January 29th: On this Day

January 29th: On this Day

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.

1961, Bob Dylan achieved his dream of meeting his idol Woody Guthrie when Guthrie was on weekend release from hospital where he was being treated for Huntington's Chorea. Dylan told him; ‘I was a Woody Guthrie jukebox’. Guthrie gave Dylan a card which said: ‘I ain't dead yet’.

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’, after EMI's West German branch persuaded Brian Epstein that they would be unable to sell large quantities of records in Germany unless they were recorded in the German language. A translator coached John, Paul, and George, although their familiarity with the German language from their Hamburg days made things much easier.

1967, Jimi Hendrix and The Who appeared at The Saville Theatre, London, England. 20 year-old future Queen guitarist Brian May was in the audience.

1968, During a tour of Australia and New Zealand, The Who, The Small Faces and Paul Jones appeared at the Town Hall, Wellington in New Zealand.

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 with the instrumental 'Albatross.'

1972, The triple album 'The Concert For Bangladesh' 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, went to No.1 on the US singles chart as Rose Royce with 'Car Wash', 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 recorded a song based on the event.

1982, Shakin' Stevens was at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Oh Julie', the Welsh singers third UK No.1. Barry Manilow covered the song in the US.

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 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 started a four-week run 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 had the UK No.1 single with 'Jesus To A Child', the singers sixth UK No.1 as a solo artist and the first single from his come-back album 'Older', (after lengthy litigation with his record company).

2001, A New York based data company issued a chart listing sales of posthumous albums. The idea came about after radio stations wanted to distinguish between proper recordings when the artists were alive and CD's released after they died. Mike Shalett founder of SoundScan said there was only one problem. What to call the chart. The Top 5 chart had The Doors at No.5, Eva Cassidy at 4, Jimi Hendrix at 3, Bob Marley at 2 and 2Pac at No.1.

2005, Ciara feat Petey Pablo Goodies went to No.1 on the UK singles chart with her debut single. The eighteen year old R&B singer from Atlanta, Georgia, was just the eighteen years old.

2006, Arctic Monkeys went to No.1 on the UK album chart with their debut album 'Whatever People Say I Am That's What I'm Not'. The Sheffield-based bands album became the fastest-selling debut in chart history after shifting more than 360,000 copies in its first week of release.

2009, Singer-songwriter John Martyn died in hospital in Ireland at the age of 60. The folk, blues and funk artist was widely regarded as one of the most soulful and innovative singer-songwriters of his generation and had been cited as an influence by artists as varied as 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, rose from 97 to the top of the Billboard chart after selling 280,000 downloads in its first week of release. A clip from the video for the single was premiered in the commercial break of that week's episode of American Idol.

2010, Sly Stone filed a $50m (£30.9m) legal claim against his former manager, alleging fraud and 20 years of stolen royalties. The 66-year-old funk musician of the 1970s group Sly and the Family Stone, claimed in the Los Angeles Superior Court that Jerry Goldstein diverted millions in royalties to fund a lavish lifestyle.

January 29th: Born on this Day

1929, Born on this day, Bernard Stanley Bilk, (Acker Bilk), bandleader who had the 1962 US No.1 & UK No.2 single 'Stranger On The Shore'.

1933, Born on this day, French singer and guitarist Sacha Distel who had the 1970 UK No.10 single 'Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head.' Distel died after a long battle with deteriorating health on 22nd July 2004.

1938, Born on this day, James Jamerson, bassist played with The Funk Brothers on many Motown hits by The Temptations, Marvin Gaye, The Four Tops, Martha And The Vandellas and others. Jamerson died of a heart attack on 2nd August 1983 aged 45.

1943, Born on this day, Tony Blackburn, DJ on Radio Caroline and the first D.J. on BBC Radio One. (The first song played was 'Flowers In The Rain by The Move'). Blackburn was crowned 'King of the jungle' in 2003 after winning on the UK TV show 'I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here' set in the Australian outback.

1944, Born on this day, Andrew Loog Oldham, producer, manager and the first Rolling Stones manager. Oldham launched the Immediate label in 1965 which enjoyed 24 UK Top 50 hits. Also worked with Small Faces, John Mayall, Rod Stewart, The Nice, Jimmy Page, Jeff Beck, Eric Clapton and the Amen Corner.

