Page Title
31st January
1953, Perry Como was at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Don't Let The Stars Get In Your Eyes'.
1963, Two former Shadows members, Jet Harris and Tony Meehan were at No.1 on the UK single charts with 'Diamonds'.
1967, The Beatles spent a second day at Knole Park, Sevenoaks, Kent, England to complete filming for the ‘Strawberry
Fields Forever’ promotional video. The film was shot in colour, for the benefit of the US market, since UK television was
still broadcasting only in black and white. Taking time out from filming John Lennon bought a 1843 poster from an
antiques shop in Surrey which provided him with most the lyrics for The Beatles song ‘Being For The Benefit Of Mr Kite’.
1968, Love Affair were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Everlasting Love'. Singer Steve Ellis was the only band
member to perform on the recording.
1970, American blues musician Slim Harpo died of a heart attack while recording in London aged 46.
1970, The Jackson Five went to No.1 on the US singles chart with 'I Want You Back'. The song was originally written for
Gladys Knight
1981, Blondie went to No.1 on the US singles hart with 'The Tide Is High', the group's third US No.1, also a No.1 in the
UK.
1987, Paul Simon went back to No. 1 on the UK album chart with 'Graceland', the album stayed on the chart for 101
weeks.
2003, Robbie Williams topped a chart based on UK album sales from the past 5 years.
2007, Jim Morrison was enlisted to help fight global warming more than 35 years after his death. ‘Woman in the
Window’, a previously unreleased poem written and recorded by The Doors frontman shortly before he died in 1971 was
being set to music and used to publicise the Global Cool campaign.
January 30th
1956, Elvis Presley started recording what would be his first album at RCA's New York Studios. Songs recorded included
his version the Carl Perkins song 'Blue Suede Shoes'.
1959, Elvis Presley had his third UK No.1 single 'One Night / I Got Stung' a double A side
1961, The Shirelles became the first girl group to have the number one song on the US charts/UK 4 when ‘Will You Love
Me Tomorrow’ reached the top.
1964, The Searchers were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with the Sonny Bono song 'Needles And Pins'.
1969, The Beatles played their lunchtime rooftop gig on top of the Apple building on Savile Row in London.
1970, Edison Lighthouse were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Goes).' In
February 1970, Tony Burrows became the first (and still the only) person to appear on BBC Television's Top Of The
Pops fronting three different acts in one show: Edison Lighthouse (who were number one that week), White Plains, and
Brotherhood of Man.
1972, Paul McCartney wrote and recorded his protest song 'Give Ireland Back To The Irish' within 24 hours of Bloody
Sunday
1975, The Bee Gees begin recording ‘Jive Talkin’, which became their second US chart topper and No.5 UK hit.
1982, American blues guitarist, singer Sam Lightnin Hopkins died of cancer aged 70. Influenced Bob Dylan, Stevie Ray
Vaughan and Jimi Hendrix.
1982, Barbra Streisand started a seven-week run at No.1 on the UK album chart with the 'Love Songs LP'.
1982, Hall and Oates went to No.1 on the US singles chart with 'I Can Go For That, (No Can Do)' the duo's fourth US No.
1, No.8 hit UK.
1982, Paul McCartney guested on BBC radios Desert Island Discs his discs included, Elvis Presley's 'Heartbreak Hotel',
Chuck Berry's 'Sweet Little Sixteen', and Little Richards 'Tutti Frutti'.
1988, during a court case involving Holly Johnson and ZTT Records it was revealed that Frankie Goes To Hollywood
had not played on their hits 'Relax' and 'Two Tribes'. The court was told that top session musicians were used to make
the records.
1988, INXS had their first US No.1 hit single 'Need You Tonight'.
1988, Tiffany was at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'I Think We're Alone Now',
1991, 22 years to the day that The Beatles played live on the roof of their London offices, Manchester band James
played a live set on the roof of Manchester's Piccadilly Radio
1999, After spending 11 weeks on the chart Britney Spears started a two week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with
'...Baby One More Time.'
2000, Gabrielle went to No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Rise'. The song used a sample from Bob Dylan's 'Knocking
On Heaven's Door' giving Dylan his third UK No.1 as a writer
2005, The Chemical Brothers went to No.1 on the UK album chart with ‘Push The Button’,
2008, Madonna topped the list for the richest female musician, according to the Forbes.com. Its first-ever list focusing
on women in the music industry estimated the 49-year-old banked£36m Barbara Streisand came second followed by
Celine Dion
January 29th
1942, BBC radio aired a new program ‘Desert Island Discs’ presented by Roy Plomley, which went on to become the longest running UK
radio show.
1964, The Beatles spent the day at Pathe Marconi Studios in Paris, France, The Beatles’ only studio recording session for EMI held outside
the UK. They recorded new vocals for ‘She Loves You’, ‘I Want to Hold Your Hand’ and ‘Can’t Buy Me Love’.
1968, The Doors appeared at The Pussy Cat A Go Go, Las Vegas. After the show singer Jim Morrison taunts a security guard in the parking
lot by pretending to smoke a joint, resulting in a fight. The police arrive who arrest Morrison and charge him with vagrancy, public
drunkenness, and failure to possess sufficient identification.
1969, Fleetwood Mac had their only UK No.1 single ‘Albatross.’
1972, the triple album ‘The Concert For Bangla Desh’ went to No.1 on the UK album chart. Organised by George Harrison to raise funds for
the people caught up in the war and famine from the area. The set featured; Bob Dylan, Ringo Starr, Billy Preston, Eric Clapton, Ravi
Shankar and members from Badfinger.
1977, Gwen Dickey former backing band for The Temptations, as Rose Royce with ‘Car Wash’ hit the US No1… a No.9 hit in the UK.
1979, 16-year-old Brenda Spencer killed two people and wounded nine others when she fired from her house across the street onto the
entrance of San Diego’s Grover Cleveland Elementary School. Spencer fired the shot’s from a .22-caliber rifle her father had given her for
Christmas. When asked why she did it, she answered “I don’t like Mondays.” The Boomtown Rats went on to write and record their song
based on that event.
1982, Shakin’ Stevens was at No.1 on the UK singles chart with ‘Oh Julie’, the Welsh singers third UK No.1.
1982, flying Back from Cannes, France, Gary Numan made a forced landing after running low on fuel at an RAF base outside Southampton,
the press, as always sensationalist, ran stories that he had in fact crash landed on the A3057.
1983, Australian group Men At Work went to No.1 on the British and American singles and album charts simultaneously with ‘Down Under’
and ‘Business As Usual’. The last artist to achieve this was Rod Stewart in 1971.
1989, Marc Almond at No.1 on the UK singles chart with ‘Something’s Gotten Hold Of My Heart’ with guest vocals from Gene Pitney, (who
had a hit with the song in 1967.
1992, American blues singer and guitarist Willie Dixon died of heart failure. Wrote the classic songs: ‘You Shook Me’, I Can’t Quit You
Baby’, ‘Hoochie Coochie Man’, ‘I Just Want to Make Love to You’, ‘Little Red Rooster.’ Dixon was a major influence on The Rolling Stones,
Cream, Yardbirds and Led Zeppelin.
1994, The Supremes’ Mary Wilson was injured when her jeep crashed on a freeway and turned over just outside of Los Angeles,
California. Wilson’s 14-year old son was killed in the accident.
1996, George Michael UK No.1 single with ‘Jesus To A Child’, the singers sixth UK No.1 as a solo artist
2005, 18 years old Ciara feat Petey Pablo Goodies went to No.1 on the UK singles chart with her debut single.
2006, Arctic Monkeys debut album went to No.1 in the UK. The Sheffield-based bands album became the fastest-selling shifting more than
360,000 internet copies in its first week of release.
2009, singer-songwriter John Martyn died in hospital in Ireland at the age of 60. One of the most soulful and innovative singers-songwriters
influencing U2, Portishead and Eric Clapton.
2009, former American Idol winner Kelly Clarkson made the largest ever leap to number one in US chart history, rising 96 places. Her
single, My Life Would Suck Without You, sold 280,000 downloads in its first week of release.
January 29th: Born on this day
1929, Bernard Stanley Bilk, (Acker Bilk), bandleader, (1962 US No.1 & UK No.2 single ‘Stranger On The Shore’).
1933, French singer and guitarist Sacha Distel. 1970 UK No.10 single ‘Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head.’ Died after a long battle with
deteriorating health on 22nd July 2004.
1938, James Jamerson, bass played, The Funk Brothers, died of a heart attack 2nd August 1983 aged 45. Played on many Motown hits by
The Temptations, Marvin Gaye, The Four Tops, Martha And The Vandellas.
1943, Tony Blackburn, DJ on Radio Caroline and the first D.J. on BBC Radio One. Blackburn won the UK TV show ‘I’m A Celebrity… Get Me
Out Of Here’ set in the Australian outback.
1943, Mark Wynter, UK singer, (1962 UK No.4 single ‘Venus In Blue Jeans’).
1944, Andrew Loog Oldham, the first Rolling Stones manager. Oldham launched the Immediate label in 1965 which enjoyed 24 UK Top 50
hits.
January 28th
1956, Elvis Presley (with Scotty Moore and Bill Black), made his first National Television.
1963, touring the UK The Beatles played at the Majestic Ballroom in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Northumberland.
1965, The Moody Blues were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Go Now!' the group's only UK No.1.
1965, The Who appeared on the UK TV show Ready Steady Go! The hand-picked audience consisted only of teens
dressed in the current Mod fashion.
1967, The Four Tops appeared at The Royal Albert Hall, London with The Dakotas, Madeline Bell, The Remo
Four and Johnny Watson.
1978, Fleetwood Mac album 'Rumours' went to No.1 on the UK and US album chart.
1983, Billy Fury died of heart failure. His 'We Want Billy' (released 1963, with The Tornados) was one of the first live
albums in British rock history. Played "Stormy Tempest" in the film That'll Be The Day along side David Essex and
Ringo Starr. Liverpool still has an annual memorial service for him.
1984, Frankie Goes To Hollywood started a five-week run at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Relax!' BBC Radio 1
DJ Mike Read expressed on air his distaste for both the record's suggestive sleeve and its lyrics, he announced his
refusal to play the record, not knowing that the BBC had decided that the song was not to be played on the BBC
anyway. The song remained on the chart for 48 weeks.
1985, the recording took place for 'We Are The World' the US equivalent of Band Aid. Written by Michael Jackson and
Lionel Richie the all star cast included Stevie Wonder, Tina Turner, Bruce Springsteen, Diana Ross, Bob Dylan,
Ray Charles, Daryl Hall, John Oates, Cyndi Lauper, Steve Perry and Bob Geldof.
1994, Paul and Linda McCartney attended the premiere of Wayne’s World II in London. The couple then went on to
Hard Rock Café, where the film star Mike Myers presented them with a cheque for the Liverpool Institute for
Performing Arts for £25,000 from the sale of Linda’s vegetarian burgers.
2000, Saxophonist and bandleader Thomas 'Beans' Bowles died of prostate cancer aged 73. Played on many
Motown sessions including Marvin Gaye's, 'What's Going On', Martha and the Vandellas' ‘Heat Wave’ and
The Supremes 'Baby Love' and wrote the melody on Stevie Wonder's ‘Fingertips Pt. 2,’
2001, Limp Bizkit started a two-week run at No.1 on the UK album chart with 'Chocolate Starfish'.
2001, Shaggy feat Ricardo Rikrot started a two week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'It Wasn't Me'..... No.1 in
the UK.
2004, Elvis Presley fans expressed their anger at plans to cut up a rare tape of the singer’s early songs and
sell the snippets at auction. The tape, which featured a recording made by Presley during the early 1950s,
was now too fragile to play. US firm Master Tape Collection said the tape would be cut into two-inch
snippets and sold for £270 each.
2005, English drummer and singer songwriter Jim Capaldi died of stomach cancer aged 60. Member of Trafficand solo,
(1975 UK No.4 single 'Love Hurts'). Also worked with Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton and George Harrison.
2007, Scottish band The View went to No.1 on the UK album chart with their debut 'Hats Off To The Buskers.'
