January 30 – Today in Music History

1934 Melvin Endsley born in Drasco, Alaska. US country Singer/Songwriter. He biggest contriubution was a writer was ‘Singing the Blues’. He died on the 16 August 2004.
1936 Horst Jankowski born in Berlin, Germany. German pianist, (1965 UK No.3 & US No.12 single ‘A Walk In The Black Forrest’). He died of cancer on 29th June 1998
1938 Norma Jean Beasler born in Wellston, Oklahoma.better known as Norma Jean, is an American country music singer who was a member of The Porter Wagoner Show from 1961–1967. She had 13 country singles in Billboard’s Country Top 40 between 1963 and 1968, recorded twenty albums for RCA Victor between 1964 and 1973, received two Grammy nominations, and was a Grand Ole Opry member for a number of years.
1941 Joe Terry born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Baritone Vocalist with Danny and the Juniors, (1958 US No.1 & UK No.3 single ‘At The Hop’). He died April 15, 2019.
1943 Marty Balin (Martin Buchwald) US Singer/Songwriter., vocals, Jefferson Airplane, (1967 US No.18 single ‘White Rabbit’). Jefferson Starship. Balin died on September 27, 2018, at the age of 76
1943 Sandy Deane (Sandy Yaguda) born in New York. Vocalist with Jay and the Americans, (1969 US No.6 single ‘This Magic Moment’ plus nine other US Top 30 hits). Died 21 April 1978 (aged 31) Atkinson Morley Hospital, Wimbledon, England.
1947 Steve Marriott born in London, England. Lead Singer with 60’s UK band The Small Faces. . He was a major influence on many UK bands. Marriott was a member of Small Faces, (1967 UK No.3 & US No.16 single with ‘Itchycoo Park’ plus the 1968 No.1 UK album ‘Ogden’s Nut Gone Flake.’ Formed Humble Pie who had the 1969 UK No.4 single ‘Natural Born Bugie’. Marriott died in a house fire on April 20th 1991.
1949 William King Jr born in Alabama American singer, musician and choreographer. He is a founding member of the Commodores, where he plays trumpet, guitar, synthesizer, flute, and congas/percussion and is the group’s choreographer.
1951 Marv Ross born in Portland, Oregan. Guitarist/Singer/Songwriter with Quarterflash.
1952 Steve Bartek born in Garfield Heights, Ohio. American guitarist, film composer, conductor and orchestrator. He is best known as the lead guitarist in the band Oingo Boingo and for his orchestration work with composer Danny Elfman.
1954 Phil Collins born in Chiswick, England. English singer & former drummer/vocalist with Genesis. (1986 US No.1 ‘Invisible Touch’, 1992 UK No.7 single ‘I Can’t Dance’ plus six UK No.1 albums). Solo, (1988 UK & US No.1 single ‘A Groovy Kind Of Love’ plus six
1956 Elvis Presley started recording what would be his first album at RCA’s New York Studios. Songs recorded included his version the Carl Perkins song ‘Blue Suede Shoes’.
1958 Elvis Presley’s “Jailhouse Rock” enters the UK chart at #1, the first single ever to do so.
1958 On the first night of a six date Australian tour, Buddy Holly, Paul Anka, Jerry Lee Lewis, Jodie Sands and Johnny O’Keefe all appeared at Sydney Stadium in Sydney, New South Wales.
1959 Elvis Presley had his third UK No.1 single ‘One Night / I Got Stung’ a double A side, (originally written and recorded under the title ‘One Night of Sin’) a revival of the Smiley Lewis’s R&B hit. Presley was in the army by the time this song reached No.1.
1959 Jody Watley born in Chicago, IIIinois. US Singer/Songwriter, vocals, Shalamar, (1980 US No. 8 single ‘The Second Time Around’, 1982 UK No.5 single ‘A Night To Remember’). Solo (1987 UK No.13 single, ‘Looking For A New Love’, 1989 US No.2 single, ‘Real Lov
1960 Johnny O’Keefe went to No.1 in the Australian Singles Chart with ‘She’s My Baby’, staying at the top for 2wks.
1961 The Shirelles became the first girl group to have the number one song on the US chart when ‘Will You Love Me Tomorrow?’ reached the top. The song peaked at No.4 in the UK.
1961 Songwriters Jerry Leiber and Mike Stollerannounce that they are forming their own independent production company.
1964 Angie Stone, singer, songwriter, Vertical Hold, solo. Written hits for Mary J Blige & D’Angelo.
1964 The Searchers were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with the Sonny Bono song ‘Needles And Pins’. The group’s second UK No.1 had originally been recorded by Jackie DeShannon.