1947, Born on this day, David Byron, singer, with Uriah Heep who had the 1975 UK No.7 album 'Return To Fantasy'. Byron died on 28th February 1985.

1952, Born on this day, Thomas Erdelyi, (Tommy Ramone), Hungarian drummer with the Ramones, who had the 1977 UK No.22 single 'Sheena Is A Punk Rocker'. Erdelyi also worked as a record producer and was an assistant engineer for the production of the Jimi Hendrix album Band of Gypsys.

1953, Born on this day, Louie Perez, American songwriter, percussionist and guitarist with Los Lobos who had the 1987 UK & US No.1 single 'La Bamba'.

1954, Born on this day, Rob Manzoli singer from Right Said Fred who had the 1991 US No.1 & UK No.2 single 'I'm Too Sexy', 1993 UK No.1 album 'Up'.

1961, Born on this day, Dave Baynton-Power, drummer withs James who had the 1991 UK No.2 single 'Sit Down'. Also worked with The Alarm.

1961, Born on this day, Eddie Jackson bassist with American progressive heavy metal band Queensryche. Their 1994 album 'Promised Land' went top 3 in the US,

1961, Born on this day, Pauline Henry, singer. who had the 1993 UK solo No.12 single with the Bad Company song 'Feel Like Making Love', and the 1990 UK No.6 single with The Chimes, 'I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For'.

1962, Born on this day, Marcus Verne from British group Living In A Box, who had the 1987 UK No.5 single 'Living In A Box'.

1964, Born on this day, Roddy Frame, guitarist, singer, songwriter with British group Aztec Camera, who had the 1988 UK No.3 single 'Somewhere In My Heart'.

January 28th: On this Day

January 28th: On this Day

1956, Elvis Presley (with Scotty Moore and Bill Black), made his first National Television appearance on the Dorsey brother's "Stage Show". It was the first of six appearances on the show and the first of eight performances recorded and broadcast from CBS TV in New York City. After the success of their first appearance they were signed to five more in early 1956.

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 made their first appearance on UK TV show Ready Steady Go! To project the desired image, 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. Also on the bill, The Dakotas, Madeline Bell, The Remo Four and Johnny Watson.

1968, Jim Morrison of The Doors was arrested and charged with public drunkenness after harassing a security guard at a Las Vegas adult movie theatre.

1977, Pink Floyd's tenth studio album 'Animals' entered the UK charts at #2. The sleeve concept was that of Roger Waters, who lived at the time near Clapham Common, and regularly drove past Battersea Power Station. A view of the imposing but disused former power station building was chosen for the cover image, complete with massive inflatable pig suspended between two of the towers.

1978, The Fleetwood Mac album 'Rumours' went to No.1 on the UK album chart, also a No.1 in the US. The album went on to sell over 15 million copies world- wide and spent over 440 weeks on the UK chart.

1983, British Rock & Roll singer Billy Fury died of heart failure. 1961 UK No.3 single 'Halfway To Paradise', plus 25 other Top 40 UK singles. His 'We Want Billy' (released 1963, with The Tornados) was one of the first live albums in British rock history. Played rock 'n' roller "Stormy Tempest" in the film That'll Be The Day along side David Essex and Ringo Starr.

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. Produced by Trevor Horn the song remained on the chart for 48 weeks.

1984, Backstage after a Motley Crue show in Buffalo, New York, Tommy Lee found out that his girlfriend has posed for the current issue of Penthouse magazine without his knowledge, after a fan passes comment on the pictures. Tommy punched the fan unconscious with one hit, Motleys manager Doug Thaler convinced the fan not to press any charges.

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.

1988, Eleven years after it was released, The Sex Pistols album 'Never Mind The Bollocks, Here's The Sex Pistols' went Gold in the US with sales over 500,000.

1990, Paul Abdul started a 10-week run at No.1 on the US album chart with 'Forever Your Girl'. Abdul spent sixty-four consecutive weeks on the Billboard 200 before hitting number one, making it the longest time for an album to reach the number one spot.

