November 16 – Today in Music History Events

1916 Herb Abramson, producer, songwriter and co-founder of Atlantic records. Wrote and produced Tommy Tucker’s 1964 hit ‘High Heeled Sneakers.’ He died on 9th November 1999.
1943 Winfred “Blue” Lovett born in New Jersey. Bass Vocalist with The Manhattans, (1976 US No.1 & UK No.4 single ‘Kiss And Say Goodbye’). died December 9, 2014, Arizona
1935 Lillian Lopez – US Singer with the disco trio Odyssey. Died 4 September 2012
1948 Robert John’Mutt’ Lange born in Zambia. South African record producer and songwriter. He is known for his work in the studio and innovations in multitrack recording. He has produced albums for, or otherwise worked with, artists such as AC/DC, Def Leppard, The Boomtown Rats, Foreigner, Michael Bolton, The Cars, Bryan Adams, Huey Lewis and the News, Billy Ocean, The Corrs, Maroon 5, Lady Gaga, Nickelback, and Muse. He also wrote and produced songs with his then-wife, Canadian singer Shania Twain. Her 1997 album Come On Over, which he produced, is the best-selling country music album, the best-selling studio album by a female act, the best-selling album of the 1990s, and the 9th best-selling album in the United States
1962 Gary ‘Mani’ Mounfield, bass, The Stone Roses, (1989 UK No.8 single ‘Fool’s Gold’, 1989 album ‘The Stone Roses’), Primal Scream, (1994 UK No.7 single ‘Rocks’).
1962 Cliff Richard recorded ‘Bachelor Boy’ on this day.
1963 Nino Tempo and April Stevens went to No.1 on the US singles chart with ‘Deep Purple’, it made No.17 in the UK.
1964 Diana Krall, Canadian singer, songwriter. Has become one of the best selling jazz artists of all-time. Nominated for Album of the Year at the 2000 Grammy. Won three Juno awards in 2002, Artist of the Year, Album of the Year and Best Vocal Jazz Album of the Year.
1965 Normie Rowe was awarded a gold record for Que Sera Sera/Shakin’ All Over.
1965 David Kushner, guitarist, Velvet Revolver, (2004 US No.1 & UK No.11 album ‘Contraband’).
1968 The Jimi Hendrix Experience went to No.1 on the US album chart with ‘Electric Ladyland’.
1969 Bryan Abrams – Vocalist with Color Me Bad, (1991 UK No.1 single ‘I Wanna Sex You Up’, 1991 US No.1 single ‘I Adore Mi Amor’).
1970 Logan Mader, guitarist in melodic death metal band Once Human, as well as former lead guitarist in Machine Head.
1971 Frank Zappa appeared on this week’s UK TV music show the ‘Old Grey Whistle Test’, playing live and showing clips from his ‘200 Motels’ film.
1974 David Essex was at No.1 on the UK singles chart with ‘Gonna Make You A Star’, the singers first UK No.1.
1974 John Lennon was at No.1 in the US singles chart with ‘Whatever Gets You Through The Night.’ Elton John played on the session and made a deal with Lennon that if the song makes No.1 he will have to appear live with him.
1976 Appearing at London’s Hammersmith, Thin Lizzy.
1976 Beach Boy Brian Wilson gave his first formal interview for 8 years on the UK BBC 2, TV show ‘Old Grey Whistle Test’, also on the programme, Be Bop Deluxe and Cajun Moon.
1983 Frankie Goes To Hollywood kicked off a 7- date UK tour at Eves, Wolverhampton.
1985 Former Undertones singer Feargal Sharkey had his only UK No.1 single with the Maria McKee song ‘A Good Heart.’
1985 Sade scored her first UK No.1 album with ‘Promise.’ Including ‘The Sweetest Taboo’.
1985 Starship started a two week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with ‘We Built This City’, it made No.12 in the UK.
1985 U2 launched their label ‘Mother Records.’
1987 Topper Headon ex Clash drummer was jailed for 15 months at Maidstone Crown Court for supplying heroin to a man who later died.
1988 Former Beach Boys manager Stephen Love was sentenced to five years probation for embezzling almost $1m from the group’s accounts.
1989 Appearing live at The NEC, Birmingham, England, Stevie Nicks plus Richard Marx.
1991 Irish singer Enya scored her first UK No.1 album with ‘Shepherd Moons’
1996 The Beatles ‘Anthology 3’ went to No.1 on the UK album chart. The album included rarities and alternative tracks from the final two years of the band’scareer, ranging from the initial sessions for The Beatles (also known as The White Album) to the last sessions for Let It Be and Abbey Road in later 1969 and early 1970.
1996 The Beatles ‘Anthology 3’ went to No.1 on the UK album chart.
1996 Spice Girls The Spice Girls went to No.1 on the UK album chart with their debut release ‘Spice Girls’
1999 Grady Owen guitarist with Gene Vincent and His Blue Caps died. Scored the 1956 US No.7 & UK No.16 single with ‘Be Bop A Lula’.
2000 American rapper Joseph Calleja died of chronic intestinal disorder. Calleja had celiac disease, an autoimmune disorder that can cause stunted growth, as a result, he reached a maximum height of 3 feet, 9 inches (114 centimeters) by adulthood. He was a member of Kid Rock’s band.
2000 English pianist Russ Conway dies after a long fight with cancer. He is 75. Conway was Britain’s best-selling artist of 1959, when he had consecutive No. 1 singles with “Side Saddle” and Roulette,” as well as three other top-10 hits.
2000 Elton John told a London High Court that his former lover and manager John Reid betrayed him over touring costs. The singer said Reid, had been “caught with his hands in the till”. Elton was suing Andrew Haydon, former managing director of John Reid Enterprises, his management company alleging Haydon was negligent in allowing JREL to charge him “several millions” in overseas tour expenses.
2002 Texan multi-billionaire David Bonderman hired The Rolling Stones to play at his 60th birthday party held at the Hard Rock Hotel in Las Vegas. The bands fee was £4.4m.
2006 Queen’s ‘Greatest Hits’ album was declared the Best Selling UK album of all time by The Official UK Charts Company. The chart which was made up of sales figures from the last fifty years showed their Greatest Hits compilation had sold 5,407,587 copies. The Beatles occupied second place with ‘Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Heart’s Club Band.’
2008 Girls Aloud went to No.1 on the UK album chart with ‘Out of Control’, the girl groups fifth studio album.
2010 The Beatles back catalogue was finally made available on iTunes, after years of negotiations. For the first time consumers would now be able to purchase some of the Fab Four’s most popular songs via the store. Apple and record label EMI had been in talks for years about getting the catalogue online. Apple chief executive and Beatles fan Steve Jobs said it had “been a long and winding road to get here. We love the Beatles and are honoured and thrilled to welcome them to iTunes.”
2014 U2 singer Bono was involved in what doctors called a “high energy bicycle accident.” The singer was rushed to New York-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center’s emergency department and underwent five hours of surgery. The injury forced the group to postpone a planned weeklong residency on The Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon.