THIS DAY IN MUSIC

January 19th: On this Day

1959, The Platters 'Smoke Gets In Your Eyes', started a three week run at No.1 on the US singles chart.

1963, The Beatles made their first national TV appearance in the UK on 'Thank Your Lucky Stars' performing 'Please Please Me'.

1967, Pink Floyd and Marmalade played at The Marquee Club, London, England. Marmalade went on to score a No.1 UK hit with their version of The Beatles' Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da in 1968.

1967, The Monkees were at No.1 on the UK singles with 'I'm A Believer', the group's only UK No.1. The song composed by Neil Diamond had 1,051,280 advance orders, and went gold within two days of release. It is one of the fewer than forty all-time singles to have sold 10 million (or more) physical copies worldwide.

1967, The Beatles began recording 'A Day In The Life' at Abbey Road studios London, recording four takes of the new song. According to Lennon, the inspiration for the first two verses was the death of Tara Browne, the 21-year-old heir to the Guinness fortune who had crashed his Lotus Elan on 18 December 1966 in Redcliffe Gardens, London.

1967,

1971, Tracks from The Beatles The White Album (including 'Helter Skelter), were played in the courtroom at the Sharon Tate murder trial to find out if any songs could have influenced Charles Manson and his followers to commit murder. Actress Sharon Tate who was married to film director Roman Polanski, was eight and a half months pregnant when she was murdered in her home, along with four others, by followers of Charles Manson.

1980, 'Brass In Pocket' gave The Pretenders their first UK No.1 single. The bands self-titled debut album started a four-week run at No.1 on the UK chart also on this day.

1980, Pink Floyd's The Wall started a 15-week run at No.1 on the US album chart. The group’s third US No.1, it went on to sell over 23 million copies in the US alone. The Wall is still the third largest grossing album in the US, behind Michael Jackson’s Thriller and Eagles’ 'Greatest Hits'.

1988, Bon Jovi and Mötley Crüe manager Doc McGhee pleaded guilty to importing more than 40,000lb of marijuana into the US from Colombia via a shrimp boat. McGhee received a five-year suspended prison sentence, a fine of $15,000, and was ordered to set up an anti-drugs foundation.

1990, Singer Mel Appleby died of Pneumonia aged 23 following treatment for spinal cancer. Had been one half of the duo Mel and Kim. Appleby initially worked as a glamour model, (in 1987 she did a photo shoot for Mayfair). Mel & Kim had the 1997 UK No.1 'Respectable'.

1993, Fleetwood Mac re-formed to perform at Bill Clinton's inauguration. The band's "Don't Stop" was used as the theme for his campaign.

1998, American Rockabilly singer, songwriter Carl Perkins died aged 65 from throat cancer. He wrote the classic rock & roll song 'Blue Suede Shoes', the first record on the Sun label to sell a million copies.

2001, It was reported that Paul McCartney was set to become the world's first pop star billionaire. McCartney was said to be worth £725 million ($1,233) and was expected to become a billionaire after huge sales from The Beatles compilation hits album.

2006, American soul singer, Wilson Pickett died in hospital near his Ashburn, Virginia home of a heart attack aged 64. Pickett recorded the soul classics ‘Mustang Sally’, ‘Everybody Needs Somebody to Love’ and ‘In The Midnight Hour’ plus Pickett scored 15 other US Top 40 singles.

2007, Canadian singer songwriter and former Mamas and the Papas singer Denny Doherty died at the age of 66. He died at his home near Toronto, Canada after a short illness. The group scored the 1966 US No.1 & UK No.2 single 'Monday Monday.'

2008, Singer songwriter John Stewart, who wrote the Monkees hit 'Daydream Believer' died aged 68 after he suffered a massive stroke or brain aneurysm in San Diego. Stewart was a member of folk group The Kingston Trio and went on to record more than 45 solo albums with his biggest solo success being a US top five single, 'Gold', in 1979.

