January 18 – Today in Music History
1941 Bobby Goldsboro born in Marianna, Florida – US singer, (1968 US No.1 & UK No.2 single ‘Honey’).
1941 David Ruffin born in Whynot, Mississippi. US Lead Singer with The Temptations between 1964 and 1968. He died of a drug overdose 1/6/91. (1971 US No.1 & UK No. 8 single ‘Just My Imagination’ and re- issued ‘My Girl’ UK No.2 in 1992, solo, 1975 US No.9 & UK No.10 single ‘Walk Away Fr
1944 “Legs” Larry Smith born in Oxford, England. Drummer with the Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band, (1968 UK No.5 single ‘I’m The Urban Spaceman’).
1956 Tom Bailey born in Halifax, Yorkshire. Vocalist/Keyboard Player with The Thompson Twins.
1957 “Singing The Blues” by Guy Mitchell hit #1 again on the U.K. pop chart.
1959 Bob Rosenberg – US Singer/Songwriter with Will To Power. (1988 US No.1 & 1989 UK No.6 single ‘Baby I Love Your Way / Freebird’).
1960 Johnny Preston started a three week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with ‘Running Bear’. Written by J.P. Richardson (The Big Bopper), the tune originally entered the chart in October 1959, then quickly vanished, but re-entered in November and slowly climbed to the top. It was also a UK No.1.
1962 Jeremy Healey, guitar, Haysi Fantayzee, (1982 UK No.11 single ‘John Wayne Is Big Leggy’).
1964 The Beatles made their US chart debut when ‘I Want To Hold Your Hand’ entered the chart at No.45 just ten days after its release, making it the fastest-breaking and the fastest selling single in Capitol Records history. It went on to spend seven weeks at the No.1 position.
1964 “Forget Him” by Bobby Rydell peaked at #4 on the US singles chart.
1965 The Rolling Stones recorded ‘The Last Time’ and ‘Play With Fire’ at the RCA studio in Hollywood, California. Phil Spector played acoustic guitar on ‘Play With Fire.’
1967 Jimi Hendrix recorded an appearance on UK TV show Top Of The Pops and also played a show at the Seven and a Half Club in Mayfair, London.
1969 “Son-Of-A-Preacher Man” by Dusty Springfield peaked at #10 on the US singles chart.
1969 “Soulful Strut” by Young-Holt Unlimited peaked at #3 on the US singles chart.
1971 Jonathan Davis born in Bakersfield, California. Lead vocalist and frontman of the nu metal band Korn (1998 UK No.23 single ‘Got The Life’, 1998 US No.1 album ‘Follow The Leader’).
1973 “Super Fly” single by Curtis Mayfield was certified Gold by the RIAA
1973 Luther Dickinson, guitar, The Black Crowes. Joined in 2007.
1973 Crispian Mills, guitar, vocals, Kula Shaker, (1996 UK No.2 single ‘Hey Dude’).
1974 Christian Burns, BBMak, (2001 UK No.5 single ‘Back Here’ No.1 hit in Japan.
1974 Former members from Free, (Paul Rodgers & Simon Kirke), Mott The Hoople, (Mick Ralphs), and King Crimson, (Boz Burrell), formed Bad Company. The band went on to score a US No.1 album with their debut release.
1975 Barry Manilow scored his first US No.1 single when ‘Mandy’, (originally titled ‘Brandy’ when it was recorded in 1972 by Scott English), went to the top of the charts.
1975 Status Quo were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with ‘Down Down’, the group’s only UK No.1 from 52 hits between 1968 and 1996.
1977 Mike Tierney – Vocalist with Australain vocal group Human Nautre.
1977 Hall and Oates Appearing live at Sheffield City Hall, England, Hall and Oates, tickets £1.30p.
1978 Neil Sedaka received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
1978 “The Stranger” album by Billy Joel was certified Platinum by the RIAA. Also Including ‘She’s Always A Woman’, ‘Movin’ Out’, ‘Just The Way You Are’ & ‘Only The Good Die Young’.
1980 Estelle Swaray, female English hip-hop artist, singer and producer. 2008 UK No.1 single ‘American Boy’ featuring Kayne West.
1981 Boomtown Rats Appearing at The Hammersmith Palais, London, The Boomtown Rats, tickets £3.50.
1981 Wendy O. Williams of The Plasmatics was arrested on stage at Milwaukee and was charged with the offence of simulating sex with a sledgehammer. Williams later filed a multimillion dollar civil suit against the Milwaukee Police, claming they sexually assaulted and beat her during the arrest, but a jury rejected her claims.
1983 Samantha Mumba, singer, actress, (2000 UK No.2 & US No.4 single ‘Gotta Tell You’, 2001 UK No.3 single ‘Always Come Back To’).
1984 Van Halen kicked off their 103-date ‘1984’ North American tour at Jacksonville Coliseum in Jacksonville, Florida.
1986 That’s What Friends Are For’ by Dionne Warwick began a four-week run at No.1 on the US singles chart, all company and artists profits were given to aids charities.
1986 “Face The Face” by Pete Townshend peaked at #26 on the US singles chart.
1986 “It’s Only Love” by Bryan Adams & Tina Turner peaked at #15 on the US singles chart.
1989 The Rolling Stones are inducted into the Rock ‘N’ Roll Hall Of Fame. Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Ron Wood, and Mick Taylor are present for the ceremony held at the Waldorf-Astoria in New York. The absence of Wyman and presence of Taylor sparks rumors that The Stones will tour with Taylor replacing Wyman, and Ron Wood will move to the bass. Pete Townshend helps induct the Stones, telling them in his speech, “Guys, whatever you do, don’t try to grow old gracefully. It wouldn’t suit you.” Mick replies in his own speech: “We’re not quite ready to hang up the number yet.” And, “It’s slightly ironic that tonight you see us on our best behavior.” Mick, Keith, Ronnie, and Mick Taylor join the now-expected all star jam session, during which Mick duets with Tina Turner on “Honky Tonk Women,” and with Little Richard on “Can’t Turn You Loose” and “Bony Maronie.” He then brings down the house with “Start Me Up”.
