on this day

6th March Today in Music History Events

1893 Memphis blues artist Walter ‘Furry’ Lewis. He was the first guitarist to play with a bottleneck. He lost a leg in a railroad accident and once supported The Rolling Stones. Joni Mitchell wrote the song ‘Furry Sings The Blues’ after him. Lewis died on September 14th 1981, aged 88. 
1905 Bob Wills, American Western swing musician, songwriter, and bandleader. Considered by music authorities as the co-founder of Western swing, he was universally known as the King of Western Swing. Wills died on 13th May 1975. 
1936 Sylvia Robinson born in New York, New York.American singer, musician, record producer, and record label executive. Robinson was best known for her work as founder and CEO of the hip hop label Sugar Hill Records. (1973 US No.3 & UK No. 14 single ‘Pillow Talk’), Mickey & Sylvia, (1957 US No.11 single ‘Love Is Strange’). Robinson died on the morning of September 29, 2011, at the age of 76, at Meadowlands Hospital in Secaucus, New Jersey due to congestive heart failure.[
1939 Jerry Naylor born in Chalk Mountain, Texas. American country and rock and roll artist and broadcaster who was the lead singer of The Crickets following the death of Buddy Holly. 
1944 Dave Gilmour born in Cambridge, England. Vocalist/Guitarist with Pink floyd. (1973 US No.1 & UK No.2 album ‘Dark Side Of The Moon’, spent a record breaking 741 weeks on the US chart). 
1944 Mary Wilson born in Greenville, Mississippi. Vocalist with The Supremes, (1964 UK & US No.1 single ‘Baby Love’ plus 11 other US No.1 singles). 
1945 Hugh Grundy born in Winchester, England. UK Drummer with he Zombies, (1964 US No.2 & UKNo.12 single ‘She’s Not There’). 
1946 Tony Klatka – US Trumpeter for Blood, Sweat & Tears. 
1947 Kiki Dee (Pauline Matthews) born in Bradford, England. (1976 UK & US No.1 single with Elton John, ‘Don’t Go Breaking My Heart’). 
1951 Welsh composer, singer and actor Ivor Novello died aged 58. He first became known for the song ‘Keep the Home Fires Burning,’ which he composed during World War I. The annual British songwriter award is named after him. 
1955 Tennessee Ernie Ford was at No.1 on the UK singles chart with ‘Give Me Your Word.’ 
1958 Everly Brothers recorded ‘All I Have To Do Is Dream’. 
1959 The Drifters recorded There goes My Baby. (Their First US Top 10 Hit). 
1961 George Formby died aged 57. The British singing comedian and ukulele player made over 20 films, and his best known song is ‘Leaning On A Lamp Post.’ Formby who was made an OBE in 1946 was a major influence on George Harrison. 
1961 “Wheels” by The String-A-Longs peaked at #3 on the US singles chart.
1964 Stephen Bier, (Wayne Gacy), keyboards with Marilyn Manson who had the 1998 US No.1 album, ‘Mechanical Animals’ and the UK No. 12 single, ‘The Dope Show’. 
1965 The Rolling Stones Number 2′ album went back to No.1 on the UK charts for six weeks. 
1965 The Temptations went to No.1 on the US singles chart with the Smokey Robinson penned song ‘My Girl’, making the group the first male act to have a No.1 for Motown, The single only reached No.43 in the UK but made No.2 when re-issued. 
1965 “The Jolly Green Giant” by The Kingsmen peaked at #4 on the US singles chart.
1966 The Rolling Stones started recording sessions for their tenth UK single ‘Paint It, Black’ at RCA studios in Hollywood. It was originally titled ‘Paint It Black’ without a comma. Keith Richards has stated that the comma was added by the record label, Decca. 
1967 The Beatles recorded sound effects onto the song ‘Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band’ at Abbey Road studios in London. The beginning audience murmurs and sounds of a band preparing for a performance are added, along with screams from a tape of the Beatles in concert at the Hollywood Bowl. 
1970 Betty Boo (Alison Clarkson) born in Kensington, London, England, singer, (1990 UK No.3 single ‘Where Are You Baby’). 
1970 The Beatles released the single “Let It Be/You Know My Name (Look Up The Number)” in the U.K.
1970 Awareness Records released an album “Lie” by Charles Manson, but the artist would be unable to promote the album in person because he was serving a life sentence in California’s San Quentin prison for the murder of actress Sharon Tate. Manson had been a vocalist/guitarist in the group Milky Way. A Manson composition, “Cease to Exist” was retitled “Never Learn Not to Love” and appeared as a B-side of a Beach Boys’ single. 