1964 The Beatles wallpaper was now available in stores in England. And, Brian Epstein was assured by Paul McCartney that he had no plans to become engaged to Jane Asher. Meanwhile, “Please Please Me” and “From Me To You” were released in the US. on 45rpm record on the Vee Jay label. This makes four Beatles singles out in America on three different record labels.
1965 “Hold What You’ve Got” by Joe Tex peaked at #5 on the US singles chart.
1965 “The Name Game” by Shirley Ellis peaked at #3 on the US singles chart.
1965 “Keep Searchin’ (We’ll Follow The Sun)” by Del Shannon peaked at #9 on the US singles chart;
1965 “How Sweet It Is To Be Loved By You” by Marvin Gaye peaked at #6 on the US singles chart.
1967 The Beatles shot the promotinal clip for ‘Strawberry Fields Forever’.
1968 Bobby Goldsboro records “Honey,” a song written by Bobby Russell. It becomes one of the biggest hits of 1968, spending five weeks at #1 in the US.
1968 Cilla Black’s BBC show Cilla debuts, adding another Britgirl to the UK television lineup. Unlike the shows of Petula Clark, Dusty Springfield, Sandie Shaw, and Lulu, Cilla has longevity, lasting until 1976. This series makes her one of the most popular television personalities in the UK until her death in 2015.
1969 The Beatles (with Billy Preston), played their lunchtime rooftop gig on top of the Apple building on Savile Row in London. Lasting for just over 40 minutes it was the last time The Beatles performed live. The played ‘Get Back’, ‘Don’t Let Me Down’, ‘I’ve Got A Feeling’, ‘The One After 909’ and ‘Dig A Pony’. Traffic was brought to a standstill as crowds of people gathered below and watched from windows in nearby buildings. The performance itself began at around 12pm on a bitterly cold Thursday lunchtime and lasted for 42 minutes. John Lennon ended the performance by saying “I’d like to say ‘Thank you’ on behalf of the group and ourselves and I hope we passed the audition.”
1970 Without Love (There Is Nothing)” by Tom Jones peaked at #5 on the US singles chart.
1970 Marc Bolan married June Child at Kensington registry office, they divorced in 1975.
1970 Edison Lighthouse were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with ‘Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Goes).’ The group’s only Top 40 hit spent five weeks at the top of the charts. In February 1970, Tony Burrows became the first (and still the only) person to appear on BBC Television’s Top Of The Pops fronting three different acts in one show: Edison Lighthouse (who were number one that week), White Plains, and Brotherhood of Man.
1971 “Groove Me” by King Floyd peaked at #6 on the US singles chart.
1971 “Lonely Days” by Bee Gees peaked at #3 on the US singles chart.
1971 “Immigrant Song” by Led Zeppelin peaked at #16 on the US singles chart.
1971 “Love The One You’re With” by Stephen Stills peaked at #14 on the US singles chart.
1971 Neil Young performs “The Needle and the Damage Done” at UCLA’s Royce Hall. The song is recorded and released on the Harvestalbum a year later.
1972 Paul McCartney wrote and recorded his protest song ‘Give Ireland Back To The Irish’ within 24 hours of Bloody Sunday, when 13 Catholics were killed by British paratroopers.
1972 British soldiers open fire on 26 unarmed civilians during a peaceful protest march in Derry, Northern Ireland, resulting in 14 deaths. The incident inspires Paul McCartney to write “Give Ireland Back To The Irish” (Wings’ debut single) and gives rise to the U2 song “Sunday Bloody Sunday.”
1973 After recently changing their name from Wicked Lester, Gene Simmons, Paul Stanley, Ace Frehley and Peter Criss made their first appearance as Kiss at the Popcorn Club in Queens, New York.
1974 Bob Dylan makes his first New York concert performance in eight years, playing Madison Square Garden.
1974 Greg Lake of Emerson, Lake and Palmer went skinny dipping in a hotel swimming pool in Salt Lake City. The only problem: the pool was in full view of people on the street.
1974 “I Have Got To Use My Imagination” single by Gladys Knight & The Pips was certified Gold by the RIAA
1975 The Bee Gees begin recording ‘Jive Talkin’, which became their second US chart topper and No.5 UK hit. Barry Gibb’s inspiration for the song came when his wife commented on the sound their car made while crossing a bridge over Biscayne Bay into Miami. She noted, “It’s our drive talkin’.”