1994, Paul and Linda McCartney attended the premiere of Wayne's World II in London. The couple then went on to Hard Rock Cafe, where the film star Mike Myers presented them with a cheque for LIPA (the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts) for £25,000 ($42,500) from the sale of Linda's vegetarian burgers.

1995, TLC started a four week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Creep' the group's first US No.1, it made No.6 in the UK the following year.

1998, Oasis guitarist Noel Gallagher played a 20-minute solo gig at the King Head, an English pub in Santa Monica in front of 250 fans.

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'. Also a No.1 in the UK.

2003, H-Town singer Keven Conner was killed in a car crash in Houston aged 28. Conner died when an SUV ran a red light and crashed into the car he was a passenger in, which had just picked him up from the recording studio.

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 ($460) each.

2004, R&B singer Faith Evans appeared before an Atlanta judge after being arrested on drug possession charges. Evans and her husband-manager, Todd Russaw, were charged with possession of marijuana and cocaine.

2005, English drummer and singer songwriter Jim Capaldi died of stomach cancer aged 60. Member of Traffic, (1967 UK No.2 single 'Hole In My Shoe') and solo, (1975 UK No.4 single 'Love Hurts'). Also worked with Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton and George Harrison.

2007, 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, Beyonce Knowles, Eddie Murphy, Jennifer Hudson, Anika Noni Rose and Keith Robinson.

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 $72m (£36m) between June 2006 and June 2007. Madonna earned much of that from her Confessions tour - the highest-grossing tour for a female artist - earning $260m (£130m) worldwide. Barbra Streisand came second, with $60 million (£30 million) followed by Celine Dion with $45 million (£23.6), mainly from her recent concerts at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas

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' (which sampled the Lynyrd Skynyrd song 'Sweet Home Alabama').

January 28th: Born on this Day

1927, Born on this day, Ronnie Scott, jazz musician. Formed his own nine-piece group in 1953 and opened the first Ronnie Scott's night club in London in 1959 where he presented the cream of the world's jazz musicians at the club. He died on December 23rd 1996.

1941, Born on this day, King Tubby, reggae producer who has worked with Robbie Shakespeare, Sly Dunbar and Carlton Barrett. He was killed on 6th February 1989 after being shot in the street outside his home.

1943, Born on this day, Dick Taylor, guitarist and singer with The Pretty Things who had the 1964 UK No.10 single 'Don't Bring Me Down'.

1945, Born on this day, Robert Wyatt multi instrumentalist who was a member of Soft Machine. As a solo artist Wyatt scored the 1983 UK No.35 single 'Shipbuilding'. During an alcohol-fuelled party in London in 1983, an inebriated Wyatt fell from a fourth floor window. He was paralysed from the waist down and consequently uses a wheelchair.

1946, Born on this day, Rick Allen, bassist with The Box Tops who had the 1967 US No.1 & UK No.5 single 'The Letter'.

1951, Born on this day, William Nelson from Funkadelic who had the 1978 US No.16 album 'One Nation Under A Groove'.

1959, Born on this day, Dave Sharpe, guitarist and singer with The Alarm who had the 1983 UK No.17 single '68 Guns'.

1968, Born on this day, Lawrence Muggerud, DJ Muggs with Cypress Hill who had the 1993 UK No.15 single 'I Ain't Goin' Out Like That', and the 1993 US No.1 album 'Black Sunday'.

1968, Born on this day, Canadian musician singer songwriter, Sarah McLachlan, who had the 1997 US No.2 album 'Surfacing'. McLachlan who has sold over 40 million albums worldwide is the organiser of the Lilith Fair US tour.

1975, Born on this day, Lee Latchford-Evans, singer with English pop group Steps who had the 1998 UK No.1 single 'Heartbeat / Tragedy'.

1977, Born on this day, Joseph Fatone, singer with American boy band *NSYNC. Scored the 2000 US No.1 single 'It's Gonna Be Me', and the 1999 UK No.5 single 'I Want You Back'.

1980, Born on this day, Nicolas Carter singer with American boy band Backstreet Boys who had the 1997 US No.2 single 'Quit Playing Games With My Heart', and the 1999 UK No.1 single 'I Want It That Way'.

