What Happened Today In Music
February 23rd
1940 - Woody Guthrie
Woody Guthrie wrote the lyrics to 'This Land Is Your Land' in his room at the Hanover House Hotel in New York City. The song was brought back to life in the 1960s, when several artists of the new folk movement, including Bob Dylan, The Kingston Trio, Trini Lopez, Jay and the Americans, and The New Christy Minstrels all recorded versions, inspired by its political message.
1961 - Petula Clark
Petula Clark had her first UK No.1 single with 'Sailor'. During her career the former child actress achieved a total of 20 UK Top 40 hits and 2 US No.1 singles.
1965 - The Beatles
Filming began on The Beatles follow up to 'A Hard Day's Night' on location in the Bahamas with the working title of 'Eight Arms To Hold You.'
1972 - Elvis Presley
After nearly five years of marriage, Priscilla Presley moved out of Elvis Presley's California home and into a two bedroom apartment near the Pacific Ocean. Their divorce would be finalized on October 9, 1973, with Priscilla being awarded an outright cash payment of $725,000 as well as spousal support, child support, 5% of Elvis' new publishing companies and half the income from the sale of their Beverly Hills home.
1974 - David Bowie
'Rebel Rebel' by David Bowie entered the UK chart, the single reached No.5 the following month. Originally written for an aborted Ziggy Stardust musical in late 1973, 'Rebel Rebel' was Bowie's last single in the glam rock style that had been his trademark. It was also his first hit since 1969 not to feature lead guitarist Mick Ronson; Bowie himself played guitar on this track.
1974 - Suzi Quatro
Suzi Quatro was at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Devil Gate Drive', the singers second UK No.1 and fourth No.1 for the songs writers Chinn & Chapman.
1976 - AC/DC
AC/DC shot the video clip for "It's A Long Way To The Top, (If You Wanna Rock 'n' Roll)" for the Australian music television program Countdown. It featured the band's then-current lineup, along with members of the Rats of Tobruk Pipe Band, on the back of a flat-bed truck travelling on Swanston Street in Melbourne. In May 2001, Australasian Performing Rights Association celebrated its 75th anniversary by naming the Best Australian Songs of all time, as decided by a 100-member industry panel. "It's a Long Way to the Top (If You Wanna Rock 'n' Roll)" was ranked as the ninth song on the list.
1978 - Eagles
Winners at this years Grammy Awards included Fleetwood Mac, Album of the year for Rumours. The Eagles, Record of the year for Hotel California and Best pop vocal performance, The Bee Gees for 'How Deep Is Your Love.'
1985 - Stevie Wonder
Stevie Wonder was arrested during an antiapartheid demonstration outside the South African Embassy in Washington; he was released after being questioned by police.
1985 - The Smiths
The Smiths scored their first UK No.1 album with Meat Is Murder. The album's sleeve uses a 1967 photograph of Marine Cpl. Michael Wynn in the Vietnam War, though with the wording on his helmet changed from "Make War Not Love" to "Meat Is Murder". The original image was used for Emile de Antonio's 1968 documentary In the Year of the Pig.
1995 - Temptations
American singer Melvin Franklin of The Temptations died of a brain seizure aged 52. Had the 1971 US No.1 & UK No.8 single 'Just My Imagination' and re-issued 'My Girl' UK No.2 in 1992. In 1978 Franklin was shot in the hand and the leg when trying to stop a man from stealing his car.
1998 - Oasis
All members of Oasis were banned for life from flying Cathay Pacific Airlines after "abusive and disgusting behaviour" during a flight from Hong Kong to Perth, Australia.
2002 - Bee Gees
The Bee Gees made their last ever concert appearance when they appeared at the Love and Hope Ball, Miami Beach, Florida.
2003 - Howie Epstein
Howie Epstein bassist with Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers died of a suspected drug overdose in New Mexico. He had replaced The Heartbreakers original bassist Ron Blair, Epstein also worked with Bob Dylan, Johnny Cash, Stevie Nicks, Roy Orbison, Carl Perkins, Linda Ronstadt and Del Shannon.
2003 - Michael Jackson
The News Of The World reported that Michael Jackson had undergone scores of painful operations to strip his body of black skin until he appeared white. And that surgeons at a Santa Monica clinic eventually refused him any more treatment. An insider told the paper that Jackson had been anaesthetised on a weekly basis to have his skin peeled and bleached.
2003 - Norah Jones
Norah Jones cleaned up at the 45th Grammy Awards, held at Madison Square Garden, New York. The singer, songwriter won, Album of the year and Record of the year, with 'Don't Know Why.' Song of the year, Best new artist and Best female pop vocal for 'Don't Know Why'. Other winners included Best male pop vocal, John Mayer, 'Our Body Is A Wonderland'. Best male rock vocal, Bruce Springsteen, 'The Rising', Best female rock vocal, Sheryl Crow, 'Steve McQueen', Best rock performance by group, Coldplay'In My Place', Best rap album, Eminem, 'The Eminem Show'.