1978 Appearing at the Vortex, Wardour Street, London, The Police.
1979 “Spirits Having Flown” album by Bee Gees was certified Gold and Platinum by the RIAA. Also including ‘Tragedy’, ‘Love You Inside & Out’ & ‘Too Much Heaven’.
1979 “Do Ya’ Think I’m Sexy” single by Rod Stewart was certified Gold by the RIAA.
1979 Donna Summer and Barbra Streisand’s duet “No More Tears (Enough Is Enough)” becomes the first 12-inch single certified Gold by the RIAA.
1980 New Orleans bluesman Professor Longhair dies of a heart attack at age 61
1980 KC & The Sunshine Band went to No.1 in the Australian Singles Chart with ‘Please Don’t Go’. Staying at the top spot for 4wks.
1981 Toyah appeared at the newly opened Rock City in Nottingham, England. Forthcoming acts included, Alex Harvey, Bad Manners, The Stranglers, After The Fire, Gillan and Frankie Valli.
1982 American blues guitarist, singer Sam Lightnin’ Hopkins died of cancer aged 70. Influenced Bob Dylan, Stevie Ray Vaughan and Jimi Hendrix. R.E.M. recorded a song named after him on their Document album.
1981 Kenny Rogers takes four American Music Awards, including Favorite Country Single, for “Coward Of The County”; and Country Album, for “The Gambler.” Other winners include: Barbara Mandrell, The Statler Brothers and The Eagles
1982 Barbra Streisand started a seven-week run at No.1 on the UK album chart with the ‘Love Songs LP’.
1982 Hall and Oates went to No.1 on the US singles chart with ‘I Can Go For That, (No Can Do)’ the duo’s fourth US No.1, a No.8 hit in the UK.
1982 Paul McCartney guested on BBC radios Desert Island Discs his selections include, Elvis Presley’s ‘Heartbreak Hotel’, Chuck Berry’s ‘Sweet Little Sixteen’, John Lennon’s ‘Beautiful Boy ‘and Little Richards ‘Tutti Frutti’.
1982 “Hooked On Classics” by Royal Philharmonic Orchestra peaked at #10 on the US singles chart.
1982 “Oh Julie” by Shakin’ Stevens peaked at #1 on the U.K. pop singles chart.
1982 “Come Go With Me” by Beach Boys peaked at #18 on the US singles chart.
1982 Country blues musician Lightnin’ Hopkins dies of esophageal cancer at age 69.
1985 Randy Travis records four songs in his first recording session for Warner Bros. Among them is “Prairie Rose,” destined for the soundtrack to “Rustler’s Rhapsody,” and “On The Other Hand”
1986 “Ready For The World” album by Ready For The World was certified Platinum by the RIAA
1988 During a court case involving Holly Johnson and ZTT Records it was revealed that Frankie Goes To Hollywood had not played on their hits ‘Relax’ and ‘Two Tribes’. The court was told that top session musicians were used to make the records.
1988 INXS had their first US No.1 hit single with ‘Need You Tonight’.
1988 Tiffany was at No.1 on the UK singles chart with ‘I Think We’re Alone Now’, the singers only UK No.1 single. The song was a hit for Tommy James & The Shondells in 1967.
1989 Samantha Fish is born in Kansas City, Missouri. American blues singer-songwriter and guitarist.
1989 Randy Travis won three American Music Awards, including one for favorite male country artist.
1990 Unhappy with the re-issue of the bands early single ‘Sally Cinnaman’ The Stone Roses trashed their former record company Revolver FM’s offices and threw paint over cars. The band were arrested and charged with criminal damage.
1992 Touring Australia and New Zealand for the first and only time Nirvana appeared at the The Barton Theater in Adelaide.
1993 “Deeper And Deeper” by Madonna peaked at #7 on the US singles chart.
1998 During a court case involving Holly Johnson and ZTT Records it was revealed that Frankie Goes To Hollywood had not played on their hits ‘Relax’ and ‘Two Tribes’. The court was told that top session musicians were used to make the records.
1988 INXS had their first US No.1 hit single with ‘Need You Tonight’.
1988 Terence Trent D’arby went back to No.1 on the UK album chart for an 8 week run with Introducing ‘The Hardline To Terence Trent D’arby’.
1988 Tiffany was at No.1 on the UK singles chart with ‘I Think We’re Alone Now’, the singers only UK No.1 single.
1991 22 years to the day that The Beatles played live on the roof of their London offices, Manchester band James played a live set on the roof of Manchester’s Piccadilly radio station attracting several thousand on- lookers.
