14th March Today in Music History Events

1922 Les Baxter born in Mexia, Texas. US Orchestra Leader/Pianist/Composer. (1956 US No.1 single ‘Poor People Of Paris’). Died on 15th January 1996. 
1931 Phil Phillips (Philip Baptiste) born in Lake Charles, Louisiana. Black US Singer. US He had his only hit in 1959 with The Sea Of Love. 
1933 Quincy Jones born Chicago, IIIinois. US Music Producer/Bandleader/Musician, (1978 US No.1 single ‘Stuff Like That’, 1981 UK No.11 single ‘Razzamatazz’). Producer, including Michael Jackson album’s ‘Thriller’ and ‘Off The Wall.’ 
1945 Walter Parazaider born in Chicago, IIIinois. Saxophonist/Woodwind Player with US Band Chicago, (1976 UK & US No. 1 single ‘If You Leave Me Now’, five US NO.1 albums during the 70’s). 
1945 Pam Ayres born in Oxfordshire, England. English folk poet. 
1945 James O’Rourke born in Fall River, Massachusetts. Guitarist/Vocalist with John Fred & His Playboy Band, (1968 US No.1 & UK No.3 single with ‘Judy In Disguise’).
1945 Michael Martin Murphey born in Dallas, Texas. US Country Singer & Actor. His biggest hit was in 1975 with ‘Wildfire’. 
1946 Jim Pons born in Santa Monica, California. Bass Guitarist who joined the The Turtles in 1967. (1967 US No.1 single ‘Happy Together’, UK No. 4 with ‘She’d Rather Be With Me’). Went on to work with Frank Zappa. 
1947 Jona Lewie (John Lewis) born in Southampton, Hants, England.UKsinger/songwriter and multi-instrumentalist He was a member of Terry Dactyl and the Dinosaurs who had one hit with ‘Seaside Shuffle’.in 1972. (1980 UK No. 3 with ‘Stop The Cavalry’). Birthdate also known as the 3rd July 1950. 
1947 Peter Skellern born in Bury, Lancashire, England. UK singer, songwriter, (1972 UK No. 3 with ‘Your A Lady’). 
1950 Rick Dees (Rigdon Osmond Dees 111) born in Jacksonville, Florida. US disc-Jockey for radio KIIS-FM in Los Angeles, California. He had a novelty hit in 1976 with Disco Duck. His “Weekly Top 40 Countdown” radio show is heard weekly by more than 50 million people ove
1955 CBS talent scout Arthur Godfrey turned down the chance to sign Elvis Presley, instead at the same audition he signed singer Pat Boone. 
1957 Chris Redburn born in Enfield, Middlesex. UK Bass Player with Kenny, (1975 UK No.3 with ‘The Bump’). 
1958 the Recording Industry Association of American was created to certify audited gold, platinum and multiplatinum record sales. The Recording Industry Association of America certified the first gold record to Perry Como’s “Catch A Falling Star.”
1958 “Catch A Falling Star” single by Perry Como was certified Gold by the RIAA
1960 Sam Cooke kicked off his first tour of the West Indies with a concert in Montego Bay, Jamaica. In the next two weeks, Cooke will set attendance records everywhere he appears. His influence would influence the neophyte reggae movement in Jamaica on future Caribbean stars like Jimmy Cliff and Bob Marley. In the next two weeks, Cooke sets attendance marks wherever he sings.
1962 Bruce Channel started a three week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with ‘Hey! Baby’, it made No.2 on the UK chart. 
1963 English musician Steve Lambert from Roman Holiday who scored the 1983 UK No.14 with ‘Don’t Try To Stop It’. 
1963 Cliff Richard and The Shadows were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with ‘Summer Holiday.’ Taken from the film of the same name, it became Richards’ seventh UK No.1 single. 
1963 Gerry Marsden was fined £60 at Uxbridge Magistrates court for attempting to evade customs duty on a guitar bought in Hamburg, Germany. 
1963 On a UK tour with Chris Montez and Tommy Roe, The Beatles appeared at the Gaumont Cinema, Wolverhampton, Staffordshire. For the third night in a row, John Lennon, suffering from a bad cold, was unable to perform. 
1964 “Good News” by Sam Cooke peaked at #11 on the US singles chart.
1964 “My Bonnie (My Bonnie Lies Over The Ocean)” by The Beatles & Tomy Sheridan peaked at #26 on the US singles chart.
1964 “Please Please Me” by The Beatles peaked at #3 on the US singles chart.
1964 BEATLES DOMINATE RECORD SALES “BILLBOARD” Magazine claims that 60% of all record sales are BEATLES music 
1964 SEE THE BEATLES! A film of their recent WASHINGTON, DC concert is shown at the ST. LOUIS THEATRE (on Grand) on ‘Closed Circuit Big Screen TV’ (as part of a nationwide theater hook-up). With showtimes at 11am and 1:30pm, it was also run the following day as well. Edited onto the show other concert footage of LESLEY GORE and the BEACH BOYS, but neither of these stars appeared with the BEATLES at that Washington concert (though the producers wanted you to believe it!)
