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.

January 24th: On this Day

January 24th: On this Day

1953, Eddie Fisher was at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Outside Is Heaven'. American singer and entertainer divorced his first wife, Debbie Reynolds to marry his best friend's widow, Elizabeth Taylor, too much unwelcome publicity at the time. Eddie is father of actress Carrie Fisher.

1958, Elvis Presley was at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Jailhouse Rock'. It became the first ever single to enter the chart at No.1 and was Presley's second UK No.1. It went on to sell over 4 million copies in the US.

1958, The Quarry Men performed at the Cavern Club, in Liverpool, (this was the bands only performance at the club). It was three years later when they appeared again at the Cavern but under their new name as The Beatles.

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', the singers third and last UK No.1.

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'. The front cover of the album showed the pair frontally nude, while the back cover showed them from behind. The album still managed to reach No.124 on the US, but failed to chart at all in the UK, where only 5,000 copies were ever pressed.

1969, The Doors appeared at Madison Square Garden, New York City, They were paid over $50,000 for the gig making them one of the highest paid acts this year.

1969, During their first North American tour Led Zeppelin played the second of four nights at the Boston Tea Party, Boston.

1970, James Sheppard, the lead singer from the Heartbeats and Shep and the Limelites, was found murdered in his car on the Long Island Expressway. The US singer had been beaten and robbed. The Limelites reached No.2 in the US in 1961 with 'Daddy's Home'.

1976, Bob Dylan started a five-week run at No.1 on the US album chart with 'Desire' his third US No.1.

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.

1977, The Buzzcocks appeared at the Roxy, in London, England, supported by Chelsea. Also appearing at the venue over the last week; The Damned, The Boys, The Adverts, Slaughter And The Dogs and Squeeze.

1978, Workers at EMI's record pressing plant refused to press copies of The Buzzcocks forthcoming release 'What Do I Get' because of the title on the B-side 'Oh Shit.'

1979, The Clash released their first single in the US, 'I Fought The Law' (written by Sonny Curtis of Buddy Holly's Crickets).

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.

1980, Spandau Ballet appeared at The Blizt Club, London, England.

1980, A billboard was erected on Sunset Strip, West Hollywood, California to promote Pink Floyds new album 'The Wall'. Every day workmen added another brick to the wall until it was finished.

1981, Adam And The Ants started a 10-week run at No.1 on the UK chart with their debut album 'Kings Of The Wild Frontier'.

1981, Steve Tyler of Aerosmith was hospitalised after being involved in a crash on his motorbike.

1987, Billy Vera and the Beaters started a two week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'At This Moment' not a hit in the UK.

1992, Nirvana played their first ever show in Australia at the Phoenician Club in Sydney. Also on the bill, Tumbleweed and The Meanies.

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. It was one of the first songs to be written by Noel Gallagher, with the band rehearsing it as early as 1992.

1999, The Offspring went to No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Pretty Fly, For A White Guy'. Taken from their fifth studio album Americana the single was a No.1 hit in ten other countries.

2003, Girls Aloud were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Sound Of The Underground'. Canadian singer Avril Laviagne had the UK No.1 album with 'Let Go.'

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'.

2007, Record producer Dave Shayman (also known as Disco D) was found dead at his home in New York City. 26-year-old Shayman was famous for his production work on hip hop records and was a rising star in the business. His death was being treated as a potential suicide after he was recently diagnosed with manic depression.

2008, Amy Winehouse was admitted into rehab in a battle to kick her addiction to drugs. A statement from her record company, Universal said she entered the facility "after talks with her record label, management, family and doctors to continue her ongoing recovery against drug addiction."

January 24th: Born on this Day

1933, Born on this day, Zeke Carey, The Flamingos (1959 US No.11 single 'I Only Have Eyes For You'. 1975 UK No.1 hit for Art Garfunkel). Died on 24th December 1999.

1941, Born on this day, Aaron Neville, vocals, The Neville Brothers, (1966 US No.2 single 'Tell It Like It Is', 1989 UK No.2 single with Linda Ronstadt' Don't Know Much').

1941, Born on this day, 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. Many acts from Elvis Presley, Lulu and Deep Purple have all covered his songs.

1941, Born on this day, Ray Stevens, singer, songwriter, (1970 US No.1 & UK No.6 single 'Everything Is Beautiful' 1974 US & UK No.1 single 'The Streak').

1947, Born on this day, Warren Zevon, singer, songwriter. He had played piano with The Everly Brothers, recorded over 15 solo albums and had the 1978 US No.21 single 'Werewolves Of London'). Zevon died on September 7th 2003.

1949, Born on this day, John Belushi, actor, singer who played Joliet 'Jake' Blues in The Blues Brothers, died of a drug overdose on 5th March 1982. Had the 1990 UK No.12 single 'Everybody Needs Somebody To Love'.

1955, Born on this day, Jools Holland, keyboards, Squeeze, Jools Holland Big Band, TV presenter on The Tube, Juke Box Dury and Later. (1979 UK No.2 single with Squeeze, 'Up The Junction').

1963, Born on this day, Keech Rainwater, drums, Lonestar, (2000 US No.1 & UK No. 21 single 'Amazed').

1974, Born on this day, Christopher River Hesse, drummer, Hoobastank, 2004 US No.2 hit 'The Reason'.

1975, Born on this day, Paul Marazzi, vocals, A1, (2000 UK No.1 single, 'Same Old Brand New You')

January 20th: On this Day

January 20th: On this Day

1958, Rick Nelson started a two-week run at No.1 on the US album chart with 'Ricky'.

Rick Nelson  

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. The song was inspired by The Beatles 'Lucy in the Sky'.

