1896 Laurens Hammond, inventor of the Hammond organ. The sound of the Hammond was used by many rock artists including; Procol Harum, Keith Emerson, Led Zeppelin, The Allman Brothers and The Faces. Hammond died on 3rd July 1973.
1924 Don Cherry born in Wichita Falls, Texas. US Singer. (1955 US & 1956 UK Top 10 single ‘Band Of Gold’). Cherry died at a hospice on April 4, 2018 at the age of 94. He is survived by his wife, Francine
1924 Slim Harpo, blues musician, died of a heart attack 31/1/70 aged 46. (1966 US No.16 single ‘Baby Scratch My Back’).
1942 Clarence Clemons born in Norfolk, Virginia. US Musician. Saxophonist for Bruce Springsteen’s E Street Band, (1987 UK No.16 single ‘Born To Run’). In 1985 he had a solo hit with ‘You’re A Friend Of Mine’, recorded with Jackson Browne and his then girlfriend Daryl Hannah. As an actor Clemons featured in several films, including New York, New York and Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure. Clemons died from complications caused by a stroke on June 18, 2011.
1946 Tony Kaye born in Leicester, England, , keyboards, Yes, (left in 1971).
1946 Naomi Judd born in Ashland, Kentucky. Country Singer/Actress of the Judds Duo with daughter Wyonna.
1948 Terry Williams, drummer, Dire Straits, Bob Dylan, Rockpile, Tina Turner.
1949 Daryl Braithwaite born in Melbourne, Victoria. Australian Lead Singer with Sherbet and as a solo performer.
1949 Frederick Dennis Greene – US Singer and one of the many member of Sha Na Na, US rock ‘n’ roll group.
1956 Elvis Presley recorded “I Was the One,” “I’m Counting on You”
1957 “Singing The Blues” by Tommy Steele peaked at #1 on the U.K. pop singles chart.
1958 The release date for the Elvis Presley single ‘Jailhouse Rock’ was put back a week after Decca Records pressing plant in the UK were unable to meet the advance orders of 250,000 copies.
1960 Vicky Peterson (Victoria Peterson) born in Los Angeles, California. Guitarist/Vocalist with The Bangles, (1986 UK No.2 single with the Prince song ‘Manic Monday’, 1986 US No.1 single ‘Walk Like An Egyptian’).
1960 “Way Down Yonder In New Orleans” by Freddie Cannon peaked at #3 on the US singles chart.
1962 Cliff Richard was at No.1 on the UK singles chart with ‘The Young Ones’. It stayed at the top of the charts for six weeks and made Cliff the first UK artist to enter the chart at No.1.
1963 The Beatles recorded their first national TV show ‘Thank Your Lucky Stars’. They mimed to their new single ‘Please Please Me’ which was released on this day.
1963 The Beatles released their second single ‘Please Please Me’ in the UK. It was the follow up to Love Me Do, which only got as high as No.17 in England. Please Please Me made it to No.2 but their next 12 single releases all topped the British charts (with the exception of ‘Ain’t She Swee’ – one of their Hamburg recordings which was released in 1964. In The UK the Beatles had 17 No.1 hit singles. In America they notched up 21.
1963 the Beatles released the single “Please Please Me”/”Ask Me Why” in the U.K. It went to #1 on the British charts on February 22 for two weeks.
1964 “Popsicles And Icicles” by The Murmaids peaked at #3 on the US singles chart.
1964 “The Nitty Gritty” by Shirley Ellis peaked at #8 on the US singles chart.
1964 ‘Ring Of Fire’ by Johnny Cash became the first Country album to go to No.1 in the US album chart.
1964 Roger Miller recorded “Dang Me,” “Chug-A-Lug”
1964 ‘Louie Louie’ by The Kingsmen was the number one song on the US Cash Box music chart. For a while, the record was banned by a handful of US radio stations because of its indecipherable lyrics, which were rumored to contain some naughty words. Even the F.B.I. investigated the song, but finally concluded that they could find nothing wrong.
1965 The Righteous Brothers arrived in Britain for a promotional visit appearing on three TV shows, Ready Steady Go! Scene At 6.30. and Discs A Go-Go.
1965 The Beach Boys recorded “Do You Wanna Dance”
1966 British Invasion band Herman’s Hermits receive a gold record ceritfied by the RIAA for the album “The Best of Herman’s Hermits.”