1964 I Only Want To Be With You” by Dusty Springfield peaked at #12 on the US singles chart.
1964 For the first time in British recording history, all Top Ten singles in the UK were by British acts. No.1 was ‘Anyone Who Had A Heart’ by Cilla Black, No.2 – ‘Bits and Pieces’ by The Dave Clark Five, No.3 – ‘Little Children’ by Billy J Kramer, No.4 – ‘Diane’ by The Bachelors, No.5 – ‘Not Fade Away’ by The Rolling Stones, No.6 – ‘Just One Look’ by The Hollies, No.7 – ‘Needles and Pins’ by The Searchers, No.8 – ‘I Think Of You’ by The Merseybeats, No.9 – ‘Boys Cry’ by Eden Kane, and No. 10 – ‘Let Me Go Lover’ by Kathy Kirby. 
1968 The promotional film for ‘Lady Madonna’ was broadcast in black and white on Top of the Pops on UK television. The video portion of the film clip was shot while The Beatles were performing the song ‘Hey Bulldog’, but the ‘Lady Madonna’ audio track was paired with the video for the promo release. 
1969 Presenting Gold Records to the Beatles has become almost a given, so the Fab Four add number fourteen to their collection for “Yellow Submarine.”
1969 The Jimi Hendrix Experience recorded a live concert for ‘Fan Club’, the Dutch TV show in Amsterdam, Holland. 
1970 “Ma Belle Amie” by Tee Set peaked at #5 on the US singles chart.
1972 Carole King’s “It’s Too Late” wins a Grammy as Record of the Year, King’s “Tapestry” wins a Grammy as Album of the Year and Carly Simon wins a Grammy as Best New Artist.
1972 at the Grammy Awards: Carole King won four, including Best Album: “Tapestry”, Record: “It’s Too Late”, and Song (writer’s award): “You’ve Got A Friend” written for James Taylor. Carly Simon is named Best New Artist.
1972 Soul singer, Linda Jones, died aged 26 in New York after collapsing into a diabetic coma following a performance at Harlem’s Apollo Theatre in new York. Jones scored the 1967 US No.21 single ‘Hypnotized’. 
1973 Elton John was at No.1 on the US singles chart with ‘Crocodile Rock.’ 
1978 “Slowhand” album by Eric Clapton was certified Platinum by the RIAA. Including ‘Wonderful Tonight’, ‘Lay Down Sally’ & ‘Cocaine’. 
1979 Suzi Quato & Chris Norman went to No.1 on the singles chart with ‘Stumblin’ In’. Staying at No.1 for 2wks. 
1981 Roxy Music were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with their version of the John Lennon song ‘Jealous Guy.’ 
1981 “A Little In Love” by Cliff Richard peaked at #17 on the US singles chart.
1981 “The Winner Takes It All” by Abba peaked at #8 on the US singles chart.
1981 “Games People Play” by Alan Parsons Project peaked at #16 on the US singles chart.
1981 Eric Clapton was hospitalised with bleeding ulcers causing a US tour to be cancelled. He was back in hospital five weeks later after being involved in a car crash. 
1981 Roxy Music were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with their version of the John Lennon song ‘Jealous Guy.’ 
1982 Weird Al” Yankovic records the first songs for his upcoming debut LP such as “Such A Groovy Guy”, “The Check’s In The Mail”, “I Love Rocky Road”, “Stop Draggin’ My Car Around”, and remade “Gotta Boogie”, “I’ll Be Mellow When I’m Dead”, “Mr. Frump In The Iron Lung”, “My Bologna”, and “Happy Birthday”.
1982 Metallica made their live debut when they appeared at Radio City in Anaheim, California. 
1983 Jordan Taylor Hanson born in Tulsa, Oklahoma. US Singer & Musician with the all brother Trio Hanson, (1997 UK & US No.1 single ‘MMMbop’).
1983 Jon Bon Jovi, Richie Sambora and Alec John Such formed Bon Jovi. Their fourth album, New Jersey, released in 1988, is notable for producing five Billboard Hot 100 Top 10 singles, the most top ten hits to date from a hard rock album. 
1984 Annie Lennox married Hare Krishna devotee Radha Raman. They started divorce proceedings the following year. 
1984 Rainbow played their last ever gig as a band when they performed in Japan. 
1985 Dead Or Alive were kicked off the UK music television show ‘The Tube’, after admitting they were incapable of playing ‘live.’ The group scored the 1985 UK No.1 single ‘You Spin Me Round, Like A Record’. 
1986 “Listen Like Thieves” album by Inxs was certified Gold by the RIAA. Also inlcuding ‘This Time’, ‘What You Need’ & ‘Kiss The Dirt(Falling Down The Mountain’, 
1987 Boy George scored his first UK No.1 single as a solo artist with the David Gates song ‘Everything I Own. Originally recorded by Gates’s band Bread for their 1972 album Baby, I’m a Want You and also a UK No.1 for Ken Boothe in 1974. 
