, Born on this day, Harold and Herbie Kalin, The Kalin Twins who had the 1958 UK No.1 & US No.5 single 'When.' The brothers were the first twins to score a No.1 record.

1949, Born on this day, Lynn Paul, singer with The New Seekers who had the 1972 UK No.1 single 'I'd Like To Teach The World To Sing'.

1953, Born on this day, John "Brad" Bradbury, best known for having been the drummer in the English ska group The Specials, who co-wrote 'The Selecter', a joint 'A' side with 'Gangsters'. Bradbury died aged 62 on 28 Dec 2015.

1956, Born on this day, James Ingram, US singer, who had the 1987 UK No.8 single with Linda Ronstadt, 'Somewhere Out There', and the 1990 US No.1 single 'I Don't Have The Heart'.

1959, Born on this day, Ice-T, (Tracy Morrow), male rapper who had the 1993 UK No.21 single 'That's How I'm Livin'.

1961, Born on this day, Andy Taylor, guitarist with Duran Duran who had the 1983 UK No.1 single 'Is There Something I Should Know' plus 25 other UK Top 40 singles including the 1984 US No.1 single 'The Reflex'. Also a member of The Power Station who had the 1985 UK No.14 single 'Some Like It Hot'.

1962, Born on this day, Tony Kylie, The Blow Monkeys who had the 1987 UK No.5 single 'It Doesn't Have To Be This Way'.

1965, Born on this day, Dave Lombardo, drummer with American thrash metal band Slayer who released the 1986 album 'Reign in Blood'.

1990, Born on this day, Canadian singer, songwriter and record producer Abel Makkonen Tesfaye, known by his stage name The Weeknd who had the 2015 US No.1 hits 'The Hills' and 'Can't Feel My Face'.