1968, Fleetwood Mac, The Move, The Crazy World Of Arthur Brown and Fairport Convention all appeared at the Roundhouse Chalk Farm in London, England.

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.

1970, During a UK tour Led Zeppelin appeared at Leeds Town Hall, England.

1972, On the first date of a UK tour, Pink Floyd premiered their new album Dark Side Of The Moon at The Dome, Brighton, England.

1975, The US Top 5 singles: No.5, Stevie Wonder, 'Boogie On Reggae Woman', No.4, Ohio Players, 'Fire', No.3, Barry Manilow, 'Mandy', No.2, Neil Sedaka, 'Laughter In The Rain', No.1, The Carpenters, 'Please Mr Postman'.

1979, Chic appeared at London's Hammersmith Odeon. The group's latest single 'Le Freak' had reached No.7 on the UK chart.

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.

Ozzy Osbourne 

1982, Stiff Little Fingers played the first night of an 11-date tour at The Tower in Hull, promoting their new 4-track EP. The press ads said, 'Pay no more than £1.10, more cuts than Maggie Thatcher.'

1983, Def Leppard released their third studio album 'Pyromania' which featured new guitarist Phil Collen and was produced by Robert John "Mutt" Lange. The album has now sold over 10 million copies in the US.

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.

1986, Stevie Wonder and Bob Dylan appeared at a concert to celebrate the first Martin Luther King day in the US.

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 $1,000 (£560), sentenced to two years probation and ordered to attend anger management classes after assaulting a security guard.

1997, Russell Senior guitarist and violinist with Pulp quit the group after 13 years to pursue new projects.

1997, Ben and Jerry's introduced ‘Phish food’, a new flavor of ice cream named after the rock group Phish. The ingredients are chocolate ice cream, marshmallows, caramel and fish-shaped fudge.

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, Tourism chiefs in Liverpool were banned from putting up motorway signs saying 'Liverpool, the Birthplace Of The Beatles', because 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.

St Martin-in-the-fields

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.

2002, Stereophonics started a two-week run at No.1 on the UK album chart with their second No.1 ‘Just Enough Education To Perform.'

2002, Usher started a four-week run at No.1 on the US singles charts with 'U Got It Bad'.

2003, 8 Mile, starring Eminem toppled The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers from its four-week hold at the top of the UK box office. The story of a Detroit rapper took £4,440,334 at 423 cinemas in the UK and Ireland.

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.

2008, Scouting For Girls went to No.1 on the UK album chart with their debut and self titled album.

January 20th: Born on this Day

1924, Born on this day, Slim Whitman, American country singer, (1955 UK No.1 single 'Rose Marie', 1977 UK No.1 album 'Red River Valley').

1933, Born on this day, Ron Townson, The 5th Dimension, (1969 US No.1 & UK No.11 single 'Aquarius'). Died on 3rd August 2001.

Ron Townson

1942, Born on this day, Billy Powell, vocals, The O'Jays, (1973 US No.1 & UK No.9 single 'Love Train'). Powell died on 26th May 1982.

1943, Born on this day, Rick Evans, singer, Zager and Evans, (1969 US & UK No.1 single 'In The Year 2525').

1945, Born on this day, Eric Stewart, guitar, keyboards, vocals, Mindenders, (1966 UK No.2 single Groovy Kind Of Love'), Hotlegs, (1970 UK No.2 single 'Neanderthal Man'), 10cc, (1975 UK No.1 & US No. 2 single 'I'm Not In Love' plus 10 other Top 30 hits).

1946, Born on this day, Jimmy Chambers, singer, Londonbeat, (1990 UK No.2 & 1991 US No.1 single 'I've Been Thinking About You').

1947, Born on this day, George Grantham, drums, Poco, (1979 US No.17 single 'Crazy Love').

1948, Born on this day, Mel Pritchard, Barclay James Harvest, 8 UK Top 40 albums from 1974-87.

1950, Born on this day, Paul Stanley, guitar, vocals, Kiss, (1974 US No.5 single 'On And On', 1976 US No 11 album 'Rock and Roll Over' spent 26 weeks on the chart. 1987 UK No.4 single 'Crazy Crazy Nights').

Paul Stanley

1952, Born on this day, Ian Hill, bass, Judas Priest, (1980 UK No.12 single 'Living After Midnight', 1980 UK No.4 album 'British Steel').

1965, Born on this day, Heather Small, singer, M People, (1993 UK No.2 single 'Moving On Up' plus over 15 other UK Top 40 singles).

1969, Born on this day, Nicholas Allen Jones, Manic Street Preachers, (1996 UK No.2 single 'A Design For Life' 1998 UK No.1 album 'This Is My Truth Tell Me Yours').

1969, Born on this day, Tina O'Neill, drummer, We've Got A Fuzzbox And We're Gonna Use It, (1989 UK No.11 single 'International Rescue').

1971, Born on this day, Gary Barlow, vocals, piano, songwriter, Take That, (1995 UK No.1 single ‘Back For Good’ plus eight other UK No.1 singles, 1993 UK No.1 album 'Everything Changes spent 78 weeks on the UK chart). Solo, (1996 UK No.1 single ‘Forever Love’). 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. 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.

Gary Barlow

1979, Born on this day, Rob Bourdon, drums, Linkin Park, (2002 US No.2 & UK No.4 single 'In The End', 2002 US No.2 & 2001 UK No.4 album 'Hybrid Theory').

1979, Born on this day, Will Young, singer, UK TV's Pop Idol winner, (2002 UK No.1 single 'Anything Is Possible / Evergreen').

Will Young

1981, Born on this day, Nathan Connolly, Snow Patrol, (2006 UK No.1 album ‘Eyes Open’, 2006 UK No.6 single ‘Chasing Cars’).

Nathan Connolly