ΣΑΝ ΣΗΜΕΡΑ ΣΤΗΝ ΜΟΥΣΙΚΗ-25 ΔΕΚΕΜΒΡΙΟΥ

1954, Bing Crosby's ‘White Christmas’ entered the Billboard Pop chart for the eleventh time. Bing's rendition has sold over 100 million copies around the world, with at least 50 million sales as singles. It was the largest selling single in music history until it was surpassed by Elton John's ‘Candle in the Wind 1997’.

1958, The first day of a 10 day residency in Alan Freeds Christmas rock n' roll spectacular in New York with Chuck Berry, Frankie Avalon, Dion, Jackie Wilson, Eddie Cochran, Bo Diddley and The Everly Brothers.

1964, Beatles fans attacked George Harrison's girlfriend Patti Boyd as they arrived at London's Hammersmith Odeon for tonight's Beatles concert.

1964, The Supremes, Marvin Gaye, The Temptations, The Miracles, Stevie Wonder and The Marvelettes all appeared at The Fox Theatre, Brooklyn, New York.

1964, The Beatles, recorded six songs for the BBC radio program Saturday Club in London: ‘Rock and Roll Music’, ‘I'm a Loser’, ‘Everybody's Trying to Be My Baby’, ‘I Feel Fine’, ‘Kansas City/Hey Hey Hey Hey’ and ‘She's a Woman.’

1965, Dave Clark Five went to No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Over And Over'. They became the 7th UK act of 1965 to score a US No.1 single.

1965, The Beatles 6th album 'Rubber Soul' started a nine-week run at No.1 on the UK chart. It spent a total of 42 week's on the UK chart and was also a No.1 in the US.

1968, Led Zeppelin arrived in the United States for the very first time in preparation of their debut North American tour. The group were paid an average of $1,500 for each show.

1971, Melanie started a three week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Brand New Key', the first release on her new label Neighbourhood Records.

1976, American MOR singer Johnny Mathis was at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'When A Child Is Born', the singers only UK No.1 and the Christmas hit of 1976.

1976, The Eagles started a eight-week run at No.1 on the US album chart with 'Hotel California.'

1978, John Lydon's new group Public Image Ltd played their first live gig at the Rainbow Theatre, London.

1981, Michael Jackson phoned Paul McCartney and suggested they write and record together, the first result being ‘The Girl Is Mine’. The song was a US No.2 & UK No.8 in 1982.

1982, David Bowie had a No.3 UK hit with a duet with Bing Crosby, 'Peace On Earth - Little Drummer Boy.'

1993, Mariah Carey started a four week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Hero', a No.7 hit in the UK. Also on this day Mariah went to No.1 on the US album chart with 'Music Box'.

1995, American singer, actor and TV host Dean Martin died. Had the 1956 UK & US No.1 single 'Memories Are Made Of This' plus over 15 other UK Top 40 singles including ‘That's Amore’, ‘Everybody Loves Somebody’, ‘Mambo Italiano’. In 1965, Martin launched his weekly NBC comedy-variety series, The Dean Martin Show.

1998, Bryan MacLean, guitarist with Love, died of a heart attack aged 62 while having Christmas dinner with a young fan who was researching a book about the band. Love had the 1966 US No.33 single '7 And 7 Is', and the 1968 album 'Forever Changes'.

2003, Michael Jackson recorded his first interview since news of the allegations of sexual abuse with a 12-year old boy. He told the CBS TV network he would 'slit his wrists' before he would hurt a child. He also claimed he suffered a dislocated shoulder after police 'manhandled' him and treated him 'very roughly' during his arrest.

2006, James Brown, the ‘Godfather of Soul’, died at the age of 73 after being diagnosed with severe pneumonia. Brown went to his dentist in Atlanta the previous day who told him something was wrong, and sent him to a doctor immediately. His hits included ‘Papa's Got a Brand New Bag’, ‘I Got You (I Feel Good)’, and ‘Get Up (I Feel Like Being A) Sex Machine, Pt. 1’. Brown was married four times, at the age of 16, was arrested for theft and served 3 years in prison. In 1988, Brown was arrested following a high-speed car chase on along the Georgia-South Carolina state border.

2008, American actress, singer, and cabaret star Eartha Kitt died from colon cancer at her Weston, Connecticut home at the age of 81. Best known for her 1953 Christmas song ‘Santa Baby.’

