1905 Harold Arlen (Hyman Arluck) born in Buffalo, New York. was an American composer of popular music, having written over 500 songs, a number of which have become known worldwide.. He wrote “Stormy Weater’ & ‘Over The Rainbow’ Died April 23, 1986
1918 Hank Locklin born in McClellan, Florida. US Country Singer/Guitarist & Songwriter. He died March 8, 2009 (aged 91)
1941 Brian Holland born in Detroit, Michigan. US Songwriter , Holland/Dozier/Holland, producer, songwriter, wrote for Motown, Supremes, Marvin Gaye, Four Tops, Martha Reeves & The Vandellas, Freda Payne, Chairmen Of The Board. On his own he wrote ‘Please Mr Postman’, which became a hit for the Marvellettes, the Beatles & the Carpenters.
1942 Glyn Johns, producer, worked with, Clapton, The Stones, The Who, Beatles.
1944 Denny Zager born in Wymore, Nebraska. US Singer/Songwriter with Zager and Evans, (1969 US & UK No.1 single ‘In The Year 2525’).
1944 Mick Avory born in Hampton Court, London, England. UK Drummer with The Kinks, (1964 UK No.1 & US No.7 ‘You Really Got Me’, 1967 UK No.2 single ‘Waterloo Sunset’ plus 19 other UK Top 40 singles).
1945 John Helliwell born in Todmorden, Yorkshire, England. Sax Player with Supertramp, (1979 UK No.7 & US No.6 single ‘The Logical Song’)
1945 Ray Brown born in Sydney, NSW. Australian singer with Ray Brown & the Whispers.
1947 David Brown born in New York City. US Bassist with Santana from 1969 – 1976. (1977 UK No.11 single ‘She’s Not There’).
1947 Gary Young born in Queens, New York. Australain Musician. He was the drummer with Daddy Cool.
1951 Melissa Manchester born in The Bronx, New York. US singer. , US singer, songwriter, (1975 US No.6 single ‘Midnight Blue’).
1958 Pat Boone went to No.1 on the Australian Singles Chart with ‘April Love’. Topping the charts for 6wks in a row.
1958 , “Get A Job”, by the Silhouettes, reached the top spot on the music Tunedex this day. It remained at #1 for two weeks. Talk about sudden change in American popular music! One week before, the number one song was “Sugartime”, by The McGuire Sisters, a song that definitely was not classified as rock ‘n’ roll. “Get A Job” was replaced by “Tequila”, an instrumental by a studio group known as The Champs.
1959 Ali Campbell (Alastair Campbell) born in Birmingham, England. Lead Singer & Rhythm Guitarist with UB40, (1983 UK No.1 & 1988 US No.1 single ‘Red Red Wine’ and over 30 other Top 40 hit singles) & solo (1995 UK No.5 single ‘That Look In Your Eye’).
1960 Mikey Craig born in Hammersmith, London, England. UK Bassist with Culture Club, (1983 UK No.1 & 1984 US No.12 single ‘Karma Chameleon’ plus 7 other UK Top 10 singles’).
1961 Juanita Jones, a female fan who had gone to his New York apartment demanding to see him, shot Jackie Wilson, the gun went off as he tried to disarm her. Wilson was left with a stomach wound.
1961 The Marcels record “Blue Moon”
1961 Singer Jackie Wilson was left with a stomach wound after Juanita Jones a female fan went to his New York apartment demanding to see him. Jones’ gun went off as he tried to disarm her.
1962 Mike and David Miliner born in California. Vocalists with The Pasadenas, (1992 UK No.4 single ‘I’m Doing Fine Now’).
1962 Ray Charles recorded ‘I Can’t Stop Loving You’ at United Studios in Hollywood, California. The tune would go on to top both the US and UK charts and would be included on the LP ‘Modern Sounds In Country / Western Music’, which would lead the Billboard album chart for 14 weeks.
1963 Ken Lynch recorded “Misery” it was the first Lennon-McCartney song by someone else.
1963 Del Shannon went to No.1 on the Australian Singles Chart with ‘Little Town Flirt’. Staying at the top spot for 2wks.
1964 The Beatles scored their first US No.1 album with ‘Meet The Beatles!’ The album stayed at No.1 for eleven weeks.
1964 according to a Billboard magazine report on the recent British Invasion, “Great Britain hasn’t been as influential in American affairs since 1775” as merchandisers can’t keep up with the demand for British group memorabilia and, for the first time, one group — The Beatles — have five songs on Billboard’s Hot 100 Chart. It was The Beatles, with “I Want To Hold Your Hand,” “I Saw Her Standing There,” “She Loves You,” “Please, Please Me” and “My Bonnie.”
