1932 Faron Young born in Shreveport, Los Angeles. US Country singer, songwriter, (1961 US No.7 single ‘Hello Walls’). Died Dec. 10, 1996
1940 Ian ‘Pee Wee’ Wilson born in Sydney, NSW. Bass Singer For The Deltones & the only original member in the current line-up.
1942 Roy Michaels, Cat Mother and the All Night News Boys, (1969 US No.21 single ‘Good Old Rock ‘N’ Roll’). He died September 23, 2008.
1943 George Harrison born in Liverpool, England. Guitarist and vocalist with The Beatles, the world’s most successful group. The all-time bestselling album in the UK is The Beatles’ ‘Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band’, with over 4.5 million copies sold. Harrison wrote the 1969 US No.1 & UK No.4 Beatles single ‘Something’. As a solo artist he had the 1971 US No.1 album ‘All Things Must Pass’ and the 1970 worldwide No.1 single ‘My Sweet Lord’. He was also a member of the Traveling Wilburys with Tom Petty and Bob Dylan. Harrison died of cancer on November 29th 2001.
1945 Elkie Brooks, (Elaine Bookbinder) born in Manchester, England. UK Singer. (1977 UK No.8 single ‘Pearl’s A Singer’), Vinegar Joe with Robert Palmer.
1953 Juanita Curiel – US singer with the group ‘HOT’.
1956 Elvis Presley had his first national hit when ‘I Forgot To Remember To Forget’ went to No.1 on the Billboard Country & Western chart.
1956 “Lisbon Antigua” by Nelson Riddle Orchestra peaked at #1 on the US singles chart.
1957 Buddy Holly recorded a new version of ‘That’ll Be The Day’, at Norman Petty Recording Studio in Clovis, New Mexico. The title being taken from a phrase used by John Wayne in the film ‘The Searchers.’
1957 Stuart ‘Woody’ Wood born in Edinburgh, Scotland. Guitarist with the Bay City Rollers, (1975 UK No.1 single ‘Bye Bye Baby’ plus 11 other UK Top 20 singles’, 1976 US No.1 single ‘Saturday Night’).
1957 Dennis Diken born in Belleville, New Jersey. Drummer with US group, The Smithereens, (1988 US No.41 album ‘Smithereens 11).
1959 Mike Peters, guitarist and vocalist with The Alarm, who had a 1983 UK No.17 single with ’68 Guns’. Solo and member of Dead Men Walking with Kirk Brandon, (ex Spear Of Destiny), Slim Jim Phantom, (Stray Cats), Glen Matlock (Sex Pistols) and Bruce Watson (Big Country).
1961 Bobby Vee went to No.1 on the Australian Singles Chart with ‘Rubber Ball’. Staying at No.1 for 2kws.
1962 Foster Sylver born in Memphis Tennessee. US Singer with the family group The Sylvers.
1963 The first Beatles single ‘Please Please Me’ was released in the US on the ‘Vee Jay’ label. Because of a misprint it was recorded by the “Beattles”. It Failed To Chart. The Beatles played a gig at the Casino Ballroom, Leigh, Lancashire on this day.
1964 The Beatles recorded ‘You Can’t Do That’ on George Harrison’s 21st Birthday.
1964 BEATLES RECORDING SESSIONS At EMI’s Abbey Road studios, they record songs for use in their upcoming movie debut, including “AND I LOVE HER.” “I SHOULD HAVE KNOWN BETTER” was cut the next day and “IF I FELL” and “TELL MY WHY” on the 27th.
1964 The Beatles finished recording their next single ‘Can’t Buy Me Love’, at Abbey Road studios, London, (they had first recorded the song on 29 January 1964 at Path Marconi Studios in Paris). They also recorded the B-side, ‘You Can’t Do That’ and another new song ‘I Should Have Known Better’.
1965 The Beatles began filming their second movie, “Help,” in the Bahamas. It was originally titled “Eight Arms To Hold You”, but emerged as “Help!”; it is completed in May.
1965 The Seekers were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with ‘I’ll Never Find Another You’, the Australian folk-pop group’s first UK No.1.
1965 The Rolling Stones’ “The Last Time” backed with “Play with Fire” is released in the U.K. The same day, the Stones perform the song on the British TV rock show “Ready Steady Go!”
1967 “Mercy, Mercy, Mercy” by “Cannonball” Adderley peaked at #11 on the US singles chart.