1991 “Bonafide” album by Maxi Priest was certified Gold by the RIAA
1992 a University of Massachusetts music professor who worked with the New Kids On The Block sued the group’s manager, Maurice Starr.. .saying he wasn’t paid the fees and royalties promised. The professor further charged that the group lip-synched in concerts and that their singing on their albums was technically enhanced.
1993 “Deeper And Deeper” by Madonna peaked at #7 on the pop singles chart.
1993 “Give It Up, Turn It Loose” by En Vogue peaked at #15 on the US singles chart.
1993 “Saving Forever For You” by Shanice peaked at #4 on the US singles chart.
1994 Natalie Cole sings the US national anthem at Superbowl XXVIII in Atlanta, Georgia. Halftime is country, with Clint Black, The Judds and Travis Tritt among the performer
1996 Eazy-E’s posthumous album Str8 off tha Streetz of Muthaphukkin Compton is released. It debuts at #3 on the Billboard 200 chart and #1 on the R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart.
1998 Elton John recieves a knighthood in British Prime Minister Tony Blair’s first New Year’s Eve Honours List.
1999 After spending 11 weeks on the chart Britney Spears started a two week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with ‘…Baby One More Time.’ Britney’s debut album also went to No.1 on the US chart on the same day.
1999 In the NME readers poll results the winner of ‘The pop personality that you would like as your doctor’ was won by singer Natalie Imbruglia.
2000 Gabrielle went to No.1 on the UK singles chart with ‘Rise’. The song used a sample from Bob Dylan’s ‘Knocking On Heaven’s Door’ giving Dylan his third UK No.1 as a writer, the other two being The Byrds version of ‘Mr Tambourine Man’ and Manfred Mann’s ‘The Mighty Quinn’.
2002 64-year-old two-time Grammy Award winner Freddy Fender (Baldemar Huerta) is released from a San Antonio hospital following kidney transplant surgery a week earlier.
2005 Scottish artist Martyn Bennett dies in Edinburgh following a long battle with cancer. He is 33. A traditional bagpiper and fiddler, Bennett also experimented with electronic music, creating techno Celtic dance.
2005 The Chemical Brothers went to No.1 on the UK album chart with ‘Push The Button’, the duo’s fourth UK No.1 album. The Game had the US No.1 album with ‘The Documentary.’
2010 Neil Young was named the Musicares person of the year for his “influential artistic accomplishments and philanthropic work”. A string of artist including Elton John, Norah Jones, James Taylor, Elvis Costello, John Forgarty, Dave Matthews and Sheryl Crowe performed his songs as he was honoured by the US Recording Academy at the Los Angeles Convention Centre.
2013 Mick Jagger was named the most stylish rock star of all time by lifestyle website Complex. Jagger lead their top 50 list ahead of Prince, David Bowie, Kurt Cobain, Sid Vicious and Keith Richards. Complex stated “Even today, he wears silk scarves and suits with more rakish appeal than most men – and he’s pushing 70.”
2013 Patty Andrews, 94, the last surviving member of the singing Andrews Sisters trio, died in the Los Angeles suburb of Northridge.
2014 Poison lead singer Bret Michaels introduces his new line of cologne: Roses & Thorns. Because every rose has its thorn.
2015 Marion “Suge” Knight was arrested on suspicion of murder in connection with a fatal traffic incident. The record producer had earlier surrendered to police after he was declared a suspect in a hit-and-run incident where one man died.
2015 Record producer Suge Knight is arrested in Los Angeles on suspicion of murder the day after he was involved in a hit-and-run that killed his friend Terry Carter and injured actor Cle Denyale Sloan. Knight was on the set of the N.W.A. biopic Straight Outta Compton when he allegedly argued with the two men, then followed them to a burger joint where he ran them down in the parking lot. Witnesses claim he even backed over the victims with his truck before leaving the scene, but Knight’s lawyer insists he was fleeing for his own safety
2016 David Bowie left an estate valued at about $100m (£70m), according to his will which was filed in New York. Half would go to his widow, Iman, along with the home they shared in New York. The rest was shared between his son and daughter. Bowie’s personal assistant, Corinne Schwab, was left $2m and another $1m went to a former nanny, Marion Skene.
2016 David Bowie reached No.1 in the American album charts for the first time with Blackstar, released two days before his death on 10 January. His highest-charting US album previously had been The Next Day, which peaked at No.2 in 2013.