1932 John Williams born in Flushing, New York. US Film Composer of the following moves. Star Wars, E.T., Superman, Jaws, Close Encounter Of The Third Kind, JFK, Hook & Schindler’s List. He also composed the theme to the 60’s TV Series Lost In Space & played piano on Henry Mancini’s hit ‘Peter Gunn’.
1936 Larry Verne born in Minneapolis, Minnesota. US Singer. His biggest hit was “Please Mr. Custer (I don’t Want to Go)” Verne died on October 8, 2013 of heart failure in Sylmar, California, at the age of 77. He had long suffered from Alzheimer’s disease and had suffered three strokes.
1942 Terry Melcher born in New York City, New York. US Producer/Songwriter/Singer with The Ripcords. Terry is Doris Day’s Son. On November 19, 2004, Terry Melcher died at his home of melanoma, after a long illness. He was 62 and was survived by his wife, Terese, his son, Ryan Melcher, and his mother, Doris Day.
1943 Creed Bratton born in Sacramento, California. US Guitarist with Grass Roots, (1968 US No.5 single ‘Midnight Confessions’, plus 13 other US Top 40 singles).
1946 Adolpho ‘Fito’ De La Para born in Mexico City, Mexico. US Drummer with Canned Heat, (1970 UK No.2 & US No.26 single ‘Let’s Work Together’).
1946 Paul Wheatbread born in San Diego. Drummer with Gary Puckett and the Union Gap, (1968 UK No.1 & UK No.2 single ‘Young Girl’).
1950 England Dan (Dan Seals) born in McCamey, Texas. US Singer with England Dan & John Ford Coley. (1976 US No. 2 & UK No. 26 single, ‘I’d Really Love To See You Tonight.) ‘His first #1 in the US Country Charts was “Meet Me in Montana”, a 1985 duet with Marie
1950 Michael Goodroe born in Albuquerque, New Mexico. He joined the Motels as a Bass Player in 1976.
1956 Buddy Holly signs a recording contract with Decca records (the contract leaves the “E” off in his last name, Holley, and he drops it from his stage name as well).
1960 Mark Dinning went to No.1 on the US singles chart with ‘Teen Angel’, a No.37 hit in the UK.
1960 “Where Or When” by Dion & The Belmonts peaked at #3 on the US singles chart.
1960 “Lonely Blue Boy” by Conway Twitty peaked at #6 on the US singles chart.
1960 “Shimmy, Shimmy, Ko-Ko-Bop” by Little Anthony & The Imperials peaked at #24 on the US singles chart.
1961 Vince Neil born in Hollywood, California . Lead Vocalist with Motley Crue, (1988 UK No.23 single ‘You’re All I Need’ & 1989 US No.1 album ‘Dr Feelgood’).
1961 No. 1 Billboard Pop Hit: “Calcutta,” Lawrence Welk. Welk and his orchestra
1962 Ken McCluskey, drums, The Bluebells, (1993 UK No.1 single with the re- issued ‘Young At Heart’).
1962 BEACH BOYS RECORDING SESSION With Guitarist DAVID MARKS having replaced AL JARDINE in the lineup, they cut “SURFIN’ SAFARI”, “SURFER GIRL” “JUDY” and “KARATE” at World Pacific Studios in L.A.
1964 On their first full day in New York, The Beatles (minus George who had a sore throat), went for a photo-opportunity walk around Central Park. Over 400 girl fans followed The Beatles and extra police were called in to control them. Later in the day The Ronettes interviewed The Beatles for radio.
1964 “Hey Little Cobra” by The Rip Chords peaked at #4 on the US singles chart.
1964 “Um, Um, Um, Um, Um, Um” by Major Lance peaked at #5 on the US singles chart.
1964 putting up an award of $1,000 to anyone who could find “suggestive” language in the song “Louie, Louie,” music publisher Max Firetag denied Indiana governor Matt Welsh’s claim that the song was “pornographic.”
1964 John Leyton, Mike Berry, The Innocents, Jet Harris, Don Spencer, The Leroys and The Rolling Stones appeared at the Regal, Edmonton, on the first night of a UK tour.
1964 Max Firetag, publisher of “Louie Louie” as recorded by the Kingsmen for Wand Records, denies Indiana Governor Matthew Welsh’s clam that the song is “pornographic.” Firetag offers $1,000 to anyone who can find anything “suggestive” in the song’s lyrics.
1964 “Hey Little Cobra” by The Rip Chords peaked at #4 on the US singles chart.
1964 “Um, Um, Um, Um, Um, Um” by Major Lance peaked at #5 on the US singles chart.
1965 Joshua Kadison born in Los Angeles, California. US Singer/Songwriter.
1965 The Supremes hit ‘Stop In The Name Of Love’ was released in America. It was their fourth of five successive No.1 US hits.
