What Happened Today In Music

February 29th

1964 - Dusty Springfield

The first night of a 29 date twice-nightly tour featuring The Searchers, Bobby Vee and Dusty Springfield kicked off at The Adelphi Cinema, Slough.

1964 - The Hollies

The Hollies appeared on UK music show 'Thank Your Lucky Stars.'

1968 - The Beatles

The Beatles Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band won album of the year, best cover and best-engineered and recorded album at this year's Grammy Awards.

1972 - Led Zeppelin

On the last date of an Australian tour Led Zeppelin played at the Festival Hall in Brisbane.

1976 - Eric Stewart

10cc kicked off a 30-date UK tour at the Fairfield Hall, Croydon promoting their new album 'How Dare You'. Also this week 10CC member Eric Stewart had been nominated for a Grammy award in America for his work on the 'Original Soundtrack' album.

1976 - Stranglers

A Special 'Leap Year' concert with The Stranglers, Nasty Pop, Deaf School and Jive Bombers, at London's Roundhouse.

1977 - Lynyrd Skynyrd

Two members of Lynyrd Skynyrd were knocked unconscious after a scuffle broke out- between the band and members of the metropolitan police boxing team, who were holding a dinner at the Royal Lancaster Hotel in London.

1980 - Buddy Holly

The glasses that Buddy Holly had been wearing when he died were discovered in a police file in Mason, Iowa after being there for over 21 years.

1988 - Robert Plant

Robert Plant released his fourth solo album, Now And Zen. The album peaked at No. 10 on the UK chart. The tracks Heaven Knows and Tall Cool One featured guitarist Jimmy Page.

1992 - Mr Big

Mr Big started a three week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'To Be With You', a No.3 hit in the UK.

1992 - U2

U2 kicked off their north American leg of the 'Zoo TV Tour', at The Lakeland Civic Centre Arena, Florida. Many acts have appeared here, including Elvis Presley, The Rolling Stones, Rush and Bob Dylan. It was here where Kiss guitarist Ace Frehley was nearly electrocuted, during a concert on December 11, 1976.

1996 - Wes Farrell

American musician, songwriter and record producer, Wes Farrell died aged 56. He was one of the writers behind The Partridge Family American TV show and also wrote 'Hang On Sloopy' the 1965 hit for The McCoys.

1996 - Status Quo

Status Quo sued Radio 1 for £250,000 ($425,000) on the grounds that the BBC station was breaking the law by not including their new record on their playlist.

2000 - Eric Clapton

Eric Clapton was banned from driving for six months after speeding at 45mph in a 30mph zone near his UK home in Surrey.

2000 - Elton John

Sir Elton John stormed out of the opening of his new Broadway musical show, 'Aida', after 15 minutes complaining that his songs had been ruined.

2004 - Peter Andre

Peter Andre went to No.1 on the UK singles chart with a re-issue of his 1996 No.2 hit 'Mysterious Girl.' Andre had been a contestant in the UK TV show 'I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here' set in the Australian outback.

2008 - The Dave Clark Five

Mike Smith, the lead singer of 1960s British group The Dave Clark Five, died from pneumonia at Stoke Mandeville Hospital in Buckinghamshire, England at the age of 64. The Dave Clark Five had 19 UK Top 40 hits, including 'Bits and Pieces' and the number one single 'Glad All Over'. The band, which broke up in the 1970s, sold more than 100 million records and recorded 23 albums.

2012 - Roland Bautista

American guitarist and session musician Roland Bautista died of natural causes. He was a former member of Earth, Wind & Fire and had also worked with artists such as Tom Waits, The Jackson 5, B.B. King, Ramsey Lewis, Randy Crawford and George Duke.

2012 - Davy Jones

Davy Jones, the Manchester-born lead singer with 60s band The Monkees, died aged 66, in his sleep at his home in Florida after suffering a massive heart attack. Jones who appeared as a teenager in soap opera Coronation Street, playing Ena Sharples's grandson was also a former apprentice jockey in Newmarket. Jones remained a keen horseman all his life, winning his first race in England as a jockey in 1996.

Born Today In Music

February 29th

1904 - Jimmy Dorsey

Jimmy Dorsey, alto saxophonist, clarinettist, bandleader, and brother of trombonist-bandleader Tommy Dorsey. Jimmy Dorsey & His Orchestra had 103 chart hits in the US, including 12 number ones. Their biggest hit was 'Amapola' in 1941, featuring the vocals of Bob Eberly and Helen O'Connell. It was number one for ten weeks.

1940 - Gretchen Christopher

Gretchen Christopher from American group The Fleetwoods who had the 1959 US No.1 & UK No.6 single 'Come Softly To Me'.

1972 - Saul Williams

Saul Williams, most known for his blend of poetry and hip-hop. Williams had the 2007 album 'The Inevitable Rise and Liberation of NiggyTardust!'

1976 - Ja Rule

Ja Rule, US rapper, (Jeffrey Atkins) who had the 2001 UK No.4 with Jennifer Lopez, 'I'm Real', and the 2002 US No.1 & UK No.6 single 'Always On Time', and the 2001 US No.1 album 'Pain Is Love'.