1956, American singer, actor Pat Boone was at No.1 on the UK singles chart with ‘I’ll Be Home.’ Boone scored over 30 UK Top 40 hit singles during the 50s and early 60s and was the second biggest charting artist behind only Elvis Presley.
1964, The first edition of the official The Rolling Stones book was issued, priced at one and six, (the publication ran for 30 issues). Also on this day, at producers Phil Spector’s suggestion, The Stones recorded ‘It’s All Over Now’, ‘I Can’t Be Satisfied’ and ‘Time Is On My Side’ at Chess studios in Chicago. During the day, the Stones got to meet, Muddy Waters, Willie Dixon, Buddy Guy and Chuck Berry.
1964, On their first world tour The Beatles took a flight from Hong Kong to Australia making an unscheduled fuel stop in Darwin, where over 400 fans greeted their aircraft. The Beatles then flew on to Sydney, where they arrive in the middle of a heavy downpour. The group were required to appear in an open-top truck in the pouring rain to wave at the 1,000’s of fans greeting them at the airport.
1966, Steve Marriott of the Small Faces collapsed while performing on UK TV show Ready Steady Go! The group were forced to cancel the following weeks gigs.
1966, The Monkees first recording sessions took place. These sessions featured members of the Wrecking Crew, a group of studio musicians in Los Angeles but proved to be unsuccessful.
1972, The Rolling Stones double album Exile On Main Street went to No.1 on the UK chart, the bands seventh UK No.1 album. In 2010, the re-released album entered the UK chart at No.1, almost 38 years to the week after it first occupied that position. The Rolling Stones are the first act to ever have a studio album return to No.1 after it was first released.
1977, Joe Strummer and Nicky Headon from The Clash were each fined £5 ($8.50) by a London court for spray-painting The Clash on a wall.
1978, John Travolta and Olivia Newton John went to No.1 on the US singles chart with ‘You’re The One That I Want’ also No.1 in the UK.
1982, Addie Harris from The Shirelles died of a heart attack after a show in Atlanta. 1961 US No.1 & UK No.4 single ‘Will You Love Me Tomorrow’. Became the first all girl group to have a number one single on the Billboard Hot 100.
1983, Chris Sievey of UK group The Freshies released the first computer game single. When played on a Sinclair ZX 81 computer via a record deck the lyrics of the song came on the screen.
1989, Jason Donovan was at No.1 on the UK singles chart with his version of the Brian Hyland 1962 hit ‘Sealed With A Kiss’. Donovan became the first Australian act to enter the UK charts at No.1.
1991, Temptations member Eddie Kendricks was arrested while attending the funeral of soul singer David Ruffin in Detroit on charges of owing $26,000 in child support.
1993, Irish singer Sinead O’Connor took out a full-page ad in the Irish Times asking the public to “stop hurting me please.” She blamed her troubles on abuse she suffered as a child. O’Connor was still being criticized for ripping up a picture of the Pope during an appearance on Saturday Night Live the previous October.
2001, Radiohead went to No.1 on the UK album chart with ‘Amnesiac’. The band’s fifth studio album debuted at No.2 on the US Billboard 200 and produced three singles, ‘Pyramid Song’, ‘I Might Be Wrong’ and ‘Knives Out’.
2004, US singer, songwriter Ray Charles died aged 73. Glaucoma rendered Charles blind at the age of six. He scored the 1962 UK & US No.1 single ‘I Can’t Stop Loving You’ plus over 30 other US Top 40 singles and the 2005 US No.1 album ‘Genius Loves Company.’ Charles who was married twice and fathered twelve children by nine different women appeared in the 1980 hit movie, The Blues Brothers was also the winner of 17 Grammy Awards.
2006, The surviving members of Led Zeppelin met at a secret rehearsal space in England to run through songs for the forthcoming 02 Arena benefit tribute to Atlantic Records co-founder, the late Ahmet Ertegun. It was the first time the three members had been in the same room with instruments since their four-song set at Led Zeppelin’s 1995 induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
2007, The Rolling Stones played their first UK festival in over 30 years when they appeared at the Isle of Wight Festival. The Stones arrived at the Isle of Wight on their own privately chartered ferry for their 200-strong entourage including five Winnebago trailers and private security team. The Stones last UK festival appearance was Knebworth Fair in 1976.
2007, Rihanna went to No.1 on the UK album chart with her third album Good Girl Gone Bad, featuring the single ‘Umbrella’. which spent 10 consecutive weeks at No.1 in the UK making it the longest running No.1 single since Wet Wet Wet’s ‘Love Is All Around’.
2007, R. Kelly was at No.1 on the US album chart with Double Up. His eleventh studio album featured guest appearances by Snoop Dogg, Nelly, T.I., Usher, Huey, Ludacris and Kid Rock.
2009, The daughter of Cher, Chastity Bono was set to undergoing a sex change to become a man. The gender-swap process began shortly after Bono’s 40th birthday in March and more than a decade after she came out as a lesbian.
2009, Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page was inducted into the Mojo Hall Of Fame at the magazine’s award ceremony. Singer Richard Hawley won the best album prize, while Kasabian’s single ‘Fire’ was named song of the year. Mojo had become the best-selling music magazine in the UK, selling more than twice as many copies as NME. A further 16 honorary prizes were handed out. They included the classic album award, which went to The Stone Roses for their 1989 self-titled debut LP and veteran space rockers Hawkwind accepted the Mojo Maverick honour.
2016, Rod Stewart was knighted in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list for services to music and charity. Stewart said: “I’ve led a wonderful life and have had a tremendous career thanks to the generous support of the great British public. This monumental honour has topped it off and I couldn’t ask for anything more.”
