February 7 – Today in Music History

1920 Folk singer-songwriter Oscar Brand is born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, but is raised in Brooklyn, New York. Singer-songwriter and author. In his career, spanning 70 years, he composed at least 300 songs and released nearly 100 albums, among them Canadian and American patriotic songs. Brand died of pneumonia on September 30, 2016, at the age of 96.
1924 Dora Bryan born (Dora May Broadbent) in Parbold, Lancashire. English actress and singer who had the 1963 UK No.20 single ‘All I Want For Christmas Is A Beatle’. She died on 23 July 2014 at the age of 91
1934 Earl King born in New Orleans, Louisiana. New Orleans Blues guitarist. King died on April 17th 2003 aged 69. He wrote ‘Come On, (Let The Good Times Roll’).
1934 King Curtis (Curtis Ousley) born in Fort Worth, Texas. was an American saxophone virtuoso known for rhythm and blues, rock and roll, soul, blues, funk and soul jazz. He was stabbed to death by a vagrant on the front steps of his New York home on 13th August 1971. Worked with John Lennon, played on The Coasters ‘Yakety Yak’.
1946 Sammy Johns born in Charlotte, North Carolina. US Singer with one hit ‘Chevy Van’. Johns died on January 4, 2013, at Gaston Memorial Hospital in Gastonia, North Carolina, at the age of 66
1948 Jimmy Greenspoon born in Los Angeles, California. Keyboard Player with Three Dog Night, (1970 UK No.3 & US No.1 single ‘Mamma Told Me Not To Come’). In 2014, Greenspoon was diagnosed with metastatic melanoma, and stopped touring with Three Dog Night. He died of cancer in North Potomac, Maryland, at the age of 67
1949 Alan Lancaster born in Peckham, South London, England. UK Bass Player with Status Quo, (left in 1984, 1977 UK No.3 single ‘Rockin’ All Over The World’ plus 50 other UK Top 75 singles since 1968). Lancaster continues to live in Sydney, Australia. He joined a new line-up of Australian band The Party Boys in 1987 and then co-produced a hit album, achieving platinum sales. Also achieving ‘gold’ and reaching the number one spot with hit single “He’s Gonna Step On You Again”. In 1988, he formed The Bombers, which signed to A&M Records in the US.
1949 Stoney Browder born in New York. US Guitarist/Pianist with Kid Creole And The Coconuts, (1982 UK No.2 single ‘Annie I’m Not Your Daddy’). Died in 1991 of complications of a stroke.
1959 Brian Travers born in Birmingham, England. UK Saxophonist/Songwriter with UB40, (1983 UK No.1 & 1988 US No.1 single ‘Red Red Wine’ and over 30 other top 40 hits). He also directs most of their videos.
1959 Buddy Holly was buried in Lubbock, Texas. His tombstone reads “Holley”, the correct spelling of his given surname and includes pictures of a guitar.
1960 Steve Bronski born in Glasgow, Scotland. UK Keyboard Player/Songwriter with the group named after him, Bronski Beat, (1984 UK No.3 single ‘Smalltown Boy’).
1962 David Bryan born in New Jersey. US Keyboard Player with Bon Jovi, (1987 US No.1 & UK No.4 single ‘Livin’ On A Prayer’).
1962 Garth Brooks (Troyal Garth Brooks) born in Yukon, Oklahoma. US Country singer, (1991 US No.1 album ‘Ropin’ The Wind’ spent 70 weeks on the US chart, 1994 UK No.13 single ‘The Red Strokes.’ Biggest selling artist of the 90’s with over 60 million sales).
1962 Deborah Bonham, English rock and blues vocalist and the sister of John Bonham, the late drummer for the band Led Zeppelin.
1963 Appearing at The Manor House, London, The Blues By Six plus The Rolling Stones, tickets 4 shillings, ($0.56c).
1963 The first Beatles single ‘Please Please Me’ was released in the US on the Vee Jay label.
1963 The Blues By Six plus The Rolling Stones appeared at The Manor House, London, tickets cost 4 shillings, ($0.56c).
1964 Pan Am flight 101 was greeted by over 5,000 Beatles fans as it arrived at New York’s JFK airport, bringing The Beatles to the US for the first time and causing riotous scenes as they touched down.
1966 The Beach Boys album, “Summer Days” goes gold, it’s their sixth album to do so. Including ‘Then I Kissed Her’, ‘Help Me Rhonda’ & ‘California Girls’.
1967 Robin, Maurice and Barry Gibb of The Bee Gees returned to the UK after living in Australia for nine years.
1967 The Bee Gees, made up by Barry, Maurice and Robin Gibb, return to their homeland after nine years in Austrailia. While down under, the group had their own weekly TV show and a Number One single. They are back and ready to be stars in England and a feat they achieve with their first U.K. Top Ten hit, “New York Mining Disaster.”
