On This Day

May 19th

1960 - Alan Freed

American DJ Alan Freed was indicted along with seven others for accepting $30,650 in payola from six record companies. Two years later, he was convicted and given a suspended sentence and a $300 fine.

1967 - The Beatles

The Beatles held a press party at manager's Brian Epstein's house in London for the launch of the Sgt. Pepper album. Linda Eastman was hired as the press photographer.

1973 - Stevie Wonder

Stevie Wonder went to No.1 on the US singles chart with 'You Are The Sunshine Of My Life'. His third US No.1, won Wonder a Grammy Award for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance. This song was the second single released from the album 'Talking Book'. 

1973 - Paul Simon

Paul Simon released the single 'Kodachrome' named after the Kodak 35mm film Kodachrome which became a No.2 hit in the US. It was not released as a single in Britain, because the BBC would not play the trademarked name.

1976 - Keith Richards

Rolling Stone Keith Richards crashed his car near Newport Pagnell, Bucks, after falling asleep at the wheel; marijuana and cocaine were found by the police resulting in another fine for the guitarist.

1978 - Dire Straits

Dire Straits released their first major label single 'Sultans Of Swing', recorded on a £120 budget. The song was first recorded as a demo at Pathway Studios, North London, in July 1977, and quickly acquired a following after it was put on rotation at Radio London.

1979 - Abba

ABBA started a four week run at No.1 on the UK album chart with 'Voulez-Vous' the group's fourth No.1 album.

1979 - Eric Clapton

Eric Clapton held a party at his Surrey house celebrating his recent marriage to Patti Boyd. Clapton had set-up a small stage in the garden and as the evening progressed, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr ended up jamming together along with Clapton, Ginger Baker and Mick Jagger. The all-star band ran through old Little Richard and Eddie Cochran songs.

1979 - Supertramp

Supertramp went to No.1 on the US album chart with 'Breakfast In America', the group's only US No.1. It featured three US Billboard hit singles: 'The Logical Song', 'Goodbye Stranger' and 'Take the Long Way Home'.

1980 - Ringo Starr

Ringo Starr and his future wife were involved in a car crash less than half a mile from where Marc Bolan was killed, the car was a write-off but Starr and Bach were not seriously injured.

1984 - Bob Marley

Bob Marley and the Wailers started a 12-week run at No.1 on the UK album chart with the compilation album 'Legend', released to commemorate the third anniversary of Marley's death.

1988 - James Brown

James Brown was arrested for the fifth time in 12 months, following a car chase near his home, he was charged with assault, resisting arrest and being in charge of illegal weapons, he was given a 6 year jail sentence.

1990 - Madonna

Madonna started a three week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Vogue'. Originally planned as a B-side, it became the singers eighth US No.1 and seventh UK No.1 hit.

2001 - Mike Sammes

Mike Sammes founder of The Mike Sammes Singers died aged 73. He worked with Tom Jones, Cliff Richard and featured on The Beatles, ‘I Am the Walrus’, and 'The Long And Winding Road.'

2007 - Michael Jackson

Lawyers for Michael Jackson dropped an effort to block an auction of the star's personal belongings and other Jackson family items. An agreement was reached with representatives of an auctioneer, who was the current owner of the materials, and a New Jersey man who claimed to own a warehouse full of Jackson memorabilia after a failed business venture wound up in bankruptcy court.

2010 - Led Zeppelin

'Stairway To Heaven' was named the UK's favourite rock song in a survey by listeners to radio station Absolute Classic Rock. Led Zeppelin had two other tracks in the top 10; ‘Whole Lotta Love’ was voted at No. 4 and ‘Rock 'n' Roll’, from the group’s fourth album, was at No. 7.

2013 - John Lennon and George Harrison

A guitar played by John Lennon and George Harrison sold for $408,000 (£269,000) at auction. The custom-made instrument, built in 1966 by VOX was bought by an unidentified US buyer in New York. Harrison played ‘I Am the Walrus’, on the guitar in a scene from Magical Mystery Tour in 1967. Lennon used it in a video for 'Hello, Goodbye' later that year. After playing the guitar, Lennon gave it as a 25th birthday present to Alexis "Magic Alex" Mardas, a member of The Beatles' inner circle in the 1960s.

2015 - Lee Ryan

Lee Ryan became the fourth and final member of Blue to declare himself bankrupt. Lee became the last member of the chart-topping boyband - who earned more than £80million after selling in excess of 15million records worldwide - to file for bankruptcy, following in the financial footsteps of his band mates Simon Webbe, Antony Costa and Duncan James.

2016 - John Berry

John Berry, a founding member of rap group Beastie Boys died at the age of 52. Berry originally formed the four-piece hardcore punk band, the Young Aborigines, in 1978 who later became the Beastie Boys and came up with the name for the group.

Born On This Day

May 19th

1932 - Alma Cogan

Alma Cogan, English singer of traditional pop music who had the 1955 UK No.1 single 'Dreamboat', plus 20 other UK Top 40 hits. She was the youngest female to top the charts during the 50s and the highest paid British female entertainer of her era. Cogan died of stomach cancer on 26th October 1966 age 34.

1945 - Pete Townshend

English musician, singer, songwriter Pete Townshend, The Who. Had the 1965 UK No.2 single 'My Generation' and the 1967 US No.9 single 'I Can See For Miles' plus over 20 other UK Top 40 hit singles, 16 US Top 40 singles and rock opera albums 'Tommy' & 'Quadrophenia'. Townshend became known for his eccentric stage style swinging his right arm against the guitar strings in a windmill style, often smashing guitars on stage. Although known primarily as a guitarist, he also plays keyboards, banjo, accordion, harmonica, ukulele, mandolin, violin, synthesiser, bass guitar, and drums.