1967 The Jimi Hendrix Experience recorded Purple Haze at De Lane Lea studios in London. Jimi also signed a deal with the new record label Track Records in the UK on this day.
1967 The Jimi Hendrix Experence recorded ‘Purple Haze’. Jimi also signed to the new record label Track Records on this day.
1967 HOLLIES RECORDING SESSION Back at LONDON’s ABBEY ROAD studios, they work on a number of songs, including their next American hit “ON A CAROUSEL”
1968 Tom Dumont, No Doubt, (1997 UK No.1 single ‘Don’t Speak’).
1969 “Cinnamon” by Derek peaked at #11 on the US singles chart.
1969 “Hooked On A Feeling” by B.J. Thomas peaked at #5 on the US singles chart.
1969 “Wichita Lineman” by Glen Campbell peaked at #3 on the US singles chart.
1969 “I’m Gonna Make You Love Me” by Supremes & Temptations peaked at #2 on the US singles chart.
1971 Mary J Blige (Mary Jane Blige) born in Bronx, New York. US Singer & Queen Of Hip-Hop Soul. (1997 US No.1 album, ‘Share My World’, 1999 UK No.4 single’ As’, 2001 US No.1 single,’ Family Affair’).
1971 Tom Rowlands born in Kingston upon Thames. The Chemical Brothers, (1996 UK No.1 single ‘Setting Sun’, 2007 UK No.1 album ‘We Are The Night’).
1973 It was confirmed that the forthcoming Rolling Stones tour of Japan had been cancelled, despite record breaking ticket sales. Mick Jagger had earlier been informed that he was banned from entering the country because of a drugs conviction.
1974 “The Joker” single by Steve Miller Band was certified Gold by the RIAA
1975 The Alan Freeman BBC Radio 1 show broadcast a Pink Floyd show recorded at the Empire Pool, Wembley, London, England on 16th Nov 1974. The band had played four nights at Wembley on their Dark Side Of The Moon tour and tapes from these shows have been remixed.
1975 “Bungle In The Jungle” by Jethro Tull peaked at #12 on the US singles chart.
1975 “Dark Horse” by George Harrison peaked at #15 on the US singles chart.
1975 “Junior’s Farm” by Paul McCartney & Wings peaked at #3 on the pop singles chart.
1975 Led Zeppelin played their first concert in 18 months when they appeared at the Ahoy, Rotterdam, Holland, playing one of two warm-up shows for their forthcoming North American tour. The set list included some new songs: Sick Again, The Rain Song, Kashmir, No Quarter and Trampled Under Foot.
1978 “Only You” by Ringo Starr peaked at #6 on the pop singles chart.
1981 Echo and The Bunnymen Advertised in this weeks NME, the Top Ten Badges; 1, CND, 2, Echo and The Bunnymen, 3, Ant Music, 4, Jam pop art, 5, Ants no. 3, 6, Jam Start, 7, Dead Kennedy’s, 8, Siouxsie, 9, Ants no.2, 10, The Beat stand down Margaret. All Badges
1981 Chris Edwards, Kasabian, (2005 UK No.8 single ‘Cutt Off’, 2006 UK No.1 album ‘Empire’).
1981 Jamelia, UK R&B singer, (2003, UK No.4 album ‘Thank You’).
1981 Depeche Mode Appearing at the Hope & Anchor, London, Blancmange supported by Depeche Mode, tickets £1.
1982 “Freeze-frame” album by J., Geils Band was certified Platinum by the RIAA. Also including ‘Centrefold’.
1983 “1999” album by Prince was certified Gold by the RIAA..Also including ‘Little Red Corvette’.
1984 Michael Jackson’s Thriller album became the best-selling album of all time. On this day Jackson was nominated for twelve Grammy Awards.
1985 Newton Faulkner, UK singer, songwriter, (2007 UK No.1 album ‘Hand Built By Robots’, 2007 UK Top 10 single ‘Dream Catch Me’).
1985 A Brazilian rock Festival held in Rio, claimed to be the biggest ever staged. The festival featured; Queen, Rod Stewart, AC/DC, Whitesnake, Yes and Iron Maiden.
1986 The Pet Shop Boys scored their first UK No.1 single with ‘West End Girls.’ The first version of the song was released in April 1984, becoming a club hit in the United States, after the duo signed with EMI, the song was re-recorded with producer Stephen Hague.
1986 “Tonight She Comes” by The Cars peaked at #7 on the US singles chart.
