What Happened Today In Music

November 7th

1951 - Frank Sinatra

Frank Sinatra married his second wife actress Ava Gardner, the couple split up in 1953 and divorced in 1957. Sinatra was married three other times, to his first wife Nancy Barbato, to the actress Mia Farrow and finally to Barbara Marx, to whom he was married at his death.

1958 - Eddie Cochran

Eddie Cochran made his UK chart debut with 'Summertime Blues'. It reached No.18 in the UK & No.8 in the US. The song has been covered by many artists, including being a No.1 hit for country music artist, Alan Jackson, and a notable hit for the English rock band, The Who. 

1963 - The Beatles

The Beatles went to Ireland to make their only two appearances ever in the country playing two shows at the Adelphi Cinema, Dublin. The group hooked up with screenwriter Alun Owen, who had been appointed to write the screenplay for The Beatles' first (as yet untitled) motion picture. Owen spent three days with The Beatles observing their hectic lifestyle.

1967 - Elton John

Reg Dwight (Elton John) and his song writing partner Bernie Taupin signed to DJM publishing, their signatures had to be witnessed by their parents because they were both under 21 years of age. Taupin answered an advertisement for a lyric writer placed in the New Musical Express, the pair have since collaborated on over 30 albums.

1967 - The Beatles

The Beatles finished recording ‘Blue Jay Way’, ‘Flying’ and ‘Magical Mystery Tour.’ The Beatles have only six songs, not enough for an album so decided to issue a double-EP. Capitol Records didn’t think the double-EP format would be acceptable for the US market, so they decide to put out an album instead. The six "Magical Mystery Tour" songs with five of the six songs from The Beatles' 1967 singles went on side two.

1969 - The Rolling Stones

The Rolling Stones kicked off their 6th North American tour at Fort Collins state University, Colorado. Also on the bill was Ike and Tina Turner, Chuck Berry and B.B. King.

1974 - Ted Nugent

Ted Nugent won a National Squirrel-shooting contest after picking off a squirrel at 150 yards. The heavy metal guitarist also shot dead 27 other mammals during the three day event.

1975 - Steve Anderson

A new world record was set for continuous guitar string plucking by Steve Anderson who played for 114 hours 17 minutes.

1975 - Elton John

Elton John started a three week run at No.1 on the US album chart with 'Rock Of The Westies', the singers tenth studio album and seventh US No.1 contained the US No.1 and No.14 UK single, 'Island Girl', which was released prior to the album.

1981 - Hall and Oates

Hall and Oates started a two week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Private Eyes', the duo's third US No.1, a No.32 hit in the UK.

1987 - Bruce Springsteen

Bruce Springsteen went to No.1 on the US album chart with 'Tunnel Of Love.' His eighth studio album went triple platinum in the US, with 'Brilliant Disguise' being one of his biggest hit singles, peaking at No.5 on the Billboard Hot 100.

1987 - Tiffany

Tiffany became the youngest act to score a US No.1 since Michael Jackson ('Ben', in 1972) with 'I Think we're Alone Now'. The song written by Ritchie Cordell was initially a 1967 hit for Tommy James & the Shondells.

1991 - Guns N' Roses

Rhythm guitarist Izzy Stradlin quit Guns N’ Roses and was replaced by guitarist Gilby Clarke. Stradlin citied a combination of Axl Rose's personal behaviour and the difficulties of being around Slash, Matt Sorum, and Duff McKagan, due to his new-found sobriety.

1999 - Geri Halliwell

Geri Halliwell went to No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Lift Me Up', beating former colleague Emma Bunton's single which entered the chart at No.2. Sales of Geri's single were helped by front-page press reports about her dating Chris Evans.

2002 - Guns N' Roses

12 Guns N' Roses fans were arrested during a riot after a gig in Vancouver was cancelled. Promoters pulled the gig after Axl Rose's flight from Los Angeles was delayed.

2002 - Bobby Brown

Whitney Houston's husband, Bobby Brown was arrested and charged with possession of marijuana, speeding, driving without a licence and having no proof of insurance after he was stopped by police in Atlanta City.

2004 - Elton John

Elton John turned the air blue live on BBC Radio 1 using the words; f****ing, w**k, and t**s. The singer was a guest on the Chris Moyles Radio 1 breakfast show in the UK.

2012 - Linkin Park

A woman died, and 19 others were injured, after scaffolding collapsed outside a Linkin Park concert in Cape Town, South Africa. The temporary scaffolding outside Green Point stadium came down in high winds just before the concert. The concert went ahead, with the band only learning of the death afterwards.

2014 - Bruce Springsteen

Two wealthy fans paid $300,000 to eat lasagne with Bruce Springsteen at his house. Springsteen started off the annual Stand Up For Heroes event by playing an acoustic set, then offering the instrument to the highest bidder. When bidding reached $60,000, he threw in a guitar lesson, which someone offered $250,000 for. At this point, he offered up a lasagne dinner at his house, a ride around the block in the sidecar of his motorbike and the shirt off of his back. All the money went to the Bob Woodruff Foundation, which helps injured servicemen and their families when they return home.

