1956, Elvis Presley’s single, ‘Heartbreak Hotel’ was released by RCA Records, who had just purchased Presley’s contract from Sun Records for $35,000. The song sold 300,000 copies in its first week and would eventually sell over a million, becoming Elvis’ first Gold record.
1962, Joey and the Starlighters started a three week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with ‘Peppermint Twist, part 1′. The single reached No.33 on the UK chart.
1962, The Beatles appeared at Aintree Institute in Aintree, Liverpool. The group had played here many times before but this was their last performance at the venue. Brian Epstein became infuriated when the promoter paid The Beatles’ fee (£15 pounds) with handfuls of loose change. Epstein took this as an insult to the group, and made sure that The Beatles never played for that promoter (Brian Kelly) again.
1970, John Lennon wrote, recorded and mixed his new single ‘Instant Karma!’ all in one day. It ranks as one of the fastest-released songs in pop music history, recorded at London’s Abbey Road Studios and arriving in stores only ten days later.
1971, David Bowie arrived in the US for the first time; he couldn’t play live because of work permit restrictions, but attracted publicity when he wore a dress at a promotion event.
1972, American gospel singer Mahalia Jackson died in Chicago of heart failure and diabetes complications aged 60. Known as the “Queen of Gospel Music” she recorded over 30 albums
1973, ‘Superstition’ the lead single from Stevie Wonder’s Talking Book album gave him his second No.1 single in the US, 10 years after his first No.1. Jeff Beck created the original drum beat while in the studio with Wonder. After writing the song, Wonder offered it to Beck to record, but at the insistence of Berry Gordy, Wonder himself recorded it first. Beck was instead offered ‘Cause We’ve Ended As Lovers’, which he recorded on his Blow by Blow album in 1975.
1977, The Clash signed to CBS Records in the UK for £100,000.
1979, Ian Dury And The Blockheads were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with ‘Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick’, their only UK chart topper.
1984, Madonna made her first appearance in the UK when she appeared on C4 TV music program The Tube performing ‘Holiday’. The show was broadcast live from the Hacienda Club in Manchester.
1990, Kylie Minogue had her third UK No.1 single with ‘Tears On My Pillow’, the song was originally a US hit for Little Anthony and The Imperials in 1958.
1996, Babylon Zoo started a five-week run at No.1 on the UK singles chart with ‘Spaceman’, the fastest selling single by a debut artist in the UK, (420,000 copies in 6 days). The song was used for a Levi Jeans TV commercial. The single also went to Number 1 in twenty-three other countries.
1998, James Brown was charged with possession of marijuana and unlawful use of a firearm after police were called to his South Carolina home. Brown later clamed the drugs were used to help his ‘eyesight.’
2004, R&B singer Faith Evans and her husband were charged with possession of cocaine and marijuana after being arrested in Atlanta, Georgia. Police pulled them over for a suspected licence plate offence.
2006, Gene McFadden, R&B vocalist and songwriter, best known as half of the Philly soul team McFadden & Whitehead, died of cancer at the age of 56. The duo had the 1979 hit ‘Ain’t No Stoppin’ Us Now’, which sold more than 8 million copies and was nominated for a Grammy Award.
2009, Road Chef, the Watford Gap UK Motorway services operator, paid £1,000 at an auction for a collection of celebrity signatures, which were collected by former employee, Beatrice England. The book included signatures of Sir Paul McCartney, Sir Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Brian Jones, The Eagles and Dusty Springfield. The Blue Boar services as it was once known received so many famous guests in its 50-year history that Jimi Hendrix mistook it for a London nightclub as it was mentioned so often by his contemporaries.
2014, American folk singer and activist Pete Seegar died at the age of 94. He had a string of hit records during the early 1950s as a member of the Weavers, most notably their recording of Lead Belly’s ‘Goodnight, Irene’, which topped the charts for 13 weeks in 1950. Members of the Weavers were blacklisted during the McCarthy Era. In the 1960s, he re-emerged on the public scene as a prominent singer of protest music in support of international disarmament, civil rights, counterculture and environmental causes.
2015, Tom Petty and Jeff Lynne were given a song writing credit on Sam Smith’s hit ‘Stay With Me’, because of the similarities to his 1989 track ‘I Won’t Back Down’. ‘Stay With Me’ had been nominated for three Grammys, including song of the year – which honours the writers of the track. Petty’s publisher had contacted Smiths publisher who made an out of court settlement.
(This Day in Music)