January 27th: On this Day

January 27th: On this Day

1956, Elvis Presley's single, 'Heartbreak Hotel' was released by RCA Records, who had just purchased Presley's contract from Sun Records for $35,000. The song sold 300,000 copies in its first week and would eventually sell over a million, becoming Elvis' first Gold record.

1958, Little Richard entered The Oakwood Theological College in Huntsville, where he was ordained as a seventh day Adventist Minister.

1961, Frank Sinatra played a benefit show at Carnegie Hall in New York City for Martin Luther King.

1962, Joey and the Starlighters started a three week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Peppermint Twist, part 1'. The single reached No.33 on the UK chart.

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. Epstein took this as an insult to the group, and made sure that The Beatles never played for that promoter (Brian Kelly) again.

1966, The Overlanders were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with their version of The Beatles song 'Michelle'. The group's only UK hit.

1968, The Bee Gees made their live debut in the US when they played at the Anaheim Centre, California. 

1971, David Bowie arrived in the US for the first time; he couldn't play live because of work permit restrictions, but attracted publicity when he wore a dress at a promotion event.

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, Roxy Music won 'the most promising new name', section in the NME reader's poll.

1973, 'Superstition' gave Stevie Wonder had his second No.1 single in the US, 10 years after his first No.1.

1976, David Bowie filed a $2 suit against attorney Michael Lippman claiming that he had taken a 15% agents fee instead of the customary 10%.

1977, The Clash signed to CBS Records in the UK for £100,000.

1979, Ian Dury and the Blockheads were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Hit Me with Your Rhythm Stick', their only UK chart topper. 

1980, Def Leppard played the first of two nights at The Marquee, London. Tickets cost £2 ($3.40).

1984, Madonna made her first appearance in the UK when she appeared on C4 TV music program The Tube performing 'Holiday'. The show was broadcast live from the Hacienda Club in Manchester. 

1988, Pink Floyd played the fist of 9 nights at The Entertainment Center, Sydney, Australia.

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.

1994, Oasis made their London live debut when the played at King's Cross Water Rats. The gig was by invite only. 

1996, Babylon Zoo started a five-week run at 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. The single also went to Number 1 in twenty-three other countries. 

1998, James Brown was charged with possession of marijuana and unlawful use of a firearm after police were called to his South Carolina home. Brown later claimed the drugs were used to help his 'eyesight.'

2000, Noel Gallagher of Oasis became a dad when Meg Matthew's gave birth to a girl, Anais at Portland Hospital, London.

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.

2003, Former S Club 7 singer Rachel Stevens signed a £1m solo deal with Polydor records in the UK. Stevens went on to score five UK Top 10 hits.

2004, R&B singer Faith Evans and her husband were charged with possession of cocaine and marijuana after being arrested in Atlanta, Georgia. Police pulled them over for a suspected licence plate offence.

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. The duo had the 1979 hit 'Ain't No Stoppin' Us Now', which sold more than 8 million copies and was nominated for a Grammy Award.

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. The Blue Boar services as it was once known received so many famous guests in its 50-year history that Jimi Hendrix mistook it for a London nightclub as it was mentioned so often by his contemporaries.

January 27th: Born on this Day

1918, Born on this day, Elmore James, US blues guitarist, singer, known as the King of the Slide Guitar. James wrote 'Shake Your Money Maker', which was covered by Fleetwood Mac in 1968. Influenced Jimi Hendrix, B.B. King and Keith Richards. James died 24th May 1963. 

1919, Born on this day, David Seville, The Chipmunks who had the 1958 US No.1 single 'The Chipmunk Song', and the 1959 UK No.11 single 'Ragtime Cowboy Joe'. Seville died on 16th January 1972.

1930, Born on this day, Bobby Bland, R&B singer,who had the 1963 US R&B No.1 single 'That's The Way Love Is'.