Dreamgirls: Music from the Motion Picture was at No.1 on the US album chart. The musical based on the history of
Diana Ross and the Supremes featured Jamie Foxx, Beyoncé Knowles, Eddie Murphy, Jennifer Hudson,
Anika Noni Rose and Keith Robinson.
2009, Lynyrd Skynyrd keyboard player Billy Powell died at the age of 56 of a suspected heart attack in Florida. Powell
called police saying he was having trouble breathing and emergency services tried to resuscitate him, but he was
pronounced dead an hour later. Powell had missed a doctor’s appointment on the day before his death; the
appointment was for a checkup on his heart. He played piano on Kid Rock's ‘All Summer Long’ .
January 28th: Born on this day
1927, Ronnie Scott, jazz musician. Formed his own nine-piece group in 1953, opened the first Ronnie Scott's night
club in London in 1959. He played with his own group's at the club, in between presenting the cream of the world's jazz
musicians. He died on December 23rd 1996.
January 27th: On this Day
1956, Elvis Presley's single, ‘Heartbreak Hotel’ was released by RCA Records.
1958, Little Richard entered The Oakwood Theological College in Huntsville, where he was ordained as a seventh day
Adventist Minister.
1960, Michael Holliday was at No.1 on the UK singles chart with his version of 'Starry Eyed' .
1961, Frank Sinatra played a benefit show at Carnegie Hall in New York City for Martin Luther King.
1962, Joey Dee and the Starlighters No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Peppermint Twist, part 1'. UK.33
1962, The Beatles appeared at Aintree Institute in Aintree, Liverpool. The group had played here many times before but
this was their last performance at the venue. Brian Epstein became infuriated when the promoter paid The Beatles' fee
(£15 pounds) with handfuls of loose change.
1966, The Overlanders No.1 on the UK singles chart 'Michelle'. The group's only UK hit.
1972, American gospel singer Mahalia Jackson died in Chicago of heart failure and diabetes complications aged 60.
Known as the "Queen of Gospel Music" she recorded over 30 albums
1973, 'Superstition' gave Stevie Wonder had his second No.1 single in the US, 10 years after his first No.1.
1979, Ian Dury And The Blockheads at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick'.
1984, Madonna made her first appearance in the UK when she appeared on C4 TV music program The Tube
performing 'Holiday'.
1990, Kylie Minogue had her third UK No.1 single with 'Tears On My Pillow', the song was originally a US hit for Little
Anthony and The Imperials in 1958.
1996, Babylon Zoo No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Spaceman', the fastest selling single by a debut artist in the UK,
(420,000 copies in 6 days). The song was used for a Levi Jeans TV commercial.
2002, Beach Boy Brian Wilson played the first of four sold-out nights at The Royal Festival Hall, London.
2002, Spanish-American Enrique Iglesias scored his first UK No.1 single with 'Hero'. His father, Julio Iglesias, had a UK
No.1 hit in 1981.
2006, Gene McFadden, R&B vocalist and songwriter, best known as half of the Philly soul team McFadden &
Whitehead, died of cancer at the age of 56.
2009, Road Chef, the Watford Gap UK Motorway services operator, paid £1,000 at an auction for a collection of
celebrity signatures, which were collected by former employee, Beatrice England. The book included signatures of Sir
Paul McCartney, Sir Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Brian Jones, The Eagles and Dusty Springfield.
January 27th: Born on this day
1918, Elmore James, US blues guitarist, singer, wrote 'Shake Your Money Maker', covered by Fleetwood Mac in 1968.
Influenced Jimi Hendrix, BB King, Keith Richards. James died 24th May 1963.
1919, David Seville, The Chipmunks, (1958 US No.1 single 'The Chipmunk Song', 1959 UK No.11 single 'Ragtime
Cowboy Joe'). Seville died on 16th January 1972.
1930, Bobby Bland, R&B singer, (1963 US R&B No.1 single 'That's The Way Love Is').
1945, Born on this day, Nick Mason, drums, Pink Floyd
1948, Born on this day, Kim Gardner, Ashton Gardner & Dyke, (1971 UK No.3 single 'The Resurrection Shuffle').
1974, Born on this day, Mark Owen, vocals, Take That
January 26th: On this Day
1961, Elvis Presley was at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Are You Lonesome Tonight'.
1963, The Rooftop Singers started a two week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Walk Right In', UK No.10
1965, during a Rolling Stones tour of Australia and New Zealand, guitarist Keith Richards had his shirt torn off after 50
fans invaded the stage during the gig at The Town Hall in Brisbane.
1970, John Lennon wrote, recorded and mixed his new single 'Instant Karma' all in one day.
1973, Sweet were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Blockbuster'. The glam rockers only UK No.1
1974, Mud were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Tiger Feet', the group's first of three UK No.1's.
1974, Ringo Starr went to No.1 on the US singles chart 'Your´re Sixteen', a No.3 hit in the UK.
1975, The BBC 'Omnibus' documentary 'Cracked Actor' a film about David Bowie was shown on UK TV.
1977, former Fleetwood Mac guitarist Peter Green was committed to a mental hospital following an incident when he
threatened his accountant Clifford Adams with an air rifle when he was trying to deliver a royalty cheque to him.
1978, Adam And The Ants appeared at The Marquee, London, England, tickets cost 65p.
1985, Foreigner started a three-week run at No.1 on the UK album chart with 'Agent Provocateur'.
1986, Allen Collins, guitarist from Lynyrd Skynyrd crashed his car, paralysing him from the waist down and killing his
girlfriend Debra Jean Watts. Collins had survived a plane crash in 1977 that killed two other band members.
1989, American singer Donnie Elbert died of a stroke aged 52.
1991, Cher made a special video for the troops involved in Desert Storm during the gulf war. Cher's Video Canteen,
featured Janet Jackson, Paul Simon, Van Halen and Bonnie Raitt.
1991,Enigma No.1 on the UK album chart with 'Sadness Part 1'. Enigma were German Michael Creut and his wife
Sandra.
1991, Queen had their second UK No.1 with 'Innuendo'. It was the third longest No.1 song of all time behind The Beatles
'Hey Jude' and Simple Minds 'Belfast Child'. The flamenco guitar solo on the track was performed by Yes guitarist Steve
Howe.
2003, Billy Joel was airlifted to hospital after his car smashed into a tree. The singer lost control of his Mercedes S500
and skidded for 100 yards before crashing. The accident happened in The Hamptons, New York.
2004, John Lydon was one of ten contestants to take part in the latest I’m A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here UK TV show
set in the Australian outback. The former Sex Pistols singer was seen by 11 million viewers on the first night covered in
bird seed being pecked by giant ostriches.
2007, The Rolling Stones topped the US music rich list for the second year running after making £76.2m in 2006. Tim
McGraw and Faith Hill were second in the poll with a combined fortune of £67.2mand American country band Rascal
Flatts appeared third, having earned £56.2m.
2008, Alicia Keys was at No.1 on the US album chart with her third album ‘As I Am.’ The album sold over 742,000 copies
in its first week the largest ever first week sales for any female R&B artist.
January 26th: Born on this day
1934, Huey 'Piano' Smith, US R&B pianist
1957, Eddie Van Halen, guitar, (1984 US No.1 & UK No. 7 single 'Jump').
1963, Andrew Ridgeley, vocals, Wham!
January 25th: On this Day
1964, Phil Spector appeared was on the panel of this week's UK TV show Juke Box Jury.
1967, The Beatles made a last-minute remix of ‘Penny Lane’ before the pressing of their next double A sided single
‘Strawberry Fields Forever/Penny Lane’.
1969, The Seekers were at No.1 on the UK album chart with their 'The Best Of' album.
1975, The Carpenters went to No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Please Mr. Postman'.
1975, The Tymes were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Ms Grace'.
1983, The Allman Brothers bassist Lamar Williams died of lung cancer age 34.
1984, Yoko Ono donated £250,000 to Liverpool old people’s home Strawberry Fields.
1986, US manager Albert Grossman died of a heart attack while flying on Concorde from New York to London. He
managed Bob Dylan, (between 1962 and 1970), Peter, Paul and Mary, The Band, Janis Joplin and Todd Rundgren.
Grossman built the Bearsville Recording Studio near Woodstock in 1969 and in 1970 he founded Bearsville Records.
1986, A-Ha were at No.1 in the UK with 'The Sun Always Shines On TV.' The first Norwegian act to score a UK No.1.
1986, Barbra Streisand started a three-week run at No.1 on the US album chart with 'The Broadway Album.'
1989, Bobby Brown was arrested for an overtly sexually suggestive performance after a show in Columbus; he was fined
$652 under the anti-lewdness ordinance law.
1992, Color Me Bad scored their second US No.1 single with 'All 4 Love,' a No.5 hit in the UK.
1992, Wet Wet Wet had their second UK No.1 single with 'Goodnight Girl', it's four week stay at No.1 was helped by it's
airing in ITV's Coronation Street's Christmas disco broadcast.
1992, the inaugural Big Day Out festival took place at the Hordern Pavilion in Sydney.
1997, White Town went to No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Your Woman'. White Town was Jyoti Mishra, who created
the hit in his bedroom. His only No.1.
2001, millionaire pop impresario Jonathan King was charged with a further ten offences of sexually abusing children.
The charges dated back to the 1970's, King was granted bail.
2004, Katie Melua started a three week run at No.1 on the UK album chart with her debut release ‘Call Off The Search.’
2009, White Lies went to No.1 on the UK album chart with their debut album ‘To Lose My Life...’.
January 25th: Born on this day
1915, Born on this day, Folk singer songwriter Ewan MacColl, composer of 'The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face' a hit
for Roberta Flack in 1971. MacColl died on 22nd October 1989.
1931, Born on this day, Stig Anderson, songwriter, producer and Abba's manager. Co-wrote some of Abba’s biggest
hits, such as ‘Waterloo’, ‘Mamma Mia’, ‘S.O.S’, ‘Fernando’, ‘Dancing Queen’, ‘Knowing Me, Knowing You’. Died of a
heart attack on 12th Sept 1997.
1938, Born on this day, Etta James, singer, 9 US Top 40 hits during the 60's, (1996 UK No.5 single 'I Just Want To Make
Love To You').
1949, Born on this day, John Cooper Clarke, 'Bard of Salford', Manchester, poet laureate. 'Kung Fu International', 'I
Married A Monster From Outer Space', 'The Day My Pad Went Mad'.
1980, Born on this day, Alicia Keys, American R&B and soul singer, songwriter, (born Alicia J. Augello-Cook). 2001 US
No.1 & UK No.3 single 'Fallin' and 2001 US No.1 & UK No.7 album 'Songs In A Minor'. Has sold over 25 million albums
and singles worldwide and won numerous awards, including nine Grammys.
January 24th: On this Day
1953, Eddie Fisher was at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Outside Is Heaven'. Divorced his first wife, Debbie
Reynolds to marry his best friend's widow, Elizabeth Taylor, too much unwelcome publicity at the time.
1958, Elvis Presley was at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Jailhouse Rock'.
1958, The Quarry Men performed at the Cavern Club, in Liverpool
1962, Brian Epstein signed a management deal with The Beatles. Epstein was to receive 25 per cent of the bands gross
earnings, the normal management deal was 10 per cent.
1963, American lyricist Otto Harbach died aged 90 in New York City. He co-wrote, 'Smoke Gets In Your Eyes', US &
UK No.1 for The Platters in 1958.
1968, Georgie Fame was at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'The Ballad Of Bonnie and Clyde',
1969, New Jersey state prosecutors issue a warning to US record dealers that they would be charged with distributing
pornography if they were caught selling the John Lennon / Yoko Ono LP ‘Two Virgins’.
1976, Diana Ross went to No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Theme From Mahogany', the singers third US No.1, a No.5
hit in the UK.
1979, Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys divorced his wife Marilyn after 15 years together. She was a member of the
Honeys and mother of Wendy and Carnie Wilson, who would go on to sing in Wilson-Phillips.
1995, David Cole producer, keyboards, C & C Music Factory died of meningitis aged 32. (1991 UK No.4 single
'Things That Make You Go Hmmm...', 1991 US No.1 single 'Gonna Make You Sweat'. Produced Mariah Carey, Whitney
Houston and Aretha Franklin.
