1957, The Crickets went to No.1 on the US singles chart with ‘That’ll Be The Day.’ The title being taken from a phrase used by John Wayne in the film ‘The Searchers.’
1965, The Walker Brothers were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with the Burt Bacharach song, ‘Make It Easy On Yourself’, the trio’s first of two UK No.1’s.
1966, The ‘Rolling Stones 66’ 12 date UK tour kicked off at the Royal Albert Hall London. Supported by Long John Baldry, Ike & Tina Turner and The Yardbirds, (Jimmy Page was playing bass, with Jeff Beck on guitar). Michelangelo Antonioni attended this concert and asked The Yardbirds to appear in his forthcoming film Blow Up. Also both Keith Moon and John Entwistle from The Who were in the audience.
1967, The Box Tops started a four week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with ‘The Letter’, a No.5 hit in the UK. The record went on to sell over four million copies and receive two Grammy nominations. It was also a Top Ten hit for Joe Cocker in 1970.
1968, Working on new songs for their forthcoming The White Album, The Beatles recorded a new John Lennon song ‘Happiness Is A Warm Gun In Your Hand’, (working title of ‘Happiness Is A Warm Gun’). The title came from the cover of a gun magazine that producer George Martin showed Lennon. Jim Morrison from The Doors came to visit The Beatles in the studio and watched them recording.
1969, The Northern Star newspaper of Northern Illinois University ran a story claiming that Paul McCartney had been killed in a car crash in 1966 and had been replaced by a look-a-like. Russell Gibb of WKNR-FM in Detroit picked up on the claim and the story went worldwide. By late October 1969 the hoax was so well entrenched, that McCartney came out of seclusion at his Scottish farm to deny the story. When McCartney was asked to comment by a reporter visiting Macca’s farm, he replied, “Do I look dead, I’m as fit as a fiddle.”
1974, Robbie McIntosh founder member of the Average White Band died of a heroin overdose at a Hollywood party, (after he inhaled a white powder thought to be cocaine but was actually pure heroin). AWB scored the No.1 single ‘Pick up the Pieces’ which was nominated for a Grammy Award in 1975.
1977, David Bowie released ‘Heroes’ as a single. Co-written by Bowie and Brian Eno, the track features King Crimson guitarist Robert Fripp and has gone on to become one of Bowie’s signature songs.
1978, 10cc had their third and final UK No.1 single with ‘Dreadlock Holiday.’ The lyrics, about a white man lost in Jamaica, were based on a true event that happened to Moody Blues vocalist Justin Hayward and Eric Stewart from 10cc in Barbados.
1980, Bob Marley collapsed on stage during a concert at the Stanley Theater in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Marley had collapsed in New York’s Central Park while jogging, two days before and was told to immediately cancel the US leg, but flew to Pittsburgh to perform one final performance. This was the last time Marley ever appeared on stage performing, Marley died of cancer on in May 1981.
1989, Milli Vanilli started a two week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with ‘Girl I’m Gonna Miss You’, the duo’s second US No.1 a No.2 hit in the UK. Also today the duo went to No.1 on the US album chart with ‘Girl You Know It’s True’.
1995, Jamaican Ragga singer Shaggy scored his second No.1 UK single when ‘Boombastic’ went to the top of the charts for one week. Also a US No.1.
2001, Kylie Minogue started a five-week run at No.1 on the UK singles chart with ‘Can’t Get You Out Of My Head.’ The Australian singers 6th No.1 was written and produced by Cathy Dennis and former Mud guitarist Rob Davis, for which the pair won an Ivor Novello Award for the most performed song of the year. ‘Can’t Get You Out Of My Head’ also charted at No.1 in 40 countries.
2002, Musical winners at this years Oscars included, Sting who won Best Musical Performance for ‘Sting In Tuscany…All This Time’ and the Best Reality TV Show went to The Osbournes.
2004, Slipknot’s Corey Taylor issued a statement denying he was dead. Rumours started after a shock jock in Des Moines broadcast the announcement that the singer had died of a drug overdose, which then became a fatal car crash.
2004, A bodyguard for rapper Lil’ Kim was sentenced to 12 years in prison after admitting firing at least 20 times in a shoot-out with a rival gang. The judge sentencing Suif Jackson, said society needed protection from a gun-toting man with five convictions. The shooting took place when the entourages of Lil’ Kim and Capone-N-Noreaga crossed at a New York radio station.
2006, Neil Young was named artist of the year at the Americana Honors and Awards at the fifth annual event in Nashville, Tennessee. The 60-year-old singer-songwriter released the protest album Living With War this year.
2009, A Blue Plaque was unveiled on the building where Cargo Studios used to be on Kenion Street in Rochdale, England. The plaque was to recognise the part the building played in the British music scene between 1978 and 2000. In the early years as a home to Cargo Studios and Tractor Music then later Suite 16 Studios. Factory producer Martin Hannett spent a great deal of time in Cargo recording Joy Division, OMD, Durutti Column, Section 25 & Nico amongst others.
2013, Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California was shut down for a 15-song set by Paul McCartney on the roof of the El Capitan Theatre. An estimated crowd of 10,000 listened from the street. The show followed his appearance on TV’s Jimmy Kimmel Live show.
2016, According to the Music Business Association, playlists were now a more popular way to listen to music than albums. The report said playlists accounted for 31% of listening time across all demographics, while albums lagged behind on 22%. But single tracks remained the dominant format, according to the study, accounting for 46% of music played.
