What Happened Today In Music

December 28th

1961 - Danny Williams

Danny Williams was at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Moon River', the Oscar-winning song was from the film Breakfast At Tiffany's. The Tokens were at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'The Lion Sleeps Tonight.'

1968 - The Beatles

The Beatles went to No.1 on the US album chart with the The White Album the group's 12th US No.1 album. A double album, its plain white sleeve has no graphics or text other than the band's name embossed, which was intended as a direct contrast to the vivid cover artwork of the band's earlier Sgt. Pepper's. No singles were issued from the album in Britain and the United States, the songs 'Hey Jude' and 'Revolution' originated from the same recording sessions and were issued on a single in August 1968.

1968 - Joni Mitchell

The three day Miami Pop festival took place, the first major rock festival held on the East Coast of the US, with The Jimi Hendrix Experience, Chuck Berry, The McCoys, Joni Mitchell, Fleetwood Mac, Marvin Gaye, The Turtles, The Box Tops, Steppenwolf, Three Dog Night, Pacific Gas and Electric, Procol Harum, Canned Heat, Iron Butterfly and The Grateful Dead.

1968 - Pink Floyd

Pink Floyd appeared at the two day festival Flight To Lowlands Paradise II, Margriethal-Jaarbeurs, Utrecht, The Netherlands, (replacing The Jimi Hendrix Experience). Other acts appearing included Jethro Tull, Jeff Beck, The Pretty Things and the Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band.

1971 - George Harrison

George Harrison was at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'My Sweet Lord' making him the first Beatle to score a No.1 US hit. The song was originally intended for Billy Preston.

1972 - David Bowie

David Bowie appeared at The Hardrock, Stretford, Manchester, England on his Ziggy Stardust tour.

1974 - Helen Reddy

Helen Reddy went to No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Angie Baby', the singers third US No.1. The song was turned down by Cher.

1976 - Freddie King

Blues guitarist Freddie King died of heart trouble and ulcers aged 42. Eric Clapton covered his 'Have You Ever Loved A Woman' on his Layla album. Major influence on British and American blues-rock musicians such as Jimmy Vaughan, Ronnie Earl, Peter Green and Eric Clapton.

1978 - The Rolling Stones

Rolling Stone magazine voted Some Girls by The Rolling Stones'Album of the Year.' The cover designed by Peter Corriston, featured The Rolling Stones in garish drag alongside select female celebrities and lingerie ads. The cover immediately ran into trouble when Lucille Ball, Farrah Fawcett, Liza Minnelli (representing her mother Judy Garland), Raquel Welch, and the estate of Marilyn Monroe who all threatened legal action.

1983 - Dennis Wilson

Having made two successful dives below a friend’s yacht to find items he’d drunkenly thrown off his own boat three years before, The Beach Boys Dennis Wilson took one last dive into the Pacific and never returned from the boat moored in Marina Del Rey, California. With the help of President Reagan he was given a burial at sea, normally reserved for Naval personnel. Dennis was the only genuine surfer in The Beach Boys.

1991 - Red Hot Chili Peppers, Nirvana and Pearl Jam

Red Hot Chili Peppers, Nirvana and Pearl Jam all appeared at Del Mar O'brien Pavilion, San Diego, California.

1993 - Shania Twain

Canadian singer Shania Twain married record producer Mutt Lange. The couple separated in 2008 after 14 years of marriage.

1998 - Massive Attack

UK radio station BBC Radio 1 aired the 100 National Anthems, songs voted by listeners. At No.5 Radiohead, 'Creep', No.4 Underworld 'Born Slippy', No.3 The Verve 'Bitter Sweet Symphony', No.2 Nirvana 'Smells Like Teen Spirit' No.1 Massive Attack 'Unfinished Sympathy'.

2003 - 50 Cent

50 Cent's debut album, Get Rich Or Die Tryin' was named the biggest selling album in the US in 2003 with the album going platinum six times over. Outkast came second with Speakerboxxx / The Love Below and Linkin Parks Meteora was the third biggest seller. The Top 10 albums of 2003 in the USA accounted for around 30 million sales.