1998, Oasis went to No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'All Around The World'. The longest running-time for a UK No.1
with a total duration of 9 minutes 38 seconds. I
2003, Girls Aloud were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with ‘Sound Of The Underground’
2005, Country singer Lynn Anderson was arrested for shoplifting after being caught stealing a Harry Potter DVD from
a New Mexico supermarket and punching a police officer during her arrest. The 57 year-old had the 1970 Top 5 hit
‘Rose Garden’.
2008, Amy Winehouse was admitted into rehab in a battle to kick her addiction to drugs.
January 24th: Born on this day
1941, Neil Diamond, singer, songwriter, (1970 US No.1 & UK No.3 single 'Cracklin' Rose' plus over 30 US & 10 UK Top
40 singles. Wrote 'I'm A Believer', No.1 for The Monkees.
1941, Ray Stevens, singer, songwriter, (1970 US No.1 & UK No.6 single 'Everything Is Beautiful' 1974 US & UK No.1
single 'The Streak').
1945, Tammi Terrell, singer, who died of a brain tumour on March 16th 1970 after collapsing into Marvin Gaye's arms
on stage during a duet of ‘That’s All You Need To Get By’. Terrall had undergone eight brain operations in 18 months.
1947, Warren Zevon, singer, songwriter. He had played piano with The Everly Brothers
1949, John Belushi, actor, singer who played 'Jake' Blues in The Blues Brothers,
1955, Jools Holland, keyboards, Squeeze, Jools Holland Big Band, TV presenter on The Tube, Juke Box Jury
January 23rd: On this Day
1956, Rock 'n' Roll fans in Cleveland aged under 18 were banned from dancing in public (unless accompanied by an
adult), after Ohio Police introduced a law dating back to 1931.
1965, 'Downtown' made Petula Clark the first UK female singer to have a No.1 on the US singles chart since Vera Lynn
1966, Stevie Wonder appeared at The Cavern Club, Liverpool, England.
1971, George Harrison became the first solo Beatle to have a No.1 with 'My Sweet Lord' The track returned to the top
of the UK charts in 2002, following his death.
1971, Dawn started a three week run at No.1 UK and US singles chart with 'Knock Three Times', the group's first No.1,
1974, Alvin Stardust made his first live appearance since changing his name from Shane Fenton.
1980, Marvin Gaye appeared at the Liverpool Philharmonic, England, with Edwin Starr as support.
1986, Ray Charles was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame at the first induction dinner, held in New York City.
1988, Johnny Hates Jazz went to No.1 on the UK album chart with their debut LP 'Turn Back The Clock'.
1988, Michael Jackson went to No.1 on the US singles chart with 'The Way You Make Me Feel' a No.3 hit in the UK.
1990, David Bowie announced his forthcoming and final world tour, 'Sound And Vision' 1990, during which he will invite
each local audience to decide on a 'greatest hits' running order, organised through local radio stations.
1993, Genesis went to No.1 on the UK album chart with 'Live-The Way We Walk Volume II'.
1994, Take That went to No.1 on the UK album chart with 'Everything Changes'.
1998, US soul singer Johnny Funches from The Dells died.
2000, Britney Spears went to No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Born To Make You Happy',
2000, Santana started a three week run at No.1 on the US album chart with 'Supernatural'
2001, an English coroner criticised the rap singer Eminem's lyrics as depressing during an inquest into the death of a
schoolboy who threw himself in front of a train.
2003, R Kelly was arrested on new child pornography charges.
2005, one of the biggest charity concerts since Live Aid raised £1.25 million ($2 million) for victims of the tsunami
disaster in Asia. The concert held at The Millennium Stadium, Cardiff featured Eric Clapton, Manic Street Preachers,
Keane, Charlotte Church, Snow Patrol, Embrace, Feeder, Craig David and Liberty X, who appeared before 60,000 fans
at the sold-out concert.
January 23rd: Born on this day
1889, Leadbelly, (Hurrdi William Ledbetter), Blues musician, Wrote 'Goodnight Irene', 'The Rock Island Line', 'The
Midnight Special,' once jailed for shooting a man dead during an argument over a woman.
1910, Django Reinhardt, jazz guitarist. Badly burned his third and fourth fingers of his left hand in a house fire aged
18. Doctors suggested he play the guitar to keep his fingers flexible, giving him his two fingered guitar style. Worked with
Stepane Grappelli and Duke Ellington. Reinhardt died of a stroke on 15th May 1953.
January 22nd: On this Day
1959, Jane Morgan was at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'The Day The Rains Came'.
1959, alone with an acoustic guitar and tape recorder in his New York City apartment Buddy Holly made his last
recordings, including ‘Peggy Sue Got Married’, ‘Crying, Waiting, Hoping’, ‘That's What They Say’, ‘What To Do’,
‘Learning The Game’ and ‘That Makes It Tough’. The recordings would be overdubbed posthumously and were later
released by Coral Records.
1960, Soul singer, Sam Cooke signed to RCA Records.
1963, The Shadows were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Dance On', the group's fourth UK No.1.
1963, The Beatles appeared on three UK radio programs.
1964, The Yardbirds featuring Eric Clapton appeared at The Cavern Club, Liverpool, England.
1965, The Rolling Stones began a 16-date tour of Australia and New Zealand at the Manufactures' Auditorium in Sydney
with Roy Orbison, The Newbeats and Ray Columbus and the Invaders
1966, The Beach Boys went into the studio to record 'Wouldn't It Be Nice',
1967, The Monkees performed live for the very first time at The Cow Palace, San Francisco to a sell-out crowd.
1968, during the bands first Australian tour The Who played the first of two nights at Sydney Stadium with The Small
Faces and Paul Jones.
1969, The Beatles moved from Twickenham Film Studios to Apple studios in London to start recording the "Get Back"
They were joined by Billy Preston whom the Beatles had met when he was with Little Richard.
1972, David Bowie 'came out' as bisexual during an interview in the British music weekly Melody Maker.
1972, Don McLean's album 'American Pie' started a seven week run at No.1 in the US album chart.
1977, Stevie Wonder went to No.1 on the US singles chart with 'I Wish', it made No.5 in the UK.
1977, Wings went to No.1 on the US album chart with 'Wings Over America', Paul McCartney's sixth US No.1
1987, One hit wonder Steve 'Silk' Hurley was at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Jack Your Body', the first 'House'
record to top the UK chart.
1992, Mariah Carey's stepfather went to court seeking damages, claiming that he had paid for her Manhattan
apartment, a car and dental work in her early years on the understanding that she would repay him when she became
successful.
1994, American actor and singer Telly Savalas died of prostrate cancer aged 72. "Who loves ya, baby?"
1994, Bryan Adams, Rod Stewart and Sting started a three week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'All For Love',
a No.2 hit in the UK. Taken from the film 'The Three Musketeers'.
1994, D:Ream had their first UK No.1 single with 'Things Can Only Get Better', it stayed at No.1 for four weeks. In 1997
the track was adopted by the UK Labour Party as their theme for the 1997 UK General Election.
2001, former rubbish collector Mark Oliver was found guilty by a London court of stealing luggage belonging to Victoria
Beckham from Heathrow Airport.
2006, Arctic Monkeys scored their second UK No.1 single
January 22nd: Born on this day
1931, Sam Cooke, US soul singer He died on December 11th 1964.
1940, , Addie Harris, vocals, The Shirelles,
1947, Malcolm Mclaren, manager of the Sex Pistols and solo artist, 1983 UK No.3 single 'Double Dutch').
1962, Michael Hutchence, vocals, INXS, (1988 UK No.2 & US No.1 single 'Need You Tonight'). Hutchence was found
dead in his hotel suite in Sydney on 22nd Nov 1997 age 37. Hutchence body was found naked behind the door to his
room, he had apparently hung himself.
January 21st: On this Day
1957, Frankie Vaughan was at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'The Garden Of Eden'.
1978, the soundtrack album 'Saturday Night Fever' started a 24 week run at No.1 on the US album charts, it went on to
sell over 30 million copies world wide, making it the best selling soundtrack album of all time.
1982, B.B. King donated his entire record collection of over 20,000 discs to Mississippi University's centre for the
Study of Southern Culture,
1984, Soul singer Jackie Wilson died aged 49. Wilson suffered a massive heart attack while playing at the Latin Casino
in New Jersey on September 29, 1975. His 1957 single Reet Petite became a posthumous No.1
1984, Yes started a two-week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Owner Of A Lonely Heart ' No.28 in the UK.
1987, Bruce Springsteen inducted Roy Orbison into the Rock'n'Roll Hall of Fame.
1987, The Coasters, became the first vocal group to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
1989, Bobby Brown went to No.1 on the US album chart with 'Don't Be Cruel'.
1989, Phil Collins scored his seventh US No.1 single with 'Two Hearts'.
1989, Six weeks after his death Roy Orbison started a three-week run at No.1 on the UK album chart with 'The
Legendary Roy Orbison' collection.
1992, Billy Idol pleaded guilty to assault and battery charges after an incident outside a West Hollywood restaurant.
1996, Edem Ephraim and Dennis Fuller of The London Boys were killed in a car crash in The Alps, also killed was
Edem's wife Bettina.
1997, 'Colonel' Tom Parker, Elvis Presley's manager and agent died of a stroke in Las Vegas, at the age of 87. Born
Andreas van Kuijk, a Dutch immigrant who changed his name as soon as he arrived in the US, Parker never applied for
a green card and feared deportation his entire life. He briefly managed Eddy Arnold and Hank Snow.
1997, Songwriter Jesse Levine died of kidney failure aged 58. Co-wrote, 'Knock Three Times' and 'Tie A Yellow Ribbon'
both US & UK No.1's for Dawn in the early 70's.
1999, Gary Glitter appeared at Bristol crown court charged with eight sexual offences on girls dating back to 1976 and
50 charges relating to indecent photographs.
2002, American singer and actress Peggy Lee died of complications from diabetes and a heart attack at the age of 81.
1958 US No. 8 & UK No.5 single 'Fever.' Worked with Benny Goodman, Randy Newman, Quincy Jones.
2003, David Palmer, former keyboard player for Jethro Tull changed his name to Dee Palmer after a successful sex
change operation. Palmer was the keyboard player for Jethro Tull between 1969 and 1980. He played on all the Tull
classics including 'Thick As A Brick' and 'Aqualung.'
2004, as the third season of American Idol was aired on US TV a memo was leaked showing a list of songs banned from
being performed at this year's auditions that included, Elton John's 'Candle In The Wind' and 'Fallin' by Alicia Keys. Also
all songs by Bruce Springsteen, Mariah Carey, No Doubt, R. Kelly, Tom Petty, Korn and Linkin Park were not allowed
after concerns over the cost of securing rights for the song's use, (or the composers not wanting their song’s to be
performed on the show).
2007, Mika scored his debut UK number one hit single with ‘Grace Kelly’,
January 21st: Born on this day
1925, Telly Savalas, singer, actor (1975 UK No.1 single 'If'). Played Kojak whose trademark line was "Who loves ya,
baby?" Died of cancer on 22nd January 1994.
1939, ,DJ Wolfman Jack. Master of ceremonies for the rock 'n' roll generation of the '60s on radio, and later on
television during the '70s. Died of a heart attack
1941, Placido Domingo, Spanish singer,
1941, Richie Havens, folk singer, (1971 US No.16 single with his version of George Harrison's' 'Here Comes The Sun',
1942, Edwin Starr, singer, 1970 US No.1 and UK No.3 single 'War'). Starr died on 2nd April 2003 aged 61.
1942, Mac Davis, singer, songwriter. (1972 US No.1 single 'Baby Don't Get Hooked On Me', No.29 in the UK. Wrote 'In
The Ghetto' and 'Don't Cry Daddy' for Elvis Presley).
1950, Billy Ocean, singer, (1988 US No.1 & UK No.3 single 'Get Out Of My Dreams Get Into My Car').
1958, Anita Baker, US soul singer, 1986 UK No.13 'Sweet Love', 1998 US No.1 album 'Giving You The Best.....).
1959, Vic Reeves, -UK comedy act Reeves and Mortimer, (1991 UK No.1 single with The Wonder Stuff 'Dizzy').
