On This Day In Music 27th March
1931 John Marascalco – US Songwriter who wrote 50’s numbers like ‘Rip It Up’ & ‘Good Golly Miss Molly’.
1932 Bluesman Junior Parker is born Herman Parker Jr. in either Clarksdale, Mississippi, or West Memphis, Arkansas. He died on November 18, 1971 (aged 39)
1934 Sarah Vaughan born in Newark, New Jersey. US Singer/Pianist.(1954 US No.6 single ‘Make Yourself Comfortable’ plus 8 other US Top 30 hits). Vaughan died 3rd April 1990.
1939 Bo Winberg born in Sweden – Swedish Guitarist/Songwriter & leader of the Spotnicks.
1940 Jamaican musical artist popular in the 1960s and 1970s. He worked with Desmond Dekker, Bob Marley, and Jimmy Cliff in the rhythm and blues and ska genres, and he also performed rocksteady and skinhead reggae.
1941 Walter “Bunny” Sigler born in Philadelphia. His real name is Walter, but his family calls him Bunny because he was born two days before Easter. American R&B singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and record producer who did extensive work with the team of Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff, and was instrumental in creating the “Philly Sound” in the early 1970s. Sigler died of a heart attack on October 6, 2017, at the age of 76.
1947 Andy Brown – UK Guitarist/Keyboard Player/Songwriter with The Herd, (1968 UK No.5 single ‘I Don’t Want Our Loving To Die’) He joined Status Quo from 1976 on keyboards, guitar and backing vocals.
1950 Tony Banks born in East Hoathly, England. UK Keyboard Player/Singer/Songwriter with Genesis, (1986 US No.1 single ‘Invisible Touch’, 1992 UK No.7 single ‘I Can’t Dance’ plus over 15 other UK Top 40 hit singles & 6 UK No.1 albums).
1952 Felix Haug – Swiss multi-talent musician & songwriter with Double. (Died May 1st 2004)
1953 Walter Stocker born in London, England. US Lead Guitarist with The Babys. The Babys disbanded in 1981 and he toured with Rod Stewart and Air Supply, as well as Humble Pie Featuring Jerry Shirley, Jimmy Barnes and Zoomer. He lived in Florida for a stretch before returning to Los Angeles when the Babys got back together and recorded a new CD, I’ll Have Some of That!.
1957 Billy MacKenzie born in Dundee, Scotland. Scottish singer, with a high tenor voice. He was a member of The Associates.(1982 UK No.9 single ‘Party Fears Two’). MacKenzie committed suicide on 23rd January 1997.
1957 “Whatever Will Be, Will Be (Que Sera)” from the Alfred Hitchcock movie The Man Who Knew Too Much wins the Academy Award for Best Original Son.
1958 Stereo albums are introduced.
1959 Andrew Farriss born in Cottesloe, Western Australia. Keyboards with INXS, (1988 UK No.2 & US No.1 single ‘Need You Tonight’, 1988 US No.3 and world-wide hit album ‘Kick).
1959 Russ Conway was at No.1 on the UK singles chart with ‘Side Saddle.’
1961 Clark Datchler born in London, England. UK Singer/Songwriter and co-founder of Johnny Hates Jazz, (1987 UK No.5 single ‘Shattered Dreams’).
1961 “Walk Right Back” by The Everly Brothers peaked at #7 on the US singles chart.
1961 “Dedicated To The One I Love” by The Shirelles reentered the chart and peaked at #3 on the US singles chart.
1962 Born on this day, Derrick McKenzie, drums, Jamiroquai, (1996 UK No.3 single ‘Virtual Insanity’, 1998 UK No.1 single ‘Deeper Underground’).
1962 Jann Arden (Jann Arden Richards) born in Alberta, Canada. Canadian Singer. Her biggest hit single is ‘Insensitive’ from 1996.
1964 Derrick McKenzie (drummer for Jamiroquai) is born in London. English funk and acid jazz band from London, formed in 1992. Fronted by singer-songwriter Jay Kay, the band rose to international fame in the 1990s as one of the most prominent components in the London-based funk/acid jazz movement. They are best known for the song “Canned Heat” (1999), featured in Napoleon Dynamite, and for the iconic music video for the 1996 single “Virtual Insanity”.
1964 The British invasion continued to make it’s way around the world with The Beatles having the top six positions on the Australian pop chart.
1964 the Beatles released the single “Why/Cry For A Shadow” in the U.S.
1965 Johnny April born in Enfield, Connecticut. Bass Guitarsit with Staind, (2001 US No.1 album, ‘Break The Cycle’, 2001 US No. 7 & UK No. 15 single ‘It’s Been A While’).
1965 The Supremes scored their fourth US No.1 single with ‘Stop! In The Name Of Love.’
1965 “Goldfinger” by Shirley Bassey peaked at #8 on the US singles chart.
1965 “Can You Hear My Heartbeat” by Herman’s Hermits peaked at #2 on the US singles chart.
1965 the Yardbirds replaced departing lead guitarist Eric Clapton with Jeff Beck…who’d been recommended by the group’s first choice, Jimmy Paige.
