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12th March Today in Music History Events

1917 Leonard Chess, the founder of the Chess record label, home to John Lee Hooker, Chuck Berry, Bo Diddley and Jimmy Reed. Chess died of a heart attack on October 16th 1969, aged 52. 
1940 Al Jarreau (Alwyn Jarreau) born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. American singer and musician. He received a total of seven Grammy Awards and was nominated for over a dozen more. Jarreau is perhaps best known for his 1981 album Breakin’ Away. He also sang the theme song of the 1980s television series Moonlighting, and was among the performers on the 1985 charity song “We Are the World. “On February 12, 2017, Jarreau died of respiratory failure, at the age of 76, just two days after announcing his retirement, and one month before his 77th birthday.
1941 Brian O’Hara born in Liverpool, England. UK Guitarist with Fourmost, (1964 UK No.6 single ‘A Little Loving’). Hung himself on 27th June 1999. 
1942 Paul Kantner in San Francisco, California. US Guitarist/Singer/Songwriter & co-founder of Jefferson Airplane & Jefferson Starship (1967 US No.18 single ‘White Rabbit’). Kantner died in San Francisco at the age of 74 on January 28, 2016, from multiple organ failure and septic shock after he suffered another heart attack days earlier.
1945 Johnny Young (John De Jong) born in Indonesia – Australian Singer/Songwriter and TV Host of Young Talent Time. 
1946 Liza Minnelli born in Los Angeles, California. US Singer/Actress/Dancer and daughter of Judy Garland and film director Vincente Minnelli. (1970 film ‘Cabaret’, 1989 UK No.6 single ‘Losing My Mind’). 
1948 James Taylor born in Boston, Massachusetts. US Singer/Songwriter, (1971 US No.1 & UK No.4 single ‘You’ve Got A Friend’. His first album was released on The Beatles Apple label. Married Carly Simon in 1972. 
1948 Les Holroyd born in Oldham, Lancashire, England. UK Bass Player/Keyboard Player/Songwriter with Barclay James Harvest, 8 UK Top 40 albums from 1974-87. 
1949 Bill Payne born in Waco, Texas. co-founded, with Lowell George, the American rock band Little Feat.[1] He is considered by many other rock pianists, including Elton John,[2] to be one of the finest American piano rock and blues music artists. Two Top 40 albums during the 70’s, best-known songs ‘Dixie Chicken’ and ‘Sailin Shoes’. 
1949 Mike Gibbins born in Swansea, England. UK Drummer with Badfinger, (1970 UK No.4 & US No.7 single ‘Come And Get It’). Gibbins died on 4th Oct 2005.
1973 Jason Singh born in Melbourne, Victoria. A member of the Australian group Taxi Ride. They had hits in 1999 with Get Set & Everywhere You Go. 
1951 Jack Green, The Pretty Things, (1964 UK No. 10 with ‘Don’t Bring Me Down’). 
1955 American jazz saxophonist and composer Charlie Parker died of a heart attack in New York City while watching Tommy Dorsey’s Orchestra on television. He was 34. The coroner who performed his autopsy mistakenly estimated Parker’s 34-year-old body to be between 50 and 60 years of age. (After years of drug and alcohol abuse) 
1956 Steve Harris, bass, Iron Maiden, (1982 UK No.1 album ‘The Number Of The Beast’, 1991 UK No.1 with ‘Bring Your Daughter …To The Slaughter’ & 25 other Top 40 hits). 
1957 Marlon Jackson born in Gary, Indiana. US singer. The Jackson Five, (1970 US No.1 & UK No.2 single ‘I Want You Back’, The Jacksons, 1977 UK No.1 single ‘Show You The Way To Go’). 
1957 Buddy Holly & the Crickets recorded ‘Maybe Baby’. 
1960 Emile Ford & The Checkmates went to No.1 on the Australian Singles Chart with ‘What Do You Want To Make Those Eyes At Me For’. Staying at the top spot for 2wks. 
1963 The Beatles played at the Granada Cinema in Bedford. Also on the bill, Chris Montez and Tommy Roe. John Lennon, suffering from a heavy cold, was unable to perform, so The Beatles set was rearranged so that George and Paul could sing the parts that John usually sang. 
1965 Coleen Nolan born in Blackpool, England. UK Singer & Youngest Member of the Nolan Sisters, (1980 UK No.3 single ‘I’m In The Mood For Dancing’). 