1967 Peter (Asher) and Gordon (Waller) split after almost three years and 14 US hit singles.
1968 Tjinder Singh, guitar, Cornershop, (1998 UK No.1 single ‘Brimful Of Asher’).
1968 The Monkees went to No.1 in the Australian Singles Chart with ‘I’m A Believer/I’m Not Your Stepping Stone’. Staying at the top for 1wk.
1968 “Woman, Woman” single by Gary Puckett & The Union Gap was certified Gold by the RIAA
1968 The Band Of Joy, featuring John Bonham and Robert Plant, made their first London appearance, supporting Edwin Starr at the Marquee Club in London, England. The Marquee was witness to the London scene of the late 60’s, represented at the club by bands like the Move, The Syn, Pink Floyd, (who played the club many times), Neat Change, The In Crowd, Soft Machine and Arthur Brown.
1969 TBC’ by The Supremes with Temptations went to No.1 on the US album chart.
1969 George Harrison has his tonsils removed at a London hospital.
1969 “Hang ‘Em High” by Booker T. & The M.G.’s peaked at #9 on the US singles chart.
1969 “I Started A Joke” bt Bee Gees peaked at #6 on the US singles chart.
1973 Max Yasgur died of a heart attack aged 53. He was the owner of the dairy farm in Bethel, New York at which the Woodstock Music and Art Fair was held between August 15 and August 18, 1969.
1973 Carly Simon is awarded a gold record for her single “You’re So Vain,” the only Number One song of her career. Many speculate as to the identity of the song’s subject. Many assume it’s Mick Jagger, whose voice can be clearly heard singing behind Simon in the chorus. However, it turns out that the subject is actor Warren Beatty.
1974 Guillaume Emmanuel “Guy-Manuel” de Homem-Christo born in Paris, France. A French electronic musician best known for being one half of the French house music duo Daft Punk, along with Thomas Bangalter. , remixed for Gabrielle, Chemical Brothers.
1974 “Let Me Be There” single by Olivia Newton-John was certified Gold by the RIAA
1975 Bob Dylan went to #1 on the US chart with his 15th studio album Blood On The Tracks, his second US #1 album. The album has become one of Dylan’s all-time best-selling studio releases, with a double-platinum US certification by the Recording Industry Association of America.
1975 Engelbert Humperdinck started a three-week run at No.1 on the UK album chart with his ‘Greatest Hits Collection.’
1975 The Ohio Players went to No.1 on the US singles chart with ‘Fire’, the group’s first of two US No.1’s.
1978 “You’re In My Heart” single by Rod Stewart was certified Gold by the RIAA
1979 Lyn Hamilton recorded ‘On The Inside’. The Theme to the australian series Prisoner was written by Alan Caswell.
1980 The divorce became final between David and Angie Bowie. He won custody of their son Zowie, (now known as Joe), Angie received a £30,000 ($51,000) settlement.
1981 R.E.M. made their first ever-recording sessions at Bombay Studios Smyrna, Georgia. Tracks included ‘Gardening At Night’, ‘Radio Free Europe’ and ‘(Don’t Go Back To) Rockville.’
1983 Kim Wilde won the best British female artist at the second annual Brit Awards.
1983 Winners at the second annual Brit Awards held in London included Paul McCartney who won Best British Male Solo Artist, Kim Wilde won Best British Female Solo Artist, Dire Straits won British Group, British Breakthrough Act went to Yazoo, International Act was Kid Creole & The Coconuts, Best Selling Single Dexy’s Midnight Runners “Come On Eileen” and the Life Achievement Award went to Pete Townshend.
1984 “Born To Love” album by Peabo Bryson & Roberta Flack was certified Gold by the RIAA. Including ‘Tonight I Celebrate My Love’.
1986 Billy Ocean started a four week run at No.1 on the UK singles chart with ‘When The Going Gets Tough, The Tough Get Going’, as featured in the film ‘The Jewel Of The Nile.’ The video was banned in the UK because it featured non-musician union members. Boyzone took the song to No.1 in 1999.
1986 “Spies Like Us” by Paul McCartney peaked at #7 on the US singles chart.
1986 “Conga” by Miami Sound Machine peaked at #10 on the US singles chart.
1989 Womack & Womack went to No.1 in the Australian Singles chart with ‘Teardrops’. Staying at the top spot for 1wk.
1990 Suffering from depression American singer songwriter Del Shannon died of self inflicted gunshot wounds. He’s scored the 1961 UK and US No.1 single ‘Runaway’, plus 9 US and 12 other UK Top 40 singles. Shannon had been working with Tom Petty and Jeff Lynne and was rumoured to be replacing Roy Orbison, who had recently died, in the Traveling Wilburys supergroup.