1967 John Lennon and Paul McCartney were awarded the prestigious Ivor Novello award for ‘Michelle’, the most performed song in the UK in 1966.
1967 The Young Rascals recorded Groovin’ on this day.
1967 The British Music Industry awarded John Lennon and Paul McCartney the prestigious Ivor Novello award for writing “Michelle,” the most-performed song in Britain the year before.
1967 The Rolling Stones were pelted with bottles, chairs, and even fireworks during a concert in Sweden. Police used dogs to clear the unruly crowd.
1968 The Beatles were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with ‘Lady Madonna’, the groups 14th UK No.1 and final No.1 on the Parlophone label.
1968 “The Graduate (soundtrack)” album by Simon & Garfunkel was certified Gold by the RIAA. Including ‘Sounds Of Silence’ & ‘Mrs Robinson’.
1968 “Lady Madonna” by The Beatles peaked at #1 on the U.K. pop singles chart.
1970 Brendan Hill, drummer for Blues Traveler, is born in London, England.
1970 Mariah Carey born in Huntington, New York. US Singer. Carey is named after ‘They Call The Wind Mariah’ from the musical ‘Paint Your Wagon’. Scored the 1994 UK No.1 single ‘Without You’ plus over 20 other UK Top 40 hits and 12 US No.1 single
1971 A New York radio station WNBC banned the song ‘One Toke Over the Line’ by Brewer & Shipley because of it’s a alleged drug references. Other stations around the country followed.
1971 “Doesn’t Somebody Want To Be Wanted” by Partridge Family peaked at #6 on the US singles chart.
1971 “Help Me Make It Through The Night” by Sammi Smith peaked at #8 on the US singles chart.
1971 The song “One Toke Over the Line,” by Brewer & Shipley, was banned from airplay on WNBC in New York City and several other stations followed suit, claiming it referred to drug use. Shipley responded that the ban was comparable to book burnings of the 1930s.
1971 “Proud Mary” by Ike & Tina Turner peaked at #4 on the US singles chart.
1971 “What Is Life” by George Harrison peaked at #10 on the US singles chart.
1972 Elvis Presley recorded what would be his last major hit, ‘Burning Love,’ a No.2 hit on the US chart and No.7 in the UK.
1973 “Billion Dollar Babies” album by Alice Cooper was certified Gold by the RIAA. Including ‘No More Mr Nice Guy’.
1973 Liza Minnelli wins an Oscar for Best Actress for her role in Cabaret, beating out Diana Ross, who starred in Lady Sings The Blues.
1975 Fergie born Stacy Ann Ferguson in Hacienda Heights, California. US R&B singer, songwriter, former member of Kids Incorporated, Wild Orchid, co-host of the TV show Great Pretenders, and vocalist of The Black Eyed Peas. 2003 US & UK No.1 single ‘Where Is The Love’, 2006 US No.1 solo single ‘London Bridge.’ 2007 world-wide No.1 single ‘Big Girls Don’t Cry.’
1976 “Deep Purple” by Donny & Marie Osmond peaked at #14 on the US singles chart.
1976 “Lonely Night (Angel Face)” by Captain & Tennille peaked at #3 on the US singles chart.
1976 “Dream Weaver” by Gary Wright peaked at #2 on the US singles chart.
1979 Eric Clapton marries George Harrison’s ex-wife Pattie, the subject of the song “Layla.” Harrison attends the wedding and remains friends with Clapton.
1981 “Rapture” single by Blondie was certified Gold by the RIAA
1982 The Goombay Dance Band were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with ‘Seven Tears’, making them the second German act to score a UK No.1, (Kraftwerk being the first).
1982 Ronnie Lane, formerly of Small Faces, Faces and Chance was admitted to the hospital for treatment for multiple sclerosis.
1982 “Pac-Man Fever,” a song about the arcade game that has America enthralled, cracks the Top 10, becoming the only song about a video game ever to do so.
1986 In Valley Center, Kansas, Metallica join Ozzy Osbourne’s Ultimate Sin tour as the opening act.
1987 U2 performed from the roof of a store in downtown LA to make the video for ‘Where The Streets Have No Name’, attracting thousands of spectators and bringing traffic to a standstill. The police eventually stop the shoot.
1988 Jessie J born Jessica Ellen Cornish in Redbridge, London, Englan., English singer-songwriter, who had the 2011 UK No.1 single ‘Price Tag’ and the 2012 UK No.1 ‘Domino.’
1990 Kimbra born (Kimbra Lee Johnson in Hamilton, New Zealand. She and Gotye won the Record of the Year and Best Pop Duo/Group Performance awards at the 55th Annual Grammy Awards for ‘Somebody That I Used to Know’, making her only the third New Zealand singer to win a Grammy Award in history.
1993 Hot Chocolate went to No.1 on the UK album chart with ‘Their Greatest Hits’ album.
1993 Saxophone player Clifford Jordan dies from lung cancer at age 61.
1993 Kyuss begins a run of Australian tour dates opening for Metallica, during the latter group’s tour in support of The Black Album, at the Entertainment Centre in Sydney.