2010 - Abbey Road Studios
London's Abbey Road studios was made a listed building, protecting it from plans to radically alter it. Culture Minister Margaret Hodge listed the studios on the advice of English Heritage saying it had "produced some of the very best music in the world". The Beatles used Abbey Road for 90% of their recordings. The studio was origanally named EMI Studios, they changed the name to Abbey Road Studios in 1970 because of The Beatles album.
2013 - Jermaine Jackson
Jermaine Jackson officially changed his last Name to Jacksun. The third-oldest member of the Jackson 5, who unofficially took the name Mohammad Abdul Aziz upon his 1989 conversion to Islam, said he was making the new change for "artistic reasons."
2017 - Jay Z
Jay Z was set to become first rapper inducted into Songwriters Hall of Fame. Previous inductees include Marvin Gaye, Bob Dylan, Dolly Parton, Bruce Springsteen and Michael Jackson. But no rapper had ever made the cut before. Jay Z would be inducted as part of the hall's class of 2017 alongside Max Martin, who has written songs for Taylor Swift, Katy Perry and Ariana Grande.
February 23rd
1944 - Mike Maxfield
English songwriter and guitarist Mike Maxfield from Billy J Kramer and the Dakotas, who had the 1964 UK No.1 & US N0.7 single 'Little Children'.
1944 - Johnny Winter
American singer and guitarist Johnny Winter who worked with his brother Edger Winter and Rick Derringer. He produced three Grammy Award-winning albums for blues singer and guitarist Muddy Waters. Winter died at the age of 70 on 16 July 2014 in Zurich, just days after playing at the Lovely Days Festival in Austria.
1946 - Rusty Young
American guitarist, vocalist and songwriter Rusty Young, with American group Poco who had the 1979 US No.17 single 'Crazy Love'. A virtuoso on pedal steel guitar, Young was inducted into the Steel Guitar Hall of Fame in 2013.
1948 - Steve Priest
Steve Priest, bassist with English group Sweet, who had the 1973 UK No.1 single 'Blockbuster', plus 14 other UK Top 40 singles. Sweet scored four top-ten hits in the US: 'Little Willy', 'Ballroom Blitz', 'Fox On The Run', and 'Love Is Like Oxygen'. He died on 4 June 2020 at the age of 72.
1952 - Brad Whitford
American musician Brad Whitford, guitarist with Aerosmith who scored the 1989 UK No.13 single 'Love In An Elevator'. They had the 1993 US No.1 & UK No.2 album Get A Grip and the 1998 US No. 1 & UK No. 4 single 'I Don't Want To Miss A Thing', Aerosmith is the best-selling American hard rock band of all time, having sold more than 150 million records worldwide.
1955 - Howard Jones
English musician, singer and songwriter Howard Jones, who had the 1983 UK No.2 single 'What Is Love', plus 9 other UK Top 40 singles. His 1984 album Human's Lib spent over a year on the UK chart. He also scored the 1986 US No.4 single 'No One Is To Blame'. Jones has also been a member of Ringo Starr's All Star Band.
1955 - Zeke Manyika
Zeke Manyika, (born in Zimbabwe) drummer, vocalist and songwriter. With Orange Juice he had the 1983 UK No.8 single 'Rip It Up'. He also worked with The Style Council ('Speak Like a Child' and 'A Solid Bond in Your Heart') and later toured with Paul Weller.
1957 - Patrick Francfort
Patrick Francfort, singer with The Gibson Brothers who had success during the disco boom of the late 1970s. Their best known hit singles included 'Cuba' and 'Que Sera Mi Vida'. He died on 4 April 2020 from Covid-19 age 64.
1958 - David Sylvian
David Sylvian singer with British group Japan who had the 1982 UK 5 single 'Ghosts'. Sylvian also works as a solo artist.
1962 - Michael Wilton
Michael Wilton, American heavy metal and hard rock guitarist and songwriter, best known for being a lead and rhythm guitarist in the progressive metal band Queensrÿche, which he co-founded in 1982.
1963 - Rob Collins
Rob Collins, keyboards with British indie group The Charlatans who had the 1990 UK No.9 single 'The Only One I Know'. In 1992 Collins was arrested and charged with armed robbery on an off-licence near his home and was sentenced to 8 months imprisonment. Collins was killed in a car crash 23rd July 1996.
1967 - Chris Vrenna
Chris Vrenna, Grammy-winning producer, engineer, worked with Tweaker, Nine Inch Nails, Rammstein, U2, Weezer, David Bowie, The Smashing Pumpkins, Hole, Marilyn Manson and the Japanese rock band Dir en grey.
1973 - Olaf Lasse Johansson
Olaf Lasse Johansson keyboards with Swedish rock band The Cardigans who had the 1997 UK No.2 single 'Lovefool' which was included in the soundtrack to the 1996 film Romeo + Juliet.
1986 - Skylar Grey
American singer, songwriter Skylar Grey. She co-wrote Eminemand Rihanna's hit single, 'Love the Way You Lie' and has written songs for Alicia Keys, Christina Aguilera, Nick Jonas, Celine Dionand CeeLo Green. Her 2013 album Don't Look Down reached the top 10 on the US chart.
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