1966 Sgt Barry Sadler started a five-week run at No.1 on the US album chart with ‘Ballads Of The Green Berets’. 
1967 The Seekers performed at the Myer Music Bowl in Melbourne to a record crowd of approximately 200,000. 
1968 The Rolling Stones started recording their next single ‘Jumpin’ Jack Flash’ with new producer Jimmy Miller at Olympic studios in London. Keith Richards has stated that he and Jagger wrote the lyrics while staying at Richards’ country house, where they were awakened one morning by the sound of gardener Jack Dyer walking past the window. When Jagger asked what the noise was, Richards responded, “Oh, that’s Jack – that’s jumpin’ Jack.” 
1969 Graham Coxon, guitar, Blur, (1994 UK No.1 album ‘Parklife’ spent over 2 years on the UK chart, 1995 UK No.1 single ‘Country House’, plus over 12 other UK Top 40 singles). 
1969 Jose Feliciano wins a Grammy as Best New Artist. Aretha Franklin wins a Grammy for Best Female R&B Performance for “Chain of Fools.”
1969 Paul McCartney married Linda Eastman at Marylebone Register Office. They then held a reception lunch at The Ritz Hotel, Paul then went to Abbey Road studios in the evening to work. George Harrison and his wife Patti were arrested on the same day and charged with possession of 120 joints of marijuana. 
1971 John Lennon’s first solo single ‘Power To The People’ was released. 
1971 The Allman Brothers Band played the first of two nights at the Fillmore East, New York. Both shows were recorded and released as The Allman Brothers live double album, which became the groups breakthrough album. 
1974 John Lennon made the headlines after an incident at the Troubadour Club, LA. Out on a drinking binge with Harry Nilsson, Lennon hurled insults at the performing Smothers Brothers and punched their manager before being forcibly removed. 
1975 Kelle Bryan born in Lewisham, South London. UK Vocalist & Youngest member of Eternal, (1997 UK No.1 single ‘I Wanna Be The Only One’). 
1977 Ben Kenny born in Brielle, New Jersey. Bassist with Incubus, (2004 US No.2 and UK No.6 album ‘A Crow Left of the Murder, 2006 US No.1 album ‘Light Grenades’). 
1977 The Sex Pistols were involved in a fight at London’s Speakeasy Club with Bob Harris, presenter of BBC 2’s The Old Grey Whistle Test resulting in one of the shows engineers needing 14 stitches in his head. Two days later Harris’s solicitors contact Derek Green at A&M the bands record label. Harris’s management also managed Peter Frampton, one of the label’s top acts at A&M. Green discussed the matter with the company’s two founders, Jerry Moss and Herb Alpert and the decision is made to cancel the Pistols contract and halt production of the bands first single, ‘God Save The Queen’. 
1979 Pete Doherty, guitar, vocals, The Libertines, (2004 UK No.1 album ‘The Libertines’), who re-formed in 2010. Doherty was banned from playing with The Libertines until he could overcome his substance abuse problems. Released two albums with Babyshambles, the 2005 ‘Down in Albion’ and 2007 ‘Shotter’s Nation.’ 
1981 Bow Wow Wow were forced to cancel the first dates of a UK tour after Greater London Council stated that singer Annabella Lwin aged 15 would be guilty of truancy. 
1983 U2 scored their first UK No.1 album with ‘War’, which went on to spend a total of 147 weeks on the chart. The album featured the singles ‘New Years Day’ and ‘Two Hearts Beat As One’. 
1983 Welsh singer Bonnie Tyler had her only UK No.1 single with a song written by Meat Loaf’s producer, Jim Steinman, ‘Total Eclipse Of The Heart’. Also No.1 in the US, (the only Welsh artist to score a US No.1), Canada and Australia, the single sold over 5 million copies. 
1986 Danny Jones born in Bolton, Greater Manchester, England. .English musician who is one of the lead vocalists and guitarists for pop-rock band McFly. (2004 UK No.1 single ‘Colours In Her Hair’, 2004 UK No.1 album ‘Room On The 3rd Floor’). 
1986 Dionne Warwick feat Elton John, Gladys Knight & Stevie Wonder went to No.1 on the singles chart with ‘That’s What Friends Are For’. Staying at No.1 for 1wk. 