1945, Born on this day, Nick Mason: drums, percussion and tape effects, Pink Floyd. Nick is the only member of the band to play on every album since the band's formation in 1965. He studied architecture at London's Regent Street Polytechnic, where he teamed up with fellow students Roger Waters, Rado 'Bob' Klose and Richard Wright in 1964 to form Pink Floyd's predecessor, Sigma 6. Mason is a keen auto racing enthusiast and has taken part in many racing events such as the French 24 Heures du Mans race in Le Mans. 

1946, Born on this day, Nedra Talley American singer with the all girl group The Ronettes who had five US chart toppers including 'Be My Baby', 'Baby, I Love You', '(The Best Part Of) Breakin' Up', and 'Walking in the Rain.'

1948, Born on this day, Kim Gardner from English group Ashton Gardner & Dyke who had the 1971 UK No.3 single 'The Resurrection Shuffle'. Gardner died on 24/10/01,

1951, Born on this day, Brian Downey, Irish drummer and founding member of Thin Lizzy who had the 1973 UK No.6 single 'Whisky In The Jar' and hits with 'Jailbreak' and 'The Boys Are Back in Town'.

1951, Born on this day, Seth Justman, keyboards, vocals with The J Geils Band who had the 1982 US No.1 & UK No.3 single 'Centrefold'.

1957, Born on this day, Janick Robert Gers English guitarist who has worked with White Spirit, Gillan and Iron Maiden.

1961, Born on this day, Gillian Gilbert, keyboards with The Inadequates, and New Order who had the 1983 UK No.9 single 'Blue Monday', Also a member of The Other Two who had the 1991 UK hit single 'Tasty Fish'.

1961, Born on this day, Martin Deguille, singer with British group Sigue Sigue Sputnik who had the 1986 UK No.3 single 'Love Missile F1-11'.

1964, Born on this day, Migi Drummond from English pop group Curiosity Killed The Cat who had the 1989 UK No.14 single 'Name And Number'.

1968, Born on this day, Adrian Thawes, (Tricky), musician and actor who had the 1996 UK No.10 single 'Milk'. His 1995 debut album Maxinquaye was nominated for the Mercury Prize and voted Album of the Year by NME Magazine.

1968, Born on this day, Mike Patton, singer and multi-instrumentalist with American rock band Faith No More, who had the 1993 UK No.3 and US No.4 single 'I'm Easy'. 

1974, Born on this day, Mark Owen singer with Take That who had the 1995 UK No.1 single 'Back For Good'. The group's 1993 UK No.1 album 'Everything Changes spent 78 weeks on the UK chart. Had the solo 1996 UK No.3 single 'Child'. Was the winner of UK TV show Celebrity Big Brother in 2002. Re-formed Take That without Robbie Williams in 2006 for a sold-out European tour. Topped the UK singles and album charts simultaneously for the first time in their career when the single 'Patience' and album 'Beautiful World' both reached No.1 in Dec 2006. 

January 26th: On this Day

January 26th: On this Day

1961, Elvis Presley was at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Are You Lonesome Tonight'. The singers sixth UK No.1. The single included a spoken passage loosely based on Shakespeare. 

1963, The Rooftop Singers started a two week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Walk Right In', a No.10 hit in the UK.

1963, The Beatles played two gigs, the first was at the El Rio Club/Dance Hall in Macclesfield, Cheshire, supported by Wayne Fontana and the Jets. Then The Beatles drove 20 miles to their next gig at King's Hall, Stoke-on-Trent in Staffordshire.

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. 

1965, 'Downtown' by Petula Clark was at No. 1 on the US singles chart. A young Jimmy Page had played as a session guitarist on the track, giving him his first US No.1 hit, (and a No. 2 hit in the UK).

1968, Pink Floyd played their first gig without Syd Barrett at Southampton University. They were supported by Tyrannosaurus Rex, (later to be renamed T Rex) featuring Marc Bolan and percussionist Steve Peregrine Took.

1970, Elvis Presley played the first night of a four-week engagement playing 2 shows every night at The International Hotel in Las Vegas, Nirvada

1970, John Lennon wrote, recorded and mixed his new single 'Instant Karma' all in one day. It ranks as one of the fastest-released songs in pop music history, recorded at London's Abbey Road Studios and arriving in stores only ten days later. 

