What Happened Today In Music

December 20th

1958 - The Quarry Men

John Lennon, Paul McCartney and George Harrison appeared as The Quarry Men at the wedding reception of George's older brother, Harry. The event was held at the Harrison family home at 25 Upton Green, Speke, Liverpool.

1959 - Emile Ford

Emile Ford and the Checkmates were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'What Do You Want To Make Those Eyes At Me For.'

1962 - Andy Williams

The Osmonds appeared for the first time on the NBS-TV Andy Williams show. The brothers performed 'I'm A Ding Dong Daddy From Dumas'.

1967 - Joan Baez

Folk singer Joan Baez was sentenced to 45 days in prison after being arrested during an anti-war demonstration.

1968 - The Beatles

The Beatles sixth Christmas record 'The Beatles' 1968 Christmas Record', was sent to fan club members in the UK and the US. It included the song ‘Nowhere Man’ sung by Tiny Tim.

1969 - Peter Paul and Mary

Peter Paul and Mary went to No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Leavin' On A Jet Plane'. John Denver wrote the song in 1966 with the original title of 'Oh Babe I Hate to Go.'

1969 - Rolf Harris

Rolf Harris was at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Two Little Boys', (the song was written in 1902). The Christmas No.1 of 1969 and the last No.1 of the 60s. The song stayed at No.1 for six weeks.

1969 - The Rolling Stones

The Rolling Stones went to No.1 on the UK album chart with their 10th release Let It Bleed featuring 'Midnight Rambler', and 'You Can't Always Get What You Want.' It was the last studio album by the band to feature Brian Jones (who had died on July 3rd of this year after drowning in his swimming pool), as well as the first to feature guitarist Mick Taylor.

1973 - Bobby Darin

American singer Bobby Darin died aged 37. One of the first teen idols, he had the 1959 No.1 with 'Dream Lover' plus 20 other US Top 40 hits during the 60s including ‘Mack the Knife’, (Grammy Award for Record of the Year in 1960). Darin travelled with Robert Kennedy and worked on the latter's 1968 presidential campaign. He was with Kennedy the day he travelled to Los Angeles on June 4, 1968 for the California Primary. Darin was at the Ambassador Hotel later that night when Kennedy was assassinated.

1974 - Joe Walsh

Former James Gang and Barnstorm guitarist Joe Walsh officially replaced Bernie Leadon in the Eagles after producer Bill Szymczyk had recommended Walsh to The Eagles.

1980 - John Lennon

Twelve days after John Lennon was shot dead in New York City, '(Just Like) Starting Over', which was taken from his Double Fantasy album gave the former Beatle his first ever UK solo No.1 single.

1986 - Bangles

The Bangles started a four week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Walk Like An Egyptian'.

1986 - Housemartins

The Housemartins were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with their version of The Isley Brothers 'Caravan Of Love.' It was only the second a cappella song to be a No.1 hit after 'Only You' by the Flying Pickets.

1999 - Hank Snow

Canadian Country singer Hank Snow died. 'The Singing Ranger' released over 100 albums and scored more than seventy singles on the Billboard country charts from 1950 until 1980. A regular at the Grand Ole Opry, in 1954 Snow persuaded the directors to allow a new singer by the name of Elvis Presley to appear at the Grand Ole Opry.

1999 - Jimi Hendrix

Readers of UK Guitar magazine voted Noel Gallagher the most overrated guitarist of the millennium. Jimi Hendrix was voted guitarist of the millennium with Nirvana's 'Nevermind' winning best album.

2006 - Michael Jackson

Ian Halperin claimed that Michael Jackson was close to death. The Rolling Stone magazine writer said Jackson was suffering from a rare lung condition and needed a lung transplant. He also claimed that the singer had lost 95% vision in one eye and was so ill he could barley speak.

2006 - Eminem

Eminem and his high school sweetheart divorced for a second time, less than a year after they remarried. The couple agreed to share custody of their 10-year-old daughter, Hailie. The pair told a judge in Michigan they understood this time the divorce was final. The couple remarried in January. But the rapper filed for divorce less than three months later, saying there had been "a breakdown in the marriage relationship".

2006 - Procol Harum

Matthew Fisher, a founding member of Procol Harum won a High Court battle over who wrote their song '’A Whiter Shade Of Pale’. Fisher who played organ on the 1967 hit had argued he wrote the distinctive organ melody, but Mr Justice Blackburne ruled he was entitled to just 40% of the copyright, (rather than the 50% he was seeking). The court decided lead singer Gary Brooker's input was more substantial and Fisher's claim for back royalties - of up to £1m - was also rejected. For almost 40 years, the song had been credited to lead singer Gary Brooker and lyricist Keith Reid.