1964 The Dave Clark Five appeared on the UK TV show ‘Thank Your Lucky Stars.’
1964 The Beatles released the single “Eight Days A Week/I Don’t Want To Spoil The Party”.
1965 John Lennon passes his driving test.
1965 American singer and pianist Nat King Cole died of lung cancer. First hit was the 1943 ‘Straighten Up and Fly Right’, had the 1955 US No.2 single ‘A Blossom Fell’ and 1957 UK No.2 single ‘When I Fall In Love’ plus over 20 other US & UK Top 40 singles. Father of singer Natalie Cole. In 1956 he became the first black American to host a television variety show.
1965 The Beatles recorded ‘Ticket to Ride’.
1965 BEATLES RECORDING SESSION Over the next few days at Abbey Road studios, The Beatles cut most of the original songs for their second movie – whose title at this point had yet to be determined. The songs are: “THE NIGHT BEFORE,” “YOU’VE GOT TO HIDE YOUR LOVE AWAY,” “I NEED YOU,” “ANOTHER GIRL,” “TICKET TO RIDE” and “YOU’RE GONNA LOSE THAT GIRL.” “HELP,” which was used as the movie’s title song, wasn’t recorded until April.
1967 The Royal Guardsmen went to No.1 on the Australian Singles Chart with ‘Snoopy vs The Red Baron. Staying at the top spot for 7wks in a row.
1967 “Ramblin’ Gamblin’ Man” by Bob Seger System peaked at #17 on the US singles chart.
1968 US blues harmonica player Little Walter died from injuries incurred in a fight while taking a break from a performance at a nightclub in Chicago. Joining Muddy Waters’ band in 1948, he was the first harmonica player to amplify his harp giving it a distorted echoing sound.
1968 The Lennons and Harrisons arrived in India to study meditation with the Maharishi. Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr arrived four days later. Ringo returned before the others comparing the experience to be like a Butlins holiday camp.
1968 “I Say A Little Prayer” single by Dionne Warwick was certified Gold by the RIAA
1968 John and Cynthia Lennon, along with George and Patti Harrison, flew to India to study meditation with Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. Paul and Ringo joined them a few days later, but Starr would become bored and leave on March 1st, comparing the experience to be like a ‘Butlins holiday camp.’ Much of the Beatles’ ‘White Album’ was written during their stay.
1969 Singer Vickie Jones was arrested on fraud charges for impersonating Aretha Franklin in concert at Fort Myers, Florida. No-one in the audience had asked for their money back.
1969 Sly and the Family Stone started a four week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with ‘Everyday People’, their first No.1.
1969 ‘Diana Ross and The Supremes Join The Temptations.’ started a four week run at No.1 on the UK album chart.
1969 “Ramblin’ Gamblin’ Man” by Bob Seger System peaked at #17 on the US singles chart.
1969 “Touch Me” by The Doors peaked at #3 on the US singles chart.
1974 David Bowie released the single “Rebel, Rebel”
1975 Linda Ronstadt went to No.1 on the US singles chart with ‘You’re No Good’, the singers only solo chart topper out of 12 other top 40 hits. Also today Ronstadt went to No.1 on the US album chart with ‘Heart Like A Wheel.’
1976 Ronnie Vannucci Jr born in Las Vegas, Nevada. is the drummer for the American rock band The Killers. (2005 UK No.1 with their debut album ‘Hot Fuss’).
1976 Bette Midler bailed seven members of her entourage out of jail after they were arrested on cocaine and marijuana possession charges.
1977 Glen Matlock was fired as bass player from The Sex Pistols, being replaced by Sid Vicious. Matlock rejoined in the 90’s when the Pistol’s reformed.
1977 “Rumours” album by Fleetwood Mac was certified Gold by the RIAA
1978 The Bee Gees went to No.1 on the Australian Singles Chart with ‘How Deep Is Your Love’. Staying at No.1 for 1wk.
1977 “After The Lovin'” single by Engelbert Humperdinck was certified Gold by the RIAA
1978 “Even Now” album by Barry Manilow was certified Gold by the RIAA
1979 Donna Summer’s “Last Dance” wins two Grammys: Best Female R&B Vocal and Best R&B Song.
1979 Billy Joel’s “Just the Way You Are” wins two Grammys: Record of the Year and Song of the Year.
1979 At the 21st Grammy Awards, the ‘Saturday Night Fever’ soundtrack won Album of the Year and The Bee Gees were named Best Pop Group and Best Arrangement for Voices for ‘Staying Alive’. Billy Joel’s ‘Just the Way You Are’ won Record and Song of the Year. Donna Summer’s ‘Last Dance’ won two Grammys: Best Female R&B Vocal and Best R&B Song.