1976, Emma Bunton, Baby Spice, The Spice Girls, (1996 UK No.1 & 1997 US No.1 single 'Wannabe', 2001 UK No.1
solo single 'What Took You So Long').
January 20th: On this Day
1958, Rick Nelson started a two-week run at No.1 on the US album chart with 'Ricky'.
1965, American disc-jockey Alan Freed died from uraemia at the age of 42. Freed called himself the "father of rock
and roll", appeared in the movies such as Rock Around The Clock and Don't Knock the Rock. His career was destroyed
by the payola scandal that hit the broadcasting industry in the early 1960s.
1966, The Spencer Davis Group were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Keep On Running'.
1967, The Monkees TV show was shown for the first time in the UK.
1968, One hit wonders John Fred and the Playboy Band started a two week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with
'Judy In Disguise, (With Glasses)', it made No.3 in the UK.
1969, Bruce Springsteen had two of his poems published in the Ocean County College Literary Yearbook Seascapes.
Springsteen was in his second semester at the Toms River, New Jersey College.
1982, during a Ozzy Osbourne concert in Des Moines, Iowa, a member of the audience threw an unconscious bat onto
the stage. Thinking it was one of his rubber fakes, Ozzy picked it up and bit off its head. The singer was taken to
hospital to be given a rabies injection.
1985, Foreigner had their only UK No.1 single with 'I Want To Know What Love Is'. London-born Mick Jones wrote the
song and sang lead vocals with the British-American rock band.
1988, The Beatles were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. George Harrison, Ringo Starr, and Yoko, Sean,
and Julian Lennon all attend. Paul McCartney does not attend, sending instead a letter stating that continuing business
differences with the other ex-Beatles was the reason for his absence.
1990, Michael Bolton started a three week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'How Am I Supposed To Live Without
You', the singers first No.1 and the first No.1 single of the 90's in the US.
1996, Bobby Brown was fined and sentenced to two years probation and ordered to attend anger management classes
after assaulting a security guard.
1999, Bill Albaugh drummer from the 1960’s psychedelic group The Lemon Pipers died aged 53. Had the 1967 US No.1
single 'Green Tambourine'.
2000, Ray Jones, bass player with Billy J Kramer and the The Dakotas died. 1964 UK No.1 & US N0.7 single 'Little
Children'.
2000, Incredible as it might sound, Tourism chiefs in Liverpool were banned from putting up motorway signs saying
'Liverpool, the Birthplace Of The Beatles'.The Highways Agency thought the signs would distract motorists.
2001, a memorial service was held for Kirsty MacColl who was killed in a boating accident off the coast of Mexico in
December 2000. Bono from U2 and Billy Bragg were among friends and fans that packed St Martin-in-the-fields church
in London.
2002, George Harrison had the posthumous UK No.1 single with the re-release of the 1971 former No.1 'My Sweet Lord'.
Harrison's single replaced Aaliyah's 'More Than A Woman', the only time in chart history that one deceased artist had
taken over from another at No.1.
2006, American music executive Johnny Bienstock died of complications from heart disease aged 83. Owned Moss Rose
Music, worked with Ernest Tubb, Hank Snow, Elvis Presley, The Bee Gees, Eric Clapton, Del Shannon and Meat Loaf.
Born on this day,
1924, Slim Whitman, American country singer, (1955 UK No.1 single 'Rose Marie',
1943, Rick Evans, singer, Zager and Evans, (1969 US & UK No.1 single 'In The Year 2525').
1945, Eric Stewart, guitar, keyboards, vocals, Mindenders, (1966 UK No.2 single Groovy Kind Of Love'),
1946,Jimmy Chambers, singer, Londonbeat, (1990 UK No.2 & 1991 US No.1 single 'I've Been Thinking About You').
1965, Heather Small, singer, M People, (1993 UK No.2 single 'Moving On Up'
1971, Gary Barlow, vocals, piano, songwriter, Take That, . Written songs for Donny Osmond, Charlotte Church, Bryan
McFadden and Atomic Kitten. Re-formed Take That without Robbie Williams in 2006 for a sold-out European tour.
1979, Will Young, singer, UK TV's Pop Idol winner, (2002 UK No.1 single 'Anything Is Possible / Evergreen').
January 19th: On this Day
1959, The Platters 'Smoke Gets In Your Eyes', started a three week run at No.1 on the US singles chart.
1963, The Beatles made their first national TV appearance in the UK on 'Thank Your Lucky Stars' performing 'Please
Please Me'.
1967, The Monkees were at No.1 on the UK singles with 'I'm A Believer', the group's only UK No.1.
1971, The Beatles White Album was played in the courtroom at the Sharon Tate murder trial to find out if any songs
could have influenced Charles Manson and his followers to commit murder.
1978, Johnny Rotten was fired from The Sex Pistols for 'not being weird enough anymore.'
1980, 'Brass In Pocket' gave The Pretenders their first UK No.1 single.
1980, Pink Floyd's 'The Wall', started a 15-week run at No.1 on the US album chart.
1985, Alison Moyet went to No.1 on the UK album chart with her debut solo album Alf.
1990, Tragically, singer Mel Appleby died of Pneumonia aged 23 following treatment for spinal cancer. Had been one
half of the duo Mel and Kim with the 1997 UK No.1 ‘Respectable’.
1991, Enigma went to No.1 for one week on the UK singles chart with 'Sadness Part One'.
1993, Fleetwood Mac re-formed to perform at Bill Clinton's inauguration. The band's "Don't Stop" was used as the
theme for his campaign.
1997, Madonna won the Best Actress award for her role in Evita at the Golden Globe Awards.
1998, American Rockabilly singer, songwriter Carl Perkins died aged 65 from throat cancer. He wrote the classic rock &
roll song 'Blue Suede Shoes', the first record by a Sun label to sell a million copies.
2001, it was reported that Paul McCartney was in the money and about to become the world’s first pop star billionaire.
2006, American soul singer, Wilson Pickett died in hospital near his Ashburn, Virginia home of a heart attack aged 64.
Pickett recorded the soul classics ‘Mustang Sally’, ‘Everybody Needs Somebody to Love’ and ‘In The Midnight Hour’
plus 15 other US Top 40 singles.
2007, Canadian singer songwriter and former Mamas and the Papas singer Denny Doherty died at the age of 66.
2008, singer songwriter John Stewart, who wrote the Monkees hit Daydream Believer died aged 68 after he suffered a
massive stroke or brain aneurysm in San Diego. Stewart was a member of folk group The Kingston Trio and went on to
record more than 45 solo albums with his biggest solo success being a US top five single, 'Gold', in 1979.
1935, Born on this day, Johnny O’Keefe, singer known as “Australia’s King of rock ‘n’ roll”. He co-wrote and had the
1958 Australian hit with, ‘Real Wild Child’, which was covered by Iggy Pop in 1986.
1939, Born on this day, Phil Everly, singer, songwriter, The Everly Brothers, (1958 UK & US No.1 single 'All I Have To Do
Is Dream' plus over 25 other Top 40 hits).
1942, Born on this day, Michael Crawford, UK actor, singer, (1987 UK No.7 single 'The Music Of The Night') and star of
Some Mothers Do 'Ave them..
1943, Born on this day, Janis Joplin, US singer who had a 1971 US No.1 single with ‘Me And Bobby McGee’ . She died
on October 4th 1970 after an accidental heroin overdose.
January 18th: On this Day
1960, Johnny Preston started a three week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Running Bear'. Written by J.P.
Richardson (The Big Bopper)i t was also a UK No.1.
1964, The Beatles made their US chart debut when 'I Want To Hold Your Hand' entered the chart at No.45 just ten days
after its release.
1965, The Rolling Stones recorded 'The Last Time' and 'Play With Fire' at the RCA studio in Hollywood, California. Phil
Spector played acoustic guitar on 'Play With Fire.'
1974, former members from Free, (Paul Rodgers & Simon Kirke), Mott The Hoople, (Mick Ralphs), and King Crimson,
(Boz Burrell), formed Bad Company. The band went on to score a US No.1 album with their debut release.
1975, Barry Manilow scored his first US No.1 single when 'Mandy' went to the top of the charts.
1975, Status Quo were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Down Down',their only UK No.1 from 52 hits 1968- 1996.
1977, Hall and Oates appeared at the Sheffield City Hall, England, tickets cost £1.30p.
1986, 'That's What Friends Are For' by Dionne Warwick began a four-week run at No.1 on the US singles chart, all
company and artists profits were given to aids charities.
1989, At just 38 years old, Stevie Wonder became the youngest living person to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall
of Fame.
1993, Elton John resigned his directorship of Watford Football Club.
1996, Lisa Marie Presley divorced Michael Jackson after less then two years of being married.
1997, songwriter and producer Keith Diamond died of a heart attack. He wrote, 'Caribbean Queen' and 'Suddenly' for
Billy Ocean, and also wrote hits for Donna Summer, James Ingram, Mick Jagger, Sheena Easton and Michael Bolton.
1997, Tori Amos was at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Professional Widow' (It's Got To Be)'.
2004, Josh Groban was at No.1 on the US album chart with ‘Closer.’
2004, Winner of the 2003 Pop Idol TV show Michelle McManus started a two week run at No.1 on the UK singles chart
with 'All This Time.'
2005, Motown producer Norman Whitfield pleaded guilty for failing to report royalty income he earned from 1995 to 1999
to the Internal Revenue Service.
2008, Four photographers were arrested for reckless driving after they chased Britney Spears' car on the outskirts of
Los Angeles.
1941, Born on this day, Bobby Goldsboro, US singer, (1968 US No.1 & UK No.2 single 'Honey').
1941, Born on this day, David Ruffin, vocals, The Temptations
January 17th: On this Day
1953, American jazz singer Kay Starr (Katherine Starks) was at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Comes A
Long A Love'. Starr was born on an Indian reservation in Oklahoma; her father was a full-blooded American
Indian and her mother Irish.
1963, The Beatles played at the Cavern Club at lunchtime and in the evening played at the Majestic
Ballroom, Birkenhead. At the Majestic, every ticket had been sold in advance, leaving 500 disappointed
fans waiting outside.
1964, The Rolling Stones released their first EP, which included, ‘You Better Move On’, ‘Poison Ivy’, ‘Bye
Bye Johnny’ and ‘Money’.
1967, The Daily Mail ran the story about a local council survey finding 4,000 holes in the road in Lancashire
inspiring John Lennon's contribution to The Beatles song 'A Day In The Life'.
1970, R&B singer Billy Stewart and three of his band were killed when the car they're traveling in crashed
off a bridge. Had the 1966 US No.10 single 'Summertime'.
1972, a section of Bellevue Boulevard in Memphis was renamed Elvis Presley Boulevard. The remaining
length of road kept its original name after protests from the Bellevue Baptist Church.
1974, Dean Martin's son Dino Martin was arrested after attempting to sell two AK-47 machine guns to an
undercover agent.
1976, Barry Manilow scored his second US No.1 single with 'I Write The Songs', written by Beach Boy Bruce
Johnson.
1982, Tommy Tucker died, aged 48, after being overcome by poisonous fumes while he was renovating the
floors of his New York home. He had written the 1964 US No.11 hit ‘Hi Heel Sneakers’.
1985, Meat Loaf kicked off a 16-date UK tour at The De Montfort Hall, Leicester.
1994, Donny Osmond took part in a charity boxing match held in Chicago against former Partridge Family
member Danny Bonaduce,
1998, All Saints scored their first UK No.1 single with 'Never Ever'.
1998, Savage Garden started a two week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Truly Madly Deeply'.
2003, a long-lost recording featuring John Lennon and Mick Jagger was set to spark a biding war at a
London auction. The acetate record was recorded in 1974 with Jagger singing the blues song 'Too Many
Cooks' and Lennon playing guitar. The track had never been release because the two artists were both
signed to different record companies.
2003, singer Lou Rawls was arrested at Albuquerque Airport, New Mexico after an incident with his
companion, Nina Inman.
1927, Born on this day, Eartha Kitt, US female singer, (1955 UK No.7 single 'Under The Bridges Of Paris,' Kitt
died from colon cancer on December 25 2008 at her Weston, Connecticut home at the age of 81.