1967 Mike Nesmith and Mickey Dolenz from The Monkees appeared on UK TV’s ‘Top Of The Pops.’
1968 Sully Erna, guitar, vocals, Godsmack, who had the 2003, US No.1 album ‘Faceless’, 2006 US No.1 album ‘IV’.
1968 “Guantanamera” album by Sandpipers was certified Gold by the RIAA. People misunderstood the song title for “One Ton Tomato!”
1969 John and Yoko were featured on the cover of Rolling Stone magazine, on sale for 35 Cents, (2/6). John was named as Rolling Stone’s Man Of The Year.
1969 The Who recorded ‘Pinball Wizard’ at Morgan Studio’s, London, England. The song is one of the band’s most famous live songs, being played at almost every Who concert since its debut live performance on 2 May 1969. The track which featured on their 1969 rock opera album Tommy was released as a single in 1969 and reached No. 4 in the UK charts and No. 19 in the US.
1969 Doors singer Jim Morrison was arrested for drunk driving and driving with no license in Los Angeles, California.
1970 Ian Anderson of Jethro Tull married record company secretary Jennie Franks.
1970 Appearing at Leicester University, England, Deep Purple.
1970 Led Zeppelin scored their first UK No.1 album with ‘Led Zeppelin II’. Released in November 1969, and featuring the US No. 4 single ‘Whole Lotta Love’, it went on to stay on the UK chart for 136 weeks. Also reaching No. 1 in the US, the RIAA in the US has now certified it as having sold over 12 million copies in the US alone
1970 One hit wonders Shocking Blue went to No.1 on the US singles chart with ‘Venus’, making them the first Dutch act to top the US charts. It made No.8 in the UK; Bananarama took the song to No.8 on the UK chart in 86.
1970 ” “”Jingle Jangle”” by The Archies peaked at #10 on the US singles chart.
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1970 “Walkin’ In The Rain” by Jay & The Americans peaked at #19 on the US singles chart.
1970 “I’ll Never Fall In Love Again” by Dionne Warwick peaked at #6 on the US singles chart.
1974 James Dewitt Yancey, (J Dilla or Jay Dee), hip hop producer and MC. He died on Feb 10th 2006 of a rare blood disease at his home in Los Angeles, California.
1974 “Love’s Theme” single by Love Unlimited was certified Gold by the RIAA
1974 “Stone Gon'” album by Barry White was certified Gold by the RIAA. Including ‘Never Never Gonna Give You Up’.
1974 Soul artist Barry White receives four gold records on this date: for the singles “Never, Never Gonna Give Ya Up” (#7), “Love’s Theme” (Number One by the Love Unlimited Orchestra, conducted by White), and the album’s “Under the Influence of Love Unlimited” (#3) and “Sonte Gon'” (#20).
1974 Danny Goffey born in Eton, Buckinghamshire. Drummer with English group Supergrass who had the 1995 UK No.2 single ‘Alright’, and the 1995 UK No.1 album ‘I Should Coco’ which spent 35 weeks on the UK chart.
1975 Wes Borland born in Richmond, Virginia. Guitarist with Limp Bizkit, who had the 2001 UK No.1 single ‘Rollin’ & US & UK No.1 album ‘Chocolate Starfish and the Hotdog Flavoured Water’.
1976 Bob Dylan started a five-week run at No.1 on the US album chart with ‘Desire’, his second US No.1.Including ‘Hurricane’.
1976 Paul Simon started a three week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with ’50 Ways To Leave Your Lover’, the singers first solo US No.1.
1976 Slim Whitman started a 6-week run at No.1 on the UK album chart with his self-titled album.
1976 “Times Of Your Life” hits #7 on the US singles chart by Paul Anka.
1976 “Love To Love You Baby” by Donna Summer peaked at #2 on the US singles chart.
1976 “Sing A Song” by Earth Wind & Fire peaked at #5 on the US singles chart.
1976 “You Sexy Thing” by Hot Chocolate peaked at #3 on the US singles chart.
1977 Pussyfoot went to No.1 in the Australian Singles Chart with ‘The Way You Do It’. Staying at the top spot for 5wks.
1979 Stephen Stills became the first rock performer to record on digital equipment in Los Angeles’ Record Plant Studio.
1980 Pink Floyd played the first of seven sold out nights at the Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena, Los Angeles, California.
1980 AC/DC appear on Top of the Pops, where they perform A Touch Too Much. It would be lead singer Bon Scott’s last appearance with the band.
1981 Kool & The Gang started a two week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with ‘Celebration’ the group’s first No.1 and 8th top 40 hit, a No.7 hit in the UK.
1981 “Passion” by Rod Stewart peaked at #5 on the US singles chart.
1981 “Seven Bridges Road” by Eagles peaked at #21 on the US singles chart.
1981 John Lennon was at No.1 on the UK singles chart with ‘Woman’, an ode to his wife Yoko Ono. It was Lennon’s third No.1 in seven weeks after his death on December 8, 1980.
1981 “Miss Sun” by Boz Scaggs peaked at #14 on the pop singles chart.