2012 - Adele

Adele was named Billboard's top artist of 2012, while her hit record 21 was named top album of the year in the music magazine's annual review. The 24-year-old was the first to receive both accolades two years in a row and the honours for Adele came in a year which saw her win six Grammy awards and dominate the US charts. Her second album 21 went straight to No.1 when it was released in March 2011 and did not leave the top 10 until the beginning of September 2012, during that time, it spent 24 weeks at the top spot.

2013 - David Richards

David Richards, a producer who worked with David Bowie, Queen, Iggy Pop, and others died. Included in Richards' lengthy discography are co-production credits on Bowie's 'Never Let Me Down', 'The Buddha of Suburbia', and 'Outside'. He also worked on Queen's last four albums, A Kind of Magic, The Miracle, Innuendo, and Made in Heaven. He also dealt with live music recording in such events as Montreux Jazz Festival.

2014 - Darrell Banks

A single dubbed the rarest record in the world sold for £14,543 at auction. The London Records' pressing of Darrell Banks’ 'Open the Door to Your Heart', was thought to be the only copy in circulation. Banks, who toured with soul singer Jackie Wilson, only released two albums before he was killed in Detroit in February 1970. He was shot in the neck by an off-duty policeman, who had been having an affair with Banks's girlfriend. 'Open the Door to Your Heart' was his only hit, reaching No.2 on the R&B chart in the US.

2020 - Pelle Alsing

Pelle Alsing, the drummer for Swedish rock and pop band Roxette died aged 60. Pelle appeared on their first five albums: Pearls of Passion (1986), Look Sharp! (1988), Joyride (1991), Tourism (1994), and Crash! Boom! Bang! (1994). A number of these LPs spawned massive international hits, such as 'It Must Have Been Love', 'Listen to Your Heart', and 'The Look'. 

2020 - Chad Stuart

British musician Chad Stuart died from pneumonia following a fall. He was one half of the duo Chad & Jeremy that began working in 1962 and had its first hit song in the UK with 'Yesterday's Gone' followed by a string of successful records in the United States through the mid-60s. 

Born Today In Music

December 20th

1944 - Bobby Colomby

Bobby Colomby, drums, Blood Sweat & Tears, (1969 US No.12 & UK No.35 single 'You've Made Me So Very Happy').

1946 - Douglass Lubahn

psychedelic rock and jazz rock bassist Douglass Lubahn. His work is featured on several albums recorded by The Doors including Strange Days (1967), Waiting For The Sun (1968) and The Soft Parade (1969).

1947 - Peter Criss

Peter Criss, drummer from American hard rock band Kiss. They scored the 1974 US No.5 single 'On And On', their 1976 US No 11 album Rock and Roll Over spent 26 weeks on the chart and they had the 1987 UK No.4 single 'Crazy Crazy Nights'. Criss established the "Catman" character for his Kiss persona.

1948 - Alan Parsons

Alan Parsons, British studio audio engineer, musician, and record producer. He was involved with the production of The Beatles' Abbey Road and Pink Floyd's The Dark Side Of The Moon for which Pink Floyd credit him as an important contributor. Parsons' own group, The Alan Parsons Project released several albums.

1948 - Stevie Wright

Stevie Wright, The Easybeats, (1966 UK No.6 & 1967 US No. 16 single 'Friday On My Mind'). Died on 27th Dec 2015.

1956 - Guy Babylon

Guy Babylon, keyboards, Elton John Band. Died on Sept 2nd 2009 of a heart attack while swimming in his pool at his home in Los Angeles, California.

1957 - Anita Ward

Anita Ward, singer, (1979 US & UK No.1 single 'Ring My Bell').

1957 - Billy Bragg

Billy Bragg, UK singer, songwriter, wrote 'New England' 1985 hit for Kirsty MacColl, (1988 UK No.1 charity single with Wet Wet Wet, 'She's Leaving Home').

1957 - Michael Watt

Michael Watt, American bassist, vocalist and songwriter who has worked with Firehose, Stooges and Porno For Pyros.

1966 - Chris Robinson

Chris Robinson, American musician. He was the singer with The Black Crowes (the brother of its guitarist Rich Robinson). The Black Crowes who had the 1991 hit single 'Hard To Handle' and the 1992 US No.1 & UK No.2 album The Southern Harmony And Musical Companion. He is was a member of New Earth Mud.

1975 - Graham Hopkins

Graham Hopkins, drummer with alternative metal band from Northern Ireland Therapy? who had the 1993 UK No.9 single 'Screamager'.

1980 - Kasabian

Chris Edwards, Kasabian, (2005 UK No.8 single 'Cutt Off', 2006 UK No.1 album 'Empire'). Kasabian won a Brit Award in 2010 for Best British Group.

1990 - JoJo

American singer-songwriter JoJo. Her debut single, 'Leave (Get Out)' reached No.1 on the Billboard Pop songs chart, which made her the youngest solo artist to have a No.1 single in the United States, at thirteen years old.