THIS DAY IN MUSIC

March 4th: On this Day

1966, John Lennon's statement that The Beatles were 'more popular than Jesus Christ' was published in The London Evening Standard. "Christianity will go. It will vanish and shrink. We’re more popular then Jesus now; I don’t know which will go first, rock ‘n’ roll or Christianity. Jesus was alright, but his disciples were thick and ordinary." Christian groups in the US were outraged resulting in some states burning Beatles records. Lennon later apologised.

1966,

1967, The Rolling Stones went to No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Ruby Tuesday', the group's fourth US No.1 single. 'Lets Spend The Night Together' was the original A side but after radio stations banned the song 'Tuesday' became the A side.

1978, The US internal Revenue Service carried out a dawn raid at the home of Jerry Lee Lewis and removed cars worth over £100,000 ($170,000) to pay off his tax debts.

1979, Randy Jackson of The Jackson Five was seriously injured in a car crash breaking both legs and almost died in the emergency room when a nurse inadvertently injects him with methadone.

1982, Frank Zappa's son Dweezil and his daughter Moon Unit formed a band called Fred Zeppelin. Their first single was 'My Mother is a Space Cadet'.

1986, American songwriter Howard Greenfield died of a brain tumour aged 50. Working out of the famous Brill Building with Neil Sedaka he co-wrote many hits including 'Calendar Girl', 'Breaking Up Is Hard To Do', and 'Crying In The Rain' with Carole King. Also wrote TV theme songs including the theme to 'Bewitched.'

1986, After just completing a two set show with The Band in Winter Park, Florida, 41 year old Richard Manuel of The Band hung himself from a shower curtain rod in a hotel room in Florida. His band mate, Robbie Robertson honoured his friend with the song, 'Fallen Angel' in 1987.

1993, Whitney Houston  and Bobby Brown became parents when Whitney gave birth to a baby girl, Bobbi Kristina Houston Brown. Bobbi went on to become an reality television and media personality, singer, and actress. Brown died in hospice care on July 26, 2015, at the age of 22 after being found face down in a bathtub in her Georgia home. She was later placed into a medically induced coma.

1994, Kurt Cobain  was rushed to hospital after overdosing on alcohol and drugs in a Rome hotel during a Nirvana European tour. Cobain had taken 50-60 pills of Rohypnol mixed with champagne; rumours on the internet claimed that Kurt was dead.

2001, Village People singer Glenn Hughes died of lung cancer aged 50 in his Manhattan apartment in New York. He was the original "Biker" character in the disco group who scored the 1978 UK No.1 & US No.2 single Y.M.C.A.

2001, Shaggy featuring Rikrok went to No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'It Wasn't Me'. It became the best-selling single of 2001, and was also a No.1 in the US.

2002, Doreen Waddell, singer with Soul II Soul was killed after attempting to run across the A27 in Brighton, England after being caught shoplifting.

2003, A noisy neighbour was banned from playing her music and had her stereo system impounded, after she had played Cliff Richard music too loudly. 23 year-old Sian Davies was fined £1,000 ($1,700) plus court costs after environmental protection officers raided her flat in Porth, Rhondda, Wales and seized 15 amplifiers and speakers, plus 135 CDs and cassette tapes. The disc found in her CD player was the Cliff Richard single, 'Peace in Our Time'. A spokesman for the Cliff Richard Organization said he was delighted to hear of somebody in their early 20s owning one of his many recordings. He added, Cliff would not want anyone to play his music so that it caused a nuisance.

2007, Take That went to No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Shine', their 10th UK No.1 single. The song was featured in several commercials for the re-launched Morrisons supermarkets in the UK, and went on to win the British single of the year award at the 2008 Brit Awards.

2009, Britney Spears kicked off a world tour in New Orleans, her first concert tour for five years. The 27-year-old who dressed as a ringmaster in the show, featured jugglers, acrobats and martial arts dancers.

2012, According to Nielsen SoundScan in the US, vinyl sales increased 36 percent in 2011 compared to the previous year, concluding that vinyl records where making a big comeback for music fans.

March 4th: Born on this day

1925, Born on this day, Paul Mauriat, French, conductor, arranger, (1968 US No.1 single chart 'Love Is Blue', a No.12 hit in the UK).

1936, Born on this day, Eric Allandale, The Foundations, (1967 UK No.1 single 'Baby Now That I've Found You', 1969 US No 3 single 'Build Me Up A Buttercup').

1944, Born on this day, Bobby Womack, American singer-songwriter and musician who started his career as the lead singer of the Valentinos and as Sam Cooke's backing guitarist. Womack was a prolific songwriter who wrote and originally recorded the Rolling Stones' first UK No. 1 hit, 'It's All Over Now'. Womack died at his home in Tarzana, California at age 70 on June 27, 2014.

1944, Born on this day, Michael Wilson, Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick and Tich, (1968 UK No.1 single 'Legend Of Xanadu').

1946, Born on this day, Red Stripe, singer, The Flying Pickets, (1983 UK No.1 single 'Only You').

1948, Born on this day, Chris Squire, bassist and founding member of Yes and solo, (1983 UK No.28 & 1984 US No.1 single 'Owner Of A Lonely Heart'). He was the only member to appear on each of their 21 studio albums, released from 1969 to 2014. Squire died on 27th June 2015 from acute erythroid leukemia.

1948, Born on this day, Shakin' Stevens, singer, (1981 UK No.1 single 'This Old House' plus 30 other UK Top 40 singles).

1950, Born on this day, Emilio Estefan, Miami Sound Machine, (1984 UK No.6 single 'Dr Beat', 1989 US No.1 single 'Don't Wanna Loose You').

1951, Born on this day, Chris Rea, singer, songwriter, guitarist, (1989 UK No.10 single 'The Road To Hell', 1989 UK No.1 album 'Road To Hell' spent 76 weeks on the chart).

1954, Born on this day, St Clair I. Palmer, Sweet Sensation, (1974 UK No.1 single with 'Sad Sweet Dreamer').

1955, Born on this day, Boon Gould, Level 42, (1986 UK No.3 & US No.12 single 'Lessons In Love' & 19 other UK Top 40 hits).

1963, Born on this day, Jason Newsted, bass, Metallica, joined Metallica in 1986 after Cliff Burton's death, Newsted remained a member until 2001. (1991 UK No.5 single 'Enter Sandman', 1991 US & UK No.1 album 'Metallica').

1965, Born on this day, Richard March, bass player, Pop Will Eat Itself, (1991 UK No.15 single 'X Y & Zee'). Formed Bentley Rhythm Ace in mid 90's.

1966, Born on this day, Patrick Hannan, drummer, The Sundays, (1997 UK No.15 single 'Summertime').

1967, Born on this day, Evan Dando, guitar, vocals, The Lemonheads, (1993 UK No.14 single 'Into Your Arms').

1968, Born on this day, Patsy Kensit, actress, appeared in the 1986 film 'Absolute Beginners' and singer with Eighth Wonder, (1988 UK No.7 single 'I'm Not Scared'). Once married to Simple Minds singer Jim Kerr and married Oasis singer Liam Gallagher in 1997. The couple split in 2000.

1971, Born on this day, Feargal Lawlor, drummer, 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.