THIS DAY IN MUSIC

March 6th: On this Day

1951, Welsh composer, singer and actor Ivor Novello died aged 58. He first became known for the song 'Keep the Home Fires Burning,' which he composed during World War I. The annual British songwriter award is named after him.

1961, George Formby died aged 57. The British singing comedian and ukulele player made over 20 films, and his best known song is 'Leaning On A Lamp Post.' Formby who was made an OBE in 1946 was a major influence on George Harrison.

1965, The Temptations went to No.1 on the US singles chart with the Smokey Robinson penned song 'My Girl', making the group the first male act to have a No.1 for Motown, The single only reached No.43 in the UK but made No.2 when re-issued.

1966, The Rolling Stones started recording sessions for their tenth UK single 'Paint It, Black' at RCA studios in Hollywood. It was originally titled 'Paint It Black' without a comma. Keith Richards has stated that the comma was added by the record label, Decca.

1966,

1967, The Beatles recorded sound effects onto the song 'Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band' at Abbey Road studios in London. The beginning audience murmurs and sounds of a band preparing for a performance are added, along with screams from a tape of the Beatles in concert at the Hollywood Bowl.

1970, Charles Manson released an album called 'Lie' to help raise money for his defence in the Tate-LeBianca murder trial. The album jacket was made to look like a cover of Life magazine with the letter f removed from the word Life. In the mid sixties, Manson had been a wanna-be musician who befriended The Beach Boysdrummer Dennis Wilson, eventually talking the group into recording one of his songs, 'Cease To Exist'. The title was changed to 'Never Learn Not To Love' and was released as the B side of the single 'Bluebirds Over The Mountain', which eventually climbed to number 61 in the US in early 1969.

1970, David Bowie released the single 'The Prettiest Star' in the UK as a follow-up single to 'Space Oddity'. The track featured Marc Bolan on guitar, with whom Bowie would spend the next few years as a rival for the crown of the king of glam rock. Despite receiving good reviews, the single reportedly sold fewer than 800 copies, a major disappointment on the back of the success of 'Space Oddity'.

1971, Mungo Jerry were at No.1 on the UK singles chat with 'Baby Jump', the group's second and final No.1.

1971, Led Zeppelin appeared at the National Boxing Stadium, Dublin, Ireland, the group's first show in Dublin, where they played 'Stairway To Heaven' live for only the second time.

1973, An attempt to bring Elvis Presley to the UK for shows at London's Earl's Court failed. Promoters had hoped that Elvis would be available during the summer but were told that Elvis now had US tour and filming commitments.

1973, Slade scored their fourth UK No.1 single with 'Cum On Feel The Noize', the first single to enter the charts at No.1 since The Beatles 'Get Back' in 1969. Elton Johnhad the No.1 album with 'Don't Shoot Me I'm Only The Piano Player'.

1982, Tight Fit were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with their version of The Tokens hit 'The Lion Sleeps Tonight.' It was first recorded by its writer, Solomon Linda, and his group, The Evening Birds, in 1939. In 2004, the song became the subject of a lawsuit between the family of its writer Solomon Linda and Disney. The suit claimed that Disney owed $1.6 million in royalties for the use of 'The Lion Sleeps Tonight' in the film and stage production of The Lion King. A settlement was reached for an undisclosed amount in 2006.

1998, Oasis singer Liam Gallagher appeared handcuffed in a Brisbane court on charges of head butting a fan during a gig in Australia. Gallagher was released on bail.

2001, A man who hid for 24 hours in the rafters of a Cathedral and secretly filmed the Christening of Madonna's baby appeared in court. Security staff discovered the man after the ceremony when he made a noise as he climbed down from the rafters.

2004, Diane Richie, the estranged wife of singer Lionel Richie, went to court seeking $300,000 (£176,500) a month in maintenance support. Diane's monthly costs included: $20,000 (£11,800) a year on plastic surgery; $15,000 (£8,824) a month for clothing, shoes and accessories; $5,000 (£2,940) on jewellery; $3,000 (£1,765) on dermatology; $1,000 (£588) for laser hair removal and $600 (£353) on massages.

2004, David Crosby was arrested and charged with criminal possession of a weapon and marijuana after leaving his bag in a New York hotel. The luggage was found by a hotel employee looking for identification, finding instead a handgun and marijuana. The employee called authorities, and Crosby, discovering the missing luggage himself, telephoned to say he would return for it. He was met by New York police, who arrested him.

2008, A UK charity warned that nine out of ten young people had experienced the first signs of hearing damage after listening to loud music. The RNID said more should wear ear plugs to protect their hearing, without spoiling their appreciation of music. Experts said prolonged exposure to noise over 85 decibels would harm hearing over time. Music played in concerts, bars and clubs was often above this level.