1943, Born on this day, Chris Montez, US singer, (1962 UK No.2 & US No.4 single 'Let's Dance').
1948, Born on this day, Mick Taylor, guitar, John Mayalls Bluesbreakers, joined The Rolling Stones, in 1969
left in 1974. (1971 US No.1 & UK No.2 single 'Brown Sugar'). Also worked with Bob Dylan, Mike Oldfield, Jack
Bruce and Ron Wood.
January 16th: On this Day
1956, Tennessee Ernie Ford was at No.1 on the UK singles chart with his version of the Merle Travis coal-
mining song 'Sixteen Tons.'
1957, The Cavern Club opened in Liverpool. The Beatles appeared at the club 292 times.
1964, The Dave Clark Five were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Glad All Over', the group's only UK No.1.
1969, Marmalade were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with their version of The Beatles song 'Ob-La-Di Ob-
La-Da'.
1970, John Lennon's London Art Gallery exhibit of erotic lithographs, 'Bag One' was closed by Scotland Yard.
1973, Bruce Springsteen appeared at Villanova University, Philadelphia to an audience of 25 people.
1974, The New Seekers were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with their second and final UK No.1 single 'You
Won't Find Another Fool Like Me'.
1977, David Soul went to No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Don't Give Up On Us'. Also a No.1 in the US.
1980, Paul McCartney was jailed for nine days in Tokyo for marijuana possession after being found with 219g
on his arrival at Narita Airport in Japan.
1982, Bucks Fizz were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with their second No.1 'Land Of Make Believe'.
1984, Paul and Linda McCartney were arrested in Barbados for drug possession and were each fined $200
(£117).
1985, David Bowie's schizophrenic half-brother Terry Burnes killed himself after laying down on the railway
lines at Coulsdon South station, London. He was killed instantly by a passing train. He was 47.
1987, TV presenter Jools Holland was suspended from Channel 4's UK music show The Tube for 6 weeks,
after using the phrase 'groovy fuckers' during a live trailer broadcast in children's hour.
1988, 24 years after The Beatles first topped the chart, George Harrison went to No.1 on the US singles
chart with 'Got My Mind Set On You'.
1988, Former Go-Go's singer Belinda Carlisle scored her first UK No.1 single with 'Heaven Is A Place On
Earth.'
1988, Tina Turner gave herself a place in the record books when she performed in front of 182,000 people
in Rio De Janeiro. The largest audience ever for a single artist.
1988, Wet Wet Wet went to No.1 on the UK album chart with their debut LP 'Popped In 'Souled Out'.
1989, Michael Jackson played the first of five nights at the Memorial Sports Arena in Los Angeles,
California. These were the last shows on the singers Bad World Tour. Jackson donated more than $1m of
the final concert's takings to an organisation fighting child cruelty.
1990, Ike Turner was convicted of driving under the influence of cocaine and being under the influence of
cocaine and sentenced to a four year prison sentence in California.
1996, Jamaican authorities opened fire on Jimmy Buffett's seaplane, mistaking it for a drug trafficker's
plane. U2 singer Bono was also on the plane; neither singer was injured in the incident.
2000, Coasters singer Will Jones died aged 71. (1958 US No.1 single 'Yakety Yak', 1959 US No.2 and UK No.6
single 'Charlie Brown').
2000, it was reported that Mick Jagger had lost the chance of a knighthood because of his errant ways.
British Prime Minister Tony Blair had second thoughts about the message it would give about family values.
2004, Michael Jackson appeared in court and pleaded not guilty to seven charges of child molestation. The
singer who arrived 21 minutes late was told off by the Santa Barbara judge saying 'Mr Jackson, you have
started out on the wrong foot here, it is an insult to the court.'
2005, Elvis Presley's single ‘One Night’ made chart history by becoming the 1,000th UK No.1. Elvis, who led
last week's chart with ‘Jailhouse Rock’, had now scored more number one UK hits than any other artist with
20 No.1’s, beating The Beatles' 17 chart toppers.
2007, James 'Pookie' Hudson the lead singer of the 50's doo-wop group The Spaniels died. Their 1954 hit
'Goodnight, Sweetheart, Goodnight' was featured in such films as Three Men and a Baby, Diner and
American Graffiti.
2007, Bob Dylan and his brother bought Aultmore House a mansion in the Scottish Cairngorms National
Park, near Nethybridge, Inverness-shire.
2009, Boy George was sentenced to 15 months in prison after being convicted of falsely imprisoning a male
escort. T
January 15th: On this Day
1958, The Everly Brothers made their debut on British TV appearing on The Perry Como Show.
1964, The Beatles performed live at the Cinema Cyrano, Versailles, France, before an audience of 2,000. The
show was a warm-up for a three-week engagement at the Olympia Theatre that would start the next day in
Paris.
1965, The Who released their first single 'I Can't Explain'. With Jimmy Page on guitar and The Ivy League on
backing vocals, it went on to reach No.8 on the UK chart.
1967, The Rolling Stones were forced to change the lyrics of 'Lets Spend The Night Together' to 'Lets Spend
Some Time Together' when appearing on the US TV's The Ed Sullivan Show after the producers objected to
the content of the lyrics.
1969, George Harrison had a five-hour meeting with John, Paul and Ringo where he made it clear that he
was fully prepared to quit The Beatles for good. Harrison wasn’t happy with plans for live performances and
the Let It Be film project.
1972, Don McLean's 'American Pie' started a four week run at No.1 in the US singles chart.
1977, Abba scored their second UK No.1 album when 'Arrival' went to the top of the charts.
1977, The Eagles went to No.1 on the US album chart with 'Hotel California' the group's third US No.1 album.
1977, UK singer Leo Sayer went to No.1 on the US singles chart with 'You Make Me Feel Like Dancing'.
1980, The Ramones appeared live on UK BBC TV music show The Old Grey Whistle Test.
1983, Men At Work started a four week run at No.1 in the US singles chart with 'Down Under' , also a No.1 in
the UK.
1983, Phil Collins had his first UK No.1 single with his version of 'You Can't Hurry Love,' a hit for The
Supremes in 1966.
1991, Sean Lennon's updated version of his father John's 'Give Peace A Chance' was released to coincide
with the United Nation's midnight deadline for Iraq to withdraw from Kuwait.
1992, Dee Murray bass player with the Elton John band died after suffering a stroke aged 45.
1994, American singer songwriter Harry Nilsson died in his sleep of heart failure after spending the
previous day in the recording studio.
2002, 1980's British pop legend Adam Ant was admitted to a mental ward 24 hours after being charged by
police with pulling a gun on staff in a London pub.
[2004, it was announced that album sales in the UK rose by 7.6% in 2003 to a record high. The Top five
albums of 2003: 1. Dido, 'Life For Rent'. 2. Justin Timberlake, 'Justified', 3. Christina Aguilera, 'Stripped', 4.
Daniel Bedingfield, 'Gotta Get Thru This', 5. Norah Jones, 'Come Away With Me'. UK singles sales continued
to drop, down 30% on the previous year.
2006, James Blunt was at No.1 on the UK album chart with his debut album and biggest selling UK album of
2005 'Back To Bedlam.'
1893, Born on this day, Ivor Novello, songwriter & actor. Annual British music awards are named after him.
Died 6th March 1951.
1947, Born on this day, Pete Waterman, producer, TV presenter and part of the Stock, Aitken & Waterman
team. Booked the first ever tour for The Bay City Rollers, signed Musical Youth and Nik Kershaw, during the
70’s was promotion consultant for John Travolta. Had 1987 UK No.13 hit with ‘Roadblock.’ Dominated UK pop
in the mid-to-late 1980s. as part of S.A.W. the most successful pop writers & producers of all time producing
Bananarama, Kylie Minogue, Rick Astley, Jason Donovan. Judge on UK TV’s Pop Stars.
January 14th: On this Day
1960, Elvis Presley's' 'GI Blues' started a seven-week run at No.1 on the UK chart.
1965, Georgie Fame & The Blue Flames were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Yeh Yeh.'
1967, Cliff Richard told the music paper the NME that he was retiring from show business to teach religious education in schools.
1970, Diana Ross made her last appearance with The Supremes at The Frontier Hotel, Las Vegas.
1972, Yes played the first of two nights at the Rainbow Theatre, London.
1972, Stevie Wonder kicked off a 15-date UK tour at London's Hammersmith Odeon.
1973, Paul Gadd (Gary Glitter) killed off his former persona Paul Raven when he lowered a coffin containing all his records into the
River Thames, London.
1978, Player started a three week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Baby Come Back', a No.32 hit in the UK, the group's only UK
hit.
1978, The Sex Pistols played their last live gig at Winterland, San Francisco, (they re-formed in 96).
1984, Paul McCartney was at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Pipes Of Peace.' With this release McCartney made chart history by
becoming the first artist to have a No.1 in a group, (The Beatles), in a duo, (with Stevie Wonder), in a trio, (with Wings) and as a solo
artist.
1989, Bobby Brown went to No.1 on the US singles chart with 'My Prerogative.'
1989, compilation albums were excluded from the UK chart and were listed in the new Top 20 Compilation Albums.
1995, Swedish performing arts collective Rednex started a three-week run at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Cotton Eye Joe.'
1996, Oasis went to No.1 on the UK album chart with '(What's The Story) Morning Glory', the group's second UK No.1
2001, Jennifer Lopez scored her first UK No.1 single with 'Love Don't Cost A Thing.'
2003, Linda Gail Lewis the sister of Jerry Lee Lewis, dropped a claim of sex discrimination against Van Morrison. Lewis had claimed
that Morrison had 'publicly humiliated' her on stage and had tried to ruin her life by asking her for sex. She withdrew her claim after
discussions with her lawyer. Morrison denied all the allegations.
2005, a $100,000 (£58,823) statue honouring the late punk guitarist Johnny Ramone was unveiled by his widow Linda at the Hollywood
Forever Cemetery. Johnny died from prostate cancer in September 2004 at the age of 55.
2007, Amy Winehouse started a two week run at No.1 on the UK album chart with 'Back To Black’ (which went on to become the
biggest-selling album of 2007 with sales over 1.5m copies).
1936, Born on this day, Clarence Carter, blind US singer, guitarist, (1970 US No.4 & UK No.2 single 'Patches').
1937, Born on this day, Billie Jo Spears, US female singer, (1975 UK No.6 single 'Blanket On The Ground').
January 13th: On this Day
1962, Chubby Checker went back to No.1 on the US singles chart with 'The Twist'. 1962, Cliff Richard
scored his second UK No.1 album with 'The Young Ones'.
1963, The Beatles recorded a TV appearance on the ABC Television program "Thank Your Lucky Stars" in
Birmingham playing their new single, ‘Please Please Me.’
1968, Johnny Cash played a show, which was recorded, for his forthcoming live album at Folsom Prison,
near Sacramento, California in-front of 2,000 inmates.
1969, Elvis Presley began a ten day recording session that would produce his final US number one record,
‘Suspicious Minds’. The tracks were laid down at American Sound Studios in Memphis and marked the first
time Presley had recorded in his hometown since his Sun Records days in 1956.
1973, Eric Clapton made his stage comeback at the Rainbow Theatre, London, with Pete Townsend, Ronnie
Wood, Stevie Winwood, Rebop, Jim Capaldi and support from The Average White Band. 1973, Slade scored
their first UK No.1 album with 'Slayed'.
1979, Soul singer Donny Hathaway committed suicide falling from a 15th floor New York hotel window. (1972
UK No.29 single with Roberta Flack 'Where Is The Love', 1978 US No.2 single 'The Closer I Get.'
1984, BBC Radio 1 announced a ban on 'Relax' by Frankie Goes To Hollywood, after DJ Mike Read called it
'obscene', a BBC TV ban also followed. The song went on to become a UK No.1 and spent a total of 48 weeks
on the UK chart.
1990, New Kids On The Block had their second and last No.1 UK single with 'Hangin' Tough.' They had a
further 7 Top 10 hits by the end of 1991. They broke up after that.
1999, Steps were at No.1 o the UK singles chart with 'Heartbeat / Tragedy.' The five-piece pop dance outfit
were put together by producer Pete Waterman.