1987 Huey Lewis and the News went to No.1 on the US singles chart with ‘Jacob’s Ladder’, not a hit in the UK. 
1987 The Very Best Of Hot Chocolate’ went to No.1 on the UK album chart. 
1987 “Brand New Lover” by Dead Or Alive peaked at #15 on the US singles chart.
1987 “Somewhere Out There” by Linda Ronstadt & James Ingram peaked at #2 on the US singles chart. 
1988 Colby O’Donis, American R&B and hip hop singer-songwriter and actor. 2009 US No.1 single ‘Just Dance’ with Lady GaGa. 
1990 Flea and Chad Smith from The Red Hot Chili Peppers were arrested for sexually harassing a woman on Daytona Beach, Florida. They were each fined $1,000 (£588). 
1990 Michael Jackson was voted artist of the decade at the annual ‘Soul Train Awards.’ 
1991 Songwriter Doc Pomus dies in New York of lung cancer at age 65.Together, Pomus and Mort Shuman wrote the words and music for Elvis “Little Sister,” “Suspicion,” “(Marie’s the Name) His Latest Flame,” “Surrender,” “Viva Las Vegas” ,”Mess of Blues.” 
1991 R.E.M. played the first of two nights at London’s Borderline Club under the name of ‘Bingo Hand Job.’ 
1995 With the release of ‘Me Against the World’ Tupac Shakur became the first male solo artist to have a No.1 album on the Billboard chart while in prison. 
1992 Madness started a three week run at No.1 on the UK album chart with their third compilation LP ‘Divine Madness.’ 
1998 Celine Dion went back to No.1 on the UK singles chart with ‘My Heart Will Go On.’ 
1998 Will Smith started a three week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with ‘Gettin’ Jiggy Wit It’. 
1999 TLC started a four week run at No.1 on the US album chart with ‘Fanmail.’ 
1999 Stereophonics went to No.1 on the UK album chart with ‘Performance And Cocktails’, only the third Welsh band to score a No.1 and the first No.1 album for Richard Branson’s V2 label. 
2000 “Amazed” single by Lonestar was certified Gold by the RIAA
2001 Peter Blake, who designed The Beatles’ classic Sgt. Pepper album cover sued the group’s record company for more money. Blake was paid £200 ($340) for the famous figures in 1967, but was now “cheesed off” that EMI have never offered to pay more money. 
2001 Former Spice Girl Geri Halliwell was banned from driving for six weeks and fined £400 ($680) for speeding in her Aston Martin DB7. Geri had been snapped on a speed camera doing 60mph in a 30mph zone. 
2001 Peter Blake, who designed The Beatles’ classic Sgt. Pepper album cover sued the group’s record company for more money. Blake was paid £200 ($340) for the famous figures in 1967, but was now ‘cheesed off’ that EMI had never offered to pay more money. 
2002 Alicia Keys played a show in a suite at the House of Commons after young Labour MP David Lammy had booked the American singer. Lammy said he had arranged the show in an attempt to make Parliament more accessible to young people. 
2004 DJ Casper went to No.1 on the UK singles chart with ‘Cha Cha Slide.’ 
2005 Michael Jackson was blasted by British Army veterans for wearing military badges while on trail for child abuse. The singer had appeared in court on most days with either an Army motif on his breast pocket or a cap badge tied around his neck. 
2006 U2 topped Rolling Stone magazine’s annual list of the year’s biggest money earners from 2005 with $154.2m. (£78m), The Rolling Stones were listed second with $92.5m (£47m) and The Eagles third with 63.2m. (£32.m). Paul McCartney was in fourth place with $56m (£28m) and Elton John in fifth with $48.9m. (£24.8m). 
2008 Peter MacBeth, a member of The Foundations who had the 1968 UK hit with Build Me Up Buttercup, was jailed for child sex offences. MacBeth sexually assaulted a young girl on four occasions over the course of six years and downloaded child porn from the internet. The 71-year-old was suffering from cancer and had had he a tracheotomy which meant he lost his voice. Doctors had said he had between three and five years to live. 
2010 Phil Blake of UK indie band Redtrack returned to his career as the bassist with the band after he underwent a pioneering operation to reattach his hand after it was hacked to the bone in a machete attack. Blake thought he would never play guitar again after a teenage robber hacked through his arm when he refused to hand over a mobile phone. 
2011 Ronnie Hammond, the lead singer of The Atlanta Rhythm Section, died of heart failure at the age of 60. He led the band to two Billboard Top Ten hits, ‘So Into You’ in 1977 and ‘Imaginary Lover’ in 1978.
2014 American musician, Gary Burger died of pancreatic cancer on at the age of 71. He is best known as the guitarist and vocalist for the Garage rock band the Monks who formed in Gelnhausen, West Germany in 1964, by five American GIs stationed in the country. With their blend of shrill vocals, feedback, and guitarist David Day’s six-string banjo (which baffled audiences), music historians have since identified the Monks as a pioneering force in avant-garde music. 
2016 Sony ATV Music Publishing announced that it would buy out Michael Jackson’s share of a joint music publishing venture for $750m. The purchase gave Sony the rights to about three million songs, including works by The Beatles, Bob Dylan and Taylor Swift, but did not include Jackson’s master recordings.