1967 “The Beat Goes On” by Sonny & Cher peaked at #6 on the US singles chart.
1967 “Gimme Some Lovin'” by The Spencer Davis Group peaked at #7 on the US singles chart.
1967 Pink Floyd appeared at the Ricky Tick Club, Hounslow, England. The Yardbirds were filmed performing in a re-creation of the club built at MGM Studios in Borehamwood for Michelangelo Antonioni’s 1966 film Blowup.
1969 Beatles begin recording for the Abbey Road album.
1970 Jimmy Page spit on an audience member at a Led Zeppelin concert at the Goteborg Concert House in Sweden; the offender had played his harmonica throughout Page’s guitar instrumental, “White Summer.”
1971 Daniel Powter born in British Columbia. English singer/songwriter, (2005 UK No.2 single ‘Bad Day’). The song had been featured in a Coca-Cola ad campaign in Europe.
1972 Led Zeppelin appeared in front of over 25,000 fans at the Western Springs Stadium, Auckland, New Zealand, the group’s first ever gig in New Zealand, (and the largest crowd ever to attend a concert on the island). A special train was chartered from Wellington to bring fans to the concert. News reviews the next day reported the band could be heard over five miles from the Stadium.
1976 “M.U. – The Best Of Jethro Tull” album by Jethro Tull was certified Gold by the RIAA
1977 The Jam signed to Polydor Records UK for £6,000 ($10,200).
1978 “Theme From Close Encounters Of The Third Kind” by John Williams peaked at #13 on the US singles chart.
1978 “Dance, Dance, Dance (Yowsah, Yowsah, Yowsah, Yowsah)” by Chic peaked at #6 on the US singles chart.
1980 “Damn The Torpedos” album by Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers was certified Gold by the RIAA
1981 “Celebrate” album by Kool & The Gang was certified Platinum by the RIAA
1981 “2112” album by Rush was certified Platinum by the RIAA
1981 Winners at this year’s Grammy Awards included Bob Seger who won Best Rock performance for ‘Against The Wind’, Pat Benatar won Best female performance for ‘Crimes Of Passion’ and Christopher Cross won Best new artist and Best song for ‘Sailing.’
1981 Christopher Cross won five Grammy Awards for his deubt album Christopher Cross. Including ‘Say You’ll Be Mine’, ‘Never Be The Same’, ‘Sailing’ & ‘Ride Like The Wind’.
1981 The Manhattan Transfer wins a Grammy for “Birdland,” Best Vocal or Instrumental Jazz Fusion Performance.
1981 The Swingers went to No.1 in the Australian Singles Chart with ‘Counting The Beat’. Staying at No.1 for 2wks.
1981 Christopher Cross won five Grammy Awards at ceremonies in Radio City Music Hall in New York City. He was awarded the Album of the Year award for “Christopher Cross” and his hit, “Sailing”, won for Best Arrangement Accompanying Vocalist(s), Record of the Year and Song of the Year. Christopher was also voted Best New Artist of 1980. All in all, a very good night for Mr. Cross
1983 Marvin Gaye wins two Grammys for “Sexual Healing,” Best Male Vocal R&B Performance and Best Instrumental R&B Performance.
1983 L.A. band Toto were winners in six categories, including Album and Record of the Year, at the 25th Grammy Awards.
1983 “Down Under” single by Men At Work was certified Gold by the RIAA
1983 Men at Work wins a Grammy, Best New Group.
1983 Toto won in six categories at the 25th annual Grammy Awards.
1984 “Adult Education” by Hall & Oates entered the Top 40 chart.
1984 Twins The Thompson Twins scored their first UK No.1 album with their third release ‘Into The Gap.’ Including ‘Hold Me Now’, Doctor Doctor’ & ‘You Take Me Up’.
1984 Jump’, by Van Halen started a five-week run at No.1 on the US singles chart, a No.7 hit in the UK.
1984 “An Innocent Man” by Billy Joel peaked at #10 on the US singles chart.
1984 , “Let The Music Play” by Shannon peaked at #8 on the US singles chart.
1985 “War” album by U2 was certified Platinum by the RIAA
1985 U2 began their first full north American arena tour, starting at the Dallas Reunion Arena in Texas.
1985 Peter Bogdanovich sued Universal Pictures for $19 million for removing Bruce Springsteen’s songs from the movie “Mask.” Universal didn’t want to pay, so Bob Seger wrote the score.