2003, Diana Ross appeared in a US court charged with driving while twice over the drink driving limit. Police
in Tucson reported that Miss Ross could not walk in a straight line, touch her nose or count to 30 after she
had been stopped for swerving across the road. 2003, Who guitarist Pete Townshend was arrested on
suspicion of child porn offences. Police officers impounded seven computers from his £15 million ($25.5
million) home in Richmond, Surrey.
2005, a report showed that more songs had been written about Elvis Presley than any other artist. It listed
over 220 songs including: ‘Graceland’ by Paul Simon, ‘A Room At The Heartbreakhotel’ by U2, ‘Calling Elvis’,
Dire Straits, ‘Happy Birthday Elvis’, Loudon Wainwright III, ‘There's A Guy Works Down The Chip Shop Swears
He's Elvis’, Kirsty MacColl,
2008, Amy MacDonald went to No.1 on the UK album chart with her debut ‘This Is The Life.’
1961, Born on this day, Graham McPherson, (Suggs), vocals, Madness, (1982 UK No.1 single 'House Of Fun'
plus over 20 other UK Top 40 singles. Solo, 1995 UK No.7 single with cover of The Beatles 'I'm Only
Sleeping').
January 12th: On this Day
1963, Steve Lawrence started a two week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Go Away Little Girl'.
1964, The Beatles appeared on the ATV show Sunday Night At The London Palladium The compere was
Bruce Forsyth. When The Beatles appeared on this show on October 13, 1963, their fee had been £250, now,
just three months later, their fee was £1,000. Bruce is still a megastar on UK television.
1968, The Beatles Film Productions changed its name to Apple Film Limited and Apple Music Limited
changed its name to Apple Corps Limited.
1974, Jim Croce started a five-week run at No.1 on the US album chart with 'You Don't Mess Around With
Jim'.
1974, The Steve Miller Band were at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'The Joker', the group's first of three
No.1's. It reached No.1 on the UK chart in 1990.
11977, EMI Records issued a statement saying it felt unable to promote The Sex Pistols records in view of
the adverse publicity generated over the last two months.
1977, Rolling Stone Keith Richards was fined £750 for possession of cocaine found in his car after the
guitarist had been involved in a car crash.
1977, The Police had their first rehearsal, held at drummer's Stewart Copeland's London flat, with Henri
Padovani on guitar.
1980, 'The Bee Gees Greatest Hits' album was at No.1 on the US charts.
1983, Swedish percussionist with Traffic, Reebop Kwaku Baah died from a brain haemorrhage in Stockholm,
Sweden. Also worked with Eric Clapton, Steve Winwood, Ginger Baker's Air Force, Can and The Rolling
Stones.
1992, Bob Geldof was arrested after a disturbance on a Boeing 727, which had been grounded for 5 hours
at Stansted Airport.
1993, Van Morrison failed to turn up at the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame induction dinner, making him the first
living inductee not to attend.
2000, teenage diva Charlotte Church sacked her manager Jonathan Shalit. Shalit had won her a five album
deal with Sony Records and helped the singer with her career – which had earn her £6 million ($10.2 million)
to date.
2001, British Airways staff complained about Oasis singer Liam Gallagher after he had grabbed a
stewardess' bottom, refused to stop smoking and thrown objects around the cabin during a flight from
London to Rio De Janeiro.
2002, Hear'Say singer Kym Marsh walked out on the rest of the group after a bitter bust up. The band were
the winners of the ITV reality TV show Popstars in February 2001.
2002, Aaliyah had the posthumous UK No.1 single with 'More Than A Woman'. Aaliyah was killed in Aug 2001
in a plane crash in the Bahamas aged 22. The Cessna plane crashed a few minutes after take off killing
everyone on board. Aaliyah had been filming a video on the island for her latest release ‘Rock The Boat’.
2003, Singer-songwriter Maurice Gibb from the Bee Gee's died aged 53 in Miami Hospital, Florida following
a heart attack during abdominal surgery. The Bee Gees released over 20 albums and had the 1979 world-
wide No.1 album 'Spirits Having Flown', and 'How Deep Is Your Love, 'Stayin' Alive', and 'Night Fever' from
the soundtrack 'Saturday Night Fever' were all US No.1 singles. Gibb was married to the Scottish singer Lulu
from 1969 to 1973. In 2002, Maurice was made a Commander of the British Empire (CBE), along with his
brothers.
2004, American songwriter and guitarist Randy VanWarmer died from leukaemia aged 48. (1979 US No.4 & UK
No.8 single 'Just When I Needed You Most'). Also wrote The Oak Ridge Boys No.1 US Country hit 'I Guess It
Never Hurts to Hurt Sometimes.' VanWarmer's had arranged for a space burial and his cremated remains
were sent into space in 2007.
2005, it was announced that the Strawberry Field children's home immortalised by The Beatles was to close.
The home in Woolton, Liverpool was made famous when John Lennon wrote ‘Strawberry Fields Forever’
after playing there as a child.
1932, Born on this day, Des O'Connor, UK singer, comedian, TV presenter, (1968 UK No.1 single 'I Pretend'.
Plus seven other UK Top 40 singles). Toured the UK with Buddy Holly in 1958.
1941, Born on this day, Long John Baldry, vocals, Bluesology and solo artist, (1967 UK No.1 single 'Let The
Heartaches Begin'). Baldry died of a chest infection on 21st July 2005.
.
1945, Born on this day, Abe Tilmon, Detroit Emeralds, (1973 UK No.7 single 'Feel The Need In Me'). Died of a
heart attack in 1982
January 11th: On this Day
1958, The release date for the Elvis Presley single 'Jailhouse Rock' was put back a week after Decca
Records pressing plant in the UK were unable to meet the advance orders of 250,000 copies.
1962, Cliff Richard was at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'The Young Ones'. It made Cliff the first UK artist
to enter the chart at No.1.
1963, The Beatles recorded their first national TV show 'Thank Your Lucky Stars'.
1964, 'Ring Of Fire' by Johnny Cash became the first Country album to go to No.1 in the US album chart.
1965, The Righteous Brothers arrived in Britain for a promotional visit appearing on three TV shows, Ready
Steady Go! Scene At 6.30. and Disco A Go-Go.
1967, The Jimi Hendrix Experience recorded 'Purple Haze'. Jimi also signed to Track Records on this day.
[1981, Blancmange appeared at the Hope & Anchor, London. Depeche Mode were the support, tickets cost
£1 ($1.7).
1986, The Pet Shop Boys scored their first UK No.1 single with 'West End Girls.'
2000, Gary Glitter was released from prison after serving half of a four-month sentence for possessing child
pornography downloaded from the internet. Glitter was told he would have to go on the sex offenders'
register for seven years.
2003, Britain’s oldest rockers came out winners in The Pollstar listing of the Top 10 grossing US tours of
2002: Paul McCartney 40m, The Rolling Stones $58m £34m, Elton John £27.6m, The Who £11.8m, Ozzy
Osbourne £10.6m, Peter Gabriel £5.88m, Yes £3.5m, Elvis Costello £2.94m, The Moody Blues £2.35m and
Jethro Tull £1.76m.
2003, Pete Townshend issued a public statement denying being a paedophile after his name was linked with
a police Internet porn inquiry. The Who guitarist did admit studying child pornography for research into a
campaign against it.
2005, former Bread guitarist and Academy Award-winning songwriter James Griffin died at his home in
Nashville at the age of 61 after suffering from cancer. Bread had the 1970's hits 'Make It With You', 'Baby I'm-
a Want You', and 'Everything I Own.'
2008, Robbie Williams’ manager told The Times newspaper that the singer would refuse to make another
album for his record label EMI, saying he was unhappy after the label was taken over by Terra Firma.
2008, Ringo Starr helped launch the celebrations for Liverpool's year as European Capital of Culture. The
opening party kicked off a year-long programme of more than 350 events. Organisers hoped the Capital of
Culture tag would attract an extra two million visitors to Liverpool and boost the economy by £100m.
2009, Lady Gaga & Colby O'Donis went to No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Just Dance'.
January 10th: On this Day
1953, Jo Stafford was at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'You Belong To Me'. Originally a singer with
Tommy Dorsey until 1942, Stafford was the first female to have a No.1 on the UK singles Chart.
1956, Elvis Presley made his first recordings for RCA Records at The Methodist television, radio & TV
Studios in Nashville. 'Heartbreak Hotel' was one of the songs recorded during this session.
1957, Tommy Steele and the Steelmen were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Singing The Blues'.
1958, Jerry Lee Lewis was at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Great Balls Of Fire'. Lewis was the only major
white rock 'n' roll star to play piano rather than guitar.
1973, Cliff Richard appeared on the Cilla Black Show, singing the six entries chosen to represent Britain in
the Eurovision Song Contest.
1976, Blues artist Howlin Wolf, (Chester Burnett), died in hospital of cancer aged 66. The guitarist, singer
and harmonica player's well known songs included 'Smoke Stack Lightning', 'Little Red Rooster' and
'Spoonful.'
1976, CW McCall went to No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Convoy', it made No.2 in the UK. CW McCall was
in fact an advertising agent whose real name was Bill Fries.
1981, John Lennon's 'Imagine' started a four-week run at No.1 on the UK singles chart, 10 years after it was
recorded. Lennon had two other songs in the Top 5 this week, 'Happy Christmas, (War Is Over') and '(Just
Like) Starting Over.' 'Imagine' was voted by the viewers of BBC TV as the best lyrics of all time in a poll
broadcast in Oct 1999.
1997, James Brown received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
2003, a haul of 500 Beatles tapes known as the 'Get Back sessions' stolen in the 1970's were found after UK
police cracked a major bootleg operation in London and Amsterdam. Five men were arrested.
2003, Bee Gee Maurice Gibb was fighting for his life after a heart attack following major stomach surgery.
The 53 year-old singer had been rushed to hospital after collapsing at his Florida home.
2007, Madame Tussauds unveiled its fourth waxwork of Kylie Minogue, making the Australian pop star the
most modelled celebrity after the Queen. The model became the first scented waxwork, wearing Minogue's
Darling perfume.
2008, Rod Allen Bainbridge, lead singer of The Fortunes, died aged 63 after battling liver cancer. The
group's biggest hit was ‘You've Got Your Troubles’ which was a UK No.2 hit in 1965, also reaching No.7
seven in the US.
1917, Born on this day, Jerry Wexler, producer and record company executive. Co-owner of Atlantic
records, vice president at Warner Brothers, worked with Ray Charles, Phil Spector, Dr John, Dusty
Springfield, Dire Straits, Bob Dylan. Died on Aug 15th 2008, aged 91.
1927, Born on this day, US teen idol singer Johnnie Ray, Died of liver failure on 21st February 1990.
1939, Born on this day, Scott McKenzie, (1967 UK No.1 & US No.4 single 'San Francisco, Be Sure To Wear
Some Flowers In Your Hair'. McKenzie also auditioned for The Monkees).
1943, Born on this day, Jim Croce, US singer/songwriter who had a 1973 US No.1 single with ‘Time In A
Bottle’. He was killed in a plane crash on the way to a concert on September 20th 1973.
1945, Born on this day, Rod Stewart, singer, songwriter, The Hoochie Coochie Men, Steampacket, Shotgun
Express, Jeff Beck Group, The Faces, (UK No.6 & US No.17 single 'Stay With Me'). Solo, (1971 UK & US No.1
single 'Maggie May', plus five other UK No.1's & over 35 Top 40 hits). His 1971 debut album 'Every Picture
Tell's A Story' was the first album ever to simultaneously be No.1 in the UK & US.
January 9th: On this Day
1955, Rosemary Clooney was at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Mambo Italiano' the singers second No.1.
The song was banned by all ABC owned stations in the US because it "did not reach standards of good
taste".
1961, Bert Kaempfert started a three week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Wonderland By Night'.
Kaempfert produced The Beatles first recording session when they were in Hamburg.
1961, Bob Newhart went to No.1 on the US album chart with 'The Button Down Mind Strikes Back!'
1963, drummer Charlie Watts joined The Rolling Stones after leaving Blues Incorporated.
1965, The Beatles started a nine week run at No.1 on the US album chart with 'Beatles 65', the group's fourth
No.1.
