1ST 1968, Elton John’s first single ‘I’ve Been Loving You Too Long”, is released on the Phillips label but doesn’t chart.
2nd 1999, Dusty Springfield dies after a long battle with cancer aged 59. She had 20 top 40 hits including the worldwide number one “You Don’t have To Say You Love me”.
3rd 1966, Neil Young, Bruce Palmer, Stephen Stills and Ritchie Furay form Buffalo Springfield in Los Angeles.
4th 1966, In an interview with London’s Evening Standard, John Lennon stated “We’re more popular than Jesus now” When it is published in the USA it is taken out of context resulting in southern states burning Beatles records.
5th 1963, USA country singer Patsy Cline is killed in a plane crash in Dyersburg, Virginia along with The Cowboy Copas and Hawkshaw Hawkins. They were travelling to Nashville to do a benefit concert for DJ Cactus Jack Call who died in a car crash. Two days later country singer Jack Anglin was killed in a car crash on his way to Patsy Cline’s funeral.
6th Born on this day 1944, Dave Gilmour, guitar/vocals (Pink Floyd); 1944, Mary Wilson singer with The Supremes
7th 1962, the Beatles make their first ever radio broadcast at The Playhouse Theatre, Manchester for the BBC programme Teenager’s Turn in front of a live audience.
8th 2003, singer/actor and businessman Adam Faith dies aged 62 of a heart attack at North Staffordshire Hospital.
9th 1969, The Small Faces split up after 4 years when Steve Marriott leaves the band. Ronnie Lane, Ian McLagan and Kenny Jones link up with Ronnie Wood and Rod Stewart to form The Faces.
10th 1988, Andy Gibb, younger brother of The Bee Gees dies 5 days after his 30th birthday. His death from myocarditis (Inflammation of the heart) resulted from a long battle with cocaine addiction. He was the first male solo artist to chart 3 consecutive USA number ones with “I Just Want To Be your Everything”; “Love Is Thicker Than Water’; and “Shadow Dancing”.
11th 1968, The Otis Redding single “Sittin’ On The Dock Of The Bay” goes gold 3 months after he was killed in a plane crash.
12th 1969, Paul McCartney marries Linda Eastman at Marylebone Register Office, London.
13th 1964, Billboard report that sales of Beatle records currently account for 60% of the USA market and their album “Meet The Beatles” has reached a record 3.5 million copies sold.
14th 1955, CBS talent scout Arthur Godfrey turns down the chance to sign Elvis Presley; instead he signs Pat Boone.
15th Born on this day 1944, Sly Stone, vocals/guitar (Sly And The Family Stone), 1975 Will.I.Am, (Black Eyed Peas and solo)
16th 1970, Motown singer Tammi Terrell dies of a brain tumour at the age of 24. Since 1967 she had recorded a series of duets with Marvin Gaye. She had collapsed on stage in his arms on October 1967.
17th 1978, U2 win 500 pound and a chance to audition for CBS Ireland in a Dublin talent contest sponsored by Guinness.
18th Born on this day 1938, country singer Charlie Pride, 1941, soul singer Wilson Pickett, 1963, singer Vanessa Williams.
19th 1958, “Our Song” by a teenage duo from Queens New York, Tom and Jerry is released. This duo will become famous in the 60’s under their real names, Simon and Garfunkel.
20th 1991, Eric Clapton’s 4 year old son falls to his death from the 53rd level of a New York apartment block after a housekeeper who was cleaning left a window open. The tragedy inspired the song “Tears In Heaven”.
21st 2006, three South African women win a six-year court battle giving them 25% of all past and future royalties from the song “The Lion Sleeps Tonight”, composed in 1937 by their father Solomon Linda. He was a cleaner for a Johannesburg Record Company and received nothing for his song and died in 1962 with just $25 in his bank account. The song was a huge hit for The Tokens and Karl Denver (as “Wimoweh”) and then earned $15 million from its use in the Disney Movie THE LION KING.
22nd 1956, While on his way to New York for appearances on The Perry Como Show and The Ed Sullivan Show, Carl Perkins is involved in a car crash putting him in hospital for 4 months, his brother Jay is killed in the accident. Perkins was to perform his fast-rising hit “Blue Suede Shoes” but Elvis Presley was quickly brought in as a replacement, resulting in the Elvis version overtaking the original up the charts.
23rd Born on this day 1953, USA singer Chaka Khan (Yvette Marie Stevens)
24th 1958, At 6.35am, Elvis Presley reports to The Memphis Draft Board where is assigned army serial number 53310761.
25th Born on this day 1942, USA soul singer Aretha Franklin, and in 1947,singer/songwriter Elton John.
26th 1985,South African Radio Stations ban all Stevie Wonder records after he dedicates his Oscar to Nelson Mandela.
27th Born on this day, 1959, Andrew Farriss of INXS, 1970, singer Mariah Carey, 1975 Fergie of Black Eyed Peas and solo.
28th 1980, Pink Floyd’s “Dark Side Of The Moon” spends its 303rd week on the USA album charts beating the previous record set by Carole King’s “Tapestry”.
29th 2007, U2 singer Bono accepts an honorary knighthood at a ceremony in Dublin.
30th Born on this day 1945, Eric Clapton, guitarist/singer/songwriter) Yardbirds, Cream, Blind Faith and solo.
31st 1949, RCA Victor introduces the new 45 rpm record which had been in development since 1940. The 7 inch disc offers better fidelity and longer playing time than the 78 rpm record that is currently in use.
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