1995 The British boy band Take That releases its most successful single, “Back For Good,” which lands at #1 on several charts around the world and secures the #7 spot in America.
1997 The Spice Girls had the UK No.1 single with ‘Mama / Who Do You Think You Are.’ Will Smith held the US No.1 position with ‘Gettin’ Jiggy With It’.
2000 Singer, songwriter, poet and actor, Ian Dury died after a long battle with cancer aged 57. Dury had been disabled by polio as a child.
2001 Bruce Springsteen releases Live In New York City, the accompanying album to an HBO concert film that follows the Boss and his E Street Band on a ten-show tour, ending at New York City’s Madison Square Garden.
2002 Dudley Moore died at age 66 after a long battle with a degenerative brain condition
2003 John Lennon’s boyhood home in Liverpool is opened to the public.
2004 Prince kicks off his Musicology tour with a show in Reno, Nevada. The average ticket costs $61, which includes a copy of the Musicology album. These are counted as sales according to Billboard, so the album rises to #3 (his previous three albums failed to chart). The tour takes in $87.4 million, making it the highest-grossing of 2004
2005 Prince kicks off his Musicology tour with a show in Reno, Nevada. The average ticket costs $61, which includes a copy of the Musicology album. These are counted as sales according to Billboard, so the album rises to #3 (his previous three albums failed to chart). The tour takes in $87.4 million, making it the highest-grossing of 2004.
2005 Mexican singer Rigo Tovar dies at age 58.
2006 Former Village People policeman Victor Willis was arrested in San Francisco, California, after he disappeared from a drug and gun trial. Police had charged Willis with being in possession of cocaine and drug paraphernalia in July 2005. He would later be sentenced to three years’ probation after he agreed to enter a treatment program.
2006 Pete Wells, guitarist in Rose Tattoo, dies of prostate cancer at age 59. He was the founder and slide guitarist from 1976 to 1983.
2006 Elvis Presley’s Graceland mansion is designated as a National Historic Landmark.
2007 Faustino Oramas of Buena Vista Social Club dies at age 95.
2007 The wife of Velvet Revolver singer Scott Weiland was arrested on suspicion of burning over $10,000 (£5,000) of his belongings outside their home after police in southern California found a bin of smouldering clothes. Earlier that day, the couple left two rooms vandalised after an argument at a luxury hotel.
2007 Eminem and his ex-wife Kim reached a court agreement to stop insulting each other in public. The pair, who divorced for the second time last year, pledged to stop trading insults for the sake of their 11-year-old daughter Hailie. The deal came after the rap star took legal action to stop Kim Mathers making “derogatory, disparaging, inflammatory and otherwise negative comments”.
2008 Grammy-nominated rapper Remy Ma was convicted of assault after a woman was shot in New York. The jury heard how Ms Smith had shot her friend outside a nightclub in July 2007 because she thought the woman had stolen $3,000 (£1,495) from her. The rapper was to remain in jail without bail until she was sentenced.
2008 An inquest in Leeds, England heard the husband of UK singer Corinne Bailey Rae died from a suspected overdose. The body of saxophonist Jason Rae, 31, was found in a flat in the Hyde Park area of Leeds. A 32-year-old man arrested on suspicion of supplying controlled drugs was bailed pending further inquiries.
2008 X Factor winner Leona Lewis became the first British woman to top the US pop chart for more than 20 years with her single ‘Bleeding Love.’ Kim Wilde was the last UK female to top the Billboard Hot 100 chart, with her 1987 cover version of the Supremes hit ‘You Keep Me Hangin’ On’. Petula Clark was the first, with her 1965 track ‘Downtown’, while Sheena Easton’s ‘Morning Train’ – released in the UK as 9 To 5 followed in 1981.
2008 The Los Angeles Times publishes — and later retracts — a story that Diddy had a hand in the shooting that killed Tupac Shakur. In the end, it is all fiction conjured by an imprisoned con man.
2008 Trace Adkins is one of the finalists on Season 7 of The Celebrity Apprentice. He loses the battle to tabloid editor Piers Morgan.
2011 Dionne Warwick is the fourth contestant fired by Donald Trump on season 11 of The Celebrity Apprentice.
2013 Gordon Stoker of The Jordanaires dies at age 88.
2012 David Bowie’s landmark album Ziggy Stardust was celebrated with a blue plaque in central London. Former Spandau Ballet star Gary Kemp, unveiled a plaque at the spot where the cover of the 1972 release was shot. The location in Heddon Street, just off Regent Street, is now a pedestrianised area brimming with bars and restaurants.
2013 Crawdaddy magazine founder Paul Williams dies at age 64. Not to be confused with the singer/songwriter/actor Paul Williams, the subject of the 2011 documentary, Paul Williams Still Alive.
2013 Trace Adkins is one of the finalists on Season 7 of The Celebrity Apprentice. He loses the battle to tabloid editor Piers Morgan.
2013 Gordon Stoker of The Jordanaires dies at age 88
2015 Country singer Willie Nelson announced that he and his family were hard at work on a new brand of marijuana called Willie’s Reserve. Stores of that same name were being planned and were to include his signature brand and other strains that would be grown to meet quality standards.