1986 “We Are The World” captured four Grammy Awards this night. The song, featuring more than 40 superstar artists gathered at one time, was awarded the Top Song, Record of the Year, Best Pop Performance and Best Short Video Awards.
1986 At roughly 3:00 AM in London’s Roof Garden Club, The Rolling Stones are presented with the Grammys’ Lifetime Achievement award by Eric Clapton. The acceptance is fed back live to the US via satellite. Mick makes reference to the schlock image of the Grammys. Jeff Beck, Eurythmic’s Dave Stwart, and Keith’s mum are among the small gathering in London.
1989 Simple Minds were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with ‘Belfast Child.’ At 6 minutes 39 seconds it became the second- longest running No.1 after The Beatles ‘Hey Jude.’
1989 “Dial My Heart” by The Boys peaked at #13 on the US singles chart.
1989 “She Wants To Dance With Me” by Rick Astley peaked at #6 on the US singles chart.
1989 Simple Minds were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with ‘Belfast Child.’ At 6 minutes 39 seconds it became the second-longest running No.1 after The Beatles ‘Hey Jude.’
1991 “Love In A Small Town” album by K.T. Oslin was certified Gold by the RIAA
1992 James Brown receives a lifetime achievement Grammy award,
1992 Natalie Cole wins three Grammys including Best Record, Song, and Album (Unforgettable). Marc Cohn is named Best New Artist.
1995 Madonna started a seven week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with ‘Take A Bow’, the track which was co-written with Babyface became a No.16 hit in the UK.
1995 “If You Love Me” by Brownstone hit #8 on the US chart.
1995 At a private party for 1,200 select guests on the closing night of the Frank Sinatra Desert Classic golf tournament, Frank Sinatra sang before a live audience for the very last time. His closing song was ‘The Best is Yet to Come’.
1996 The Bluetones went to No.1 on the UK album charts with their album ‘Expecting To Fly.’
1997 Bonnie Raitt was honored as the best female guitarist in the rock and blues fields at the 1997 Orville H. Gibson Guitar Awards in New York. Eddie Van Halen was named the best male rock guitarist and Tracey Chapman the best female acoustic guitarist.
1998 At Radio City Music Hall, Bob Dylan was handed three Grammys, including one for Best Album for ‘Time Out Of Mind’. During Dylan’s performance of the song, Michael Portnoy, hired as a background dancer, ripped his shirt off and jumped in amongst the band, revealing the words ‘Soy Bomb’ painted on his chest. Also in the evening, during Shawn Colvin’s acceptance speech, Ol Dirty Bastard grabbed the microphone and made various observations such as “Puffy is good, but Wu-Tang is the best” and “Wu-Tang is for the children”. He was then escorted from the stage.
1998 Bob Dylan, who made a strong musical comeback in a year he suffered through a life-threatening illness, won three Grammys as the music business handed out its top honors night. Elton John also won a best male pop vocal performance Grammy for Candle in the Wind 1997. Shawn Colvin won two of the night’s biggest awards, song and record of the year, for Sunny Came Home. Soul singer R. Kelly took three awards for his inspirational I Believe I Can Fly. Rapper Puff Daddy, Lilith Fair founder Sarah McLachlan, and country-bluegrass performer Alison Kraus were also multiple winners in the 40th annual awards show, held in Radio City Music Hall.
1998 The Grammy Winners of note: Best rap solo — Will Smith, “Men In Black”; Best rock song — “The Difference,” The Wallflowers; writer Jakob Dylan; Best rock album — “Blue Moon Swamp,” John Fogerty; Best female country performance — Trisha Yearwood, “How Do I Live?”; Song of the year — “Sunny Came Home,” Shawn Colvin and John Leventhal; Best pop group performance — Jamiroquai, “Virtual Insanity”; Best male R&B vocal performance — R. Kelly, “I Believe I Can Fly”; Best male country vocal performance — Vince Gill, “Pretty Little Adriana”; Album of the year — “Time Out of Mind,” Bob Dylan; Best new artist — Paula Cole; Best pop album — “Hourglass,” James Taylor; Record of the year — “Sunny Came Home,” Shawn Colvin
1998 The Grammys were handed out during ceremonies at Radio City Music Hall. Bob Dylan won three Grammys, including one for Best Album for “Time Out Of Mind.” Dylan’s son, Jakob, also won an award, winning Best Song for “One Headlight,” a song he recorded with his band, The Wallflowers. Also winning awards were John Fogerty, who picked up Best Rock Album for “Blue Moon Swamp,” Elton John for Best Male Vocal for “Candle In The Wind 1997” and Van Morrison, who won one for Best Pop Collaboration for “Don’t Look Back,” a song he recorded with John Lee Hooker.