1987 Frankie Goes To Hollywood started what would become their final tour at the G-Mex in Manchester, England.
1987 During a UK tour Motley Crue appeared at the Edinburgh Playhouse.
1992 Nirvana appeared on NBC-TV’s Saturday Night Live performing two songs, ‘Smells Like Teen Spirit’ and ‘Territorial Pissings’. Also on this day the group’s ‘Nevermind’ went to No.1 on the US album chart.
1992 Prince’s future wife Mayte made her first live appearance with his Purpleness in Minneapolis.
1992 “Addams Groove” by Hammer peaked at #7 on the US singles chart.
1992 “2 Legit 2 Quit” by Hammer peaked at #5 on the US singles chart.
1998 Rolling Stone magazine readers poll picked ‘Be Here Now’ by Oasis as album of the year.
1999 Barry Pritchard guitarist and singer with The Fortunes died of a heart attack. The group’s biggest hit was ‘You’ve Got Your Troubles’ which was a UK No.2 hit in 1965, also reaching No.7 seven in the US.
1999 *NSYNC won the Favourite Pop / Rock new artist award at the 26th Annual American Music Awards in Los Angeles.
1999 Ex Mighty Wah singer Pete Wylie appeared in a Liverpool Court charged with making threats to kill his ex girlfriend.
2000 Gary Glitter was released from prison after serving half of a four-month sentence for possessing child pornography downloaded from the internet. Glitter was told he would have to go on the sex offenders’ register for seven years.
2000 It was reported that Whitney Houston was under investigation after allegedly trying to smuggle 15.2 grams of Marijuana out of Hawaii. A security officer found the drug in the singer’s handbag, Houston then walked away when he tried to detain her.
2002 It was reported that Whitney Houston was under investigation after allegedly trying to smuggle 15.2 grams of Marijuana out of Hawaii. A security officer found the drug in the singer’s handbag, Houston then walked away when he tried to detain her.
2002 Mickey Finn percussionist and sideman to Marc Bolan in Tyrannosaurus Rex (T Rex), died of kidney and liver problems aged 55. (1971 UK No.1 single ‘Hot Love’, plus over 20 other UK Top 40 singles).
2003 Britain’s oldest rockers came out winners in The Pollstar listing of the Top 10 grossing US tours of 2002: Paul McCartney $68m (£40m), The Rolling Stones $58m (£34m), Elton John $47m (£27.6m), The Who $20m (£11.8m), Ozzy Osbourne $18m (£10.6m), Peter Gabriel $10m (£5.88m), Yes $6m (£3.5m), Elvis Costello $5m (£2.94m), The Moody Blues $4m (£2.35m) and Jethro Tull $3m (£1.76m).
2003 Girls Aloud singer Cheryl Tweedy was arrested after an alleged attack in a nightclub in Guildford. The Popstars Rivals winner was accused of punching a lavatory attendant.
2003 Pete Townshend issued a public statement denying being a paedophile after his name was linked with a police Internet porn inquiry. But The Who guitarist did admit studying child pornography for research into a campaign against it.
2005 Former Bread guitarist and Academy Award-winning songwriter James Griffin died at his home in Nashville at the age of 61 after suffering from cancer. Bread had the 1970’s hits ‘Make It With You’, ‘Baby I’m-a Want You’, and ‘Everything I Own.’
2008 Robbie Williams’ manager told The Times newspaper that the singer would refuse to make another album for his record label EMI, saying he was unhappy after the label was taken over by Terra Firma. Tim Clark told the paper Williams would not deliver a new album because he had no idea how the label would handle it. Williams had sold 47 million albums around the world since leaving Take That in 1995, making him one of EMI’s most successful artists.
2008 Ringo Starr helped launch the celebrations for Liverpool’s year as European Capital of Culture. He was joined by acrobats who dangled on wires from cranes as the opening party kicked off a year-long programme of more than 350 events. Organisers hoped the Capital of Culture tag would attract an extra two million visitors to Liverpool and boost the economy by £100m.
2009 Lady Gaga & Colby O’Donis went to No.1 on the UK singles chart with ‘Just Dance’, taken from her album The Fame.
2016 David Bowie topped the UK album chart with his latest release Blackstar less than 24 hours after his death. With sales of over 43,000 units the album outsold its nearest competitor, Elvis Presley’s If I Can Dream, by 25,000.