1970 Charles Manson released an album called ‘Lie’ to help raise money for his defence in the Tate-LeBianca murder trial. The album jacket was made to look like a cover of Life magazine with the letter f removed from the word Life. In the mid sixties, Manson had been a wanna-be musician who befriended Beach Boys’ drummer Dennis Wilson, eventually talking the group into recording one of his songs, ‘Cease To Exist’. The title was changed to ‘Never Learn Not To Love’ and was released as the B side of the single ‘Bluebirds Over The Mountain’, which eventually climbed to number 61 in the US in early 1969. 
1971 Mungo Jerry were at No.1 on the UK singles chat with ‘Baby Jump’, the group’s second and final No.1. 
1971 “Theme From Love Story” by Henry Mancini Orchestra peaked at #13 on the US singles chart.
1971 Led Zeppelin appeared at the National Boxing Stadium, Dublin, Ireland, the group’s first show in Dublin, where they played ‘Stairway To Heaven’ live for only the second time. 
1972 Pink Floyd played the first night on a 7-date tour of Japan at the Tokyo-To Taiikukan, in Tokyo, Japan. 
1973 An attempt to bring Elvis Presley to the UK for shows at London’s Earl’s Court failed. Promoters had hoped that Elvis would be available during the summer but were told that Elvis now had US tour and filming commitments. 
1973 Slade scored their fourth UK No.1 single with ‘Cum On Feel The Noize’, the first single to enter the charts at No.1 since The Beatles ‘Get Back’ in 1969. Elton John had the No.1 album with ‘Don’t Shoot Me I’m Only The Piano Player’. 
1974 “Spiders & Snakes” single by Jim Stafford was certified Gold by the RIAA
1974 JOHN DENVER RECORDS “BACK HOME AGAIN”
1974 Guy Garvey singer/guitarist with Manchester based group Elbow. Elbow won the Mercury Music Prize for their 2008 album ‘The Seldom Seen Kid’. 
1974 Dwight Grant, (Beanie Sigel), American rapper. Beanie founded the group and label State Property, as well as the clothing company of the same name. 
1975 “Psychedelic Shack” album by Temptations was released in the US. 
1975 “Pick Up The Pieces” single by Average White Band was certified Gold by the RIAA
1975 The Average White Band, all-white Scots playing black sounding funk music, earn its first gold record for the instrumental “Pick Up the Pieces,” which hits Number One in the pop chart last month.
1976 All By Myself” by Eric Carmen peaked at #2 on the US singles chart.
1976 Tina Charles was at No.1 in the UK with the single ‘I Love to Love’ (But My Baby Loves to Dance). The Miracles were at No.1 on the US singles chart with ‘Love Machine (part 1)’ and Bob Dylan was at No.1 on the US album chart with ‘Desire’. 
1976 “Baby Face” by The Wing & A Prayer Fife & Drum Corps peaked at #14 on the US singles chart.
1976 “Love Machine (part 1)” by The Miracles peaked at #1 on the pop singles chart.
1978 “Just The Way You Are” single by Billy Joel was certified Gold by the RIAA
1979 “Minute By Minute” album by Doobie Brothers was certified Platinum by the RIAA. Also inlcuding ‘What A Fool Believes’. 
1980 “Hydra” album by Toto was certified Gold by the RIAA. Including ’99’. 
1981 “9 To 5 And Odd Jobs” album by Dolly Parton was certified Gold by the RIAA. Including 9 To 5. 
1982 “Love In The First Degree” by Alabama peaked at #15 on the US singles chart.
1982 “Through The Years” by Kenny Rogers peaked at #13 on the USsingles chart.
1982 Tight Fit were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with their version of The Tokens hit ‘The Lion Sleeps Tonight.’ It was first recorded by its writer, Solomon Linda, and his group, The Evening Birds, in 1939. In 2004, the song became the subject of a lawsuit between the family of its writer Solomon Linda and Disney. The suit claimed that Disney owed $1.6 million in royalties for the use of ‘The Lion Sleeps Tonight’ in the film and stage production of The Lion King. A settlement was reached for an undisclosed amount in 2006. 
1982 The Go-Go’s started a six-week run at No.1 on the US album chart with ‘Beauty And The Beat.’ Including ‘Our Lips Are Sealed’. It becomes the first album by an all female group to hit the top of the charts. It remains number one for six weeks.
1982 “Leader Of The Band” by Dan Fogelberg peaked at #9 on the US singles chart.
1982 “Take It Easy On Me” by Little River Band peaked at #10 on the US singles chart.
1982 “Mirror, Mirror” by Diana Ross peaked at #8 on the US singles chart.