2009, Michael Jackson was mobbed by screaming fans as he took his two youngest children to see Oliver! at Drury Lane. The youngest two of Jackson's three children - seven-year-old Prince Michael II (known as Blanket) and 11-year-old Paris, hid their faces as they were escorted through the crowd. Jackson was in London, England to announce his series of summer concerts at the O2. Jackson died three weeks before the shows were to start.

2010, Mark Linkous, frontman with US band Sparklehorse committed suicide by shooting himself in the heart outside a friend's house in Knoxville, Tennessee. In 1996 Linkous "died" for two minutes after ingesting a mix of Valium and antidepressants while supporting Radiohead on tour in the UK. He recovered, but the incident left him paralysed, after lying unconscious for 14 hours, with circulation to his legs cut off. He suffered a heart attack when doctors tried to straighten the limbs, and he had surgery seven times to save his legs.

2016, Lana Rae Meisner, the wife of former Eagles' bassist Randy Meisner, died after she accidentally shot herself while looking for something in a closet. Although the couple had a history of domestic incidents, police immediately cleared Randy of any wrongdoing whatsoever.

2017, Ed Sheeran's new album ÷ (Divide) became one of the fastest-selling releases ever in the UK, shifting 432,000 copies in just three days. The all-time list for first-week sales has Adele's 25 and Oasis's Be Here Now at the top with 800,000 each. ÷ smashed the Spotify record for the most-streamed album in a single day - notching up 56.7 million streams on its day of release.

March 6th: Born on this day

1893, Born on this day, Memphis blues artist Walter ‘Furry’ Lewis. He was the first guitarist to play with a bottleneck. He lost a leg in a railroad accident and once supported The Rolling Stones. Joni Mitchell wrote the song ‘Furry Sings The Blues’ after him. Lewis died on September 14th 1981, aged 88.

1905, Born on this day, Bob Wills, American Western swing musician, songwriter, and bandleader. Considered by music authorities as the co-founder of Western swing, he was universally known as the King of Western Swing. Wills died on 13th May 1975.

1936, Born on this day, singer Sylvia Robinson who had the 1973 US No.3 & UK No. 14 single 'Pillow Talk' and as Mickey & Sylvia the 1957 US No.11 single 'Love Is Strange'.

1944, Born on this day, Mary Wilson, vocals, The Supremes who had the 1964 UK & US No.1 single 'Baby Love' plus 11 other US No.1 singles.

1945, Born on this day, Hugh Grundy, drummer with The Zombies who had the 1964 US No.2 & UK No.12 single 'She's Not There'.

1946, Born on this day, David Gilmour: guitarist, singer and songwriter, who joined Pink Floyd in 1968. After Roger Waters' departure in 1985, David created two further Floyd albums, A Momentary Lapse of Reason and The Division Bell, with Nick Mason and Richard Wright. He was appointed a CBE in 2003 for his services to music. He released his first solo album, David Gilmour, in 1978, followed by About Face in 1984 and 2006's On An Island, which charted at No.1 in the UK and No.6 in the US.

1946, Born on this day, Murray Head, UK singer who had the 1984 UK No.12 & 1985 US No.3 single, 'One Night In Bangkok'.

1947, Born on this day, Kiki Dee, (Pauline Matthews), singer and actress who had the 1976 UK & US No.1 single Don't Go Breaking My Heart' with Elton John. As a session singer she worked with Dusty Springfield and also became the first white British artist to be signed by Motown Records, releasing her first Motown single in 1970. Dee now performs with guitarist Carmelo Luggeri.

1964, Born on this day, Stephen Bier, (Wayne Gacy), keyboards with Marilyn Manson who had the 1998 US No.1 album, 'Mechanical Animals' and the UK No. 12 single, 'The Dope Show'.

1970, Born on this day, Betty Boo, (Alison Moira Clarkson), singer who had the 1990 UK No.3 single 'Where Are You Baby'. Now a songwriter who wrote 'Pure and Simple' for Hear'Say as well as hits for Girls Aloud.

1974, Born on this day, Dwight Grant, (Beanie Sigel), American rapper. Beanie founded the group and label State Property, as well as the clothing company of the same name.

1974, Born on this day, Guy Garvey singer/guitarist with Manchester based group Elbow. Elbow won the Mercury Music Prize for their 2008 album 'The Seldom Seen Kid'. Garvey also presents a radio show on BBC 6Music.

1984, Born on this day, drummer, Chris Tomson from Vampire Weekend. 2010 US & UK No.1 album, ‘Contra’ and the 2013 US No.1 album 'Modern Vampires of the City'.