1989 At just 38 years old, Stevie Wonder became the youngest living person to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. At a ceremony held at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York, other inductees include The Rolling Stones, The Temptations, Otis Redding and Dion DiMucci.
1990 Mel Appleby – UK Vocalist of Mel & Kim, died of cancer aged only 23. Born 11th July 1966
1991 During an AC/DC North American tour three fans were killed during a crush in a crowd at a gig in Salt Lake City.
1991 The first of three nights at Wembley Arena for The Brits 91, which featured the Happy Mondays, James, 808 state, The Cure, Jesus Jones, The Quire Boys, Thunder and The Little Angels. Tickets £12.50 ($21.25) for each day.
1992 “No Son Of Mine” by Genesis peaked at #12 on the US singles chart.
1993 Elton John resigned his directorship of Watford Football Club.
1996 Lisa Marie Presley divorced Michael Jackson after less then two years of being married.
1997 Songwriter and producer Keith Diamond died of a heart attack. He wrote, ‘Caribbean Queen’ and ‘Suddenly’ for Billy Ocean, and also wrote hits for Donna Summer, James Ingram, Mick Jagger, Sheena Easton and Michael Bolton.
1997 Tori Amos was at No.1 on the UK singles chart with ‘Professional Widow’ (It’s Got To Be)’. The song had been remixed by Armand Van Helden and was rumoured to be about Courtney Love the former wife of Kurt Cobain.
1999 Cher went No.1 on the Australian singles chart with ‘Believe’. Staying at the top spot for 5 wks.
2000 Spencer Goodman was executed by lethal injection in Huntsville, Texas. Goodman was convicted of kidnapping and murdering the wife of ZZ Top manager Bill Ham in 1991. Ham was present for the execution.
2001 Oasis guitarist Noel Gallagher was granted a quickie divorce from Meg Matthews at the High Court in London. The couple had split last September, eight months after Meg had given birth to their daughter, Anais.
2004 Jennifer Lopez’s divorce from her second husband Cris Judd became final. Lopez and Judd married in 2001, after meeting when filming the video to ‘Love Don’t Cost A Thing’ but split the next year. He was expected to get a $15 million (£8.8 million) settlement from the divorce.
2004 Josh Groba was at No.1 on the US album chart with ‘Closer.’
2004 Winner of the 2003 Pop Idol TV show Michelle McManus started a two week run at No.1 on the UK singles chart with ‘All This Time.’
2005 Motown producer Norman Whitfield pleaded guilty for failing to report royalty income he earned from 1995 to 1999 to the Internal Revenue Service. Facing charges of tax evasion on over $2 million worth of income, he was sentenced to six months of house arrest and a $25,000 fine. The producer was not imprisoned because of health problems.
2006 Animals in Michael Jackson’s private zoo were declared to be in good health after officials paid a surprise visit to the singer’s Neverland ranch. A medical officer from the US department of agriculture inspected the property following concerns voiced by the animal rights group, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. Jackson had earlier moved out of Neverland and had taken up residence in Bahrain in the Middle East.
2008 Four photographers were arrested for reckless driving after they chased Britney Spears’ car on the outskirts of Los Angeles. The four were among a group of paparazzi seen driving at high speed, each of the men were ordered to post $5,000 (£2,539) bail. The cars were following Ms Spears’ car too closely and travelling at an unsafe speed and made several unsafe lane changes, according to police.
2010 Canadian folk singer Kate McGarrigle died of cancer at home in Montreal at the age of 63. Once married to folk singer Loudon Wainwright lll, Kate was the mother of singers Rufus and Martha Wainwright. She rose to prominence with sister Anna when they recorded together in the 1970s. Other artists who covered the pair’s songs included Emmylou Harris, Elvis Costello, Billy Bragg, Kirsty MacColl and Judy Collins.
2011 The largest collection of Beatles memorabilia went on display in a new museum in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Rodolfo Vazquez, a 53-year-old accountant, turned his mammoth Beatles collection into a museum with more than 8,500 objects – setting the new world record for the largest collection of Beatles memorabilia. Some of the items included a box of condoms bearing the names of John Lennon and Yoko Ono, a brick from the Cavern Club, a chunk of the stage from the Star Club in Hamburg, and certified copies of the band members’ birth certificates. Among his favorite items were 64 boxes of chewing gum in the form of Beatles records.
2015 American session drummer Dallas Taylor died of complications from viral pneumonia and kidney disease, aged 66. He is best known as the drummer on Crosby, Stills and Nash’s debut album, Crosby, Stills & Nash (1969) and their follow-up with Neil Young, Déjà Vu (1970) as well as appearing on Stephen Stills’ eponymous first solo album in 1970. Taylor was the drummer for Stills’ group Manassas in 1972 and 1973. In 1970, Dallas sat in with The Doors accompanying John Densmore on drums. Jim Morrison acknowledges him on The Doors Live in New York album.
2016 The Eagles guitarist Glenn Frey died at the age of 67 in New York City from complications arising from rheumatoid arthritis, colitis and pneumonia. Frey co-founded the Eagles in 1971 with Don Henley, Bernie Leadon and Randy Meisner. After the breakup of the Eagles in 1980, Frey embarked on a successful solo career and went on to score the Top 40 hits ‘The One You Love’, ‘Smuggler’s Blues’, ‘The Heat Is On’, and ‘You Belong to the City’.