1988 Rick Astley started a two week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with ‘Never Gonna Give You Up’, also a No.1 in the UK. 
1990 Nirvana and Tad appeared at the Town Pump in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. 
1993 Oasis played at the Le Bateau, Liverpool, England in front of 20 people. 
1994 Swedish group Ace Of Base started a six week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with ‘The Sign’, a No.2 hit in the UK. 
1995 The Spin Doctors played a gig at singer Chris Barron’s old School in Princeton and raised $10,000 (£5,882) towards a trip to France and the UK for the school choir. 
1995 Boyz II Men were at No.1 on the US album chart with ‘II.’ 
2000 Chicane went to No.1 on the UK singles chart with ‘Don’t Give Up’. The song featured the vocals of Bryan Adams. Chicane is UK producer Nick Bracegirdle. 
2001 Judy Garland’s ‘Over The Rainbow’ was voted the Song Of The Century in a poll published in America. Musicians, critics and fans compiled the list by the RIA. The highest placed UK act was The Rolling Stones ‘Satisfaction’ in 16th place. The Beatles had ‘I Want To Hold Your Hand’ at No. 28. 
2004 Rosalind Morganfield, the 34 year old daughter of Blues artist Muddy Waters, surrendered to police after a warrant was issued accusing her of being involved in the 1996 murder of 19 year old Timothy Jason Harrington during a drug deal. 
2006 Former Pink Floyd guitarist David Gilmour went to No.1 on the UK album chart with his third solo album ‘On An Island.’ In 2009 UK radio station Planet Rock held a poll asking listeners to name the ‘Greatest Solo Album Written By A Former Band Member’. David Gilmour was voted into first place with ‘On An Island.’ 
2009 Hundreds of fans queued at the O2 arena in London as Michael Jackson tickets went on sale to the public. The 50-year-old pop veteran had confirmed he would be playing a 50-date residency at the venue, beginning on 8 July 2009. Some 360,000 pre-sale tickets had already sold. Organisers said the This Is It tour had become the fastest-selling in history, with 33 seats sold each minute. Prices ranged from £170 to £10,000, but tickets bought directly from the singer’s website cost up to £75. Jackson had said this would be the last time he would perform in the UK. 
2010 A 16-year-old was arrested and charged in connection with a break-in at singer Susan Boyle’s home in West Lothian, Scotland. Boyle disturbed the intruder as she returned home from London after recording a charity single for the victims of the Haiti earthquake. 
2010 Over 130 people were arrested and eight people were hospitalised as fans tried to gatecrash a Metallica show in Colombia. 1,500 police and four tanks were brought in to manage the crowds as property was vandalized and destroyed, as thousands of ticketless fans rioted during Metallica’s first Colombian concert in eleven years. 
2012 Country star Taylor Swift beat Adele and Lady Gaga to be named the highest-earning pop artist of 2011. The 22-year-old earned $35,719,902 (£22.7m) in 2011 from a combination of music sales, royalties and touring. U2 took second place with $32m (£20m) thanks to their 360 tour, seen by more than seven million people while Adele came 10th. 
2012 Doobie Brothers drummer Michael Hossack died at his home in Dubois, Wyoming at the age of 65. He had been battling cancer for some time and succumbed to complications of the disease with his family at his side. Hossack was a member of the Doobie Brothers between 1971 and 1973, playing on several of the band’s best-known hits, including ‘Listen to the Music’ and ‘China Grove’. 
2013 Bob Dylan was voted into the American Academy of Arts and Letters, marking the first time a rock musician had been chosen for the elite honor society. Officials in the Academy – which recognises music, literature and visual art – were unable to decide if Dylan belonged for his words or his music and instead inducted him as an honorary member like previous honorees Meryl Streep, Woody Allen and Martin Scorsese. 
2013 Clive Burr, drummer with Iron Maiden died in his sleep in London, four days after his 56th birthday, due to complications related to MS. Iron Maiden had the 1982 UK No.1 album The Number Of The Beast, and the 1991 UK No.1 single ‘Bring Your Daughter To The Slaughter’. Burr was a member of up-and-coming British metal band, Samson, before joining Maiden in 1979.
2016 Iron Maiden’s personal Boeing 747 was badly damaged after colliding with a tow truck while grounded at Santiago, Chile. The band’s crew and their twenty tons of equipment were not onboard at the time of the crash, but two ground crew workers were injured.

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