2nd March Today in Music History Events

1938 Lawrence Payton born in Detroit, Michigan. Vocalist with The Four Tops, (1965 US No.1 single with ‘I Can’t Help Myself’ and a 1967 UK No.6 single with ‘Standing In The Shadows of Love’). Payton died on June 20th 1997. 
1941 Keith Potger born in Columbo, Sri Lanka. Vocalist/Guitarist with The Seekers. 
1943 Lou Reed (Louis Firbank) born in New York, New York. US singer/Songwriter. Velvet Underground, (1968 ‘White Light, White Heat’), solo, (1973 UK No.10 & US No.16 single ‘Walk On The Wildside’, 1997 UK No.1 charity single ‘Perfect Day’). On October 27, 2013, he died from liver disease. 
1943 Tony Meehan born in Paddington, London. Drummer with The Shadow. He then formed a duo with guitarist Jet Harris. (1963 UK No.1 single ‘Foot Tapper’ plus 28 other UK Top 40 singles). Meehan died on 28/11/05 aged 62 from head injuries sustained in a fall. 
1948 Larry Carlton born in Torrance, California. US Singer & Guitarist for The Crusaders, (1979 UK No.5 & US No. 36 single ‘Street Life’). In 1981 his guitar work featured on The them From Hill Street Blues. 
1948 Rory Gallagher born in Ballyshannon, County Donegal, Ireland. He was an Irish blues-rock multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, and band leader, who had a 1970 UK No.18 album with ‘On The Boards/Taste’. Gallagher died on June 14th 1995. 
1948 Phil Manning born in Devonport, Tasmania. Australian blues singer-songwriter and guitarist. Manning has been a member of various groups including Chain and has had a solo career.
1949 Eddie Money( né: Eddie Mahoney) born in Brooklyn, New York. US Singer/Songriter. 
1950 Karen Carpenter born in Connecticut. US Singer/Drummer. with The Carpenters. (1973 UK No.2 single ‘Yesterday Once More’ plus 3 US No.1’s including 1975 US No.1single ‘Please Mr Postman’. 1974 UK & US No.1 album ‘The Singles 1969-1973 spent 125 weeks on th
1955 Jay Osmond – US Drummer with the sibling band The Osmonds. , The Osmonds, (1971 US No.1 single ‘One Bad Apple’, 1974 UK No.1 single ‘Love Me For A Reason’ plus 9 other US & UK Top 40 singles). 
1955 Elvis Presley appeared at Porky’s Rooftop Club in Newport, Arkansas. Constantly on the road, performing night after night this was the group’s 46th show this year, (Elvis along with Scotty Moore and Bill Black). 
1955 Bo Diddley has his first recording session at Universal Recording Studio in Chicago, where he laid down ‘Bo Diddley’, which went on the top the US R&B chart by the following June. 
1956 Mark Evans born in Melbourne, VIC. Bass Player with AC/DC. He quit in 1977 after becoming tired of touring. 
1955 Dale Bozzio born in Medford, Massachusetts. US Singer/Songwriter with Missing Persons. 
1956 John Cowsill born in New Port, Rhode Island. Vocalist with The Cowsills, (1967 US No.2 single ‘The Rain, The Park & Other Things’, 1969 US No.2 single the theme from ‘Hair’). TV’s Partrige Family was based on the family. 
1960 After completing his national service and flying back to America, Elvis Presley stepped on British soil for the first and only time in his life when the plane carrying him stopped for refuelling at Prestwick Airport, Scotland. 
1961 The Everly Brothers had their third UK No.1 single with ‘Walk Right Back’ a song written by Sonny Curtis of The Crickets. 
1962 Jon Bon Jovi (Jon bongiovi) born in Sayreville, New Jersey. Lead Singer for Bon Jovi. (1990 UK No.13 single ‘Blaze Of Glory’), Bon Jovi, vocals, (1987 US No.1 & UK No.4 single ‘Livin’ On A Prayer’, 1986 US & UK No.1 album ‘Slippery When Wet’, plus 9 other
1963 The Four Seasons became the first group to have 3 consecutive No.1’s in the US when ‘Walk Like A man’, started a three week run at the top, a No.12 in hit the UK. 
1963 Ned Miller went to No.1 on the Australian Singles Chart with ‘From A Jack To A King’. Staying at the top for 3wks. 
1964 The Beatles began filming what would become their first feature film ‘A Hard Day’s Night’ at Marylebone train station in London. 
