January 27 – Today in Music History

1918 Elmore James, US blues guitarist, singer, wrote ‘Shake Your Money Maker’, covered by Fleetwood Mac in 1968. Influenced Jimi Hendrix, BB King, Keith Richards. James died 24th May 1963.
1919 David Seville(Ross Bagdasarian) born in Fresno, California. US Songwriter/Actor/Sound Experimenter. The Chipmunks, (1958 US No.1 single ‘The Chipmunk Song’, 1959 UK No.11 single ‘Ragtime Cowboy Joe’). Seville died on 16th January 1972.
1930 Bobby Bland (Robert Calvin Bland) born in Barretville, Tennessee. US Blues Singer/Songwriter. , R&B singer, (1963 US R&B No.1 single ‘That’s The Way Love Is’). He died on June 23, 2013, at his home in Germantown, Tennessee, a suburb of Memphis, after what family members described as “an ongoing illness”. He was 83.
1945 Nick Mason born in Birmingham, (Downshire Hills), England. Drummer 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). Nick is the only member of the band to play on every album since the band’s formation in 1965. He studied architecture at London’s Regent Street Polytechnic, where he teamed up with fellow students Roger Waters, Rado ‘Bob’ Klose and Richard Wright in 1964 to form Pink Floyd’s predecessor, Sigma 6. Mason is a keen auto racing enthusiast and has taken part in many racing events such as the French 24 Heures du Mans race in Le Mans.
1946 Nedra Talley born in New York. US singer with the Ronettes. (1963 US No.2 & UK No.4 single ‘Be My Baby’). In 1966, Talley and Estelle Bennett left the Ronettes
1948 Kim Gardner born in London, England. UK Bass Player with, Ashton Gardner & Dyke, died in Los Angeles, California on 24/10/01. (1971 UK No.3 single ‘The Resurrection Shuffle’).
1951 Brian Downey born in Dublin, Ireland. UK Drummer with Thin Lizzy. (1973 UK No.6 single ‘Whisky In The Jar’).
1951 Seth Justman born in Washington, DC. – US Keyboard Player/Singer/Vocals/Songwriter/Producer with the group The J Geils Band, (1982 US No.1 & UK No.3 single ‘Centrefold’).
1956 Elvis Presley’s single, ‘Heartbreak Hotel’ was released by RCA Records, who had just purchased Presley’s contract from Sun Records for $35,000. The song sold 300,000 copies in its first week and would eventually sell over a million, becoming Elvis’ first Gold record.
1957 Janick Robert Gers born in Hartlepool, England. is an English musician, best known for being one of the three current guitarists in Iron Maiden, along with Dave Murray and Adrian Smith, as well as his earlier work with Gillan and White Spirit.
1958 Little Richard entered The Oakwood Theological College in Huntsville, where he was ordained as a seventh day Adventist Minister.
1960 Michael Holliday was at No.1 on the UK singles chart with ‘Starry Eyed’.
1961 Gillian Gilbert born in Manchester, England. Keyboard player with New Order, (1983 UK No.9 single ‘Blue Monday’), The Other Two, (1991 UK No.41 single ‘Tasty Fish’).
1961 Martin Deguille born in Walsall, West Midlands, England. The lead singer and co-songwriter of the UK pop band, Sigue Sigue Sputnik – which had a worldwide hit single in 1986 with (1986 UK No.3 single ‘Love Missile F1-11’).
1961 Margo Timmins born in Montreal, Quebec. lead vocalist of the Canadian band Cowboy Junkies (1989 album ‘The Trinity Session’).1961 Frank Sinatra played a benefit show at Carnegie Hall in New York City for Martin Luther King.
1962 Joey and the Starlighters started a three week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with ‘Peppermint Twist, part 1’. The single reached No.33 on the UK chart.
1962 The Beatles appeared at Aintree Institute in Aintree, Liverpool. The group had played here many times before but this was their last performance at the venue. Brian Epstein became infuriated when the promoter paid The Beatles’ fee (£15 pounds) with handfuls of loose change. Epstein took this as an insult to the group, and made sure that The Beatles never played for that promoter (Brian Kelly) again.
1962 Elvis Presley’s “Can’t Help Falling In Love” is certified gold.
1962 “I Know (You Donʹt Love Me No More)” by Barbara George peaked at number three on the American pop singles chart.