2014 - AC/DC

Australian drummer of AC/DC, Phil Rudd, had a charge of attempting to arrange a murder dropped in New Zealand, but he will still facing charges of drugs possession and making threats to kill. The U-turn by authorities, announced less than 24 hours after Mr Rudd appeared in court, was because of a lack of evidence, his lawyer said.

2016 - Leonard Cohen

Canadian singer, songwriter and poet Leonard Cohen died at the age of 82 at his home in Los Angeles. Cohen pursued a career as a poet and novelist during the 1950s and early 1960s, and did not launch a music career until 1967, at the age of 33. His first album, Songs of Leonard Cohen (1967), was followed by three more albums of folk music: Songs from a Room (1969), Songs of Love and Hate (1971) and New Skin for the Old Ceremony (1974). "Hallelujah" is a song written by Canadian singer Leonard Cohen, originally released on his album Various Positions (1984). His song 'Hallelujah' found greater popular acclaim through a recording by John Cale, which inspired a recording by Jeff Buckley.

2017 - Pentti Glan

Finnish rock drummer Pentti Glan died of lung cancer at the age of 71. He is best known for his work with Alice Cooper and Lou Reed. He also appeared in the movie The Rose as the drummer of The Rose Band.

Born Today In Music

November 7th

1937 - Mary Travers

Mary Travers, singer-songwriter from American folk group Peter Paul and Mary, who had the 1969 US No.1 & 1970 UK No.2 single 'Leaving On A Jet Plane'. The Bob Dylan song 'Blowin' in the Wind' was one of their biggest hit singles. They also sang other Dylan songs, such as 'The Times They Are a-Changin'' and 'Don't Think Twice, It's All Right'. She died on 16th Sept 2009 aged 72.

1942 - Johnny Rivers

Johnny Rivers, US singer, songwriter, (1966 US No.1 single 'Poor Side Of Town' plus over 15 other US Top 40 hits).

1943 - Joni Mitchell

Joni Mitchell (Roberta Anderson), Canadian singer, songwriter, 1970 UK No.11 single 'Big Yellow Taxi', 1974 US No.7 single ‘Help Me’. She wrote 'Both Sides Now' a hit for Judy Collins and 'Woodstock' a hit for Crosby, Stills Nash & Young and Matthews Southern Comfort. Mitchell's work is highly respected by critics, and she has deeply influenced fellow musicians in a diverse range of genres.

1951 - Kevin MacDonald

Kevin Scott MacDonald, guitarist, with English rock band Cutting Crew, who scored the 1987 US No.1 & 1986 UK No.4 single 'I Just Died In Your Arms Tonight'.

1954 - Robin Beck

Robin Beck, singer, (1988 UK No.1 single 'First Time'). The song was taken from a TV advertisement for Coca-Cola. As a backing singer Beck worked with Melissa Manchester, Chaka Khan and Leo Sayer.

1957 - Jellybean

John "Jellybean" Benitez, producer, club DJ and remixer, (1987 UK No.10 single 'Who Found Who').

1960 - Tommy Thayer

Tommy Thayer, lead guitarist, took over from Ace Frehley in American hard rock band Kiss. Thayer became the lead guitarist for Kiss in 2002.

1963 - Clint Mansell

Clint Mansell, guitarist, from English alternative rock band, Pop Will Eat Itself who scored the 1991 UK No.15 single 'X Y & Zee' and the 1993 top ten hit, 'Get The Girl! Kill The Baddies!'

1964 - Liam O'Maonlai

Liam O'Maonlai, vocals, guitar, piano, from Irish rock group Hothouse Flowers who scored the 1988 UK No.11 single 'Don't Go'. Their first album, People, released in 1988 became the most successful debut album in Irish history. It reached the No.1 slot in Ireland within a week and eventually reached No.2 in the UK Albums Chart.

1967 - David Guetta

Born on this day David Guetta, French DJ, Produced the Black Eyed Peas song ‘I Gotta Feeling’, scored the 2009 Australian No.1 single ‘Sexy Bitch’ featuring Akon.

1967 - Sharleen Spiteri

Sharleen Spiteri, singer, songwriter from Scottish pop rock band Texas who had the 1997 UK No.3 single 'Say What You Want', and the 1997 UK No.1 album White On Blonde which has been certified six-times platinum in the UK.

1970 - Neil Hannon

Neil Hannon, singer, Divine Comedy, (1999 UK No. 8 single 'National Express').

1971 - Robin Finck

Robin Finck, American guitarist with Nine Inch Nails and Guns N' Roses.

1978 - Mark Read

Mark Daniel Read, vocals, A1, (2000 UK No.1 single, 'Same Old Brand New You').

1988 - Tinie Tempah

English rapper, Tinie Tempah, (born Patrick Chukwuemeka Okogwu). Scored the 2010 UK No.1 'Pass Out', and 'Written in the Stars'.

1996 - Ella Yelich-O'Connor

New Zealand singer-songwriter, Ella Yelich-O'Connor, known by her stage name Lorde who had the 2013 worldwide hit 'Royals', making her the first New Zealand solo artist to have a No.1 song in the United States. Her second studio album Melodrama topped charts in New Zealand, Australia, the United States and Canada.