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.