1962 Chubby Checker had four albums in the top-10 of Billboardʹs Hot-200 album chart — “For Twisters Only,” “Your Twist Party,” “Bobby Rydell/Chubby Checker” and “Letʹs Twist Again.”
1962 In 1968, R.C., “Bend Me, Shape Me” by The American Breed peaked at number five on the pop singles chart.
1964 Migi Drummond born in London, England. UK Drummer with Curiosity Killed The Cat, (1989 UK No.14 single ‘Name And Number’).
1964 The Rolling Stones appear on the BBC’s Juke Box Jury show as panelists. Their impolite behavior — including referring to Elvis’ latest single as “dated” — causes a furor in the British press.
1966 The Overlanders were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with their version of The Beatles song ‘Michelle’. The group’s only UK hit.
1968 Mike Patton born in Eureka, California. Lead Singer for Faith No More, (1993 UK No.3 and US No.4 single ‘I’m Easy).
1968 Adrian Thawes, (Tricky) born in Bristol, South West England. Musician and actor who had the 1996 UK No.10 single ‘Milk’. His 1995 debut album Maxinquaye was nominated for the Mercury Prize and voted Album of the Year by NME Magazine.
1968 The Bee Gees made their live debut in the US when they played at the Anaheim Centre, California.
1968 “Itchycoo Park” by Small Faces peaked at #16 on the American pop singles chart.
1971 David Bowie arrived in the US for the first time; he couldn’t play live because of work permit restrictions, but attracted publicity when he wore a dress at a promotion event.
1972 Mark Owen singer with Take That who had the 1995 UK No.1 single ‘Back For Good’. The group’s 1993 UK No.1 album ‘Everything Changes spent 78 weeks on the UK chart. Had the solo 1996 UK No.3 single ‘Child’. Was the winner of UK TV show Celebrity Big Brother in 2002. Re-formed Take That without Robbie Williams in 2006 for a sold-out European tour. Topped the UK singles and album charts simultaneously for the first time in their career when the single ‘Patience’ and album ‘Beautiful World’ both reached No.1 in Dec 2006.
1972 American gospel singer Mahalia Jackson died in Chicago of heart failure and diabetes complications aged 60. Known as the “Queen of Gospel Music” she recorded over 30 albums
1972 David Cassidy went to No.1 in the Australian Singles Chart with ‘Cherish’. Staying at the top spot for 3wks.
1972 The New Seekers’ “I’d Like To Teach The World To Sing” is certified gold.
1973 Roxy Music won ‘the most promising new name’, section in the NME reader’s poll.
1973 Superstition’ the lead single from Stevie Wonder’s Talking Book album gave him his second No.1 single in the US, 10 years after his first No.1. Jeff Beck created the original drum beat while in the studio with Wonder. After writing the song, Wonder offered it to Beck to record, but at the insistence of Berry Gordy, Wonder himself recorded it first. Beck was instead offered ‘Cause We’ve Ended As Lovers’, which he recorded on Blow by Blow in 1975.
1973 “I Wanna Be With You” by Raspberries peaked at #16 on the American pop singles chart.
1973 “Your Mama Donʹt Dance” by Loggins and Messina peaked at number four on the American pop singles chart.
1974 Mark Owen born Oldham, Greater Manchester in England. Singer with Take That, (1995 UK No.1 single ‘Back For Good’ plus seven other UK No.1 singles), Solo, (1996 UK No.3 single ‘Child’). The winner of UK TV show Celebrity Big Brother in 2002.
1976 : David Bowie sues his former attorney, Michael Lippan, for unfair business practices and withholding of funds. Bowie claims Lippan took a 15% fee instead of the customary 10% and adds that after his dismissal, Lippan withheld $475,000 from the musician.
1976 Glam rocker Gary Glitter announces his retirement, which he is forced to end when he files bankruptcy
1977 The Clash signed to CBS Records in the UK for £100,000.
1978 Adam And The Ants Appearing at The Foxes, Brighton, England, Wire supported by Adam And The Ants.
1979 Ian Dury And The Blockheads were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with ‘Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick’, their only UK chart topper.
1980 Dexy’s Midnight Runners kicked off a 26-date UK tour at London’s Music Machine.
1980 Def Leppard played the first of two nights at The Marquee, London. Tickets cost £2 ($3.40).
1980 Capricorn Records, home of The Allman Brothers, filed for bankruptcy in Macon, Georgia.
1983 Musical Youth went to No.1 in the Australian Singles Chart with ‘Pass The Dutchie’. Staying at the top spot for 1wk.