1984 Chris Tomson from Vampire Weekend. 2010 US & UK No.1 album, ‘Contra’ and the 2013 US No.1 album ‘Modern Vampires of the City’. 
1991 George Michael played the first of four sold-out nights at the Tokyo Dome, Tokyo, Japan on his Cover to Cover world tour. 
1993 “Bed Of Roses” by Bon Jovi peaked at #10 on the US singles chart.
1993 Peabo Bryson and Regina Belle went to No.1 on the US singles chart with ‘A Whole New World’ (Aladdin’s Theme)’. The single ended Whitney Houston’s 14-week run at the top of the charts. 
1994 Chaka Demus and Pliers went to No.1 on the UK album chart with ‘Tease Me.’ 
1994 Yvonne Fair who charted in 1976 with It Should Have Been Me, died aged 51 from cancer in Las Vegas, Nevada
1995 During a 12-date tour of Australian and New Zealand, Pearl Jam played at Perth Entertainment Centre, Perth, Australia. 
1998 Oasis singer Liam Gallagher appeared handcuffed in a Brisbane court on charges of head butting a fan during a gig in Australia. Gallagher was released on bail. 
1999 Monica had the US No.1 single with ‘Angel Of Mine’, Britney Spears held the UK No.1 position with ‘Baby One More Time’.
2000 Madonna went to No.1 on the Australian Singles Chart with ‘American Pie’. Staying at the top spot for 1wk. 
2001 A man who hid for 24 hours in the rafters of a Cathedral and secretly filmed the Christening of Madonna’s baby appeared in court. Security staff discovered the man after the ceremony when he made a noise as he climbed down from the rafters. 
2004 Diane Richie, the estranged wife of singer Lionel Richie, went to court seeking $300,000 (£176,500) a month in maintenance support. Diane’s monthly costs included: $20,000 (£11,800) a year on plastic surgery; $15,000 (£8,824) a month for clothing, shoes and accessories; $5,000 (£2,940) on jewellery; $3,000 (£1,765) on dermatology; $1,000 (£588) for laser hair removal and $600 (£353) on massages. 
2004 David Crosby was arrested and charged with criminal possession of a weapon and marijuana after leaving his bag in a New York hotel. The luggage was found by a hotel employee looking for identification, finding instead a handgun and marijuana. The employee called authorities, and Crosby, discovering the missing luggage himself, telephoned to say he would return for it. He was met by New York police, who arrested him. 
2005 G4 went to No.1 on the UK album chart with their self-titled debut, the four piece boy band had been featured on UK TV talent show X-Factor. 
2006 Renown African musician Ali Farka Toure dies of bone cancer at age 66. 
2008 A UK charity warned that nine out of ten young people had experienced the first signs of hearing damage after listening to loud music. The RNID said more should wear ear plugs to protect their hearing, without spoiling their appreciation of music. Experts said prolonged exposure to noise over 85 decibels would harm hearing over time. Music played in concerts, bars and clubs was often above this level.
2009 Michael Jackson was mobbed by screaming fans as he took his two youngest children to see Oliver! at Drury Lane. The youngest two of Jackson’s three children – seven-year-old Prince Michael II (known as Blanket) and 11-year-old Paris, hid their faces as they were escorted through the crowd. Jackson was in London, England to announce his series of summer concerts at the O2. Jackson died three weeks before the shows were to start. 
2010 R&B singer D’Angelo was arrested at the wheel of his Range Rover after trying to pay $40 (£27.50) for sex with an undercover police officer posing as a prostitute. The incident happened in New York City. 
2010 Mark Linkous, frontman with US band Sparklehorse committed suicide by shooting himself in the heart outside a friend’s house in Knoxville, Tennessee. In 1996 Linkous “died” for two minutes after ingesting a mix of Valium and antidepressants while supporting Radiohead on tour in the UK. He recovered, but the incident left him paralysed, after lying unconscious for 14 hours, with circulation to his legs cut off. He suffered a heart attack when doctors tried to straighten the limbs, and he had surgery seven times to save his legs. 
2016 Lana Rae Meisner, the wife of former Eagles’ bassist Randy Meisner, died after she accidentally shot herself while looking for something in a closet. Although the couple had a history of domestic incidents, police immediately cleared Randy of any wrongdoing whatsoever. 
2017 Ed Sheeran’s new album ÷ (Divide) became one of the fastest-selling releases ever in the UK, shifting 432,000 copies in just three days. The all-time list for first-week sales has Adele’s 25 and Oasis’s Be Here Now at the top with 800,000 each. ÷ smashed the Spotify record for the most-streamed album in a single day – notching up 56.7 million streams on its day of release.

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