1956, Elvis Presley started recording what would be his first album at RCA’s New York Studios. Songs recorded included his version the Carl Perkins song ‘Blue Suede Shoes’. Johnny Cash planted the seed for the song in the fall of 1955, while Perkins, Cash, Elvis Presley, and other Louisiana Hayride acts toured throughout the South. Cash told Perkins of a black airman, C. V. White, whom he had met when serving in the military in Germany, who had referred to his military regulation airmens shoes as “blue suede shoes.”
1959, Elvis Presley had his third UK No.1 single ‘One Night / I Got Stung’ a double A side, (originally written and recorded under the title ‘One Night of Sin’) a revival of the Smiley Lewis’s R&B hit. Presley was in the army by the time this song reached No.1.
1961, The Shirelles became the first girl group to have the number one song on the US chart when ‘Will You Love Me Tomorrow?’ reached the top. The song peaked at No.4 in the UK.
1964, The Searchers were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with the Sonny Bono song ‘Needles And Pins’. The group’s second UK No.1 had originally been recorded by Jackie DeShannon.
1969, The Beatles with Billy Preston, played their lunchtime rooftop gig on top of the Apple building on Savile Row, London. Lasting for just over 40 minutes it was the last time The Beatles performed live. The played ‘Get Back’, ‘Don’t Let Me Down’, ‘I’ve Got A Feeling’, ‘The One After 909’ and ‘Dig A Pony’. Traffic was brought to a standstill as crowds of people gathered below and watched from windows in nearby buildings. John Lennon ended the performance by saying “I’d like to say ‘Thank you’ on behalf of the group and ourselves and I hope we passed the audition.”
1970, Edison Lighthouse were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with ‘Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Goes).’ The group’s only Top 40 hit spent five weeks at the top of the charts. In February 1970, Tony Burrows became the first (and still the only) person to appear on BBC Television’s Top Of The Pops fronting three different acts in one show: Edison Lighthouse (who were number one that week), White Plains, and Brotherhood of Man.
1972, Paul McCartney wrote and recorded his protest song ‘Give Ireland Back To The Irish’ within 24 hours of Bloody Sunday, when 13 Catholics were killed by British paratroopers.
1973, After recently changing their name from Wicked Lester, Gene Simmons, Paul Stanley, Ace Frehley and Peter Criss made their first appearance as KISS at the Popcorn Club in Queens, New York.
1975, The Bee Gees begin recording ‘Jive Talkin’, which became their second US chart topper and No.5 UK hit. Barry Gibb’s inspiration for the song came when his wife commented on the sound their car made while crossing a bridge over Biscayne Bay into Miami. She noted, “It’s our drive talkin’.”
1976, UK Music weekly Sounds readers Poll Winners included; best album ‘A Night At The Opera’, by Queen, best single ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’, by Queen, best band went to Queen, musician Mike Oldfield, female singer Maddy Prior, Steeleye, Span, new band Rainbow, bore of the year The Bay City Rollers.
1982, American blues guitarist, singer Sam Lightnin’ Hopkins died of cancer aged 70. Influenced Bob Dylan, Stevie Ray Vaughan and Jimi Hendrix. R.E.M. recorded a song named after him on their Document album.
1982, Paul McCartney guested on BBC radios Desert Island Discs his selections include, Elvis Presley’s ‘Heartbreak Hotel’, Chuck Berry’s ‘Sweet Little Sixteen’, John Lennon’s ‘Beautiful Boy ‘and Little Richard’s ‘Tutti Frutti’.
1988, During a court case involving Holly Johnson and ZTT Records it was revealed that Frankie Goes To Hollywood had not played on their hits ‘Relax’ and ‘Two Tribes’. The court was told that top session musicians were used to make the records.
1988, Tiffany was at No.1 on the UK singles chart with ‘I Think We’re Alone Now’, the singers only UK No.1 single. The song was a hit for Tommy James & The Shondells in 1967.
1990, Unhappy with the re-issue of the bands early single ‘Sally Cinnaman’ The Stone Roses trashed their former record company Revolver FM’s offices and threw paint over cars. The band were arrested and charged with criminal damage.
1999, After spending 11 weeks on the chart Britney Spears started a two week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with ‘…Baby One More Time.’ Britney’s debut album also went to No.1 on the US chart on the same day.
1999, In the NME readers poll results the winner of ‘The pop personality that you would like as your doctor’ was won by singer Natalie Imbruglia.
2000, Gabrielle went to No.1 on the UK singles chart with ‘Rise’. The song used a sample from Bob Dylan’s ‘Knocking On Heaven’s Door’ giving Dylan his third UK No.1 as a writer, the other two being The Byrds version of ‘Mr Tambourine Man’ and Manfred Mann’s ‘The Mighty Quinn’.
2010, Neil Young was named the Musicares person of the year for his “influential artistic accomplishments and philanthropic work”. A string of artist including Elton John, Norah Jones, James Taylor, Elvis Costello, John Forgarty, Dave Matthews and Sheryl Crowe performed his songs as he was honoured by the US Recording Academy at the Los Angeles Convention Centre.
2013, Mick Jagger was named the most stylish rock star of all time by lifestyle website Complex. Jagger lead their top 50 list ahead of Prince, David Bowie, Kurt Cobain, Sid Vicious and Keith Richards. Complex stated “Even today, he wears silk scarves and suits with more rakish appeal than most men – and he’s pushing 70.”
2015, Marion “Suge” Knight was arrested on suspicion of murder in connection with a fatal traffic incident. The record producer had earlier surrendered to police after he was declared a suspect in a hit-and-run incident where one man died.
2016, David Bowie left an estate valued at about $100m, according to his will which was filed in New York. Half would go to his widow, Iman, along with the home they shared in New York. The rest was shared between his son and daughter. Bowie’s personal assistant, Corinne Schwab, was left $2m and another $1m went to a former nanny, Marion Skene.
(This Day in Music)