1971, Elvis Presley played the first night of a 31 date run at The Hilton Hotel in Las Vegas, Nirvana. Elvis played a 8.30pm and midnight shows on most days.

1972, Sean Combs (Puff Daddy) father Melvin was shot dead in his car in a Manhattan park aged thirty-three. Sean was aged 2 at the time.

1973, Sweet were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Blockbuster'. The glam rockers only UK No.1 of 15 Top 40 hits.

1974, Mud were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with the Nicky Chinn & Mike Chapman song 'Tiger Feet', the group's first of three UK No.1's.

1974, Ringo Starr went to No.1 on the US singles chart with his version of the Johnny Burnette 1960 hit 'Your 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 £30,000 ($51,000) royalty cheque to him.

1980, Prince made his TV debut on the US show American Bandstand. 

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. He had the 1972 US No. 22 & UK No.11 single 'I Can't Help Myself', Sugar Pie Honey Bunch', 'Where Did Our Love Go?' and 'A Little Piece of Leather'.

1989, Bon Jovi kicked of the North American leg of their New Jersey Syndicate Tour at the Reunion Arena in Dallas, Texas.

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, German duo Enigma went to No.1 on the UK album chart with 'MCMXC' featuring the UK No. 1 single '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. 

2003, Justin Timberlake went to No.1 on the UK album chart with his debut solo album 'Justified', which went on to spend over a year on the UK chart. 

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. Lydon who was paid £25,000 ($42,500) to appear in the show, but walked off the jungle set after four days.

2007, The Rolling Stones topped the US music rich list for the second year running after making $150.6m (£76.2m) in 2006. Tim McGraw and Faith Hill were second in the poll with a combined fortune of $132m (£67.2m) and American country band Rascal Flatts appeared third, having earnt $110.5m (£56.2m) in the past year. 

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, Born on this day, Huey 'Piano' Smith, US R&B pianist who had the 1958 US No.9 single 'Don't You Just Know It'. Smith also played played on Frankie Ford's hit 'Sea Cruise'.

1945, Born on this day, Ashley Hutchings, bassist with UK folk group Fairport Convention who had the 1969 UK No.21 single 'Si Tu Dois Partir'.

1948, Born on this day, Corky Laing, drummer with heavy rock group Mountain who had the 1971 album 'Nantucket Sleighride'. Also worked with Jack Bruce.

1949, Born on this day, Derek Holt, Climax Blues Band who had the 1976 UK No.10 & 1977 US No.3 single 'Couldn't Get It Right'.

1951, Born on this day, David Briggs, Little River Band, Australian group, (1978 US No.3 single 'Reminiscing' plus 12 other US Top 40 singles).

1957, Born on this day, Eddie Van Halen, Dutch guitarist with Van Halen who had the 1984 US No.1 & UK No. 7 single 'Jump'. His guitar solo in the track 'Eruption' was voted No.2 on Guitar World magazine's readers poll of the 100 Greatest Guitar Solos.

1957, Born on this day, Norman Hassan, percussion with UB40 who had the 1983 UK No.1 & 1988 US No.1 single 'Red Red Wine' and over 30 other Top 40 hit singles.

1958, Born on this day, Anita Baker, US soul singer who had the 1986 UK No.13 single 'Sweet Love' and the 1998 US No.1 album 'Giving You The Best That I Got'.

1963, Born on this day, Andrew Ridgeley, singer and one half of Wham! with George Michael who had the 1984 UK & US No.1 single 'Wake Me Up Before You Go Go' plus 10 other UK Top 20 hit singles. Ridgeley became a prominent environmentalist in the cause of British surfing beaches and riverways, working with the UK charity, Surfers Against Sewage. He lives with his girlfriend Keren Woodward of the pop group Bananarama. 

1963, Born on this day, Jazzie B, British DJ, music producer, and entrepreneur and founding member of British group Soul II Soul who had the 1989 UK No.1 single 'Back To Life'.

1964, Born on this day, Susannah Melvoin, American vocalist, songwriter. Worked with Prince, Roger Waters, Eric Clapton and Mike Oldfield. As a songwriter, has co-written songs performed by Madonna, Eric Clapton and Prince.