1966 The Easybeats went to No.1 on the Australian Singles Chart with ‘Women (Make You Feel Alright)’. Staying at No.1 for 1wk. 
1967 Herb Alpert wins a Grammy for “What Now My Love,” Best Non-Jazz Instrumental.
1967 The Mamas & the Papas wins a Grammy for “Monday Monday,” Best Contemporary Group Performance.
1967 Engelbert Humperdinck was at No.1 on the UK singles chart with ‘Release Me.’ The singers first of two number 1’s, the song spent six weeks at the top of the chart and a record fifty six weeks on the chart. 
1972 The Mom’s & Dads went to No.1 on the Australian Singles Chart with ‘The Ranger’s Waltz’. Staying at No.1 for 1wk. 
1974 Gladys Knight & the Pips wins Grammys for “Neither One of Us” (Best Pop Vocal Performance By A Duo, Group or Chorus) and “Midnight Train to Georgia.” (best R&B vocal performance by a group).
1974 Neil Diamond wins a Grammy for “Jonathan Livingston Seagull,” Best Film Soundtrack. Including ‘Lonely Looking Sky’, ‘Be’ & ‘Skybird’. 
1974 At this year’s Grammys Stevie Wonder won four awards: Album of the year for ‘Innervisions’, Best R&B song and Best vocal for ‘Superstition’ and Pop vocal performance for ‘You Are The Sunshine Of My Life’. 
1974 Terry Jacks started a three week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with ‘Seasons In The Sun’, also No.1 in the UK. The song (written in French by Belgian, Jacques Brel), had English lyrics by poet Rod McKuen.
1975 A policeman who stopped a Lincoln Continental for running a red light in Los Angeles was surprised to find Paul McCartney at the wheel with his wife Linda. The cop detected a smell of marijuana and on searching the car found eight ounces of the drug. Linda was arrested for the offence. 
1977 Chris Martin born in Exeter, Devon, England. ,English singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, and is the lead vocalist, pianist, rhythm guitarist and one of the founders of the band Coldplay, who had the 2000 UK No.4 single ‘Yellow’, 2000 UK No.1 album ‘Parachutes’ and the 2005 worldwide No.1 album ‘X&Y’. 
1977 Gigs tonight around the UK; at The Apollo Glasgow, Scotland, Black Sabbath, AC/DC appeared at The Top Rank in Swansea and David Bowie and Iggy Pop played at Newcastle City Hall. 
1977 The Jam played the first of a five-week Wednesday night run at The Red Cow, Hammersmith, London. The group had just signed a four-year recording contract with Polydor records. 
1983 A new digital audio system, a five-inch compact disc containing up to 1 hour of music was launched by Sony, Philips and Polygram. 
1984 James Roy Hill died on this day aged 60. Singer, Songwriter, wrote “Whole Lotta Shakin’ Going On
1985 Luke Pritchard, lead vocalist and guitarist with The Kooks, (2008 UK No.1 album ‘Konk’). 
1985 Phil Collins started a five-week run at No.1 on the UK chart with his third solo LP ‘No Jacket Required’. 
1985 Wham! started a three week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with ‘Make It Big’, which eventually went on the sell over 5 million copies in the US. 
1985 The Smiths were at No.1 on the UK indie charts with ‘How Soon Is Now.’ Soho had a No.8 UK hit with ‘Hippy Chick.’ a song based on a guitar sample from the song. 
1991 21 years after it’s first release ‘All Right Now’, by Free made No.2 in the UK singles chart after being re-issued to coincide with its use in a Wrigleys Chewing gum TV ad. 
1991 French singer Serge Gainsbourg died of a heart attack. Famous for his 1969 UK No.1 duet with Jane Birkin on ‘Je t’aime… Moi non plus.’ During his career, he wrote the soundtracks for more than 40 films. 
1991 Madonna’s ‘Rescue Me’, entered the US hot 100 at No.15, making her the highest- debuting female artist in rock history. The record had been held by Joy Llayne whose 1957 single ‘Your Wild Heart’, entered the chart at No. 30. 
1991 Mariah Carey started an 11-week run at No.1 on the US album chart with her debut ‘Mariah Carey.’ 
1996 Oasis scored their second UK No.1 single when ‘Don’t Look Back In Anger’ went to No.1. From the bands ‘What’s The Story Morning Glory’ album it was the first Oasis single to feature Noel on lead vocals instead of his brother, Liam Gallagher. 