1999 The Artist Formerly Known as Prince files a copyright and trademark infringement lawsuit against nine Web sites, with allegations that include selling bootlegged recordings and offering unauthorized song downloads.
2000 The five original Spice Girls were facing a bill of up to £1 million ($1.7 million) after losing a legal battle against the sponsors of their 1988 world tour. The Aprilia Scoter Company had claimed the girls knew of Geri’s impending departure.
2000 “Maria, Maria” single by Santana was certified Gold by the RIAA
2001 Rapper Lil’ Kim said a shooting which happened after she left a New York radio station was unconnected to her. One man was wounded in the incident outside the radio station Hot 97 in New York when five men fired 22 bullets. The New York Daily News reported the incident was the result of a feud between Lil’ Kim and rival rappers, Capone-N-Noreaga.
2004 The Rolling Stones topped a US Rich List of music’s biggest money makers. The list was based on earnings during 2003 when the band played their ‘Forty Licks’ tour, which made them $212 million, (£124.7m) in ticket, CD, DVD and merchandise sales. The three million fans who went to the shows spent an average of $11 (£6.47) each on merchandise. Bruce Springsteen was listed in second place and The Eagles in third.
2005 Whitney Houston was rushed to a hospital in Paris with suspected food poisoning after becoming ill during a flight from Los Angeles to Spain.
2006 George Michael was found slumped over in a car in Hyde Park, London. A concerned person spotted the singer and called police who after being checked by paramedics was arrested on suspicion of possessing drugs and then released on bail. Michael made a public statement about the incident and said “I was in possession of class C drugs which is an offense and I have no complaints about the police who were professional throughout.” He also said that the event was “my own stupid fault, as usual.”
2006 The 4th Annual TRL Awards were held in New York City. Madonna won the Lifetime Achievement Award and Bono won the Most Inspired Artist/Humanitarian Award. Other winners included Fall Out Boy, Chris Brown, Mariah Carey, Ashlee Simpson, Kelly Clarkson, Amanda Bynes, and My Chemical Romance.
2006 George Michael was found slumped over in a car in Hyde Park, London. A concerned person spotted the singer and called police who after being checked by paramedics was arrested on suspicion of possessing drugs and then released on bail. Michael made a public statement about the incident and said “I was in possession of class C drugs which is an offense and I have no complaints about the police who were professional throughout.” He also said that the event was “my own stupid fault, as usual.
2007 Fall Out Boy were at No.1 on the US album chart with ‘Infinity on High’ the American group’s 4th album and first No.1.
2007 Kaiser Chiefs went to No.1 on the UK singles with ‘Ruby’, taken from their second album, Yours Truly, Angry Mob.
2007 Fall Out Boy were at No.1 on the US album chart with ‘Infinity on High’ the American group’s 4th album and first No.1.
2009 President Obama honoured Stevie Wonder, his musical hero, with America’s highest award for pop music, the Library of Congress’ Gershwin prize at a ceremony at the White House. The president said the Motown legend had been the soundtrack to his youth and he doubted that his wife would have married him if he hadn’t been a fan. Wonder’s song ‘Signed, Sealed, Delivered’ had been the theme song during Obama’s presidential campaign.
2009 Winners at the 2009 NME Awards, held at London’s O2 Academy included Oasis who won best British band, Elbow won the outstanding contribution to British music award. The Killers won best international band and Kings of Leon won best album for “Only by the Night” and The Cure won the godlike genius award.
2010 Marie Osmond’s teenaged son, Michael Blosil, was found dead on the ground below an apartment balcony in Los Angeles, California.
2011 Susan ‘Suze’ Rotolo, died from lung cancer. She was the one time girlfriend of Bob Dylan, and the inspiration of some of his early songs. Susan appeared in one of the decade’s signature images, walking with Dylan arm-in-arm for the cover photo of his breakthrough album Freewheelin Bob Dylan.
2015 On what would have been George Harrison’s 72nd birthday, a new tree was planted in his memory in Griffith Park Los Angeles to replace one that was earlier killed by a beetle infestation. This new yew tree had been chosen to replace the original, as it was far less susceptible to insects.