January 23rd: On this Day

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 in 1952. A No.2 hit in the UK.

1966, Stevie Wonder appeared at The Cavern Club, Liverpool, England.

1969, Working at Apple studios in London, The Beatles (with Billy Preston on keyboards) recorded ten takes of a new song called 'Get Back'.

1971, Steel Mill played their final show when they appeared at the Upstage Club, Asbury Park, New Jersey. Singer Bruce Springsteen formed new bands during the rest of the year known under such names as the Bruce Springsteen Jam, Dr. Zoom and the Sonic Boom, and finally the Bruce Springsteen Band.

1971, George Harrison became the first solo Beatle to have a No.1 when 'My Sweet Lord' went to the top of the UK single charts. The song from his 'All Things Must Pass' album stayed at No.1 for five weeks. 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 on the US singles chart with 'Knock Three Times', the group's first No.1, also an UK No.1.

1974, Alvin Stardust made his first live appearance since changing his name from Shane Fenton.

1976, The Sex Pistols played at Watford College, Watford, England. The first of 65 gigs for the band in 1976.

1977, Patti Smith broke her vertebra when she fell off the stage at a gig in Tampa, Florida.

1978, Terry Kath, guitarist with Chicago accidentally shot himself dead while cleaning (with what he believed) was an unloaded gun. Kath's last words were "Don't worry it's not loaded" as he put the gun to his head and pulled the trigger. The guitarist and singer was killed instantly.

1978, Adam And The Ants made their radio debut on Radio 1s John Peel Show.

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.

1988, Tiffany started a two-week run at No.1 on the US album chart with Tiffany.

1988, Johnny Hates Jazz went to No.1 on the UK album chart with their debut LP 'Turn Back The Clock'.

1988, Nirvana recorded a 10-song demo with Seattle producer Jack Endino. Sub Pop records boss Jonathan Poneman hears the tape and offers to put out a Nirvana single.

1990, Allen Collins guitarist from Lynyrd Skynyrd died of pneumonia after being ill for several months. Collins who was one of the founding members also co-wrote most of the band's songs (including Free Bird), with late front man Ronnie Van Zant. He survived a plane crash in 1977 that killed two other band members. Collins was behind the wheel in a car accident in 1986 that killed his girlfriend and left him paralyzed from the waist down. He later pleaded no contest to vehicular manslaughter as well as driving under the influence of alcohol.

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.

1991, John Sebastian, owner and general manager of KLSK FM in Albuquerque, New Mexico, played Led Zeppelins 'Stairway To Heaven' for twenty-four solid hours to inaugurate a format change to Classic Rock. Police showed up with guns drawn: once after a listener reported that the DJ had apparently suffered a heart attack, and later because of suspicion that, this being eight days into the Gulf War, the radio station had been taken hostage by terrorists dispatched by Zeppelin freak Saddam Hussein.

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'.

1994, Rage Against The Machine headlined the Rock For Choice benefit at The Palladium, Hollywood, California. Also appearing: Screaming Trees, Eddie Vedder, Mary's Danish, 7 Year Bitch and Green Apple Quick Step.

1997, Associates singer, songwriter, Billy MacKenzie committed suicide, aged 39.

1998, US soul singer Johnny Funches from The Dells died. 1956 hit 'Oh What a Night' and 1968 US No.10 single 'Stay In My Corner'. The Dells formed in 1952 after attending high school together.

2000, Britney Spears went to No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Born To Make You Happy', the singers second UK No.1 and fourth single from her debut album Baby One More Time.

2000, Santana started a three week run at No.1 on the US album chart with 'Supernatural', the album spent a total of nine weeks at No.1 during this year.

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. The 17-year old boy had printed out the lyrics to Eminem's track 'Rock Bottom' before his death.

2003, R Kelly was arrested on new child pornography charges. The singer was detained in Miami after police said digital sex pictures were discovered at his home in Florida last June. The singer was already facing 21 charges relating to producing child pornography and appearing in a video having sex with an underage girl. He was charged with a further 12 counts of possession of child pornography.

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.

2005, Former Happy Mondays dancer Bez, won the £50,000 Celebrity Big Brother prize, after gaining 54% of the final viewer vote. The "Madchester" pop legend danced his way to becoming the sixth member of the indie-dance band in the late-1980s after playing maracas with them.

January 23rd: Born on this Day

1889, Born on this day, 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. Died 6th December 1949.

1910, Born on this day, 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.

1944, Born on this day, Jerry Lawson, singer, The Persuasions, a-cappella group, worked with Joni Mitchell, Stevie Wonder, Don McLean.

1948, Born on this day, Anita Pointer, singer, The Pointer Sisters, (1981 US No.2 single, 'Slow Hand', 1984 UK No.2 single 'Automatic').

1950, Born on this day, Danny Federici, organ and keyboard player for Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band, (1984 US No.2 & 1985 UK No.4 single 'Dancing In The Dark'). Died of cancer on April 17th 2008 at the age of 58. Federici had worked with Springsteen for over 40 years, including early bands Steel Mill and Child.

1950, Born on this day, Pat Simmons, guitar, vocals, The Doobie Brothers, (1979, US No.1 single 'What A Fool Believes', 1993 UK No.7 single 'Long Train Runnin').

1950, Born on this day, Bill Cunningham, bass, piano, The Box Tops, (1967 US No.1 & UK No.5 single 'The Letter').

1953, Born on this day, Robin Zander, vocals, Cheap Trick, (1979 UK No.29 & US No.17 single 'I Want You To Want Me', 1988 US No.1 single 'The Flame').

1959, Born on this day, Earl Falconer, bass, UB40, (1983 UK No.1 & US 1988 US No.1 single 'Red Red Wine' and over 30 other Top 40 hits).

1974, Born on this day, Kita, drummer, Lordi. Became Finland's first ever Eurovision Song Contest winners after their song 'Hard Rock Hallelujah' won the contest held in Athens in 2006.

1975, Born on this day, Nick Harmer, bass guitar, Death Cab for Cutie, 2008 US No.1 album 'Narrow Stairs'.