December 25th: Born on this day

1929, Born on this day, Chris Kenner, US singer, (1961 US No.2 single 'I Like It Like That'). Also a hit for Dave Clarke Five.

1937, Born on this day, O'Kelly Isley, The Isley Brothers, (1968 UK No.3 single 'This Old Heart Of Mine'). Died on 31st March 1986.

1940, Born on this day, Phil Spector, producer, 'The Spector Wall Of Sound’. Spector was a member of Teddy Bears, who had the 1958 US #1 single 'To Know Him Is To Love Him'. He went on to produce many classic songs including; Ben E King, 'Spanish Harlem', The Crystals, 'Da Doo Ron Ron', The Ronettes, 'Baby I Love You', The Righteous Brothers, 'You've Lost That Lovin' Feeling', Ike and Tina Turner, 'River Deep, Mountain High'. Also produced albums for The Ramones, John Lennon, George Harrison, The Beatles, Cher and Harry Nilsson. The 2003 shooting of actress Lana Clarkson in his Alhambra, California home led to his 2009 conviction of murder in the second degree. He is serving a prison sentence of 19 years to life.

1940, Born on this day, Pete Brown, lyricist, poet, singer, producer, Cream, (1967 UK No.11 single 'I Feel Free'). Also worked with Jack Bruce, Graham Bond, Mick Jagger and Peter Green.

1943, Born on this day, Trevor Lucas, Fairport Convention, UK folk group, (1969 UK No.21 single 'Si Tu Dois Partie'). Also worked with Al Stewart and The Strawbs. Lucas died 4th February 1989.

1944, Born on this day, Henry Vestine, guitar, Canned Heat, (1970 UK No.2 & US No.26 single 'Let's Work Together'). Died on 20th October 1997.

1944, Born on this day, Kenny Everett, UK radio and TV presenter, (1983 UK No.9 single 'Snot Rap'). Died 4th April 1995.

1945, Born on this day, Noel Redding, bassist with the Jimi Hendrix Experience who had the 1967 UK #3 single 'Purple Haze', and the 1970 UK #1 single 'Voodoo Chile'. Redding was the first person to join the Jimi Hendrix Experience, and the first to leave, his final concert with them was in June 1969. Redding died on 11th May 2003 aged 57.

1946, Born on this day, Jimmy Buffett, American singer songwriter, (1977 US No.8 single 'Margaritaville', 2004 US No.1 album 'License to Chill').

1948, Born on this day, Country singer Barbara Mandrell, named Country Music Association entertainer of the year in 1979, 1980 & 1981, (1977 US No.1 Country single 'Sleeping Single In A Double Bed').

1954, Born on this day, Annie Lennox, singer, The Tourists, (1979 UK No.4 single 'I Only Want To Be With You'). Eurythmics, (1983 US No.1 single 'Sweet Dreams', 1985 UK No.1 single 'There Must Be An Angel'). Solo, (1995 UK No.2 single 'No More I Love You's').

1954, Born on this day, Robin Campbell, guitar, vocals, with UB40, who had the 1983 UK No.1 & 1988 US No.1 single 'Red Red Wine' and over 30 other top 40 hits.

1957, Born on this day, Shane MacGowan, guitar, vocals, The Pogues, (1987 UK No.8 single 'The Irish Rover', 1987 UK No.2 single with Kirsty MacColl, 'Fairytale Of New York').

1958, Born on this day, Alannah Myles, Canadian singer, 1990 US No.1 and UK No.2 single 'Black Velvet.'

1964, Born on this day, Bob Stanley, Saint Etienne, (1993 UK No.12 single 'You're In A Bad Way')

1971, Born on this day, Dido, singer, songwriter, (2001 UK No.1 & US No.4 album 'No Angel', 2001 UK No.4 single 'Here With Me').

1971, Born on this day, Noel Hogan, guitar, The Cranberries, (1994 UK No.14 single 'Linger'). The bands 1993 album 'Everybody Else Is Doing It So Why Can’t We' spent 86 weeks on the UK chart.

1972, Born on this day, Josh Freese, drummer, Nine Inch Nails, (2005 US No.1 album ‘White Teeth’). Also worked with The Vandals, Devo, Viva Death and A Perfect Circle.