1969, The Beatles were at No.1 on the UK album chart with the 'White Album', The Rolling Stones were at No.
2 with 'Beggars Banquet' and The Seekers were at No.3 with 'Best Of The Seekers.'
1971, TV's Dads Army star Clive Dunn was at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Grandad'. A golden oldie in
more ways than one!
1976, Queen were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Bohemian Rhapsody'. A Fabulous song with a
FANTASTIC VIDEO.
1982, The Human League went back to No.1 on the UK album chart for three weeks with 'Dare'.
1988, Whitney Houston scored her sixth consecutive No.1 in the US with 'So Emotional'.
1997, David Bowie performed his belated 50th Birthday Bash concert at Madison Square Garden, New York
with guests Robert Smith of The Cure, The Foo Fighters, Lou Reed, and proceeds from the concert went to
the Save The Children fund.
2002, Irish singer, songwriter David McWilliams died of a heart attack at his home in Ballycastle, County
Antrim aged of 56. He wrote 'The Days Of Pearly Spencer,' 1992 UK No.4 for Marc Almond.
2003, a grand piano once owned by Elvis Presley was sold for $685,000 (£425,711). Music producer Robert
Johnson and partner Larry Moss sold the piano to the chairman of the Blue Moon Group, Michael Muzio
who was planning to take the piano on a casino-sponsored promotional tour.
2005, Elvis Presley went to No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Jailhouse Rock.' The single sold just 21,262
copies to reach No.1, the lowest sales ever for a UK chart topper since data began in 1969.
2005, The Scissor Sisters went to No.1 on the UK album chart with their self-titled album. They went on to
win Best International Album as well as best international Group and International Breakthrough act at the
2005 Brit awards.
2008, Spice Girl Victoria Beckham was named the worst dressed celebrity in an annual list of fashion
disasters. Fashion critic Richard Blackwell, who had compiled the poll every year since 1960, said Beckham
stepped out in "one skinny-mini monstrosity after another". Amy Winehouse's trademark beehive and
tattoos helped earn her second place in the list.
2009, Dave Dee died at the age of 65, following a three-year battle with cancer. The UK singer had eight top
10 hits, with Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick and Tich including a UK number one single in 1968 with ‘The
Legend of Xanadu’, in which Dee famously cracked a whip. The singer, whose real name was David Harman,
was originally a police officer and as a police cadet was called to the scene of the car crash that killed Eddie
Cochrane during a UK tour in 1960.
January 7th: On this Day
1955, 'Rock Around The Clock' by Bill Haley and his Comets, entered the UK chart for the first time.
1961, Country singer Johnny Tillotson was at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Poetry In Motion.'
1964, Harmonica player Cyril Davies died of leukaemia died aged 32. Davies was a driving force in the early
60's blues movement forming Blues Incorporated with Alexis Korner.
1969, The Scaffold were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Lily The Pink. '
1974, Carly Simon and James Taylor became parents when their daughter Sarah Maria was born.
1977, Andy Gibb was at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'I Just Want To Be Your Everything' a song written
by his Bee Gee brother Barry.
1980, Hugh Cornwall of The Stranglers was found guilty of possession of heroin, cocaine and cannabis. He
was fined £300 ($510) and sentenced to three months in Pentonville prison.
1982, singles reviewed in this weeks Smash Hits included Haircut 100, 'Love Plus One', XTC 'Senses
Working Overtime' and Robert Palmer 'Some Guys Have All The Luck'. OMD had the front cover plus
interviews with Adam Ant, Squeeze and Dollar.
1989, Kylie Minogue and Jason Donovan started a three-week run at No.1 on the UK singles chart with the
Stock, Aitken & Waterman produced 'Especially For You'.
1993, R.E.M. played a Greenpeace Benefit show at the 40 watt Club, Athens, Georgia, for 500 people. The
show was recorded on a solar powered mobile recording studio.
1996, Robson and Jerome went to No.1 on the UK album chart with 'Robson and Jerome.'
2001, Rui Da Silva feat Cassandra went to No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Touch Me', the first Portuguese
act to top the UK charts.2
2003, The Beatles Book Monthly closed down after 40 years. Author Sean O'Mahony who set up the
magazine in 1963 said there was nothing more to say as the number of things the former Beatles were
doing gets less and less as the years go on.
2004, Drummer John Guerin died of pneumonia aged 64. Worked with Joni Mitchell, Frank Zappa, Linda
Rondstadt, Gram Parsons, Todd Rundgren. He also played on the original title tune for the television series
Hawaii Five-O.
2006, Gary Glitter was formally charged with committing obscene acts with two girls aged 11 and 12 in
Vietnam, the prosecutor in the southern province of Ba Ria Vung Tau said the charges would carry prison
terms of three to seven years. Glitter, (Paul Gadd), had been held since November as he tried to flee the
country over child sex allegations.
2006, Mary J. Blige was at No.1 on the US album chart with ‘The Breakthrough’ t
2008, US rapper Timbaland started a four week run at No.1 on the Australian album chart
1937, Born on this day, Paul Revere, keyboards, Paul Revere and the Raiders, (1971 US No.1 single 'Indian
Reservation', plus 14 other US Top 30 hit singles.
1942, Born on this day, Danny Williams, singer, (1961 UK No. 1 'Moon River', the Oscar-winning song was
from the film Breakfast At Tiffany's).
1944, Born on this day, Mike McGear, singer, brother of Paul McCartney, The Scaffold, (1968 Christmas UK
No.1 single 'Lily The Pink').
1945, Born on this day, Dave Cousins, vocals, guitar, The Strawbs, (1973 UK No.2 single with 'Part Of The
Union').
1946, Born on this day, Andy Brown, drums, The Fortunes, (1965 UK No.2 & US No.7 single 'You've Got Your
Troubles').
1948, Born on this day, Kenny Loggins, singer, songwriter, (one half of Loggins & Messina 1971-76), 1984 US
No.1 & UK No. 6 single 'Footlose' from the film of the same name.
January 6th: On this Day
1956, Elvis Presley performed in the gym at Randolph High School, Mississippi; this was the last time he
ever appeared in a small auditorium.
1967, The Who played their first gig of this year when they appeared at Morecambe, Central Pier in England.
1968, Irish singer Val Doonican was at No.1 on the UK album chart with 'Val Doonican Rocks, But Gently'.
1968, The Beatles 'Magical Mystery Tour' started an eight week run at No.1 on the US album chart, the
group's 11th US chart topper.
1973, Carly Simon's 'You're So Vain', (with Mick Jagger on backing vocals), started a three week run at No.1
on the US singles chart.
1977, EMI Records dropped The Sex Pistols, giving the band £40,000 ($68,000) to release them from their
contract.
1979, The Bee Gees started a two week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Too Much Heaven' the
group's 7th US No.1. 1979, Showaddywaddy went to No.1 on the UK chart with their 'Greatest Hits'
compilation.
1979, The Village People scored their only UK No.1 single with 'Y.M.C.A.' At its peak the single was selling
over 150,000 copies a day. In the gay culture from which the group sprang, the song was understood as
celebrating the YMCA's reputation as a popular cruising and hookup spot.
1980, Georgeanna Gordon singer with Motown girl group The Marvelettes died aged 46. (1961 US No.1
single 'Please Mr Postman').
1989, the biggest selling UK album artists of 1988 were, No.5, Dire Straits, No.4, U2, No.3, Michael Jackson,
No.2, Kylie Minogue and No.1, Fleetwood Mac.
1993, it was reported that David Bowie had lost over £2.5 million ($4.25 million) in unpaid royalties to an
Italian Mafia-linked bootleg fraud.
1997, Two bronze busts worth £50,000 were stolen from a garden at George Harrison's estate in Henley-on-
Thames, Oxfordshire. Thieves had climbed a 10- foot-wall and cut the figures of two monks from their stone
plinths.
2001, Pink Floyd guitarist David Gilmour won the right to his dot com name. Dave took legal action in his
battle to reclaim davidgilmour.com from Andrew Herman who had registered the URL and was selling Pink
Floyd merchandise through the site.
2002, Daniel Bedingfield went back to No.1 on the UK singles chart for the second time with 'Gotta Get Thru
This'.
2004, Feargal Sharkey, the former lead singer with The Undertones was made Head of The Live Music
Forum a body to promote music in the UK.
2005, US CD sales rose for the first time in four years.
2006, American soul, jazz, singer Lou Rawls died at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. The 72-year-
old, Grammy-winning artist had been battling lung cancer.
2006, a collection of Elvis Presley memorabilia bought by a council worker who embezzled nearly £600,000
was set to be sold to compensate the local authority. Julie Wall, 46, from Rippon Drive in Sleaford, was
jailed for three years for the offence last October.
1929, Born on this day, Wilbert Harrison, singer, 1959 US No.1 single 'Kansas City.' Wrote 'Let's Work
Together' a hit for Canned Heat & Bryan Ferry.
1935, Born on this day, Nino Tempo, US singer, songwriter, Nino Tempo and April Stevens had the 1963 US
No.1 'Deep Purple', a No.17 hit in the UK.
1944, Born on this day, Van McCoy, singer and producer, 1975 US No.1 and UK No.3 single with ‘The Hustle’.
1946, Born on this day, Syd Barrett, guitar, vocals, Pink Floyd original member, left in 1968, released one
solo album, 'Barrett' in 1970. Barrett died from complications arising from diabetes aged 60 on 7th July 2006.
1947, Born on this day, Sandy Denny, UK folk singer and member of Fairport Convention. She died on April
21st 1978 after falling down the stairs at a friend’s house. She sang on the Fairport Convention 1969 UK No.
21 single ‘Si Tu Dois Partir’ and also worked as a solo artist. She is featured on the Led Zeppelin track
‘Battle Of Evermore’ on the bands fourth album.
[more]
January 5th: On this Day
1961, The Beatles played at Litherland Town Hall, Liverpool. 1967, during The Beatles Sgt Pepper sessions
at Abbey Road in London, Paul McCartney recorded his vocal track on 'Penny Lane.' 1968, Jimi Hendrix
was jailed for one day in Stockholm, Sweden on drink charges after going berserk and destroying
everything in his room at the Goteberg Hotel.
1974, The Carpenters went to No.1 on the US album chart with 'The Singles 1969-1973'.
1979, Prince made his live debut at the Capri Theatre, Minneapolis.
1980, Donna Summer scored her third US No.1 album with 'On The Radio- Greatest Hits, Vol. 1 & II.'
1980, KC and the Sunshine Band had their 5th US No.1 single and scored the first No.1 of the 80's when
'Please Don't Go' went to No.1 in the UK.
1987, Alled Jones the young Welsh chorister announced his retirement from pop music at the age of 16, to
study for his O level exams.
1991, Iron Maiden went to No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Bring Your Daughter To The Slaughter.' It
became the lowest selling No.1 since 1960, with just over 42,000 copies sold in its first week.
1991, Madonna went to No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Justify My Love', a song co-written with Lenny
Kravitz and No.2 hit in the UK.
1997, Sonny Bono was killed in a skiing accident at a resort near Lake Tahoe, aged 62. Bono who was one
half on Sonny and Cher scored the 1965 UK & US No.1 single 'I Got You Babe' and had become a US
Congressman.
2001, Kirsty MacColl was laid to rest at a private funeral ceremony, ahead of a public memorial to pay tribute
to her life. The singer songwriter was killed in a boating accident on 18th Dec 2000.
2002, UK Pop magazine Smash Hits listed the Best singles Of 2001 had Kylie Minogue at No.3 with 'Can't Get
You Out Of My Head', No.2, Shaggy, 'It Wasn't Me' and at No.1 S Club 7 'Don't Stop Movin.'
2003, Green Day's lead singer Billie Joe Armstrong was arrested on suspicion of drink driving after being
stopped in California speeding in a black BMW convertible.
2004, Kinks singer Ray Davies was shot in the leg while on holiday in New Orleans. The 59-year-old singer-
songwriter was shot when running after two men who stole his girlfriend's purse at gunpoint. Davies was
admitted to the Medical Centre of Louisiana but his injuries were not considered serious. New Orleans
police said one person had been arrested, and police were still searching for the second.