1997 LeAnn Rimes went to No.1 on the US album chart with ‘Unchained Melody, The Early Years.’ 
1997 Mansun went to No.1 on the UK album chart with their debut album ‘Attack Of The Grey Lantern.’ 
1998 British singer and songwriter James Arthur is born in Middlesbrough Teesside, England. He won the ninth series of The X Factor in 2012. He scored the 2016 UK No.1 hit ‘Say You Won’t Let Go’. 
1998 Run D.M.C. Vs Jason Nevens went to No.1 on the Australian Singles Chart with ‘It’s Like That’. Staying at the top spot for 4wks. 
1999 Dusty Springfield died after a long battle against cancer, aged 59. The British singer had her first UK hit single in 1963 with ‘I Only Want To Be With You’, which reached No.4, the 1966 UK No.1 & US No.4 single with ‘You Don’t Have To Say You Love Me’ plus over 15 other UK Top 40 singles. 
2002 The NME published the winners from this year’s Carling Awards: Band of the year went to The Strokes, Album of the year, The Strokes for ‘Is This It’, Best live act was U2, Single of the year went to Ash for ‘Burn Baby Burn’ and Best solo artist was won by Ian Brown. 
2003 Christina Aguilera started a two week run at No.1 on the UK singles chart with Linda Perry written and produced song ‘Beautiful’. The singers fourth UK No.1 which earned her a Grammy Award for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance. 
2003 Norah Jones started a four week run at No.1 on the UK album chart with her debut album ‘Come Away With Me’. The album spent over a year on the chart and was also a US No.1. 
2003 Singer, songwriter Hank Ballard died from throat cancer. Wrote and recorded ‘The Twist’ but it was only released on the B-side of a record. One year later, Chubby Checker debuted his own version of ‘The Twist’ on Dick Clark’s Philadelphia television show. It topped the charts and launched a dance craze that prompted the creation of other Twist songs, including ‘Twist and Shout’ by the Isley Brothers and ‘Twistin’ the Night Away’ by Sam Cooke. 
2003 R Kelly was at No.1 on the US album chart with ‘Chocolate Factory.’ 
2007 Jimi Hendrix was crowned the ‘wildest guitar hero’ of all-time in a poll of music fans for Classic Rock magazine. Hendrix beat Keith Richards into second place, with Stevie Ray Vaughan in third. Led Zeppelin’s Jimmy Page made it to number four, followed by Dimebag Darrell, who played for several heavy metal bands including Pantera and Damageplan. 
2007 American R&B singer Kelis was arrested in Miami Beach, Florida, after the singer started screaming racial obscenities at two female police officers who were working on an undercover operation on South Beach as prostitutes. Kelis was detained and charged with two misdemeanor charges of disorderly conduct and for resisting arrest. 
2008 Canadian guitarist, singer, Jeff Healey, died of cancer. Healey lost his sight to retinoblastoma, a rare cancer of the eyes when he was eight months old, resulting in his eyes being surgically removed. After living cancer-free for 38 years, he developed sarcoma in his legs. Despite surgery for this, the sarcoma spread to his lungs and ultimately was the cause of his death. Healey released over 12 albums, presented a long running radio show and worked with many artists including Stevie Ray Vaughan, Buddy Guy, BB King, ZZ Top & Eric Clapton. 
2008 Three months after its initial release, the deluxe edition of Amy Winehouse’s Grammy Award-winning album ‘Back to Black’ went to No.1 on the UK album chart 
2009 DJ and Ivor Novello award winner Norman Cook checked himself into rehab to battle an alcohol addiction. His manager Garry Blackburn said. “Norman is voluntarily seeking help for his alcohol problem but he’s in good shape.” 
2009 Liverpool University launched a Masters degree on The Beatles, popular music and society. Liverpool Hope University claimed the course which looked at the studio sound and compositions of The Beatles was the first of its kind in the UK and “probably the world”. 
2013 A pencil doodle by Paul McCartney when he was a teenager sold for over $5,000. The sketches were drawn by McCartney during the late 1950s while a student at the Liverpool Institute High School For Boys. The drawings showed multiple faces with different expressions on a single sheet of paper in pencil. The auction house said the drawing sold for £3,764 ($5,692). 
2016 Bob Dylan sold his personal archive of notes, draft lyrics, poems, artwork and photographs to the University of Tulsa, where they would be made available to scholars and curated for public exhibitions. The 6,000 item collection also included master recording tapes of Dylan’s entire music catalog, along with hundreds of hours of film video.