1984 Madonna made her first appearance in the UK when she appeared on C4 TV music program The Tube performing ‘Holiday’. The show was broadcast live from the Hacienda Club in Manchester.
1984 The Eurythmics begin a grueling 175-date world tour in Australia.
1984 At the peak of his popularity, Michael Jackson films an ad for Pepsi which goes horribly wrong when some stray pyro sets his hair on fire.
1986 , “Dare To Be Stupid” album by “Weird Al” Yankovic was certified Gold by the RIAA
1990 Kylie Minogue had her third UK No.1 single with ‘Tears On My Pillow’, the song was originally a US hit for Little Anthony and The Imperials in 1958.
1990 “Just Between You And Me” by Lou Gramm peaked at number six on the pop singles chart.
1992 C-and-C Music Factory and Garth Brooks were the big winners at the 19th annual American Music Awards.
1994 Oasis made their London live debut when the played at King’s Cross Water Rats. The gig was by invite only.
1995 Super Bowl XXVIIIʹs half-time entertainment includes Tony Bennett and Patti LaBelle.
1996 Babylon Zoo started a five-week run at No.1 on the UK singles chart with ‘Spaceman’, the fastest selling single by a debut artist in the UK, (420,000 copies in 6 days). The song was used for a Levi Jeans TV commercial. The single also went to Number 1 in twenty-three other countries.
1996 The Daily Star ran an exclusive story stating that UK boy band Take That were about to split up.
1997 Silverchair went to No.1 in the Australian Singles Chart with ‘Freak’. Staying at the top spot for 1wk.
1998 James Brown was charged with possession of marijuana and unlawful use of a firearm after police were called to his South Carolina home. Brown later clamed the drugs were used to help his ‘eyesight.’
2000 Noel Gallagher of Oasis became a dad when Meg Matthew’s gave birth to a girl, Anais at Portland Hospital, London.
2002 Beach Boy Brian Wilson played the first of four sold-out nights at The Royal Festival Hall, London.
2002 Spanish-American Enrique Iglesias scored his first UK No.1 single with ‘Hero’. His father, Julio Iglesias, had a UK No.1 hit in 1981.
2002 Alan Jackson started a three week run at No.1 on the US album chart with ‘Drive.’
2003 Former S Club 7 singer Rachel Stevens signed a £1m solo deal with Polydor records in the UK. Stevens went on to score five UK Top 10 hits.
2004 R&B singer Faith Evans and her husband were charged with possession of cocaine and marijuana after being arrested in Atlanta, Georgia. Police pulled them over for a suspected licence plate offence.
2006 Gene McFadden, R&B vocalist and songwriter, best known as half of the Philly soul team McFadden & Whitehead, died of cancer at the age of 56. The duo had the 1979 hit ‘Ain’t No Stoppin’ Us Now’, which sold more than 8 million copies and was nominated for a Grammy Award.
2009 Road Chef, the Watford Gap UK Motorway services operator, paid £1,000 at an auction for a collection of celebrity signatures, which were collected by former employee, Beatrice England. The book included signatures of Sir Paul McCartney, Sir Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Brian Jones, The Eagles and Dusty Springfield. The Blue Boar services as it was once known received so many famous guests in its 50-year history that Jimi Hendrix mistook it for a London nightclub as it was mentioned so often by his contemporaries.
2014 American folk singer and activist Pete Seegar died at the age of 94. He had a string of hit records during the early 1950s as a member of the Weavers, most notably their recording of Lead Belly’s ‘Goodnight, Irene’, which topped the charts for 13 weeks in 1950. Members of the Weavers were blacklisted during the McCarthy Era. In the 1960s, he re-emerged on the public scene as a prominent singer of protest music in support of international disarmament, civil rights, counterculture and environmental causes.
2015 Taylor Swift’s Twitter and Instragram accounts are hacked, resulting in bogus tweets to her 51 million followers (the fourth-largest Twitter account). Swift takes to Tumblr, where she posts: “Hackers gonna hack hack hack hack hack.” She also assures fans that no nude photos exist.
2015 Tom Petty and Jeff Lynne were given a song writing credit on Sam Smith’s hit ‘Stay With Me’, because of the similarities to his 1989 track ‘I Won’t Back Down’. ‘Stay With Me’ had been nominated for three Grammys, including song of the year – which honours the writers of the track. Petty’s publisher had contacted Smiths publisher who made an out of court settlement.