1992 UK act Right Said Fred started a three-week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with ‘I’m Too Sexy’, a No.2 hit in the UK.
1992 Wet Wet Wet Wet Wet Wet scored their second UK No.1 album with ‘High On The Happy Side.’
1993 Julian Cope raised over £2,500 for anti-fur campaigners Lynx after selling raffle tickets to win his trade-mark microphone stand.
1994 Oasis were forced to cancel their first foreign tour after they were deported from Holland. The band were involved in a drunken brawl on a cross-channel ferry resulting in members of the band being arrested and locked in the brig on the ferry.
1995 “Discography” album by Pet Shop Boys was certified Gold by the RIAA
1995 “Very” album by Pet Shop Boys was certified Gold by the RIAA. Including ‘Go West’ ‘Can You Forgive Her’, ‘I Wouldn’t Normally Do This Kind Of Thing’ & ‘Yesterday When I Was Mad’.
1995 “Discography” album by Pet Shop Boys was certified Gold by the RIAA
1995 “Very” album by Pet Shop Boys was certified Gold by the RIAA
1997 LL Cool J went to No.1 on the UK singles chart with ‘Ain’t Nobody’, and taken from the soundtrack to the 1996 film Beavis and Butthead Do America. The song was a 1983 hit for Rufus with Chaka Khan
1998 Chumbawamba singer Danbert Nobacon threw a plastic bucket full of cold water over UK Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott during the Brit Awards, London.
1998 Winners at this year’s Brit Awards included Finley Quaye who won Best British Male Solo Artist, Best British Female Solo Artist went to Shola Ama, The Verve won British Group and Best British Album for ‘Urban Hymns’, British Dance Act went to The Prodigy, British Breakthrough Act was Stereophonics, Best Selling British Album Act was The Spice Girls, International Male, Jon Bon Jovi, International Female, Bjork, International Group, U2 and Outstanding Contribution went to Fleetwood Mac. During the show Chumbawamba singer Danbert Nobacon threw a plastic bucket full of cold water over UK Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott.
2001 Eminem made his live UK concert debut when he appeared at The Manchester Arena.
2002 Bob Wooler died aged 76. He was the resident DJ and booker at The Cavern Club in Liverpool during the early 1960’s. Wooler introduced The Beatles to their manager, Brian Epstein.
2005 Keith Knudson drummer with The Doobie Brothers died of pneumonia aged 56. Scored the 1979 US No.1 single ‘What A Fool Believes’ and 1993 UK No.7 single ‘Long Train Runnin.’
2005 Pete Doherty was released from jail on bail after four nights when his manager paid the remaining £100,000 ($170,000) bail to Highbury Corner Magistrates Court, London. The ex-Libertines star had been charged with robbery and blackmail after a fracas at a London hotel. His bail arrangements stated he would not be able to leave his house between 2200pm and 0700am every night and must be accompanied by a security guard or his manager if he goes out at any other time.
2005 Kylie Minogue was voted the world’s sexiest woman in her 30’s by UK magazine Good Housekeeping. Sade was voted No.4 in the over 40’s with Madonna coming in at No.7 and Jerry Hall at No.8. And Sharon Osbourne was voted into 3rd place in the over 50’s section.
2006 The 48th annual Grammy Awards were held at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. Madonna opened the awards for a third time. U2 came away with 5 awards and Mariah Carey won 3 of her 8 nominations.
2009 R&B singer Chris Brown was questioned by police in Los Angeles over a complaint of assault. The 19-year-old had pulled out of his performance at the Grammy Awards, as did his pop star girlfriend Rihanna. Police said Mr Brown argued with an unidentified woman while sitting in a car. Brown had walked into a police station and was later released on $50,000 (£34,000) bail. Los Angeles police did not identify the woman who had made the complaint against Brown.
2013 A report on the the rise of digital music showed that one in five consumers (19.6%) bought all their music as downloads. The report said that 27.7% of UK music fans purchased downloads from stores such as iTunes or Amazon; or streamed songs on services like Spotify or YouTube and that the streaming market was now worth £49m to record labels.
2013 LA Superior Court Judge Charles Palmer threw out a claim by Axl Rose of fraud and misrepresentation against Guitar Hero III. Rose claimed that his deal with the company to license the song ‘Welcome to the Jungle’ for use in the game included a promise from Activision that no images of Slash would be used in the game. Later, both Maroon 5 singer Adam Levine and Gwen Stefani’s band No Doubt sued the company over their own portrayals in Band Hero, a Guitar Hero series spin-off.
2015 British soul singer Sam Smith won four Grammy Awards in the US, including the prestigious prizes for record and song of the year for ‘Stay With Me’ and best new artist. Album of the year went to Beck for Morning Phase.