January 25th: On this Day

January 25th: On this Day

1960, The original cast recording of 'The Sound Of Music 'started a 16-week run at No.1 on the US album chart.

1964, Phil Spector appeared as a panellist on 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'. Both songs were originally intended for the forthcoming Beatles album Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band.

1969, The New Seekers were at No.1 on the UK album chart with their 'The Best Of' album.

1974, Led Zeppelin appeared at the Market Square Arena, Indianapolis, Indiana to over 17,000 fans.

1975, The Carpenters went to No.1 on the US singles chart with their version of The Marveletts 1961 hit 'Please Mr. Postman'.

1975, The Tymes were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Ms Grace'. The US group first charted in 1963 and had only two other hits before this No.1.

1978, Joy Division made their live debut when they played Pips in Manchester, England.

1978, XTC played the first night of a UK tour at The Lafayette, Wolverhampton.

1980, The Specials made their US live debut when they appeared at New York's Hurrah club.

1983, The Allman Brothers bassist Lamar Williams died of lung cancer age 34. He joined the band in 1972 after the death of original bassist Berry Oakley.

1984, Yoko Ono donated £250,000 ($425,000) 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, Norwegian group A-Ha were at No.1 in the UK with 'The Sun Always Shines On TV.' Becoming the first ever-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.

1989, Madonna started divorce proceedings for the second time from Sean Penn at Los Angeles County Court and moved into a new three-bedroom house in Hollywood Hills.

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. Acts appearing included, Nirvana, Beasts of Bourbon, Box The Jesuits, Celibate Rifles, Cosmic Psychos, The Clouds, Club Hoy, Died Pretty, Falling Joys, The Hard Ons with Henry Rollins Hellmen, Massappeal, The Meanies, Smudge, Sound Unlimited Posse, Ratcat, The Village Idiots, Violent Femmes and Yothu Yindi.

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'

2008, British Sea Power's keyboard and cornet player Phil Sumner, ended up in hospital after being knocked unconscious when he attempted a stage dive. The crowd at Leeds Irish Centre failed to catch him when he jumped off a 12-foot PA system landing head first. A spokeswoman for the band said: "The impact knocked him out straight away. He was unconscious for three minutes and there was a lot of blood."

2011, A former Miss Canada finalist became the first person in the world to graduate with a Masters degree in The Beatles. Canadian singer Mary-Lu Zahalan-Kennedy, 53, was one of the first students to sign up for the course on the Fab Four when it launched at Liverpool Hope University in March 2009. The ground-breaking course looked at the studio sound and composition of The Beatles and how Liverpool helped to shape their music as well as examining the significance of the music of The Beatles and their impact on Western culture.

Mary-Lu Zahalan-Kennedy

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'.

1950, Born on this day, Michael Cotten, synthesiser, The Tubes, (1977 UK No.28 single 'White Punks On Dope', 1983 US No.10 single 'She's A Beauty').

1953, Born on this day, Malcolm Green, drums, Split Enz, (1980 UK No.12 single 'I Got You'.

1954, Born on this day, Robert Finch, vocals, KC and the Sunshine Band, (1975 US No.1 single 'That's The Way', 'I Like It', 1983 UK No.1 single 'Give It Up').

1956, Born on this day, Andy Cox, guitar, The Beat, (1983 UK No.3 single 'Can't Get Used To Losing You'), Fine Young Cannibals, (1989 US No.1 & UK No.5 single 'She Drives Me Crazy').

1958, Born on this day, Gary Tibbs, Roxy Music, Adam And The Ants, (1981 UK No.1 single 'Stand And Deliver' plus 15 other Top 40 UK singles.

1962, Born on this day, Peter Coyle, vocals, Lotus Eaters, (1983 UK No.15 single 'First Picture Of You').

1963, Born on this day, Carl Fysh, vocals, Brother Beyond, (1988 UK No. 2 single 'The Harder I Try').

1973, Born on this day, Chris Wilkie, Dubstar, (1996 UK No.15 single 'Stars').

1977, Born on this day, Christian Ingebrigtsen, vocals, A1, (2000 UK No.1 single, 'Same Old Brand New You').

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.