1979 “Hold The Line” single by Toto was certified Gold by the RIAA
1981 Olivia Theresa Longott, US R&B singer, and member of G-Unit, who had the 2005 US No.1 & UK No.4 single ‘Candy Shop’ with 50 Cent.
1981 American guitarist Mike Bloomfield was found dead in his car in San Francisco from an accidental heroin overdose. He was a member of the Paul Butterfield band and Electric Flag and had played on Bob Dylan’s album ‘Highway 61 Revisited’. In 2003 he was ranked at number 22 on Rolling Stone’s 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time.
1986 Sade started a two-week run at No.1 on the US album chart with ‘Promise’.
1986 Whitney Houston started a two week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with ‘How Will I Know’, it made No.5 in the UK.
1986 Sade’s album “Promise” hit No. 1 in the United States. Including ‘The Sweetest Taboo’.
1986 Whitney Houston started a two week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with ‘How Will I Know’, which was also a No.5 in the UK.
1986 , “When The Going Gets Tough, The Tough Get Going” by Billy Ocean peaked at #2 on the US singles chart.
1988 After singer Jo Elliot had referred to El Paso as ‘the place with all those greasy Mexicans’, Def Leppard were forced to cancel a concert in El Paso, after they received threats that the gig would be disrupted.
1989 The Proclaimers went to No.1 on the Australian Singles Chart with I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles). Staying at No.1 for 5wks in a row.
1991 Kelly Emberg the ex-girlfriend of Rod Stewart filed a $25 million (£14.7 million) palimony suit in Los Angeles. The couple lived together from 1985 to 1990. Rod Stewart later said: “Instead of getting married again, I’m going to find a woman I don’t like and just give her a house.”
1992 Diamonds & Pearls” by Prince & The N.P.G. peaked at #3 on the pop singles chart.
1994 A federal court jury ruled Michael Jackson did not steal the idea for his hit song ‘Dangerous’ from a Denver woman who had sent him a demo tape.
1995 “Lexicon Of Love” album by ABC was certified Gold by the RIAA. Original released in 1982 it included ‘Poison Arrow’, ‘The Look Of Love’ & ‘All Of My Heart’.
1996 It was reported that Take That were the UK’s biggest single selling artists with sales over 3.9.million.
1997 Texas went to No.1 on the UK album chart with ‘White On Blonde.’
1997 U2 went to No.1 on the UK singles chart with ‘Discotheque’, the bands third UK No.1 single. The entire track was leaked onto the internet in December 1996, forcing U2 to move the release date.
2000 Sting pulled-out of a concert in Vienna in protest at the inclusion of Jorg Haider’s far right freedom party in Austria’s new government. Lou Reed had also cancelled shows in the country.
2002 Kerrang! Magazine overtook the New Musical Express for the first time to become the best selling UK weekly music publication. It claimed new bands such as Limp Bizkit and Linkin Park had given them a new teenage audience.
2004 Norah Jones scored her second UK No.1 album with ‘Feels Like Home.’
2004 Kenny Chesney was at No.1 on the US album chart with ‘When The Sun Comes Down.’
2004 Twista were at No.1 on the US singles chart with ‘Slow Jamz.’
2004 Sam & Mack went to No.1 on the UK singles chart with their version of The Beatles song ‘With A Little Help From My Friends.’
2006 Winners at this year’s Brit Awards included, James Blunt who won British male solo artist, British female solo artist went to KT Tunstall. Coldplay won Best British album for X&Y and Best British single for ‘Speed of Sound.’ Kaiser Chiefs won Best British group and Best British Live Act, British urban act went to Lemar, British breakthrough act was Arctic Monkeys, International breakthrough act was won by Jack Johnson. International male solo artist was Kanye West with Madonna winning International female solo artist. Green Day won International group and Best International album with American Idiot and Outstanding contribution to music went to Paul Weller.
2008 A flat once rented by the Beatles in London went up for sale for £1.75m. The band shared the three-bedroom top floor property in Green Street, Mayfair in the autumn of 1963. A publicity photo of the Fab Four peering over a banister, used as the cover for the December 1963 edition of The Beatles Book, was taken at the top of the property’s communal stairwell.
2009 Lily Allen went to No.1 on the UK album chart with ‘It’s Not Me, It’s You’ the singers second album.
2013 Chubby Checker launched a $500,000 lawsuit against Hewlett-Packard for including an app on its phones and tablets that was not only named after the 71-year-old musician, but measured a man’s manhood based on his shoe size
2015 Mark Ronson’s ‘Uptown Funk’ reached the one million sales mark, 10 weeks after it was first released becoming the 158th track to reach the million mark in British charts history. The song, from the soundtrack to the Fifty Shades Of Grey film also became the most-streamed track ever in the UK.