1983 Sam Martin, American musician, singer, songwriter. He rose to fame in 2014 for not only writing, but being a featured artist on David Guetta’s No.1 singles ‘Lovers on the Sun’ and ‘Dangerous’.
1983 “Hello, I Must Be Going” album by Phil Collins was certified Gold by the RIAA. Including ‘You Can’t Hurry Love’, ‘I Don’t Care Anymore’ & ‘I Can’t Believe It’s True’
1985 Matt Monro, 60’s UK ballad singer died from liver cancer at the Cromwell Hospital, Ealing, London. 1964 UK No.4 & US No.23 single ‘Walk Away’ plus 10 other UK Top 40 hits including the 1965 hit with his version of The Beatles’ ‘Yesterday’.
1987 George Michael and Aretha Franklin were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with ‘I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)’. Written by Simon Climie it gave Aretha her first UK No.1 almost 20 years after her first hit.
1987 Madonna went to No.1 on the US singles chart with ‘Open Your Heart’, her 5th US No.1, a No.4 hit in the UK.
1989 Georgia state representative Billy Randall introduced a bill to make Little Richards ‘Tutti Frutti’, the state’s official rock song.
1994 Blind Melon’s lead singer Shannon Hoon was forced to leave the American Music Awards ceremony for his loud and disruptive behaviour. Hoon was later charged with battery, assault, resisting arrest, and destroying a police station phone.
1998 Aqua scored their second UK No.1 single with ‘Doctor Jones.’
1999 Songwriter Robert Williams died aged 81. Wrote, ‘Route 66’ (covered by many acts including The Stones, Chuck Berry, and ‘The Girl Can’t Help It.’
1999 Blondie went to No.1 on the UK singles chart with ‘Maria’, giving the group their 6th UK No.1 single, 20 years after their first. At the age of 54, lead singer Debbie Harry became the oldest female to make No.1.
2000 Big Punisher died of a heart attack, aged 28. The rapper had weighed 318kg (50 stone) when he had the attack. His second album, Yeeeah Baby, completed before his death, was issued as scheduled in April 2000. It peaked at No.3 on the Billboard charts.
2000 Robin Scott died aged 79. Scott had launched the UK BBC Radio 1 station in 1967.
2000 Dave Pevertt guitarist with Savoy Brown died from kidney cancer aged 56.
2000 English guitarist and singer Dave Pevertt died from kidney cancer aged 56. Had been a member of Savoy Brown and Foghat who had the 1970’s hit singles ‘My Babe’, and ‘Slow Ride’.
2001 U2 played a secret show at London’s Astoria. Stars attending the show included actor John Hurt, Queen’s Roger Taylor, Mick Jagger, Bob Geldof, Chris Evans and members of Toploader.
2003 Courtney Love arrived at a benefit concert at London’s Old Vic Theatre dressed as Donald Duck. Courtney joined Elton John on stage for a version of ‘The Bitch Is Back’.
2004 Queen’s single ‘We Will Rock You’ topped a poll of music fans to find the greatest rock anthem of all time. The 1977 song beat the band’s classic ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ into second place in a survey of 1,000 people carried out for the UCI cinema chain. The poll was carried out to mark the release of new Jack Black comedy ‘School of Rock.’
2005 Grantley Dee, blind Melbourne singe and disc-jockey, died aged 59. During the 60’s he worked on 3AK and had a few pop hits inlcuidng ‘Let The Little Girl Dance’.
2005 Michael Jackson’s Thriller was named the top pop video in a poll of Channel 4 viewers in the UK. The 1983 video, which depicts the singer as a werewolf and a zombie, beat videos by Madonna and Robbie Williams. Animated videos for Peter Gabriel’s Sledgehammer and A-Ha’s Take On Me were in second and third place respectively. 4th was Queen with Bohemian Rhapsody, 5th, Madonna Like a Prayer, 6th, Robbie Williams, Rock DJ, 7th, Michael Jackson, Billie Jean, 8th, The Verve, Bittersweet Symphony, 9th, Madonna Vogue and 10th Nirvana, Smells Like Teen Spirit.
2008 Amy Winehouse was told she could not perform at this year’s Grammy awards ceremony because her US visa application has been rejected by the embassy in London. The singer was arrested for marijuana possession in Norway last year. Winehouse has been nominated for six Grammy awards ahead of the ceremony in Los Angeles on Sunday.
2013 Music venues and fans criticised “heartless” touts and agencies selling tickets for guitarist Wilko Johnson’s farewell tour at inflated prices. The former Dr Feelgood guitarist, was suffering from terminal cancer and was playing a series of farewell dates in February and March. Originally tickets sold for £20, but were now being offered online at prices of £225.
2015 American bass player, songwriter, Joe B. Mauldin died aged 74. He was best known as the bassist for the early rock and roll group The Crickets and later became a recording engineer at Gold Star Studios, the Los Angeles studio which became the “hit factory” for Phil Spector, Brian Wilson and other major 1960s rock performers.