2011, Aerosmith singer Steven Tyler made his debut appearance as a judge on American Idol, during the premiere of the show's tenth season, (replacing Simon Cowell).

2014, Bruce Springsteen scored his 10th UK No.1 album with High Hopes, putting him ahead of the likes of Abba, David Bowie and Michael Jackson. The achievement puts him on level pegging with The Rolling Stones and U2, who also have 10 UK No.1's. The Beatles lead the way, with 15, followed by Madonna on 12, while Elvis Presley and Robbie Williams both had 11 each.

2016, Don McLean was arrested on a charge of domestic violence assault after police were called to a property in Camden, Maine.

January 19th: Born on this day

1935, Born on this day, Johnny O'Keefe, singer known as 'Australia's King of rock 'n' roll'. He co-wrote and had the 1958 Australian hit with, 'Real Wild Child', which was covered by Iggy Pop in 1986. Other hits included 'Shout!', 'Don't You Know Pretty Baby' and 'She's My Baby.' O'Keefe died on October 6th 1978.

1939, Born on this day, Phil Everly, singer, songwriter, The Everly Brothers, (1958 UK & US No.1 single 'All I Have To Do Is Dream' plus over 25 other Top 40 hits). Everly died on 3rd Jan 2014 aged 74 of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

1942, Born on this day, Michael Crawford, UK actor, singer, (1987 UK No.7 single 'The Music Of The Night').

1943, Born on this day,  Janis Joplin,  US singer, who had a 1971 U.S No.1 single with 'Me And Bobby McGee' and the 1971 U.S No.1 album 'Pearl'. Janis died on October 4th 1970 after an accidental heroin overdose. Joplin was cremated in the Pierce Brothers Westwood Village Mortuary in Los Angeles; her ashes were scattered from a plane into the Pacific Ocean and along Stinson Beach.

1944, Born on this day, Laurie London, actor, singer. At the age of 13 had the 1958 US No.1 & UK No. 12 single 'He's Got The Whole World In His Hands'.

1946, Born on this day, Dolly Parton US singer, songwriter, actress, (1976 UK No.7 single 'Jolene', 1981 US No.1 single '9 to 5'). Parton wrote 'I Will Always Love You' which was a US Country No.1 for her in 1974 and became a UK & US No.1 for Whitney Houston in 1992.

1947, Born on this day, Rod Evans, early Deep Purple, US No.14 single 'Hush'.

1948, Born on this day, Harvey Hinsley, Hot Chocolate, (1977 UK NO.1 & US No.3 single 'So You Win Again', plus over 25 other Top 40 hits).

1949, Born on this day, Robert Palmer, singer, songwriter, member of Vinegar Joe and solo artist, (1986 US No.1 & UK No.5 single 'Addicted To Love'). Palmer died on 26th Sept 2003 aged 54.

1950, Born on this day, Francis Buchholz, The Scorpions, (1991 UK No.2 single 'Wind Of Change').

1951, Born on this day, Dewey Bunell, America, (1972 US No.1 & UK No.3 single 'Horse With No Name').

1952, Born on this day, Eric Leeds, American jazz and funk musician, saxophone and other woodwind and brass instruments. Best known for his work with Prince. Played on The Black Album, Lovesexy and Batman albums.

1953, Born on this day, Michael Boddicker American film composer and session musician. Played synthesizer on Michael Jackson's albums, Thriller, Bad and Dangerous.

1957, Born on this day, Mickey Virtue, keyboards, with UB40, who had the 1983 UK No.1 & 1988 US No.1 single 'Red Red Wine' and over 30 other top 40 hits.

1963, Born on this day, Caron Wheeler, vocals, Soul II Soul, (1989 UK No.1 single 'Back To Life').

1969, Born on this day, Trey Lorenz, US singer, sang on Mariah Carey's 1992 UK No.2 & US No 1 version of the Jackson Five hit 'I'll Be There'.

1978, Born on this day, John Parker, double bass, human beatbox, vocals, Nizlopi, (2005 UK No.1 single 'JCB Song').