1947 - Greg Herbert

Greg Herbert, from jazz-rock American music group Blood Sweat & Tears. They scored the 1969 US No.2 single 'Spinning Wheel', and the 1969 US No.12 single 'You've Made Me So Very Happy'. They had a US No.1 with their second album Blood, Sweat & Tears in 1968. Herbert died of an accidental drug overdose 31st January 1977.

1947 - Jerry Hyman

Jerry Hyman, from jazz-rock American music group Blood Sweat & Tears. They scored the 1969 US No.2 single 'Spinning Wheel', and the 1969 US No.12 single 'You've Made Me So Very Happy'. They had a US No.1 with their second album Blood, Sweat & Tears in 1968.

1948 - Tom Scott

Tom Scott, saxophonist, the L.A. Express worked with Joni Mitchell, Carole King, Steely Dan. Composer of film soundtracks & TV shows.

1948 - Grace Jones

Jamaican singer, songwriter, supermodel Grace Jones, who scored the 1985 UK No.12 single 'Slave To The Rhythm' and the hit 'Pull Up to the Bumper'.

1949 - Dusty Hill

Dusty Hill, bass, keyboardist, and co-vocalist with ZZ Top, who had the 1984 US No.8 and 1985 UK No.16 single 'Legs'. ZZ Top has had global album sales in excess of 50 million as of 2014. Along with his brother Rocky Hill and future fellow ZZ Top member Frank Beard, Hill played in local Dallas bands the Warlocks, the Cellar Dwellers, and American Blues.

1950 - Mike Wedgwood

English bassist and singer Mike Wedgwood who with Curved Air had the 1971 UK No.4 single 'Back Street Luv'. He has also worked with Kiki Dee and Caravan.

1950 - Romeo Challenger

Romeo Challenger, from English revival group Showaddywaddy who had the 1976 UK No.1 single with their version of 'Under The Moon Of Love'. Showaddywaddy spent 209 weeks on the UK Singles Chart, and had 10 Top Ten singles.

1952 - Joey Ramone

Jeffrey Hyman, (Joey Ramone), from American punk rock band Ramones who had the 1977 hit single 'Sheena Is A Punk Rocker'. They are often cited as the first band to define the punk rock sound. He died on 15th April 2001 after losing a long battle with lymphatic cancer aged 49. On November 30, 2003, a block of East 2nd Street in New York City was officially renamed Joey Ramone Place.

1954 - Philip Rudd

Phil Rudd, drums, AC/DC, from 1975 through 1983, and again from 1994 to 2015. Thier 1980 UK No.1 & US No.14 album Back In Black has sold over 49 million copies). On 6 November 2014 Rudd was arrested and charged with attempting to procure a murder, threatening to kill, possession of methamphetamine and possession of cannabis, following a police raid on his home.

1956 - Martyn Ware

English musician Martyn Ware who with Heaven 17 had the 1983 UK No.2 single 'Temptation'. He was also a member of the Human League. As a record producer he helped to revitalise Tina Turner's career in 1983 with 'Let's Stay Together', and also kick started Terence Trent D'Arby's career by co-producing his solo debut, Introducing the Hardline According to..

1960 - Yazz

British pop singer, Yasmin Evans, (Yazz), who scored the 1988 UK No.1 dance track 'The Only Way Is Up'.

1962 - Iain Harvie

Iain Harvie, guitarist, from Scottish alternative rock band Del Amitri who had the 1990 UK No.11 single 'Nothing Ever Happens'. The band have had five Top 10 albums in the UK.

1963 - Ben Volperliere

Ben Volperliere, singer from British pop band, Curiosity Killed The Cat who had the 1989 UK No.14 single 'Name And Number' and the UK No.1 album Keep Your Distance.

1968 - Paul Hartnoll

Paul Hartnoll, from English electronic dance music duo Orbital, who had the 1996 UK No.11 single 'The Box'. The band's name is taken from Greater London's orbital motorway, the M25.

1970 - Attrell Cordes

Attrell Cordes, Prince Be, from American hip hop act PM Dawn who scored the 1991 US No.1 & UK No.3 single 'Set Adrift On Memory Bliss'. He died on June 17, 2016, of renal disease, caused by complications of diabetes, at the age of 46 at a hospital in Neptune City, New Jersey.

1970 - Stereophonics

Stuart Cable, drummer from Welsh rock band, Stereophonics, who had the 2001 UK No.5 single 'Have A Nice Day'. Cable left the band in 2003. Presented his own Cable TV show in Wales and worked for BBC Radio Wales. Cable was found dead at him home near Aberdare in Wales on 7th June 2010 aged 40.

1972 - Jenny Berggren

Jenny Berggren, singer, songwriter, with Swedish pop group Ace Of Base who had the 1993 UK No.1 single 'All That She Wants' and the 1994 US No.1 single 'The Sign'. The group sold more than 30 million albums worldwide, making it the third-most successful Swedish band of all time, after ABBA and Roxette.

1992 - Sam Smith

Sam Smith, British singer-songwriter. He featured on Naughty Boy's 'La La La' which was a UK No.1 in May 2013 and scored the 2014 UK No.1 single 'Stay with Me', and won four Grammy Awards in 2015.