2005, New York group Scissor Sisters had the UK's best-selling album of 2004 after overtaking Keane's
sales on the last day of the year. Scissor Sisters' self-titled debut CD sold 1,594,259 copies in 2004 - 582
more than Keane's ‘Hopes and Fears.’ Robbie Williams' ‘Greatest Hits’ was the year's third biggest-seller,
followed by Maroon 5, Katie Melua and Anastacia.
2008, Josh Groban was at No.1 on the US album chart with his Christmas album ‘Noel’. The best selling US
album of 2007 selling over 3.5 million copies in 10 weeks.
1923, Born on this day, Sam Phillips, founder of Sun Records, the first label of Elvis Presley's recordings.
Recorded Carl Perkins, Ike Turner, B.B. King, Jerry Lee Lewis. Phillips died on 30th July 2003.
January 4th: On this Day
1936, Billboard Magazine introduced the first ever-pop music chart that ranked records on national sales;
big band violinist Joe Venuti was the first No.1.
1954, Elvis Presley made his second visit to the Memphis recording service and cut two songs onto a 10
acetate,
1957, Elvis Presley had his pre-induction medical check up at Kennedy Veterans Hospital, a preliminary to
his call up from the US Army.
1960, Country legend Marty Robbins started a two week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'El Paso'.19
in the UK.
1962, Mersey Beat published its first popularity poll-The Beatles in first place and Gerry and the
Pacemakers second.
1964, Bobby Vinton started a four week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'There I've Said It Again', UK
34
1965, The Fender guitar company was bought by CBS for $13 million (£7.6 million).
1967, The Doors released their self-titled debut album The Doors. Unique packaging of the album included
each band member’s bio.
1968, the University of California, Los Angeles announced that students taking music degrees would have
to study the music of The Rolling Stones saying they had made such an important contribution to modern
music.
1970, chauffeur Neil Boland was accidentally killed when The Who's drummer Keith Moon ran over him.
Moon was trying to escape from a Gang of skinheads after a fight broke out at a pub in Hatfield, England.
Moon had never passed his driving test.
1970, The Beatles (without John Lennon) re-record vocals and a new guitar solo on the Paul McCartney
song ‘Let It Be’ at Studio Two, EMI Studios, London. This session will be the final studio appearance for The
Beatles, as a group.
1974, Bruce Springsteen played the first of a three night run at Joes’ Place in Cambridge Massachusetts.
1975, Elton John started a two week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with his version of The Beatles
'Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds'. His third US No.1, the song featured John Lennon on guitar.
1976, Former Beatles roadie Mal Evans was shot dead by police at his Los Angeles apartment. His girlfriend
called police when she found Evans upset with a rifle in his hand; he pointed the gun at the police who
opened fire.
1986, Irish singer, songwriter and bassist Phil Lynott of Thin Lizzy died of heart failure and pneumonia after
being in a coma for eight days following a drug overdose. Had the 1973 hit 'Whiskey in the Jar'.
2001, Madame Tussaud's waxworks in London revealed that Oasis singer Liam Gallagher had come third in
'The Most Hated Characters' list of exhibits, behind Adolf Hitler and Slobodan Milosevic.
2004, Britney Spears had her surprise marriage annulled less than 55 hours after tying the knot at the Little
White Wedding Chapel in Las Vegas with childhood friend Jason Alexander.
2005, The owner of a recording studio where Eminem recorded his 'Slim Shady' LP was found shot dead. AJ
Abdallah, who was 36, was discovered by a business colleague at the Detroit studio, it was thought he had
been dead for at least two days.
2006, the house where Johnny Cash lived for 35 years was bought by Bee Gees singer Barry Gibb. The
rustic house near Nashville, Tennessee went on the market in June 2005 with an asking price of $2.9m (£1.7
m). Gibb said he planned to preserve the house to honour the Cash memory.
2007, Nikki Bacharach the daughter of songwriter Burt Bacharach and actress Angie Dickinson committed
suicide by suffocation using a plastic bag and helium. She had suffered from Asperger's disorder. 40 year
old Nickki who was the couple's only child died at her home in California.
2008, Beyonce won a long-running legal wrangle over claims her hit song ‘Baby Boy’ infringed the copyright
of another artist's work.
1937, Born on this day, John Gorman, singer, The Scaffold, (1968 Christmas UK No.1 single 'Lily The Pink').
Has also been on Vionce Tracy show with Podcast on www.vincetracy.com/johngorman.html
January 2nd: On this Day
1926, The first issue of The Melody Maker went on sale priced at 3d. The monthly magazine was for 'all who
are interested in the production of popular music'.
1954, Eddie Calvert started a nine-week run at No.1 on the UK singles with 'Oh, Mein Papa.' This was the
first No.1 to be recorded at Abbey Road studios in London and stayed at the top of the charts for 9 weeks.
1965, Elvis Presley went to No.1 on the US album chart with the soundtrack from 'Roustabout,' Presley's
eighth No.1.
1968, the entire shipment of John and Yoko's album 'Two Virgins' was seized by authorities in New Jersey
due to the full frontal nude photograph of the couple on the cover. The album was eventually wrapped in
plain brown paper in record stores.
1969, filming began at Twickenham studios in England of The Beatles rehearsing for the 'Let It Be' album.
The project ran into several problems including George Harrison walking out on the group on January 10th.
1971, the George Harrison album 'All Things Must Pass' started a seven week run at No.1 on the US album
chart, making Harrison the first solo Beatle to score a US No.1 album.
1974, US country singer, actor and radio presenter Tex Ritter died of a heart attack when he was trying to
bail a member of his band from a jail in Nashville. 1979, Sex Pistol's bass player Sid Vicious went on trial in
New York accused of murdering his girlfriend Nancy Spungen three months earlier.
1980, US singer Larry Williams was found dead from a gunshot wound to his head in his Los Angeles,
California home aged 45. Williams had the 1957 US No.5 & UK No. 21 single 'Short Fat Fannie.' Also known for
'Bony Moronie' and 'Dizzy Miss Lizzy.'
1981, American singer David Lynch of The Platters died of cancer. (1959 UK & US No.1 single 'Smoke Gets In
Your Eyes').Abba were enjoying their sixth week at No.1 on the UK album chart with 'Super Trouper.'
1989, Record Mirror published a chart of last years Top UK singles artists. No.1 was Kylie Minogue, No.2,
Bros, No.3, Yazz, No.4 Tiffany, No.5, Phil Collins, No.6, Cliff Richard, No.7, Erasure, No.8, Pet Shop Boys, No.9,
Belinda Carlisle, and No.10, Wet Wet Wet.
1994, Meat Loaf started a three-week run at No.1 on the UK album chart with 'Bat Out Of Hell 2-Back Into
Hell.'
1999, Chef went to No.1 on the UK singles chart with Chocolate Salty Balls (PS I Love You).
2002, Backstreet Boy Nick Carter was arrested in a Tampa, Florida night-club after being involved in a fight.
2004, Daniel Bedingfield suffered two fractured vertebrae in his neck after the jeep he was driving rolled
over and crashed when on holiday in New Zealand. Emergency workers had to cut the singer free before he
could be taken to hospital.
2005, Winner of TV talent show, X-Factor Steve Brookstein went to No.1 on the UK singles chart with his
version of the 1984 Phil Collins song 'Against All Odds'. 2005, Green Day were at No.1 on the UK album
chart with their seventh album 'American Idiot.'
2007, Kylie Minogue played the first of two nights at Wembley Arena in London during her re-scheduled
Showgirl world tour. The tour was postponed last year after Kylie was diagnosed with breast cancer, for
which the singer had since received treatment.
2007, Cristin Keleher who once broke into former Beatle George Harrison's Hawaii home was found dead
after an apparent murder-suicide in California, aged 34. She made headlines in December 1999 by entering
Harrison's Maui estate and then cooking herself a frozen pizza.
2007, Gnarls Barkley's song 'Crazy' was confirmed as the biggest selling UK single of 2006 selling over
700,000 copies. The track, which was the first to reach number one on downloads alone, held off the
challenge of X-factor winner Leone.
2008, Josh Groban was America's top selling artist of 2007
1936, Born on this day, Roger Miller, singer, guitarist and TV star. (1965 UK No.1 & US No.4 single ‘King Of
The Road’). He won four Grammy awards in 1965 including Best Country & Western Album. Roger died of
lung cancer on October 25th 1991, aged 56. The Proclaimers had the 1990 UK No.9 hit with their version of
'King Of The Road.'
January 1st: On this Day
1953, Country singer Hank Williams died of a heart attack brought on by a lethal cocktail of pills and alcohol
aged 29.
1955, English singer Dickie Valentine was at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'The Finger Of Suspicion'.
1956, Bill Haley's 'Rock Around The Clock' went to No.1 on the UK singles chart for the second time.
1957, BBC Television aired its new rock & roll show 'Cool For Cats' for the first time.
1960, Johnny Cash played a free concert for the inmates of San Quentin Prison, California.
1962, The Beatles auditioned for Decca Records in West Hampstead, London. A&R boss at Decca Dick Rowe
turned them down.
1964, the first edition of the BBC TV show Top Of The Pops was transmitted from an old church hall in
Manchester, England. Introduced by DJ Jimmy Saville,
1966, Simon and Garfunkel started a two week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'The Sounds Of
Silence', a No.13 hit in the UK.
1969, Marmalade were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with their version of The Beatles song 'Ob-La-Di Ob-
La-Da'.
1970, Rolf Harris was at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Two Little Boys'. The song was written by
American composer Theodore Morse and lyricist Edward Madden in 1902.
1972, Carole King started a three week run at No.1 on the US album chart with 'Music', her second US chart
topper.
1977, The Clash played the opening night at punk's first real venue, The Roxy Club in London.
1977, Wings were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Mull Of Kintyre.' Spending nine weeks at No.1 in
became the first single to sell over 2 million copies in the UK.
1979, The Invaders played their last gig at the Filmmakers Co-Op in London and then went on to form
Madness.
1980, Cliff Richard was included in the Queen's New Year list, being awarded an OBE.
1982, Abba made their final live appearance as a group when they played in Stockholm, Sweden.
1984, Alexis Korner died of lung cancer aged 55. Know as "the Founding Father of British Blues", he was a
major force behind the UK early 60's R&B scene.
1988, Breakdancers Rob Pilatus and Fabrice Morvan signed a contract with Boney M producer Frank Farian.
Milli Vanilli were born.
1990, new American radio station WKRL in Florida played the Led Zeppelin track 'Stairway To Heaven' for 24
hours, as a prelude to an all Zeppelin format.
1992, Diana Ross opened the annual Harrods January sale in London.
1995, Garth Brooks started a six week run at No.1 on the US album charts with 'The Hits.'
1998, a mystery buyer paid £31,000 ($52,700) for the car number plate ‘OAS 15’ at auction in Cheltenham. It
was rumoured that a member from Oasis had bought the plate.
2005, in most of Europe, copyright expired on a number of classic pop and rock-and-roll songs recorded in
1954 and earlier, including Bill Haley's ‘Rock Around the Clock’ and ‘Only You’ by The Platters.
2007, Queen beat The Beatles to be crowned greatest British band of all time by BBC Radio 2 listeners in
the UK.
2008, the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) reported that the number of music downloads sold in the UK
in the final week of 2007 was double the total of 12 months earlier. In total there were 2.95 million
downloads in seven days, the highest ever recorded for any weekly period. And when the whole of the year
was taken into account, 77.5 million downloads were sold in the UK in 2007.
2009, According to official UK sales figures Duffy’s debut album Rockferry came top of the year-end chart,
with 1.685 million copies sold.
1945, Born on this day, Jim Gordon, American drummer, one of the most requested session drummers in the
late 1960s and 1970s. Gordon co-wrote Layla with Eric Clapton, worked with The Everly Brothers, The
Monkees, The Beach Boys, (Pet Sounds) The Byrds, George Harrison, (All Things Must Pass), John Lennon,
(Imagine), The Carpenters, Traffic, Glen Campbell, (Wichita Lineman), Steely Dan, Jackson Browne, Frank
Zappa and many others. A diagnosed schizophrenic, Gordon murdered his mother on June 3, 1983, by
pounding her head with a hammer. He was sentenced to sixteen years-to-life in prison in 1984.
January in Music
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