2005 - Pink Floyd

Pink Floyd were voted the greatest rock stars ever in a survey of 58,000 listeners from UK radio station Planet Rock. Led Zeppelinwere voted into second place, 3rd was The Rolling Stones, 4th The Who, 5th, AC/DC, 6th, U2, 7th, Guns N’ Roses, 8th, Nirvana, 9th, Bon Jovi and in 10th place Jimi Hendrix. Listeners also named the 1970s as the golden age of rock, followed by the 1960’s.

2011 - Sinead O'Connor

Sinead O’Connor announced the end of her marriage to therapist Barry Herridge after only 16 days. O'Connor admitted that they had "made a mistake rushing into getting married". This was the Irish singers fourth marriage.

2015 - Lemmy

Lemmy, lead vocalist and bassist with Motörhead died at his home in Los Angeles, California, four days after his 70th birthday following a short battle with an extremely aggressive cancer. Lemmy played in several rock groups in the 1960s, including the Rockin' Vickers and worked as a roadie for Jimi Hendrix and the Nice, before joining the space rock band Hawkwind in 1971, singing lead on their hit 'Silver Machine'.

2015 - John Bradbury

John Bradbury, the longtime drummer for the British band the Specials, died aged 62. He joined the band in 1979 after the original drummer left and was made a permanent member after playing at the recording session for the single 'Gangsters.'

Born Today In Music

December 28th

1915 - Roebuck Staples

Roebuck 'pop' Staples, vocals, The Staple Singers, (1975 US No.1 single 'Let's Do It Again'). Died 19th December 2000.

1921 - Johnny Otis

Johnny Otis, (1957 UK No.2 single 'Ma, He's Making Eyes At Me', 1958 US No.9 single 'Willie And The Hand Jive').

1936 - Young Jessie

American singer Young Jessie who was a member of The Coasters. In 1955 he wrote and recorded the single 'Mary Lou,' later covered by Ronnie Hawkins, Steve Miller Band, Bob Seger, Gene Clark and Frank Zappa.

1938 - Charles Neville

Charles Neville, sax, The Neville Brothers, (1989 UK No.47 single 'With God On Our Side').

1942 - Allan Schwartzberg

American musician and record producer Allan Schwartzberg who has been a member of the rock band Mountain, Peter Gabriel's band, and toured with Linda Rondstadt. He has also played on hits such as Gloria Gaynor 'Never Can Say Goodbye' and worked with many artists including John Lennon, Diana Ross, James Brown, Alice Cooper, Frank Sinatra, Roxy Music, Rod Stewart and Robert Palmer.

1943 - Chas Hodges

English musician and singer Chas Hodges, who had worked with British producer Joe Meek as a session musician, backing Jerry Lee Lewis and Gene Vincent. Hodges later joined Heads Hands and Feet, (with guitarist Albert Lee). With Chas & Dave he scored the 1982 UK No.2 single 'Ain't No Pleasing You'. He also played piano for short-lived supergroup the Rockers, which featured Roy Wood, Phil Lynott and John Coghlan. He died from pneumonia on 22 September 2018, aged 74.

1946 - Edgar Winter

Edgar Winter, Edgar Winter Group, keyboards, vocals, (1973 US No.1 & UK No.18 single 'Frankenstein').

1947 - Dick Diamonde

Dick Diamonde, The Easybeats, (1966 UK No.6 & 1967 US No. 16 single 'Friday On My Mind').

1950 - Alex Chilton

Alex Chilton, guitar, vocals, with The Box Tops who had the 1967 US No.1 & UK No.5 single 'The Letter'. He formed Big Star in 1971. In the 1980s both R.E.M., and the Replacements cited Big Star group as a major influence. Chilton died in hospital of heart problems in New Orleans on March 17th 2010 aged 59.

1953 - Richard Clayderman

Richard Clayderman, French pianist who has sold over 70 million albums world-wide, biggest UK hit is the 1982 UK No.2 album 'Richard Clayderman.'

1954 - Rosie Vela

Rosie Vela, US singer songwriter, (1987 UK No.27 single 'Magic Smile').

1964 - Paul Wagstaff

Paul Wagstaff, Black Grape, (1995 UK No.8 single 'In The Name Of The Father').

1971 - Anita Dels

Anita Dels, vocals, 2 Unlimited, (1993 UK No.1 single 'No Limit').

1978 - John Legend

John Legend (John Stephens), singer, songwriter, 2006 US No.3 & UK No.10 album 'Once Again.' Scored the 2014 US No.1 single 'All Of Me'.